success

Right direction

Thank goodness the scale is still going in the right direction.

That’s right — I’m down another pound this week, even though I’m spending vacation at the Boyfriend’s and not hitting the veggie carbs as hard as “New Atkins for a New You” recommends.

In fact, my scale success without so many vegetables makes me wonder if I should permanently go back to the diet as written in “Atkins New Diet Revolution.” After all, that is the plan I followed when I lost 100+ pounds the first time. And it’s not like it’s bereft of veggies — I ate plenty of salads, green beans and zucchini.

So far, since restarting Atkins in May 2011, I’ve lost 39.4 pounds. While I’m glad they’re gone, that’s not the rate of loss I’d like to see. In October 2004, after being on the old Atkins plan for a year, I’d lost 100-ish pounds.

Sure, I’m a few years older now, so my metabolism is probably slower. But THAT much slower? I don’t think so.

Food for thought, my friends. Food for thought.

Bang-up weigh-in

After several weeks of little to no downward momentum, I’m pleased to report a loss today.

That’s right — I’m down 4.4 pounds.

Yeah, my body’s finally correcting for my little carb binge at the writer’s conference. That, and maybe the C25K workouts are helping … although I’ve only done two so far. It’s probably just getting back on track and drinking enough water to float a dinghy.

If only I could lose that much every week, I’d be at my goal in no time.

5 challenges and 5 small victories

The challenge? Thirty health-related posts in 30 days, using prompts prepared by the folks at WEGO Health.

Day 27: 5 challenges. 5 small victories. Make a list of the 5 most difficult parts of your health focus. Make another top 5 list for the little, good things (small victories) that keep you going.

I  love this idea. I’m just not sure which list will be easier to come up with.

5 challenges

1. Getting enough exercise. Duh. After skipping Thursday’s workout, that was an easy one.
2. Saying “no” to those darn Faux Frappuccinos I order at Starbucks. It makes it even harder when all the baristas see me coming and know my order.
3. Trying not to let the scale get me down. I KNOW it’s just a number, but no matter how often I repeat it to myself, that number still has the power to make or break my day.
4. Standing up for the low-carb diet I believe in. I hate it when people tell me “you should eat some carbs.” They might be fine for most people, but they’re not good for me. Period. Yet, for some reason, I have a hard time explaining my position.
5. Not throwing in the towel when I go several weeks without seeing progress. I’m struggling with this one right now. I almost ordered a milkshake at Arby’s Thursday, using the “you’re not losing anyway, so one won’t hurt” excuse. I refrained, though.

5 small victories

1. Being able to turn down break-room snacks I’d have previously scarfed in mass quantities. (Thursday it was chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes.)
2. Flexing my arm and seeing a bicep.
3. Looking at pictures of myself and thinking “I look pretty good.”
4. Having clearer skin thanks to all the H2O I consume.
5. Feeling strong and in control of food, instead of having it control me.

For the record, the victories were MUCH easier to list than the challenges. I could probably come up with five more, no sweat.