Losing My Puppy 2.0

Enough is enough! I have been looking back at posts from last summer. I want to be back in that place. However, I refuse to beat myself up about the past 6-7 months. We faced one of the worst things a couple can face. Nevertheless, there comes a time when you have to deal with consequences and for me that time is now.

The cold hard truth is that I have gained all that I lost last year - weight that is. Thankfully, that is not all that I have gained in the past year. New friends, a blog I am proud of, proof that I can do it, new recipes we have discovered, etc. are all things that I have happily gained and will all be part of my comeback.

I am treating myself a fresh start. I will do my absolute best to let go of the past and not compare this summer to last. I am determined to try new things and make new memories. Of course, I will be dipping into my past successes - no need to reinvent the wheel. Tracking my food and getting daily exercise causes me to lose weight. Losing weight helps me to feel better and be more confident.

Here are a few of my plans...

Regular swimming - It is time to ask for help with my stroke. I can do a mean doggie paddle, but I really want to "master" freestyle. There will be goggles and breathing lessons.

Yoga - The gym we belong to has a Monday night class and I will be checking that out. I also have some at home yoga options that I am going to try (hello, YouTube - so many resources in my very own home).  I am the least flexible person I know. I am hopeful that regular stretching will improve my flexibility and balance.

Meal Prep - It is so easy to get sidetracked when you are not prepared. I am going to work on some healthy delicious lunches that I can put together on the weekend. It isn't that I don't like a turkey sandwich (one of my go-to lunches) but it hardly inspires me. I want to be "excited" by what is in my lunch box - for taste and healthy fuel reasons.

Dog training - Millie is a good girl for the most part, but I would like her to be more responsive. I often leave her home when I go walking because I don't want to "deal" with her goofiness, but I know it won't get better if I don't work with her.

New recipes - I want to keep exploring food that I can enjoy the cooking process, but does not sabotage my health goals.

No, I am not going to do all these things today. Neither am I going to take forever to incorporate them. Stay tuned.

During this non-losing weight phase of my blogging I have enjoyed sharing a wider slice of my life. I expect that will continue. I have said repeatedly on this blog that I believe weight loss and health is so intertwined with every day life that I can't separate them. Considering that so many of you have stuck with me through this phase I hope that means that you have continued to find value (and/or entertainment) in what I am sharing.

I am starting over on my weigh-in and "losing my puppy" goal. Millie is holding steady at about 85 pounds so I am adjusting my goal to that number. Truth is, I don't really know how I feel about the numbers until I get there. According to the "experts" I would probably have to lose even more, but as an adult I have never been close to those numbers (except for the 5 seconds when I passed them on my way up the scale). I may be very satisfied and healthy before I reach this somewhat arbitrary goal, but I think it helps me to have a specific goal in mind. And of course, it works for my blog name...who wants to read "Losing My Puppy - Almost" or "Losing Most of My Puppy"? 

I am leaving my previous progress chart as is for now. I have added a 2.0 progress chart. I am hoping the original will be inspirational - reminding me I can do it and motivate me to do even better. I am taking some new "before" pictures, but I will probably wait to share them until I have something to compare them to. I don't feel good about them currently, but they will help me see the change and I think that is important.

My body hasn't been up to picking up the full-on exercise quite yet. To start I have been making a concerted effort to do some stretching in the morning. While the dogs are taking their time finding the perfect potty spot, I can now be found stretching on the deck. I have logged my food on MyFitnessPal for two days in a row! I have packed my lunch for work. Monday was turkey jalapeno smoked sausage & tomato in whole wheat pita with a side of peppers, cucumbers and a peach. And of course, another bottle of water. Tuesday was pretty similar - substituting leftover grilled chicken for the sausage.

One of my all time favorite summer breakfasts - wheat pita bread topped with fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese. I bake it for about 5-6 minutes at 400 degrees. Perfection.

I tried to get Millie in on the veggie action with some grilled asparagus. She was extremely interested. When I finally gave it to her she took it, licked it and rolled it around her mouth. Ultimately, she refused to eat it. Maybe next time.

I saved this post for a couple of days because I wanted it to be more than "this is what I want to do". Instead, I want it to be "this is what I am doing".  Sure it has only been two days, but I feel good about my re-start so far. And I've already lost 30 pounds!!! Obviously not, but the weight of guilt about how I had been eating is lifting :)