Shrinking Days Of Summer

Well there's a new challenge afoot at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and I'm excited again. I love the premise of eight weeks to make a change in how we look and feel. It starts today and ends on July 21st - the day after my birthday which will make it easy to remember the target date.
The idea of doing something for a set period of time appeals to me. It makes goals seem more achievable and less abstract. The 21 Day Challenge where we worked to develop new healthier habits will stay with me well beyond the 21 days originally designated. I'm still exercising every day. After missing two days the week before last, I've re-doubled my determination to get in those 21 days in a row and I haven't missed a day since. In fact, as long as I get my three miles in today, I'll be increasing to 3 1/2 tomorrow. I still count my points religiously no matter how discouraging it is sometimes and I still go to bed at least a little earlier than I used to. Obviously I have to work on that but the important thing is that now I'm aware and eventually I hope to change that bad habit of staying up too late into a good one of getting enough sleep every night.

But this post isn't about the old 21 Day Challenge. It's about the new eight week challenge of getting ready for summer. I won't ever be ready for summer the way most people would (bathing suit presentable and all that) but I'll be ready for summer for me (or at least closer to it) . I'll be outdoors and active and feel good about how I look in the smaller clothes that I'll be able to wear.

The eight week Shrinking Days of Summer Challenge has several facets but the most important one for me involves mini challenges every week from Sunday through Saturday. Basically we'll get a task, (fitness, health, or mental well-being related) to focus on for that week. This will definitely provide the motivation and variety to keep us interested and on task for the eight week goal. I'm looking forward to that first mini challenge and each one after that. Since joining the Sisterhood I feel, for the first time in many years, like I'll see this weight loss effort through to the end. And that's a great feeling.


Now I can't forget that it's Wednesday Weigh-In and I need to post how I've done for the past week. I lost one pound. I'm good with that. It's a step in the right direction and after posting a three pound loss last week, I expected a evening out this week. I'm very aware that I'm going to have ups and downs (as in bigger losses and smaller losses). So thanks Sisterhood. I'm in it for the long haul and I'm grateful for the help and motivation you provide!

Shrinking Jeans - 21 Day Challenge Finale

It's all about the habits, right? Do the same thing for 21 days and you'll have formed a new one. And I can honestly say that of the 3 new habits I tackled, I didn't successfully form even one. But there was a habit that I did form and it resulted from this challenge. Everyday for 21 days I was aware of whether or not I exercised, whether or not I counted all my points, and whether or not I got a good night's sleep. I got in the habit of being aware and maybe that's more important than the other three that I was focusing on.

I haven't given up on the three basic habits that I set as my goal habits just because the challenge ended. I still intend to incorporate them into my life. It'll just take a little longer.

My first goal was to get to bed at a reasonable time every night. I truly believe that being sleep deprived sabotages everything. So I did better. I just didn't do good. This is something that I will continue to work on. I just need some self-discipline which is something I lack. (Might that be how I got so heavy in the first place?)

My second goal was to eat regular foods in reasonable amounts and count my Weight Watcher points religiously. The first part was very inconsistent but the second part, counting my points, I did well. Even when it hurt or when it was hard to at least estimate them, I counted them and recorded them. I think this is an important step if we're going to acknowledge why our weight loss efforts have or haven't been successful.

My third goal was to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. I credit this goal with my getting back into any kind of exercise routine. The first week I walked two miles every single day for seven days. The second week I walked 2 1/2 miles every single day for seven days. And the third week I walked three miles on five days. Dang! The first day I missed because we went to a Cubs game and I was tired (violins in the background?) and the second day I missed? I just let it slip by. It was easier to let it go, I guess, because I'd already missed one day. That's how I am. Once there's a crack in my resolve, I tend to let it all fall apart.

I'm excited about our next challenge but I'm not going to let this one go so easily. I intend to conquer these habits. I will walk 3 miles a day for seven days this coming week and maybe next week I'll increase. I will got to bed earlier and I won't just go to bed earlier and read a book. And I'll count my points as I stay within them. And that's gonna feel good.

Even though my 'new habit' efforts weren't completely successful, I lost three pounds since last week. Part of the reason was that last week I stayed even so I was due for a drop and part of the reason was that although I wasn't perfect, I stayed the course - thanks to Shrinking Jeans.

Shrinking Jeans - 21 Day Challenge

Well here it is. My new button for the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. I was told that this would be a good time to join because a new challenge starts today and I think this challenge is absolutely perfect for me. It's about establishing three healthy habits. Since a habit is supposed to be born in 21 days, the theory is that all we have to do is stick to our commitment to do these three healthy things for that length of time and viola - three good habits will be born.

I started Weight Watchers (again) on the 19th. Right now I weigh 6.4 lbs less than I did then. I know I can do this because I've done it before but what I can't seem to do is make it a way of life so my three habits are going to deal with that challenge.

Before on Weight Watchers, I would dedicate myself to finding the largest volume of food possible with the fewest number of points. This involved all kinds of creativity and exploration. And when you find 'no point bread' and no point cold cuts, you eat as much of it as you can so that you don't suffer too much.

Now I'm finally realizing that eating like this cannot be a way of life -at least not for me. I want to eat foods that I enjoy and feel satisfied after eating - I just want to eat less of them.

So my first new, good habit will be to eat the same foods I've always eaten - just less of them while keeping careful track of the points.

My next goal will be to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every single day. For a person, who less than a year ago, walked 6 hours every day, 30 minutes should not be a big deal; but, since I've let exercise become a thing of the past I'm going to start with a goal of exercising AT LEAST 30 minutes a day.

Now for the hardest habit of all for me to establish. I'm going to get more sleep. I like to get up every morning and get Mr. Right's lunch together but to do that, I have to be moving at 6:30. Since we never, EVER go to bed before 12:30, and usually it's later, I'm tired and dragged out all day. And when I'm tired and dragged out, I don't feel like exercising and I start getting fidgety about food and nibbling and suffering. I honestly believe that my body is insisting that I eat something to compensate for how tired I am.

So my new, good habit number three is to be in bed by midnight every night. If I can do that for 21 days and I still feel tired, I'll back bedtime up another 15 minutes. And I'll keep doing that until I've got it right.

Okay, so there you have it. My trinity of weight-loss tools: count the points in the normal food that I eat, exercise 30 minutes a day, and get enough sleep so that I will have the will power to do the first two.

I'm excited to join shrinking jeans. I read the posts of lots of present members and I'm always inspired. Now maybe by not lurking and by joining in, I can be an inspiration too some day.