Day 11 - Cheat Day

Super Bowl Sunday has arrived!!! To be honest, I like both teams, so I don't care who wins. I do hope that it is close though (close games are always the most fun). I'm also excited because today is my cheat day. During the Super Bowl, I'm going to have two slices of hamburger/canadian bacon pizza and a 40 calorie chocolate fudge pop for dessert. Yay!

Ok, as I finished typing that last sentence, I realized that sounded a little sad and pathetic. I mean, is food really that important? Apparently, for me, the answer is yes. With that being said, if I don't lose weight this week, cheat day will be a thing of the past. Seriously, I'm proud of my diet this past week. I have stayed within my calorie limit and percentage of fat/carbs/protein this past week. Again, yay me...as you can see I'm a true believer of positive reinforcement.

Hope everyone has a good one!

Day 10 - TGIS

I love Saturdays!!! I love sleeping in on the weekends! Sorry, parents. I realize that you don't have the luxury, but you will be happy to know that for me sleeping in is 7am. Still...love it! Weekends also give me time to reflect (which could be a good or bad thing). This weekend, I'm reflecting on my diet. It is going great, if I do say so myself. So, I decided to do what most diet gurus suggest...set a goal, get a reward. Upon reflection, I realized all of my rewards revolved around food.

Hello! My name is Amy, and I love food. Help!!! I need ideas for rewards when big goals are met. I mean I could buy a new outfit when I reach a new size, but I kept all of my old clothes. I mean, come on, I knew I would be back in them someday. True, I don't think I realized that someday would be a decade, but..oh well! Plus, I hate shopping!!! Granted once I lose the weight, I might enjoy it. However, I doubt it. I could go get my hair colored and done. But, let's face it, the gray hair is saying I need to do that anyway. I could take a trip (Kristen, I'll pack my bags), but I want that to be my final reward. Depending on how long this takes, I might reward myself with a trip twice...once when I lose half and again when I reach my goal.

Well, my head is starting to hurt. I mean, I can only reflect for so long. :) If anybody has any ideas don't hesitate to let me know. Enjoy you weekend!

Day 9 - The desperation dance

Happy Friday!!! So, today I decided to get a baseline to see how close or far I am to getting into a pair of size 16 jeans. In order to get this baseline, I had to do what I call the desperation dance. Many of you are familiar with the dance if not the title. It is where you start to put on a pair of pants and then do the following: pull, push, plead, and pledge never to eat bad again as long as these stupid things fit. Then through divine intervention (and a lot of sweat and effort), they are where they are supposed to be. Then the next challenge begins...getting them buttoned. When in doubt, lay on a flat surface and you will be amazed at how easy those suckers button. So, this is what I did (including the bed scenario). Needless to say, if I had to choose between a smaller size pair of jeans or breathing, I will always choose breathing! Ok, let's be honest...it would depend on the pair of jeans. :)

After conducting my test, I realize that I am not ready for a size 16 yet. Notice the word YET! I have no doubt that by the end of the month I will be ready to slip into a size 16 (or at least not dance my way into them).

Have a great day!
From the Dancing Diva

Day 8 - Not a dream

I'm so excited!!! Yesterday was not a dream. I did lose one pound. This is how sad I am...I weighed myself again this morning thinking it was a fluke. I was sure the powers that be (the weight gods...I think God is busy in Haiti) had the scale read 193 because they knew I really needed to see positive change. I was sure the scale would read 195 today, but low and behold I was still 193. In the 16 days that I have been monitoring my weight, I have dropped three pounds! Yay!!!!!

I can already tell that today is going to be a good day For the following reasons: 1) I remembered to but the coffee grounds in the coffeemaker when I brewed coffee this morning (unlike yesterday), 2) KU won (thank goodness they beat Colorado), and 3) we haven't had any snow or ice today (or should I say yet?). Also, I have added a new monthly goal. I have decided that I want to get rid of my second chin. Who knew that babies were not the only ones affected by this phenomenon. I hope everyone has a great day!!!

Day 7 - A review of week one

Hi all! Today was weigh in day, and I'm pleased to say I lost one pound!!! Now for most people this would not be a big deal, but anyone with PCOS knows this is the equivalent of a three pound week. Yay me!!! To be honest, I shouldn't be surprised that I lost. I could already feel a difference. I mean my shoes felt a little looser. :)

I'm thrilled and this just motivates me to keep going. It also helps to hear that my family and friends are motivated as well. It has always been my life's goal to motivate skinny people to lose weight. :) Seriously, I'm happy that my determination is motivating other people to reach their own goals.

As for this past week, the diet changed. I'm now doing a high protein diet with equal amounts of slow and fast carbs. My exercise regime is just to exercise! It can be an exercise video, walking, or riding a bike...just as long as I do something!!! As for the trying not to talk too much or ask too many questions, I'm doing a good job there as well. Honestly, I'm not sure if it is because I'm talking less or because I really haven't had many people to talk to this week (parents don't count). Finally, the dressing better. I'm kind of succeeding on this point. If I know I'm going to be out (a ballgame, store, church, etc), I dress nicely with the works (in other words...makeup). However, since I'm still pleasantly plump, full of life and full figured, or fat (take your pick), It is hard to find clothes that look good and fit. I'm not getting upset though because it is all part of the battle.

Now, a new week begins! Here are my goals for this week...1) stick to the diet (may have a cheat day on Super Bowl Sunday...let's face it, we all need a cheat day), 2) to lose 1 pound this week, and 3) try to wear makeup every day. As for my monthly goal, I would like to weigh 190 by the beginning of March or be a size smaller (in my case, go from a 16W to a 16).

Thanks again for all of you support!

Day 6 - Tomorrow is my first weigh in

The dreaded day before the weigh in is upon me. I must admit I'm a little nervous about tomorrow because I don't want to be disappointed. Regardless of what happens, I have done a great job on my diet and amazingly my water intake. But I still want to lose. I'll even take a half pound. I'm not picky!

Due to the upcoming weigh in, I decided I would up my exercise level (a la Jillian Michaels of the Biggest Loser). No simple walking for me. No sir! I decided I was going to do one of the workouts from Exercise TV. Which, if you have on demand through your cable company, you get many workouts for free. It's great! Unless you don't read the full description.

I first read through the various workouts, and needless to say "Dance Away the Pounds" was not my workout of choice. Luckily, I came across a workout that had "circuit training" and "21" in the title. I thought 21 minutes of circuit training, as a beginner I can definitely do that. Then the video starts and they say those two magic words "No Choreography". Did I mention I'm uncoordinated? I thought this exercise program is a gift from the gods (the exercise gods)! I was ecstatic!!!! Until, the video started with push ups. Do you know how hard it is it lift 194 pounds 15 times? I was still thinking that everything would be fine. I struggled through 15 push ups but I'm only doing this for 21 minutes...I'm strong, I'm motivated, I'm thinking 21 minutes has surely passed! I'm tired, my heart is beating, and I feel sick (note to self...always eat protein before a workout). So, I decide to stop the program and see how much time I have left. This is when I realize I made a reading mistake. Me, a reader, making a reading mistake. The 21 referred to making over your body in 21 days not 21 minutes. The program was 102 minutes long (an hour and 42 minutes)!!!

Are these people crazy!!!! What beginner can go almost two hours? Not this beginner! Especially when you start with push ups!!! So, I did 30 minutes of the 102 minute workout. I felt sore, but good! Hopefully, this workout will help me lose a pound this week! Today, I will definitely read the workout description (in full) before I start.

Here's hoping for a good scale reading tomorrow. :)

Day 5

Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me!  I must say that this song has been in my head ever since I decided to up my water intake.  The general rule is 64 oz of water a day or you can drink water based on your weight.  That would mean I would need to drink 99 oz of water a day!  Are you kidding me?  For me, I think 64 oz of water is plenty!

So far, I'm doing good on my food but only alright on my exercise.  However, I only made the decision to start walking a mile or two on Saturday with Sunday being a day of rest.  So today, I begin!  I must admit, I'm a little nervous with my first weigh-in approaching on Wednesday.  However, no matter what happens, I will be positive.  If I lose, it will be because of my hard work and diligence, and if I gain...water weight. :)

Oh, by the way, my new exercise product is the exercise pad.  A simple way to follow the steps!  Have a good one!!!