My earliest recollection of poor body image began when I was in the 5th grade and intensified to a stage of self-loathing by the time I turned thirty.
I am a 42-year old, self-proclaimed, health/ fitness expert ready to fulfill my goals and live my life to its fullest. I began (again) my healthy lifestyle changes at the beginning of January. Up until three weeks ago I was grudgingly stuck at a twelve pound weight loss. My old habits and self-defeating thoughts were starting to take their ugly forms and forsake once again my happiness, but something happened... I read an article in Fitness Magazine that gave me the inspiration to change my life once and for all. The difference in my attitude has transformed my workouts, eating habits, personal and professional goals. I am 5'7" and currently weigh 168 lbs. My weight loss goal is 140 lbs., only 28 lbs. to go! I would like to lose 2-3 lbs. per week reaching my target by July. Unharnessing the ties that bind me to past failures is my journey. I believe my physical transformation will be the result of my psycological/ spiritual restoration.


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Hi Mary,
Welcome to the WLF and good for you for doing what you need to do to reach your goals

Thank you so much I am still fumbling my way around this website and obviously didn't add the "ticker" to my posting right... No ticker, just the link?
Mary

You'll want to copy the "bbc code" from the ticker site to your signature in UserCP

Okay, time to calm down and forget the ticker thing

I believe I will succeed.
I am ready now.
I am willing now.
I am able now.
I want it now.
It's my life.
-Borrowed mantra from Fitness Mag.

Weekends are sooooo hard for me. I'm a teacher who works Mon-Fri and my husband is a team-leader who works from 2:30 pm to 5:00 am Fri-Sun. I still rise early in the morning to keep the dogs and cats quite so he can catch some quality zzzzzzz He took the management position a year ago working swingshift Mon-Thr which eventually lead him to the weekend placement. I knew the adjustment was going to be hard, I just thought by now I'd be adjusted...We will celebrate our thirteenth wedding anniversary this year. We never tire of each other's company and feel like every day is the first. I know this change has weighed heavily on my mind, bringing with it stress, anxiety, sadness, and longing. I am working hard to alleviate these emotions by focusing on my fitness/ health goals. For the last four weeks my exercise goal has been 6-days per week, 4-5 miles per day. I have met and exceeded this goal. They say it takes twenty-one days to instill or break a habit...I'm there and ready to focus on my next goal. I want to reduce frivolous calories from my daily intake. You know the kind...1-2 glasses of wine, etc... Maybe I should join the 21-day club? Okay, no alcoholic beverages Sun-Thr, weekends only This plan should reduce my weekly caloric intake significantly.

Saturday

Breakfast ~ cheerios, 1/2 banana, n.f. milk
Lunch ~ high fiber-low fat wrap, chicken breast w/ mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, and green onions
Dinner ~ 1/2 serving stir fry, 90-calories
Water ~ Plenty
Exercise ~ 1.5 miles (I was going to take this day off.)
Alcoholic Beverages ~ Yes (Decided on new goal this morning.)

Sunday

Breakfast ~ High Fiber/Low Carb Wrap w/ turkey, mustard, tomato, spinach, and mushrooms

Lunch ~ baby carrots, mozzerrella, 1/2 c. pasta w/ tomatoes

Snack ~ apple, baby carrots

Dinner ~ Elk h.b w/ salsa ( I generally do not eat dinner especially after 7:00p.m.)

Water ~ Plenty

Exercise ~ 4-miles (awesome workout!!!)

note: remember focus on new goal for next 21-days...no adult beverages

The highlight of today was taking my hubby dinner at work and sharing 30-min.

Sounds like a great day Mary

I am so glad this day is coming to an end, I am beat The school day went off without any major crisis taking place, yes! Well, except for the sixth grade student who's foot slipped out of the toe grip on the stationary (stationery?) bike and scraped up the front of his shin...but other than that...smooth. Hubby is working ten days straight so I will see him only about 15-hours this week, if I'm lucky. This unhappy face needs a tear.
Okay, time for a pick-me-up! The first day of working on my new goal was 100% successful! YYYEEEAAAHHHH!!!!!

Monday

Breakfast ~ Oatmeal and coffee

Snack ~ Baby Carrots and an apple

Lunch ~ Cottage cheese w/ tomatoes (My boiled eggs were stinky, threw them out!)

Dinner ~ Chicken breast w/ tomato sauce and mushrooms, 1-cup veggie blend, and serving of prunes

Water ~ Plenty

Exercise ~ 4-miles (678 calories burned!!) + jump roping in fitness class

Goal Day 1 ~ Met and feeling lighter already!!

Now I need some aspirin and a good night of sleep....

Tomorrow is the day I record the week's total weight loss. Good thoughts, good thoughts, good thoughts....

I'm ready to relax. I am trying to be super woman this week and I feel it in every muscle, bone, and nerve in my body. Just think, only three more days until the weekend, yippee!

Tuesday

Breakfast ~ Oatmeal, prune juice, and coffee

Snack ~ 1/2 serving veggie blend

Lunch ~ Chicken, fresh spinach, salad, and a grapefruit

Snack ~ 8- sm. prunes, 1/2 c. Tomatoes, cubed cheese, and rye pasta

Dinner ~ Curried Chicken, onion, and brown rice

Water ~ Plenty

Exercise ~ 4-miles

Goal Day 2 ~ Yes!! (Although, I must say after a day of WASL testing a glass of wine would have done wonders )

Tomorrow ~ I need to take a deep breath, relax, and connect better with my students. We (the students & I) are under pressure and I don't want that to be the only thing they remember about tomorrow. I believe....

Looks like two good days Mary,
Good luck with the testing - it must be a stressful time!

And having a glass of wine occasionally should fit into anyone's plan

Thanks for your feedback and support ) I am really working hard to lose each and every pound! If I had kept off my previous weight loss I would only need to lose 12-lbs. to reach my goal weight....Live and learn, and learn, and learn. I never want to be at this point again. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is my mission )

I am ready for this week to be over!! Too much running around I missed the end of American Idol because I fell asleep.

Breakfast ~ Chicken breast and prune juice (Not by choice!)

Snack ~ Protein Bar (Protein is the theme of the day...)

Lunch ~ Cottage Cheese w/tomato, tossed salad, apple

Dinner ~ Elk cube steak, thin slice mozzerella

Snack ~ Apple & prunes

Water ~ Plenty

Exercise ~ 30-min. strength training & 4-miles

Goal Day 3 ~ Yes!

I have been very moody, lately. I'm 42 and wish the monthly highs and lows would go away!! I feel better now

Thursday

Breakfast ~ Oatmeal and prune juice

Snack ~ Baby carrots, mozzerella cheese, and protein bar

Lunch ~ Mixed salad and cottage cheese w/tomato

Snack ~ Apple

Dinner ~ Homemade chili

Water ~ Yes

Exercise ~ Strength training and 4.25 miles

Goal Day 5 ~ Yes, and it's becoming easier.
Friday and Saturday are "off" days, but who knows...I'm seeing results on the scale and I really want to be at my 20-lbs. mark next Tuesday

Heya Mary.
I bet you will be stunning at your goal weight.
You are probably stunning now as it is!!
Congrats on keeping up your new goals!
You're right it does get easier with time. Everyday is easier for me so far. I am on day 10. I'm disassociating myself with thinking of food as something to do when I'm bored, and learning that it is fuel for all the other things I can be doing with my time.
And when I have my lows I just try to advert my thinking to something I have done well that day or that week.
The mere fact that I am changing my entire eating styles is a great accomplishment so I focus on that. Dunno if your lows are anything like mine, but just thought I'd toss that in there.
Plus that exercise you're doing are great for elevating mood over time. Keep it up!!!

I know, I know, it seems so trivial, but I finally inserted the ticker, yeah!! Now if I can get rid of the dimples in my thighs before summer

Oh dimples are cute

(OK, maybe not on the thighs so much)

Congrats on getting that ticker in AND the 17 pounds behind you!