The thing is I’m eating MORE than I usually do and it’s helping. Go figure! I’ve been using ALL of my assigned Points, plus about half to two-thirds of my weekly points, so I guess the trick really is that EATING does help you lose weight.

I think my mentality is different this time around. This time, I’m not stuck in the “I’ve gotta be perfect” or “I can’t have that becuase I’m on a DIET” mode. This time, there is NO FOOD I can’t have, I just need to learn to incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle. BOOM! Duh! It’s a lifestyle change, not a DIET. Diet’s fail because you give up your favorite foods, then, after you lose the weight and starting eating “normal” again, the weight comes right back on. I’m not giving up my favorite foods, I’m learning how to eat them in moderation.

My goal is 10 lbs. per month. I started on 2/01 so, by 3/01, I want to lose 10 lbs. I’m one pound away from my first goal and 5 lbs. away from my 5% target.

Good week! Keep it up!

My first goal is to lose just 10 lbs. by March 1st. I’m shooting for 10 lbs. per month, but taking them month-by-month in increments of 10 lbs. because that sounds doable. So I’m halfway to my first goal of 10 lbs. Wish me luck!

Food manufacturers today make it so easy to buy the food that’s bad for you because it is so much cheaper and, if you’re on a budget, it’s really hard to stretch your money to afford to eat good, whole fruits and vegetables, lean cuts of meat, non-processed stuff every day of the month. Trust me, I know. Usually, by the last week, we’re down to cereal and PB&J sandwiches and pasta and all of those things are problematic for weight loss because of the numerous amount of carbohydrates (carbs) they contain.

It’s the excess amount of carbs we consume, which turn into sugar and ultimately get stored as FAT in our bodies, that makes weight loss so difficult. If you cut out four basic ingredients, you’ll be healthier and lose weight. Those four ingredients are….

(PAUSE FOR EMPHASIS)

Flour, Fat, Sugar, and Salt.

Basically, you want to eat a diet rich in low fat protein (protein is our FRIEND), very little, if any, sugar and carbs, and reduced salt. Think the new Atkins diet. If you want to lose weight, you need to restrict carbs so your body starts to go into and burn your stored fat for energy. If you eat carbs, those carbs are what the body burns FIRST, then stores the rest which ultimately end up as stored FAT. No carbs in, the body still needs to burn someting for energy so it turns to your fat reserves and starts the process of ketosis which is burning fat for energy.  That is what you ultimately want if you are trying to lose weight. You want your body to go into its fat reserves and start burning that fat for energy.

I know it’s difficult if you’re a carb addict like me who loves my bowl of cereal at 10:30 at night and loves a good sandwich for lunch, but remember, you don’t have to totally give up carbs forever…just until you reach your ideal, healthy weight and then you can start to incorporate carbs back into your diet.

Good luck on your journey!

BUT…the good news is I went to the gym today with my son. We got a joint membership at the YMCA and, thought I haven’t been there in about three months, forced myself to get up off my fat ass and get some exercise. So I definitely made up for my Italian Wedding Cake splurge

In summary…

15 minutes on the ellipital = 110 calories

45 minutes of light/moderate weight training = approx 200 calories

20 minutes on the treadmill at 2.5 mph = 155 calories

Plus, gotta include my 3 x 10-minute walks with my dog, Niko. THAT is a definite that I get every single day without fail. I mean, the dog’s gotta go, right?

So, all in all, not a too terrible day. Keep pushing on!

Started out good. I actually ate breakfast which is a stretch for me. If I did eat breakfast, it usually came in the form of 2 breakfast burritos from McD’s. Nope. Today, I had two eggs, scrambled, with 2 slices of breakfast ham. High protein, no carbs. I got my 32 oz. bottle of water to bring with me to work. I’m off and running…one day at a time.

This is a great site to track your food, create recipes, and get a lot of support from other LoseIt folks.

You can find me under jhens1998@yahoo.com.

Just came across this article and thought it tied in well with what I’m trying to do this year and with this blog, in particular. Basically, small changes have the most chance of working when you’re trying to lose weight. Period.

In summary:

1.) Lose Weight. Track what you eat, drink more water, and avoid diet soda. Now, I don’t agree with the last one. To me, diet pop is my salvation but I will try to limit myself and up my water intake. There’s another great site if you want to track your food online. It’s called LoseIt.com and I’ve recently started up with that, too, so I’m hoping between this blog and keeping track of what I eat, I will make some permanent changes (i.e. lifestyle changes) that will make a difference in my goal to lose weight.

2.) Fit in Fitness. However you can do it, get in more activity. Take the dog on a longer walk or join the local YMCA – another step I’ve taken this year on my quest for health. Bottom line: Don’t Be a Couch Potato.

3.) Quit Smoking. Well, I don’t smoke, never have, don’t like being around people who do, but if you smoke, it’s a good time to better your health by quitting. Damage done by smoking even for years and years is reversible within a few hours. So what are you waiting for?

4.) Tame tension. Do something that relaxes you. I know stress is a big proponent of eating, for me, and smoking, for some. Reduce the tension and reduce the urge to eat or smoke.

5.) Learng Something New. Exercise your brain as well as your body.

What about today? Well, I can’t let the rest of the cheesey bread go to waste, can I? I know, I know, garbage in, fatter me. I’ll just have to cut back the rest of the day and, once I have some good food in the house, I’m hopeful to be able to get back on board.

I’ve thrown out the leftover cookies & cupcakes from Christmas…that’s a start. Baby steps.

Me with my son, Ryan, at Christmas this year