Lose 20 pounds

I think the problem is really motivation. I just don’t want it as badly as I used to. And all those bad habits are creeping right back. I used to be able to say no to things. What’s up with that?

I must be an inherently contrary individual. The more my mind is pumped and committed about losing weight, the more I crave what I shouldn’t have, and give in to those cravings in a big way. Since my last post I’ve actually gained weight and am back where I initially started at this goal – 200 even. At least I haven’t yet started undoing my success from my previous goal of “lose 30 pounds” but if I keep going the way I have been I will.

My downfalls:
ICE CREAM (big one)
Chocolate (especially with peanut butter)
Lassitude (ie no exercise – and I mean none).

I didn’t eat this much junk when I wasn’t watching my weight. Sigh. But today is going to be better. I’m giving myself pep talks right and left saying “I’ve overcome temptation 3 times today, and it’s only 9:14 am! I can do it again as many times as I need to!”

I think being at work helps rather than being on the weekend, as it’s not as easy for me to go out and get some chocolate, etc., to satisfy a craving. Happily we don’t have any coffee shop or vending machines in our building.

Well, this is a new week, and tomorrow’s a holiday – a good date to mark a new beginning.

I’m going on a trip in August – here’s aiming to lose at least 5 pounds – why not 10? by then.

Well, when I first joined this goal a few months ago, after closing off my “lose 30 pounds” goal, I wrote a big long entry (http://www.43things.com/entries/view/2842184) about how I was recommitting to lose the next 20. I look back and read it and I still feel that way – but somehow those 20 pounds never managed to melt off! I’ve slipped back into a lot of bad habits and slacked off on the exercise, and though (so far at least) I haven’t gained any of it back, I’m still only about 3-4 pounds into my 20. So here I am, on this June 20, first day of summer, recommitting to this goal, to making healthy choices and sticking to my exercise.

• limiting my junk food. Primarily this means limiting portion sizes, going for just a taste, just a bite, instead of a big amount all at once. I’m a firm believer in not cutting out treats entirely, just approaching them more sensibly.
• working my monthly cravings into my plan. I know I’m going to indulge, that my judgement is going to go out the window, so I?m going to plan for it accordingly. Call it a harm reduction approach.
• working out for at least 10 minutes before I leave for work every morning. I used to follow the “Hacker’s Diet” exercise plan (loosely based on the XBX) and though it isn’t really enough exercise to burn calories enough for weight loss, it does energize me and psychologically reinforces my goal to improve my health, as well as slowly strengthening me. I’m going to restart that routine.
• Making sure I get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, and hopefully increase that.
• Cook for myself more often. (Of course this recommitment comes on the day my mom wants to take me out to supper for my birthday.)
• Brush my teeth more. This should be a no-brainer, but this is another bad habit (and 43t goal) of mine, and I know that keeping my mouth cleaner will affect my eating patterns, especially as mint tends to have a mildly appetite-suppressant affect on me.
• Take advantage of the nice weather while it lasts and get outside and moving more.
• Be more active here at 43t and return to the habit of daily weight tracking – it really does help me remember my goal, keeping it at the forefront of my mind and reinforcing my commitment.
• Lock myself out of my computer at certain times of day. This is about more than weight loss, but insofar as it is, it is to help me limit my sedentary time and get me up and moving. I also tend to eat in front of the ‘puter way too much.

Last time, I had set my goal date to be my trip to the south (now past). My new goal date is September, as that will be a full year since I began my first 30 pounds and my real commitment to a healthier life. That should be lots of time, I hope, if I can stick to my guns!

Cheers all and I look forward to reading your posts and being a fuller part of this goal community!

Hi everyone,

Good to meet you! [edit: please forgive the cheerleader-esque feel of the following post. Some of it is written more for me, focussing my thoughts and doing the whole public declaration thing.]

I am committed and ready to start losing my next 20 pounds and achieving a weight of 180. If all goes well I hope to go further, but I’ve chosen 180 as my goal, to reevaluate once I reach it. I’ve just marked “done this” to the “lose 30 pounds” goal; my starting weight was 230, and as of this morning, I reached my first benchmark goal of 200 (199.6, actually). I am feeling really good about it, though it hasn’t been easy AT ALL. :)

I’m really hoping to lose this 20 before the second week of June, which is both my birthday and a trip I’m taking to New Mexico for a music festival. That’s about 14 weeks to lose 20 pounds – should be do-able, if I stick to my guns.

My chronic dangers/stumbling blocks:
*restaurant food, especially when travelling
*stress/comfort and convenience eating – oh, oh, how enticing.
*winter/bad weather laziness
*period-related carb cravings
*my love for baking sinful treats

What helps me succeed:
*positive attitude (sounds cheesy, but nonetheless, extremely true)
*encouragement from others
*low- and no-cal yummy foods
*allowing myself a treat now and again, but not overdoing it
*the half-a-plate of veggies rule
*eating slowly and savouring
*my successful transferral of addiction from regular coke to diet coke.
*starting my day with light, brief exercise – it starts my day with the right outlook and reminds me of my goal.

I really welcome any words of encouragement or advice you might have to share!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!