Week 4 begins....

not with a bang but not a whimper, either! One of my bestest friends, Jill, sent me a card today with a caterpillar on it. Inside, she wrote that she chose the card because of the transformation I am in the process of undergoing - like a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. Boy, Jill ALWAYS picks the best and most appropos cards! She's a Zen master at it; she just gets it right. I do feel like this weight loss journey is a metamorphosis of sorts. I am finally starting to emerge from my cocoon of fat and self loathing into a new being. And like any change, it takes time, dedication and consistency. So as I enter my fourth week, I am reminded of why I started this journey: to become healthy and whole in mind, body and spirit as I approach my 50th year on earth. It will not happen overnight but over time; it will not be easy, but will require me to fight and work hard - just as the butterfly must work hard and fight to free itself from the shackle of its cocoon. Once free of the weight, I will "fly" off into my newfound life of health and wellness.

That Jill. She always - and I mean ALWAYS - gets it right!

Induction complete!

So you can see by the pounds countdown to the left that I am down 5 solid pounds! That may not seem like a lot for some people, but for me to be able to eat and lose weight is nothing short of a miracle. I would be lying if I said I didn't wish it was more, but 5 for me is a good thing. Considering the last time I tried to lose 5 pounds I starved myself for a month and didn't lose a thing, So maybe there really is something to eating to rev up your metabolism.

The rest of the program begins today -FATLOSSFORLIFE. More techniques and situational eating to lose weight, so I am up for it. The exercise gets bumped up too, and that is good because I need to do more.

One major breakthrough this morning was that I actually went into a different numbered zone - like going from the 130's into the 120's ( not me of course! I am way higher). I haven't been in a different weight zone for almost 4 years. This is a red letter day!

I can weigh myself weekly now, so that will be posted and updated every Tuesday to really see my progress. Later on today I can measure myself too, to see if there are any differences in my body makeup.

I'll let you know.

One more day...

and I can weigh and measure myself! Funny, today was the first day I woke up and actually "felt" like I had lost some weight. We shall see tomorrow.
After I see if and how much I've lost tomorrow, I am going to start exploring the reasons why this journey was needed. I have such food "issues" that they really need to be addressed and analyzed. Is this the proper forum for public pyschoanalysis? Probably not, but it's the best and cheapest I've got! So if you're following me and sometimes have problems with food or eating habits, try to think of the reasons why. I KNOW I am an emotional eater and food abuser when times are - in my mind - trying. I KNOW I depend on food sometimes to be a friend, and I KNOW that overeating is not the way to solve problems.
KNowing why you are doing something and correcting it are two entirely different beings in two different galaxies.
So..........for today. I will follow the FOODLOVERSFATLOSS plan and hope tomorrow is full of great results.
I'll let you know.

Home and on track!

Well, I had a little blip yesterday, but I am back on track today. I think I may have eaten too much yesterday for an afternoon snack, because we had hors d'oerves after the ballgame. I had only a few nuts and cheese, tho, but I think the combo might not have been the best thing. Oh well, I had a grilled chicken salad for dinner, so that kindo f offset it.

Home now and back on track! Today is day 19, only 3 more to go until the induction phase is over and I can weigh and measure myself. Yippie.

My metabolism is definitely changing because I am really hungry every 3 hrs or so, and that it what is supposed to happen when you are burning and not storing fat. I really hope it's burning the fat from my hips and waist more than anywhere else. I couldn't care less if I lost inches on my arms or inner thighs. Hips and waist, baby, that's where it's at!

SLoppy Joe's for dinner with a salad tonight. Yumm!!

Exercise today is supposed to be 36 minutes of cardio. I think I'll hop on the treadmill a little later on to get that done.

Wish my luck!

Off to the Ballgame!

Okay, so today starts my first, real test with this food plan ( notice I didn't say "diet.") We are traveling and will be eating out a few times. I have already prepared my morning snack and lunch and I threw in a few more snacks for this afternoon and the ride back tomorrow, so I will not be tempted to purchase something on the fly. Breakfast is provided by the hotel, so I know I will be okay with that. My biggest worry is tonight for dinner. I have my foodloversfatloss plan book with me, so when we decide where to eat, I'll flip through it and find the best meal that fits the plan.
Okay. So, here I go. Wish me luck.
Prayer helps, too!

Day 17

Wow! ALmost done with the 21 day induction phase! Today I am allowed to eat any of my favorite foods! that's the plan. No diet food, nothing that wreaks of calorie counting. I almost couldn't believe it when i listened to the audio cd for the day. It isn't a license to go hog wild - which I probably can do very easily. No, you're just supposed to follow the plan and make fatloss plates using your absolutely favorite foods.

This I can do.

My first hurdle will be this weekend, tho because we are traveling out of state and I won't have the ready availability of the foods I need. But I have a plan. I will bring everything with me but the main meals - which we will be eating out, so I will have lunch, snacks, and liquids at the ready. No cheating and no overeating situations will be tolerated! In my foodloversfatloss planner there is an entire guide on how to order when you eat in a restaurant and I am going to have that at the ready, believe you me.

Weigh in in just 5 days.\

Oh, my!

Almost there!

So day 15 has come and gone and I'm still motivated. I was sooooooooo hungry today, tho. I couldn't explain it but it might have something to do with more exercise. I've been walking everyday about 20-30 mins on the treadmill ( with my new tv downstairs - thanks La!) and also doing the cd's from the program every 2-3 days, so maybe I'm staying in fat burning mode longer! Let's hope! I actually did the unthinkable yesterday and ordered a new dress on-line. I won't tell you the size I ordered, but I'm hopeful it will fit. Again, prayer helps!

At the end of this 21 day induction phase I start the "eat right for the rest of your life" portion of the program where I hope to lose the bulk of the 50 pounds. There's also a 6 day detox you can do to rev and speed up the loss. I may do that as well, I'll keep you posted. I'm gearing up for the all too stressful weigh in next tuesday - day 21. I can't tell if I've lost weight be3cause someone who is fat as me doesn't really see the change until they lose about 20 pounds or so. I can assure you I haven't lost 20 pounds yet. That I would know! I'll be happy with 5, tho!