Too long since my last post...

I realize that it's been more than the usual weekly timeframe since I last posted...my humblest apologies. I know it's a tired and old excuse, but I just got busy. I did stay on track though and have now lost 32.4 pounds! And I weigh in again today.

Planning is still key for me. Especially with all of the end of the school year activities that are going on for all of us. Crazy busy doesn't even start to describe it all. Camping, scouting, symphony, music lessons, scholarship competitions, work, parties, award assemblies, school, visitors, and the typical stuff that goes on every day for everyone make for a very hectic schedule. Hectic schedules can lead to unplanned eating which, for me, almost always leads to quick and easy bad choices. A little preparation and planning can go a really long way. I also make sure that I hold myself accountable with the food tracking, and that combination has made the difference. I'm shopping according to lists based on menu plans that I still make a week ahead. There's always room for a little improvisation, but a firm foundation means that won't throw my weight loss for a loop.

I think I'm going to set my goal today with my group leader and I'll talk about that next time.

Less later,
Laurie

A smaller marshmallow? And a travel plan.

OK, I've lost 28 pounds and gained confidence in my ability to do this long term. When I went to the WW meeting Saturday though, I heard something I'd always known, but it sunk in for the first time. If you lose weight by just managing food and not exercising, you go from being a marshmallow to being a smaller marshmallow! I mean really, why didn't I think of that? Oh yeah, I don't like exercise. I have noticed that as my body ages, even when I lose weight, things jiggle more than I would like. Having said that I don't like exercise however, doesn't mean that I don't do it. I hit my 10,000 steps a day, do the occasional jaunt on my elliptical machine, have ridden my bicycle for exercise, swim (now that the pool is up to temp), but I'm gathering that it's not enough. I'm going to have to add something to my routine to help firm up my marshmallow-ness.

Enough about weight loss! On to entertainment. This blog started last year with my planning our nearly 8000 mile round the country trip. And since the school year is coming to a close, it must be time to hit the road again. This year's adventure? The Pacific Northwest.

We (this year Chip's on the WHOLE trip with us) will head to San Francisco, Oregon, and Napa. We'll take side trips to Seattle, Mt. St. Helen's, Crater Lake, and more! It's a work in progress and we'll unfold the details as we go along. Yes, we're driving again, this time in a minivan. More room for the kids should make it a little more enjoyable from their perspective.

Having read the cyber-warnings, I guess this is the point where I'll let the criminals know that we will have the house being watched, so don't bother.

It looks like the kids and I will add a trip east right before school starts again. More on that later too.

I've got to get ready for work, so I'll sign off now.

Less later!
Laurie

26.4, 26.4, 26.4!!!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but Easter happens!

I weighed in on Friday morning and found that I had passed 25 lbs and have gotten to 26.4 lost. I feel fantastic! I'll have to buy some clothes shortly, but am living in baggy bottoms for now. I've shrunk back down into some of the clothes I'd outgrown, and then through them.

I'm doing more minutes on the elliptical, have some sense of control over my food choices, and try to be diligent with my tracking and planning. That is still key for me. If you get to lunch and have already lost sight of the food for the day, there's nowhere left to go. But you also have to keep it in perspective. If you mess up and over-do, you don't throw in the towel, you say, "What are you going to do next?".

I wish I had taken some body measurements when I started, but I couldn't bring myself to see those numbers. They were worse for me than the scale.

My goal keeps moving. Originally, I thought 25 would be where I wanted to be, but now I'm there and I acknowledge what I've accomplished already, but I'm not there yet. I'll see what the next 10 feels like and decide where to go from there.

Less later!
Laurie