March 2010...here I go again!

February was sort of my "test" or "bridge" month back into healthy living. It really isn't THAT much of an adjustment because basically, for the past 18 months, I've been making lifestyle changes on a daily basis and trying to stick to them. Of course, you have your occasional birthday party or night out with friends. I've learned that you have to give yourself some leeway or you'll end up back at square one.

Starting in March, I set my goal to lose 5 pounds a month. This will put me right where I want to be at the end of July and just in time for my sister's wedding mid-August. I am the matron of honor, so I want to look GOOD!

So far March hasn't been to challenging. On March 1st I weighed in at 165.2 lbs...okay, not TOO bad since I was at 170 on Feb 1st. The entire first week of March a made a commitment to be physically active everyday for the whole week. I did so well. I mall walked on Monday, about 3 miles. I went to the gym on Tuesday. I mall walked again on Wednesday. Had another great workout at the gym on Thursday. I WALKED to work on Friday, about 2 miles round trip. And, I finished off the week with a step class followed by weight lifting on Saturday. It was a great week. So, disappointed was an understatement when I got on the scale this morning and was at 166.6!!!

I can't honestly say I don't know how it happend, though. I did fairly well watching the calories M-F but Saturday...lookout...I PIGGED OUT! Went out for Hibachi, had a slushie from sheets then some sour patch kids and a cookie for a late night snack. I guess it could have been worse, maybe. Sunday was another not-so-fabulous day on the diet wagon. Just more of the same. I decided Monday was going to be the day I get back on and take control again.

So far so good today. I took a nice afternoon stroll with Annie and we walked about 3+ miles..mostly flat but at a pace of about 2.5 mph. I feel good. I've also done well and had toast and an apple for breakfast, salad and an apple for lunch and have a nice healthy chicken crockpot meal ready for dinner. The girls have swim lessons tonight and since we will already be at the gym, I'm going to do some weight-lifting beforehand. Hopefully I can stay on track the rest of this week.

Where I was and where I am.

About 2 years ago, after the birth of our second daughter, I made a commitment to myself to lose weight and get healthy. I rejoined my local Y and began the journey. Just about 4 short months later I went from 217 lbs to 172 lbs...a 35 lb loss! It did help that I was part of a "Biggest Loser" contest with some of my other mom friends. I was now at my lowest weight since Jr. High.

My fitness plan took a slight hiatus over the holidays 2008 but I went back at it full force in January and from January 2009 until April 2009 lost about 30 lbs! I felt amazing. Just to think about it, when I started, in June 2008, I was a size 20 and in April 2009 I was fitting in some 8's!

Well, from April 2009 until February 2010 my "full force fitness" has again been off and on hiatus, but I'm ready. Over the holidays and birthdays and snow days, I've managed to let my weight creep back up there to 165 lbs. Still, not anywhere NEAR where I was but it's getting there. I am currently a size 12 but I can't bring myself to get rid of the 8's and 10's because I KNOW I can do it again!