Be a size 6

When I first wrote about this goal in February, I promised to be a size 6 by May 1 or ditch the old size 6s in the closet. By April 1 I had lost 8 pounds regularly wearing two different pairs of size 6 pants. Then my dad got sick and things got stressful and…

Miraculously, here it is August and I only gained a couple pounds back and I’m still able to wear the two pairs of size 6 pants on “skinny days”.

So in the end, I did get rid of most of my size 6 items (all but a couple swank pieces for memory lane) as well as several size 10 items. So in a sense, I’ve met the goal.

But I still feel like I could be a little more trim (my backside is particularly discouraging in a bathing suit), so I’m going to stay on it and get back on the eating plan. I’ll also incorporate doing more yoga to deal with the stress.

I went to the gym today for a spin class and I weighed in at a new low—150! I am really pleased. I am feeling very fit and energetic, and my clothes are getting a little too big. I’d say I’m solidly in the size 8 camp right now, rather than the 8/10 I was.

I’ve been very active the last couple weeks, including snowshoeing, skiing, cycling, spinning and hiking.

The scale says 152!

Not that weight is the best indicator, but its easier to hop on the scale at the gym than it is to strip down with the tape measures. My clothes are fitting better. Last weekend I wore a pair of old size 6 crop pants to the grocery store. They were a bit snug, but I think I’m on the right track.

Giving up alcohol really seems to help—it especially keeps me from pigging out when I’m tipsy.

I’ve made it to three spinning classes this week, but I’m still not lifting weights often enough.

Waist: 33.5 inches (lost a half inch!)
Hips: 36.5 inches (lost a half inch!)
Weight: 154 lbs

This week all but one meal has been consistent with the eating plan. I made it to the gym 3 times, for a total of 3 spin classes and two weightlifting sessions. Last weekend I went cycling with friends and did an ashtanga yoga class.

I think not drinking is helping. It makes the weekend longer and I have more energy to be active. Its funny how uncomfortable it makes other people when you don’t drink.

I have decided to give up alcohol for lent and I’m not even Catholic.

I’m trying to clamp down my spending a bit, and I’m trying to be a size 6. I figure cutting back on wine, beer, and cocktails will help me do both.

I figure I’ve already saved myself at least 2000 calories. That’s just the empty booze calories. That doesn’t count the greasy meals I haven’t eaten—the ones I always want to eat that day after I have two or three drinks.

Still holding at 156lbs!

I haven’t seem much progress, but I am not giving up yet.

I spent most of the last couple weeks working on big deadlines and out of town at meetings. There have been lots of catered lunches and client dinners. Eating in restaurants is a sure fire way to make sure I don’t lose weight.

I will renew my committment and keep trying. I bought lots of salad fixin’s last night, made it to the gym to spin and lift weights, and I have two gym dates next week.

I did not stick to my eating plan this week. Fewer than 60% of my meals were on target. Instead I was hitting the mexican buffet at lunch meetings, getting seconds at parties, eating pizza for lunch, and pigging out on indian after three beers. It would be okay to do this once in a while, but 42% of the time (10 of 24 meals in a week!)? Not good.

I only made it to the gym once, when I did spinning and weight lifting. I went cycling with some girlfriends on Saturday.

Now that I’m keeping track, I can see why I haven’t gotten back into those red leather pants.

Must do better next week. But I will be out of town for business, thus much discipline will be required.

I will weigh 190 pounds by the time I am 43!

We definitely don’t want that. If you’d asked me how much weight I’ve gained, I’d tell you that I gained 10 or 15 pounds since 2001.

But I went to the girlie doctor yesterday and weighed in at 157. The last time I was there, in March 2005, I weighed 150.
Not good. I had no idea I’d gained weight in the last two years.

This HAS GOT TO STOP!

Size 10, 155 lbs
Waist 34 inches, Hips 37 inches, Low Hips 40 inches

This week I was pretty good. For the most part I stuck to my eating plan. On Thursday night we had a big office soiree. I had four pieces of dim sum, two (tiny) dessert squares, and two glasses of wine. I didn’t go overboard with the food, and I didn’t set up the eating plan to be super rigid.

Last weekend I hiked and I did ashtanga yoga (I was sore for days!). This week I made it to the gym and went to spinning three times. All this despite having a cold. A successful week, but i didn’t do any strength training. Building those muscles really picks up the metabolism. I should try to set up some weightlifting dates with my sister to increase the motivation and accountability.

The last time I was a size six was 2001 when I was 28 or 29. Now I hover between an 8 and a 10. But I still have all these size six clothes. I have not allowed myself to buy decent trousers or bottoms all this time because I keep telling myself I need to get back into my old 6’s. The result is a closet half full of out of style size 6’s, and half full of second-hand, ill-fitting 8’s and 10s. This is stupid.

My favorite size six skirt is 30 inches in the waist
My current size 8 skirt is 34 inches in the waist.
So I am shooting to lose about 4 inches in my waist. (!)

I am going to track my eating and exercising for three months (Feb 1 to May 1, 2007) and try do all those healthy things that I know I ought to. If I am not a six by then, then I am letting it go and I will own my bad size 8/10 self.

Here’s the plan…
Food:
*Oatmeal for breakfast
*Fruit for mid morning snack
*Big salad for lunch
*Carrots, low fat string cheese and/or hardboiled egg snack in the late afternoon
*Sensible dinner with the hubby
*Cut back on eating out (especially those big SF burritos)
*When I must eat out, only eat half the monstrous portion
*Drop that “glass or two of wine most evenings” habit

Exercise:
*Aerobic exercise (spinning) 2 or 3 times per week
*Weights 2 or 3 times per week
*Try to work in other active events, such as hiking trips, road cycling, yoga, ballet