Week 1 Day 5

Five days into my 20 Week Challenge and I'm doing pretty great. I haven't had any soda or coffee since  Saturday. Wow! I'm a bit amazed at that one. :) I'll be even more amazed if when I make it 30 days. I've also managed to make it to the Y on Monday and Wednesday, which is wonderful because I've pulled myself out of bed at the lovely time of 4:25a.m. in order to make it there right at 5a.m.

Has anyone out there heard of Fat 2 Fit Radio? I've recently downloaded a couple of their podcast and am thoroughly enjoying them. In the afternoon, while the kids are banished to their rooms for quiet time, I tend to listen to a podcast of Fat 2 Fit Radio. I have found them very informative. Since listening to episode #83- Eat More, Weigh Less, I have changed my daily calorie intake goal. Originally I had set mine to 1,500, but have  bumped it up to a min. of 1,700 and a max. of 1,900. Why? Because right now my goal weight is 140, and if I weighed 140, my daily calorie intake to maintain that weight would be roughly 1730 (or some where close to this). Why in the world would I set my daily calories intake below that? I've done it before (had it at 1,500) and I don't last too long. I tend to get headaches and feel famished by the end of the day. Yes, I know I want to lose weight, but I am not going to starve myself to do it. What would that teach me? My kids? It's not healthy, nor is it something that I want to do. I want to instill healthier eating habits in myself as well as my children, not starving techniques.

Yesterday was my first full day of having a higher calorie intake day, and I felt great by bedtime. I wasn't hungry. I wasn't craving anything. I felt great!

Not only have I been tracking what I eat, when I eat it, and the calories are in each food, I've also been tracking how much protein I have been getting. One suggestion that keeps popping up repeatedly in tons of articles I have read, is to make sure to include a protein along with whatever other snack one will eat. I have made a huge effort this entire week to do just that, and I do believe it's helping!

Now, one thing I do—and I know MOST articles say not to—is weigh myself every single morning. I feel as if doing this will help keep me more accountable and more motivated over the course of my weight-loss journey. Yes, I always keep in mind that body weight will fluctuate daily, but if I see a "1lb" weight gain, I'm more likely to be 100% committed that day and not stray, not to say I'll stray if the scale shows somewhat of a weigh loss on any given day, but I want to know if I need to give any extra on any particular day.

With the above being said, I do think I will attempt to blog daily and will try to include my daily weight. Why? I don't know. Maybe for something to do? :)

Daily Weigh-in: 195.2