Getting Started

The wave of energy I was riding just prior to and during my trip to San Francisco crested and died. I am strugling with some intense mood swings. In an attempt to kick start myslf and push through this period ofennui, it is time to put fingers to keys and map this shit out.
First point to ponder:

REASONS TO LOSE WEIGHT.... aka MOTIVATION!!!

1. I want to be healthy. No more CPAP machine!!! (I really hate that thing). No more worry about rising blood pressure/stroke/heart disease/diabetes due to obesity. I have not as yet been diagnosed with any of this stuff, but I am flirting with it, I'm sure. NO MORE FEELING WEAK/OLD!!!

2. I want to be a good influence. As a fuure nurse, I want to be ableto give my patients the bst care (no struggling through my own physical limitations). Also as a good example to those around me. I want to lead by example, I want my daughter to learn healthy habits.

3. I want to feel good about myself again. I want to look at myself in the mirror and in phots and not feel negative emotions. I want to be confident enough to actually *want* my picture taken and e proud of myappearance. Ian to earcute clothes, like knee boots and skinny jeans, and I haven't worn skirts or dresses in years.

4. want to b noticed, approached, soght after. I oftebemoan the fact that I have so few friends, maybe thats because of my appearance, and the negative emotions I currently feel about it.

5. I wat musle toe and definitin. I thinkalittl bitof definition is hot on both genders. Not professional body builder type definition, mind you... but ome delineation, particularly abs, is attractive.

6. I have enough to worry about, plenty of stress without the continual weight obsession I've lived with for nearly 15 years now.

EXERCISE ACTION PLAN

1. I will do sme form of cardio 5 of 7 days- Wii fit, treadmill, Gazelle, workout dvd's (I have a ton of them!!!!) Starting at 30- 45 minutes per session.

2. Strength training 3x a week, 30-45 minutes per session to start.

3. Wil increase intensity as fitness level increases.

4. Due to a recent change in my work schedule, I can fit a morning workout in before leaving on most mornings. When nursing school starts, of course, my workout schedule will be revised.

DIET ACTION PLAN

1. Eliminate refined sugars from diet. I am a sugar ADDICT!! Will keep sugar out of the house as much as possible until I can learn to control my binge-ing urges. (This is so true... some friends brought over cookies for the kids when they came to hang out with us last night... and I've been unable to leave them alone.... :-P)

2. I will drink more water, find a water bottle, keep it close by and full.

3. Healthy snacks- more fruits and veggies, whn I want t graze.

4. Time to Vegan again! Cut out eggs/dairy. I felt really good when I was on a vegan diet before. So energetic and my mind was clear and sharp.

5. Not becoming a junk food/soy dependent vegan. I have a bunch of vegan cookbooks that have bean based and other protein sources.

6. Find and regularly take vitamin supplements... vegetarian formula multi-vitamins. (B-12 supplements.. and I also could use some extra Vitamin D thanks to where I live. )

7. Food journal to document foods eaten in day and eyeball calorie counts.

8. Figure out calorie allottments and daily needs, and use this as a guide for meal planning. I don't want to be a calorie Nazi, but I don't want to be too far above or below those allottments.

SUPPORT SYSTEM

Mine is minimal. Most support expressed by people who are not local. This led to the idea of setting up this blog. I welcome anyone who wants to join in here. Please suggest recipe ideas/websites, exercise routines, although I am not able to afford a gym membership/personal trainer at this time, so bear that in mind, please. :) I may have access to gym facilities at PLU though... *fingers crosssed*

I am still hoping to try to find some local exercise buddies though, who might be willing to walk with me or workout in the basesment to the dvd's I have amassed. I may pull rank on my kid to get her to work out with me, and I would like my husband to work out with me also, but interest from both parties is minimal to nonexistant. I want to get a dog because she would be the best walking buddy evar!!! I want a little Boston terrier or a puglet. Maybe Santa will bring me one. ;)

For the most part I am my own support system. So I should come up with strategies.

1. Post motivation/reasons in prominent place(s) in the house. These will be good to see when I hit a wall, or have a rough emotional day.

2. Look through magazines and catalogues fr pictures of cute clothes I want to fit into, te type of physique I want to have, and make a scrapbook to flip through to remind myself of my goals.

3. Remember that it's NOT an all or nothing process. If I go overbudget on calories, it's not the end of the world.

4. And on the flip side of #3, if I am diligent about exercise it isn't an excuse to fudge on calories and overindulge....

5. Do some swaps/find some "cheats" that are a compromise so as not to feel trapped by diet and food choices.

6. Research local organic growers to see if we can get local grown organic fruits/veggies year round, since our farmers market is seasonal.

7. Take a before picture and post it, and take photos at milestone weight loss points, because it will be fun to watch my body shrink and change as the fat goes and the muscle grows... which will be further motivation to keep it up.

8. Get gear for oudoors running/walking rain or shine. That way I can get outside or stay inside...but I'm not just trapped inside. I would also love to get a trail or mountain bike. Maybe Santa will hook me up here, too! ;)