In need of inspiration

I have been feeling a little lost lately, not just with my weight loss but life in general. It is for this reason that my weight loss has not been progressing.
So far this month I have been working out on my elliptical and doing housework and chores on the weekends and walking a greater distance to and from class on Tuesday nights. Other than that I haven't been doing anything special and the results (or rather lack thereof) are proof.
If I have done anything right lately (other than the weekend exercise) it has been food during the sunlit hours of the day. I am able to eat my premade lunch (reasonable portions of chinese 'fried' rice I made about two weeks ago and froze) and drink my water, but then by the time the sun goes down and I am sitting at home I am not as good. I am not terrible, the extra things that are going in my mouth are being counteracted by the weekend workouts, but it means I maintain instead of lose.

Chris comes this weekend and I am hoping that she and her super awesome weight loss inspires me to kick my butt into gear...otherwise I don't know what will.

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Despite my efforts…

Despite my efforts, this past month was not a good one for me. I tried to get back to Curves, and though I did not completely fail at that, I did not achieve my very low goals. I was, however, able to burn at least 1000 calories each weekend on the elliptical and then do a great deal of walking or housework as well. I intend on keeping this last part up throughout this month as it was actually pretty easy (well in relation to how hard it was to do anything else this past month). I also felt really great after doing it and often rewarded myself with a nap while watching the boys play video games.

In terms of food, I was able to make healthy meals to eat during the day, but then the evening would come and I would end up eating one thing almost each night that I really shouldn’t have. I have realized this and am trying my best to entertain myself with something else so that I will not eat, though it is quite hard.

This month is going to be about getting back on track – or rather getting more on track than where I am now. I need to figure out what I need to do to reward myself that doesn’t cost money or have calories. I really don’t know what that will be just yet --- if you have any ideas, let me know.

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Sunday Reflections: October

As previously mentioned, most of this month was a controlled break for me. I maintained my weight loss and more or less enjoyed myself. I did however, take a great deal of extra walks and went to the gym as much as I could.
November is looking ridiculously busy for me, so I am hoping I will be able to implement more of the Curves food plan and gym attendance recommendations, but realistically I won’t be able to give it 110% that I would like as I just won’t have the energy. But I am already making meals to keep in the freezer for those really busy nights and workdays, so perhaps I will be able to do better than I am anticipating.

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Semi-Break

I decided a little while ago, that I needed a semi-break. I didn't count calories, or points or eat according to any plan but didn't eat unhealthy either. I wasn't diligent about going to the gym x times a week but did go when it fit into my schedule nicely. I do however, walk like 50 miles from the parking lot to my class every Tuesday night (seriously, the free parking is really far from my class), but I don't think that really counts as regular exercise since it is only once a week.
Anyway, I don't quite remember what I weight last time I posted (about a month ago) but I think I have pretty much just maintained at 10lbs lost. Every now and then I step on the scale and it gives me a delightfully lower number, but it isn't consistent enough to count it as a loss just yet - almost though.
I am trying to figure out when to go back on the Curves plan (full-time) as it was working out better than other plans have for me, but I haven't landed on an actual date just yet. Winter is just about here, and for whatever reason I tend to do better that time of year rather than any other (as previously mentioned).

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Balsamic Vinaigrette and Cucumbers

This is a new snack I discovered (for myself, obviously it has been out there for quite some time) during a trip to The Works (shhh...don't tell my diet I went to The Works it doesn't know yet). A little balsamic vinaigrette dressing and several slices of cucumbers (sliced on an angle to make it fancy-like) make for a delicious morning or afternoon snack. Most 'counting' diets consider cucumbers to be free food (for example, Weight Watchers and the Curves diet) so all you need to account for is about 1 tablespoon of dressing. The Kraft Calorie-Wise version has 25 calories and 2 grams of fat in 1 tablespoon and I even had some leftover when I was done. Delicious.

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