Maybe it was the fact that today was Friday, or maybe I was just feeling ill-motivated... My day at work seemed interminably LONG. I couldn't wait to get out of there! I like my job and all, but I was just over it. So I drove home and was greeted at the door by the smiling faces of my three sons (yes, like the old TV show). The little one, John, doesn't miss a lick: "Mom! We're supposed to exercise today!" So, off we went up into the cave (my husband's TV/video game/computer room) to put on Walk Away the Pounds. It was the Express Easy Walk/Brisk Walk one. We started out doing the 1-mile. I was amazed at how fast it went! John was really proud that he was able to do something with Mom, and my 11-yr-old (Alan) even joined in (the 13-yr-old - Jay - is too good to hang out with us right now). They went off to play after the mile, though, so I decided to try the two-mile by myself. Whew! What a workout! I was relieved that I never felt like I couldn't hang in there. There were no fancy steps that I couldn't get. But I was poring sweat, my muscles were burning, and my heart rate was really up there. Now, instead of feeling worn out, I feel energized. And, I wasn't tempted to eat something unhealthy for supper, because I didn't want to undo all the good I had done during my exercise. I am so proud of myself! I even realized that I can get up 20 minutes earlier in the morning and do the 1-mile before I hop in the shower. Talk about a great start to the day! I feel WONDERFUL!
I was just thinking how cool it would be to have a cheeseburger. Not just any cheeseburger, either. I want a quarter-pound patty with smoked sharp cheddar, barbeque sauce, onion rings, and all the veggies on a steamed bun. Steak fries with a spicy wasabi or horseradish sauce on the side... Yum. Alas, it is acting on desires like this that have put me in the position where I am today. I so wish that I could get fired up about yogurt and salads and grilled fish. I am thankful, however, that I have not cheated, even in the face of others who are eating what I would really rather be having. My dear, sweet husband sat next to me last night and ate barbeque ribs and fries while I ate yogurt, fruit, and a little chicken breast. Kinda hard to get excited about yogurt and fruit when Captain America is gnawing a rib bone. Of course, he weighs a buck-sixty soaking wet, so I guess he's allowed. My youngest son (who is 9 years old) has my back, though! He's been cutting back on his own food intake and choosing healthier snacks in a show of solidarity for his Mommy! He's also helping me at the store when I am shopping for my food by looking at labels and helping me to find what is good for me. Perhaps I can teach him a little early on that eating healthier is the best way to go. I still REALLY want that cheeseburger, though. Sounds like paradise to me.
What's up in my world today? I'm down 9 pounds, which I think is spectacular. I'm noticing my jeans fitting a bit more loosely. I have more energy, but I have also been so busy that I haven't been able to exercise. I now own two Walk Away the Pounds DVDs, but I haven't tried them yet. I've got to get on the ball. It's too bad I can't count the quarter of a million times that I have to go to the bathroom every day as exercise... I still think it's cool that I can count sex (a fact of which my husband is absolutely elated), but I've even been too tired for that! The horror!
I work in a VERY multicultural office, which I find to be fascinating. Every culture has a different concept about what body shape is attractive. For instance, my friend from China thinks she is obese. She weighs 134 pounds! She said that, if she were in China, people would make fun of her for being fat! Her stomach is flat, and you can see bones, but she's obese! Yeah, right... The Lebanese and Russian guys seem to think that a "hearty" woman is healthy. Of course, the American guys are looking for Barbie. I don't mean that to sound like a blanket statement about cultures; it's just something I've observed in my work place. I need to move to the country where my body type would be beautiful! Of course, my husband tells me all the time that I am beautiful. I keep telling him that I want to look in the mirror and have my outside match my inside. I want to lose weight because I don't feelbeautiful. Alas, he doesn't get it. I can't complain though, because I know lots of girls whose husbands wouldn't be so kind.
I fell like I've used an entire case of toilet paper today! 3 quarts of water down, 1 to go. When I went to Transformations yesterday, I was told that the measly 10 cups of water I was averaging per day needs to be 12 to 16! Eek! So, I've been to the bathroom 50 bazillion times, and the phone seems to ring every time I go. One time I was just drying off my hands and readying to get back to my desk when I had to go again! I mean, C'MON! I had JUST gone! One a brighter note, all this water has made me feel fuller, my hair looks nicer, and my lips aren't dry and chapped-looking.
I don't think my husband wants me to lose weight. He keeps saying things to me like, "But, honey, I love you just the way you are," and "I don't want you to look like you did when we got married." (I weighed 130 pounds when we married) I think he's afraid I'll go be with someone else when I get thin. Silly goose! Men are so dumb sometimes!
The first little goal has been met! I got on the scale today and was ecstatic to see that I have lost 5 pounds!
I have my appointment at Transformations in Melbourne today. I can't wait for them to examine me and measure me and all the other stuff. Ordinarily, I would be horrified to let someone take my measurements, but I am thrilled to do it today, so that I will have something to look back on. I can't wait to look back and say, "Wow! Look how far I've come!" Right now, I am just excited that I've lost 5 pounds all on my own! Yay!
I've lost 4 pounds! I can barely believe that the simple changes I've made to my life have helped me to almost reach my first goal! This motivates me even more to get it done! Yes!
The more I find out about this site, the more I like it! You can add sexual activity as an exercise! Although we have been married 7 years and now work very different schedules, we get together as often as we can. Since I am so afraid of exercising when my husband is home (don't want him to see me huffing and puffing to a DVD or on the treadmill...), I can definitely get into this as a form of exercise that I can ONLY do when he's there! Excellent! EP has made my day!
I am still doing well with my water intake, and I have noticed that my hair looks better, and I don't even crave snacks very much any more. Some of the craving part could be because I am determined to lose weight... I am so sick of being disappointed in myself, and I don't want to disappoint myself any further, so that's helping me to stay away from the Little Debbie Fudge Brownies that I have loved since childhood.
I got my first Walk Away the Pounds DVD last night. You can get exercise DVD's from Netflix! Works out good, because, if you decide you don't like it, ship it back and try another. That way, you know what you're getting before you make the trip to buy. Anyway, it's the Super Fat Burning 3-Mile workout, and I am looking forward to trying it out tonight (Brian will be at work).
Okay... I know 2 pounds isn't much, but I am ecstatic! I have been drinking water and REALLY watching what I eat and trying to find ways to move more (gotta work on being able to exercise when my husband is in the house), and I have dropped 2 pounds in just 6 days! I actually look forward to getting on the scale in the morning, because I know I am making positive changes in my body. I'm not dreading the effects of that donut I shouldn't have eaten or that too-big bowl of ice cream or that extra helping at dinner, because I'M NOT EATING ALL THAT STUFF!!! I know that part of my success (such as it has been thus far) is because of my determination to get thin, but it's also partly because I found this website. I feel accountable to whoever might read this blog. For those of you who have left encouraging comments for me, I thank you! For those of you who have checked up on me to make sure I am meeting my mini-goals, I appreciate it! I know that I can't do this without you guys!
Okay, so after the Culligan man came, I got the water down. Great... But what I'm most proud of is that I got on the treadmill for 15 minutes. Not a lot, I know, but I got my heart rate up and I think I did really well. Yay for me!
The Culligan man finally showed, and I have met my daily goal for water intake. I thought I was going to dry up! Funny how, once you get hydrated, you REALLY notice being thirsty. I have also discovered that, for every 2 cups of water I drink, I go to the bathroom 3 times. Since it is so hot in Florida right now, I have had no trouble getting in all of my water... But I have been going to the bathroom 2, 3, and even 4 times in one hour! I should have expected it, since I've had surgery on my bladder (it's only about half the normal size).
Gotta get on the treadmill when I get home!
My doctor told me that I needed to make time to take care of myself. "You're preaching to the choir," I thought. What I really need to hear from you is the "HOW" of the matter. I work full-time in a different city than I live, I have 3 sons, my husband works a different shift than I do (so I'm basically doing everything on my own), and I attend Christian meetings 3 times a week. It's not like I'm out doing all sorts of miscellaneous things... My kids don't play organized sports (neither of us would be able to get to the games), they can't do after-school clubs (neither of us would be able to pick them up afterwards)... I honestly don't know what I could cut out of my life! I don't even watch TV unless I am folding laundry. She suggested buying pre-packaged meals for my family! Yeah, I wanna feed them all those preservatives and additives and mystery ingredients. Yum! I can't believe I was getting admonished for taking the time to cook a meal for my family! How out of touch is that?
I like my job and all, but I was just over it. So I drove home and was greeted at the door by the smiling faces of my three sons (yes, like the old TV show). The little one, John, doesn't miss a lick: "Mom! We're supposed to exercise today!" So, off we went up into the cave (my husband's TV/video game/computer room) to put on Walk Away the Pounds. It was the Express Easy Walk/Brisk Walk one. We started out doing the 1-mile. I was amazed at how fast it went! John was really proud that he was able to do something with Mom, and my 11-yr-old (Alan) even joined in (the 13-yr-old - Jay - is too good to hang out with us right now). They went off to play after the mile, though, so I decided to try the two-mile by myself. Whew! What a workout! I was relieved that I never felt like I couldn't hang in there. There were no fancy steps that I couldn't get. But I was poring sweat, my muscles were burning, and my heart rate was really up there. Now, instead of feeling worn out, I feel energized. And, I wasn't tempted to eat something unhealthy for supper, because I didn't want to undo all the good I had done during my exercise. I am so proud of myself! I even realized that I can get up 20 minutes earlier in the morning and do the 1-mile before I hop in the shower. Talk about a great start to the day! I feel WONDERFUL! 
