Katie: Week 1

In the following weeks I probably won't write quite so much in my weekly updates (yeah right, I am so long winded), but for this first one I want to show my pictures and current weight for the week, lay out the ground rules I have for myself, and talk about my goals a little.

So, here we go.

Pictures:

No, I'm not pregnant again already.  

Bleh.  Taking true-to-life pictures of yourself is motivation enough.  I kind of can't believe I'm doing this on a public blog.  It'll be good for me though, right?

Current weight: 170 pounds
Halfway goal: 150 pounds
Target weight: 125 pounds

My original goal was 130 pounds, but in playing around with the BMI calculator on the blog here I realized that 130 was a little closer to the breaking point into the "overweight" category and I want to get down to a healthier range, so I've upped my goal 5 more pounds, aiming for a total weight loss of 45 pounds.  Eeek!  Wish me luck. 

My rules:
1. No Sweets!
Absolutely NO sugar sweets/junk/desserts/candy/etc. for three months (i.e. until April 1, 2010).  At that point I'll reassess and see if I can allow myself small things here and there or if I need to keep up the no sweets rule.  I will allow myself the occasional healthy dessert, but it will count as a processed snack (see below).


2. No Fast Food!
No fast food or eating out.  Period.  And if on the off chance I'm stranded somewhere or something and I have to get fast food I will order the healthiest thing.

3. Healthy Meals and Snacks!
Eat three healthy meals each day along with 2-4 healthy snacks, with no more than one processed snack (100 calorie packs, etc.) per day.

4. Fresh Foods!
Trade out cravings/impulses to eat granola bars and other processed snacks with fresh fruits and veggies.

5. Keep Track!
Write down everything I eat in my food journal (a little notebook I can carry around and keep with me).

6. Exercise 30 Minutes!
Exercise in some way for at least 30 minutes every day and write down what I did to exercise in my food journal.

7. Drink 80 Fluid Ounces!
Drink at least 80 fluid ounces of water every day and write down how much I drank in my food journal.

8. Balance Food Intake!
Enter the foods I eat each day into the Menu Planner on MyPyramid in order to make sure I'm getting a good balance of the foods I need.

9. Stay Active!
No sitting at the computer/TV for more than an hour (or one movie) at a time.

10. Get out!
Get out of the house at least once a day!

I'm really excited to get going on these goals.  Mostly, I'm really excited to someday, probably months from now, but someday look in the mirror and not have to suck in to have a flat tummy.  I'm so tired of still wearing the maternity clothes I wore when I was pregnant!  I really want to fit into my old clothes again and I hope to someday have even those clothes be lose on me.  I think by doing this I will be a healthier, happier, more energized person.  I've never been much for specific goals, so I'd like to prove to myself that it is possible to accomplish the things I want to do.  And with that, I'm off to go exercise!

Edited to add:

I am a total space case and forgot to mention something very important.  I just wanted to say THANK YOU MELISSA (my friend from preschool teaching days) for sharing your inspirational progress and success over at FAT CHANCE.  It has obviously been the inspiration for this blog and for my goals.  You rock.  I am so impressed by your accomplishments.  And you are one of the funniest people I know.  Just an added bonus.

Also, I just finished a round of Tighter Assets and let me just say--what a workout.  Perhaps if you live somewhere where it snows (or rains or gets really hot or whatever) and sometimes prohibits your good exercise intentions a workout DVD from the local library or something might be a good idea.  I have a feeling Tamilee and I are going to get to know each other real well while it's still snowing here.