Shopping for New Clothes and Walking

Day 155- Weight 196.6-Total loss 35.6.  My weight loss has slowed down and I have reached a plateau as far as weight loss is concerned. However, my clothes are huge on me and I know that this plateau is where I am losing inches. I really wish I would have taken my measurement for such a time as this. Nothing was fitting me in my closet so I went shopping at Belk's during their Labor Day sale. I went to the petite section and was delighted to fit into size 16 pants! I have been wearing 2X and size 20 Women's full cut pants before my journey. I bought 3 pairs of pants and 3 tops. When I wore one of my new outfits, people really noticed all the weight that I have lost so far! The compliments were so very encouraging! I am still wearing my "big clothes" for walking and on Saturdays but I really need to get some that fit because I am constantly pulling them up and they are uncomfortable!

Since the Labor Day sale, I've done a little more shopping - a couple of shirts and some black mid-calf boots! So excited about the boots because they usually wouldn't zip because my legs are so fat! I did find some light weight jackets and some turtle necks when going through my winter closet so I think I am fixed for fall!  I will post a picture soon in one of my outfits!

I am walking 4 times a week and riding my bike, too. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I walk with the walking school bus at school. It is 2 miles, round trip and I really enjoy it! One of my students walks, too! I feel like I am making a difference by helping some kids get some exercise. Every Sunday, I walk with Denise, Jennifer and Melissa at the Concord walking track. I try to get 3 miles but sometimes just make it for 2 miles. We are all registered for the Twilight 10K at Callaway Gardens Nov. 4. I am concerned about being able to walk the 6.2 miles. I am so slow! Denise thinks the course will close before I finish. I have one month to amp it up! We will see!!!!

Day 134 - Why Slow Weight Loss Wins

Day 134 - Weight 197.4 - Lost 1.6 pounds this week and 34.8 in all. I put another rock in the jar. When I entered my weight in my Weight Watchers Online Weight Tracker, a pop-up said "Why Slow Weight Loss Wins" and it had a link to click. Of course I clicked it and found so much encouragement in the article. What I am about to share is from Debra Mandel, PhD, a Los Angeles psychologist who specializes in eating disorders

First of all, we live in a quick-fix society filled with ads for quick weight loss. But where weight loss is concerned, quick is not good. When it comes down to it, fast weight loss can't last, because it usually means adapting to very difficult eating habits and an impossible-to-live-with lifestyle. Quick fix equals fast failure. Our metabolism slows down, and eventually we're eating fewer and fewer calories but not losing weight. This leads to anxiety, which prompts us to eat even fewer calories to try to lose. The body rebels against that even more.

So it's a vicious cycle. Because if you don't get enough nutrients — which is a major risk when you're going for a quick fix — your brain, and then your body, will, well, insist that you eat. To your body, it's nothing more than survival. But to you, it will feel like you're giving in and losing control. Then you'll feel like a failure, which might very well send you to the fridge.

Losing weight slowly isn't just healthier,  it's a better investment. Not only are you dropping pounds, you're working on building habits that you'll be able to maintain. And those habits will help you maintain the weight you lost, so you can stay at your goal weight for good. Plus, you have more energy to live life in the present, because you're not starving and focusing on food. You're creating a healthy relationship with food. That's the key to lifelong success.

I am realizing that I will probably not be able to lose 2 or more pounds a week at this point. I am trying to look at 1 pound a week as success. I am heading in the right direction. I just have to be patient. I do not feel like I am on "a diet" because I eat better than ever and I am never hungry. I am making life-style changes that will help me keep my weight off when I reach my goal.

Day 127 - Rewards and Challenges

Day 127 - Weight 199.0 - total loss 33 pounds. I have my bike for my One-der-land reward! A dear friend of mine found it for $20 at Good Will. I have ridden it twice but I am in need of a wide gel seat for it. I may go to Blue Moon bikes and get one. The small seat is very painful and I am really sore from riding just those two days. There are lots of hills right around my house and I am not able to pedal up them without coming to a complete stop and falling off. So I have plenty of challenges to overcome. I am very excited about my bike and the success if represents. A friend at work reminded me that four years ago, I was walking with a cane and now I am riding a bike! Here's a picture of my bike. My daughter, Jennifer, insists that I get a picture with me on it. I will post that when I get one taken.

I have committed to walking a marathon with Jackson Road school. Not the whole thing at once! They are doing a mile every day for 25 days on your own and then joining together at central office to walk the last leg together. We will be getting t-shirts, too! I am very proud to show my support of health and wellness with fellow educators.  I will be walking some of it with my class. I know that when children engage in movement, it activates the brain and makes learning so much easier. It is also team-building to enjoy walks together. I think one of the most important things I can teach my students is to be healthy and hopefully they will not become obese and have many weight-related health problems.

Now I am going to "get real" with you and with myself, too. I have not tracked my food since the week before vacation. There, I have said it! I am sure that is why I am only losing a pound here and there. Opening a new school year is very hectic and I have used that for an excuse so now is the time for NO EXCUSES!!! Accountibility time is NOW. I am going back to the beginning - back to basics:
1)  Give it to God - I am admitting that I am powerless and I revert back to my old fleshly ways when it is left up to me. God, help me submit and obey!
2)  Rule 1 - NO MATTER WHAT I EAT, BE ACCOUNTIBLE. Track it!
3)  Rule 2 -  Be sure to include 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily..at least...or I will eat way more points trying to fill up!
4) Exercise - JUST DO IT!
These four things is all I have to do each day! They are the things that have gotten me one-third of the way to losing 100 pounds and they are the things that will take me all the way!

Please asked me often if I have done any or all of these things because I need the accountiblity.I would also appreciate your prayers for me as get back on track. I am sitting here and thinking about what I want to post next Saturday. I want to post a good loss! I will be going to my cardiologist Thursday so I hope I have a good report to share, too!