Wednesday, March 14th, 2001

Weight: 131 pounds (estimate)

Okay, I haven't written like I said I would. Mostly because I write my journal at work and I was very busy on Monday and Tuesday getting this report completed and out. And outside of work I had a rough draft of a paper due, which ate up the part of the weekend I wasn't spending with my boyfriend, John. Sorry about that!

How last week went: For the most part, I stuck very well to my exercise regimen and my calorie limits. Saturday proved to be a "test" because not only did I have a real breakfast with John including homemade cinnamon rolls, but we then went to a babyshower and that evening also cooked and entertained for his sister and brother-in-law. I managed very well, considering, simply by not eating anything but a few apple slices and sipping on seltzer water at the baby shower when there was cheese and crackers, pasta, and cake. This let me 'indulge' on 2 glasses of wine later that evening when John cooked lamb and potatos without feeling that I had severely set myself back.

John is finally getting the idea that I'm not always going to eat what is prepared and served without checking with me. He has noticed that I limit myself on cheese and other high-fat goodies and that I have been making more low-cal grocery buys (reduced fat Bisquick, reduced fat cocoa, reduced calorie bread). So all in all, I think he is understanding that I am not going to eat the same things in the same manner as him.

I estimate that I am down 1 or 2 pounds from last week, although the scale Monday said that I had remained the same. I attributed this to water weight from the large cup of tea I had that morning and a little bit of water retention from my monthly cycle. I have learned to accept that my weight will fluxuate from day to day, and I should be happy with an overall downtrend. Especially when I feel thinner (and the tape measure says I have lost another inch off my waist!) I've re-weight myself several times this week and found what I believe is a good reflection of my real weight at the moment.

More people at work have noticed my weight loss. Some ask if I'm "alright" and comment that I "look pale". One asked if I was losing weight on purpose and then commented on how I "looked good". I just tell them vaguely that I am watching what I eat and exercising daily. No one knows how much I have lost, nor my ultimate goal of 115. I hope by the end of this month to be in the upper 120's. I am for the most part becoming happier and happier with my body. Thanks to small hips, a 24 inch waist is not unreasonable. As part of my fitness routine, I have taken an interest in belly dancing (although for now I'm just learning through videos).

Unfortunately I had a 'slip' last night, and gorged myself on the last of the non-fat cottage cheese, the half a bowl of cereal left in the box, toast and jelly, low-cal microwave popcorn, and a slice of pumpkin pie that I had recently baked to satisfy a craving. The good news is that except for the pumpkin pie, all of it was low-fat, so in the end, I probably came out only 600 calories above my plan. Since my boyfriend will be gone this weekend, he elected to spend the evening with me (and left before my late night kitchen raid). I also I didn't do the exercise that I normally did. And because I stayed up so late last night, I didn't get up this morning to do my usual cardio and/or weightlifing routine. Doubly bad. So I decided for the next 2 days to cut down my calories to about 1000 to 'make up' for my Tuesday night binge. And really refocus on the exercise, likely doing 2, 20 minute cardio routines/day. And also making it a point to be in bed before midnight.

The good (weight loss) news is that I can eat how I choose during the weekend (small meals/snacks vs. 3 big meals) while John is out of town house-sitting. Though I will miss him and our weekend fun. I have a party of my own to attend during St. Patricks' day, so that may be another day where I will have to 'save up' calories during the day to 'spend' at the party. Anyway, I have rambled long enough. By the way, is anyone reading this? Just curious! Drop me an email if you want.