Day Nine: The Cycle

Well, hello World Wide Web. I know there's been a bit of a gap in my recording of this 30 for 30 challenge. I have been caught up in the cycle. For those of you who don't know what the cycle is, let me explain.

Every week I work really hard from Monday through Friday. Eating right working out everyday, the whole bit. As a result of this hard work I lose two or three pounds. Friday night rolls around, and I decide that I must celebrate my victory with a delicious, off plan meal. This celebration is then turned into a full on weekend feast. I eat whatever I want in large quantities. Monday comes and on top of my normal 'OMG It's Monday' anxiety I find that I've gained back all of the two or three pounds I'd lost. I pledge to work refocus and work really hard... and, well the cycle repeats.

Although I'm not giving up, I would be happy to lose five pounds by my birthday at this point. I've got to make some serious progress. So I'm breaking the cycle and buckling down with more resolve than I've ever had... I hope!

Day Three: If You Can't Beat It Make Him Join You And Kick Butt Together

Every morning I drag myself out of bed, dress in my ill- fitting workout clothes, and walk two to three miles on the treadmill. While I don't particularly enjoy this morning ritual, I realize it is a big part of the 30 for 30 goal. I do it without too much hatred and complaint. However, at Oprah's urging (via the Bootcamp program she endorsed a couple years ago), I have decided to do an additional evening workout twice a week.

This second workout is primarily focused on toning with a little cardio mixed in. I don't know if its the fact that I've already worked out once during the day or that the later time means I'll miss some wonderful prime time t.v., but I loathe the second workout. Today, I found myself delaying it in 15 -minute increments while I sat on the couch. I simply did not want to do it. Misery loves company, so I made the hubby promise to join me in this evening workout at an agreed upon time. He put up some small protests, but I quickly put an end to that. We would meet in the living room in our gym clothes at 8:00.

Before I knew it, it was time for our workout. He huffed and I puffed, but neither of us would quit for fear of being the weak one. Our healthy competition allowed us to encourage one another and, most importantly, finish the workout. I must admit it was one of the hardest and best evening workouts I've had so far. I think the hubby and I have a new kind of date night.

Day Two: Honesty Makes Me Hungry

This morning I realized that the only way this whole eating right thing will work is if I'm honest with myself. Believe me World Wide Web, this is not my first diet. I've tried just about everything. These diets never work out, I realize, because I'm always just dishonest enough with myself to make that which is horribly wrong seem like a minor offense. I don't have to count that half of a Twinkie I ate because it was only half...I only had a few chips, they probably won't matter...and, well, you can just imagine. 

So today, I was determined to count everything that went in or even near my mouth. When my allotted calories were gone, they were gone. Somehow, I managed to do this! I was a counting, tracking, journaling beast today. But, don't applaud yet World Wide Web because this new counting policy left me sooooooo hungry. 

By lunch I realized I had very few calories left. The plan was to stick with "free" foods until dinner. I snacked on more carrots than I've probably eaten all year, but you can only eat so many and they did not satiate the deep hunger in my belly. Dinner came, and by that time I was so hungry I wolfed it down so fast I could hardly taste it. Although dinner was filling, it's now three hours later and I'm ready for a snack. A snack that I cannot afford because I don't any calories left for today. Honesty might be the best policy, but it really leaves you hungry.

Day One: The Challenge

A few months ago I found an old journal and sadly discovered that the old me is not so different from the current me. This desperate similarity is due, in large part, to the elusive goal of weight loss. Now, World Wide Web, I must confess I have never been thin or anything less than over weight. Losing weight has been my New Year’s Resolution since I was twelve.

When I was 20, I decided that it was time to buckle down and make some goals for myself. On the long list titled, "Things I Must Do Before I'm Thirty" weight loss is the only goal I have made zero progress towards. With the big 3-0 rapidly approaching, I have decided to take the bull by the horns and tackle this weight loss beast.

I have exactly 30 days to lose 30 pounds for my 30th birthday, and you World Wide Web will be privy to this intimate process. Hopefully my daily reports to you will keep me honest and accountable. So, goodbye delicious foods and excessive TV watching, and hello lean meals and exercise. I'm turning 30 and I'm going to do it 30 pounds lighter if it kills me!