700 cals today

I hope I'm done. I really think so, too.

I have a nice headache going on right now, and I think hubby and I are planning to watch a movie.

Then I'm off to bed...so tired.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl party. I don't know how many cals. I'm likely to have there, but I'm going to stick with the fast-5, at any rate.

Progress?

Well, I've finished my 3.5 mile run today...it was awesome! I was slow--jogging--but I made it the whole way. I only walked about 3 blocks at the beginning to warm up, again at the mid-point/turn-around, and also one last time for the cool-down. So altogether, I ran probably 3 miles of it.

I read in the 'Runners' magazine that on the long day, you should go at a much slower pace, for the purpose of distance training. During the past week, I've been doing my other training at higher speeds and inclines, and have only been able to go 1 mile straight without a rest. So I feel proud that I did as well as I did today. Even my brother said I exceeded his expectations! Yay!

***warning*** TMI here.
Since my morning weigh-in, I've taken another healthy dump, so my weight-loss may actually be more than the sad .2 lbs. from yesterday. One can only hope!

Hubby and I have had our separate directions to go today...we're both busy! So no food issues have come up.

All in all...a really good day!

One day at a time

My weight was down another .2 lbs. this morning.

But .2 from yesterday...at that rate it'll take me 9 months to reach my goal weight. I only have until Memorial Day, which is 16 weeks away. Oh God, please help me do this!

I need to lose .5 lbs. per day.

I can do this...I've got to. I can't spend another summer fat. And all my summer clothes are tiny, tiny, tiny. I want them to be big on me this year.

And oh-no!!! What if my skin doesn't shrink away at the same rate of speed as the fat?

Ok...so I'm starting to panic. ***breathe in, breathe out*** Calm down, self. I'm alive, and that means that I get to lose weight another day. Focus on today.

Link...Hot Tubs & Weight Loss

http://www.olympichottub.com/health/weight.html

You've got to read this article!!!

You can lose significant weight by sitting in a hot bath!!! Reduce cellulite!!! Soothe tired muscles from a hard workout, or exercise in the tub for even more toning results!!!

900 calories

The tally is in for the day. 900 calories.

I ate a Subway flatbread sandwich, chips, and 7 dark chocolate hershey kisses. I'm stuffed. I should have only had half of the sandwich. It would have been enough.

I'm getting upset with myself over the high daily caloric intakes. Especially since they are happening within such a short time frame!!! AAARRRGGGGGHHHHH!

By eating so much, I'm only proving that I want to be fat, and not thin. Fat, fat, fat. Gross, pathetic, and disgusting.

On a more positive note, I worked out really hard today. And tomorrow is my 'long' run outdoors, 3.5 miles--with hills, and there is supposed to be some wind, too!

Hubby will be home for 2 whole days. I'll need to work on strategies to prolong not eating as late in the day as possible when he's home, so that I can 'stick to' the fast-5 plan. Fixing a healthy supper meal using the crock pot all day long might work...it will prevent him from asking me, "Are you hungry?", "Do you want to go get something to eat?", "Have you eaten yet?" "What are you doing for food today?"... all the things he does that ends up sabotaging me. If he asks, I'll just say that I'm working on it, and suggest that he eat something to tide him over.

We'll see what happens. Here's wishing myself luck.

And good luck to you, too! Have a great weekend!

Weighing in, and Goal Weights

I decided to post my weights and goal weights. After watching this slide show http://kateharding.net/bmi-illustrated/ , I realized that BMI alone is not all that accurate or helpful.

Today, my weight was down...the lowest it's been since I started on the weight loss this time around. From 167 lbs. in November 2008, to today--147.4 lbs.

Its amazing that the day after I 'ate too much' (when doesn't that happen) is the day my weight drops again. Fine by me!

I'm dreadfully hungry today, but I'm fighting it. It's the kind of hunger that's distracting. I probably need to drink more fluids.

I'm still planning on a Subway sandwich...after I get off of volunteer duty at the gym at 8:00 p.m.

I'm eating alone again; hubby is working tonight. I really need to get a life.

uh oh.

I've gone over the 1000 calorie mark now...but not by much. Probably 300 calories or so.

It's really hard to have a proper binge when you're stomach is small, and already full.

I wanted to, but I physically can't.

But I don't like this fear I'm starting to have that I'm going to be eating too much everyday like I've done for the past 3 days. All together, I've averaged something like 866 calories per day...and the workouts would decrease that; but no-no-no. Way too much. The scale will never love me again at this rate. I definitely need to eat more proper foods, veggies and such.

Interesting!!!! Link

http://kateharding.net/bmi-illustrated/

Ok...so I don't feel so bad, having the disgusting BMI ratings.

I'm not changing my goal weight, though! LOL

It's all about the numbers. I don't care what I look like...as long as I have my numbers.

ummmm...not so good

Well, I tried to be careful. I didn't do as good as I had hoped I would. 1000 calories for the day. I think it has to do with the particular food choices I have been making. Tomorrow, I'm just going to do a simple Subway sandwich.

Real-type food is probably better than the easy-to-grab tuna, cottage cheese, nuts, crackers, regular cheese, gummie wormies, and etc. I ate tonight. I've been eating alone (hubby is on evening shift and doesn't get off til 11:00 p.m.), and therefore haven't bothered with cooking much this week, apart from the meat yesterday.

I know better, but I'm still disappointed in myself over it.

Holding Steady

Got my workout done. Didn't quite go as long on the treadmill as I wanted. I had planned to run all the way to 2.5 miles, but I was only able to make it for 1 mile, then I got back on a couple more times and cranked out another .25 miles each.

I did another .5 miles each of forward and backward on the elliptical, and 5 min. on the stair-stepper. So, all I've got left for the day is my stretching routine.

I am so out of shape!!! Less than 2 years ago, I could run forever it seemed. Now, I'm struggling just to force a teensy mile out of me.

I'll get there. I have to. My 5 mile race is June 6th. I'm running the whole thing, and I'd better not have to stop to walk any part of it, either!

Tomorrow is my long, high-intensity, high-incline endurance walk. Then Saturday, weather permitting, I'm going out for a real run outside with my brother. That will be a 3.5 mile distance with hills involved. I'm going to simply do my best. It will be good training for my race!

I haven't eaten yet today, as the fast-5 requires. My calories are 30 for a giant sugar-free lemonade, and 25 for my coffee this a.m. BTW--I really do love this diet plan. This one is sent from Heaven, just for me. I just hope I'll drop the weight fast enough. I need to average about 3 lbs. per week. Hopefully, I'm doing enough to accomplish that...6 workouts per week, 700 calories or less per day in food, and no cheating!

I haven't been paying too much attention to the scale this week, since I ended the last week in a bad way. I know it takes time for my body to adjust, get emptied, and etc. I actually avoided taking the second-day's round of laxing...so I have had to be natural about the process.

Tonight, I'm going to exhibit more self-control on eating. I'll eat slowly, and carefully, and not over-do it. I don't want to feel uncomfortable again, like last night. I don't even care what I eat, as long as I'm in control of me.

Get it over with...Quick!!!

I tried on a pair of hubby's jeans...just to see...

Just shoot me now, everyone!!!

His BMI is 21.8% although I would have guessed no more than 18% at the most!!! My dang BMI is hanging on for dear life to 27.3% OMG!!! I'm a fat, disgusting cow! Moooooooo--vvvve over hubby...or you'll be flattened!

He is tall and very thin looking, with the slender-non-body-building thing going on. Although he is very trim and fit and athletic, he's just not ever going to be a muscular guy.

Then there's me...a shorty who's got bigger calves than his thighs are even when I'm less than 100 lbs. And I'm not kidding...we measured when I was 100lbs--his calf and my calf...I'm a fat cow, no matter how skinny I get. At least one thing nice about my body type...No one ever guesses the truth about how much I weigh. I'm very muscular under all this fat...and heavy. Therefore, even when my BMI says I'm 'obese' (which it no longer does, thank God!) I don't look that way.

But that's why I must lose to a BMI of 17%. It's the only way I'll ever look like an average thin person. Really!

No. I don't think I have body dysmorphic disorder.
Oops... I just looked it up. Hmmmm...taking out a bunch of credit cards to get 5 cosmetic surgeries (which I never actually got to go through with), or obsessing about all the things I think are wrong with my appearance, or hating the way I look to the point of staying home from social settings--maybe I do.

Well we can't all be sane. Somebody's got to make the rest of the world seem normal.

Final Totals from Day 2

I did my toning workout. Monday it was 300 reps of various toning and weights, followed by stretching. Today, I increased it to 400 reps + stretching. I'm going to continue in this manner until I reach 1000 reps each session. Then what? Dunno. We'll see what seems appropriate to increase my fitness levels at that time. That should be 2 weeks from now. I have time to think it over.

My food today, by pretty accurate guestimation is 600 calories (meaning I didn't actually weigh my food, but eyed portion sizes--I'm pretty good at it after all these years). Again, I force-fed myself beyond my casual satisfaction limit. I don't know why I did that; but still, it felt good to know that in the end, my calories were less than yesterday's total. And here's the sick thing...I ate kind of fast. Fast for me anyhow--I'm usually the slowest eater of any crowd I'm with. Wow...to think I can cram food into my gut until I'm stuffed, and still only have a daily caloric intake of 600! I like that thought!

By the way my tummy feels right now, I may have over-done things; I am done with all eating for the day. That was quick. OMG...I feel soooooo full. Rather uncomfortable, actually. I guess that's what happens when people eat too fast. I'm not a fan, and probably won't try it again. I wonder why so many people do it this way? It is not pleasant at all!

Ok...so here's my big successes of the day:

The group I was with opted to go to Pizza Hut afterwards...I only ordered a diet Pepsi to drink. I decided to wait until I got home to eat my planned food, rather than give in to peer pressure.

Also, I had picked up a box of frozen garlic breadsticks to have one with my meal (during my trip to the grocery store today). When it came time to eat, I wasn't in the mood for it, so I skipped it, and avoided some rather nasty, unnecessary, unrefined carbs.

gulp...guzzle...drink...

Only 4 hours until I'll have some food. I'm ok so far, (of course). I'm drinking much zero-calorie beverages and peeing every 5 minutes. Running to the toilet burns calories...ha!

I went to the grocery store and stocked up on the awesome sale of bottles of diet Pepsi, as well as purchasing our super-bowl party supplies. It's a good thing, too; as the sale started today, but they are already almost sold out of things!!!

I also went to the vet's clinic to buy my kitties their food. Over $60.00; it'll last a month, hopefully. Better to feed them, than me, anyway. I love my 'widdle poopies' (lol, yeah, I call them that ) so I don't mind the cost. They're worth every cent and more.

I've got a couple hours left before I leave for my thing tonight...time to get in a bit of a workout and a shower. Hopefully I'll get all my peeing done so I won't be embarrassed having to duck out multiple times during the 2 hours of being around people.

Crockpot :(

Well, it's mid-afternoon. I've got some meat cooking in the crockpot, (my apologies to the vegetarians...I'm weak, and haven't made the switch yet) and I'm smelling it. A bit annoying, since my tummy growled. At least I won't be tempted to eat it, since it won't be done cooking until after 6:00, by which time I have to be away from home, so I won't be able to eat until after 8:30!

L. didn't take a nap at all today. *sigh*

I'm supposed to only do a toning/stretching workout today, but I'm considering going to the gym for some cardio anyway. It will be a nice distraction, if I decide to do that.

I have the movie "Fast Food Nation" here to royally gross me out. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm pretty sure it will happen, so, yay...something to help me stay motivated.

Day 2 of fast-5

Ok...just thinking through some future situations that may come up, and how I should adjust the fast-5 diet accordingly:

Weekends...I should probably bump up the food-time to accommodate real life as the situations call for it, to be considerate of other people a bit. But I can control it by limiting to the once-per-day eating, and just wait for a longer period until the next day's food time.

I'm thinking that 5 hours of food time is way too long. I would rather do 3 hours. 'Cause a person can only eat so much food at one sitting, and why on earth would I want to prolong the situation beyond necessary?

Last night, for instance...I was like, "Well I worked out really hard today, so I should eat more." (my self-sabotaging thoughts) But my stomach was already so full, I couldn't even stand the thought of cramming more food in. Well, I'm thinking it was about 750 calories for the day. It was a tiny amount of food but had been high-calorie selections. 2 Tbs. of dressing with my celery stick, and already 125 calories! A 1-oz. piece of cheese...there goes another 100--etc.

I tried to get more decent food, but seriously...I wandered around the grocery store for a half-hour, and there was nothing there to eat! I walked out without a purchase. And the restarants had closed for the night already. So I gave up and had whatever I could find at home. Oh well.

The other thing is...I wonder if I should set a calorie limit, or if I should just follow the diet as it says to do in that regard. My calories are certain to remain fairly low...especially if last night the best I could do was 750-ish...and I was stuffed! And that being only the first day--which according to the diet-guru (lol) my tummy will be shrinking daily on this diet, reducing my food intake even more. This is actually quite appealing!

And experience tells me that my food intake will fluctuate from day to day...depending on where I am when I eat, if I'm alone or with company, and also with the availability of various food items. Also, I know that when you don't eat for long periods, you tend to eat less--because food-desires wane. Such a beautiful system!

So anyway, those are just some thoughts...I always analyze the heck out of things.

I'm babysitting for L. again. I think she is bi-polar...one minute she's all happy and smiling, the next she is fussy! LoL! No, I'm actually just kidding. (I'm not making fun of people who really are bi-polar, as I have also been diagnosed...although I think it was a mistake.) She is tired, and fighting sleep. Drat. It might be a long afternoon. : [

killer workout

Here's my workout for the day: *note* I set the weight on all of the cardio machines to say that I am 93 lbs...so my calorie readings come out lower than the actual. It's just a thing I do.

Speed-intervals on treadmil, @ 5mph, 5.5mph, 6mph, 6.5mph, 7mph, with 3mph rests inbetween--all for 1min. each. 2 of each, with warm up/cool down. a total of 30 minutes, 1.92 miles, incline set at 2.5%, 147 calories

5 minutes on the stair stepper... 30 calories

Elyptical (backward) .5 miles, 11:30 minutes, 42 calories
Elyptical (forward) .5 miles, 7:02 minutes, 39 calories

Finished up on the treadmil, speed-intervals, same settings 1x each speed...4 min cool down, total of 15 minutes, .92 miles, 61 calories

Stretching.

Total calories burned in cardio: 319

I feel awesome!!!

Day 1 of fast-5 and Skin Care

It's the first official day of the diet that I plan on spending the rest of my life doing. I'm pretty excited, because I know this works. I've done it before 'accidentally', and that's how I lost all my access weight...twice!

I was attempting to do the 'weigh down workshop' those times, which basically says that you 'wait until your stomach growls, then only eat until satisfied'. When I did that diet, I actually would wait longer, like until 4 or 5 in the day before eating, living off of caffeine during the day. Worked like a charm! During weekends, and family eating times, I would pick at my food, eating my favorite parts, the cheese, the olives, etc., not knowing that these were all 'low carb' selections, and that I was effectively staying in ketosis.

My thoughts about ketosis...

The low carbers say that this is a metabolically better way of losing weight--that it is faster. Well, that is true, but it is also the only way to lose weight. Our bodies were made to use up their own fat for energy...and if you've lost weight at all, then your body has been in ketosis. Losing fat simply means that your body had to use up some for energy that it couldn't get elsewhere (like from a food source).

I've always wondered...if ketosis is the body's fat-burning system, and it is only possible during low-carbing or fasting, then why do people on low-fat/high carb diets lose any weight? It is because with calorie restriction, ketosis is also possible. It would have to be, or else you wouldn't lose; however, you bounce your body in and out of ketosis. I suppose this is why plateaus happen...when you reach that point where your body needs longer periods of ketosis?

Anyway...the bottom line is still that you have to find some way of getting your body to use up it's own fat stores...( ketosis ); and calories-in/calories-out is also a very important factor in keeping that system running efficiently, a way to keep in check the amounts of proteins, fats, and carbs that one ingests. Someone who doesn't know a heck of a lot about proteins, carbs, fat percentages and the like can still lose weight, simply by controlling their calories! (Well, who would have guessed that! ) And my theory is...that diets do work...as long as you are on one, and not cheating. lol!

Ok...enough about that stuff...here's something incredible:

I've been trying a new skin care regimen. The 'oil cleansing method' made from castor oil mixed with sunflower oil, and the knox geletin mask. Unbelievable results!!! Seriously! I've never had anything work this well at getting rid of blackheads, dead skin, wrinkles, you name it!
-- Ok, so I'm not actually wrinkle infested yet, but--it sure does smooth things out. My face is nearly like a baby's butt after only 3 days! And I've always had serious skin issues...the dermatologist didn't even cure me, and the only skin care I found that worked cost some serious money...which I don't have!!! I can actually afford to look nice again now. The total cost is less than $10.00 for a supply that will last quite a while. WOW!!!

Here are the links: *http://wwwtheoilcleansingmethod.com/* *http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/diybeautyprodu_sict.htm*

I'm gonna go meet my brother at the gym in a few minutes, so I've gotta run.

A Change!!!

OMG!!! I just downloaded the e-book (free) from http://www.fast-5.com/ . After reading this, I am definitely making a change in my plans!

I am a firm believer in ketogenic diets, and calorie restriction, as well as fasting. A combination of these methods (I learned some of this behavior to be a legitimate form of dieting from the 'weigh down workshop') is how I lost all my weight...pretty much the last two times I got down to my 'low weight'.

Basically, according to the fast-5 plan, you don't consume any calories until at least 19 hours after you wake up for the day...then you only leave yourself a 5-hour window of food opportunity...and you only eat until you are satisfied/full.

This is soooooo like what I know and love in a diet...only sometimes I pushed the time frame for longer...as in fasts that last longer than 1 day...even up to 10 days a couple of times.

Anyhow...I've had such success with this type of thing, and now that I've found it to actually exist in the form of a legitimate diet plan, and not just my own demented way of life...
I'm changing plans! If anyone asks me about my eating habits (as is bound to happen, and usually causes uncomfortable results!), I can refer them to this web site.

I am basically so excited right now. This, I know I can do, because it comes naturally to me.
And it is so easy...I won't be counting any calories (although I may estimate them in my head). I can appear to eat normally at a meal with family or friends. I can eat whatever food type my body is craving without 'cheating' and feeling guilty. I won't ever be tempted to binge, because I know I can simply 'wait' a bit before I can eat that...(fill in the blanks). I can make adjustments to the fasting periods as needed for the sake of dealing with social situations. I won't ever have to worry about being weak during workouts. I'll be in ketosis much of the time, which is definitely a metabolically superior fat-burning method. I won't ever have to worry about any metabolism slowing down and causing my weight loss to stall. I can speed up the weight loss by prolonging my fasts and/or eating very small portions, picking out the best bites of food, leaving the rest, etc.

Oh, thank you God!!! This is the answer to all my prayers!!!

4:00 and all is weh-ehhhhhlll

Ow. My tummy has this wierd empty-suction-feeling-inside-out-burps thing going on. It does that whenever I haven't eaten. Dunno what it is, really.

I made a 0 calorie salad dressing...with 'hot sauce from hell' in it. Got too much of that in there, and now I can't eat the salad I wanted to have. lol

So far today I'm at 55 calories in beverages.

This may be tmi, but I'm planning on laxing out yesterday's binge before the day is out. I had to wait, because of the round of them I took from the day before. I can't let that stuff sit in there and fester--which is the mental picture I have, and thus I must respond. I bought some Johnson&Johnson baby-bottom ointment, 'cause...well, ...you know. :[

Post Binge-ish day

I made the mistake of staying up way too late last night when I had to get up way too early this morning. That, on top of the day-after-way-too-much-to-eat stomach issues...I'm feeling a bit sluggish, but otherwise am really happy for today to be here.

Well...it is almost mid-day by now, and so far, so good on the 100 calorie day. I was afraid to get on the scale this morning, after the last two day's of eating whatever. I overcame my fears, however...and the results of the weigh in weren't as bad as they could have been. Still, I was up by 3.4 lbs. But a good portion of that has to be all this junk in my gut. I can feel it in there. OMG it is so uncomfortable!

I was on duty as a volunteer at the gym this morning, but still didn't feel well enough to put in my workout. So I'm planning to do my toning workout with a video I downloaded from netflix. I'll probably get a more complete overall workout with a video, than if I try to make up my own early of a morning in a facility that is freezing...it was only 62* in there!!! Yikes!

I'm babysitting for a friend's little 10-month-old girl. She is happily entertaining herself at the moment, smiling, singing, and talking about something really important by the sounds of it. I have her on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I'm just helping out while her mom is working on homework.

My hubby is on the evening shift tonight, so he'll be leaving about 2:30 p.m. for work. This should pan out to be a relatively easy day, apart from my wanting to sleep so badly. Maybe a nap at 3, then a workout after that, then an evening with my computer...? We'll see what happens.

Oh...and it is snowing here. Pretty, but soooooo cold.

Tomorrow, then.

I guess I'm gonna do my 'restart' tomorrow. I had just a bit of nutrition research that I wanted to finish up today...I was contemplating an extreme low carb type of food plan, but I have realized how impossible that would become to follow, considering the restriction of calories. When one restricts calories extremely low, carbohydrates in the form of fruits and veggies become all too important. Not to mention that many 5-10 calorie foods all contain a carb here and there...and that all adds up soooooo quickly!

In order to make the low carb plan work, I would have to put my body into ketosis, which limits the carbs AND the proteins...then the fat % would have to compensate. I did this last week, with positive results on the scale. The problem however was that the daily caloric intake was uncomfortably high...and mentally, I couldn't handle it. Then I ended up with a binge-type mentality. Not good. Oh, and also, I have a tendancy to abuse lax to get 'emptied out'. So naturally, being paranoid about protein and fats sitting in my gut, I had to ...tmi. Anyway...the whole experiment ended badly.

I've played around with vegetarianism as well. It is still an option. In the past, I've tried to adjust my foods in that direction a bit. I still have my tofu and soy-crumble meat substitutes and all that in my freezer, calling my name. ...but that is another topic for later.

So this weekend, I've not been on any plan, and have been floundering about how to go about moving on from this.

I think the best bet is to just eat as needed, within my caloric daily limits, and hopefully keep my energy up enough to pull of my workout schedule. It is by far the easiest method, at least for me right now. I'll allow for some fasting days, too...they always cheer me up! :)

I stayed home from church this morning...very out of character for me. I usually only miss like 1-3 Sundays per year, and that's if I'm out of town, or ill and in bed. The only illness I'm suffering from is the lax-issues right now. I could have gone. But seriously...I'm bummed out from the eating I've done, and the last thing I wanted to do was go be around people and smile, and pretend that I'm in a good mood. So...I slept in.

Here's proof that it is out of character for me to miss church: My parents showed up at my door on their way home from service, to check that my hubby and I hadn't died of carbon monoxide poisoning. My mom probably didn't get anything out of the sermon, because she was sitting there the whole time imagining what I had possibly died of. Lol!

I am a bit cheered up, though, just knowing that tomorrow, when I wake up, I'll be back in control of my food intake. And after a week of living on cheese and processed lunch meats, I'll be looking forward to simply having a bowl of oatmeal or wheat puffs for breakfast...if I eat that early in the day. Tomorrow is actually supposed to be a 100 cal day...so mostly liquids should be it. Or, OMG!!! I could have a cup of coffee with my flavored sugar free creamers...I've missed them...they had carbs. :(

My struggles...one destination

A little history:

I have an eating disorder. I have had since I was about 15 or 16 years old. My tendencies change from day to week to month to year, but my determination remains.

At age 15 or 16, I was exercising 3 to 5 hours per day, restricting, and maintaining a BMI of 19.2 with overeating at times, overloading on protein and weightlifting...(I had a six pack of abs!). I was entering into my eating disorder full swing by then...it was growing stronger every day.

1995 BMI 19.6 and severely restricting among other various methods to lose weight for my wedding. It got so bad that I passed out a few times. I had much to learn about maintaining blood sugar, lol!!!

1997 BMI 23.8 and depressed, attempting one 'diet plan' after another. Eventually I found one that triggered me nicely into anorexia behaviors again.

2000 BMI 18.3 and enrolled in cosmetology school, believing I was finally on my way to happiness, although I hated myself more than ever.

2001 BMI rising...steadily...until it reached around the 24 mark again.

2006 depression at an all-time low...

2007 I lost all the weight back down to 18.3 BMI, and was admitted for a week into a mental ward for an addiction to laxatives, and suicidal thoughts.

2008 I 'recovered' and gained 67 lbs., a BMI of 30.5, which is just across the line into 'obesity'.

2009 I am losing again...for a BMI of 17 . Only this time I've got to actually reach my goal, and maintain if for a lifetime.

I've learned much over the years...

Currently, I am on a weight loss cycle. A much needed one. I have lost somewhere around 20 lbs. since Dec. 2008., though I have a long ways to go yet.

I've taken a couple days 'off' (sort of--I may explain more about this later) to revamp my diet and exercise plans. Many hours have gone into this project. Either tomorrow or Monday will find me back 'on' to my weight loss effort. I've got until the end of May to lose the next 57ish lbs. I would settle for 50 lbs, but then finish losing the rest during June, and I wouldn't be mad about it. The ultimate goal date is July 4th... I want to experience true freedom from feeling fat and celebrate it properly by watching a fireworks display and remembering my journey...and vowing never to have to struggle with weight again.

I am training for a 5-mile race on June 6th this year. So I've planned my diet to accommodate the workouts...the plan looks like this:

Sunday 700 calories, no workout--rest day.
Monday 100 calories, light toning and stretching
Tuesday 500 calories, and a moderate to hard cardio (sprint intervals, elyptical, and stair step) with stretching.
Wednesday 300 calories, and a moderate toning and stretching workout.
Thursday 700 calories, moderate to hard cardio (running--pace setting, elyptical, and stair step) followed by stretching.
Friday 300 calories, long slow cardio (distance by walking with inclines), toning and stretching.
Saturday 900 calories, distance running, and stretching.

I must stay strong. I must do this.