The first week weigh-in

Before I begin, I just want to thank AquaJane and KT for their encouraging comments to my quest for weight loss. I did check out AquaJanes's blog in January 2009 and read her suggestions for weight loss and really like the idea of adding sweet dressing to salads to satisfy my sweet tooth.

The result for this week is: down 2 pounds, 38 more to go.

I was rather hoping for this result the first week, but am not expecting it to continue over the course of the remaining weeks. My last experience with weight loss had periods of plataues when I didn't lose anything for a week or two. Last week, I worked at weighing and measuring a lot of my food. To combat my sweet tooth, every morning, I make myself a smoothie for breakfast using 1 cup orange juice, 1 banana for sweetening and thickening and one egg for protein and foamy goodness. I also add ice and, if I am feeling extra fancy, a few drops of vanilla. It makes about 20 ounces or so and is pretty filling. I usually have a morning snack of either some sort of bread or a handful of nuts. I said that my daily goal is 1500 calories, but I am allowing one, maybe two days at most of eating up to 1800 calories. If I consume these calories before dinner, my plan is to go without dinner, or eat low calorie food, like veggies only or cut way down on my serving portions. I have had a few cookies here and there, mostly homemade cookies that are chock full of butter and granulated sugar. However, I am eating about 90% less sweets than what I have been eating. I was pretty shocked at what one homemade chocolate chip had in terms of calories. Sweets are my downfall. I am drinking less coffee these days because, to be honest, I prefer what my husband calls "candy in a drink" coffees, like what you would find at place where the workers are called "baristas." If I need caffeine, I am drinking green tea, which is not quite as satisfying but also has a gentler effect on the body than the caffeine in coffee.

For exercise, I am working out to "My fitness trainer" via the Wii five times a week. I only do 15 minutes of low impact exercise, followed by 15 minutes of their stretching program, which also includes some aerobic activity. I really don't like the Wii's cool down and might abandon it totally for my own. I am starting out with shorter times because I haven't exercised in a very long time and I don't want to burn myself out. I also walk the dog once a day, sometimes at a brisk pace, sometimes at a not-so-brisk pace. I have gotten some extra activity this week by being able to hop in the pool for about 30 minutes a few days with my kids. I don't really swim laps and it would probably take about 1000 laps to swim a mile, but I do play with the kids. By the way, an Arizona native told me that anyone who goes in the pool before June has not lived in Arizona long enough. We have been putting a solar cover on the pool to warm up the water to extend the season.

Weekends have been easier for me than weekdays because my husband is a better accountability person than my kids. For the next week, I am thinking about moving the smoothie to be a mid afternoon snack and having solid food for breakfast. I think breakfast is the really important meal and I would rather load my calories at that time rather than in the afternoon or evening. Plus, my sweet tooth is strongest in the afternoon, when my kids are enjoying their little sweets. The other time of night when I crave sweets is right before going to bed. However, at that time, I have my husband to hold me accountable, just by his presence. He is such a blessing!