September Goals

It's a gorgeous September long weekend here and I am savouring every minute of it. DS2 headed off to go whitewater canoeing on the Churchill River. He's been going every year since he was 14...first with adults to teach and guide, and now he and his buddies go on their own. I love that this time with nature is such an important part of his life.

I had an amazing 3.5K walk this morning. Between the amped up colitis meds and a wee bit of other treatment, I felt safe...ish. Loved the birds and the fresh air and the smells of different breakfasts as you go by.

The dollar is up so I am headed to the bank with the college portion of my August paycheque to convert those to US dollars. Every little bit counts. I hadn't realized that if I converted and kept it in the US dollar account I got a better rate than if I went in and got the US money in cash.

I am not quite ready in my classroom so I am off to the school as well to put in about 3 hours just to finish putting things away and get the papers ready for the first week of school. Being preplanned and preorganized is critical to first week survival.

I was hoping for a nice little fire in my back yard last night but most of the province is under a fireban due to the incredibly dry conditions. Totally understandable.

My goals for September are fairly basic, as heading back to work is a big change.

• continue with Weight Watchers and my new little blog documenting the journey. Sticking with the program, theoretically I could lose 4 lbs in the month ( 1 per week) so that would be nice to achieve
• pack lunches for school. Means preplanning but it will ensure I stick with WW. It also will keep me from venturing to the school cafeteria and eating more than I need to. Great food there. 
• Squeeze in at least 5 walks a week. Harder to do in the morning when I am at work before 7:30 and sunlight is getting less and less. Hard to do in the evening when I come home bagged from work. They make me feel so good so I had better find a way
• Plan suppers. DS2 is home for some and with friends for others. I have asked him to give me a general idea so that I can plan for the bigger meals when he is here. We eat lighter when he is not.
• Read 1 book. Have to find my bliss
• Try to use my evening time for more than collapse in bed early, exhausted and fall asleep watching Netlfix.
• Appreciate the outside time while it is nice enough to enjoy

Have  a great day everyone!

It takes....

So today is four weeks of WW and treadmill.


Do I see my body changing? 

Well there is a small difference on the scale.
I have a bit more energy at night.
I am able to do more time on the treadmill in one shot.
I do feel more 'at peace' ie: less stressed

My big barometer was 'will I be able to do the bottom button up on my winter coat and will it hang properly and not pull.'

Answer - not yet

so...
Keep going I shall

Week 4

Well it was an interesting month. From a Wow!! week 1 with tons of walking and 6 lbs lost to an illness that seems to have taken my energy and my mojo. "life is what happens when you are busy making plans'

I made my goal of walking 100 KM. I know that I didn't walk as much in week 2, 3 and 4 as I did in week 1. Would have been interesting to see where it could have been.

My weight...well I ended up gaining 1 lb this past week so that puts me at a loss of 6lbs over the month. Not shabby, but with one week at status quo and one week of a gain, I can't help but wonder w here it could have been.

I know that if I don't watch what I am doing, that six pounds would be gained back within 3 weeks. I gain fast. yo you dieting over the years will do that to a girl.

I liked the energy I felt when I was walking lots and drinking an ocean of water and eating tons of fruits and veggies. All that fresh produce wreaked havoc with my colitis though.

The past week I haven't move nearly as much, I have had no energy (but a lot of Netflix) and I felt like crap, physically and emotionally.

Pretty telling for sure.

third week

 

Week 3, the momentum slipped a bit. Mostly I think from being sick. I did walk and I am 'thisclose' to meeting my monthly goal of walking 100KM.  With the weight, I didn't track as faithfully. I ended up losing 1 lb.

One week to go.

Where is my motivation from week 1?

a quieter week two

There was no change at all on the scale for week 2. We had a wedding on Saturday where I indulged and it looks like that undid any progress I may have made. Better try for week 3 I guess.

Walking was curtailed due to family events and being sick. Most of my walking came from Tues, Wed and Thurs to be honest.  I am glad I got it what I did, when I did.

a good start

(the following post is completely non financial related so feel free to skip if you like.  May I recommend THIS LINK on Tales from the Trenches. She is going on holiday to Europe and shows her amazingly well thought out packing plans. I bookmarked it for future reference. I hope she has a great time)


Ahh first weeks. Full of optimism, possibility and enthusiasm. They are like the beginning of a first day when everything is wonderful.  I have had more first weeks than I care to even consider over the years.

It was a good first week. I walked lots. I moved more around the house. I followed my WW points plus plan and diligently recorded it. I ate lots of fruit and veggies, although that created colitis concerns.

You know those tiny little, almost imperceptible  flutters you had the first time you were pregnant? Was that the baby moving? or indigestion? or my imagination???

I had those on Sunday as I was heading out on my walk. Just felt like my pants were the tiniest bit looser. imperceptible. or totally my imagination.

I made good inroads on my walking goal of 100KM for July. I walked a total of  36.97KM

Not too shabby for an old obese woman. And I sweated on those walks. and huffed and puffed, which is beyond sad, but it shows I worked hard for what my body is able to do.   I swear I had a screen shot from last night that showed my KM but it wasn't there this morning. Just this older one, shown below.  bummer.  I didnt' notice this until after I already walked this morning so that is a lost opportunity. For a type A like me, it bugs me. lol

Anyways the screen shot will give you an idea of what the program tells you. This one shows I did a slightly shorter walk, but walked it faster.

 

I definitely love this app.

 

 

So after the weigh in this morning I can say that I successfully removed 6 lbs from my body. probably mostly water, but I will take it, quite  happily. (For those about to OMG please remember that really large people can lose a lot in a first week)

 

 

I am proud of what I accomplished.  I have made a list of 20 items that I hope fit me over the next couple months. They are things I bought that I wore once and then gained, or that I bought that ALMOST fit, and ..... never did.  Among those are a winter coat I bought either during the 12/13 winter season or the 11/12 season. It was one of those 'not quite fitting but if I just lose 5 lbs..." failures. Not sure if I even like the coat anymore, but I am going to fit it! lol

 

Also on that list is my son's jersey from his hockey team last year. Yup that's right...I  couldnt' fit it, especially around the belly.  Continuing on that trend is his new jersey with name and number that he got at a ridiculous discount for mama when he was down at the college last month.

 

My problem is not successful week 1s. It's falling off by week 3 or 4 and then gaining it all back again. I am REALLY good at that.

 

Cost: well WW online is $22 a month so this week cost me $5.50

 

That's about it other than food.

 

Onwards to another week.