Week 6 Round Up: Up Up and Away

Let me tell you, this week was a very disappointing weigh in. After eating like crap for a week and not exercising as I should, my weight loss turned into weight gain. Maybe that is why I haven't blogged about it until now. Just to let it go and get back on track.

Gaining weight after you lost so much is pretty devastating. You start to think that maybe you can never eat normally again. In reality, you can eat what you like as long as you make conscious choices and not to eat more than you share of the bad stuff. The choices you make have consequences to your efforts. The lack of workout was also a factor in my weight gain this week.

As Oprah would say, this was my "A-ha" week. Realizing that at almost 42 years old, I can't eat like the teens and 20 something's, who devour all they want, without gaining an ounce of weight. At this age I have to really work at my figure...that takes a lot of effort and some days you just want to say, "TO HELL WITH IT!"

With that said, I really don't want it to go downhill from here. I want to keep on keeping on - and make my way up the hill even though at times I know it will be difficult. I don't want the pounds to creep back up adding those numbers back into my life. Seeing that scale move, the opposite direction from where you want to go, is harsh, but at the same time, I can't beat myself up over it. It is what it is and now I have to own up to the fact that there is no one to blame except for myself.

The Harsh Truth

• Eating fast food because it's convenient is a sorry excuse. Even though restaurants have started posting the calories of the meals you are actually eating, it's probably safe to say that the preservatives and all the other stuff they put in it is probably not good for your body. The sodium content alone would probably kill you. Justifying the calorie counts at McDonald's or Taco Bell is a cop out.
• Dieting and working out goes hand in hand. Really, you can accomplish your goals and stay healthy without having some sort of workout regimen - even if it means just walking for 30 minutes a day to increase your heart rate. Trust me - it's not as if I worked out for the most of my life - I HAVEN'T, but I have learned that sweat is good! So...if sweaty sex is the only exercise you get - at least you are sweating out the bad stuff and you are getting something good at the same time.
• Water. DRINK WATER! This coming from a person who believed that I got more than my water needs from Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. I have totally cut out sodas out of my life and keep my refrigerator stocked with bottled water. I can't believe how water alone can change the dynamics of your health and the stuff that it flushes away. Plus, it's good replenishment for your body.
• There no one or anything you can blame when things go South but yourself. You are in control of reaching your own goal - so stop blaming others or situations that hinder you from reaching it and look to yourself. Remember you set your own goals and there is no one but you who can encourage you to go for it or to reach it. Supporters are all good, but your biggest cheerleader is YOU! So go for it!

The weight gain, this week, was a good thing for me. It made me realize that I am the one in control of my own choices and the one person that can hinder me from reaching my goals. So, it's safe to say that it was a wake up call and I adjusted my eating habit this week, as well as, dedicated myself to work out at least 5 days a week. So, we move forward, leave the past in the past and hope that future efforts lead to my own personal goal!

Week 6 Facts
Starting Weight after Week 5: 207.2 lbs
Week 6 Weigh In: 210.4 lbs
Week 6 Weight Loss: +3.2 lbs - yes this week was a gain and reverted close to my Week 4 weight.

Total Journey Profile So Far
Starting Weight on 1/17/11: 237 lbs
Weigh in on 2/27/11: 210.4 lbs
Total Weight Loss So Far: 26.6 lbs

Goal Progress
Goal Weight: 175 lbs
Current Weight: 210.4 lbs
Number of Pounds to Goal: -35.4 lbs
Goal Date: May 1, 2011
Number of Weeks Left: 9 weeks
Average Weight Lose per Week to Reach Goal Weight: -3 lbs per week

Thanks again for listening to my ramblings. Looking forward to see how well I succeeded towards my goal this week for Week 7. Let me know how I can support you!

-Percy