Hot 100 - Update #6

I'm a little behind in posting my Hot 100 update. I knew it was coming, but haven't checked blogs or anything since Thursday night I think.

Anyway, here it goes!

My Hot 100 November Goals:

Scale Goal: Reach my first scale goal of 199 by Thanksgiving. That is losing 15 pounds between now and then.

Emotional Goal: Learn how to stay on track while my mother visits the week of Thanksgiving and not feel bad about it. I tend to not want to make her feel bad with my losing weight. I've told her this and she is most encouraging, but it's still rough for me.

I must tell you that I know for sure that I will not hit 199 by Thanksgiving. I guess if I starved myself and worked out a lot I could lose 10 pounds in the next four days. :) I just don't see it happening though.

A week or so ago I was very upset when I realized I wasn't getting closer to 199. However, I've gotten out of my funk and decided that it's a goal I am still going to try and hit by the end of the year.

I have not given up and I will keep working on it.

As for the emotional goal... my mom came into town on Saturday. So far it hasn't been too hard to eat less. Plus, I'm noticing that she is eating less also. Glory! I think I will definitely make my emotional goal this month. :)

No Stress Allowed

Hello! Well, Thanksgiving week is upon us and there is so much to be done. I really love this time of year. I enjoy cooking up the Thanksgiving meal and baking some pies. I enjoy putting together some baked goods for friends and spending time with loved ones over the long holiday weekend.

I wonder how many people are nervous about this holiday centered around a HUGE meal? How many people are already nervous about putting on a couple of pounds, or not being able to eat anything because it's all too high in calories? How many people think they will lose all control this holiday and in turn they will feel like they are a failure at weight loss and give up?

I'm not. I will eat what I like. I will enjoy a little of my favorites and then I will stop. Yes, I will even have a small piece of dessert, or bites of a few different ones. I will enjoy the food, but in moderation.

I've done this before and I know it can be done.

Will I lose weight this week? Honestly, I'm not sure. I know I will be careful the rest of the week and I will try and fit in some exercise, but I'm not going to stress myself out over my weight.

In my humble opinion, Thanksgiving is too wonderful a holiday to ruin it with weight-related issues.

My body knows what it wants and it knows to tell me when it's had enough. This Thanksgiving I will listen to my body and I will stop eating when it says, "Okay, we've had enough." and I will be content with that.

How about you? Are you stressing over the amounts of food that may possibly be set before you this Thanksgiving and your ability to control yourself around it all?

Please don't be.

Do your best and don't stress. If you do put on a pound or two, please don't hate yourself. You'll have plenty more days and weeks to continue working on your weight loss.

Have a great week everyone!

"Hey Skinny!"

Yesterday at school a teacher's aid asked me if I was losing weight. I told her, "Yes, I am and thank you for noticing!"

She said it was "really noticeable" when she walked in the room and saw me. I explained that it's been a slow process, but changes are being made and I do feel better.

Of course, you know that made my day. :)

Well, today I was at the school for about an hour as Mom, instead of substitute and the same teacher's aid sees me and says, "Hey Skinny!!"

I just laughed! I know at 209.5 lbs I am NOT skinny.

She gushed again about how it's so noticeable and I look great. I giggled and thanked her again for her kind words.

Silly lady. She's definitely a friend I'll have to keep around! :)

Weigh-In ... I Don't Really Care

Today's Weight: 209.5

Loss/Gain: + 1.0 lb

Total Loss So Far: -21.5 lbs

Well, this might be a good time to say that I weigh myself a couple of times a week. Earlier in the week, about two days ago I had a weight that would've shown a decent loss for this week. I figured if I could stay around there I'd be doing good.

Then I just didn't drink hardly any water and yesterday I didn't eat weightloss portions. They weren't huge, but they weren't light either. To top it all off, I ate dinner at 8:00 pm. Not a good combination the day and night before weighing in.

So, when I say that I don't really care about this gain, it's because I know that I've been doing better. I'm back on track making better choices and I've been exercising. I just had bad timing with some "free" eating.

I know that I need to make sure to make every day count so this doesn't happen again, and I will keep working on that.

I hope you're having a great Friday!

On The Go Energy

I've had a very busy, on-the-go week so far. Last night I was so tired I fell asleep as soon as I got into bed and it was only 10:30.

As I go about my days I keep thinking ahead to Thanksgiving next week, and even Christmas after that. I'll stick with talking about November today.

My mother comes in Saturday for a week-long visit and then my brother and his wife are coming on Wednesday to spend Thanksgiving with us. There are plans zipping through my mind as I go about my days.

What do I need to clean?

What to buy for the Thanksgiving meal?

When to bake for some friends?

Do I have to take daughter to her practice, or will husband be home in time for that?

What days am I working this week, and how can I plan accordingly?

The list could go on, and I'm sure most of you can relate. It's a busy, busy time, but I love every minute of it!

As I was cleaning up the kitchen the other evening, exhausted but determined to keep the house picked up, I realized that I'm so glad I have the energy to keep up with it all.

Miraculously I have been able to keep my house in decent order through all the activities of the past weeks. It's like I have this hidden energy that drives me.

Don't get me wrong, I look forward to relaxing a few days with my mom, but I'm just a bit amazed at how I've been able to keep going even when I'm tired.

Then it hit me...maybe, just maybe this is because not only have I lost 22 pounds, but I am exercising regularly!! You see, I only currently weigh a few pounds less than I did a year ago and even two years ago, but I am exercising regularly now.

HA! I'm seeing an added benefit to my weight loss and exercise change - More energy to keep up with a busy household!

Speaking of which... I need to go check on my soup and finish getting dinner ready. Then I'll yada, yada, etc. etc.

Boy, am I loving this! :)

One Step At A Time

Sometimes I'm overwhelmed with my weightloss goals. I can't even imagine myself fit and thin, and if I'm not careful I can drown in the doubts and unbelief that I'll ever reach my goals.

I decided a few days ago that I'm going to continue taking it one step at a time. One day. One good decision. Eventually I know all the steps and good decisions will lead me to where I want to go.

For now, that's my thinking on this weightloss journey. Just so you know. :)

Taking Responsibility

I feel like I'm out of my weight loss funk. One way I know I'm back to my old self is that I'm willing to see what needs changing in my life and I'm not dreading what it will take to change.

For example, last week the thought has been marinating in my mind that it is easier to blame something or someone else for my weight issues than to take responsibility for them myself. It's much easier to say, "It runs in my family." or "I just have a slow metabolism." or "I can't run, because it will hurt my knees."

Because, you see, if I blame my genetics or physical limitations then I am no longer responsible for my actions. It's as if to say that I have no control in this area.

But what happens when I look at pictures of my family and notice that all the women were thin in their youth, or realize that when I jog a bit or push myself on the elliptical my body doesn't hurt more than normal after a workout.

Hm... The foundation for my being overweight has just crumbled.

Suddenly I am faced with the possibility that I've been making excuses for my weight instead of taking responsibility for my own choices.

Yes, the women in both sides of my family have battled getting heavier after they had children or got older, but they were all thin growing up. Yes, I've noticed that a large meal sticks with me longer than with a friend who has a faster metabolism naturally. Yes, I am very sore the next day when I workout hard.

Yet, these situations are not unconquerable.

I can decided that I am going to be more careful about how much I eat and not settle into accepting that I'll be an overweight, older woman.

I can decide that since my metabolism is slower than some I will have to eat a little less and exercise a little more to stay at a healthy weight.

I can push myself harder when exercising and realize that the pains are normal and not life threatening.

But first I must take responsibility. I must "face the music" and realize it's no one's fault but my own that put me at 231 lbs.

I pushed myself into the "obese" category after moving out on my own as an adult. I have ignored the signals my body sends telling me I'm full, or not even hungry, many times over the years. I have never exercised regularly, or ever pushed myself past a brisk walk when I did exercise.

Those were my choices. I must accept the fault as my own. Only after facing up to the truth and taking responsibility for my own actions can I begin to change.