So its been awhile since I blogged it up here. Largely because I started using Fitday.
But one still needs to rant once in awhile, and I’ve been holding this rant in for nearly a month. I’ve been “stuck” at 239 pounds for nearly a month now, and damn it if it doesn’t feel counterproductive.

I’m steadily staying between 1300 and 1600 calories each day - had three days where I hit 1800, and one day I couldn’t even bear to count….but 1800 isn’t enough to really hinder me when a person my size burns nearly 3000 a day just existing, and one bad day isn’t bad for anyone.

So I thought…I have been exercising (FINALLY!). I’m actually completely on track for September exercise minutes at the moment, and am ready to go way over because I’ve actually been walking a moderate pace (about 3 miles an hour) for an hour or so each night this week. So maybe I gained muscle? And somehow held exactly at 239?

BUT ITS AGGRAVATING.

I know I’m lost about an inch on my belly already, because I can feel it in my pants. But I want to so badly for that scale to move. I wanted to hit 220 by Halloween….in August, losing 20 pounds in three months seemed very attainable. Now, mid-september, 20 pounds in 6 weeks….

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Normally, I carry my food journal with me. I kind of like filling out the blank pages. Yay, promise of a new day, right?

I signed up for fitday today, though, because of all the wonderful little ways you can track things - weight, carbs vs protein vs fat, measurements, even your happiness levels.

For now, I’ll probably enter in both to see which I like better…for any Fitday users, is there some tools or tricks about it that you particularly like?

Now that I’m near the end of Phase 2, I realized that over the past week I haven’t been sticking strictly to the diet. And that I’m fine with it.

I’ve learned a lot in the past five weeks. I eat my wonderful breakfast every morning to jump start it all, keep it going around 9 or 10 with a snack, eat a complex carb and protein for lunch, another snack (usually a high-water-content fruit like watermelon to keep that full feeling around) at 3, and dinner at 6. I can now get away with only 1 can of diet soda a day and not have a caffeine headache, and I’ve found a spearmint-flavored water that actually makes me want to drink water (and keeps my breath fresh at work all day).

But what I miss is having dinner with DH. I think my diet has affected him a lot in the sense that we now eat separately, and he doesn’t get those good ‘ole home cooked meals anymore, since I’ve been pretty content to stick with FS.

So, the last week or so, I gave in quite often to dinner. Now, don’t get me wrong - I’m not an “unhealthy” cook. One of our favorite dishes is broccoli/snow peas/shrimp served over whole wheat pasta. I think the worst thing on our “normal” menu is a chicken breast with mozarella and stuffing :-D. But while not unhealthy, they do not fit the regimens of my diet.

I was apprehensive at first, worried about ruining the good progress I’ve made while sticking with FS (because I truly believe the first couple weeks of the diet “re-set” my taste buds). But I’ve counted calories and made sure not to be extravagant about my own portions, and I’m happily enjoying dinner with DH again.

I know, long post to explain something so simple. Cross my fingers that my Fat Smash Mish Mash “diet” keeps me in check, and that the habits I’ve developed over the last month will keep on for me.

NOW. If only I could get my ass to exercise.

Completely off bandwagon since last Friday, when my bosses fully admitted they’d piled a lot on me, that I had taken on more responsibility than one person should, that I’m doing a ”great job” and that yes, the handbook says the raise is mandatory but…I’m not getting a raise. There was anger, then there was despair, and then there was “screw these guys, I’ll find a different job” and then there was food. FOOD!

V. disappointed in myself, to be perfectly honest, and so I’m back today, at work (ewww) once again making a dork out of myself as I walk in carrying three meals Life as usual again.

So I relost all the weight I gained during the 5 day wedding from hell.

I gained back two again yesterday from a “girls day out” with my mom and her friends to a casino resort in WV. I actually behaved very well around food (and have already noticed that three weeks of eating healthfully have resulted in my stomach giving me hell if I eat something greasy…so extra reason to not ever do so), but naturally, alcohol was freely flowing, and I over imbibed to say the least. But it was crazy fun.

So now I’m away from alcohol and happily around good food again…but yet again, THIS weekend, I’ll be out of town and in good company for the third weekend in a row.

I’m never like this. I like my quiet weekends, gardening, reading books, touring the Short North with DH. “Going out” to me is catching a movie or a quiet dinner. August 2008 has thrown me for a loop But its been a great change of pace, and if nothing else, has gotten me out of the house and the town, moving around, walking, running, etc.

Besides, this is Ohio…while its warm now, we know a harsh winter is going to be here before we know it, so I may as well live it up while I can!

So, thank goodness. Yesterday was my first day back on track, and it went great.

Now…the upcoming weeks pose more problems, as next week Im out of town for days having a “Girls Time” at a casino, and that weekend, I’m visiting family in Cinci, but I’m sure to get past it…one way or another

I feel really excited to restart.

Why?

Because even two months ago, had I failed as badly as I did over the wedding weekend, I would’ve given up. I’m actually really looking forward to getting back on track. Grocery shopped last night to restock up on fruit and veggies, ate roasted green beans for dinner with champagne grapes (yum!) for desert.

Back on track this morning as well, though I didn’t quite have the motivation to get up and exercise, and that is truly my weak spot. I’m still lagged out and tired after all that traveling (and naturally, my desk at work is overflowing with backlog now).

Now that my eating is again under control, I’ll push harder for exercise ^^ The weather is gorgeous here in central Ohio, best to put it to use.

The wedding was gorgeous and wonderful, and while I was exhausted and fully ready to go home after being in the 103 degree Kansas heat for five days, I had a lot of fun.

The downside - my aunt (and mother of the bride) is the Martha Stuart type who has gourmet food dishes out, and held a different dinner party every night we were there. I did well each day for breakfast and lunch, since I wasn’t at the house, but if I tried to get away with eating small for dinner, I got “LOOKS”. So I got back yesterday, and weighed myself this morning, and will be starting the disappointing task of re-losing some of the weight.

I’m not too ‘down’ about it, because I rather expected it, and I’ve learned enough in the past three weeks to know I can “get down to business” so to speak, instead of getting totally bummed and just dropping the diet thing like usual.

I also got a cardio dvd that I’m really excited to try. We’re in for a week of rain here, so I’ll be doing that instead of walking every morning.

I’ll be visiting everyones blog today After five days gone, it feels like forever!

While I dont mind being a vegetarian (I was one for a long time), I’m excited to have meat back on my menu today.

I leave for the wedding tomorrow at 3am (of all ungodly hours), so DH and I are eating lunch together today - my first “lunch out” with him in two weeks. Since I can actually have meat, it makes life a little easier when eating out.

I actually went over in cal’s yesterday - eek! So, patty, as nice as your comment was, my willpower flew out the door when a client handed me a donut (LOL). Not the best way to end Phase 1, but hey, I was down another pound this morning. I’m trying to vary up the amount I eat on a regular basis so as to avoid the dreaded plateau and to keep my taste buds from getting bored to hell.

I dont know how often I’ll actually be able to reach out on 3FC over the next five days - in only two weeks, I already love coming here each day, reading stories, chatting with everyone, etc - or when I feel a craving, looking at the goal boards to remind myself why I’m here

Last day of Phase 1!

My biggest regret is not having exercised more, and I know the situation will not improve this week, since I’ll be out of town at a wedding. Hopefully (!) my hotel will have fitness room.

I’ve a bit more energy throughout the afternoon now, and I dont seem to be able to eat as much in one sitting as I could 9 days ago. I’m actually not all that excited to add meat back into my diet, and plan on eating it possibly in only one meal a day. I rather liked what I ate during the last 9 days