I like it!

Two pounds this week – and without counting calories!  I think I’m getting the hang of this eating business!  We tend to think eating comes naturally, but I’ve learned it is a very complicated process and doing it RIGHT is something that needs practice and sometimes to be taught.  Apparently, I’m a slow learner!

 

Any whoooo.  Today’s journal page features my favorite-est thing in the world.  Cats and dogs!  I’m not too picky about breeds, but I think my all-time favorite is Golden Retriever.  Yes, I know that I have pugs now.  Yes they are my favorites – for now!  Actually it would be nearly impossible for me to choose one breed as a favorite!

Well, that didn’t last long!

I think I managed about two-and-a-half days counting calories!  It is boring enough to be eating the same things day in and day out, but counting the same calories over and over just isn’t going to work. 

On the other hand, I have managed to lose a few more pounds.  I am cautiously optimistic.  I have to concentrate on getting the exercise in regularly.  And the occasional treat must be tightly controlled (arrgh.  not fun!).  But I think I can do this.   The function of counting calories is to be aware of what foods are best for achieving my goals.  I think I can do this!

Speaking of fun, though, I’ve been leaning toward the humorous and quirky in my journals lately. 

There’s nothing like a good giggle to lighten your day!

Counting!

I really hate counting calories.  Really, really!  So I’ve been on this diet for quite a few weeks, and making some progress (down, that is!) and I feel like I have a handle on most of my bad habits.  Since I hate to count calories I decided to skip that part for awhile.  Almost two weeks.  And I’ve learned a few things:

• Back-sliding (and cheating) is a lot easier when you don’t count.
• If I don’t count what’s going IN, I can’t count what goes OUT.  (No, not that!  I mean exercise!)
• When I don’t have to keep a log, I don’t exercise!
• If I don’t exercise, I don’t lose weight. 

Therefore:

Even though I really hate to count calories, I will be going back to logging everything.  Maybe I can step off of the plateau and start “losing it” again.

(Have I mentioned that I really hate to count calories?)

The obligatory journal page.  I want a deck with that view!

What is it with those 2 pounds?

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been weighing myself every day.  Not because I think I should lose every day, but just out of curiosity.  I was wondering why I seem to stall out occasionally with no progress, and then suddenly lose 2 or 3 pounds.

 

I discovered there is a 2-pound fluctuation apparently based on what I’ve eaten or how much exercise the day before.  It’s puzzling, though, because I am not exceeding my calorie limits on those days, and sometimes (like this morning) there is a drop even when I did NOT exercise!  What the ….?

 

So, I will not be changing the tracker just yet.  I’d like to see if those 2 pounds stay gone or continue to come and go.  As if I wasn’t already having trouble with motivation!  Ah well. 

 

Eye-candy for today.  I picked up some new stamps recently and used them on a page I used to clean off stencils.  I love those swirls!  

Still Heading in the Right Direction!

Another couple of pounds this week.  I took a break from calorie counting – wanted to see if I can do this eating right thing without using all the tools.  The answer?  I can do it, but it is very easy to slip back into the old habits.  So, back to the counting for awhile.  It was nice to take a little break, though.

Like a Yo Yo!

This is getting harder!  I think I’m seeing a pattern, though.  Every time I relax for even one day, the scale starts climbing back up.  Clearly I don’t have everything figured out yet.  Now, if this week holds to the pattern, there will be a nice loss at the next weigh in.  Focus. Focus. Focus.

Today’s journal example is a bit darker to reflect the disappointment of not losing.  The moon doesn’t show at its best in this shot, but it is an iridescent paint.

There!  Isn’t that neat?  I really love the effect.  I’ve used this paint in other projects that weren’t as successful, but this one is spot on!

Celebrating!

Last week I did not post because there was no progress.  I was pretty bummed by that!  I took a day off the whole counting calories and dieting business and then got down to work.  And this week I met the first 10 pound goal!!!  See me jumping for joy?  Yeah! 

Happy Dance

Another weigh-in today . . . and I lost another 3 pounds!  Well, that’s much better! I might have this figured out.  At least the “eat fruit” part.  Got one of those personal size watermelons this week, and it’s sooooo good!  Exercise is still my big concern.  Seems like the cure for everything these days is to exercise.  So why doesn’t it feel good, too?

Another Week Gone By

 

Still working on filling up with fruit.  It’s getting easier and I’m looking forward to Spring and fresh fruit in the market!

The scales have stayed level this week, which is disappointing.  I know I have not had my heart in the whole eat less-move more philosophy.  I need to embrace that and mean it before there will be real results.  I have to remember that the goal is healthy eating, healthy living.  Sure wouldn’t hurt to have the scales start moving down, though!

First is Exercise

 

This seems to be the hardest part for me.  If I don’t get the exercise in at the beginning of the day, it just doesn’t happen.  I promise myself that I’ll do it after I finish this ONE task.  The farther along the day progresses, the less and less the chances that I will get the old heart rate up.

So, repeat after me . . . “Exercise first, exercise first, exercise first.” 

In other news, total pounds lost = 5.  Hurray!

Week Two Wind-up

Well, a little disappointed this week.  Lost one pound which was not as much as I thought I was losing.  My food choices have been better, but I really cheated on the exercise part.  So.  Week three will have to be more about moving and less about eating.  Oh, I still plan to count calories, but this week’s goal is to do aerobic exercise at least 5 days.

Still Ticking

I’m hanging in there so far.  Of course, it’s early days yet.  Schedule was really off yesterday, but instead of eating too much, I ate too little!  Resisted filling up on chocolate and sugars, which was really good.  But had almost NO protein, which is not so good! 

First Weigh-In

OK, I cheated a little here.  My first weigh-in was Saturday.  So I’m a little late – no big deal!  The main thing is

.

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I lost 3 pounds!!

Bring on Week 2.  I can handle it!!

The Beginning

This is how it begins.  I've been "talking" about losing weight for a very long time, but not doing anything about it.  When your medical professional says "Ya gotta!", though, it's time to get serious.

Over the past couple of years I have learned that journaling, along with artwork, can help me get past some difficult times.  With that in mind, I decided to make journal pages to reinforce the commitment to diet and exercise.  And then I thought I might as well blog about it as well! 

So here we are.  I am not going to advertise this blog, but I expect that people will stumble across it over time.  Please leave me a comment if you will.  I can use all the encouragement I can get!

I'll leave with a journal page:

How about that . . . smile . . . for inspiration?