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Weight Loss Challenge: DAY ONE!
http://latenightdramaqueen.blogspot.com/2009/07/weight-loss-challenge-day-one.html
Today was the day. Originally I think I was set to start yesterday, but Mondays signify the beginning of the week much more to me. So today was the day I started my challenge.
Last week, in preparation, I logged my food behaviors and physical activity to see what I needed to change. As I said before, I'm kind of an endorphin junkie and working out isn't really a problem for me. So it's mainly the food. I noticed in the few days I logged that I was eating more often than I need to, at times when I wasn't really hungry, and I was making poor choices about what I was eating. This all helped me in my planning of this big challenge.
Here it goes...
GOAL: Lose 20 pounds by November 1. I've done it before and using an outline of the same plan, I think I can do it again. When I did Weight Watchers last time it took me 14 weeks to lose the 20 pounds I lost, so I think it's reasonable to expect the same. I'm going to be tracking other measurements (clothing sizes, measurements of waist, thighs, etc.) but I'm not setting goals for them (yet) because I'm not sure what is realistic in terms of that.
METHOD: Weight Watchers, sans meetings. I can't afford the "membership" and the meetings never really did me a whole lot of good. I mainly went for the weigh-in and to get that week's materials. I still have all of my materials from then, so I'm using it as a guide. Points counting and such. My daily point allotment is 24 points. When I did this in the past, I exchanged activity points for food points. So if I was at 19 points for my day after breakfast and then did a half hour of intense cardio exercise, I would get to add 5 points back in to my "bank" for the day. For the first couple of weeks, just to sort of shock my system and really get on track, I won't be doing that. I'll be doing my exercise daily, but I am not going to add points back in so I will be strictly at my 24 points per day.
OTHER INITIATIVES: I'm also making changes in other areas that aren't directly related to my physical health, but I think they'll benefit me. First, I'm trying to get up earlier. It's hard to get out of bed when you're unemployed and dreading getting up with nothing to do but search (somewhat hopelessly) for jobs. Granted, I haven't been "sleeping in" by my standards - only until about 9 - but I could certainly get up earlier. I am also trying to limit my television watching. While I do my cover letters and job searches, I generally sit in front of the TV. For hours and hours and hours. So during the day, I'm attempting to limit myself to two hours of television. Typically I eat that up with the Today Show and Regis & Kelly, so it's gonna be a sacrifice, although it may not sound like it. I'm going to work on it and hope that in the future I can get it down even lower than that.
So, all that said...HOW DID DAY ONE GO?!
Wake up time: 8:20 a.m. Unplanned, just woke up on my own. And it was glorious.
Exercise: I went to the local park and power walked/jogged for 45 minutes. I even attempted to run for a little bit of it, but it's a little soon for that. My new running shoes were also giving me a blister. Ouch! Still need to break them in, I guess. After getting home I did half an hour of weight work in the house. Probably doesn't count, but I also danced around a LOT in my newly cleaned/rearranged/opened up bedroom. My body is feeling today's workout, so we'll see how it continues to go.
Food: Now, you'd think day one would be no problem at all. Smooth sailing. Perfect angel. False. It started out well. I had a healthy breakfast and a great lunch. But then the afternoon boredom hit. I went in for a snack...or two...or three. I knew as I was doing it that I shouldn't, but I did anyway. I was disappointed in myself, so I had to make up for it at dinner. For dinner, I made chicken parmesan with a side of penne pasta. I went very light on the sauce and the cheese, had a very modest piece of chicken and an appropriate portion of pasta as well. I felt fulfilled and I was proud of myself for not overindulging on this occasion. Overall, I went six points over my daily allotment. It's technically OK because you are allowed 35 "flex points" over the course of the week, but this isn't how I wanted to start the week off. Just gotta adjust tomorrow. I drank a TON of water today. I lost track of how much, but definitely more than the 64 recommended ounces! Woohoo!
All in all, it wasn't a perfect day but it wasn't a failure either. Where I slipped today, I'll make up for it tomorrow!
Today was the day. Originally I think I was set to start yesterday, but Mondays signify the beginning of the week much more to me. So today was the day I started my challenge.
Last week, in preparation, I logged my food behaviors and physical activity to see what I needed to change. As I said before, I'm kind of an endorphin junkie and working out isn't really a problem for me. So it's mainly the food. I noticed in the few days I logged that I was eating more often than I need to, at times when I wasn't really hungry, and I was making poor choices about what I was eating. This all helped me in my planning of this big challenge.
Here it goes...
GOAL: Lose 20 pounds by November 1. I've done it before and using an outline of the same plan, I think I can do it again. When I did Weight Watchers last time it took me 14 weeks to lose the 20 pounds I lost, so I think it's reasonable to expect the same. I'm going to be tracking other measurements (clothing sizes, measurements of waist, thighs, etc.) but I'm not setting goals for them (yet) because I'm not sure what is realistic in terms of that.
METHOD: Weight Watchers, sans meetings. I can't afford the "membership" and the meetings never really did me a whole lot of good. I mainly went for the weigh-in and to get that week's materials. I still have all of my materials from then, so I'm using it as a guide. Points counting and such. My daily point allotment is 24 points. When I did this in the past, I exchanged activity points for food points. So if I was at 19 points for my day after breakfast and then did a half hour of intense cardio exercise, I would get to add 5 points back in to my "bank" for the day. For the first couple of weeks, just to sort of shock my system and really get on track, I won't be doing that. I'll be doing my exercise daily, but I am not going to add points back in so I will be strictly at my 24 points per day.
OTHER INITIATIVES: I'm also making changes in other areas that aren't directly related to my physical health, but I think they'll benefit me. First, I'm trying to get up earlier. It's hard to get out of bed when you're unemployed and dreading getting up with nothing to do but search (somewhat hopelessly) for jobs. Granted, I haven't been "sleeping in" by my standards - only until about 9 - but I could certainly get up earlier. I am also trying to limit my television watching. While I do my cover letters and job searches, I generally sit in front of the TV. For hours and hours and hours. So during the day, I'm attempting to limit myself to two hours of television. Typically I eat that up with the Today Show and Regis & Kelly, so it's gonna be a sacrifice, although it may not sound like it. I'm going to work on it and hope that in the future I can get it down even lower than that.
So, all that said...HOW DID DAY ONE GO?!
Wake up time: 8:20 a.m. Unplanned, just woke up on my own. And it was glorious.
Exercise: I went to the local park and power walked/jogged for 45 minutes. I even attempted to run for a little bit of it, but it's a little soon for that. My new running shoes were also giving me a blister. Ouch! Still need to break them in, I guess. After getting home I did half an hour of weight work in the house. Probably doesn't count, but I also danced around a LOT in my newly cleaned/rearranged/opened up bedroom. My body is feeling today's workout, so we'll see how it continues to go.
Food: Now, you'd think day one would be no problem at all. Smooth sailing. Perfect angel. False. It started out well. I had a healthy breakfast and a great lunch. But then the afternoon boredom hit. I went in for a snack...or two...or three. I knew as I was doing it that I shouldn't, but I did anyway. I was disappointed in myself, so I had to make up for it at dinner. For dinner, I made chicken parmesan with a side of penne pasta. I went very light on the sauce and the cheese, had a very modest piece of chicken and an appropriate portion of pasta as well. I felt fulfilled and I was proud of myself for not overindulging on this occasion. Overall, I went six points over my daily allotment. It's technically OK because you are allowed 35 "flex points" over the course of the week, but this isn't how I wanted to start the week off. Just gotta adjust tomorrow. I drank a TON of water today. I lost track of how much, but definitely more than the 64 recommended ounces! Woohoo!
All in all, it wasn't a perfect day but it wasn't a failure either. Where I slipped today, I'll make up for it tomorrow!
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