Weigh-In Wednesday: 2nd Edition

Ok, I’ve got one week under my belt and I did it…I stuck to my plan for a full week.

Including the weekend!

I didn’t let the stress of the day give me an “excuse” to indulge at night, which has been a pattern for me.

I budgeted for the burger and beer with my in-laws. I budgeted for the cup of ice cream that seemed absolutely necessary on Sunday night. I budgeted for the 2 glasses of wine at the end of a long Monday.

I budgeted for the foods I really enjoy.

I’m convinced that long term success can only be achieved when you don’t feel like you’re being deprived of all the food you love.

I’m also convinced that health is a much more powerful motivator than vanity.

I’ll let myself off the hook if my only goal is a smaller pair of jeans. I’ll throw my whole eating plan out the window if the only goal is to get into a bikini.

It’s much harder to give up on the goal of being healthy for my family and my future. Knowing that high blood pressure could lead to heart disease or a stroke really puts food into perspective for me. It’s a matter of life and death, not just smaller thighs.

I know I can do this, and I’m hoping and praying that getting the weight off will bring my BP back down to normal.

So here’s what I’m doing: counting calories and focusing on using them wisely.

I’m aiming to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole foods. I’m not loading up on diet pop and tiny microwave dinners. I’m eating big salads full of veggies, I’m snacking on fruit, I’m eating smaller portions at dinnertime. I’m skipping dessert and planning ahead for the treats I really want.

I keep track of everything with the Lose It app on my beloved iPhone. Weight loss? There’s an app for that.

Lose It is a free program that’s available online, not just as a phone app. This program allows me to search for foods, add custom foods and recipes, track exercise and see my progress.

I basically entered my current stats and my goal. I set my pace and bingo! It created a daily budget for me.

My current plan is to lose 2 pounds per week and my first goal is to lose 35 pounds by Christmas.

Today’s Weigh-In: down 5lbs!

I really think I can do it. I’m focusing on eating right for the first couple of weeks and then I’m going to push myself to start working out regularly again.

I’m going to check in with all of you every Wednesday to let you know how it’s going and I’d love for you to link up with me if you’re on your own fitness quest! Other people’s blogs have provided SO MUCH inspiration for me.

Ashley over at The Domestic Wannabe has lost 33 pounds since March and I’ve loved following her journey. It doesn’t hurt that she has an adorable baby girl who is a little older than Grace and her husband just finished medical school and started his residency. I love watching someone who is a few steps ahead of me on a very similar path.

I’d love to read your healthy living/fitness/weight loss stories, so link up your blog below!