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!

end of the 6-month challenge

Last week was a very depressing week for me when reality set in that it has been six whole months and I didn't accomplish what I set out to accomplish. I didn't even get close! The goal was to lose 30 pounds. Halfway through the challenge I changed it to 20 pounds. The most I lost was 12 pounds. That would have made me really happy!

But the final result was a mere 7.5 lbs.

So, I guess it really just was the last two months when I lost control. Such a sad story.

So, I lost 7.5 lbs. That's better than nothing! I'll take it.

And when we get home from our anniversary trip in Sedona, I will set a new goal and start anew. Sounds like a plan, Stan.

forever fat?

It has been a month since I posted anything on this blog. TWO months since I lost any weight. In fact, I have actually gained a little. Which makes me wonder...Will I be fat forever??? Maybe I'm just doomed to be a fat person. It is so HARD to lose weight. And so EASY to gain it back. If I could just stay at home and have a boring life, I would do better at sticking to my plan. But, darn it! My life is full of too many exciting detours that include great food!

I have gained a little back, but not all of it. And we go to Sedona in 10 days. Yikes. It's obvious now that I won't have lost that original goal of 30 lbs. I was ok with that. Not even the new 20 lb goal is attainable at this point. That makes me sad and disappointed. I had the time. I could have done it. But I didn't. 

So now I am making a last ditch effort before we go to get to that point of having lost 10 lbs, and maybe a pound or two more. Then I won't be a total failure. I was so good yesterday (the day I started). It's only 10 days. I can do this. I will be good. 

back on the wagon

This is getting serious. How will I ever reach my goal if I keep taking these "little breaks" here and there? I gained 4 lbs, since my break-through weigh in. Was that three weeks ago? It must have been. I did alright when we went to Virginia, but then I lost all control on girls weekend in San Diego. And I didn't get back on track this last week that I have been home. Now is the time to do it. Do or DIE!

I already exercised this morning and had my protein shake. It's a good start. Let's hope I can get rid of that extra 4 lbs this week (haha) and get back to losing weight.