Forever42's "losing weight for 25" journal (comments welcome)

[Forever42]

I am no stranger to dieting at this point - I've been trying to do this for two and a half years, and I even changed my career direction because of what I've learned (computer engineering, switched to food science). I know about nutrition, so why can't I follow it? I simply love food too much, as those of you who visit the Restaurant boards can attest to.

So Mike, my fiance, had a great idea. I'm going to be 25 next September and I'm going to do this once and for all, for my 25th birthday. My timeline is as follows:

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175 lbs by New Year's Day - a 10 lb loss

(Re)start South Beach diet - my favorite and the one I've felt healthiest on, partnered with counting calories.

160 lbs by Valentine's Day

145 lbs by Easter (April 24)

135 lbs by July 4 - goal weight, what I look best at

Work on maintenance until my 25th birthday - my birthday has always signified the start of the holidays since it's at the end of September, so if I can maintain for 3 months, I'll be in good shape.
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Mike will be doing this with me as well. From now (beginning of Nov) until NYE I'm going lightly, since if I restrict holiday things too much, I backfire. If I count calories and have one cheat day per week, I lose about 1 lb/week.

I'm going to do it this time - and I WILL be wearing a two piece bathing suit next year!

 

[Forever42]

Just adding stuff for my first reply. This weekend we'll be going to Mike's high school best friend's wedding in Syracuse, and I have a cold, so it'll be an adventure. I'm not planning on counting calories this weekend, just eating as sensibly as I can.

I have this mantra that works most of the time right now - "will I remember this in 3 months?" which helps me decide if it's worth it to cheat. Will I remember those french fries? No, not really. Will I remember that day at the Food and Wine Fest? Yep. Will I remember exactly what I had for breakfast tomorrow morning at the airport deli? No, probably not. So if it's not going to be memorable and worth it, why cheat?

Also, I can't wait to go back on South Beach. Between that and counting calories, I loved South Beach. I always got thrown off by holidays, though, so we're starting nice and early to give myself a good foothold this time. I'm very well schooled in the diet, so if anyone has any questions, they can go ahead and ask.

 

[goodeats]

Welcome! The first step is to admit you need to make a change, and you have done that. And you're on to step 2 - develop a plan and the hardest step of all sticking to said plan! I like your thought about remembering things. Like those halloween candies, not so much, but Grandma's pumpkin pie - oh yeah!

Don't forget to exercise and drink plenty of water!!

You can do it !

 

[Forever42]

Thanks for the comment

Well, the wedding weekend went well, not foodwise though We had a great time for being so rushed, and unfortunately everything was delicious - best wedding food we've ever had.

I also realized that losing 10 lbs during the holidays may be harder than I thought, so I'm reducing it to 5 lbs, approximately half a pound per week.

 

[Forever42]

Well, we ended up doing the Food and Wine Fest on Tuesday night, so that counts as my "Friday" for the week. I did fine yesterday, except I know that I'm not drinking enough.

This weekend will be a complete wash, Saturday is a Party for the Senses and Sunday is one last Food and Wine Fest day with friends.

 

[Forever42]

Well, my weight is still up compared with just over a week ago, but I've lost most of the weight I gained in NY. Though I realize, realistically I could not have gained 3 lbs in 3 days, and most of it was water weight.

 

[Cruise04]

Finally getting to journals and just wanted to welcome you. You have a good thought out goals and that is what will also help you to stay on some sort of a track. Good job!!!

Take care
Keep on
Chris

 

[Forever42]

Thanks!

Ugh, I finally hit bottom yesterday, and realized I need to start this now. We're doing a CP package with friends on Saturday, and South Beach starts on Sunday. It'll be a bit of a challenge since we're going to Disney almost every weekend this month, and Christmas is soon, but I need to do this.

My problem right now is that since I'm still job hunting, I have no structure in my day - always a disaster for my weight. SB gives me some structure.

Since I'll be on a more formal plan as of Sunday, I'll be posting my daily menus. Plus, I can be of help to anyone who's going to Disney on South Beach.

 

[Savin4Disney]

I have this mantra that works most of the time right now - "will I remember this in 3 months?" which helps me decide if it's worth it to cheat. Will I remember those french fries? No, not really. Will I remember that day at the Food and Wine Fest? Yep. Will I remember exactly what I had for breakfast tomorrow morning at the airport deli? No, probably not. So if it's not going to be memorable and worth it, why cheat?
QUOTE]

I love this! I hope you don't mind if I borrow it! What a great way to think each and every day. I am going to copy it and put it on the fridge and share it with others.

Good Luck with Disney and SouthBeach. I am so jealous you get to go so often.

 

[Jane E.]

Welcome to the Wish boards! We go to the Food & Wine Festival every year & always have a great time. I love going to Disney because of all the walking we do when we're there. I've been really struggling with weightloss this past year. A year ago I weighed 180lbs. I've only lost 22lbs but I feel so much better & my clothes fit me much better. Once you lose those initial 5lbs the motivation to keep it off seems to grow. Congrats for getting started during the holidays!!!!!

 

[Forever42]

*wave* Thanks for the visit!

Yesterday went well, I always love restarting South Beach.

B: Cottage cheese with hot sauce
S: 3-4 nuts
L: steak salad from Yacht Club Galley
S: 3 T nuts
D: Spicy turkey soup with onions, black beans, and green chiles
S: couple pieces of sugar free candy

Today's breakfast sounds decidedly fancy!

B: Egg beaters omelet with avocado, turkey, and smoked mozzarella
S: Celery with a little ranch
L: Leftover turkey soup
S: Cheese stick, canadian bacon, a little creamed spinach (got hungry)
D: Chile lime pork salad with pepperjack cheese, avocado, and LF salsa ranch
S: Gjetost cheese

Edit: Savin4Disney, I'm jealous of those whose Disney trips are time away from real life! We did go to the Yacht Club for lunch yesterday, but we had to go home and go grocery shopping and do laundry right after

 

[Forever42]

Ah, that "you're not eating starches" nagging headache...

Yesterday:

B: scrambled egg beaters, turkey sausage, onions
L: Thrown together soup of turkey, pork, chick peas, onion, celery
S: cheese stick
D: Chicken with ricotta, mozzarella, and pizza sauce, and twice baked mashed cauliflower "potatoes," romaine with LF Italian dressing
S: Gjetost, homemade hummus, 2 deviled eggs

Today:

B: 4 deviled eggs
S: half bell pepper with hummus
L: leftover dinner from last night, 1 deviled eggg
D: .. not feeling well enough to cook, so I think a Wendy's BLT salad with LF ranch

Drinking lots of water!

 

[curiouser]

Hi!! I'm also trying to lose weight for my 25th birthday so I wanted to stop in and say hello and give you some pixie dust for your journey!

Your food menu's sound great! What's gjetost?

Good luck, you're doing great!!!

 

[Minniespal]

Ah, that "you're not eating starches" nagging headache...

I hate those headaches but they soon pass.

Just wanted to say you are doing a great job Kathleen ~ keep it up

 

[Cruise04]

Happy Holidays Forever42!

Hope everything is going okay and you are doing well.

Hope you have a great holiday!

Keep on
Chris