Autumn has arrived! Which means that life is back to normal – school’s in, my schedule is busy, and obligations abound. But I won’t use those as excuses to slack on my goals. The great thing about fall is that the weather is cooler and there are no holidays or other social commitments to derail me from strictly adhering to my food and workout plan. I’m determined that fall 2012 will be when I achieve my pre-surgery weight loss goal. Since weekday mornings are hectic, I’m moving my weigh-in day to Sunday. Sundays are the day that I use to get ready for the week ahead by grocery shopping, prepping my food, planing my meals, and organizing my workouts. Sunday mornings are relaxed, so it’s the perfect day to weigh in. Plus, Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend. Throughout the fall, I’ll be giving Sunday progress updates called Fabulous Fall Weigh-Ins.
As you guys know, this was my first week of school, and I have to admit that even though I was prepared, and made my breakfasts and lunches ahead for each day of the week, I was worried about what this week would be like for me. I was tired, worn out, and did I say TIRED because I was waking up at 5ish and going to bed around 11:30 (not enough sleep). Plus, the first week back to school leaves everyone really tired as they adjust to the new daily routine. From tip to toe I was sore – aching feet from standing for 6+ hours straight, sore throat from 6+ hours talking, and sore mind from, well, everything. But despite all of that, I am proud to say that overall this week was a huge success. I only got in a formal workout twice, which leaves lots of room for improvement. What I did well was staying up and active until dinner time. I may not have been on the elliptical at the gym, but from the time I came home until it was time to eat, I didn’t sit down once. I walked Sofi, cleaned up my breakfast/lunch containers,did laundry, straightened the house, watered the garden, set out clothes for the next day, made tomorrow’s breakfast, and got the evening meal going. Doing that really kept me from snacking unnecessarily and from getting super lazy. Success!
{Okay, Bella, that’s all good and well, but what we really want to know is how you did on the scale}. Right?!
Today I weighed in at 304.0, which means I lost 3 pounds this week. So, I have 23 lbs to go to reach my pre-surgery goal. I am thrilled that I lost 3 lbs this week, my first week without Phentermine in over 3 months. Not only was it a huge transition week because of back to school , but I also had a bit of merriment in the form of: a Friday afternoonTGIF Happy Hour with colleagues (1 Blue Moon beer), a second TGIF with my sis Friday evening (2 glasses of Slo Down Wines SC, which is the best wine I’ve had in ages), and a dinner party (excellent cooking post to follow later tonight) with my parents and sister on Saturday (2 glasses of chardonnay, 1 flute of champagne). For someone who hasn’t imbibed in alcohol most of the summer (the last time was 4th of July), I had quite a few drinks this weekend). This weight loss shows that I can keep it up with a busier schedule.
One thing I attribute my success to besides staying on my toes (literally) most of the day, is that I have dramatically cut back on bread and butter. Almost every day of the summer I’d have a slice of whole wheat toast with a bit of butter along with my green smoothie. It was fine and moderate, but I do think all that butter (and wheat) added up. Having the breakfast cookie everyday this week kept me full for hours, but also cut down on the animal fat in my diet. Eating salads at lunch has been great for upping my veggie count and keeping my grains in check. More of the same on the food front this week.
Looking at the week ahead in terms of exercise, I’m not going to allow myself to skip workouts just because I’m feeling tired. This my life for the next 10 months, and if I want to have the surgery before the year’s end, I need to keep on track. I’d like to get a workout in daily, even if it’s a 20-minute OnDemand kickboxing routine (I did one last week that kicked my ass in a good way and that I need to repeat this week). I’m not going to pressure myself by saying I’m going to do these types of workouts on these exact days this week. I would like to make it to the pool at least once or twice while it’s still open and the weather is still warm, but other than that, I’m going to allow myself to play the exact workout by ear. Here are some possible choices:
- swimming
- bike riding
- elliptical 5k
- Aqua class
- Zumba
- extra long walk (3 miles) with Sofi
- OnDemand kickboxing, general cardio, Bollywood, etc.
- Biggest Loser DVDs
- Wii Fit as a warmup (I haven’t used it in over a year).
The school year is already off to an amazing start, which has me excited about all that I can accomplish in my life outside of school. I realize that my mood and attitude about what’s going on in my work life dramatically effects how I perform in the rest of my life, especially in terms of my weight loss. So a successful and happy school year equals a successful time on the scale.
Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!
Bella on the Beach 
It’s cheesy but whenever I think about intentionally skipping a workout I hear that quote in my head that goes something like the only workout you’ll ever regret is the one you didn’t do. So true! The hardest part is usually getting into my workout clothes, but once I get going it always feels great. You have such an awesome variety of workouts. I love that you don’t limit yourself to the same activities. Great job this week Bella! Here’s to another great week.
I love that quote, too, and I think I’ve pinned it at least a few times.
This week is my prep-for-the-start-of-the-new-semester week! I can totally relate to the frantic-ness of getting things sorted and ready, in particular coming up with a sustainable exercise and food routine that will help me meet my end of the year goals.
Accepting that this busy schedule will be your life for the next 10 months is good in gaining perspective and setting your schedule accordingly in order to reach your pre-surgery goals. Good luck!!
Glad you’re getting into a good routine, and adding the workouts in too — one step at a time, right? It’s going to be a very exciting semester for you, I can tell!