Back in the game.

OK... so my plan to take a few days off from "diet mode" over the holidays somehow turned into almost a month of eating junk and slacking off. During which time I managed to gain 8 pounds.

I am not really bothered by the gain, even though I know how long it is likely to take to lose all that weight. I was BURNED OUT. I spent close to a year on a diet and for the last 6 months I have been working out 5-6 days a week. My hard work paid off in the form of a 69 pound weight loss. Not back for a year's work! But as I head into year 2 of this journey I think I need to take a more relaxed approach to things. I've managed to lose a lot of weight, but if I'm feeling burned out then it's not a lifestyle change. I've just managed to stay on a diet for a long time. I need for this to be a true lifestyle change if the weight is going to stay off.

Do I get a gold star?

I have gotten into the habit of planning my workouts every week. Monday mornings I sit down with a little dry erase board and write down what my exercise tasks are. I try to make it to the gym 3 days a week, and this helps knowing what days I will go. On non gym days I tend to plan to go for walks. Since I don't have a car, I plan errands on non gym days and then walk to the stores. 

I have to admit there's something very satisfying about putting a check mark next to a completed exercise task. I am such a dork.

DD

I posted this to Facebook, but I am putting it here, too:

I have been seeing articles everywhere offering suggestions on how to save calories at Holiday parties. Well here is mine- BE THE DESIGNATED DRIVER. You will save hundreds of calories if you spend your holiday party time sipping a water or diet soda. And not drinking will make you better able to resist overeating. And also, IT SAVES LIVES.

Just an FYI

Yes, it is entirely possible to eat too many fruits and veggies.

I have that whole "it's winter and I want to eat all the things and then hibernate" thing going on. So I have been grazing on raw veggies and clementines. (because clementines ARE SO YUMMY!) Maybe more of either than is a good idea.  *groan*

Shoppin'

I tried on a size 16 party dress today and it was actually a little bit big. Thank you, Calvin Klein, for flattering my vanity. WOO!!!

Current workout regimen

Strength: about 10 min each day, 6 days per week, alternate upper and lower body, crunches daily
I have some hand weights and I do arm/shoulder exercises focusing on lots of reps at low weight. For lower body I do lunges, squats, etc. Since I work from home I am usually able to sneak all these in throughout the work day.

Cardio: I hit the gym at least 3 times a week for cardio. Usually the ellipticals or swimming laps. Sometimes I take a class to mix it up- either water aerobics or Zumba. On non-gym days I do errands on foot to get some walking in. My goal is 20-60 minutes of cardio per day 5-6 days a week.

I always give myself a rest day each week.Usually Sundays. Lately since my hip has been bothering me, how much cardio I get kind of depends on my pain levels. The strength stuff does not seem like much, but I am already noticing a difference after only 2 weeks. And being able to do it at home is very convenient.

220

I have lost 68 pounds. Not where I was hoping I'd be by this time, but still very good overall. I am 25 pounds away from my initial goal. I am 5 pounds away from my next personal milestone.

215 was the lowest weight I achieved when I was on some horrible commercial starvation diet. I lived on icky protein bars and had to check in 3 times a week to weigh in and have my food diary looked at by one of their counselors. It was, basically, a low-carb hell. I lost weight quickly, but to be fair I was probably getting 900-1200 calories a day. Who wouldn't lose weight on that. They claimed you did not have to exercise on their plan, but the truth is you were not eating enough to be able to.

I realized this week that the jeans I bought when I was at my lowest on that plan is now too big for me.So even though I am still 5 pounds away from what my lowest weight was, I am already slimmer than when I did that evil starvation diet. That is the magic of exercise.

Also this is the 5th week in a row I am down, after a long stretch of gain a pound then lose a pound. I think the daily strength exercises are working!