Take Shape for Life

I started a new program a little over two months ago, and I am having so much success. You can see on the ticker above that I've almost lost 20 lbs. What? I don't believe it, and I don't even understand it! The program is called Take Shape for Life. My friend is a coach and introduced the program to me at the perfect time when I was more than ready to try something new and get serious about losing weight. I did not like it at all the first week. The food tasted awful. But I decided to stick with it and see what kind of results I got. And the results were amazing! I am so glad I stuck with it because now I really like the food. It's like my taste buds changed. So weird. And awesome. I don't have to count calories or points, I'm never hungry, and I'm losing weight like crazy. I feel like I could do this forever!

I haven't been blogging too much this last year since I've been so busy, but maybe I will post a few updates here and there now that I am actually making some progress. Hallelujah.

one year later

Time to reevaluate... It has been one year now. I lost 5 pounds... UGH. I went back and forth and back and forth, and maintained somewhere around 7 pounds lost.

Anyway, I am starting over. For reals. My goal is to lose 22 pounds this next year. It's totally possible.

the withings scale

Mike bought this fancy scale a while back, and I thought it was ridiculous. Now I actually appreciate it. It is called the Withings scale. It syncs with the computer ... Fancy! On your account, you can have several profiles for all of the people using the scale. When I weigh myself, my weight automatically gets synced to the Withings site AND the Withings app. And now it also syncs with the myfitnesspal app. It's pretty handy! The funny thing (or maybe it should be the embarrassing thing) is that Mike and I weigh close to the same number right now, and the scale keeps getting confused between the two of us. This morning it did something brilliant and actually asked me who I was. Seriously! After it calculated my weight, it showed this split screen with my name and Mike's name. Then it had a little foot that flashed from one side to the other. I stood on my right foot and it registered the weight as mine. Too funny!

I have been very frustrated lately though with what I see on the scale. My weight has been fluctuating like crazy lately, like within a five pound range. I seriously weighed 181lbs yesterday, and today I weigh 176.7lbs. It drives me crazy. I would love to stay under 180 and keep going down, but it more often than not shows me over 180. On those days I quickly step off the scale before it registers the weight. Ha! Then I get depressed and want to quit. Somewhat sporadically I have that random day where it's a good number under 180, and I take it! (yes, i have moved past not revealing my true weight. who cares anyway?) So, I guess the moral of the story is that I should push forward and continue what I am doing. And probably add in some exercise. :)

At any rate, it has now been five weeks, and I have supposedly lost 7 pounds. I'll take it.

And I am actually right on track with that original goal to lose 10lbs in 10 weeks. How about that? Ha!

counting calories

My oldest son starting using the My Fitness Pal app about five weeks ago to count calories. I was still doing Weight Watchers, but not really doing Weight Watchers. I was paying $18 a month and not getting much for it. It was time to try something new. He was pressuring me to count calories so we could be on the same system. I don't know what clicked in me, but one day I decided to just do it. Best decision ever!

I have been counting calories for almost a month now, and I have lost five pounds. It has been incredibly easy. And this is without much exercise. Ideally I would exercise as well, but my life hasn't been ideal this last month. Hahaha. Collin has lost 25 pounds in five weeks. Wow! We are both very pleased with our progress, and excited to keep going.

not so good

do you want the good news or the bad news . . . or the even worse news?

the bad news is that i don't have 10 weeks for my 10 week challenge. we are leaving a week early. that's not really that bad.

the even worse news is that i haven't lost anything these two weeks. i haven't been trying hard enough. tracking somewhat, and totally going over my points. and i exercised like twice.

the good news is that my son collin started exercising and counting calories, and has lost nine pounds in one week. NINE POUNDS!!! that's pretty awesome. he is inspiring me to do better.

10 lbs in 10 weeks

Last week was not a good time to start my new challenge, so I am starting this week... before I gain everything back that I lost! So, here we go...

The plan is to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks.

Wish me luck!

change is afoot

Yikes, people! I am in serious danger of starting back at square one! NOOOOO!!!!! This cannot happen, so I must take control. Sedona was AMAZING. (Check out my other blog on the sidebar if you want to read about it.) We walked and hiked a lot, and we also ate a lot. I think I gained three pounds.

SO, I have decided on a new challenge. This one is more short term - 10 pounds in 10 weeks. What do you think? Part of this challenge is to stay within my points limit when I am away. WOW. That will definitely be a challenge. I am going to start this challenge next Friday (to give me a chance to regain some ground after this last trip), and it will end on July 26th. Ooooo, that's my brother's birthday... Anyway, I do have a few trips in that time period: Lauren's college orientation in Boston June 10-11, Williamsburg with the kids June 24-27, New Hampshire with the family July 4-7, and Palmyra (to finally see the pageant again) with a Niagara Falls bonus July 19-21. Four trips in ten weeks. If I take a break for each of those trips, I could seriously gain back everything I lose. The only way to do it is to stick with the plan the entire 10 weeks. Instead of taking days off, I will only splurge on a meal or two when we are away. That should work out better.

Hmmm ... Can I lose three pounds by next Friday so that I start this new challenge with my original 7 pounds already lost??? Hahahaha!!!! I will try. :)

I did exercise this morning!


p.s. Why do people always spell lose as loose? Your pants are loose (if you are too skinny for them. which i am not. but that is beside the point.). And you want lose weight. Is that so hard? These are the things that drive me crazy!