Lose 20 pounds

I have started a new plan after some research. I decided to give up dairy, bread, and sugar for two weeks.

As I result I need to eat more protein, veggies, and fruit. The first few days I actually gained weight a bit, but then over the weekend I lost a little. Usually I gain over the weekend so this is a good start.

I find I get discourage by the daily up down cycle of weight. I do weight myself just before the shower every day and note the weight on my calendar. I find it useful to keep a calendar in the bathroom to note my weight and workouts so I can see that I am being consistent.

For the weight, I do weigh myself daily but only count the weekly average as my “official” weight progress toward my goal. I take the average once a week from Sunday to Saturday. I think this avoids feeling that I am failing if my day to day goes up a bit. This is going to happen. I find my weight can vary up to 1 to 2 lbs per day regardless. My averages are trending down however and that is what I am really looking for!

So far I have lost about 10 lbs. But I seem to have reached a plateau. I have been doing aerobic/weight works 4 days a week plus one twenty minute pilates and 2 hours of dance lessons. This is a significant increase in physical activity. I feel better and have lost some weight, but maybe losing weight should not have been my goals as much as changing my lifestyle.

The best I can say is that I am not gaining weight! I keep thinking about how to approach this. I feel like after years of successfully losing weight only to gain it back that I better have a good plan going in. In the mean time I am just trying to make better choices day today. I am working out regularly. I am limiting portion sizes. I generally try to balance what I eat.