L: Day 6

Nothing too exciting to report today. Just keeping at it!
Calories: 1590
Water: 8 glasses
Vitamin: YES.
Exercise: about a two mile walk or so (possibly more) with my puppy.

**My ultimate goal for myself (mainly for this summer) is to get back to the size I was last summer. I was by no means "stick thin" then, but I felt confident in my own body. For motivation (starting with the 90 day challenge..about 3 months prior to this challenge), I took pictures of myself in some clothes and swim suits that I fit into last summer. I looked back on those pictures when I was having a low motivation day, was craving too much food, or just needed a good reminder as to why I was doing this challenge. I'm toying around with the idea of posting those pictures, as well as the weeks progress, so it's not only motivation to myself, but to others of you who are possibly reading this. Trouble is, I don't know if I'm that brave yet. I don't know....we'll see.

L: Day 5

Well today, I started off counting my calories, and then I kind of went downhill in terms of keeping track. HOWEVER, doing a quick mental look back of how I did today, I feel like I ate mainly when I needed to, not just for boredom. In fact, this evening I avoided a big bowl of ice cream with a big bowl of fresh strawberries, and a would-be doughnut stop ( I was craving) for a 100-calorie ice cream bar at home. For me it's been extremely important to acknowledge my cravings, not to pretend they don't exist. Over the years I've tried so many diets and fads in which I had to deny what I wanted. Looking back, that is the reason that many of those failed. I need to treat myself every once in a while. The trick is substituting lower-calorie foods in doing so.

I was thinking today about the goals that I have. My entire life (since about age 9), I've been struggling with my weight. I have seen the number that appears on the scale and have been intimidated. I no longer have a NUMBER as my goal, because I realize now that if I go at it with that perspective, I will never be happy. My main goal: to be happy and confident in my own skin. To love my body for what it is, not for how much I weigh alone.

My update (other than calories)
water: 8 glasses.
vitamin: i forgot. oops. tomorrow.....
exercise: 20 min on the stationary bike, some lifting of weights.
*I get my knee checked out next week and will know then what I am / am not able to do in terms of exercise.

**For the last couple days I've been wearing a pair of sweatpants that I got as a senior in high school (2 years ago). I have not been able to fit into them since then. But I tried them on and guess what.... THEY FIT! Woot woot! Go-o-o progress.

I almost forgot

While jogging today, I made the decision that I would jog the whole stretch that I've been doing the last few days- I would jog there and back and I decided to about half-way there. Then I realized my body is getting tired. You know the feeling when your body is clearly able to go farther and the tiredness will go in just a bit? Knowing that this tiredness was just a feeling that originates from my lazy, "if you go this far now, you'll have to go this far every time.. you don't want to start doing that now!" I changed my focus. Literally. Normally I'm looking pretty much straight ahead. I would put my focus on getting to the end, to be finished and done. I changed my focus, instead of looking at my goal and getting discouraged because "it looks so far away!" I looked to the 10 feet ahead of me. I can jog those 10 feet. It was a mental game with myself.

Focusing on just jogging the 10 ft in front of me, then the next 10, and on and on till I knew I was closing in on my goal made it not only easier, it made it more enjoyable too. I checked my form frequently, applying some tips I found and made sure to keep my gaze about 10 feet in front of me. It was tempting near the end to look up more and set my eyes on the final goal. Looking at the goal was something that would be counter-productive for me, I just didn't do it until it was in my 10ft gaze. Reaching the stop light where my goal was I felt good, I mean really good. Mentally I was stronger, and of course physically too.

As I was jogging I realized that looking at the "final goal" for me and no doubt others, isn't the best thing. It seems too hard, difficult and there is so much WORK to do to reach that goal, especially when it comes to weight-loss. It's easy to look at where I want to be and be discouraged and mentally give-up. My body "felt" tired and I could have walked the rest of the way, yet my body and I am were still capable of so much more. Weight-loss takes time which is has always been the killer for me. I get lost in the process because I've always been focused on the goal, the end, the destination. Hello! Good health isn't a destination. Good health is like keeping my gaze 10 ft ahead to keep jogging- it's small progress.

Since Day One on this blog I have shifted my focus to developing healthy habits: working out regularly, watching what I eat, taking a multi-vitamin, drinking lots of water; and ditching bad ones: being lazy, eating junk food, binging and emotional eating. Overtime I may reach my goal weight, which would be great- it's just the main point is becoming healthy and developing healthy habits. Makes me think how many other ways this analogy applies?

C: D 6

I can't believe that it's almost been a whole week now! Cool fact: today I jogged a WHOLE 1.2 miles!!! I'm seriously celebrating in my head right now! After not training for over 5 months, jogging over a mile is a big deal to me. :) This week, so far, I've put in a total of 18.7 miles now- how crazy is that?!

Update
Food: Special K w/soymilk, Eggo waffle with 1/4 tbsp of almond butter, Orange, a low-fat String Cheese, 6" Veggie Delight on 9-grain bread from Subway, a serving of my Salsa Salad, some watermelon (perfect summer weather food!!!), and finished the day with a lite peach yogurt.
Calories: exactly 1200!
Vitamin: again, yes
Water: 12 glasses
Exercise: jogged 1.2 miles and walked 1.4 miles.

L: Day 4

Well I've got to say, the new sunshine-y weather is definitely motivation to step up the exercise...swimsuit season here I come!
Here's my update for the day-
Food: 1560 calories
Water: 10 glasses
Vitamin: 1
Exercise: 45 min swim + 20 min on the stationary bike with about a 20 min workout on the weights....all despite the knee injury. Let's hope is stays somewhat controlled.
:)

C: D 5

Happy Thursday! I love Thursdays- not sure exactly why, but I do. I used to be a fan of Wednesdays, but since I've graduated from college it's changed. Lol!

Foods: 2 Eggo waffles with a tbsp of almond butter each topped with slices of banana, 8 oz. of soymilk, bowl of salsa salad (recipe below), a lite peach yogurt, a tall skinny iced latte from Starbucks, and a serving of pears, 8 oz of chocolate soymilk.
Calories: 1226- right on the money.
Vitamin: uh-huh!
Water: like 10 glasses? need to drink MORE!
Exercise: jogged 1.5 miles (WOOT!!!), walked 2 miles + workout dvd 30 minutes

Salsa Salad:
1 loosely packed cup of Hearts of Romaine- make sure to wash them!
1/2 cup loosely packed Spinach leaves- stems removed
1/4 cup chopped avocado
1/4 cup chopped broccoli
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 Tbsp salsa- your choice

Mix everything together for a delicious salad that's only 207 calories, the salsa makes a healthier dressing than most and has plenty of vitamins, veggies and sizzle!!

Before enjoying a coffee with my dear auntie and cousin I discovered Starbucks Delicious Drinks Under 200 Calories website. Starbucks has posted the nutritional information for their products and list some great tasting drinks that are more waist friendly. ;) They even have a section for foods that are under 300 calories too! Here's to eating smarter!

L: Day 3

Well...today I did GREAT! About keeping on track that is. Despite my busy schedule I was able to keep relatively full and able to work out today. Woot woot! :)

Food:
Salad (spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, bacon...yes, I said bacon), 2 Special K Protein bars, 1 granola bar, 1 banana, 1 bag of 100-calorie baked Chex mix, 1 cheese stick, 1 cup yogurt, bowl of soup, 1 large orange, 2 pieces of toast, 1 cup of hot chocolate, and 1 100-calorie ice cream bar.
Total calories: 1577
Water: 11 glasses
Vitamin: yessir
Exercise: 20 min on the elliptical, about 20 minutes lifting, 15 minutes on a cross-country ski-like machine. Lol!
*I'm not sure how I'll do on my exercise from here on out...my knee is literally KILLING me right now. We'll hope for good results from the doctor!