100% Green Today

Finally decided I was going to log my food and track my 5 areas today. This decision forced me to plan ahead for dinner tonight which I have not been doing lately.

I just love eating healthy, being within my calorie allotment, and meeting my daily goals. I just feel so much better, both physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I have decided to track my sugar grams but not count them as part of my GREEN vs RED system. The bootcamp trainer does not think I need to worry too much about sugar intake as long as I'm making healthy food choices. I want to do more research on it but until then, I will do my best to stay within the recommended allotment from My Fitness Pal but I'm not going to stress too much if I'm over some.

I have so many more things I would like to write about but until I get my kiddos in school, it is unlikely the thoughts swirling around in my head are going anywhere outside of my brain any time soon!

Sugar Count Is Great-Sleep Time Not So Much 152.6- Down .4

Sugar grams were very low. Lack of sleep is a CHRONIC issue. Going to bed now to get as much as possible tonight.

100% Green Today

I finally did it! Woohoo! 100% Green! One day at a time, one goal at a time. I had my best calorie burn ever for bootcamp this morning. 607 calories, including about 10 minutes of running before camp began and waiting 20 minutes after camp to stop my heart monitor and get final burn.

Unfortunately, I'm going to be in Red tomorrow on sleep. Going to bed now.

Back on Track

I'm not sure what accounts for an almost 2 lb drop in one day, but I'll take it!

As for today, my sugar count was FINALLY within the recommended range and that included eating out at lunch. I think that is quite an accomplishment! I really want to get to 100% Green. My (chronic) inadequate sleep was yet again the cause of being in the Red today. I'm headed to bed now so I can at least give myself a chance at being all Green tomorrow. One day at a time.

Much Better. 154.6

83% Green today. However, those sugar grams are killing me. Today's culprits: mango, peach and Kind bar.

I was weighed and measured for the 3 month Bootcamp contest (May - July). I lost 16 LBS and some inches as well. I will post the actual numbers when I get them. Some contestants couldn't weigh today so we won't know the results until Wednesday, August 14th. The trainers said I'm in the running for the top spot. It would be great to win. However, I'm glad the pressure of thinking about the contest is over. Glad to get back to my Green vs Red system with no secondary focus.

The trainers helped me set a goal weight today. I have intentionally not done so before now. I didn't want this journey to be about getting to a specific number on the scale. However, I'm okay with having a number in mind at this point.

140 LBS is my goal weight. 15 LBS left to lose. 16 weeks of bootcamp before the end of the year. About 1 LB of weight loss per week. ONE DAY AT A TIME. I can do this. I KNOW I can.

Today Was Better 157.6 LBS

Today was better than yesterday. Tomorrow marks the end of a three month weight/fat loss competition at bootcamp. The winner receives a day at the spa and other gifts. I'm afraid I have sabotaged my efforts to win the competition over he past few weeks. Regardless, I am focusing on getting the rest of my weight off. I have to work at it one day at a time. I know that is cliche, but it works for me. When I look ahead for days, weeks or months in advance, I get very stressed out. Then I eat because I'm stressed. Then the entire unhealthy pattern starts all over again with weight gain, no exercise, etc.

So today, I was 66% Green and 33% Red. Exact opposite of yesterday. I am striving for tomorrow to be 100% Green!

No Wonder I'm Struggling

I didn't log my food yesterday. I was super busy all day and had company for dinner. By the time I got to the end of the night, I was exhausted and had eaten way too much and had not measured anything. That's the kiss of death to my success.

No matter how busy I get, I need to make my health a priority. That means planning out my food/meals for the day. I do great when I know what I'm going to eat and exactly how much I'm going to eat.

The bottom line is my card speaks for itself. 6 "categories", 4 Red, 2 Green. 33% Green and 66% Red. It will be better tomorrow.

Trying, but Struggling, to Get Back on Track

My awesome friend, Pat, created this nifty little form on the computer. I love it! Thank you Pat!

It has been a rough summer as far as weight loss goes. I am still exercising almost every day but my diet has not been good. I'm thankful that so far, my weight is staying in the 150's. That's a praise. However, I still have a significant amount of weight to lose. I have to get back to following the GREEN vs RED system as soon as possible. I keep thinking, "Today is the day I can start back on the program," but there are a couple of problems with that mindset.

First of all, this system was intended to be a HABIT CHANGING system that would BECOME A WAY OF LIFE. For that to happen, I first have to recognize the bad habits that led to me being 60 LBS over weight and then choose new healthier habits on a regular basis, over a long period of time, to truly become a changed person.

I'm on my way to being that truly changed person. Although I would have preferred to continue losing weight this summer, I have learned some important lessons that will ultimately help me reach my goal of being an overall healthy person, at a healthy maintainable weight.

Lessons Learned:
1. I eat when I am stressed. I need to consciously choose to reduce stress in the areas where I am able to. That way, when the unexpected stressors happen (and they will) I have the time and energy to deal with them in a healthy manner.

2. I often create stress in my life by my poor boundaries and mismanagement of my (and my children's) time. As my wonderful husband puts it, I consistently try to shove 10 LBS of stuff in a 5 lb bucket. I can change that. Free time (or white space on my calendar) is a GOOD thing!

3. I'm very addicted to sugar. I've suspected it for years but as I've watched my daily sugar gram count be over the recommended amount almost every day, I believe there truly is an issue there. Even on days when I am well within my calorie allotment, and I've not eaten any processed sugar, I will still be over on sugar grams by a significant margin (double, triple, quadruple or even more!) There really aren't any good things that come from too much sugar in your system so I need to diligently address this issue.

4. Exercise is a natural, anti- depressant. I need to do something physical every day. Plus, I LOVE to exercise, so why wouldn't I?

5. Sleep is CRITICAL. I RARELY get enough. Answer to this issue is found in #2- Poor boundaries and poor use of time. Very much within my control to change.

6. Reading my Bible (or a scriptural based devotional) and praying daily are CRITICAL to having a peaceful, calm spirit. Nothing else fills that gap. When I am calm and peaceful, I deal with stress better and that peacefulness transfers to my children. Everyone benefits from a calm mom. No one (including me) likes a busy, frantic, often yelling mom.

7. Water fills me up. I eat less, have a much happier digestive system and don't drink diet soda. It's a win- win all the way around.

Round 2 - Day 1/150

Today marks 150 days until the end of the year. I'm regrouping, revising my goals slightly and getting back on track. I will post daily for the next 150 days and I plan to be at my goal weight by the end of the year.

Today's card looks a little rough. We have company in town and I ate too much for dinner. I didn't track my food as I was eating and I didn't drink my water, both of which almost always result in eating too much.

The good news is my husband is going to follow the same system with slightly different goals. He should do well and what a great plan for us to work together in supporting each other.