my plan

So how am I doing this?

By the numbers: I net as close to 1200 calories a day as possible. That is calories in minus calories out. Some days I get off track, but I really try to not be over 1500 more than one day a week.

Planning/Goals:

* I make food choices that are as healthy as possible. I try to focus on simple ingredients, simple foods, not overly processed. I am not always perfect, but I try to make the best choice in each situation I am in. I am taking my lunch more days than not and choosing restaurants that focus on whole, local ingredients.

* I will exercise 5-6 days a week. If my schedule is too busy on a certain day or I am still sore from the previous workout, I don’t beat myself up for taking a rest day. Or I’ll just take an easier walk that day or something. I’m listening to my body and finding that most days it wants me to move. I’m training for a half marathon! I’m keeping a run log blog here.

* I am a runner! Two half-marathons this spring!

* I was taking Adipex (a prescription appetite suppressant) from June to September 2009. It helped me break a 6-week plateau (oh how I hated 219!). I stopped taking it, by my own choice, when I noticed I wasn’t being affected by it.

Tracking:

This is where it gets fun! I use several apps on my iPhone.

* Lose It! is probably my favorite app. Every day, I enter my foods and my exercise. It has a pretty comprehensive calorie database, but I’m also able to enter my own foods and recipes as well. And it gives a really cool week overview shot. (I have only entered breakfast on the Sunday of this week – I wasn’t that low. Don’t worry.)

* Streaks is another app that I love. I’m such a visual person. I must admit that August isn’t really all that pretty, but the last week has made up for it. I haven’t been doing that great of a job tracking. I’m sure I deserve a few more X’s, but not that many.

Accountability:

I am taking pictures of everything I eat and posting it at www.growlinmytummy.com for accountability. I post from my phone after every meal instead of an end-of-the-day post like I used to. I’m just more reliable that way. Every bite, every day. It’s amazing how many things I don’t eat because I don’t want to take a picture and have to blog about it.

I also don’t post the specific calorie counts of the specific items I eat or what I cook because I don’t want the pressure of other people relying on the calorie counts that I determine. I don’t always eat everything in the picture (but if I eat a second serving I admit to it), and I also figure calories specifically for the brands of ingredients that I use. So my number is for me, but it may not apply to how you cook or eat. If you have any questions or want to know the specific counts of a food or recipe, feel free to comment or email me.

I am also posting updated pictures under the progress pics tab. I always mention it in my main blog when I update this page.

Feedback:

Sometimes it’s too difficult for me to see progress because I’m so close. I have to rely on other things to remind me of where I started and how far I’ve come.

I downloaded this spreadsheet from Roni that creates a graph automatically! I love it! And looking at my graph keeps me motivated.

I also take pictures of myself every day, usually in a public bathroom somewhere. All of the mirrors in my house are backlit by windows and I can’t get a decent picture anywhere. Not that bathrooms are decent…Anyway, I compare my daily picture to one I carry in my purse just to remind myself that I really do look different. It’s also really fun to flip through my “daily pics” album in iPhoto to see how much I really have changed. It’s exposure to the truth. And I’m starting to realize and acknowledge it.

I know I’ve still got a ways to go, but I’m very excited about how far I’ve come. And that you’re choosing to keep checking on me!