Choosing my weight loss journey

I came across a blog today that made me really sad and also super determined at the same time. It’s not one I follow, and I won’t name it here but it was about a wonderful woman and her weight loss journey over the past 10 years. There were methodically captioned photos for this entire journey which detailed her weight going from 285 pounds to 165 pounds to 235, to 156, to 250 and so on. She was smiling in every photo and I can only commend her determination to lose that weight again and again and again without giving up (she’s currently in what she calls a ‘skinny’ phase). Wow.  I so don’t want to be that person.

It made me realise that I am not losing weight this time for a particular event and then letting go again. I’m doing this to be the healthiest I can be. Full stop. Yes, I’ll have small targets to get me motivated but like so many of you out there I’m not restricting the types of foods I eat – just the amount of calories. I need to be able to live this life for a long time yet. There will still be many chocolate covered pretzels in my future – I just won’t use them as an excuse to stop caring about myself next time.

Yes we can!

This morning the scales showed 92.9kg – 204.8 pounds. Which is still too much but what is cool about that number is that it means I’ve lost 5% and met my initial October holiday goal. Freakin’ awesome!

So let’s up the stakes a bit – October holiday goal now set to 90kg - 198.4 pounds. 7 weeks to do it. Can we do it? YES WE CAN!

Whatever I'm doing is working

Super quick post before I host an all day workshop for out of towners today…another 1.5 pounds down this week – yay! Had an awesome walk around the waterfront yesterday while there was a break in the weather. Really feeling strong in my legs now.

Bit the bullet and bought a laptop yesterday so won’t have to start work early / stay late to keep up with the online world…good stuff, hope everyone had a great weekend like me!

Support of a partner

This week was a great one. I got 3 walks in and a long session in the garden (man my hamstrings are sore today!), and while it may not be burning calories at a high rate it sure stops me from eating the junk food. Why the hell would I want to have to walk even further to burn it off? I also realised that I should have taken some measurements – jeans are feeling loose and I’d like to know what the changes are.

I need to give a shout out to D – he’s kicked the fizzy habit over the past 6 weeks, is trying to eat breakfast and has already lost 5.5kg (12 pounds). Not mention he's coming for walks with me and generally continuing his habit of being super encouraging and affirming. I have never had someone tell me I'm beautiful in my life. He rocks.

I’ve caught up on blog reading and feel totally humbled by the stories of determination and ultimate success. It’s reassuring that there are others out there having the same dumb feelings and thoughts as me. Nearly 2 pounds down this week – wohoo!

Computer says no and congrats Bitch Cakes!

I really thought I'd be in for at least a 500gram loss this week and then I went to a Romanian friend's birthday lunch on Saturday. Big mistake. Romanian birthday celebration = 6 hours of eating and I'm not exaggerating. I tried to use all the tactics in the book - talked non stop to strangers, kept salad on my plate, must have said I was full half a dozen times and claimed a headache every time there was wine offered. Yet still I know it was horrendous calorie wise. D and I had been for an hour walk in the morning in partial preparation but nothing could have offset that carnage.

Yesterday was a lot better - bush walk in the morning and 2 hours strolling around the museum in the afternoon. This morning the scales said no change from last week and I'm ok with that. My exercise is up and I'm tracking foods every day - the weight will follow.

And before I go, huge congrats to Sheryl aka *Bitch Cakes* on reaching her goal weight this past week. I haven’t mentioned her before but I follow her religiously and she’s a huge inspiration to so many of us, not to mention witty and gorgeous!