4th Hurdle - A Stumble

I dreaded getting on the scale this morning. I could guess what it would tell me, and it didn't disappoint. Well, it did, but it was the truth; I've gained back 1-8/10 pounds that I lost, since I made my weightloss commitment. I attribute my weightgain to:

• my granddaughter's end-of-vacation party
• the hot air balloon lift in Baton Rouge, LA
• not journaling (as I said I would do)
• not saying "no" to friends and family

So, this morning I got out my self-made journaling form that I used in Weight Watchers, and I've written down every morsel of food! I brought all of my leftovers to my niece. They're healthy, of course, but not the amounts that I should be eating. Tomorrow, I'm going to purge my pantry. I need to take drastic measures [in moderation, of course! :-) ].

3rd Hurdle - A Snag

Scale didn't show any weight loss on Monday. I didn't gain either, which is a good thing, but I am still a bit disappointed. What I attribute this stall to, is chips, dip, hot dog, and nuts at my granddaughter's (DGD) party. To continue on my healthy lifestyle plan, last week I:

• Increased my morning stretch time.

• Increased my upper ab exercise to 150 reps (6 sets of 25 reps of modified crunches).

• Increased my lower ab exercise to 40 reps.

• Started eating a bowl of fresh fruit before I make breakfast.

• Walked three times, but at DGD's pace, and less than 3/4 mile.

• Worked on DGD's party as a distraction.

• Tried new healthy recipe, "Roast Chicken With Mediterranean Vegetables", only without the Med. veggies :-) ; I used potatoes, onions, carrots, and mushrooms. The recipe can be found in the book, "The Simpler the Better". BTW, the fresh herbs were from my herb garden.

In analizing why my weight did not go down, I think the salt in the food I ate, over the weekend, may have caused some water retention. I don't want to think that I'm at a plateau, already. Even though we think we're not eating much, or that we're eating healthy, that's not always the case. Tomorrow, Wednesday, I'm going to start journaling, something I haven't faithfully done, and something I surely think is key to my success. So, even though this is the middle of the week, I'm going to take my own best advice, and start writing down what I eat, with my next meal. I also need to up my cardio exercise, so will increase my walking, when DGD goes home.

I am determined.

2nd Hurdle - The Race Is On!

It's week 3 of my journey to being 16lbs. lighter, by 09/15/2008. This morning's weigh-in showed me 1-2/10 lbs. lighter (a total of 4-2/10 lbs.) I was hoping for 2, but this is good. What is better, is that my back is still feeling good. Although, in my haste to report about my back, and my faith in exercise and stretching, and me giving other reasons why my back might feel better, I neglected an aspect that my neice, Jewel, pointed out. She asked if my lessening back ache might not be attributed to the fish oil I'm taking. That may very well be, since it is good at eliminating inflamation. I told her that I don't plan to elimnate either the exercise, or the fish, oil to find out. :-) To achieve the above reported weight-loss, last week I:

• Continued those parts of my plan that I started in week 1 (see Clearing the Hurdle).

• Walked once, and used as experiment (see Dancing All the Way). Obligations kept me from more walking, so increase my ab and arm work.

• Added 25 in-bed crunches to my original 100. These crunches are done in 25 count sets, lying flat, knees bent with soles on bed, lifting head about 4", and pulsing 25 times, pushing fingertips toward heels.

• Added arm work with 2lb. free weights.

• Added 20 modified in-bed pushups.

• Had the diversion of planning for my granddaugther's upcoming "Star Studded Night" party.

In addition to the above, I also increase my water intake, but I am not drinking as my liquids as I should. I started journaling (recording what I eat), because I know that that is a key weightloss tool for me, but did not continue throughout the week. These are two things that I want to work on during this week, as I approach my next hurdle.