Not bad, but could be better

Just a quick update this week...
It looks like the pizza, french fries, bacon and margaritas I had while we were at the waterpark caught up with me a little bit. I ended up losing .5 this week, for a total of 6 pounds so far... It's definitely better than gaining!!  I am still going to my step class every Tuesday and zumba every Wednesday night. Dennis and I also go to the gym on Saturdays and Sundays together. I've stayed in my calorie range every day except Sunday and Monday (waterpark days), and I have burned all of my calories and then some for the week.

Plan for next week is to just keep doing what I am doing.

My Hard Work is Paying Off

With all of my hard work and dedication, I lost 3.5 pounds this week! For a total, so far, of 5.5 pounds. Everything is really starting to fall in place, and I'm definitely getting the hang of it.  I am also setting up a routine at the gym. 3 days a week, I am on the treadmill working on preparing myself to walk a 5k with my family in the beginning of April, and then walk/run another 5k at the end of April. After I do the treadmill, I hop on the elliptical... I am not a huge fan of that thing yet, but I'm working on it. I am also taking 2 classes so far, which are, Zumba on Wednesday nights and a step class on Tuesdays. 

I seem to have cardio under control, now I just have to find a way to do some strength training. There are a bunch of free weight classes at my gym, but I don't know how well I would be able to do that. I would love to start doing some strength training at the gym, but it's a little intimidating. 

Nutrition and Fitness Goals

So far I am doing a great job. I am working hard and staying focused. I have set up some nutrition and fitness goals that I am aiming to hit every day/week.

Nutrition:

*Eat between 1240 - 1590 calories a day.

* Eat 168-242 g of carbs, 33-58 g of fat and 60-130 g of protein every day.

* Continue with drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Fitness:

* Do 45 to 60 min of cardio at least 5 days a week.

* Burn 2010 calories a week.

-1.5

It is weigh in day for me, and I am down 1.5  pounds. I am very happy with this number for multiple reasons. In order to reach my ultimate goal, I need to lose 2 pounds a week. It's only 1.5 pounds you say??? Well... I started on 2/10. During my first week the only thing I did was drink water and get rid of soda. For my first week efforts, I lost 0.5 pounds. Now, the reason I am so happy with my 1.5 pound weight loss is because I didn't put everything together until this week Monday. So since Monday I've been staying in my calorie range, drinking at least 8 glasses of water, and incorporating exercise in my plan. ALSO, last weekend we had hosted a game night which I ingested plenty of pizza, soda, and wine. So, a 1.5 pound loss for basically 3 days of work puts me in a fantastic mood!!!

I know that it's only been 3 days of putting together the whole package, but I am finding that it's not difficult to do. As long as we have the right kind of food in the house, the rest is simple. It's just finding the motivation to workout everyday. The better I feel and the more progress I make will definitely keep me motivated. I am a worried about plateaus, but I can only deal with the present so I will cross that bridge when I get there!!

My eating habits are going well. I am staying within my calorie range. I have been eating about 1580 calories a day, which is keeping me full and satisfied. I am doing zumba once a week, and I am planning on adding at least 1 more night of it. My hubby and I are joining a gym this weekend, and my plan is to go at least 5 days a week. They offer a bunch of classes also, so I am hoping to find other ways of exercising that I like to do. As many of you know, I used to be big into sports... I want that back so bad!

Eating AFTER Dinner!!!

I don't know why it's so hard to close up the kitchen after we have dinner! I am terrible at snacking before bed. Since I started counting my calories, I've noticed it's hard for me to eat as much as I need to during the day. Then by night time, I feel like I'm super hungry. Most of the time I haven't even been near my calorie minimum. Then I tell myself that I have to get these calories in and I eat until I do.  I'm not exactly sure how I can fix this... I know the obvious choice is to eat more during the day and not eat after dinner, but if it was that easy I would have done it already! It's amazing how many bad habits I have that need to be changed.  I knew I had plenty of them, just didn't really open my eyes wide enough before to see.

What I've been up to

Well, things are going slow but I'm ok with that. I am still trying to work on the whole water thing, but it will work itself out. My first week of giving up soda went pretty good... I ended up losing 0.5 pounds. So, I am happy to have a loss.
I joined sparkpeople.com in order to get a little nutrition/fitness advice. So far I seem to like it. It's free, so that makes it even better!! Today was the first day of counting my calories. I am eating 1500-1800 calories a day. If was hard for me to get 1500 in today. I've decided I see that as a sign that I can actually do this. I have it figured out that if I am able to lose 2 pounds per week, I can lose the 91 pounds I want to lose by January 1st 2012.
I have also decided on 3 weight loss goals that will keep me working hard to accomplish them.
Goal #1: lose 5%  before April 1st. 
Goal #2: lose 10%  by May 5th. 
Goal #3: -35 pounds by June 18th (my 6 year wedding anniversary)! 

Can't get my ass in gear!

I don't know what the deal is, but I can't seem to get my ass in gear. I have no motivation what so ever, which is not like me! Usually I am all into it, and then slowly lose the motivation... Needless to say, the simple task of drinking water every day has already gone downhill. I am hoping that going to zumba tonight will wake me up, and snap me out of the daze I am in!
Does anyone know of a personal trainer that will work with me for free..... I WISH!!!