2010 Weight Loss Plan

This plan was begun in January 2010 and crashed and burned in April 2010.  It was very successful while it worked and I was very proud of myself but couldn’t sustain the plan as a long-term way of life.  I’m leaving the plan up on the website because it does have a lot of good ideas that I may try to incorporate into my life – in moderation – someday in the future… 

Progress:

1/5/10 – 255 lbs

2/7/10 – 228 lbs.

2/15/10 – 223 lbs.

2/25/10 – 219 lbs.

3/15/10 – 215 lbs.

3/23/10 – 210 lbs.

4/13/10 – 202 lbs.

“Nothing feels as good as skinny does”?  Hmmm…

I think skinny will feel GREAT but after working my plan really hard, seeing some results, and feeling great – I think being proud of myself will be the B*E*S*T feeling!

Here’s the plan I’m following and the life changes I’m making:

I’m following the 6-Week Body Makeover Plan (although I KNOW it will take me many more than 6-weeks to reach my goal!).  I think it’s a healthy plan that is geared towards MY SPECIFIC body type.

The eating plan (* Note:  I didn’t jump in immediately and do everything on this list – it took about 2 1/2 weeks until I made all of the changes):

• Low Fat /Low Carb – with fruit and complex carbs
• No added Salt, Fat, or Sugar (during week 8 I started to add SMALL amounts of healthy olive oil back into some meals)
• No Dairy (10 weeks in I added one 6 oz. Chobani yogurt a day)
• Eating small meals/snacks every 2-3 hours… 5-6 times a day
• Proteins: Lean Chicken, Turkey Breast, Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Soy products
• All the Veggies I want, including veggie burgers and Black Bean Chipotle Burgers (heavenly!)
• Drinking water, water, and more water (lots of Powerade Zero, Vitamin Water Zero, and Splenda-sweetened Iced Tea)
• Taking some recommended supplements (multi vitamin, calcium with vitamin D, green tea, chia seeds, ground flax, metamucil/fiber sure)
• My personal choice: No Pop, Caffeine, Red Meat or Pork (I’ll start adding small amounts of these after 14 weeks)
• My personal choice: Try to avoid eating out and NO FAST FOOD – none, zero, zilch, goose egg
• During week 10 I decided to focus on adding more fiber to my meals and trying to get my intake up to 40 grams a day
• During week 10 I also decided to make Monday’s Meatless

After a few days I didn’t feel hungry, got over the no sugar – no caffeine headache, and started to feel pretty good.  Although, of course, I was missing some things…  By week 5, I felt my stomach had shrunk, I was rarely hungry, and staying on-plan wasn’t “as much” of a struggle.  By week 7, eating on-plan was a habit and I no longer questioned whether I WAS going to eat on-plan – I just knew I would.  Cravings were almost non-existent by week 10 and my taste buds were so changed that I found healthy foods to be really satisfying.

Some Life Changes:

(*Important note:  With the eating plan I will be vigilant – the other changes I will add slowly, as to not overwhelm myself, and I WILL NOT beat myself up for not being perfect with these changes.  These are goals I aspire to – not rules I must meet for success.)

• Exercise (5 times a week would be ideal – after 10 weeks I seemed to regularly do 4 times a week) – Treadmill walking, outside walking, proper cool down and stretching, swimming,  resistance training, ab videos and my new favorite -Bikram Yoga .
• Following a regular sleep program 10 or 11pm – 7am approx
• Less Computer and TV Time
• More Reading, Crafting, Music, Dancing, and Blog Updating
• Taking 15 minutes a day to declutter, gather things for GoodWill, organize closets, drawers, cupboards etc… Organized house=Organized mind
• Take 15 minutes a day to do a quick pick-up throughout the house – helps avoid major straightening later and I can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes, right?
• Spend more QUALITY time with the kids – games, reading, cooking, crafts, talking
• Go on more dates with J
• Meditate and practice parayama breathing techniques
• Cook once a week to stock my fridge with healthy choices so I’m not tempted to cheat when I’m hungry
• HIDE MY SCALE!!  I’m only going to weigh myself once a month, a few days after my period, when I’m at my lowest weight (9 weeks in I changed my mind on this: See Reasoning Here ).
• I took at photo of myself in an outfit that was VERY FAR from fitting.  I’ll be retaking that photo monthly to see my progress at fitting into that outfit.
• I’m not talking about losing weight with family and friends.  I tried and failed so many times that I DON’T want to discuss it – I just want to do it this time.

**Weight Loss REWARDS**

• -30 pounds = I bought yoga pants
• -41 pounds = (I turn 41 on April 12th) 3/15/10 – I started facial hair removal program (chin whiskers gotta go!) & bought the Yoga Master Class instructional package.
• -50 pounds = I bought a pair of  jeans, some new make-up, and some earrings.
• -60 pounds = I’ll be under 200 for the first time in 8 years.  I’ll celebrate with an elegant, tasteful, very faint tattoo on my left inner arm that simply says “Breathe“.  Hot Yoga has changed my life and the mantra ”breathe” is essential to every aspect of life.
• -70 pounds = A mini shopping spree – maybe some summer clothes????  A spa day????
• -80 pounds = I’ll be at my lowest weight in over a decade and I’m getting my nose pierced!
• -90 pounds = A very nice shopping spree????
• -100 pounds = ??????
• -105 pounds = ??????
• April 2011 = (15 months since beginning) When I’ve kept the 100 pounds off and our tax return comes in, I’d love to get my breasts and stomach fixed (both of which should be nice and flabby after such a loss of weight…) – I can dream, right?

~  Well, that’s the plan!  I’m feeling really good about it!   – Angie 8)