Updates to Goals Post

I thought I should post and update to my previous post, Goals.  It's been a few weeks and David and I have been hard at work making changes.  We have been walking every day (except for currently because we are sick and I don't want to leave a snot trail around the neighborhood) and eating better.  It's when I look back that I can see that some good things are happening.

We are both dropping some weight.  I can see things fitting David more loosely (whether he believes me or not).  I know I'm fitting into some stuff that I couldn't wear back when I made the Goals post.  I'm sleeping a little better (when I'm not sick that is).  And now that I have changed my walking shoes I think my back is going to start feeling better as well.  The best thing is having a little more energy (again, when I'm not sick).  I feel more inclined to do things like go to the store with David after work, and make salad fixings for the next day the night before.  I'm not as content being lazy on the couch staring at the TV.  This is a big deal!  Granted it's not getting my cross stitching done, but I feel like I'm getting more things done that I need to be getting done and it makes me feel more accomplished.  

Right now my main goal is to get rid of this cold.  I like the positive changes that have been taking place so I want to get back to work.  Eating right isn't enough for me, I need to be walking.  It's taken me a long time, but I finally understand that.  There has to be that balance between eating enough, but not too much, and being active enough to burn the calories.  There has to be that balance.  I'm down with the diet changes we have made.  Sure, there are things I miss.  But it's just food.  And just because I'm staying away from it now, doesn't mean I can't have some (moderation) down the road.  Right now I'm so motivated to meet my goals that I really do think about things more, like yeah I might really want that frappachino, but I'd really like to get some of the fat clothes out of my closet more.  

So, despite being sick and still having a lot to figure out, I think David and I are doing great!  I'm really proud of all the changes he has made, and how he is taking his own health into his hands.  He is setting an excellent example for me and makes it easier for me to do the same, which I hope in turn helps him keep up his good work.  I should have taken some before pictures, so I could post random progress.  I'll just have to settle for us being more willing to be in pictures and I'll share those. :)

~Emily

We Have Not Fallen Off the Wagon

So I haven’t done a diet up date in a while.  This is not because we’ve fallen off the wagon and are trying to forget we ever tried.  It’s because it has pretty much become our norm instead of our diet.  Of course we deviate from it from time to time, especially with the holidays and we are recovering from that and are getting back on track.  The thing I have noticed is that in general, we are thinking about things differently and making some smarter meal choices.  Sure we ate a fair amount of things that we shouldn’t have, but instead of eating everything we normally would have we only picked a few favorites instead of all of them.  The hard thing is, is we still have a ways to go, so when we put even a little bit of weight back on (seriously, even 5 pounds) we can really feel it.  It’s hard not to be a little discouraged, at least for me because I know my track record.  But I have to look at the positive.  I did not have to dig out any of the clothes that are too big.  I am not going back to that wardrobe, and neither is my David.  It has been harder to get the exercise in, the weather was pretty cold and awful for awhile, and then we both have been experiencing some aches and pains.  David has been a trooper, and has been my hero for keeping me on track.  It’s been nice to have the hateful exercise bike in the house for those really bad days, and it’s nice to be able to walk with David when he works from home.  I need to remember our walks are not just good exercise time for us, it’s also time with my sweetie where it’s just the two of us and the great outdoors.  I cherish my time with him, anyway I can get it. ;)  The other change is now I get to do the cooking.  I’m having to learn some new tricks, and change some of the things I used to cook with, but David assures me that I am catching on quick and so far he hasn’t had to go hungry.  I have to say yet again, that I couldn’t have a better partner on this getting healthy adventure.  Thank you again David for looking out for me, and our future.  Thank you for keeping me on track!  You are doing great, and I’m proud of you!

~Emily

What Was I Doing?

So sometimes I think I space out while I'm doing the dishes.  I have a lovely view of the back yard from the sink, and sometimes it is rather lovely out.  Given the fact that it has been snowing means it's been particularly intersting outside.  This is great, until I do something like this:

It hurts like a son of a gun. :(  David took good care of me and applied the magic glue and bandaide.  I know I'm going to have a nasty scar.  What have I learned from this?  Doing dishes is evil?  Don't wash and daydream?  Knives are tools of satan?  I guess accidents happen. ;)

~Emily

One Hundred Days and Counting

Today was our 100th day of daily exercise and eating sensibly. I am very proud of achieving this milestone and elated by the progress we have made.

I am ready for another one hundred days. Bring it!

~David

Week 13

So now I think our new routine is just our routine.  That is a great feeling!  Weight has always been an issue for me, and probably always well be.  But I finally feel like maybe I am finally getting a handle on things and going about this whole change the right way.  I actually prefer the whole wheat bread and the wheat pasta now.  I like my non-fat latte.  I still hate getting out of bed in the morning to walk, but I like that we get out of our (nice warm cozy) bed every morning and walk together.  I'm looking forward to the day when maybe I don't hate pictures of myself.  I miss scrapbooking and I'm looking forward to getting back into my hobbies.

~Emily

Week 12

I was telling a co-worker this week that David and I have gotten up every morning for the last 12 weeks and walked.  Every day.  Rain or shine.  I was thinking about that, and I'm really proud of us!  It has been a change in our routine, not a huge change, but enough of a change that sleeping in is sleeping until 6:30 or 7:30.  I kind of can't imagine not getting up and walking.  I don't miss the ice cream, or the bread with dinner.  I don't miss my triple venti vanilla with whip latte.  I'm so proud of how far we have come, and how much we have done.  I think by this time next year we are going to be two very different, smaller, happier people.  Hooray for getting our lives back!

~Emily

Week 11

I don't know why I am so behind at posting my week update.  Week 11 went swimmingly.  :)

~Emily

Week 10

We made it through week 10, despite the fact our route was thrown a bit by David having to travel.  I'm proud of him, he stuck to the diet as best he could while on the road including walking every morning.  I did as well, except I rode our exercise bike so I didn't have to walk in the dark alone.   It feels good to have this new routine feel like it is no longer the new routine, it's just the routine. :)

~Emily

Week 9

Just wanted to do my weekly update (now what week 10 is almost over-I'm really behind).  All is good, we are still moving right along!

~Emily

Week 8

Well, I have to say with each week it really does get easier.  We have walked every day for 8 weeks now, and we have continued the eating smart plan.  It feels good.  I'm very proud of my David.  I don't know if he knows this-but I really couldn't do this without him.  I know how lucky I am (and not just because of the Angel DVD's).  Thanks sweetie! <3

~Emily

Week 7

I have had a little too much wine to drink, so this is going to be a short update with possible extreme typos.   David and I were finally able to look at some prediet and current photos and see that magical things are happenimg to us.  I'm still hating my pictures, so I'm in no hurry to post for the world to see, maybe in a few more weeks.  I don't see us going back to our old ways.  I even got up and walked with a migraine this weekend.  I am very proud of my David, and all that he has put up with (from me) and over come.  It's nice to have found something that really works, and feels good doing.  It hasn't been easy, but it's been logical and ultimately rewarding.  We went to a wedding this weekend (that's why we took some new pics of us) and had a really lovely time.  For the first time in a long time plastic chairs were not uncomfortable, and it's okay to share a piece of cheese cake.   I think I'm going to regret the two glasses of wine, but with it being Sunday and tomorrow being one of the most evil days of the week it was a must to.

~Emily

Week 6

Once again I'm behind in my weekly status report.  We are still going strong, walking every day and eating right.  We actually cleaned out our closet some this week and were able to throw away some things that were too big, and reconnect with some clothes that we can wear again.  I suddenly have more black and grey pants than I ever thought I would own.  It's little things like that (and more time with my David, oh and new shoes) that keep us going.

~Emily

Week 5

I'm horrible at the weekly update!  Things are still going well, we have not missed a day walking (knock on wood) and we have been good with the new eating plan.  Even on the few days we have declared day to have a special meal I think we are making smarter choices.  We are just moving right along and sticking to the plan.  I can't believe we are already almost done with week 6!

~Emily 

Week 4

We made it through to week 4!  Today actually puts us over the 1 month hump.  It really hasn't been has impossible as I thought it was going to be.  I don't really miss the things we have cut out of our diet.  I don't miss eating out (I miss not having to clean up sometimes when I'm really tired, and I'm sure David misses not having to cook when he's really tired), and I don't miss all the junk food.  I really thought I would, and I thought it would be really hard to resist the temptations that are all around me.  It really hasn't been.  I can say no to the bread basket at lunch meetings.  I can walk past/stand next to the cookies by the work counter and not even bat an eyelash.  I can sit next to the work candy bowl and not hear the Laffy Taffy calling to me.  I will admit, getting up early to walk is still the suck some mornings, but we have done it EVERY morning even though the snooze button has been calling.  Everything just feels right.  I think I might even be starting to really feel better.  David has been a trooper, and I appreciate him for being my rock.  Thanks sweetie!!!!

~Emily

Week 3

Another week has come and gone.  Most days it feels like it's getting easier.  There are still some tough moments.  It's hard because you want to see results right away, you want that valadation for all the changes you have made.  But that is just not how it works.  The changes are happening. Clothes are fitting differently (better) and I am seeing changes in David.  I believe I'm seeing a difference in my face, but it's hard to tell sometimes because I see myself in the mirror every day.  I am noticing that the walking is getting easier.  My feet are learning that I'm not letting them win.  I think in a few more weeks David and I will have to add to our usual route because we are moving through our current route faster.  And today I had a big happy moment.  I realized I am running (well not really running) up and down stairs and am less winded.  I'm not having to take time to catch my breath before taking a call or have a conversation.  This is a big thing for me because I'm always going up and down the stairs at work.  I may not feel like I've lost pounds or inches, but I'm feeling better in general and I'm going to take that and feel good about it.  David has been great these three weeks, and I'm looking forward to more weeks of continued improvement with him.  It can only get better.  That round of golf is totally within reach next year.  I have priorities! ;)

~Emily

Week 2

I know David already posted about this, but I had to share my thoughts as well.  First I want to say how suprisingly fast the two weeks went by.  I don't know if it is because I was so tried from getting up at the ungodly hour of 5:30 am and I zombied my way through the two weeks.  It's possible because the changes we made really haven't been that bad.  Even the walking in the morning hasn't been bad.  I enjoy the quiet time in the morning with David out in the cool (and sometimes wet because of lawn watering) air.  We have our incredibly awesome iPhones so we have good tunes to help make the :30 min fly by (and I have to admit that more often than not the time really does go by fast).  The food has been surprisingly good.  David has done, well, all of the cooking.  I help with clean up as much as I can.  Between the walking and the change in diet my body is feeling better.  I'm looking forward to the time when we can both start pulling clothes out of the closet because they are too big.  I know it's only two weeks, but I know we can keep going.   David is a fantastic support, and I know as long as we look out for one another we will succeed.  My outlook so far is positive and I'm ready for week 3.

~Emily

Two Weeks

Emily and I have survived two whole weeks of living our new lifestyle. I won't call it a diet, because it really isn't; it's a new beginning, with a new outlook on diet, exercise, and life.

When we began this new odyssey, I said that we'd enjoy a nice meal together at the end of every two week period. This week, we enjoyed a fourth of July feast: we had turkey dogs and potato salad for lunch, and a cheese burger and more potato salad for dinner. We went out to get a small Blizzard from DQ, but we only ate half of it--it just didn't go down well. I'd call that a breakthrough.

I'm still tired. Getting up at 5:30a every morning to walk for thirty minutes really wears me out, but it's getting easier. I hope that a month (or so) from now it will just be totally routine and I'll be used to it.

I'm very proud of my Emily. She's doing great and continues to be the best partner a man could ask for.

Peace.

~David

Week 1

We did it, we survived week one walking and eating better.  I knew we could do it, that was neve the issue.  The issue was, could we do it and at the end of the week be able to continue.  We can.   The walking was not bad.  My feet are not happy, as they are flat and slappy and apparently not meant for conventional shoes.  But that will improve over time, and I'm willing to walk through the pain.  The meals were not bland or boring as we feared they might be.  The dishes were not bland and unsatisfying.  Things tasted pretty darn good.  I have a big hatred for all things tomato and onion, but I'm learning to incorporate the tomatoes (and pick out the onion).  David has been extremely patient with my weird eating.  He's been the cook all week, and has done a fantasitc job!  He's been taking good care of me; he is packing my snacks for tomorrow as I type this blog.

I'm looking forward to making it through next week.  I think each week it will get easier, and each week we'll be a little bit healther.  Any thing that gives us more time together, and with the people we enjoy is worth it.  Now if only I could convince my body to be more awake in the morning.  I finished the book I was reading at night, so maybe instead of reading I'll just go to bed, maybe that will help. ;)

~Emily

Still Alive

I know I haven't posted for a few days.  I am still alive (David too).  We've just been tired.  We have continued the getting up in the early morning and walking for 30 minutes.  We are eating smart, cooking a lot, and finding ourselves exhausted at the end of the day.  I think the changes have been good, I've noticed I have more energy during the work day, and I'm feeling less blechy after eating.  The best part, I think as I am starting to get used to the idea of getting early, I am sleeping better at night.  I know the weight is not going to come off fast (and I have to keep reminding myself of that), so I'm going to try to judge things on more than just that.  Feeling better, having more energy and sleeping better make me just has happy as dropping a size or some pounds.  I'm so proud of my David.  He's been such a fantastic support.  He's been doing the cooking, shopping and being the best moral support I could ask for.  Thanks sweetie, I'm looking forward to more years with you!

~Emily

We Did It!

We survived our first day of You on a Diet!  I realize it is only one day out of many, but it's a step in the right direction, which is a big thing after so many days of the wrong direction.  I'm very proud of my David.  He resisted the Bagel banshee, and I resisted the Dairy Queen demon.  We got up at 5:30 am and walked our :30 mintues.  I'm proud of both of us.  Tomorrow is a new day, and another step in the right direction.

~Emily