Although I began this journey six months ago, I am just now beginning to take it more seriously, apply greater effort to my goals, and to chronicle my progress.
I don't own a scale that goes high enough to accurately weigh myself. Since weighing is something that I have become compulsive about in the past, I will not go out and buy a scale at this point.
Instead, I will track my progress through my measurements, which I recorded today. I've decided to measure myself once a month. If I ever go 30-days with no change, I will know that I have to make modifications.
An accurate weight may be something I decide tht I need. If so, I will deal with it -----somehow........
When I first started low-carbing, I ate as much protein and fat as I wanted--- which the Atkins book says will still result in weight loss. This seemed to work for awhile. I could not weigh myself, but my clothes got looser and day-to-day tasks became easier.
I also eliminated a lot of water weight which immediately dropped my blood pressure --which had been high for several years. Eventually, my weight seemed to stabilize and I went several months without sensing a change.
Perhaps other people can get to goal while cosuming bacon by the pound, but it was obvious that my body was not going to be able to make additional progress that way.
I realized that I had changed what I ate, but was eating the same volume of food as before ---so I had done nothing to train myself to eat less. I also was not exercising ---telling myself that I couldn't because of my size, didn't have the time, etc To top it off, I was eating a lot of low-carb candy bars and snack foods ---meaning that I had done almost nothing to change bad eating habits.
Today, I finally came to terms with the fact that discipline and sacrifice are a part of achieving any goal or transformation -- be it weight loss or something else. If there were an effortless road to fitness, no one would be heavy and out of shape. It is time for greater discipline.
As of today, food portions will be smaller and I will not, for the time being, eat low carb candy and snacks as a regular part of my diet. I am increasing my consumption of water and beginning an exercise program.
Friday, August 27
I went to SPORTS AUTHORITY and bought a pair of walking sneakers, a ten pound dumb bell, two five pound dumb bells, and a set of 5 pound ankle weights.
I've been going with my husband on his nightly routine of walking the dog in the woods. This is not even a mile, round trip, but I am so pitifully out of shape that even this small effort takes great concentration.
I am beginning a routine tomorrow that will include yoga/stretching, floor exercises, and aerobics training with weights.
Cutting back on the portions and eliminating the low carb candy has made me realize just how addicted I am to excessive amounts of the wrong foods. I am eating a fraction of what I was before and eating better quality foods. There's no denying how difficult this is, but I already feel much better physically.
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