The Strategy

Week one was a success. I managed to lose two pounds. That might sound impressive, but don't be fooled. These two pounds have come and gone more than a few times over the last year. Still, though, I'm proud. Mostly, I'm proud that I made some really positive changes this week. First and foremost, I started eating better. Ever since I went on vacation this summer, my eating habits have been pretty crappy. I used to eat quite healthy, but lately I found myself eating Reese's Miniature PB Cups by the bagful.

I have been a connoisseur of diets for most of my adult life. Truth be told, in the beginning, my "diets" more closely resembled an eating disorder, but we'll save that for the made-for-TV movie. My friend and I once tried Body for Life. We had great success with the exercise/weightlifting portion of the diet, but not as much with the eating plan. Around this same time, I also tried the South Beach Diet. I didn't lose any weight--most likely because I ate my weight in peanut butter every day. My only success has really been with Weight Watchers. I used their plan when I experienced the "first-wed forty." That's much like the freshman fifteen, but more serious. I went back to Weight Watchers when I had Tobias and was able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight just in time to get pregnant again.

This week, I went back to the Weight Watchers plan. I kept track of what I was eating and limited myself to the allotted points. I think I eat about 1500-1800 calories/day on the Weight Watchers plan, but I'm not really positive. It wasn't hard--I just had to cut out the candy, cookies and sweets. I'm a sweets kind of girl. Go chocolate, or go home! Instead of the high calorie, high fat sweets, I opted for Skinny Cow Candy Bars and Fiber One Brownies. No, they aren't as good as the real ones, but they do the job.

My second big move was to join (or rejoin) a gym. We dropped our membership this winter when I had surgery and we were planning to move. It has been almost nine months since my knee surgery. Time to get back on the horse. I went running three times and met with a trainer for my "jump start" free-training session. The running was brutal, but I've learned not to expect too much. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I only ran 15 minutes each time, but you've got to start somewhere. My training session was awesome. I have never a very good weightlifter, but it is one thing I've thought a lot about doing. I would really like to be more toned, and that isn't going to happen by just losing another ten pounds. The trainer worked me hard. I felt like I was on the Biggest Loser. Since I couldn't walk the next day or sit down on the toilet, I think it is safe to say that I had a good workout.

I'm off to a good start and I hope my motivation sticks around for awhile. Eight pounds to go and just six weeks until Tobias' sixth birthday. Thanks for all your support!

Losing the baby weight

As moms, I think we are entitled to use the kind term "baby weight" to refer to the last 10-15 pounds we still need to lose.  Even if our youngest is graduating from high school.  We've earned that right, but "baby weight" or fat, I'd still rather let it go.

The reality is that our bodies will never be the same.  Even if we lose all the weight, things have...well...shifted.  Add to that the number that breastfeeding does on your figure and you're hardly recognizable.  Still, though, we're all hoping to get back to what we once were.  I look at women like Jennifer Aniston and Demi Moore and I think that maybe I, too, will peak late in life.

Where am I now?  Well, about 10 pounds shy of where I would like to be.  Luckily, my youngest is nowhere near college-age, but I'd still rather deal with this issue now.  This summer has been rough.  Vacations, busy schedules, and ice cream have halted any forward progress I'd been making.  My hope is that telling you about my goal will inspire me to be more diligent.  The challenge?  10 pounds before Tobias turns 6 (October 5th).  The prize?   A shopping spree (feel free to contribute).  The risk?  My pride.  How will I do it?  Check back to find out what is working and what obstacles I face.