Day 294: Appreciate the Little Things

So, my big goal is rather daunting if I really stop and think about it. So I've decided to take the approach of focusing on little goals that'll add up to the big goal. Weight wise, every 5 pounds will be a little victory, those suckers will add up fast.

I also want to appreciate other smaller triumphs I have along the way. This morning while rushing to get ready for work, I grabbed what I thought were the jeans I normally wear. These jeans are comfortable but a little too big and baggy. I did mention that I fit into a size smaller jean and I still do, but they're tight. I had also washed all my jeans the other week and was worrying about trying on those jeans since I hadn't been eating well. The dryer shrink is never fun. So, as I grabbed the jeans and slid them on, I realized they were the smaller jeans but they slid on better than they ever had. And I hadn't worn them since they'd been washed! Small victory for sure.

If I look at the big picture, I can easily get discouraged and give up. However, focusing on things like this makes it seem a lot easier. I want this feeling again with a size smaller jean and I'm going to work toward that. Who knows what number I'll be on the scale when that happens but it doesn't matter. So, any other small victories I feel I have along the way I'm going to jot down just to remember if I ever get down and want to just quit.

I've also decided that I'm going to try my best to not weigh myself at home. I'll only weigh in once a week at WW. That way the scale stays the same and accurate. Plus, only knowing the number once a week makes it less likely to get upset about a gain in the middle of the week that wouldn't actually show up on my normal weigh in day.

Anyway, that's it for this post. Tomorrow will likely be harder for me since I'm going to literally be busy all day. We'll see how it goes!

Day 295: New Approach

Wow... well, maybe I've miscounted the days by now since I went so long with no post, but I do believe I went 50 days with nothing... that's somewhat insane. A lot of time to go by too. And I will say, during that time I didn't focus on health really at all. Instead, I was letting life get to me and just slacking off on focusing on this at all.

Well, last week I decided to make a change. I joined Weight Watchers because I need something that makes me work out and eat better. That weekly weigh-in is what I need to keep me honest with myself. While I can weigh myself at home, I can also lie and make up reasons for the weight gain like it's water weight or my clothes. The Weight Watchers scale, that tells no lies. And someone else is seeing what it says.

I did WW (that's the abbreviation for Weight Watchers that I'm going to use from now on, just so you know) a long time ago, back at the beginning of high school. It works, I lost a good amount of weight actually. It's frustrating to know what I used to weigh and how much closer I was to my goal weight then compared to now. But I've also realized that I need to stick with something like this or I just let myself go. Proof in being 40 pounds lighter 8 years ago.

So, if you know nothing about WW it's pretty simple. Based off a few characteristics, you're given a set number of points for each day. Every food has a point value, be it from 0 (vegetables) to 30 (some fast food burgers). Each day, you're supposed to eat to your point value, no more and no less. Well, there are flexible points you get each week so you can go over, but they're limited. Basically, the points teach you about portion control. It's nice because you really can eat anything you want, but if it takes up all your points, well then you're eating lettuce the rest of the day. You can exercise and earn points back to eat more but I never use those points. Seems silly to me. Once a week, you go to a meeting to get weighed in and there's a leader who leads a 30 minute discussion.

It's pretty straight forward and simple. As they explain it, it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. My first meeting was Saturday, I had plans that afternoon of being in a drinking tournament basically so I waited to start tracking my points until Sunday. It is eye opening to track every single thing you eat and drink. The portions are probably the most shocking. Something can be healthy but eat it at too big a portion and it loses it's health benefits. I got a DVD during my first meeting for a kick boxing type workout. I've done it two days in a row. It's pretty fun and fairly easy, still makes me sweat. I'm only on beginner but plan on moving up a level pretty soon for more of a challenge.

So this will be updated more regularly now because I am actively focusing on this. I really will be finding healthy recipes and snacks that are good for you. I'll share the good things I learn and probably my frustrations if I think I do well a week and find out I didn't lose much. It feels good doing this though. Even in three days, focusing on myself and what I'm eating has made me feel better. I signed up for a 2 month membership so I'm doing this for at least two months but plan on doing it for more. We'll see how it goes and how much weight I lose. 295 days to get into a bikini... I think it can still definitely happen!