Back on the wagon

..and by wagon I mean software.

In 2006 I had my RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) calculated to determine what amount of calories my body needs just to exist. This came out to 1640. Throw in walking about, and we're likely at about 1800 a day. I haven't had this done in a while, likely it's changed some, but not drastically. Recall most people/commercials etc say 'based on a 2000 calorie diet'? Well, If I don't excercise daily, that will gain me one pound a week. No wonder I gain weight like I'm standing still............

Along with doing the RMR, I bought a software program called Balance Log to track the calories of what I was eating. I started in Sept of 2006, and lost about 10 lbs. Then I stopped, and gained the weight back, though bad habits. I tried again, and again lost some weight (though not the original 10 lbs). I lost interest, and over time, I went to that mass that indicated my need to change my blog, and my lifestyle. As of Monday, I'm back on the software. This time, I've already lost 5-10 lbs on my own (depending on time of day/month etc of weight measurement). But then, I stopped losing. I haven't gained any back, since November, but I'm not making progress either. So, along with my new outlook, I'm going to try the software for a while to track what I'm eating, learn and SEE my bad habits, and be able to work on them. My goal for the software is 20 lbs by July 4. Will I make it? Dont' know. Don't care if I get that low, but 10 is absolutely necessary. Why? Because I did 10 on my own, I need to do 10 w/ the program. No other reason, just that.

So, I put in accurate information for myself, and I've kept track of what I'm eating for 2.5 days. I already see a trend, and it's one of laziness - or perhaps a consequence of being too busy. I need to work on adding more fresh veg and fruits, and less packaged food. Translated - cook my own food more.

As the weather turns nicer, and the sunlight is out more, I will have more motivation I think. Also, I will be able to grow my OWN fruits and veggies, and that will help. Right now I just have to adjust to turning the clocks ahead one hour. It hit me much harder this year than most, or I'm just more tired lately. Either way, I think 'daylight savings' needs to be banned, by court order, at the soonest possible opportunity.

So, track and hold self accountable for calories, go to the Y my 12 times per month, and cook more homecooked foods. That's where I'm going from here.

On Scales, Mirrors, and Notes-To-Self

I made a huge mistake. What did I do? I stepped on a scale. “Big deal!” you say, reader? Well, it was rather a shock to notice the numbers continued past their time honored end point to a number I have never before associated with my own mass. I stepped down. I checked the zero/tare of the scale; I stepped back up. The same number stared back at me. For the sake of science, I participated in a third trial. Yup – there it was again. The precision of that scale was marvelous! I wasn’t sure about the accuracy though, so I went to find another measuring instrument. The result was similar to the first scale. This scale, too, has marvelous precision. My self esteem could not handle repeating the experiment a third time, on yet another scale.

This caused me to take a long hard look at myself in the mirror. Mirrors are funny things, for though they create a reflection of you, a mirror-image, the way you perceive that image depends on many factors. Are you in a good mood that day? Is the lighting good? Is the mirror surface dirty or flawed in any way? What did you have for dinner that evening (this is a confounding factor). The image that stared back at me was not the image I would have liked to see. I have been grumping at said image for quite a while. Months have passed where I have perused my person after a shower and made a mental note to ‘do more sit-ups’ or ‘attend to my posterior’. Said mental notes tend to fly out of the brain the second the clothes are donned. For you see, the clothing that I have owned for the last few years still fits. It’s stretched with my own image. It’s old, and wearing. As I sit in the chair and write this, though, I notice the bulges on my tummy that used to not be there (or not as prominent, anyway). Yes, the clothes still fit, but not as well.

The scale and the mirror are in agreement, something is changing. Perhaps that change isn’t rapid, and that is probably the worst part. These changes have been sneaking up on me with every meal eaten out, every day of missed or neglected exercise, and each forgotten a-for-mentioned note-to-self. I need to do something about the scale, and the clothes, and the mirror. And I intend to start now.