Day 92/250 Sick at home...

The good news is I've lost five pounds in the past two weeks. The bad new is I did it by being sick. Last week I was sick with the flu. Vomiting and diarrhea should not be a weight loss tool....lol. This week I am sick with a sinus thing, very sore throat, and cough. My throat is tender and nothing feels good going down except my warm sugar-free apple cider.

This week is Thanksgiving and the whole gang will be coming over for a meal. I have started preparing already by buying the food. I am substituting a few of my usual dishes with ones that are healthier and lower in calories. My whole family can benefit from the change. It helps to have the support around and to all be looking out for each other.

Last year Ron and I ran a 5K on Thanksgiving morning. The Smoke The Turkey event benefits Hospice of Northwest Ohio and is a great event. I ran it last year in my grandma's memory, as she used their services before she passed away from cancer two years ago. She is greatly missed.

This year I wasn't in good enough shape to even try to run the race...

One of my goals for the upcoming year is to run a 5k before we leave on our trip. We have decided that we are going to go to San Francisco, CA for our anniversary! We will be taking in all of the sites, doing some hiking, and just enjoying our FIRST vacation together, for more than a weekend, without our kids! I WILL be in shape before we leave! Here's the kicker....

We have to move up our vacation because of Ron's vacation schedule and what he was able to take off. We will now be leaving the first week in May, which moves my date up a bit. I now have 250 days total. I had better get over this illness and get my butt moving.....

Starting weight 200....

Current weight 189

Goal weight 155

Day 77/294 No more coffee

Does anyone out there know that I am addicted to coffee? Or should I say WAS addicted to coffee? I have decided to stop drinking coffee (at least for a while) and stop relying on all that caffeine.

It has been five days since my last cup of coffee and I am feeling better already. The first two days were really hard. I am in the habit of making a large travel mug to take to work with me every morning. This is my morning jolt of energy. Instead of a morning jolt, I had a two-day headache.

By day three, the headache was subsiding, but that habit of wanting a hot drink in the morning was not. So I substituted. I found a sugar-free, low-calorie (5 cal.), caffeine-free, Spiced Apple Cider drink mix that I really enjoy. Problem solved. No caffeine high, no dependence, no headaches. It's a win-win. Just one more small change that can have a huge impact over time.

p.s. Did I mention that I am sleeping better?

Day 77/294 New Exercise

Ok, so I need some motivation. I LOVE The Biggest Loser TV show and I always am thinking that I would LOVE to have Bob as my personal trainer. So yesterday, I was browsing around at Walmart and saw The Biggest Loser game for the Wii. Yes, I did an impulse buy and I bought it!

I set the game up today and it was really cool! You get to pick which character you are going to be (I'm Amy...remember her?) and then set weight lose goals, track your calories for the day, and compete against other contestants. Just stay above the yellow line....right? I did the first days worth of exercises and it was really a good workout. I was certainly working up a sweat! I will have my first weigh-in next Saturday....

I am trying to get back in the grove of working out as my weight lose-efforts have stalled. I have only lost five pounds since starting this journey. I can usually do a good job with the eating but I need to get my butt moving too. This program has you working out three times a week to start and I am committing myself to that. It has set a goal for me to lose seven pounds for a four week period. Totally doable if I stick to it.

My next hurdle will be the holidays. I am trying to mentally prepare myself for all of the gatherings, meals, parties, etc. that will be coming up. I just need to be in the right mindset going into it and I should be just fine.