Positive Attitude

I've decided to change my attitude towards this weight loss challenge. I think temporarily I lost site of my goals. I am in such a rush to lose this weight and see the results on the scale that I have let it affect my attitude about change.

It's just when you go from a totally sedentary lifestyle to working out 3 times a week for an hour+, you would think the pounds would melt off. It can be very frustrating at times. I have now come to terms with gradual weight loss so that I am able to maintain this lifestyle even after the challenge.

I also realized over the weekend that I have a lot of fat that needs to be converted to muscle and that's not going to happen overnight. :)

Related Topics: Winning Mental Strategies for Weight Loss, Setting Realistic Weight Loss Goals

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Back Pain

I've been having this reoccurring back pain everyday. Sometimes it follows with a headache. I think that it is something that I am doing or not doing during my workouts because I can't seem to relate it to anything else. I want to tell Michael (the physical trainer) but I don't want him to reduce my workout. The weight loss is already slow by itself; I don't want some injury to get in the way.

Slippery Slope

My training session this week went well. Michael Lin took my measurements and I weighed in. Everything is going in the right direction, but for me not fast enough.

I've lost inches in my bust and waist since the last measurements were taken. The fat on my back has also decreased which I am excited about. The scale shows that I am steadily losing about 1-2 pounds a week.

While that's a step in the right direction I still want faster results. I even asked if I should increase my cardio but they said not yet, soon, but not yet. Meanwhile, I was applauded for the diet changes that I was telling the trainers about and even felt good myself that I had been doing well. Nevertheless, I spoke too soon...

My measurements were taken on a Thursday; Friday was a totally different day. I slipped! That day I had to take my son to his 6-month check up appointment and had to run errands. Well, I ate a little something before I left the house that morning and by time I was finished with my son I hadn't eaten in over 6 hours.

I was still out and about, nowhere near home. My son wasn't in the best of moods since it was also his feeding time not to mention he had just gotten his immunization shots and I was on the verge of a major headache. There were only a few fast food places in the area and yes, you guessed it, I stopped and ate fast food!

I stopped at a fast food restaurant and ordered the typical value meal with fries and a fish sandwich. I felt so disgusted. I hate eating at fast food restaurants. I felt this way even before the challenge had started but I had to eat something. Everything tasted salty down to the condiments.

I hadn't had fries in so long and I rarely cook with salt anymore that everything just tasted like it had been fried in a pound of salt. And the bad thing is that I knew there were probably better alternatives to order, even at a fast food restaurant, but I was so hungry I couldn’t even think straight. I thought to myself that's what you get for not planning ahead.

This only proves that one day you can be doing great and the next it's a slippery slope.

Related Topics: Dainty Dishware a Dieter's Delight, Weight Control Center


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Slow but steady

This week has been very slow. I have been more tired than usual. I don't have the energy to do anything.

I've also been very cold, which is unusual for me because I am usually hot, except in the office. Initially I thought it was because I missed a few days of taking my vitamins but when I took them, I felt no difference. I am not sure what was going on last week. It may be because I am pre-menstrual but who knows it could be anything.

At any rate, I ended up not going to the gym one day and then had to make it up by working out two days in a row. You would think that would have got my energy going but it just made me twice as tired. The physical trainer asked if I was doing my cardio portion of my exercise routine but that wasn't the problem either because I completed my cardio.

Hopefully this week will be better...

Related Topics: 13 Healthy Habits to Improve Your Life, Sneaky Ways to Lose Weight

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New Routine: Change Hurts!

I just received my new routine from the physical trainer and boy, does it hurt. I love it! For some reason when I am sore from a workout I get excited because I think it's working more.

We get a new routine every month to work different muscles. This workout was more intense, which in a way I like. Hey, no pain, no gain right? The routine involves my thighs and gluteus maximus, which are problem areas for me among other areas. I can't wait to see more definitiion.

I am starting to see little changes in my body. My arms are looking a little tighter and it seems that the love handles I have are starting to decrease! One of the trainer's even said my face looks a little slimmer but I just think that's from the tan I received while vacationing. I still can't go buy a new wardrobe yet - it's not a drastic enough change, but I am confident today that it will follow soon.

I also found out that I lost a pound during the week I was away on vacation, which was a surprise. I didn't think that I would lose anything that week because I have gone a couple of weeks with exercising and not losing anything. Nonetheless, I was happy to hear that.

Related Topics: Painless Ways to Lose Weight, Music Motivation: Jam Off The Pounds

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Vacation victories?

Well, I just returned from my vacation and I must say I didn't do too bad but I could've done better. I had a few good days and a couple of bad.

My husband and I went away to Vegas for 4 nights without our son. That in itself was a challenge. While we were getting away for a breath of fresh air we couldn't stop thinking about our son and we probably retired every night before most people's Grandparents!

The first night we got there we ended up eating a late dinner, which is a no-no since I have started the challenge.

Our flight was delayed and they didn't serve a meal on a 4 1/2 hour flight, not to mention we got to the airport over 2 hours early just to sit and wait. So we hadn't eaten for a long time.

Once we got to our hotel I was groggy, irritable and hungry. We went to the only place open and ate pizza. The next day wasn't so bad, although I didn't get my 7am oatmeal fix like when I am at home. We got up late and ate lunch before heading out. I ordered a salad and fruit, which was probably one of the best meals I had all weekend. Then we walked the strip in 103 degree weather, that wasn't bad compared to the next day when it was 108 degrees, so I definitely got my exercise in.

That night we dined at some fancy restaurant. Our dinner reservations were early -- 5:30pm, so I ordered wine and a seafood dish. We didn't snack at all on this day because we were so hot! All we did was drown ourselves with water and lemonade during the time we walked. So far so good.

The next day was good also. I realized that I left my vitamins at home and was a little peeved but got over it. We kind of followed the same schedule, with the exception that we ordered room service for breakfast and in addtion to walking we went swimming at the pool for a couple of hours.

Man, if only I had these items at my fingertips every day it wouldn't be so hard to get exercise in on a daily basis all throughout the day. But with a kid, work and the normal daily grind it is not this easy at home.

Skipping to the last day of our trip -- the keyword here is "BUFFET".

The last day of our trip we went to the buffet. That was probably not a good idea. The good thing about the buffet is that I concentrated on getting all my fruit and veggies in. I didn't exercise good portion control though, not to mention I had a lot of wine on this trip more than I usually would at home because of the accessibility and hey! I was on vacation!

All in all it wasn't so bad because we were walking constantly and swimming throughout the weekend. But I know I could've done better.

Related Topics: Take Your Diet on the Road, Fitness Vacations, With a Twist

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