Family weight-loss challenge

Here we are again...I guess I like being on the weight loss rollercoaster. My in-laws have decided to do a family weight-loss challenge, this is the real deal. Everyone that wants to participate is putting in $50, this money will then be used as prize money for the winners.

I'm excited and motivated to get going and lose weight, again. Amy and I went and weighed in the other night and I was very surprised at my weight... 262, I can't believe it has been this bad. This year I've been trying to be more active and do more physical things but I guess the food I've been eating had gotten much worse.

It's time to work on my diet and exercise more...I'm going to win this thing. My goal for the end of the challenge is to be under 210 by November 20th, the final day of the challenge. I will write more about my diet and exercise in the next post.

Going on a cruise

Food

So The last little while I have been trying to transition regular foods into my diet so that when I get to my desired weight I can maintain. The key has been eating less. Last night we went to the Cheesecake Factory. A trick that I have learned is to check out a restaurant before I go so that I can check the menu and find something that is low in calories/fat and that I would still want to eat. Sometimes that can be hard I couldn't find anything on the regular menu that was in my desired calorie range and still sounded good, until I discovered they have a Skinnylcious menu. where everything is under 590 calories. I got a Turkey burger, it was good but small. I ate it kind of fast and then realized if I am going to make this thing work I need to slow down and take me time eating. I've heard it said that it takes 20 minutes for you brain to realize that your stomach is full. I'm pretty sure I just experienced that. Right after I was done I looked around on the table to see if there was any bread left, there wasn't any, but after a few minutes I realized I wasn't hungry any more. I was satisfied, and I need to stop and wait when I am done eating so I don't over eat. With the realization when dessert came I know I didn't need it or really even want it, so I only took one bite of each kind and that's it. I was done. 
   Now as far as my exercising...my 2 times a week stair/run is going great. The other things like push-ups and weight lifting has kind of stopped. So I need to get motivated and start up again.

My 1st Milestone

One of the first goals I set for myself was to lose 10 lbs by Sept 1st.

I DID IT

That's Right I weighed in this morning at 238.6. I am very happy about the work I have put in, but I know I still have a long way to go. My next goal is 225 by October 1st. Actually I want to do it by Sept 29th, 4 weeks away. 

Still a long way to go.

I am trying not be be discouraged and frustrated because I feel like I am making some good progress, but my body is getting sore. I can still only run for about a mile and then I am so winded I feel like I am going to suffocate.

 I guess I have to look at the big picture and my overall goal. Baby steps is the only way I'm going to get this done. Today I ran (jogged) up and down 484 stairs in about 10 minutes that's not to bad. I want to be able to look back at this in 6 mo. and know that I did my best and it paid off.

One thing that has helped me over the last week or so is the My Fitness app that I downloaded. I am able to enter all the food I eat and keep track of my calories and fat. Right now my goal has been to stay between 1500 and 1800 cal. per day. It had been hard to do some days but I have done really well and stayed under 1800 for 6 of the 8 days I've done it.  

241.6

That's right 241.6 lbs is what I weighed  this morning. That is down another 3 pounds since last week.
I don't know if I feel any different, but hopefully soon  I will have more energy and feel stronger.

I have started doing push-ups a few times a week I hope by the end of the week I can do 100 push-ups 3 times a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays I am still running over to  the Cultural center and running up and down the stairs.

September 1st is coming up, on Saturday. That is my first goal  milestone and My goal was to  be under 240, I think I am looking good for that. I will actually weigh in on Sunday the 2nd.

1st Week

So the first week was tough. It seems like all I'm thinking about is what I have eaten or what I was going to eat. I don't really like that feeling but I guess it's what I need to get back in shape.

My exercising went well for the week I run stairs Tues. and Thursday. On Wed. and Fri. I decided to work my upper body more every other day I was going to lift some weights. The weight lifting is going to have to progress slowly though.  The most difficult part of the week was carrying Amelia on my back for a 4.5 mile hike on Antelope Island in 95* heat.

My Diet went really well. After all I was thinking about it all the time. I don't think I exceeded 2000 calories on any day and I think most days were around 1500. We even got Ice Cream and Wendy's on Saturday. But I was good and kept my portion sizes down.

All in all I did well, and the results of the week...wait for it...244 that's right I lost 4 pounds.

My Goal for this up-coming week is much the same 3 lbs.
- Running stairs 3 times and lifting weights the other 3
- Eating the same as last week or better :)