Setting Specific Short Term Goals for Weight Loss

My cousin is getting married in less than three months. From what I know of her, she seems to be the ultimate organizer. I am sure she already has all of her bridesmaid gifts picked out too. Well, I mention this because I started this blog with the intention of losing at least 30 pounds by the wedding date. As that time is fast approaching, I have found myself more and more energized towards my goal.

I think it is so important to set short term and long term goals. I started this goal back in January and since I had so much time before the September date, I procrastinated, I ate what I wanted, I would sporadically exercise instead of consistently. All of that caused me to actually go backwards instead of forward. So, until I reach my September goal, I would like to encourage you to make specific short term goals.

For example, I will eat at least one fruit and/or vegetable at every meal this week. That is very specific and it is an attainable goal. Try that and see if it works. Let me know how it goes.

Lifestlye and Weight Loss

I have some very good news. I had fallen off the beaten path and started treating myself poorly again. I was eating whatever and gaining weight and feeling down in the dumps, but for a whole week now, I'm in much better straits.

I feel like this is an AA meeting, but for food or dieting yoyos like me. My mom keeps reminding me that it's all about the lifestyle, not the food you eat. If you have a healthy lifestyle, you will continue to make healthy choices for yourself including what foods you choose to feed your body. I know it's true. As I said many times, I have never been this heavy. So, losing weight is really relatively new to me.

Therefore, I will no longer say I'm on a diet. I will simply say that I am pursuing a healthier lifestyle. I would like to encourage you to think just like I am. My weight is moving back in the right direction - down. :-) I am mentally prepared to accept the difficulties that are going to come with changing my lifestyle. More importantly, I know my children will benefit from these changes.

The fact that I am giving them this gift to eat healthy meals is a blessing that I hope they will remember to thank me for one day. I always find myself thanking my mom for so much. Now is the time to establish the correct eating habits for my kids.

Maybe after all is said and done and I am at the weight I'd love to see staring back at me on my scale, I can reward myself with a visit to North Carolina (a place I have only visited briefly). I keep reading about these really reasonable Outer Banks rentals. Who knows, I may even end up living there.

Losing Weight is Not All There is!

Apart from trying to lose weight and exercise, I am also concerned about the hurricane season since I live down here in south Florida. The last two years have been fairly easy, although there were some scares. Who knows what this year will bring.

On that note, the size of the storms that come through continue to amaze me. I've lived in Florida most of my life and I use to rarely hear anything about Category 5 storms. In fact, I was here during hurricane Andrew back in 1992. I believe that was the first time a storm that large hit so close to home and it was terrifying.

Nowadays though, it seems that Category 5 storms are more common than ever. To date I don't know of a CAT6 hurricane status on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, but considering the power of the CAT5 storms that have been coming through, it wouldn't surprise me if one is created considering the last few years.

Anyway, back to losing weight, you will be happy to know that I exercised yesterday with my sister and made plans to do so again on Friday. I'll let you in on the results next week.

Being Unloved and Weight Loss

Have you ever blamed not being loved on your weight? I have. In fact, it usually happens once a month sometime just before I get my menstrual. That "once a month" is now. I have this feeling that my husband is less and less interested in me due to my weight. I feel this way, because it's the way I feel inside, deep down, in my heart of hearts about myself. I don't love myself as much as I use to love me because I've gained so much weight.

It's not really my husband acting this way, or saying a particular thing that makes me feel this way, although he could be more affectionate. It's all a part of what I tell myself when I look in the mirror. How do you change this thought process. How do you love yourself more when you don't like your image? When you are all sitting around your coffee tables talking to your friends, I'd like you to address this. Tell me what you come up with.

Gaining Weight - This is No Joke!

To be quite honest, I have almost gained back the 15 pounds I lost about two months ago. I am so ashamed and don't know how it happened other than to say that I took too many breaks away from the lifestyle I was trying to live with. It's HARD to make lifestyle changes. Lately, I've been working on just eating smaller portions.

That is working better than depriving myself of all the things I like. I have a whole compact flash drive full of fat pictures. I want to change. I want to change. I want to change. It's just so hard. I need more support, but more than anything, I need more WILL POWER! I will conquer this craziness. I will lose weight. So...how are you these days?

Just Fantasizing

Here's what I'd really like to do right this very hot second. I'd like to forget how chunky I am, forget about the big mess I have in the house that needs to be cleaned, forget about the loads and loads of clothes I have to was. I'd like to put my little four person family on a private jet charter and fly us all to Italy or some exotic place. Do you ever fantasize? I hear that meditating helps to alleviate stress. Fantasizing must do that even more. I think I'll stick to fantasizing! It's hard for me to meditate. Anyway, what's your lose weight fantasy?

Phentermine - Consumer Price Watch

As I've told you before, I've been thinking seriously about taking a diet pill to curb my need to feed. Well, in doing that, I love reviewing the diet pills on the market. One such pill that is very popular is called Phentermine. I visited the website "ConsumerPriceWatch.net" and as always, came up with valuable information on this popular diet pill. In fact, the company reviewed around 200 diet pills and Phentermine ranked No. 35 on the list. They measured these diet pills for the following:

1. Value
2. Ingredient Quality
3. Customer Feedback
4. Safety
5. Company Reputation
6. Reorder Rates
7. Customer Service
8. Product Sensation
9. Packaging
10. Long-Term Benefits
11. Product Convenience
12. Weight-Loss Potential

That's a great list, right? Well, the article stated that the formula for Phentermine is good, but overall, it rated poorly for weight loss power. So, I think I'm going to pass on this one.

Weight Gain

Weight gain is a sure sign that things are not going the way I planned. I've been so afraid to step on a scale and there's one main reason. I've been eating like crazy and whatever suits my fancy. In fact, it's like I'm ravenous. I know this has something to do with PMS, but I'm not sure how to make myself stop.

Well actually, I know all I have to do is have a stronger will to do what I know is good for me, to make the right choices, but PMSing makes me even less motivated. I think I lose my memory and my weight loss goals go down the toilet! O.K. I'm doing a feeling sorry for me thing, so I'd better stop and see what I can do about changing my attitude.

Carrying Around Your Weight

I am happy to report that I have made some strides in changing my eating habits. It helps if you start your week with a purchase of all you plan to eat for the week. Make your plan every weekend and then stick to it when you go to the super market. That way, while preparing your meals, you won't veer off the path to healthy eating. That means you must avoid purchasing foods that are not good for you.

All that being said, are you still carrying around your weight like luggage? I still am. I see a light at the end of the tunnel though. I know that if I keep it up, my weight will get back to an acceptable, healthy number. Don't give up guys and gals!

Feeling Good on the Inside - Your Look!

Besides wanting to cover up your looks even if you are doing so in ostrich feathers, what are some things you can do to improve your look while in the skin you are in? At this time of year, lots of people are exposing themselves to the glorious sun. Those with very nice figures are going about in bikini tops even. I was walking along South Beach the other day, not necessarily at the beach, but down the strip of Ocean Drive and noticed that even full figured ladies (and men) had no problem showing off their rolls.

That tells me that you can love you body. I'm not saying that attaining the goal of slimming down should not be for you. What I am saying is that you are who you are. The outside appearance is simply a work of art still in creation. It changes through time. You must admit that you do not look like you looked when you were five and ten and even a teenager. So slimming down is a worthy goal, but as you step out into the sun try to focus on the good times you will be having, not on your changeable looks.

Many people, even skinny people, only look good on the outside when they "FEEL" good on the inside.

Avoiding the Inevitable - Weigh Loss

After a little introspection, I am coming to the conclusion that I am avoiding the inevitable in weight loss. I am very uncomfortable with my body looking the way it looks. On the other hand, I am doing close to nothing to change it and in fact have been doing some things to make things worse. It seems like no matter how much I determine to commit to this weight loss "change of lifestyle," the more I screw it up. It's not easy.

All I want to do when it comes to eating right is eat all wrong. In fact, I'd rather go out and buy patio furniture than eat right and exercise. It's a constant struggle that I can't seem to overcome.

O.K. I'm being very negative and I can feel it, so I will stop. This should not be a pity party kind of blog. It should be an encouragement blog about weight loss. I will mend my ways. I will. I'll be back soon.