I'm loving the idea of a weightloss journal! I think writing things down will be quite helpful in being accountable, and encouraging to see progress as I set goals and whatnot!

Since I was a teen, I've not been happy with my weight, but looking back at photos, I really can't see why - I'd love to be that size again! I slowly put on weight through college beer - at 20 I was up to about 160, when I got married at 22 I was 165. I would say the problem definatly accelerated with getting married - I'd cook nice foods, then pack my plate as full as I packed my hubbies. Bring on pregnancy a few years later, and my weight ballooned. I ended up having to stay on bedrest for many months, and my highest weight when pregnant was 240. From breatfeeding and paying attention to things, I got down to about 180, but add on a year and a half of adoption stress and I've been on the rise, now at 199.

Anyways, life is beginning to settle down - we became a family of four on Christmas Day 2006, and are adjusting pretty well. It's busy having two little ones at home, but I just can't procrastinate getting healthy any longer. I need more energy!!!

Humm, so I should come up with some goals..

I'm turning 30 July 5, so I'd like to lose maybe 50lbs by then! But seeing as I'm not scheduled for any drastic surgery, like an amputation of my entire midsection, I think I'm going to say I'd like to lose at least 5lbs. Hopefully closer to 10, but I have no idea how quick or slow it's going to come off when I put the effort in, so I'll be thrilled with 5!

Longer term goals... by the end of the year (about 7 months away) I'd really like to be below 160.

And my goal for tomorrow - stock the fridge with healthy foods, find one new healthy recipe to try, get in 20mins of step cardio while the kids eat breakfast, and either 40mins of elliptical or walking (elliptical if the kids nap together, or walking if they don't).

As I write this, I realise I'm freaked out about setting long term goals. The idea of being even below 180 seems almost unattainable. I cannot visualize myself less fat, nevermind thin. Tomorrow I can handle, next month, I just don't know.

Deep breath - I can do this. Day by day.

Set those goals up in any way that is manageable for you... and just take it one day at a time... one meal at a time...

Sounds liek you're trying to do a lot at once... pick one of those things and try it for a few weeks until the new habit is built -then move on ot the next thing you want to do... it's less overwhelming to do one thing at a time than to try and make 26 changes at once.

So far so good. Thanks for the comments Maleficent!

Yesterday I did a 50min walk after the kids bedtime. I really really enjoyed it. It was a peaceful lovely evening, and I walked through a nice rural area with wonderful views. Definately good for mind body and soul. I really would have liked to repeat the experience this evening, but it was pouring, and what's worse is that my shins hurt a lot! I did some reading, and I think it's partly because I'm in lousy shape and partly because of the way I walk. Overstepping. Anyways, my plan to deal with it is to just do 30mins next time, and focus on my posture and steps. Then build up. We'll see how it goes!

So, in lieu of walking tonight, I did 35mins on my elliptical machine. According to the stats on there, I burned 211 calories so that's nice. Then I did a 30min routine of stretching and scissor kick and pushups and situps and whatnot that I found on the internet. I went looking for something that had stretching and strenght training without using equipment. Because I don't have any equipment, and I'm not willing to shell out the time and dollars for a gym membership plus care for 2 kids. And seeing as our adopted daughter just came home a few months back, leaving her in a childcare setting isn't an option in my books. Maybe in the fall depending on how she's doing, and how I'm doing with what I can accomplish with a floor mat and the weight of my own bulk!

The beauty of this set of exercises is I know I can do it in the living room during the day with the kids running about, and they'll enjoy joining in What 2 year old doesn't love seeing their mom contort their body and grunt while they imitate?

The food thing... not bad today. Breakfast was yogurt with granola and an egg. Really should have had a snack other than coffee, as I was famished at lunch and overate. Lesson learned. I picked up some fruit and will keep an apple in my purse for such situations For lunch I had ground turkey in taco seasoning mixed with refried beans, topped with lettuce, onions and tomato. Oh, then I had a bite of my son's mini pizza and a half a cookie. Whoops. Dinner was 1/2 A BBQ'd pork chop, a pile of spaghetti squash, two pieces of bread and a bowl of salad. Another meal that was too big and ought to have been preceeded by a snack. Must work on that.

Anyways, I took my measurements yesterday to begin my journey. I realized I don't actually know how to measure properly. I'll have to post those sometime, but right now hubby is waiting for me to spend some time with him tonight!

Hello and welcome!

Sounds like you are off to a good start and have things in your life pretty figured out as far as fitting things in. Just don't overdo it all at once and burn yourself out!

What are you using as a guide for food? Do you track your calories anywhere? I use fitday.com and it has helped me bunches. I found out that I was wayyyy undereating some days and wayyyy overeating others. It helps to keep your body constant. It sounds like you like to cook for your family which is awesome! I've been trying recipes on this site FoodFit : Healthy Low Fat Recipes, Diet Plans, Holiday Recipes, and Free Online Diets | Foodfit and it's been wonderful too! It even tells you the nutrition facts for most of the dishes! I did the barley tuna casserole one today!

Remember that eating something like a cookie isn't the end of the world. Things in moderation are okay so long as you don't get carried away! I look forward to seeing you around

there's a ton of body weight type exercises you can do...
if you get yourself an account at Free Diet Plans at SparkPeople - they have an all inclusive type program -that's free - it will give you suggested workouts -and all their exercises have little videos attached - plus it gives you a food log as well.. their calories tend to be a bit low for the average person but you can figure out what's best for your body.

Just wanted to say hi I'm new here too and it seems like a good place to be. Good luck on your journey
Z xx

Thanks for the links pebbles and mal, and thanks for stopping by Ichigo! I've not had a free moment to check them out yet, but hopefully tonight after the kids go down!

This week hasn't turned out as scheduled as I would have liked, as I had family down visiting the last few days. So I wasn't able to control what was decided on for supper, but instead focussed alot on portion control and putting extra veggies on the plate when an option. Last night i went and weighed myself and it said 199 - my starting weight. But then I weighed myself this morning and it was down to 196.8. Does that make ANY sense? Anyways, I'll take it Glad to see the scale cooperating. Maybe it was just scared of the last fate my scale suffered....

Exercise - again, down the hill with company here. Although, my shins just finally started feeling better yesterday. So, planning on a 30min walk this evening, and a family bike ride today. Pulling the kids in the caboose makes those hills quite a workout!

Hubby is cooking me breakfast right now (I really hope it's a healthy one!) so I'd better go!

Good job on having small portions and veggies during the family dinners. That's the way to do it! As far as being 199 then 196, it totally does make sense! In the evening or during the day, your body has been eating, you'll have more water weight, and all that jazz as opposed to the morning where your body has been resting and not eating for hours. Pick either the evening, morning, or a time during the day to weight yourself so that you are consistent.. afterall you want to see the difference you are making, not just a difference between morning and night.

So today went pretty good for meals and exercise. Probably should have not eaten the sausage and hashbrowns hubby made for breakfast, but I really didn't want to hurt his feelings! I think I really could have cut down on the breads (had bread with butter for lunch and a snack later too) but I just didn't have time for anything else as I had to get 40 gift bags put together and decorated for a picnic and even with rushing like a crazy woman, I was 10mins late. But the picnic was fun! I had a burger and salad for supper, and fruit salad for dessert.

Got home, put the little one to bed, and went for a 1 hour walk with a friend, which was just so nice. We've decided to walk together once every weekend evening. I've got another friend in the neighbourhood to walk with as well, so this will be pleasant. Plus they're both way more fit than I, so I have to push myself to keep up, which is good.

Now, time for a shower and some relaxing before bed! I'm hoping to do another walk tomorrow morning with the baby, so I sure hope my shins and rear don't ache!

Well, not so good today! This morning I stepped on the scale, and whereas yesterday morning I was about 2lbs heavier than yesterday morning. Not getting how i can possibly fluctuate so much. I'm just going to stay off the dang thing other than once a week so it doesn't frustrate me.

I did do a 30minute walk this morning which was pleasant, followed up with a bunch of yard work. My garden now has less weeds, but less food in it too as I went a little hogwild with the hoe before realizing I was into my row of newly sprouted lettuce. Dang. I'll plant tomorrow!

Had yogurt and a slice of bread for breakfast, then a chicken ceaser salad for lunch, and orange for a snack later. Plus a rediculous amount of coffee throughout the day as I couldn't sleep last night. Then went to a friends house for a father's day party and whoops. Not terrible, but definatly not great. The Bads: a few deepfried squid, an extra scoop of potato salad, a couple bits of ice cream, 2 glasses of wine, and a rather large handful of nacho chips. The Goods: salad and a reasonable portion of salmon.

notice the bad list is a lot longer than the good list. Why oh why do so many good times have to be centered around food?

Next wednesday I'm going to vancouver for 6 days to visit family. I think it's really going to be hard to exercise well there as I'll have 2 kids and only a stroller that seats one. I'll see what I can manage, but I'm going to be really careful about eating.

Tomorrow is going to be a good day I'm loving getting out for walks. I didn't realise I'd love it so much! It is just so very rejuvinating and peaceful. Yay for summer evenings!

Pretty good day today. I ate a lot, but it was all pretty healthy.

Breakfast was 3/4 of a bagel - not ideal but it's what hubby woke me up with! And 2 cups of coffee
Snack - a thingy of yogurt
For lunch, chicken ceaser salad. A repeat to use up leftovers! And a cup of coffee
Snacks - a red pepper, a piece of bread and butter
Dinner - hummous with more red pepper, zucchini and tomato sauted with onions and garlic topped with a smattering of parmasan cheese
Evening snack - tuna on Wasa crackers or maybe buttered popcorn. Ummm, willpower, don't fail me here!

I drank a good amount of water today, but I needed it as I was out in the sun gardening for several hours. Dang weeds, there's just no end. And I replanted my garden. My rear hurts from all the crouching over but nonetheless I kicked my butt out the door and went for a very brisk 30min walk. I wish I had time to stay out longer, but that's that!

Congrats on getting the walk in, and you did eat pretty healthy!

Thanks Pebbles! Starting to get into a swing here, but I'm actually nervous about how much being away for a week (leaving to visit family tomorrow) is going to affect new-found motivation!

So... I just was reading Tinkerbella's diary and she had this great list of treats she's getting for herself when she reaches weight goals. I love any reason to treat myself, so I'm going to do the same. Every 10lbs, as frivilous as it may seem!! The last time I tried to lose weight, I stopped just shy of getting into the 170's so that's an exciting one for me. Also, being in the 160's will be cause to celebrate as I've not been there since getting married in summer of 2000. Last time I saw the 150's was in highschool. To be below that - heaven!

189lbs: A nice outfit for my evening walks.

179lbs: facial and pedicure

169lbs: big clothes shopping trip

159lbs: Mom's weekend away - stay at a hotsprings resort and bask in peaceful contentment

149lbs: Gonna have to think on this one....

Back from my trip! I didn't do too badly, I don't think. I did manage to walk for about 50mins most evenings, and did control my eating, but not quite as well as i do at home. Water intake did suffer though, and I had a lot of trouble with insomnia while away, so i came home sick and didn't get any exercise last night, plus I ate pretty badly as I was feeling sorry for myself. Why the beep do I do that? So self-destructive!

The scale wasn't so friendly this morning - 199.5. Yuck. I'm hoping it's high because I'm nearing TOM. I know at my worst bloating, I can be up several lbs. Anyways, we'll see what the week brings!

Food today..

3 coffees
canned tuna on wasa
Parmasan zucchini

so far about 600cals Dinner plans are chicken over rice with a green salad, should be around 550 cal, plus a couple of pieces of fruit as snacks here and there. So if I stay on track today, it's be about 1350. Not really sure if that's too much or too little, so I'm going to see what I can find on the internet about that. I'm sure opinions will vary!

Hoping to fit in an hours walk tonight too.