12 Week Weight Loss Challenge Update

I haven't updated, probably because I had a setback in week two. Yay for not being accountable, right? :P But I have to complete this challenge, since even if I don't write about it here, I made a deal with my husband after all! So, I'm behind schedule, but I feel like things are working again.

Week 1: - 2.2 lbs
Week 2: + 1.8 lbs
Week 3: - 0.8 lbs
Week 4: - 2.6 lbs
Week 12 GOAL: 17 lbs

So far, I've lost 3.8 lbs and 2.1% of my starting weight. Not exactly thrilling numbers over a four week period, but the numbers are going down, and that matters. I just have to avoid any repetitions of Week 2, which gets tough during the holidays but I am starting to feel that drive and commitment again that I used to have. Perhaps I've finally woken it back up again.

I've also started exercising again, if a bit sporadically. My goal is at least three sessions a week. I'm back to my usual, the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I have a couple of her other DVDs and when the Shred doesn't kill me I am going to upgrade to a longer workout since her others go for about an hour versus a half hour. What I've found is really helping me is kind of lame, but as long as it works I don't care. When I first started out, I loved the Nutrisystem fridge chart, where I could post my loss each week. I still have one of those up, but it doesn't have the same pull that it did before. So what I did was print out a blank calendar page and buy some pretty sparkly star stickers. Now I give myself one star sticker each time I stay within my caloric range, and one every time I exercise. I'm very proud of myself on the days that I earn two! My three year old is also helping me a lot. It's kind of funny to do my workout with him beside me, using toy cars as weights! He loses interest fairly quickly and instead hides under my gym mat, but it's still fun. And I love that my husband and I are teaching him about the importance of exercise. We tell him it helps you get strong, so now almost every day he says to me "Mommy, you should exercise so you can be strong to carry me!" How do you say no to that? It has certainly shamed me into exercising even on days I would have skipped my workout.

So, here I am. I will NOT give up, and I am going to complete this. It won't bring me to my goal weight, but it will finally take me to 100lbs lost since I started Nutrisystem, which is a barrier I only broke when I was sick and didn't eat for a week so I don't think it really counts. I may not be following Nutrisystem any more (I am not a fan of the new plan, to be honest), but I still get the occasional delivery of the foods I like and I am following the principles behind the plan; watching my caloric intake and eating a balanced diet. And as long as I'm trying, it works. Of course, if I do it halfassed, then I end up where I've been for the past 18 months. Is it good that I maintained? Absolutely. That already puts me in a serious minority of "dieters" (I hate that word). But, it's better that I keep losing!