Beginnings Goals | single digit denim

Feb 25 2012

Size 20

Incentive

At the beginning of this blog, I would incentivize myself for weight loss. There were prizes for certain incentives. The do this at Weight Watchers, too – a sticker on your card for every 5lbs lost, book marks, key chains, etc. The thing is, I’m a grown woman and buying myself a sticker is not going to work for me. On the other hand, I’d go broke if I gave myself a pricier prize for every little pound lost.

So here’s where I have landed: a savings account. For every 5 lbs I lose, I deposit $5. And, for every 5% I lose, I deposit $50.There will also be a $50 deposit for 50lbs lost and 75 lbs lost, but $100 for $100 lbs lost.

When I’m out and about and come across something I would really like to have – be it a facial, an electronic, or some other substantial non-necessity – I can get it so long as I’ve earned it. So far, I have $60 in my weight loss account, and my sights are not yet set on any particular ‘prize’ at this point.

I will be patiently awaiting a Hobo sale on RueLaLa!

Tagged Beginnings Goals, incentive, inspiration, rewards

Jan 01 2012

Resolution

This year, I resolve to continue to lose weight and inches. I’ve been making commitments all along, but in 2012, I, Katie, resolve to not drink soda. Yes, really. Salt and soda – my two biggest food vices, now gone.

Next up: continue on my 50-lbs-lost by June 1 goal. That’s about 10 lbs a month for the next 5 months. It’s certainly a stretch goal, but if you shoot for the moon, and miss, you’ll at least land among the stars.

Happy New Year All!

Tagged accomplishment, Beginnings Goals, plans, pushing, quotes, resolution, salt, soda, stretch_goals

Dec 28 2011

Meal Plan 2011-12-30

Trying to incorporate the food list from Alton Brown in my meal plan for the upcoming week. I think I hit all the daily and three-times-weekly foods. Not entirely sure I hit all of the once-per-week items (red meat, alcohol, dessert). Also, I plan to incorporate green tea throughout the days. The only processed foods I have included are Basic 4 cereal, whole grain bread, and Catalina dressing. Would love to hear your feedback, recommendations or suggestions! Also, does anyone else type up their meal plans or grocery lists? If so, please share!

Saturday/Monday:

B1: Basic 4 cereal w/ almond milk
B2: Tunafish sandwich on whole grain bread w/ apple
L1: Roasted sweet potatoes
L2: Dark greens salad w/ tomato, green onions, ranch beans, Catalina dressing
D: Sauteed tofu w/ shredded carrots, broccoli, peanuts, soy sauce

Sunday:

B1: 2-egg scramble w/ onions and carrots, whole grain toast
B2: Greek yogurt w/ fruit
L1: flexible/on the road
L2: flexible/on the road
D: Sauteed tofu w/ shredded carrots, broccoli, peanuts, soy sauce

Tuesday:

B1: 2-egg scramble w/ onions and carrots, whole grain toast
B2: Greek yogurt w/ fruit
L1: Roasted sweet potatoes
L2: Dark greens salad w/ tomato, green onions, ranch beans, Catalina dressing and AVOCADO
D: Tuna croquettes, roasted carrots

Wednesday/Friday:

B1: Basic 4 cereal w/ almond milk
B2: Tunafish sandwich on whole grain bread w/ apple
L1: Roasted sweet cauliflower
L2: Dark greens salad w/ tomato, green onions, ranch beans, Catalina dressing and AVOCADO
D: Tuna croquettes, roasted carrots

Thursday:

B1: 2-egg scramble w/ onions and carrots, whole grain toast
B2: Greek yogurt w/ fruit
L1: Roasted sweet cauliflower
L2: Dark greens salad w/ tomato, green onions, ranch beans, Catalina dressing and AVOCADO
D: Tuna croquettes, roasted carrots

Grocery List:
Lemons
Whole Onions
Carrots
Apples
Berries or other fruit for yogurt
3-4 Sweet Potatoes
2 avocados (not yet ripe)
Tofu
2-3 crowns Broccoli
Peanuts or other inexpensive stir fry nut
Eggs
4 servings Greek Yogurt
Whole grain bread
Canned tuna fish
Ranch style beans (dry)
Catalina dressing
Green tea

Tagged Beginnings Goals, grocery_list, meals, plans

Dec 12 2011

4 Comments

Commitment, Goals, Size 20

Big Plans for Big Goals

I have set a lofty lofty commitment to lose 50lbs. My goal is to do it by June 1st. Yes, it will be difficult and require some serious discipline. Which is why I’ve created the following guidelines to help me. Any other tips you have, I’m all ears!

Avoid
Soda
Added salt
Alcohol
Sweets
Fatty food
Fried food (french fries, chicken nuggets, crab rangoon, egg rolls)
Eating out

Include
3 servings of veggies per day, 2 servings of fruit
10 cups of water per day, minimum
Vitamin regimen
1-2 cups of milk per day
Lots of lean protein

Do
Work out 5+ times per week
>3-4 boot camps per week
>2-3 days of 30+ minute cardio (300+ calories burned)
>1-2 days of tennis per week
Eat 5 small meals per day
Write about it every day
Weigh myself daily
Be transparent with my weight loss
Eat a high-protein breakfast every day, as soon as I wake up
Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning
Break the big goal into bite-size pieces

Tagged Beginnings Goals, confession, inspiration, plans, pushing, workout

Nov 30 2011

December Challenge

This one’s a doozy (for me at least). My December Challenge: 12 boot camps before the end of the year! I’m shakin’ in my Nikes!

Tagged Beginnings Goals, boot_camp, gear, plans, pushing, struggles, workout

Nov 17 2011

1 Comment

Confession, Goals, Size 22

And what a great feeling it is!

A year ago, I would not recognize the person I was today. I would THINK I had it in me, but when push came to shove, I didn’t stick to my guns the way I did today.

Let me enlighten you a bit. Today, something major happened. Again, I have this lofty November goal/challenge to not eat any meals out. I may not have spelled out every single little instance of this out clearly, but in my mind, this means no eating out, no ordering in, no picking up – no foods prepared by someone other than ME. It’s a goal to get me closer to a smaller size, but ultimately it’s about building healthier habits.

Today was a thanksgiving (lower case t) lunch for all employees. It was catered Mexican food (my fav) and it was free. In the past, I had always said free food trumps healthy food. I was also very poor back when I thought that, but you can see how my priorities were misaligned. In those days, it didn’t matter if I was on day one of a diet – if someone else was paying, the diet could wait.

Quick confession regarding my decision today: I REALLY had to think about eating that (free) food. I discussed with my coworkers the possible loopholes in my challenge that would allow me to eat this offering of thanks from our CEO. They suggested I only eat the healthy stuff, skip the tortillas and cheese, etc. etc. I even started thinking through a trade-off where IF I ate from the make-your-own-fajita train today, then I could not have diet soda OR processed foods for the rest of the month. In the end, I decided PoK-e-Joe’s just was. not. worth. it.

Before I could talk myself into eating the yummy food, I made my Top Chef inspired Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Chicken Fresca and ate it before I headed to the conference room. As everyone lined up to assemble their meal, I stood back and just chatted with coworkers who were waiting for the line to die down. Eventually someone asked me why I wasn’t eating, and I explained my deal.

And get this! They said that I inspire them! Me!

I’ve never thought much about inspiring others, especially where healthy choices were concerned. I did however read this blog post once, by one of my favorite bloggers at one twenty five, where she talked about inspiring herself. My choices today, and as of late for that matter, have inspired ME. What a great feeling it is!

Tagged accomplishment, Beginnings Goals, confession, inspiration, surprises

Oct 29 2011

2 Comments

Goals, Size 22, The beginning

Breaking it Down

I’m a project manager by trade. I’m assigned a project at the office and nothing thrills me more than building out the timeline and getting to work on it.

For me, setting the ultimate goal was new, scary territory for me. Now that that monster is out of the way, here is the denim size timeline:

By the end of…..
December, 2011: Size 20
April, 2012: 18
August, 2012: 16
December, 2012: 14
April, 2013: 12
August, 2013: 10
And finally (drum roll please…), December, 2013: Size 8 or less

And with that, I’m off to the gym!

Tagged Beginnings Goals

Oct 27 2011

2 Comments

Goals, Size 22, The beginning

Goal Setting

I once read that “a goal without a deadline is just a dream.” This is quite possibly one of many reasons my previous attempts at weight loss have not worked.

Setting goals is frickin’ scary, though. I don’t know why. I’ve never really been a goal setter, especially long-term goals. They feel so limiting – as if when something better comes along, I’m obligated to to stick with the goal. I like to think that I’m open for wherever the wind blows me and setting goals will just keep me from jumping on opportunities that are more exciting to me.

Hmmm.

As I wrote that, I became even more convinced that my lack of goal setting is among my largest problems with weight loss. It’s worked well for me in pursuing career opportunities, but sabotaged me in health and financial ways.

Still, another issue I have with goal setting for weight loss is having no idea what weight I will be happy with. I’ve never been number obsessed when it comes to the scale. Really. I didn’t freak out when I hit 200, 230, 250, etc. So, when it comes to a goal WEIGHT, setting a number is not something I want to do. I have no idea what a healthy weight looks like on me. So instead, I’m shooting for a single digit denim (8, 6, 4 or gasp, 2, 0). I haven’t worn an 8 since 8^th grade when I painted some Gap jeans on, in black no less (don’t judge me – it was 1993).

Maybe I can look like this?

The single digit gives me some flexibility, which is perfect for me!

I’m *estimating* that this is about 132 lbs. Why do I care after everything I said? I don’t, except that my calorie counter (myfitnesspal.com) has me set a weight loss goal – and the scale doesn’t exactly spit out a denim size.

Send me good wishes, prayers and thoughts!

Starting place: size 22

Goal: size 8 or less

By when: December 31^st, 2013

Age: 31

Height: 5’4”