Only 362 Days to Go!

Day three of my new challenge to myself. I meant to update my blog sooner, but you know how the days go. I’m especially finding that trying to log my calories and activities each day takes up the little bit of time I would otherwise use to blog, so, oh well. No big happenings yet anyway. Well except the revelation I received on Friday and Saturday of how much too much I’m eating. Wow, I really didn’t think I ate that much but after eating just pretty normally and logging it I discovered that I ate something around 2.5 times the amount I wanted to in order to lose weight. Yikes! No wonder….Actually on Saturday night I just gave up logging anything after I was already to 3000 calories and hadn’t even added the trip to Pizza Ranch yet. Oh my, no more Pizza Ranch for me! The good news is that improvement has been speedy now that I am aware. My goal is still around 1500 calories a day, however I’m going to be pretty flexible with that because that was a number set for someone being inactive and not nursing. Neither of which is me. Sunday and Monday I consumed a net of around 1400 calories after taking out what was burned during a workout and a bike ride. After that I’ve still got all my normal daily activity keeping house, working, and running after a toddler so I think I’m doing pretty well at burning more than I take in. I’ve been doing pretty well at being satisfied with these lesser calories, I mean I’m hungry a little more often , but the fact that I have to log everything I eat makes me wait until I really need something to eat and then make a wise choice. I’m having trouble finding high protein, low calorie/low sodium snacks, but we’ll keep at it. I’m beginning to think that I am trying to cut out too many things at once but when I started to log what I eat I was also blown away by how much sodium I consume, so I’d really like to fix that. I spent a lot of money at the grocery store yesterday but I hope that can be attributed to the amount of fresh fruits, high protein snacks, and tofu that I bought. Yes, you heard me right, tofu. I’m not a big fan, but really it’s not that bad in smoothies and dude, it’s 50 calories with something like 14g. of protein. That’s hard to find. Granted it’s soy protein so I’m not going to OD because I don’t want to become ubber girlly J but, it’s worth a little bit I think. The other victory these last few days is that I really haven’t felt deprived nor have I been wanting to eat that ice cream in the fridge. I think that’s really a God thing because usually I’m all about the sweets. But I’ve good without them and instead enjoying the high I get from knowing that I’m eating right and on my way to being a hot wife. I would really like that. I mean, Mike has never said that he thinks I’m not…I just would like to be confident that he has reason to think that and even have other people be jealous of him. J Oh, another thing I feel like I am overcoming is coffee!! I found out that a Jamocha shake is almost half of my daily calories and out the door it went. I think it helps that I know I can have one, I just would rather not have the extra work that would have to come with it; or the guilt. Now, today I did have a mocha but that was a choice and I needed to taste my wares that I have recently adjusted.

Mike is also being really supportive. He’s willingly listening to my babble about calories and workouts and reminding me that maybe I don’t need to eat whatever it is right now. And he’s taking the baby so I can workout. Oh, another reason for his supportiveness is that I have suggested we buy a Wii for our anniversary. Yes…you two with your mouths hanging open right now….I know who you are… I suggested it. They have a lot of fitness programs for the Wii and I’ve heard it’s really fun and I’d really like the options and change of pace and challenge that they say it supplies. I really want to do Karate and I think I could do it on there where I can’t find a good program other places. Anyway, it’s just a thought at this point, but Mike was all for it.

Now I know, this is a lot of excitement for only being on my 3^rd day. But there’s only 362 more days to go!! Next 4^th of July is my goal to be at 150 lbs. Oh, and I said I would post these soon, so I guess now is the time. Weight and measurements as of July 4, 2009. Ick, I hate to type them. But here’s hoping I will never have to claim these numbers again!

Weight: 198 lb (oh, Pizza Ranch, you kill me!)

Waist: 40 in.

Hips: 46 in.

Arm: 16 in.

Leg: 28 in.

Oh one more thing I’d like to point out, is my “calorie counting” program. I tried one that was just and igoogle widget and it was lame. Then however I came across www.livestrong.com and the “my daily plate” feature. Wow is that ever fun. Not only is it easy to log calories and activities, it tallies them all up for you and gives you charts to analyze them every which way. And it offers you “healthy” alternatives for everything you eat as well as suggestions of how to burn them off. If I had the time I could log and get credit for everything from getting dressed to having sex to folding laundry. The only think I don’t like is that it’s very calorie focused and not so much on nutrients, but that’s really to be expected. So anyway, check it out! It’s fun if you are a nerd like me.

Now, after all this focus on physical appearance and training, how about a moment for spiritual training, because contrary to appearances, I’m not forgetting that part. Yesterday during my working I continued listening to a podcast on “The Beauty of Meekness” from Revive our Hearts. Good stuff. I highly recommend giving the series a listen. It’s not easy, but it’s good. I’ve got the 16^th century Puritan book that it’s based on, on its way to me as well. Looking forward to the challenge that will be. Oh, and in the meantime I’m reading “The Power of a Praying Wife.” Something I’ve wanted to read for awhile. I’m not too far into it but looking forward to learning how to better pray for Mike. I do now, but it feels extremely inadequate. Mike and I have also been praying together every night. That’s way exciting. Granted, I’m the one that suggests it, but as far as I can tell, that’s ok. I’m not usurping his authority. It’s not anything long winded or terribly deep, but it’s the fact that we’re doing it, and I think God will bless that and grow it.

Now, I’d better get to work. I’m supposed to be running a coffee shop here. Have had a total of one customer this morning. If it wasn’t for the cost of being open, that would be fine with me because I like the quiet time…but we need the business. Going for a bike ride after this. Whoo-hoo for exercise!