This year I decided to take on two personal projects that I've successfully kept secret since January. One is nearing the finish line, so I'm ready to share that one: lose 30 pounds by summer. So far I've lost 22 pounds, primarily by making better food choices, not snacking, and exercising more often. 8 more pounds to go and I'll nail that one. I'm going to keep up with my diet and exercise changes for the rest of the year and see how much more I can trim down; I need to lose 50 pounds altogether to be at my healthiest weight (but losing 30 will be just fine with me.)
It's harder for me to lose weight now that I'm older. I've become more sedentary, I tire more easily and I've been making too many food bargains with myself. Since I can't have sugar, and I've trained myself to abstain entirely now, my body always craves fatty things. For example, I love cheese and crackers, and would tell myself I was being healthy by eating them instead of a piece of cake or some cookies. Which as any nutritionist can tell you is just not true. Giving up fat-laden snacks and switching to raw veggies or fruit was really hard, but I did it. Part of my goal was also to stop snacking between meals, and get those extra calories out of my daily diet, and I've managed that for the most part. Now when I want something to snack on I usually drink a big glass of water, tea or juice . . . but I still give the cracker box a wistful look. So while I'm confident I'll lose the last 8 pounds, I still need to work on my food attitudes.
There are some downsides with every success. I'm currently a size right in between the big girl clothes and skinny girl clothes in my wardrobe, so I have only a couple of outfits that actually fit me right now. Like all dieters in progress I don't want to buy any new clothes until my weight is where I want it. My guy liked to take me out to eat once a week, which was a nice break for me, but restaurant food is not on my plan. Diets are really boring, too; sometimes I think if I see another skinless chicken breast or spinach salad I think I'll take a sledge hammer to them. But all this goes with the territory, and when I weigh myself on Fridays and see that I've shed another pound or two, it still seems worth it.
The other thing I decided to do is something I'll keep under wraps until the end of the year (unless someone else blows the whistle on me), and that's been a lot of fun. With this project I've been able to step out of my comfort zone and try some new things. I've also acquired a new space in my creative life where I can retreat to and just be myself without any fanfare or expectations. I didn't realize how much I needed that until I gave this a whirl.
What progress have you made on any goals or projects you planned for 2016? Let us know in comments.
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Congrats on 22 pounds! Great job! I have a similar goal but it's not going as fast as it used to.... must be that getting older thing. Sigh. Keep up the good work :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the weight loss! That's a great accomplishment and in very little time. That's something I need to do myself. Since quitting yoga class I've put on weight. Apparently I don't push myself as much as my instructors did. :)
ReplyDeleteMy biggest goal was finally accomplished. We sold our other house. It was a burden that put me under all sorts of stress.
good job! I'm working on that myself.
ReplyDeleteI finished the first class of a bunch, for a certificate in publishing. interviewed for an internship yesterday at swanky publisher office. Taking the summer off of classes, to write, and work more on developing editor skills, and travelling.
A collaborative novella is almost done first draft, a short story got sent last week, and I have a few other writing projects and a couple jewelery design projects on the go. Its a busy year. Progress is in tiny steps.
Congrats on the weight loss!!!! You know I recently found out that I lost ten pounds as a result of having no car and busing/walking everywhere.
ReplyDeleteOne piece - tiny itty bitty piece of progress - I've made is that I'm adding more REAL content to my blog instead of just announcing twitter parties. I've missed blogging a bit and so I'm trying to go back to it with one post a week or two.
I'm also trying really hard to make progress on this short story I'm working on but it's really hard to find feedback.
YAY You!! I know how hard that is the older we get. It's way harder for me now than it was even 5 years ago. I'm working on it but oh, it's so slow. And so much harder since I sit all day at work and the hour in the car there and hour home means I'm so tired by the time dinner is done...but I bought an under desk pedal thing and I'm using that during work because they don't care and I think it's helping.
ReplyDeleteReally proud of you. :)
Well done. It's good to achieve goals. I must get my arse in gear and start doing something myself... I'll use your example for inspiration.
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