Broke the 200 lb. Barrier

Yeah! I am now 198.8 lbs, below the 200 lb. barrier. In just 4 weeks (28 days), I have lost 7 lbs.

So, what's been working for me? Exercise, water, and eating the right level of points (calories). I have been eating my minimum every day for several weeks now, and my weekly loss has only increased. At least for weight loss, I appear to be on track.

I did have a meal plan to work from this week. I discovered that it was useless. I rarely used it, and if I did I usually swapped the meals around. Rather then plan a meal per day, I think it would be better to plan for 5 meals in a week and then pick the meal I want when I get home.

What are my pending goals:
1: Eat to my minimum points.
Status: Great! My minimum just dropped from 26 to 24 points, but I'm going to keep eating around 26. If it's still working, why starve myself?
2. Exercise 3 hours this week, with 1 hour of cardio.
Status: I got 3 hours in, but only 50 minutes of cardio.
3. Increase veggies to 3 per day.
Status: My journal says I complied. Course, I also had 3 fried tacos, 4 scoops of ice cream, and 3 brownies Sunday. It was a bad day (in terms of what I ate), but I was only 2 points over the maximum.
4. Get info on masters degree program.
Status: The skinny is that there is currently no info to be had.

Goals this week:
1. Eat to my minimum points through February 16.
2. Exercise 3 hours, with 1 hour of cardio.
3. Prepare meal plan and go grocery shopping.
4. Follow Flylady.com cleaning zone for this week (Living room and dining room?); spend at least 1 hour cleaning.

Day 21.

Current weight: 200.6 lbs.
Gone: 5.2 lbs.

Pending Goals:
1. Eat to minimum points every day through February 16.
Status: Going well. Have done so every day this week, and still lost 1.4 lbs.
2. Exercise 3 hours this week.
Status: Exercised 3 hours and 15 minutes! Met with trainer to get a weight lifting routine to compliment my yoga and pilates.
3. Make meal plan and grocery list for this week.
Status: Made meal plan, with special emphasis on meals DH (Dear Husband) can cook on the nights I get home late from exercising. (Can anyone else say "pasta?"). No grocery list needed as I have all relevant ingrediants.
4. Clean bathrooms.
Status: Failed miserably. Toilets still glaring at me. But: curtains lined before eye appointment; Christmas ornaments down; laundry washed, folded, and put away; and kitchen cleaned. Plus, made appointment for cleaning lady to come every 3rd Thursday (which is this Thursday). Hey, we all have our weaknesses, right?

So, what are this week's goals?

1. Exercise 3 hours, with at least 1 hour of pure cardio.
2. Increase vegitable/fruit intake to at least 3 servings per day.
3. Get information on the masters of theology classes starting at Church this Fall. Perhaps, this time, I can actually take the classes.

(Yes, I am a complete nerd and work-aholic.)

Storyboarding

I am officially on day 14.

I weighed in at Weight Watchers yesterday at a disappointing 202.0 pounds. This was despite being OP for two straight weeks. Although I know all the right answers to consol myself, it is still disappointing.

I was not able to meet my goal of exercising last week because I had the flu. I am still recovering, and having difficulty breathing due to congestion. I should be able to go back to working out this week.

At Weight Watchers this week, the topic of discussion was "storyboarding." This is the process of visualizing your ultimate goal in specific terms and then breaking down the steps necessary to acheive it. I have never specifically stated an ultimate weight loss goal, although I have a vague goal of being healthy, overall, in terms of weight, physicality, spirtuality, and with an active mind. Therefore, today I am stating my specific weight loss goal: I want to be a size 12 by the end of 2006. Based on the last time I was a size 12, I will have to loose approximately 40 lbs in 50 weeks, to acheive this goal.

I've already been breaking down my overall goal into weekly "steps" or mini-goals. I will need to continue to work on these mini-goals to acheive my overall goal. In larger terms, I will need to meet certain steps to loose the required weight. My first overall step is going to be to meet my points target daily for one month. One of the problems I've had the last two weeks is undereating. I save so many points early in the day that I have too many points to consume in the evening. Part of this was being sick, but the truth is that I when I wasn't sick I was hoarding my points/calories to spend on big dinners with friends. So, until February 16 (my birthday), I solemly swear I will eat at least my minimum points every day.

As for my weekly goals, I make the following:

1. Exercise for at least 3 hours.
2. Make a meal plan and grocery plan for next week, taking into account my exercise and bible study schedule.
3. Clean the bathrooms. (This falls into the spirtual/mental health category, I swear!)

Week 2

I am finishing up Day 8 of my journey.

I met all my goals last week, despite going to Vegas for 4 days. I attended a WW meeting on January 4, 2006, and I have journaled and drank water every day.

I have not had my weigh-in for this week yet. Work ran long and I was not able to leave in enough time to attend my regular WW meeting. I am planning to attend an alternative meeting tomorrow.

But this blog, and my journey, are not just about loosing weight. It's about overall physical, mental, and spirtual health.

So my goals this week are:

1. Attend WW meeting.
2. Exercise for at least 3 hours over the course of the week.
3. Meditate and/or pray for 5 minutes per day.

Day one of my journey is Tuesday, January 3, 2005.

I am not aiming to "loose weight" or to reach a certain level. My goal is to obtain overall health by eating right, exercising, and maintaining my mind (i.e. education) and spirtuality.

I am using this blog to track my goals and progress towards health.

My current weight is: 205.8 lbs.

My goals this week are:
1. Attend Weight Watcher's Meeting.
2. Journal daily.
3. Drink six 8 oz. glasses of water per day.