Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Weight Loss Challenge...Goals

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Today is the day! The weight loss challenge begins today, and I am READY! (For more information or to join the challenge, click the button above.)

I am really aggravated with myself. I was doing quite well and had lost about 25 pounds before I got pregnant with Ruthi. I did great during my pregnancy, only gaining 36 pounds (though I looked huge!) and she was just under 10 pounds, so I thought I had done great. When she was 2 months old, I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight, all my clothes fit, and I felt great. Don't ask me what happened next, because I'm not sure. But I am now just a few pounds lighter than I was the day before she was born - very frustrating! And NOTHING fits anymore! I still wear my nice pair of maternity pants to church, because they are one of the few things that actually fit me. How sad is that?

My motivation? I don't want to buy new clothes when I have a closet full of perfectly good ones! I want to fit into them.
And, I want to be HEALTHY!

Of course, I want to lose weight, but more importantly, I want to FEEL GOOD! I want to take better care of this body! I want to be able to run and play with my kids and not get worn out after 5 minutes! I also want to increase my strength and endurance, and just feel better about myself and be happy in my skin. It's really not so much about the number on the scale. That is just a small part of it. I do not, however, want to set myself up for failure with a weight goal that may not be realistic. So, I'm setting my current goal to lose 20 pounds. And if I exceed that, then that's a bonus!

I've already changed a few things in the past few months - cut out soda's and sugar drinks except for an occasional one. I'm drinking mostly water these days, but I need to be drinking more. And I've cut my portion sizes at meals, but I could probably stand to cut back a little more. I'm really bad about snacking, and have already curbed that a bit, but need some more work there too. And, I have started using sugar free creamer in my coffee. So, here are my goals:

1) Eat Breakfast. (I'm BAD about skipping breakfast, and I know that's not a good thing!

2) Drink a MINIMUM of 64 oz. of water a day. (1/2 gallon)

3) EXERCISE! Since I really want to work on strength and endurance, I'll be using a couple of videos for core workouts. My goal is at LEAST 4 times a week. On alternate days, I want to do some aerobic activity, even if it is just dancing!

4) Cut my portion sizes down - a little bit more.

5) Snacking - snack less, and if I need a snack, make better choices. (Less chocolate! - this will be hard!)

6) Get more sleep! This one will probably be my most difficult challenge, but I really want to work on it. I know my body will function better if I'm not so tired!

I think that's it. For now at least. By the end of this challenge, I'd love to see a smaller number on the scale, but I really want to FEEL BETTER!!!

11 comments:

  1. Hi Jennifer - Just dropping by to offer some encouragement on the challenge. I am participating also and just wanted to say hi. :)

    You had some great ideas that I am going to borrow this week.

    Love, Michelle

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  2. I also have a closet full of clothes I cant wear. I want to lose some weight a feel healthier also.

    Best wishes to you,
    Julie

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  3. Hi,

    I just wanted to pop in and wish you all the best for the challenge.

    Rachel xxx
    http://jugglingmum.blogspot.com

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  4. Ditto on the clothes! I have got to get back into them; it depresses me to see them staring at me.

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  5. Those are great goals, Jennifer! If you can stick with them, I'm sure you'll have the success you're hoping for. I'm bad about not eating breakfast and getting enough sleep, too, and I know my weight loss has slowed or stopped altogether if I don't do those things.

    We're all in this together, so stop by if you need extra encouragement. :)

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  6. Oh, hooray for you Jennifer! I know I should be doing this too, but I'm so tired of failing. So I've decided to take baby steps, adding one new change every couple weeks. My biggest hurdle will be the exercising. Oh, who am I kidding...I've got horrible habits all around.
    Anyway, I'm going to be cheering for every step of the way! Good luck!

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  7. snacking isnt the enemy! 2 snacks a day can help keep your blood sugars even. Just make those snacks count - protein protein protein! Wishing you the best

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  8. You sound like you have a handle on this. You can do it! Good luck to you and I will be looking forward to hearing of your success!

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  9. Oh I know we CAN all do this together! You sound like you have a great plan worked out.

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  10. Anonymous6:15 PM

    And at the end of this challenge you WILL feel better! I know you can do this!

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  11. Hello from one Georgia girl to another! I hope we all have great success stories!

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