Weigh-In ... Changes

Today's Weight: 201.5

Loss/Gain: -3.5

Total Loss So Far: -29.5 lbs.

Technically I see this as a maintain since I was 201.5 last Thursday and Saturday, just up on Friday. Nonetheless, I'm glad to see it's not anything higher.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching on some habits that affect not only my weight but other areas of my life as well. I've been reading a couple of books and having some very productive talks with a close friend of mine who is facing some of the same struggles.

I think/know I have some emotional issues related to food and, believe it or not, I'm finding they relate to other areas of my life as well. The same issues keep popping up. I'm probably going to do a small little series on a few subjects to get these thoughts out, but it's going to take some more time and reflection.

Meanwhile, these are a few changes that will be taking place in my life and my blog right away.

• I will not be jogging/running again until my weight gets down some, or until the fall. I will continue working out 4-5 days a week using DVDs and walks at the park. Once my weight has lowered a bit I'm going to take my husband up on the offer to go to a running store and get fitted for some running shoes. I'm hoping the combination of weight loss and maybe "special" shoes will allow me to get back to my 30 minutes of jogging without hip pain for the 12-24 hours following each workout.

• I am no longer using Lose It! to track my food. Counting calories was killing me, especially when I did great and saw gains that week. I am considering a food journal wherein I will track my level of hunger before each meal and fullness afterwards. More on that later. I must tell you when I decided to quit tracking my food I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I will continue to work towards having a fruit or vegetable with each meal and limiting my sweets to one small portion daily.

• Finally, this will be my last official weigh-in. I am going to try a new idea for a month or so that I saw on another blog. I will post my weights each month and under the monthly totals keep a running 7-day average of my weight. This will make more sense when you see it. I have pretty much always seen my daily weighing as the tool I use to keep myself in check. I haven't my journaled food, counted calories or points, but I have weighed myself. Except for certain times of the month it doesn't bother me to see the fluctuations. What does bother me is knowing on Thursday I have a weigh-in Friday and that's the weigh everyone in blogland will judge me by. The past couple of months my Thursdays have become stressful knowing I have to post whatever shows up on Friday, even if I was lower on Thursday. And I'm a little tired of thinking I was awful throughout the week just because of what I have to post on here on Fridays. Of course, I rejoice in the weigh-ins that are good, but I need to do this for now. We'll see how I like it and if it stays permanently after a month or two.

So, I'm glad for this time of soul searching that I'm going through. It's not easy to face yourself and deal with deep issues that no one can see, but when you know the outcome is going to make for a more peaceful, productive, happier way of life it's worth the struggle and study to get there.

Also, I may be away from the computer until next Wednesday due to some activities coming up in our family. Thank you for checking in on me again and for standing by me through these moments. I know I will come out the victor in my weight loss journey and in life with God's help and a little work on my part.

Have a great weekend everyone!