Week 6, Day 4

I walked this evening until I thought my legs were going to spontaneously combust. I forgot to put my pedometer on, though, so I don't know how far I actually walked. But I'm pretty sure it was far enough to do some good. When I get done here, I'm going to also do some weights work on my arms.

Food has consisted of oatmeal for breakfast, grilled chicken with onions, mushrooms, and green peppers for lunch, and a peanut butter and banana sandwich for dinner.

Today I've been wearing a smaller size pair of slacks, two sizes down from what I have worn for several months. It's probably smaller than I ought to wear -- it's a very tight fit. But the size I had been wearing got annoying because I could no longer keep them pulled up enough to not drag on the ground. It's a great problem to have! But wearing too-small slacks isn't great. I definitely need to drop more weight fast enough to make these things more presentable in public.

We did some leaf peeping today, driving around to see the beautiful Fall colors. They're prettier this year than I've seen them for awhile. Next year I want to be healthy enough to see them by taking a long walk through the park. It's kind of exciting to think about doing things like that again in the not-so-distant future! Enough to keep me pushing forward, even on the days that aren't as pretty and uplifting as today. :)

Week 6, Day 3

Another day of vacation, and I only cheated a teeny bit on my diet -- a chocolate chip cookie after dinner. But if anyone has ever had a cookie from Paradise Bakery & Cafe, they'll understand why I couldn't resist! At least I redeemed myself by getting in some walking at Whole Foods. I covered each aisle and did the perimeter of the entire store twice.

While there, I picked up some flourless 7-grain sprouted bread. Sprouting increases vitamin content, neutralizes phytic acid – a substance present in grains – that inhibits absorption of nutrients, and sprouting neutralizes or "predigests" grains through enzymatic activity, thus breaking down amino acid protein bonds to promote digestibility of the entire grain.It's a little more expensive than regular whole wheat bread, but it's very dense and filling. I end up eating less of it, so the price thing evens out.

I live in a 2-story home and have been having trouble with the stairs for quite awhile. My usual way of climbing the stairs has been sort of like a 3-year old -- one step, both feet on the step, next step, both feet on the step, etc. Today I did it like a grown up for the first time in about a year. I was a little winded at the top of the staircase, but I'm making progress. My goal is to be able to get where I can use the stairs as part of my exercise arsenal. I will never be "normal" for reasons to numerous to mention here ("ecclectic" is the word I use to describe my personality), but I'm headed toward the same level of functioning that normal people have. Little by little -- and no giving up. Right? Absolutely!

Week 6, Day 2

I did well eating out tonight. Grilled tilapia over a bed of shoestringed veggies. Very yummy and diet-friendly. Amazingly filling, too. It's three hours since we ate, and I'm still full. In the past, I would never have chosen this dinner, instead going straight for something with pasta or something with sauces or gravy. I probably would have justified it by taking some of it home with me, figuring that it's not so bad if I break it up into two meals. What a shame that all these years I've missed out on really tasty, healthy food.

My back has been killing me today, so exercise has been limited to working on my arms with the weights. I hate it that I have arm wattles, so I'm content to put extra time in on slimming my arms.

Today is Wednesday, "hump day" for many. For us it's the first day of Adam's vacation. Yippy Skippy!! I just need to stay diligent on my diet this week, allowing a few cheats, but sticking with it as much as I can. No vacation from healthy habits!

Week 6, Day 1

Not a great weigh in. But not terrible. I did my best this week, and that's what matters the most. So I'll take 248. For now. And I'll keep working toward my goal.

The Biggest Loser tonight was good. I liked seeing the folks at home and how they lost weight in spite of the struggles and temptations. I forget which lady it was who was out with her family and not happy with the greasy, unhealthy choices her husband was making. I am beginning to see some foods that way. I still love sweets (I had a small piece of pumpkin pie tonight). But I'm not happy with burgers (they now give me diarrhea), and I can't remember the last time I ate a french fry. Even pizza doesn't seem appealing now.

I had the usual chicken and fat-free cheese sandwich for breakfast, a chef salad for lunch, and a yogurt for dinner. A little bit of walking tonight. Tomorrow Adam's week of vacation starts. We don't have anything particular planned, but I hope his being home incites me to greater activity. I can't help but think it will be an easier week without his coming home each night smelling of tempting food! Wish me luck.

Week 5, Day 7

Last night my son Adam said, "You're looking thinner!" He is now my favorite. :) ((Just kidding, Daniel -- I love you and your brother both the same, and I adore your wife as if she were my very own **insert any other applicable Mommy-isms**.)) I don't feel thinner yet, and I anticipate the scales at tomorrow's weigh-in will not show any loss. But it was nice to hear the positive vibes.

I've eaten okay today. A large bowl of oatmeal (thanks Susan for the suggestion!), two chicken and fat-free cheese sandwiches. I need some veggies, too, but I'm not hungry right now. Maybe later for a snack.

Exercise hasn't been as big a thing today as it probably should have. My back hurts, so I've been doing just a bit of work on my sexy recumbent bike and a little time swinging the hand weights.

I keep intending to mention that I am taking vitamins through all of this. I think that's really important. Not just from a healthy weight-loss perspective, but also especially this year with the whole swine flu thing. It's hard for me, though. I'm just great at developing bad habits, but I've always been miserable about the good ones.

Anyway, I take a multivitamin by Shaklee, plus garlic and an herbal blend that goes by the brand name Clear Lungs that I get from Whole Foods. When I remember to, I also take a calcium supplement that has magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in it -- the brand name is Posture-D and I get it from Walgreens. Here's my rationale: Shaklee makes their vitamins from whole foods and cold processes them so the nutrients aren't lost; garlic has long been known to be good for a myriad of ailments; Clear Lungs works great in managing my asthma; and Posture-D has all the goodies I want from a calcium supplement, all in one. ((Full disclosure: years and years ago I sold Shaklee. I still can, but it's not a focus of mine.))

I hope everyone reading this has someone in their lives who tells them they look great, and I hope everyone who is on a weight loss journey does so with their best health in mind along the way.

Week 5, Day 6

Whew! I just got back from a 45 minute walk around the supermarket. Since I no longer shop from the interior aisles, I walk there and can walk at a pretty rapid pace. I had a huge bowl of salad with chicken breast before I went, so I wasn't tempted at all by the yummy stuff -- frozen goodies like peppermint or double fudge brownie ice cream, or the array of candy bars at the checkout. In fact, I must be making progress because I looked at the ingredients and calories-to-serving-size ratio, and I was disgusted.

I heard sometime recently that if something has more than 5 ingredients, beware. Plus, why spend 300 calories on a half a cup of double fudge brownie ice cream when for the same amount of calories I could have a boatload of veggies or three six ounce cups of smooth, creamy yogurt? Unless I'm craving chocolate -- which I'm not today, it's not worth the caloric expense or the health implications of ingesting unhelpful chemicals.

Tip for today: My friend Kathy has a friend who lost 120 pounds in 2 years. Kathy says, "When she first started she also used a sandwich plate as her dinner plate. She said it helped her feel like she was still getting a full plate of food but had smaller portions.". Great idea, Kathy! Thanks for sharing.