Setting some goals

I'm floundering again. Doing some stuff right, some of the time, but not enough of it right enough of the time to get where I am going. So I thought setting some concrete goals might help.

So I think there are about 85 days until XMas (lol I should know this).

I would like to lose 25lbs by Xmas- this is about10 lbs per month for Oct and Nov and 5 for the part month of December. Very realistic.

There are no major events/travel/disruptions to get in my way until then. There is thanksgiving in a few weeks but over the years I have learned to manage that pretty well.

So I think I can do this.

Things that are going well:

1) Found a swim team that I really like- this will give me 2 x 1.5 hr workouts per week.
2) I have started to cook more again- this needs to continue

Things I need to step up to reach my goal:

1)Tracking. I really like the online WW but I am not consistent enough in my tracking. I think this is a major tool for me so for the next 85 days everything gets tracked- good or bad.
2) The swimming is a good start but I want to add in some more exercise. So I will commit to walking 3 times per week- short or long doesn't matter I just need to get out there. I have found in the past that exercise is a key success factor for me so I just need to do it. Not negotiable. Swimming is for 9 weeks and I will try to make every workout- if I miss I have to make it up.
3) Work towards decreasing my carbs, increasing my protein, which is a challenge for me, and reducing sugar.
4) Continue to increase the amount of times I am cooking and trying new recipes. Once new recipe per week is probably too much so maybe I will try something new once every two weeks. Leftovers can be put in the freezer for quick meals when needed.

I will start with this and see how it goes, and will use my weigh in weight from Sunday as my staring point.

Rewards are important but have never really been a big motivator for me but I will try the idea again. So at least for this week (or until next Sunday which is my weigh-in day) if I meet those 4 targets I will buy myself a Nicole Miller nail polish- I love the colours and absolutely do not need any more nail polish so would be a fun little reward. And I think it is important to reward myself for the behaviour changes, which I can control, rather than the actual pounds lost which is not in my control but will follow with the behaviour changes.

so walked a lot today - was at a horse show and refused to use the golf cart! This really helps and the more I move the better it feels - I am feeling more optimistic that I am going to make this happen. The food is much better - eating health "most" of the time - I am trying to get more structure into my life and get my life more organized.

Having a great week!

Something seems to have clicked..finally!! I am liking the WW online, the meetings are helpful for the most part but they become something else on the to do list and I found myself not wanting to go. Weighing in at home is not a problem and I can do it first thing when I wake up. Tracking everything really helps and I do like the online tool. I have a fridge full of healthy food plus a few little treats which I also think is important. I can still use some improvement in my exercise though. As someone who used to be pretty fit and into all kinds of activity it is hard to feel this out of shape. The thing is though it will only get worse if I don't do something about it. Not only that but I am fortunate to even be able to get out and walk or swim or whatever. So I went for a walk this am, in the rain even and it was great. So while I keep working on redeveloping healthy eating habits I need to keep trying to put physical activity back into my life. Onwards and downwards!!

Day 2 Yay!!

Well yesterday was a good day! Yay! Ate properly and even went for a swim. I had thoughts of walking to the pool but it was cold and rainy....then again, I had thoughts of just staying home so at least I went. It was actually a really good swim, I worked harder than I have recently. Today's plan includes heading downtown via public transit so I'll get a fair bit of walking in. I am also going to go check out a gym that has a $10/month special. I am still suspicious that this deal is going to turn out to be too good to be true but we will see. I have never been a gym person but I want to give it another try, and I am also interested in trying out some yoga and/or pilates classes. We'll see. At least I don't have to make a long term commitment to them. The challenging part of the day will come later when I am getting together with my friends. I think my plan is to eat before I go and to save a few point for a few nibbles but not a meal. I am also going to drive so I won't be able to drink.

The Challenge!!!

I accepted the challenge - I know my sis and I are competitive. So I think we need something to work towards to prove to ourselves we can do it. I do pretty well at work = but am starting to let the extra weight get in the way of decisions of things I do and people I see. I have to stop that "self talk" I am so much happier when I am thinner and/or in the process of losing weight. I think it is the sense of self control even more than the lower weight. Maybe I am a control freak??? who knew???

30 Day Challenge

So I challenged my sister to a 30 day 100% on track challenge. I'm still struggling with some ups and downs. I think overall I am doing better but better isn't going to get me there, I need more consistency. If I start to think about the big picture, it gets a bit overwhelming, so I am going to focus on the next 30 days and see where I am at at that point.

So starting today until Jun12th 100% following WW. I have a birthday int there and a few other challenges but that is how life goes and there is always the next event or holiday. If this is going to work, I need to work it no matter what is going on. So here we go. Day 1. So far so good lol. Planning a swim in a few hours, possible joining the gym tomorrow.

Over to you sis!

April

Oh my it's been a while. This is such a struggle. I do think this blog helps but clearly I only like to write when I am doing well and have good stuff to report. So here I go again am back at it. Had a great convo with my sister this am, one of many we have have had, but we both realize how important it is for us to get back in control again. We both have the knowledge and both have been successful at losing weight before. We have both been able to maintain for a time although she has been far more successful at that part than I have. So what is the problem? Is it as simple as getting out of the habit and not making it a priority or is it more complex than that? I don't know but I think figuring that out will go a long way to long term success. All I know right now is that I have to just do what I need to do, one step at a time- quite literally! So on that note, I went for my walk today- 3.4 k route and am working on reducing/eliminating sugar from my diet. I have a real problem managing my hunger and think that sugar may be part of the problem. So that is where I am today. Onwards and upwards or actually hoping for downwards :)