Day 6: I've lost 5 pounds!

OK--so I thought I'd be on here daily recording my thoughts and feelings about this weight loss journey. However, life is simiply too busy for me to do that. So here I am, nearly one week after starting my T.E.A.M. Weight Loss program and my strict calorie counting, and it turns out I've already lost 5 pounds!

I know, the 5 pounds that I've lost is most likely water weight but I am still pretty proud of myself. I also know losing 5 pounds per week is not the wisest way to lose weight because it's likely that weight will come back. However, I will take a look at my progress next week and see if I lose a more reasonable amount of weight. If I continue to drop too much, I'll up my calorie intake. Right now, I am following my LoseIt recommendation of eating 1,331 calories per day. LoseIt is an application for the iPhone that is keeping track of all my calories. This is a godsend for me because I HATE counting calories. I am so very happy with LoseIt! Check it out at www.LoseIt.com.

As for the exercise program, I do it three times per week: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I was a bit disappointed with the first two nights because we really didn't get a lot of exercise in. However, we more than made up for it on Thursday because we walked for 59 minutes, doing interval training and using rubber bands to help work out the upper body. It was quite a workout indeed. I wanted to go again yesterday but my back was hurting from sleeping funny on it. I think I may go today while Lizzie is at a birthday party, and work out for 30 minutes or so. I might even treat myself to a fruit smoothie afterwards. I'll have to check the calories first.

I am very happy about seeing real progress in this regime. I don't look any different yet but I hope to continue to lose and start seeing results soon. The progress is a great motivator to keep going. Onward and upward!

Team weight loss: Day 1

Well, we had our first meeting tonight. It was a bit of a disappointment because we mostly just talked about the program. We didn't weigh in yet, nor did we take measurements. That will happen next time, I think. We got to work out for only about 15 minutes, mostly to determine our aerobic threshold. My shins were fatigued too early so I sort of petered out and I'm not sure I came up with an accurate AT number. But it gives me a pretty good indication as to what it might be.

Well, gotta go. I'm watching "The Biggest Loser" for inspiration. I LOVE that show!

April 5, 2010 is a very important day for me...

I am beginning the T.E.A.M. Weight Loss program at Lifetime Fitness. I plan on using this site to keep an online journal during my weight loss odyssey. I hope this will be the kick in the pants I have been needing to get me to lose the extra weight I have gained over the years.

Here's the magic number for me: I need to lose around 50 pounds. That's a whole heck of a lot, I know! And I know I won't lose all 50 pounds during the 12 weeks I will be in the LT Fitness program. However, I hope to be well on my way to that goal. I hope to lose around 24 pounds or more during the T.E.A.M. Weight Loss program. That seems like a reasonable amount for a 12-week period but if I lose more, I won't complain!

What has spurred me to get off my Irish-American arse and get moving? Recent medical visits have revealed that I have high cholesterol and triglycerides. I have probably gained 35 pounds since going back to work in 2004. I lead a sedentary life, I eat more than my fair share of junk food, and I don't count calories. I am not currently a good example to my children, which pains me to no end. I would not wish for them a life of constantly obsessing about their weight, which is something I have been doing for years and years, even before I was this overweight.

A new Lifetime Fitness has opened up in our town and the entire family is becoming more active, which is a wonderful thing. I hope to become an inspiration to my children and to anyone else who may be dealing with these issues.

Wish me luck!