January 4th, Still No Resolutions

As I look at the last several months with no blog entries, no workouts logged and no pounds lost (a few gained back though) my inclination is to start over.  Start a new blog!  Start a new weight loss plan!  Get a new diet!!!  But then I'm falling back into "The Thing That Haunts Me", my feeling that no matter how hard I try, I can't finish what I start.  There are days that I feel like the only things I've seen through to the end are my pregnancies and I even tacked on a few extra days for good measure.  I hate feeling that way, I hate feeling like whatever I start is destined to never be completed.  It could be something small like a scrapbook or big like a home business, I have a plethora of excuses as to WHY I didn't finish something but the bottom line is that it only happens if and when, I quit.  There are a couple of things I've learned about myself in the past 32 years, wait for it, it's pretty profound. I need motivation and accountability.  Earth shattering, I know.  

As I look at this year ahead of me, a year that is only 4 days old, I kind of want to crawl back under my warm covers and come back out sometime next spring.  As a Navy family we're looking a year with a lot of separation, while we've had separations before, this will be the first LONG time apart that the kids will really be aware of.  I'm still trying to get to where I feel pretty good, the roller coaster of Hashimoto's has me constantly wondering how I'm going to feel any given day.  I'm facing major diet and lifestyle changes to help me feel my best and keep the extreme swings of Hashi's under control.  My three munchkins are always busy and each precious and challenging in their own special ways right now.  I could continue but much of what I deal with are the day to day requirements of a stay at home mom, the laundry that I swear reproduces in the hamper and dishes that are always in some state of being washed.  I just want out of the fog that so often seems to settle in my head.  I want to have sharp clear thoughts that I can get down and have people appreciate what I have to share, it's far to easy for me to fall into the trap of feeling like I have nothing to contribute.  

So where do I go from here?  My goal for my day is to set some long and short terms goals and then make my plan on how to get there.  I'm going to try and keep it as simple and attainable as possible.  Maybe for starters, I should get out of my pj's...

Goals, Weekly Overview and Weight Loss Challenge, OH MY!

I think the first week of reaching my weight loss goals was a success. I have kept a food journal, started following portion guidelines, cut out most sweets and alcohol and have been challenged by my Dad to a bet. First person to lose 10 pounds wins and the loser has to go visit the other person. We'll have our weekly weigh in and keep each other accountable as needed. My other motivation is a shopping spree if I accomplish my ultimate goal of 81 lbs by New Year's Day. I think I may start a savings account with a specified amount for each pound I lose to contribute to the new clothes/new me account. :)

Here are a few of my observations for the week. I have gone with a simple portion control guide that I used when I did the Zone Diet years ago. My meat serving is the size and thickness as the the palm of my hand, complex carb is the size of a closed fist and green veggie is the size of a loose fist. Because I'm still nursing a baby I have a lot more green veggies and I add some flax oil on top. Going back to some sort of portion guideline has helped me see how I was eating WAY WAY WAY more than I needed. I have one fruit and or protein smoothie a day and have whole foods for snacks like an apple or some almonds. I got myself moving on the treadmill too. I worked out 4 times and at my last work out I was able to do three intervals of slow jogging. I didn't think I'd be able to do that at all so tomorrow I'll start the "real" training for the 5 K I want to run on July 4th weekend. I can make little changes that will make a big difference. We went out for lunch today and instead of eating half an order of fried green tomatoes I had one slice. I had a shrimp salad croissant and potato salad and I brought half of it home. We even got ice cream but I got one scoop instead of 3.

A couple of goals:

Get rid of those next 10 lbs by April 15 weigh in.

Run 5 K on July 4th

Go on 1 mile "fun run" with Aiden

Lose 81 lbs by January 1, 2012 (I'll need to lose 8 lbs a month April-December to attain that number.)

Consistently follow the Couch Potato to 5 K plan.

I'm feeling really good about the start I'm off to. I FEEL good and I'm very encouraged by my big initial weight loss and by all of my friends sending me comments and emails to support me. Anyone want to make a guess at how long it's gonna take to shed those 10 lbs?