Can I Hear a What, What!

Raise the roof! I have broken 180 pounds! The last time I was less than 180 was over ten years ago, when I was first teaching!

So, what does that mean? You guessed it, I am no longer classified as obese! You guys may remember that one of my visualizations was looking at the BMI chart and seeing myself in the "normal" range. That vision seems possible to me now!

Today is another milestone, in that I get start incorporating real food back into my diet. I know that this addition is going to slow my weight loss, but that is okay. What's important is losing the weight, not getting it off quickly. I think many of us give ourselves a hard time when the weight doesn't come off like it does on the Biggest Loser. I think we forget that those folks on the Biggest Loser are working out 6-8 hours a day and eating the best possible food with almost no temptations. Sometimes they only lose a pound, even after all that!

I thought for sure that I would lose at least two pounds this week, but I lost a pound and a half. What am I going to do? Beat myself up? NO WAY. I just looked back at my activity levels and realized that I need to step it up a bit on the cardio. I don't need to run a marathon; I just need to go BACK to walking/jogging four days a week. I realized I stopped doing regular cardio a few weeks ago and kept "meaning" to go back to it. I just have to do it if I am going to continue to lose 1-2 pounds a week.

I am still struggling with the scale thing. I've stopped weighing myself compusively 10 times a day, and just settled onto an evening weigh in and a morning weigh in (I am doing an experiment on sleep and weight loss-you guessed it--8 hours or more of sleep almost always result in lower numbers. I am doing some research, and it has to do with cortisol levels.) It is hard when the scale inexplicable creeps up for no discernable reason! I think that is why most weight loss programs encourage you to keep to weighing yourself one time a week. I think I will do that once I am finished with the Optifast.

Okay, so one final thing before the numbers. Shape magazine has this great article on toning your arms this month. I have modified the "standing dip" for my GeekStyle workout. Instead of the bands, I just use my hand weights. Stand up straight, make sure your core is steady (tuck in those hips), and slightly bend your knees. Then bend your arms so that your fists are at waist level, then push down. Do 20 reps, three times. (The actually exercise is on p. 106 of the July 2010 issue. )

The numbers:

Starting Weight: 224
Current Weight: 178.5
Goal Weight: 160

The goals:

Getting off the scale and into my life!

See you next week!