Margaret's Weight Loss Journey for 2011

Going up?

2011-10-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm going up...up in pounds. This morning when I entered my weight at calorieking.com I received this message: You have gained 6 pounds in 3 months. It would have been better if it had said: You have lost 6 pounds in 3 months. My fear is that it will take me 6 months to lose those 6 pounds. Maybe even longer.

We took 3 vacations beginning the middle of August and ending on October 19. I did get some exercise in but not like the regular exercise I do. Plus we ate out a lot and while in Virginia my very kind sister-in-law pushed desserts at us right and left. There was candy in bowls. There were peanuts. You'd think after 3 years of hard work that I'd be strong enough to not give in. To just say "NO THANK YOU." But I wasn't.

I need to not only lose these 6 pounds plus 25-30 more, I also need to develop a backbone and learn to make the right choices. Is it about me not wanting to hurt someone's feelings if I refuse a dessert or second helping? It shouldn't be. It should be about me wanting to get healthy, look better, and live longer.

So on this traditional day of eating candy...I will eat no candy. I want very much to say "no" to all sugary treats until Thanksgiving Day and then allow myself one piece of pumpkin pie.

September 2011

2011-09-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

After months of hard work--eating right and a lot of exercise--I have managed to stay below 200 most of the time. I've been as low as 197 and go up and down between there and 199. It seemed I was stuck around 204 for a long time and so I won't mind tooooo much if I stay around 197 for awhile. I'd love to get to 190 because then I would no longer be considered obese.

Frustrations

2011-07-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

I've been under 200 for twelve days in a row. That hasn't happened since 2001. But this afternoon I weighed and I was 203.2. Unless I urinate a lot this means tomorrow I will be 200+ or even 201. I feel like I don't even dare eat any dinner tonight. I am so terribly frustrated and there is not a human being except my CalorieKing friends and one other that I can express it too. Not even my husband.

I wasn't feeling badly this morning until I received this message on Facebook from my sister. It was directed to me but in the public setting where all my friends can see it. Today's challenge: you can't post anything w/the words "calories, food, weight, or exercise". Ready? GO! ;^)

This hurt me beyond words. Months ago my very good friend told me I talk about my weight too much. My husband got very upset with me several months ago for telling him my weight in the mornings and
expressing my disappointments when I gained.

I count calories every day. I exercise at least 6 days a week. I've lost 70 pounds and yet I have this horrible fear that some morning I'll get on the scale and I'll weigh 270 again.

I sometimes feel like giving up and that scares me too.

People who are naturally thin and never have to work at it do not realize how fortunate they are.

Some days are harder than others

2011-06-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

I am kind of a loner. It isn't that I prefer being alone, but when I am it is hard for me to leave and go be with people. I am not agoraphobic. Guess I am afraid I'll be a bother, plus I don't have many close friends. I have never developed a crafty side and I'm not good at any of them. Knitting, sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking....

Today I just wanted to eat and eat and eat. I didn't. But I wanted to.

For my Monday weigh in I was up nearly 2 lbs. from Sunday so that bummed me out. From 201.6 to 203.4. I did 65 min. of exercise, working my arms very hard.

And I have to keep exercising like this and eating like this for forever or I'll go back to 270 pounds.

June 2011

2011-06-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

I am reading an inspiring book of weight loss entitled "Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir." The author, Jenette Fulda, decided that, as she neared 400 lbs., it was time to lose weight. She didn't talk about, she didn't join any groups, she didn't count calories or carbs, she didn't even tell her family members. She just decided to start eating in a more healthy manner and to begin exercising. Her motto when asked was "move more, eat less." That is what I've been saying as I've been on my weight loss journey since Oct. of 2008.

I haven't lost any weight in over a year, but due to exercising...not only cardio but also weights and weight machines, I am much stronger. When I see pictures of my former body I am horrified that I let myself get that big and not truly realize how fat I was. I still get discouraged because my belly is big. BUT I have lost 7 inches of fat around my waist. My arms sag (but so does just about every woman's on earth), but I think they are at least 3 inches smaller.

When I walk down an aisle at the grocery store it is not difficult to pass by the cookies, candy, chips or ice cream. Those things do not have the pull they used to. It doesn't mean that I never eat any of those things because I do. But not very often.

Trying to lose weight doesn't mean you have to totally deprive yourself of everything you like. I could have one piece of cake, but if I make a cake I will have 8, 9, 10 pieces of cake because I would help myself every time I passed the pan. Well, almost every time.

There are certain things we choose to not have in the house all the time. If something is a constant temptation, why even have it somewhere in your house? If a person is trying to quit smoking would you keep a pack of cigarettes on the table? I don't think so.

Holding pattern

2011-06-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

Since the last time I posted I have actually gained weight. This morning 204.4.

An hour of exercise daily. Eating more healthy. Counting calories.

I seriously don't know what else to do.

I reported my measurements last time and you'd think with all my time on the treadmill, the bike, the various machines and lifting weights (up to 15 pounds) that there would be a difference. But in fact, I think I'm actually a bit bigger in areas.

The magazines have articles about how much weight you can walk off and I have a very hard time believing it. On the treadmill I walk on incline and I walk fast--not at the same time. I can actually walk at 4.5 MPH, but not for long periods of time.

Here is a note I posted on Facebook: A Weighty Issue

I was a skinny kid....a really, really skinny kid. I was a skinny teenager....a really, really skinny teenager. My dad was skinny. But the legacy on my mother's side was FAT. My grandmother was fat, my mother was fat and I eventually became FAT, yes, very fat; in fact, obese.

When I got married I weighed around 140--not too bad, but 12 lbs. more than when I was 16. As the years progressed I became more and more addicted to food, the overeating of it. I have a picture of me when my oldest child was about 1 and I looked good. I looked really good. But I think being home all day led me to turn to food and over time the pounds came on. When my children were young I never set a limit on what they ate. We had ice cream all the time in the house. There were no restrictions as I recall. But because of the cycle of ovrweight in my family and because I hated being fat so very much I did tell my daughter, "I don't want you to get fat like me." Fortunately she never did.

I was in the 240s and 250s for over 20 years. But when I went to the doctor and I was 260 that scared me to death. So in 2001 I went on a diet and lost 80 lbs. I was at 178 and I looked good. I had gone 9 months without eating any sugar. Unfortunately at my lowest weight we went on vacation and from the moment I put that first bite of cake into my mouth the pounds began to slowly creep back on. Every 5 pounds I would tell myself, "That's it. No more." Then the next 5 pounds and the next and the next until I had regained 90 pounds.

In October of 2008 I joined Calorie King and since then I've lost 55-60 pounds. Absolutely no one can tell me to lose weight or that I don't need to lose weight. That decision rests solely in my hands. My spouse can't tell me to lose weight, my friends, my kids....no one. It is my decision. And unless a person has a true food eating disorder, the decision to lose 5 pounds or 50 pounds rests in YOUR hands. I also believe my spouse can never tell me that I shouldn't lose any weight.

I don't want anyone to say....it's only 5 pounds I've gained. Because it is too easy to let that 5 turn into 10, 15, 20. For me it turned into 90 pounds.

For the past 16 months I've struggled to get below 200 and stay there. I exercise at least 6 hours a week. I eat sensibly most of the time. But 200 eludes me. One thing I do know. I will never, ever, ever, ever go back to 270. According to my BMI I am still obese. My children are adults now, but I still do not want them to ever be obese.

This is an extremely painful subject for me. The jolly fat person is a myth.

Week 6 2/5/2011

2011-02-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago my weight was 205.2. I was not able to weigh last Saturday since I spent the night in the hospital. Today I am 203. I'm up just a bit from February 1.

Being on an "eat healthy plan" is something you can not be off and on about. I think about this every day, and all through the day. I cannot just grab a handful of almonds throughout the day. I count them out. Is it worth it? Yes. Is it easy? No.

Saturday is the one day we go out to breakfast (unless traveling). Today we went to a restaurant we hadn't been to in awhile. I could have had oatmeal, but I have that often at home. I chose to have an egg, hashbrowns and one piece of toast. I will worry that tomorrow this will show up when I weigh. I do get tired of worrying all the time and those of you who can eat whatever you want and not gain weight have no idea of how fortunate you are.

My daughter and kids are coming for lunch. I'm having mini meatloafs and potatoes with some type of vegetable so this should be okay. This also means that tonight will be a light supper. Soup, sandwich, ??

February 1st Report

2011-02-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

January 1: 208.6
February 1: 202.4

My determination is paying off--keeping away from sugar, logging food eaten, and exercise.

Chest: 33.5 (lost 1 inch)
Hips: 43 (lost 1/2 inch)
Waist: 37 (lost 1/2 inch)
Thigh: 23.25 (lost 1/4 inch)
Left knee: 18.75 (lost 1/4 inch)
Left calf: 16 (the same)

Body fat: 46.4% (down .9%)

This has been an incredible month. One I will not expect to repeat in February. My goal for this month is to be 199. And to be more watchful of sodium intake.

Margaret

Week Four 1/22/11

2011-01-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

January 1: 208.6
January 15: 206.4
January 22: 205.2

I'm very pleased with my progress this month. I'm doing very well with the no sugary treats. Drinking lots of water and getting in my exercise. After awhile it just becomes your way of life. So glad my husband is going to the gym with me. Should I have a day where I think "I don't want to go." he says, "We paid for it, we're going."

Last night we ate at Red Lobster. My meal fit in with my calories and I even ate one of their "evil" Cheddar Bay Biscuits--just one! Seriously, they are not a good choice because 1 has 150 calories.

Week Three 1/15/2011

2011-01-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

206.4

I gained .8 from the week before but from the first of January I'm still down 2.2 lbs. Then today (Sunday) I was back to 205.

Keeping up my hour (or very close to it) a day of exercise. Keeping track of my food eaten so all is well.

I weigh about 65 lbs. less than my highest weight and I have 2 areas that I still have the fat clinging to. One, of course, it the belly. When I read all those magazines that say "walk away the belly fat" I'm so so so unbelieving. I've walked miles and done hundreds of abs workouts. I have lost about 7 inches in my waist but I need to lose about 3 more to be in the healthy range.

I'm satisfied with my hips, legs, thighs and back. But my knees are extremely fat. Pouches of fat behind the knee--very, very unattractive. I do a lot of exercises for my legs but I know of no exercise that targets the knees. So it is my hope that if I lose an additional 25 to 30 lbs. that some of that fat will disappear.

Week Two 1/08/11

2011-01-08T12:16:00.000-08:00

January 1: 208.6
January 8: 205.6

Hurray! Loss of 3 lbs. for the week.

Changes I've made:
   more water
   not eating back all of my exercise calories
   giving up sugary treats for the month

I've got a new attitude!

Week One 1/1/11

2011-01-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

208.6 lbs. 47.3% body fat

In 2009 I posted weekly my weight loss adventure and did well. In 2010 I chose to not do this and I actually gained back just a bit over 3 lbs. during the year.

In 2011 I'm going to post here again weekly.

Goals: Exercise an hour a day at least 6 days a week.
Drink more water.
Eat more fruit and vegetables.

Finishing Strong in 2010

2010-12-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

Finally finally finally things are beginning to turn around for me. I hope so much to at least end 2010 where I started...204. I had been so sure that I would be at my goal long before this so it's been a difficult year. But this week my faithfulness is beginning to pay off. I'm doing one week without sugary treats. Saturday I have two (yes, two) Christmas Teas to attend. This will test my integrity and will power to the nth.

Time to change the title

2010-11-23T11:11:00.000-08:00

This has been a disappointing year in my weight loss journey....up, down, up, down, maintain, up, up, up, down...etc.

I am in a challenge that will start on November 29, 2010 to lose 10 lbs. in 10 weeks. I have such doubts because I haven't even been able to lose 10 pounds in 48 weeks. And it isn't for lack of trying. I've exercised 5-6 days per week for most of the year. Vacation times were a bit of a problem. I'm not sure what else I can add to my program to get my body to release some weight. I'm still considered obese and that is not good.

Here's to getting past the holidays and start losing again.

I am tired of being a....

2010-10-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

person who talks too much. Yep, that is what I was told. I talk too much and about unimportant things. I don't like silence. In the car I want talk radio on. At home I want the TV on or the radio. When in a group of people I'm very uncomfortable if no one is talking so I talk. I don't feel like it is a bad thing, but evidently I say stupid things...things that don't need to be said. I don't even know what I said that is wrong. To me it is just making conversation, but to others it is overbearing, and embarrassing. How do I change myself? I'm 62 and so I think it just might be too late for me.

fat person. I've regained 10 pounds and I wonder if it is worth the effort to lose it again, and again, and again, and again. It's too much and right now I cannot deal with it. I CANNOT DEAL WITH IT!

person with only a few friends. I miss having lots of friends. But maybe I didn't really have friends. Maybe I just thought I did.

person whose nephews hate me. What did I do to them besides speak? I'm so hurt by being hated when I have so much love in me. I guess what I said in the first paragraph applies here.

person who everyone thinks is happy.

A New Goal

2010-07-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

The thought of having to lose another 30 pounds to get to 170 has been overwhelming. Considering that it has taken me almost 7 months to get about 5 pounds off...I'd be working to get to the goal for about 5 years! So my goal as of now is to get to 185. At that point (which will probably be in 2011) I can decide if I can or want to go lower.

Getting thin has been good and bad. Sometimes I'm very depressed over my weight and I don't really like feeling that way. So onward to continued calorie counting and exercise.

Holding the course

2010-07-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

Why did the weight come off so quickly when I started this journey in Oct. 2008? Although I didn't make my goal for 2009 of losing 52 pounds I still had a fairly steady weight loss over the year. But 2010 has been different. On January 1 I weighed 204.4 but the days after my mother passed away I zoomed back up to 211.4. Fortunately in one week I had shed 4.8 pounds of that.

Now it is the middle of July almost and I weighed 201.6 this morning. Good grief! That is only 2.8 pounds in 6.5 months. I have become an exercise maniac, generally doing 1 to 1.5 hours. I generally log my food eaten on calorieking.com although I'm not perfect on that front. I wanted to be 195 by Dec. 31, 2009. Didn't happen! Now I had hoped to be 190 by the time we go on our cruise August 13 and I'm seeing that dream slip, slip, slip away. I at least have not gained any weight back so I'm thankful for that. I'm eating right most of the time. I exercise 5-6 times per week (unless traveling). I honestly don't know what else to do. I'm 62 and maybe that is part of the problem.

Finally losing again

2010-06-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

Six months later than hoped I have finally gone under 200. This morning I was 198.2. In January I joined Club 24, a local gym in Hermiston, OR. Since then I have faithfully worked out, both on the treadmill and cycle as well as using a guided program on the weight machines.

Since joining the weight did not fall off immediately but I have gained muscle and muscle burns calories. By sticking to my calorie counting and the exercise results are now beginning to show.

Now this doesn't mean that I won't every get discouraged again, but I know without a doubt that I can lose this weight. Only about 20 pounds to go.

TWO HUNDRED

2010-04-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

For some people weighing 200 would be catastrophic! But for me...it is wonderful. In 2009 I hoped to lose 52 lbs. in 52 weeks but I fell short of that goal. I am thankful for the amount of weight I did lose.

On January 1st I weighed 204.4. On January 2 my mother passed away. On January 4 and the days following family members began arriving. There were more meals eaten in restaurants. After the funeral dinner the relatives brought several pizzas into the house. I was not strong enough to "just say no." On January 2 I weighed 206 and on January 11 I had zoomed up to 211. It took me a couple of weeks to recover from the gain and the I hovered in the 204s for weeks.

I had high hopes of weighing 195 by December 31, 2009 and now almost 4 months later I have finally reached 200.

Losing weight is a full-time job. I count calories. I exercise AT LEAST 6 days a week at a gym, or walking, or with an exercise DVD.

So today is a milestone. I hope by April 30 to weigh 199.8.

February 1, 2010

2010-02-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

One month into the new year and I have not done so well. On January 2 my mother passed away and although that was mildly stressful I was holding my own diet wise until all the family arrived and I fixed big meals, and the kids brought in pizza, etc. We ate out for Mexican food twice. I did not make good choices.

I started the year at 204.4, spiked up to 211.4 on January 11, and ended the month at 204.6. So I show a net gain of .2 pounds for the month.

The past few days have had some frustration in my life with issues here at home and I have handled it with food, unfortunately. So I am starting February at 205.8. I desperately want to be 200 by the end of this short month.

I have joined a gym where I am working out 6 days out of the week and so when I blow it by eating wrong things (like french fries yesterday) I get very frustrated with myself for basically wasting a week's worth of working out. So today I am back on track with logging my food on www.calorieking.com and I'll soon be leaving the house to head to the gym.

One year ago today I weighed 244.4 so today I weigh 38.6 pounds less than I did a year ago and 55.2 pounds less than when I started on calorieking.

January 1, 2010

2010-01-01T09:50:00.001-08:00

Here I am with the size 22 jeans I could easily wear just over a year ago.
January 1, 2010

Size 20 shorts--going into the trash today.

Today I weigh 43 pounds less than a year ago.

January 1, 2009

This is my "Biggest Loser" pose. The size 22 jeans, then me in my size 16 pants.

Week 52

2009-12-31T08:08:00.000-08:00

Week 48: 208.4

Week 49: 208.2

Week 50: 204.6

Week 51: 206.2

Week 52: 206.2

Week 1: 247.6

Week 52: 206.2

Total loss: 41.4 pounds

I was doing well in my goal to lose 52 in 52 weeks, but the past 3 months have been more difficult. You can see that my weeks in December amounted to a 2.2 pound loss.

I may not have made my goal but I'm very pleased with having lost 41 pounds. Tomorrow I'll post the pictures of me on January 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010.

A year ago today I weighed 249.6

Some history:

January 2002: 199.5

December 2002: 221.5 (last weight recorded) gained 22 pounds

January 2003: 221

December 2003: 215 lost 6 pounds

January 2004: 215

December 2004: 235.25 gained 20.25

January 2005: 234.25

December 2005: 257.25 gained 23 pounds (are you seeing a horrible trend here?)

January 2006: 252

December 2006: 253.75 gained 1.75 pounds (I didn't record many weights that month)

May 2007: 269.5 (I didn't record any of my weights until May. Can you see why?)

December 2007: 264 lost 5.5 pounds

January 2008: 266.25

December 2008: 249.6 lost 16.6 pounds

January 2009: 247.6

December 2009: 206.2 lost 41.4

I need to lose 7 more pounds to be where I started 2002.

Over these years I gained 67 pounds, and have lost 69.6.

Talk about YO-YO-YO!

Over and out

Week 51--Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T06:54:00.000-08:00

I do not have good news to report. My dad had open heart surgery, I had to spend several nights staying with my mom at the assisted living facility, sleeping in a recliner, listening to her cry out many times a night that she had to go to the bathroom, eating desserts, no exercise, being slothful, being stressed out, being stupid.

Week 50: 204.6

Week 51: 206.2 I gained 1.6 pounds from last Thursday.

Week 1 was 247.6, today 206.2 equals total loss of 41.6 pounds. I know....I know...that is something to be pleased about, but it isn't the 51 pounds I was hoping for by this time.

A year ago today I weighed 252.8. A loss of 46.6 pounds.

Week 50

2009-12-17T12:11:00.000-08:00

Week 50 was probably the most stressful week I've had all of 2009.

My husband took my dad to Portland, OR on Wednesday Dec. 9--just over 3 hours away from our home in Hermiston. On Dec. 10 dad had open heart surgery to replace an aortic valve. Dad had asked me to stay with my mom throughout the day, administer her meds at 9:30 and let the staff at the assisted living facility put her to bed, then go home. So on Wednesday that is what I did. Thursday morning I got a phone call from the nurse. My mom had slid out of bed twice onto the floor and it takes 3 caregivers to pick her up. "Someone has to be there 24 hours a day." I was told. These were not words I wanted to hear. So for the next 6 out of 7 nights (my husband took over one of the nights) I slept in a recliner outside the bedroom. Five or six times per night she was calling for me or for my dad to help her to go to the bathroom. I was told to not lift her due to not being trained...plus my parents are paying for the help. They were pretty horrible nights and by the final night my stress level was so high that my blood pressure was just about off the charts.

For one week I got virtually no exercise. I ate the meals that would have been my dads and the portions were smaller. Many nights I went to "bed" hungry and felt that way during the night whenever I was awake. But I don't eat during the night so I just lived with it.

On Week 49 I weighed 203.2.

On Week 50 I weigh 204.6 a gain of 1.4 pounds. I think I can attribute it in part to lack of exercise, plus I did eat the desserts at the meals.

One year ago I weighed 250.

Week 49

2009-12-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

Week 1: 247.6

Week 48: 208.4

Week 49: 203.2 Loss of 5.2 since last week. Bye bye vacation weight.

One year ago I weighed 251.

As of today I have lost 44.6 pounds and it is week 49. As I've said in previous weeks I don't think it is possible to reach 52 lost by Week 52. But I'll definitely weigh a whole lot less then on January 1.

I'm pleased.

Week 47 and Week 48 and December report

2009-12-03T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hello faithful followers--few though you may be. I do not have good news to report, but all is not lost, just temporarily behind.

Week 46: 205.6

Week 47: 206.8

Week 48: 208.4

This proves to me without any doubt that I must continue to log my food eaten on the CalorieKing site. I cannot guess about amounts. I cannot discriminately eat desserts. While at our son's house I ate for the most part very healthy food (except for the desserts on Thanksgiving and the day or two after for which I can blame NO ONE but myself!!) I did loads of walking on the hilly roads by Nolan's house. If I hadn't exercised I would hate to see what I'd have gained.

November 1 weigh-in: 210.6

December 1 weigh-in: 206.2

Unfortunately you can see that I went up after Dec. 1. I do today weigh 44 pounds less than I did a year ago. At this time a year ago I'd been on CalorieKing for 2 months.

Next week it is my goal to report that I weigh 204.

Week 46

2009-11-19T08:03:00.001-08:00

Week 1: 247.6

Week 46: 205.6

Loss of 42 pounds.

Since week 45 I lost .6 of a pound. I'm up .6 from yesterday (I think I ate too much chicken cheese enchilada).

I may not be able to report on Week 47 since it will be Thanksgiving Day and I'll be away from the internet. I'll catch up when we return home.

Today we are going to the annual Thanksgiving lunch at McNary Dam where a plethora of amazing dishes will be presented. I must stay away from the desserts and heavy salads--like potato salad. It won't be easy, but I am stronger than the call of the food.

Week 45

2009-11-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

Week Zero: 247.6

Week 45: 206.2

Total loss: 41.4

Unless something miraculous happens I will not make the -52 pound mark this year. But can I really feel bad about only losing 41.4 pounds instead of 45 (at week 45)? No, I cannot. I feel very thrilled to have come this far. My sister reported to me this morning that she read that many people gain 10-15 pounds a year. Thankfully I have lost.

My goal now is to be 199.8 or 200 by December 31 and I think that is doable. Yes, Thanksgiving is coming up. We will be in Texas where my son and daughter-in-law do very healthy cooking. And they now live in the country and I am sure that my granddaughters and I will get some walking in.

I have seven weeks left for the year. Seven weeks=seven pounds? I do hope so.

Last year on this date I weighed about 256 (I don't have the actual weight written for November 12) so I weigh 50 pounds less. I had started Calorie King on Oct. 3 at 261.

If you who know me are reading this, you know of my battle for years with my weight. If you are reading this and you have no idea who I am, let me assure you that if I can do this by counting calories and exercising, you can do it too.

Week 44

2009-11-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

I seem to be going the wrong way lately. We traveled last week to Nebraska and when traveling keeping track of food eaten is always a problem for me.

Week 42 207

Week 43 207.6

Week 44 208.6

I was as high as 210 again so at least I'm off that. I didn't take a picture on November 1 since I looked the same as October 1.

I'm still doing my exercising and I'm not giving up, but realistically speaking I don't think I'll hit the 52 pound loss mark. Now I'm aiming to get to 200 for a 47.6 pound loss.

I am happy to report that a year ago I weighed 50 pounds more than I do now.

Week 42

2009-10-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Week 39: 210.6

Week 40: 209

Week 41: 208

Week 42: 207

I am definitely pleased to see the downward trend this month. My total lost is 40.6 so I am still behind in my quest to lose 52 in 52. I need to lose 11.4 pounds in the next 11 weeks. In those next 11 weeks there is a trip to Nebraska, a trip to Austin to have Thanksgiving with our son and family, and then Christmas.

I'm still getting my regular exercise which I am tracking on CalorieKing.com.

Week 41

2009-10-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

Week 39: 210.6

Week 40: 209

Week 41: 208

Loss of one pound for the week. Total loss is 39.6 pounds. I am still 1.4 pounds behind.

I actually think it is tougher for me being back in the United States. But at least the downward trend is continuing.

Week 40

2009-10-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

It hardly seems possible that 40 weeks have passed by this year. When you are a kid time passes so slowly, now for me it flies by.

Week 1: 247.6
Week 40: 209
Loss of 38.6

Now I am 1.4 pounds behind in my quest to lose 52 in 52 weeks.

I have lost 1.6 from week 39.

I'm preparing to go walking so will close for this week.

Margaret

October 1, 2009 - Week 39

2009-10-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

Nine months of the year have slipped into history. Nine months of my quest to lose 52 pounds are gone.

January 1: 247.6

February 1: 244.4

March 1: 239.8

April 1: 236.8

May 1: 231.2

June 1: 226.8

July 1: 221.2

August 1: 216.4

September 1: 217

October 1: 210.6

Total loss: 37 pounds

I am now behind by 2 pounds in my quest. I was 6 pounds behind, so I'm catching up.

Picture was taken Oct. 5, '09

Week 38

2009-09-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

Oh my, oh my...things are falling apart for me. I'm so far off of my objective that I don't know if I can get back on course.

Week 37 we arrived in Dulles from Johannesburg via Senegal at 7:00 a.m. We went to the rental car location and began the drive to Susan, VA where Aaron's brother and wife lives. It was all downhill from there for me.

My sis-in-law is an incredible cook and when she has company she pulls out all the stops. And while that is good, it is also very bad for a person who has a weight loss goal in mind.

On the last day of August I weighed 215.4 and today (week 38) I weighed 215.2. Not much of an improvement and puts me WAY behind. After eating L's great cooking and incredible desserts I saw my weight climbing and not so slowly. The day we left Africa I was 213 and the day we left Virginia I was 217. FOUR POUNDS! I'm very disappointed in myself that I couldn't just say NO NO NO. At one point I said I wasn't going to have any more desserts (that was after a piece of coconut cream pie). Her response was, "We'll see about that.

I had reached my goal of 213 by the 16th and I was hoping to be 211 by Sept. 30 but I haven't had a 4 pound loss in one week in an incredibly long time.

Week 1: 247.6
Week 35: 214.4
Week 36: 213
Week 37: did not weigh
Week 38: 215.2

I am now 6 pounds behind in my quest to lose 52 in 52 weeks.

But.....this will not deter me. There are 14 weeks left in the year. I need to average 1.4 pounds loss per week to make my goal. With God's help, and my determination I WILL SUCCEED.

Week 36

2009-09-10T03:36:00.000-07:00

36 weeks have already passed into history in 2009. Unfortunately I have not lost 36 pounds but I'm close....34.6, so I'm still a little behind, but not quite as far behind as last week.

Sept. 3: 214.4

Sept. 10: 213 Loss of 1.4 pounds for the week. I exercised almost 3 hours this past week--most of it walking to or from the mall.

January 1: 247.6

Sept. 10: 213

It feels so good to be in control.

Next week I will not be reporting as we will be somewhere out over the Atlantic Ocean. When we arrive in Wash. D.C. at 6:00 a.m. I will not be going to a restroom, taking off my clothes, digging out my scale and weighing--not after having sat on an airplane for 18-20 hours. So my next report will be Week 38.

Week 35

2009-09-02T21:44:00.001-07:00

January 1: 247.6

September 3: 214.4

Loss of 33.2 lbs.

I'm 1.8 pounds behind in my quest to lose 52 in 52.

I exercised almost 5 hours (walking and Leslie Sansone walking DVD)

September 1, 2009

2009-08-31T22:50:00.001-07:00

August was an incredible month. We traveled to Namibia and got to see our friends, the Turneys. I was able to teach Fundamentals of Music and Aaron built a cabinet for a double oven and lowered bunk beds. We had a great month meeting new friends from the USA. We also had a great month eating lots and lots of good food and that is where the problem lies.

August 1: 216.4

September 1: 217

So now I am almost 5 pounds behind in my quest to lose 52 pounds in 52 weeks. Right now I stand at 30.6 pounds lost and week 35 is Sept. 3. Yesterday I ate whatever I wanted, I nibbled, I indulged. So my Amazing August (diet wise) turned into an Awful August (diet wise.) So my September must be "Sir"cumspect. Vigilant. Watchful.

I hope on September 3 to have a better report. I'm glad I do not have 1000 followers to read my sad, sad news.

Week 34

2009-08-26T23:27:00.000-07:00

Ugh! This has been a tough month. I started at 216.4, been as low as 213.2 and as high as 217.8. Yesterday I was 213.4 and today (week 34) I'm back to 214.8 and don't really know why. I did not have a bad eating day yesterday and I did walk. Oh well.

January 1: 247.6

August 1: 216.4

August 27: 214.8

Minus 32.8 pounds since Jan. 1. I should be at minus 34 so I'm still behind. I think I've kinda hit a plateau month. Have I said that before? Well, it bears repeating.

My exercise really suffered during the 12 days we were in Namibia.

Week 33

2009-08-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

January 1: 247.6

August 1: 216.4

August 20: 215.4

Loss for the year is 32.4. Officially I am behind in my quest for one pound per week, but I think when I get back to Botswana where I make my own lunch I'll be able to rectify the situation.

While here in Namibia I am eating lunch at the Bible school since I am teaching 4 hours a day and although I ask for less then they give the students I am eating a fairly high starch meal. Also with the teaching, I am teaching students on the piano from 1:30 to 5:00 or after. By then I'm exhausted so my formal exercise has gone out the window.

We leave this coming Monday for Botswana and I hope to get things a little better in control. I am fairly certain that when we were in Namibia a year ago that I weighed around 50 pounds more than I do now. So no room for complaints.

Week 32

2009-08-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

216.4....same as last week.

It could have been better, but Aaron and I shared a pasta dish that was made with cream so I think it was HIGH calorie.

We are in Namibia right now, and my eating will be a little different this week, so we'll see how things go.

Week 31

2009-08-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

Nothing new to report. I've weighed 216.4 for 8 days in a row. I remember one time when I was sure my scale was stuck at 238.2. I even coerced my husband to weigh to make sure it wasn't stuck. Well, that was almost 22 pounds ago. The scale is not stuck. I am just plateauing briefly. This too shall pass--the 238.2 passed, the 216.4 will pass.

I've lost 31.2 pounds since January 1, so I'm still on track for one pound per week.

This week I exercised 187 min. Just a little over 3 hours!!

August 1, 2009 Seven Months In

2009-07-31T22:48:00.001-07:00

January 1: 247.6

February 1: 244.4

March 1: 239.8

April 1: 236.8

May 1: 231.2

June 1: 226.8

July 1: 221.2

August 1: 216.4

In my quest to lose 52 pounds in 52 weeks, I have lost 31.2 pounds.

Week 30

2009-07-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

July 2: 221.2
July 9: 219
July 16: 220
July 23: 217.4
July 30: 217.4

January 1: 247.6
30.4 pounds lost. Holding steady, on a slight plateau, but still averaging 1 pound per week.

Exercise: 2 hours 50 min.

Week 29

2009-07-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

January 1: 247.6
July 1: 221.2
July 23: 217.4

Loss of 30.2 pounds so on track for one pound per week.

3.3 hours of exercise

Week 28

2009-07-16T04:21:00.001-07:00

June 2: 221.2

June 9: 219

June 16: 220

Oops! Something happened this week and I gained a pound. No excuses.

I exercised 3.5 hours.

Week 27

2009-07-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

July 2: 221.2

July 9: 219

Loss of 2.2 pounds for the week.

28.6 pounds gone since January 1.

200 min. of exercise=3 and 1/3 hours. Hey, that's not too bad for an old gal.

Week 26

2009-07-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

It is now officially half way through the year. It just doesn't seem like it was that long ago I started this endeavor....putting myself out there for the public to see.

January 1: 247.6
Week 25: 220.6
Week 26: 221.2

So this week I had a slight gain, but I'm still on the mark for an average of one pound per week. I believe that last week I said this could happen.

We have a team of 12 people here from Ohio. A caterer is coming in and fixing a huge 1:00 p.m. meal that we all partake of. I know I've gone over at that meal and I've had dessert a couple three times.

My exercise was 117 min. so I was off a little there.

July 1st Report

2009-06-30T23:40:00.001-07:00

January 1: 247.6

June 1: 226.8

July 1: 221.2

Total pounds lost: 26.4

Here is my January 1st picture.

Can you see a difference?

Week 25

2009-06-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

The weeks are rolling around really, really fast.

June 18: 223
June 25: 220.6 (2.4 pounds loss and only 6 months til Christmas)

January 1: 247.6

June 25: 220.6
Loss of 27 pounds! Hurray!! I'm ahead of the pound a week loss.

When we arrived in Botswana I was 230.6 so I've lost 10 pounds since I've been here.
Exercise wise: still pretty much 150 min. per week. But I do walk back and forth to the campus more than once a day.

Week 24

2009-06-17T21:53:00.000-07:00

January 1: 247.6
June 1: 226.8
June 11: 225
June 18: 223

Loss of 2 pounds for the week.

Loss of 24.6 for the year.

I'm barely getting in my required 150 min. of exercise per week due to busyness. But I do walk back and forth from the house to the campus more than once a day, so that is around 900 steps each trip. Today I need to be over to the classroom by 7:45 to help set up the projector and see if I can get the computer to show what is also on the wall. Long story.

Week 23

2009-06-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

Week 23!! Where is this year going?

June 1: 226.8

June 4: 225.6

June 11: 225 I only lost .6 from last week.

One problem I am having is this: we go out for coffee every day at around 5:00 p.m. Now I was only having black coffee every day with the very small cookie that comes with it. But with all the rain we've been having this week and it is colder (Okay...I'm looking for any excuse that will pass muster) I've been having hot chocolate or a drink something like Starbucks mochiato. I must, I must, I must go back to the just the plain black coffee.

Everything I'm eating is fitting into my calories but the above mentioned drinks are just empty calories. They taste good, but do nothing for me health wise.

From the beginning of the year I am down 22.6 pounds. To keep up with my one pound per WEEK average I must lose 1.4 by next Thursday.

My exercise has suffered since I've started teaching. Two hours and 55 min. I've having to do huge amounts on Friday and Saturday to make up for the week.

My highest weight ever was 271. 46 pounds less now--looking forward to the 50 mark.

To your health!!

Week 22

2009-06-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

January 1: 247.6

June 4: 225.6

22 weeks, 22 pounds. Right on schedule.

My exercise is really suffering right now, due to teaching piano lessons to many students (I've lost count) and teaching my 1.5 hour class. My only saving grace is that I'm on my feet most of the day. Doesn't burn off many calories, but it is better than sitting.

June 1st Report

2009-06-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

Last August, 2008

January 1: 247.6

June 1: 226.8

Loss of 20.8 pounds

My arms are going to be the "death" of me. I know they will never be firm and thin again, unless I have surgery. So for the time being I will live with droopy underarms. I hate it but .....

My arms have both lost about 2 inches, so they are better.

From May 1 to June 1 I lost 4.4 pounds. My target loss is an average of 1 pound per WEEK so I'm doing okay there. I keep hoping for an 8 pound month. Hope springs eternal. (Thanks Debra for the email so that I checked out what I had written. I had written one pound per month. No wonder you said what you did. Thank you!!)

It is winter here in Botswana and the mornings are quite cold--high 30s low 40s--Farenheit. But it warms up very nicely during the day. While I taught my class yesterday I was quite warm and some of the students were still wearing their coats. It just depends upon what you are used to weather-wise.

Week 21

2009-05-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

May 1: 231.2

May 28: 226.8

My goal for May was to lose 4 pounds so I have surpassed that, thank You, Jesus!!

January 1: 247.6

May 28: 226.8

_____

20.8 pounds

I needed to lose .2 pounds more to keep up with the 1 pound a week average. Some weeks it is a little more, some a little less.

I exercised 2 hours and 15 min. this week--unless I forgot to write down what I did last Friday.

I'll report on June 1 with pictures--betcha can't wait for that!!

Week 20...........in Botswana

2009-05-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends:

May 1: 231.2

May 21: 227.4

I did go up a bit after the flight here, but once we got settled, I got back into exercising and counting calories and lost those pounds. We ate in the airports and on the airplanes. We had the privilege of using air miles to be in first class on the flight from Seattle to Dulles. Not knowing that a meal would be part of the deal, we had already had breakfast. Do you think we'd turn down a "free" breakfast in First Class??? No way! But we did chose the yogurt and fresh fruit.

I only got 130 min. of exercise in. We were in the airplane for 18 hours on the flight to Johannesburg (including a 2 hour stop on the ground in Senegal) so exercise was not an option.

Plus we were served dinner after taking off, breakfast after taking off from Senegal, and lunch before landing in JoBurg.

I've lost 20.2 pounds since January 1.

Week 19

2009-05-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

January 1: 247.6

May 14: 228.6

I have lost 19 pounds in 19 weeks so I'm on track for where I want to be.

On May 8 I weighed 230.4, so this week I have lost 1.8 pounds.

I exercised 3 and 1/4 hours this week.

I weighed approximately 266 a year ago (I don't have much written down for May of 2008--I must have been pretty disgusted with myself.) Today I weigh 34 pounds less.

This afternoon we fly to Seattle (a one hour flight) and tomorrow morning we will fly to Washington DC and then in the evening fly to Johannesburg, South Africa. My next report will come to you from Tlokweng, Botswana. My scale is going with me!!

Week 18

2009-05-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

January 1: 247.6

April 30: 232.2 (Week 17)

May 7: 230.4 (Week 18)

Loss of 1.8. My last report was actually May 1 and I was 231.2 on that day. I'm just a little bit behind my average of 1 pound per week. I should be at 229.6.

3 hours of exercise this week. I did have french fries twice. Must not do that again for awhile.

Last night I really wanted a chocolate chip cookie and I did have the calories for it, but I decided to eat a Fiber One Bar instead.

Week 17/ May 1, 2009

2009-05-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Summer of 2008

May 1, 2009

231.2 pounds

From April 1 to May 1 I lost 5.6 pounds. This past week I exercised 2 hours and 20 minutes. In April I ate no candy, ice cream, french fries or soda of any kind. January 1 I weighed 247.6. I have lost 11.4% since the first of the year. A year ago I weighed 35.8 pounds more than I do today.

There are days when I fear that this is all a dream, that I'll step on the scales and weigh 261 again, or 271. I think everyone who has lost weight fears that it will all come back. It did for me once, but my plan is to not let that happen this time. I will be sticking with CalorieKing for years to come. I cannot afford to ever let down.

When I started subbing at Umatilla High School in October I had to use the elevator because climbing the stairs was a very slow and painful process. Now I can walk the school for nearly a half hour, going up and down flights of stairs. I'm not near as fast as the students and by the time the half hour was nearly over I was breathing very hard and did have to take a few seconds rest on the last flight of steps. I've done this exercise twice this week.

My next picture will come from Botswana.

Week 16

2009-04-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

Not good news this week, and I'm not sure why. I kept within my calories every day. I exercised 3.5 hours. I ate no candy.

Yesterday I did have a value meal at McD's for a combo breakfast/snack that while within calories was high in fat. So I'm sure that didn't help.

April 1: 236.8
April 16: 232.6
April 23: 234

One disappointing thing is that one April 19 I was 231.6. Ah well. Just like life, weight has its ups and downs. I just don't want those ups to come on the day I report to you.

On April 23, 2008 I weighed 266, so I weigh 32 pounds less than a year ago.

Next week I will combine week 17 with May 1, so you'll hear from me 1 week and 1 day away and I hope that I am at least down to 232.

Week 15

2009-04-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Things are progressing nicely for this ol' gal!

April 1: 236.8

April 8: 234.6

April 16: 232.6

January 1: 247.6

April 16: 232.6

Exercise for this week: 4 hours 25 min.

Still no french fries, or soda. I did have 1/2 of a small cookie bar. So far for April no candy, ice cream, pie, etc.

Pounds lost in 2009: 15

15 pounds in 15 weeks!!

Weight in 2008: 265

Weight today: 232.6

Difference: 32.4 pounds

I can climb a flight of steps.

I can bend over and tie my shoes.

I can wear smaller size clothes.

I am eating a more healthy lifestyle.

Week 14

2009-04-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

Last week I combined the April 1 posting together with week 13 even though it was one day off. On April 1 I weighed 236.8 but after my birthday dinner out (no sweets) I soared the next day to 239.8 but was back down on Friday. It could have been just one of those weird things that happen to people who weigh daily. Yes, I weigh daily but I report it on CalorieKing weekly and you have to look at the bigger picture.

January 1: 247.6

April 1: 236.8

April 9: 234.6

April 9, 2008: 264.6 Today I weigh 30 pounds less. I am 36.4 pounds lighter than my highest weight.

On CalorieKing I checked my stats for the 6 months I've been with them.

Oct. 3, 2008 April 6, 2009

Waist 44 39.5

Hips 49.5 46

Chest 40.5 37.25 (I measure under the boobs)

Thigh 27 24

BMI 40.9 36.6 Still considered obese, but getting closer to being "overweight."

Looking back over this period of time I can see I am making significant headway.

Still no french fries or soda. This month I am eating no sweets. On May 1 I will eat one Hersheys Dark Chocolate Nugget. Worth waiting for? You betcha.

This week I did almost 4 hours of exercise (short by about 3 min.).

Progress

2009-04-01T19:27:00.001-07:00

January 1 Feb. 1 March 1

April 1 check in--also Week 13

2009-04-01T17:02:00.001-07:00

On March 1 I weighed 239.8. On April 1 I weighed 236.8--a loss of 3 pounds.

The weight is coming off much slower than I would like even though I am exercising regularly and keeping tight watch on my calories. I think one thing against me is my age. Today I am 61.

I'm doing around 4 hours of exercise per week. I have continued with not eating french fries or drinking soda. I keep hoping that I'll have another 8 lb. month but even with the slower loss I'm on schedule to be 199 by the end of this year.

Since Oct. 3 I have lost 25 pounds. A year ago I weighed 265. Thankfully the scale is going down. I don't feel deprived. I feel good.

My goal for April is: 1. no soda; 2. no french fries; 3. exercise at least 5 days per week; 4. no dessert for the month (except maybe something tonight for my birthday dinner).

Week 12

2009-03-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

What a month! It has been kind of a plateau month for me although I have managed to lose a little bit of weight.

3/19: 238.2
3/26: 237.8

I'll tell you I have worked VERY hard to lose that .4 of a pound. I've exercised almost 5.5 hours.

I've had many on-line discussions with my CalorieKing friends and plateaus are just part of the weight-loss process. If I give up I'll go back to where I was. So therefore, I cannot give up.

Still no french fries although I did have tater tots one time. Does that count as fries? Technically they are different but probably about the same calorie wise.

No soda of any kind this month still.

March 1: 239.8
March 26: 237.8

I don't have recorded what I weighed a year ago today but I probably weigh 29 or 30 pounds less.

Week 11

2009-03-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

March 12: 237
March 19: 238.2

So I gained 1.2 and I honestly don't know why. Sometimes it just happens. This week I stayed within my calorie limit and I did a total of 4 hours of exercise.

Still no french fries or soda.

One year ago today I weighed 267. Today I weigh 28.8 pounds less.

Week 10

2009-03-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

As we approach the mid-point of March I am happy to say that I have lost 2.8 pounds for the month. What????? You were thinking I'd be losing 8 pounds per week. Come on! This isn't The Biggest Loser where you work out 6 or more hours per day.

This morning I weighed 237--down 2 pounds from last week's weigh in. I exercised 4 hours and 5 minutes. I have had no French Fries or Soda of any kind. I have also cut out butter. That was not the easiest thing to do but the solid fat does my arteries no good. I did have some margarine on my pancakes yesterday morning.

I have lost 10.6 pounds since I started this blog.

This morning I pulled out of the closet my "Too Fat To Fit" box of clothes. Yeah...still can't fit into them but getting closer. I have size 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s in the box. I find that I can wear size 18 pants if they are elastic waist, but I'm not ready for the button up size 18s.

I am so thankful for having joined CalorieKing.com. Logging the food I eat and keeping track of my calories eaten and exercise done, and being involved in challenges on the site has been an invaluable help.

Week 9

2009-03-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

Week 8 I posted my weight as 240.8.
Week 9 I weigh 239. That is 1.8 pounds down. Hurray!!

A year ago I weighed 267.4 so I'm 28.4 pounds less.

I exercised 3 hours this week.

I looked back at my 2002 calendar and at this time I weighed less than 200 so you can see I have a long way to go....but not as far as I did. My highest weight was 271.

Two Months Into My Journey of Weightloss

2009-03-01T15:07:00.001-08:00

I know it is difficult to see much change from January 1, 2009. But this morning for church I was able to wear a size 16W dress that I hadn't worn in well over 3 years. It fit and it fit comfortably.

The green dress I'm wearing in the picture on the right is now too big for me.

January 1, 2009: 247.6
February 1, 2009: 244.4
March 1, 2009: 239.8
That makes 7.8 pounds in 2 months. I know what you are thinking....you are thinking "That's not so much." But what if I'd gained nearly 8 pounds. Different story, huh! If you go back and look at my picture taken on January 1 I don't know if you can see much difference or not. Since Oct. 3, 2008 I have lost 21.2 pounds. I weigh 27.4 pounds less than one year ago and I feel so much better.

Last month I ate no french fries and I think that I'll continue that pledge for another month. I meant to drink no diet soda or regular soda and I did slip once. I'll continue that this month.

My goal by the end of March is to be at least down to 235.

Week 8

2009-02-26T05:47:00.000-08:00

240.8. I lost one pound from last week. 3.6 for the month. I still have hope of being 239 by Saturday or Sunday.

A year ago I weighed 268.something so I weigh 28 pounds less. I had started to come down a little from my highest weight.

This week I exercised 3 hours and 15 min.

See you on Sunday with a new picture--it won't look much different than the last 2. LOL.

No soda this week. No french fries this week. No cake, no pie. I have had a square of dark chocolate I think 3 times. That has helped satisfy the sweet tooth.

Week 7

2009-02-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Week Seven--No gain, no loss. 241.8 same as last week. How exciting is that!

But, one year ago I weighed my highest--271.8--so I am down 30 pounds from that point. So that is exciting.

This week I stayed within my calorie limits. I did have 3 Valentine Sugar cookies. I exercised 3 hours and 15 min.

Week 6

2009-02-12T07:06:00.000-08:00

My weight remains the same as the last 2 days--241.8. So from last week I've lost .4. I've exercised 3 hours and 15 min. and stayed within my calorie limit daily. I did goof once and have some diet pepsi--I completely forgot until after I'd ordered it that I wasn't going to drink soda this month.

A year ago today I weighed 268.8 so I am down 27 pounds from a year ago. Hurray!!

I have lost 5.8 pounds since January 1, 2009.

Week 5

2009-02-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that I weigh 1.2 pounds less than last week--242.2. On January 1 I was 247.6 so I am down 5.4 pounds. This week I exercised 2 hours and 30 minutes. I stayed within my calorie limit every day although I had a very scary day on Tuesday. We wanted to have the free Grand Slam at Denny's but the place was packed so we went to another restaurant. The breakfast I chose was to also be my lunch so that did help. Thank goodness I didn't eat the entire amount at breakfast.

When I got home I looked up the calories for that particular meal I discovered it was ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND FOUR. Yikes! My limit for the day is 1600, before exercising cause then I get to eat back the calories I've burned so I knew I was definitely going to have to exercise that day.

One year ago today I weighed 268.2. Today I weigh 26 pounds less. Happy, happy moment here.

Please leave me an encouraging comment.

February Weight Loss Report

2009-02-01T14:06:00.001-08:00

These pictures were taken this morning, February 1, 2009. It has been one month since I undertook this journey. The weight loss journey is never easy! Do not be fooled by ads on Facebook or TV or other places on the internet. There is no pill (except Alli which has been approved by the US Government and causes things you don't want to talk about in public if you eat too much fat), no tea (green or otherwise), no berry (acai), etc. that will make it easier for you to lose weight. It must be done the old fashioned way--eat less, move more.

In the 31 day month of January I went from 247.6 to 244.4 this morning. That is a loss of 3.2 pounds for the month. I was within my calorie limit every day and I exercised at least 150 minutes per week-sometimes more. Why didn't I lose 8 pounds like in November? I don't know. I do know that sometimes the pounds go quickly and sometimes they don't, even if you are doing the right thing.

This month I had french fries one time and I had ice cream maybe twice. Recently Aaron went through the drive through at Dairy Queen and I had NOTHING.

For February these are my goals:
1. weigh 239 by March 1.
2. drink absolutely no soda--diet or otherwise--the entire month
3. eat no french fries even what I'd eat would be allowable in my calorie limit--too much fat.
4. eat more vegetables
5. be more vigilant about weighing and measuring.

When you eat cereal do you just fill up the bowl and start eating? If you do you are probably getting way more calories then you think you are. You glance at the box and it says a serving is 110 calories, but if you don't see (and measure) that a serving is 3/4 cup, or 1/2 cup, or 1 cup, the calories counted will NOT be correct. When I have cold cereal I almost always have 2 servings. I measure out 1.5 cups, or 2 cups depending upon the cereal. I measure the milk I put on it.

I weigh the meat I'll be eating for dinner. I am constantly checking how many calories something is to make sure it will fit into my day. I've tried the guessing games and they don't work for me.

The dress I'm wearing in the picture on the right I had made for me in Botswana in 2006. I was not able to wear it for quite some time. I wore it to church last Sunday and it fit much more nicely. The material is this wonderful stretchy stuff, but 30 pounds heavier it looked AWFUL even with the stretch. Something can only be stretched so much.

Week 4

2009-01-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

For the week I lost .6 of a pound, (heaving sigh of relief) and from January 1 I am down 4.2 pounds.

I exercised 3 hours 5 min. CalorieKing recommends I do 150 min. per week. One reason I have more this week is because on Monday I knew we were going out to dinner with our pastor and his wife to celebrate his 57th birthday and I wanted to be able to eat what I wanted. So I was very frugal at breakfast and lunch and exercised for 60 minutes.

One year ago today I weighed 268.2 and today I weigh 22.8 pounds less.

Time for breakfast.

Week 3 January 22, 2009

2009-01-22T09:21:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2009: 247.6
January 8, 2009: 249.4
January 15, 2009: 247
January 22, 2009: 244

January 22, 2008: 266 Down TWENTY TWO pounds from last year.

Three pound loss for this week, 2.6 pound loss for the month of January so far.

At Curves I am weighed and measured periodically and also my body fat percentage. For just about a year my body fat percentage would not even show on the machine because it was over 50%. Yesterday I commented to Sandy that I would have to lose a lot more weight for it to show a change. Much to my surprise it registered 48.9% body fat. Now that is still very, very high but at least it is down a bit.

I have not had one french fry. I have eaten 14 tortilla chips--7 at a time, and I counted the calories. I am avoiding sugar like it is poison and I have not had a diet soda. I did have a sip of Aaron's Coca Cola last Sunday.

My exercise for the week was two and a half hours.

Week 2

2009-01-15T08:51:00.000-08:00

Whew! This was a much better week for me. I exercised 2 hrs. 15 min. (not quite as much as last week) and my weight this morning is 247. Yippee ya hoo! Last Thursday I was 249.4 so in this week I lost 2.4 pounds.

On January 1 I was 247.6 so I'm only down .6 of a pound from the first but considering that I went up as high as 250.6 I have reason to feel very good.

This week I tried very hard to stay away from artificial sweeteners, although I did have one sugar-free latte. Just about any diet book you read or article you read says that diet sodas are as bad for you as regular sodas. So my goal would be to drink more water and way less soda--diet or regular.

My friend Deb in Minnesota where it is extremely cold reported to me she had lost 2.5 pounds. Great work, Deb. Keep it up!

Week One--Not good news

2009-01-08T07:50:00.000-08:00

January 1: 247.6; 2nd: 247.6; 3rd: 249.2; 4th: 249.8; 5th: 249.2; 6th: 250.6; 7th: 248.8

January 8: 249.4 I gained 1.8 pounds

I had high intensity in my desire to lose weight this week. I stayed within my calorie limit and I did a total of 3.5 hours of exercise. So why did I gain? I'm not sure but I can see a couple of changes I could have made. The lower weight on the 1st may have been one of those days when you are down, but it isn't real, if you know what I mean. Looking at the week you'll see I was all over the map. My goal for January is be down to a solid 244.

Mistakes I made: too many french fries. I need to take my food scale and actually measure the amount that is safe to eat OR (and here's a novel idea) have NO french fries at all.

Mistake number 2: I drove through Jack in the Box after having had a manicure and pedicure and I was on my way to work. I chose the Jumbo Jack which had 600 calories. No fries.

Mistake number 3: Last night we had pizza after TOPS. The personal pan pizza I had chosen from my calorieking list was 600. I had calories for that plus the salad. But they brought us a regular pizza since they were out of the little crusts. And I ate 3 pieces. I'm thinking that was probably more than 600 calories. Plus way too high in carbs and fats.

So I am learning continually what choices are good and not so good.

This week: Keep exercising, no artificial sweeteners, no french fries.

January 1, 2009 Day 1--364 days left

2009-01-01T10:21:00.001-08:00

In case you can't read the sign, it says 247.6 1/1/09. I was amazed when I stepped on the scale this morning to discover it was down from yesterday. That is what happens when you keep close track of your calories, exercise and don't cheat.

As a child I was very thin, and very active. As a teenager I was very thin. I walked to school 1 mile each way so I'm sure that helped. My first driver's license weight was 128. I don't think I really appreciated being thin--I just took it for granted. I was always able to eat whatever I wanted and stay that way. In 1970 when I got married I was in the low 140s. I think my weight problem really started after having two children. I grew lazy and eating was my joy and pleasure. I used to hide sandwiches under the chair when my husband came in so that he wouldn't see I was eating. How foolish was that??

The shorts I am wearing are size 20. I intend to continue wearing these clothes for my pictures.

See you on January 8 with my next update.

December 2008

2008-12-29T11:43:00.000-08:00

In 2008 I have lost 20 pounds. On January 1, 2009 I will post my weight--yes, my actual weight. Many people don't want to disclose their weight and that's okay, but it doesn't bother me to tell.

I will post a picture taken of me on January 1. Each week I'll post my new weight and how many minutes I exercised that week. Once a month I'll post a new picture. By the end of 2009 I would like to have lost at least 60 pounds.

I belong to calorieking.com where I keep track of calories eaten and minutes exercised. I post on forums with other people who have the same problem I have.

Want to join me? Just click on comments and join me in my weight loss journey for 2009.