-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!!!

Good week so far

Well, so far I'm half way through my first week and kicking butt with the whole water thing. I know some of you might think it's easy to drink an ass ton of water every day, but I don't really drink much so it's definitely difficult for me. Anyway, so far so good. I have been meeting my first week goals without a problem.

Anyone have any ideas of what I can add to my "lifestyle change" for next week?? I hope that by adding one change every week or every other week, that I will have a better chance to keep it up long term.... idk, just makes sense to me.

Goal #1

My goals for my first week include:

Drink 8 glasses of water each day and stretch each day for 5 to 10 minutes. 

There's always a beginning

Here we go... Definitely NOT my first attempt at losing weight and getting healthy, but it IS my first attempt to blog about it for the whole world to see!! Well, maybe not the whole world, but my close friends. I think it's more embarrassing for close friends to read this then it would be for the whole world, but that is why I am doing this. I NEED HELP!! I need help from everyone I know and trust, as well of help from myself.
I'm not exactly sure how I am planning on tackling this weight loss attempt, but it's not going to be anything fancy. I think I am going to stick with counting those good ole' calories. But what's healthy?? How do I know how many calories I need to take in every day, and how many calories I need to burn in order to lose "slow and steady?"
Well, until I do my research and figure that out I am going to start out this week with a pretty simple task. I will give up the soda and switch to only water(except for some milk, of course). Once I am drinking my 8 glasses of water a day, I will add another "healthy task" to the mix.
I really want this to be it for me!!