Goals this week

So, I didn't make it to the gym this week... at all
I took my vitamins everyday.
I took my nasty concoction a couple of times (ACV)
I started a new job.
I helped work on the house getting it ready to be painted

My goals this week:
Do better :)

The Third Step (completion of week 2)

Here we are at the completion of week 2.

Weight: 307.9
Total Loss to date: 5 lbs.

My accomplishments this week were that I went to the gym once, took my ACV drink two days and took my vitamins every day.

My goals this week are to go to the gym more than once and drink the ACV concoction daily.

Along the Path

Last week, I went to a store in Independence.  I ran in while the family waited in the car and as I was checking out, a man came up to me and flirted.  He asked if I was married and was gracious in his compliments.  I blushed, and accepted his praise with gratitude and rushed through check out.

A few days later, another similar thing happened.  In another store, another man flirted with me and told me I was beautiful.

So, let me explain something, as a heavy person, I hate compliments.  When somebody says I'm beautiful, I struggle to believe them.  When my husband tells me I'm beautiful, I struggle to believe him.  When the world tries to tell me that big is beautiful, I sincerely struggle to believe them... but only as it applies to me.

There a few heavy women in our church congregation.  I see them as beautiful.  Why is it so difficult for me to believe that I can be seen as I see others?

A diversion

I had an interesting sensation yesterday that I want to share with you.  I have really felt a huge difference with the few pounds I've lost.  My aches are dimmed and my energy increased.  My self-image changed.  I felt thin again...

Then we took a picture in my class yesterday

To say I was disappointed would not be wholly correct. Sure, it was a stark reminder, a necessary shot of realism.

I'm a big woman, and that's OK.

But that's only have of what I got from this.  The other half is a reminder of what I'm aiming for.  When I was thin a couple of years ago, I felt it.  I felt attractive and special, unique and just plain good.  In order to not drag myself down over the last few years, I gave myself credit for having babies.  This is what my body is for and to avoid having children just to look good is selfish and prideful.

So, I'm a big woman, and that's OK.

Remembering being thin, remembering thinking I'm beautiful, remembering the power of my smile... that was what I got from this experience.  This goal of feeling that way again, not just the numbers, but really feeling these things again, that is what this journey is about.

Admittedly, I'm a big woman, and that's OK.

Another Paver

Prayer is something people, in general, have forgotten.  With it, we have peace and comfort in trying times, a place to turn when every other path seems hopeless, and a direct communication with Deity.  We've been told to pray over our gardens, to keep a prayer in our hearts.  Wouldn't it make sense that a loving Father in Heaven would want us to pray over anything that is of concern to us?

So, I pray.  I pray about my weigh loss.  I pray about my garden (literally).  I pray in gratitude or in need.  I even express gratitude when I'm stuck behind somebody slow and they move over or the light turns green just in time for me to go through the intersection, especially when I'm running late.  There is no limit to what we can pray about, so why should our weight, this temple we've been given for this earthly existence, be any different?

A Paver

After having a conversation with my sweet friend, Aly, the other day, I wanted to share with others what I shared with her.  I've had a lot of "weight loss experience" (I wish that were usable on a resume) and while I'm by no means an expert, I have learned a lot.

There a lot of adages

• It took years to gain the weight, it will take years to get it off
• I'm on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it.
• Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. 
• The first thing you lose on a diet is your sense of humor. 
• You can't lose weight by talking about it. You have to keep your mouth shut. 
• Instead of focusing on which unhealthy foods to eat less of, concentrate on which healthy foods to eat more of. 
• The toughest part of a diet isn't watching what you eat. It's watching what other people eat.
• I'm in shape. Round is a shape — isn't it?
• Obesity is a condition which proves that the Lord does not help those who help themselves and help themselves and help themselves.

In my discussion with my friend, she asked what I'm doing to lose weight.  This was my advice.

"Start with one thing at a time.  Take a month just worrying about whether or not there's High Fructose Corn Syrup in your diet (or any other ingredient you're concerned about).  Eventually, you'll want to limit sugars as much as possible, but first just get rid of fake sugars.  It's better to eat junky food if the junk is at least natural, so use butter instead of margarine, stevia instead of sugar, and little things like that.  You'll find, if you're paying attention, at the end of your trial period with these changes, that you won't actually like the fake flavors anymore... that is your first ounce of motivation.  Then, you add in something else, like an exercise you enjoy, for me it's volleyball.  You do that for a month or two or three while keeping up with the other change you made previously.  These things will become completely natural to you and when you're ready to do something more, you add in another little change.
It's hard, but we have a tendency to feel the "all or nothing" aspect of weight loss, but you're really just trying to do stuff you know you'll keep doing for years, not just to lose the weight."

That last part is the key, in my opinion.  Why waste your time on something temporary with temporary results?  Just do what you know you will stick to/ afford.

If you're eating food that you could throw away because "it's waste", think of it this way, it's either "waste" or "waist", you get to decide if it's more wasted on your butt or in the trash.  My chiropractor, when I told him of my intent to do this competition and blog, suggested that you fill your plate and then throw half of it in the trash.  Now, I wouldn't necessarily go that far for myself, but I could see the psychology working for somebody else.

There are yummy vegetables and salt in moderation is not a bad thing, so, if I'm really munchie or hungry, I just steam some veggies or enjoy them fresh.  It's filling, healthy and really yummy.  Now, that being my opinion doesn't necessarily mean that it will work for everybody, but you can find your niche.  There's something that will work for each of us.  Pick yours and make it happen.
Be patient, be willing to fail, but more importantly, be willing to succeed.

The Second Step

First week of the competition.... check
My weigh in Sunday evening with a weight of 309.7 and a total loss to date of 3.2 lbs.

I've been asked what I'm doing to lose weight.  In one of my first posts I shared my plans and some options, but I'm going to go into much more detail here.

This first week, I only did a food changes.  I ate reasonable caloric intake, made sure I had enough protein and ate less.  The app I use is MyNetDiary.com and I LOVE IT.  It tracks not just my food and calories, but my protein, fat, carbs, etc.  The app also tracks my water intake, exercise and calories burnt.

This week, the changes being made include regular exercise and restarting my vitamin regimen.  I will also begin my use of the reader comments recommended Apple Cider Vinegar recipe.  We'll see what a difference it makes this week.