Experiments, Failures And Redesigned Goals

Day 1 of six weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: a pound gain from the day before

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of brown sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low:0
total:195

3 1/2 oz banana:87
vanilla protein shake:110
1 tsp of flax seed oil:40
total:237
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running total:432

2 large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
4 oz of sliced strawberries: 36
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
1 tsp of brown sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low:0
2 Laughing Cow cheese bites:10
total:341
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running total:773

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of brown sugar:15
few bites of peanut butter and jelly sand which:40
total:205
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running total:978

3 oz chicken breast:105
4 oz baked potato:88
with 1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
7 oz of slice tomato:32
with 1 tsp of brown sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee: 30
1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop: 40
total: 325
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total:1303

Today's challenge: Keeping motivated. I'm getting a little sick. Been coughing, runny nose...nothing major just annoying.

actual fitness: 4 mile run. I won't be running as many miles this week to make sure my legs are rested and ready for the half marathon on Saturday.

Note on picture: I know I've already posted tomato pictures. But I love these things. Our neighbor just dropped off another five or so big, plump tomatoes fresh from his garden. They were still warm when I ate this yesterday. And only about four calories an ounce. This is actually like eating fruit when they're this fresh.

Experiments, failures & Redesigned Goals

Ok, that title was a mouthful.

Not that I would know about mouthfuls or anything...

Ahem...

New day! Right?

Anyway, I've been doing some thinking about my little wayyyy-off-day the other day, and I've come to a few conclusions about it.

I need to allow myself more calories in my diet. Last week I was limiting myself to 1200 or under and I do believe I was feeling weak. That combined with needing to go grocery shopping and being low on food the day before that fateful Saturday...ok...sorry about the drama...
didn't help matters. The biggest issue, though, I think was my lack of determination. I think I kind of wanted a break...because I wasn't giving my body enough calories.

If you look at the fact that I went over by 800-1,000 calories...that's the exact amount that I would have had during the week if I'd kept to a 1,400 calorie diet.

Part of what's going on here...is that I'm doing some experimenting with calories and for the first time in my life everyone gets to watch. I made a goal last week but didn't share the specifics with you all because it was an aggressive goal. It was something I had never achieved before, so I wasn't sure how quickly or slowly the weight would drop because I have less to lose than when I started this ten weeks ago.

Also, part of the push was driven by the fact that I wanted this weight to drop by my birthday. But after this weekend, I can see that I probably won't hit it. Don't worry, I won't cry...at least not in front of you all.

So, what I learned from this last week is that I will put my calories back up to between 1,200 to 1,400 depending on how I feel. I will be running fewer miles this week because I am tapering for my half-marathon that will happen this Saturday. So, I may not need as many calories.

I've also decided to re-start my goal and give myself six weeks to lose 12 pounds, which is a continuation of a two pound a week average. This goal seems reasonable and safe for my body.
But, since I've never really documented whether or not I can still maintain a two pound a week weight loss average when I have less weight to lose, I really don't know if I'll reach that goal in six weeks. It could take longer. Or maybe I might just decide that I don't want to lose twelve pounds after all.

I do know that I want to lose at least several pounds.

See? I'm using Saturday's failure as a learning experience to help modify my goals and make them more reasonable and attainable.

And, honestly? I'm really curious to see how this will all work out.