Week Three Roundup - Slowly but Surely

We all know the story of the tortoise and the hare, right? If not the general lesson of the story is...even if you are the slower moving tortoise against the faster rabbit, don't discount your ability to win. Moving at your own pace will lead to success, its' the whole slowly but surely mentality. Running or doing something faster doesn't always mean you will excel at it, most of the time you make mistakes, causing you to lose in the end.

Yesterday was weigh in day and I had to remind myself about this story. I lost a total of 3.2 pounds. The smallest amount of weight loss, so far, in three weeks. I was hoping to see a much lower number on the scale, but that didn't happen. I know the weight that I did shed is a healthy loss and in the long run better for me in maintaining. In the overall scheme of things, I have dropped over 20lbs and that is impressive on its own.

I started this journey at 237 and I am down to 216.4! Looking at the change in those two numbers is very exciting!  I mean really for a person like me...those numbers are golden. My goal weight may be 41 pounds away, but that number looks a whole lot better than 62 pounds. Plus, seeing those numbers drop drives me to stick to the plan and keep going for my goal...even though it's a slow but sure process. I'll be the tortoise in this journey and I can't wait to cross that finish line...regardless if it takes me a whole year to reach it, though I am hoping for the beginning of summer!

What I Have Noticed
What I have noticed on this journey is pretty interesting and it's all good actually.

• Water is DEFINITELY your friend. I was not a huge water drinker...my water was Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi...well let me tell you that's all changed. My skin looks fabulous and my face just glows. This is definitely from the water.
• Don't fret that you can't tell you've lost weight, except for stepping on the scale. People will notice and your clothes will tell you the true story.
• Writing or journaling really helps you focus on what you are doing and really keeps you to it. Writing about your trials, tribulations, and wins really helps you keep focus and it'll become a big source of inspiration. It maps out your your journey...where you've been and where you are going and is a testimony to how you've bettered your life.
• I didn't realize how depressed I really was about my weight or the way that I looked. Getting dressed in the morning really was depressing! But now I take pride in the way I am dressing again and it makes me feel good to look good!
• Exercise needs to be a part of your lifestyle, even if it's walking a half hour a day. Those endorphins really help to perk you up!
• Regardless how much your body may resist to do the work out...don't give up. Do what you can and DON'T GIVE UP!
• Giving yourself praise and believing in YOU is better than hearing it from someone else. It's good to tell yourself, "You are awesome!" and to actually believe it.

Week 3 Facts
Starting Weight after Week 2: 219.6 lbs
Week 3 Weigh In: 216.4 lbs
Week 3 Weight Loss: 3.2 lbs

Total Journey Profile So Far
Starting Weight on 1/17/11: 237 lbs
Weigh in on 2/6/11: 216.4 lbs
Total Weight Loss So Far: 20.6 lbs

One more week on this diet and I move on to a new eating plan...not sure what it will be yet, but I will keep up what I have started doing. This week is going to challenge me, because it's a bare minimum week...consisting mostly of salad and yogurt. My meal plan looks like this:

Breakfast: 1/2 glass orange juice, black coffee, 3oz cottage cheese or 1/2 oz of Feta cheese, and crackers or rye crisps.
Lunch: green salad with olive oil and lemon, 1 hard boiled egg or 2oz Feta cheese or a can of tuna packed in water.
Dinner Yogurt or glass of milk, 1 fruit, crackers or rye crisps.

This is definitely the least amount of food I have eaten in this journey. But, I've come this far and there's no chance I won't stick to it...expect lots of whining and complaining though.

I continue my daily workouts in the morning as well as my 3-mile, Monday to Friday, walk at lunch. I really like the groove I am getting into with the workouts...and I am in no means doing anything close to what they are doing in the videos...but I am trying and I am doing what I can. Overall, I feel good about my workout regiment.

As I end this phase of my journey, I just want to thank you again for listening to my ramblings. I truly would not have been able to do this without the support of family and friends! Let me know how I can support you on your journey from Flab to Fab!

-Percy