Back from vacation...
Like a few others have mentioned, August was definitely not a great month for me to go on a challenge: or, alternatively, it was the perfect month for me to go on a challenge because it was the month that I’d be most likely to blow all my hard work this summer. I have not made any improvements in how I looked in July. But I also don't think I've really slipped back at all, and all things considered I’d say that is excellent.
As expected, I have totally not done so stellar with the 30 Day Challenge, but I didn't totally screw up either. I bought a new scale at Walmart at it said that I weighed 118.6, with clothes, at the end of the day, and with my period. I'm going to see what it is tomorrow before I eat to get an accurate number. This scale is probably just different from the one at home because although I might have gained a pound back, I definitely have NOT done poorly enough to gain almost five. I don't think that's even POSSIBLE for someone my size to gain five pounds in a week, so I'm definitely taking it for what it's worth (i.e., not much). I basically just bought it in order to keep tabs on myself and to not let myself get out of control: if I know I have to face the scale every week, I'm much less likely to go crazy.
I ran today and did really well. Thirty minutes, maybe three or four miles. I just kept telling myself, "you can do it, just get to the end and you'll be so proud of yourself and you won't have to do it again until tomorrow!" Last year, going the same route I went today would have required me to stop and walk about every five minutes or so. This time, no stops at all!! I didn't do strength training today but I'm still sore from moving in (fifty pounds of stuff up four flights of stairs in 100 degree heat, repeatedly, for two hours is tough even for someone who lifts weights).
Starting Monday, I'm doing the healthy version of 2-4-6-8: i.e., adding on a 'zero' to the calorie count. So that'll be 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, 1600, 1400, 1200. Even that is substantially lower than I normally eat, so I'm hoping to finish the 30 Day Challenge on a good note. I'm eating no dessert whatsoever this week and will phase it in gradually over the next few weeks, hoping to mostly switch to popsicles and other such choices instead of my usual brownies, ice cream, etc. In addition, I plan to continue with my exercise and stick to my plan a lot more. After this week, I'll be eating between 1600 and 2000 calories per day (maintenance is 2300) with a daily goal of 1800.
All in all, I'd like to lose four pounds off the weight that my new scale says. When I lose the first pound, I get a new piece of nice makeup. The second one=a movie with my friends. Third=a nice piece of furniture for my dorm. Fourth=a new outfit and a trip home to my family. I'm optimistic about this reward system for two reasons: it's non-food, and it's stuff I'd really like, so I'll want to stick with it.
Hope you guys did much better than me, and I'll see you soon! I'm moved in at school so you should see a lot more of me now.
-Azelma :)
Looks like I'll be spilling over into the September Challenge. Please tell me that there will be one!!
As expected, I have totally not done so stellar with the 30 Day Challenge, but I didn't totally screw up either. I bought a new scale at Walmart at it said that I weighed 118.6, with clothes, at the end of the day, and with my period. I'm going to see what it is tomorrow before I eat to get an accurate number. This scale is probably just different from the one at home because although I might have gained a pound back, I definitely have NOT done poorly enough to gain almost five. I don't think that's even POSSIBLE for someone my size to gain five pounds in a week, so I'm definitely taking it for what it's worth (i.e., not much). I basically just bought it in order to keep tabs on myself and to not let myself get out of control: if I know I have to face the scale every week, I'm much less likely to go crazy.
I ran today and did really well. Thirty minutes, maybe three or four miles. I just kept telling myself, "you can do it, just get to the end and you'll be so proud of yourself and you won't have to do it again until tomorrow!" Last year, going the same route I went today would have required me to stop and walk about every five minutes or so. This time, no stops at all!! I didn't do strength training today but I'm still sore from moving in (fifty pounds of stuff up four flights of stairs in 100 degree heat, repeatedly, for two hours is tough even for someone who lifts weights).
Starting Monday, I'm doing the healthy version of 2-4-6-8: i.e., adding on a 'zero' to the calorie count. So that'll be 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, 1600, 1400, 1200. Even that is substantially lower than I normally eat, so I'm hoping to finish the 30 Day Challenge on a good note. I'm eating no dessert whatsoever this week and will phase it in gradually over the next few weeks, hoping to mostly switch to popsicles and other such choices instead of my usual brownies, ice cream, etc. In addition, I plan to continue with my exercise and stick to my plan a lot more. After this week, I'll be eating between 1600 and 2000 calories per day (maintenance is 2300) with a daily goal of 1800.
All in all, I'd like to lose four pounds off the weight that my new scale says. When I lose the first pound, I get a new piece of nice makeup. The second one=a movie with my friends. Third=a nice piece of furniture for my dorm. Fourth=a new outfit and a trip home to my family. I'm optimistic about this reward system for two reasons: it's non-food, and it's stuff I'd really like, so I'll want to stick with it.
Hope you guys did much better than me, and I'll see you soon! I'm moved in at school so you should see a lot more of me now.
-Azelma :)
Looks like I'll be spilling over into the September Challenge. Please tell me that there will be one!!