Slow and steady wins the race?

I've been doing a lot of thinking about how to achieve my weight loss goals lately.  How to focus on the here and now and the baby steps rather than seeing this giant looming number (60 lbs!).  Previously and repeatedly, I would plan for an exact date I need to reach that goal or else I should consider myself a failure.  I never took into account life, schedules, cold and flu season, exam weeks, anything that could possibly hinder my perfect plan.

What that meant for me is that if I had a bad week or two, I would give up and declare myself a loser, a failure, not fit for even trying.  And I did this to myself over and over and over again, never really learning that  this wasn't the way to achieve anything.  But I finally realize now that by focusing on the place I'm at, week by week, I'm making strides towards the bigger goal.

I started the Couch to 5K program last week and am really enjoying it.  I'm actually enjoying the process of taking the time for myself to go to the gym, get on the treadmill and check out for a half hour while I accomplish a goal. A goal of FINISHING one piece at a time.

Last week I was dealing with a lot of anxiety - work, wedding planning, school, hormones.  It was all a little too much for me and I was cracking a bit.  But in spite of that, I still completed Week 1 of  the C25K program, I still tracked every bite of food I consumed, I still lost weight.  I realized that the anxiety was only going to get worse if I didn't treat myself well.  So when I was feeling rotten, I'd go to the gym and bust out a few miles on the treadmill.  Or I'd eat a handful of raspberries instead of a bag of chips.  I gave myself the gift of health and it made me feel better!

I know that I have to just be patient with myself and give me the room and time to achieve my goals.  Some weeks will be tough, but some weeks will be great.  And it's taken me 32 years to get here, I can't turn it around overnight.  But I'll keep trying because I deserve it!

Stretching after a C25K workout on the treadmill.

2011 Goals and Guidelines for Success

Since just listing a bunch of goals with no practical steps to achieve them has never served me well, I decided to really think about what I wanted from this year and how I plan to get there.

2010 brought about a lot of changes for me and was overall a positive year full of growth.  I want to continue to be grateful, to continue to be happy as I've learned to do in 2010.

In 2011, I'm also getting married to the love of my life.  Above all, my goal is to enjoy every moment of the process - not overwhelm myself with stress over the elopement and party.  This is about us....not all the stressful details! 

Here they are, my 7 goals for 2011.

Fitness/Health


Run a 5K
How will I get there?
1. Continue with C25K program (9 weeks or however long it takes me!)
2. Register for local race – looking at Great Bay Race on April 2nd
3. Complete my first 5K!

Lose 35 pounds
How will I get there?
1. Continue with WeightWatchers and monitoring how and what I eat
2. Go to a WW meeting every week
3. Gym/workout – be active at least 5 days per week, 30 min per day


Honor my body by feeding it well
How will I get there?
1. Remember that binges might happen – figure out why it’s happening, forgive myself and move on
2. Be conscious of how I eat, what I eat and how it makes me feel
3. As I lose weight, notice the positive health effects and changes I experience
4. Cook at least one vegetarian dinner per week


Education/Career


Kick Anatomy & Physiology 2’s butt and end the semester with an A!
How will I get there?
1. Set aside 8-10 hours each week for studying – create a study plan and stick to it
2. See the tutor at least 2x a month (not just before exams!)
3. Utilize open lab times


Get an A in English composition
How will I get there?
1. Set aside 8-10 hours each week for studying – create a study plan and stick to it
2. Utilize the writing center


Take the pre-entrance exam for nursing school
How will I get there?
1. Already registered for January 22nd


Apply to nursing school
How will I get there?
1. Continue to research the programs I’m interested in
2. Decide on professional references and ask them
3. Meet with reps from each school to get advice/input on application
4. Work on essay and get help/feedback on the process
5. Know that this may be just practice, and KEEP TRYING!

Joining the Pumpkin Oatmeal Craze

I'm so far behind on this whole oatmeal craze, especially the pumpkin oatmeal craze.  But...I've finally joined the cool kids and made my own.  And now I wonder what I was waiting for!  This is a delicious, filling and nutritious way to start the day and I'm sure I'll be converting to oatmeal for breakfast for the entire winter.


Quick and Easy Pumpkin Oatmeal

1 cup milk
1 cup water
Pinch of salt
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tbsp raw sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup canned pumpkin

Bring milk, water and pinch of salt to a boil over high heat.  Once boiling, add the oatmeal and sugar and bring to another boil.

Turn the heat down to medium and simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Add pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg and cook for another 5-6 minutes.

Let stand for a few minutes to thicken.  Garnish with pecans and serve.
Makes 6 servings (1/2 cup each).

The Big Day Diet

I'm struggling with the notion that now that I'm engaged, there's an expectation that I'm supposed to obsess about my weight, my goal weight, multiple daily workouts and a magical dress size that I'm supposed to fit into by next summer.

Sure, I want to continue to eat healthy and make good choices and continue recovering from my eating disorder and to take care of my body.  That's what I want more than anything.  And that's what I'm focused on - the baby steps it takes for long-term good health.

So I'm afraid this whole obsession that brides seem to get about THE perfect dress (that they see on a model that looks nothing like ME) and THE perfect weight are going to take over.  It hasn't yet, but I want to make sure I continue to make the choices I'm making for the long haul....and not just because I'm getting married and I have unrealistic expectations of what my body should look look like on one particular day.

The commitment I'm making to my health right now mimics quite closely the commitment I'm making to my fiance.  For the rest of my life, I promise to love my body every day, to make decisions about it's health and happiness every day.   I promise to not give up in the difficult times, and not take it for granted when things seem to be sailing along smoothly.

How do you quiet "The Big Day Diet Voice"?