Week 1 - More is Better

I forgot how tough the first week could be. It was like going through withdrawal. I tried to do just 5 shake per day but after 3 days, I had no energy, constant headaches, and found it difficult to concentrate. I needed to eat more and HMR is all about "more is better" so I pulled out some meal replacements, drank a few extra shakes, had a bar and started baking the HMR muffins. With more food in my system, I started to feel better and more like myself.

Week 1 weigh-in showed a 5.5lb loss but the biggest lesson for the week was More IS Better!

Full Circle

For anyone reading this blog, you'll notice a common thread in maintenance.... it's TOUGH! Reaching my goal weight of 150 has been difficult. I've floundered. I've negotiated. I've "started again" numerous times. I can only thank God that I have at least managed to maintain the majority of my weight loss. But it's not enough. Not for me. I yearn to be at a weight were I'm no longer classified as overweight or worse - obese. 

So I've decided to give myself over to a power stronger than my will. I'm going back to the beginning where things made sense, I had support, and surrounded by others who are going through the same struggle so I've decided to go back in to Phase 1 as a new "HMR Alum". The group knows that I've "been there and done that" but that I'm not done with my journey. I have unfinished business and lessons still to learn.

So here I am. I feel good about my decision. I'm thankful for this program and the people. 

Decision-free is just what I need to get me through the holidays, to finally reach my goal, and be better able to handle maintenance in the New Year.

I won't ask you to wish me luck this time... just pray for me.

150 by 40

I've been on maintenance now for a year and have managed to keep 75lbs off. During this year, I have continued running and experimenting with various veggies and grains. Many things are still 100% out of my box... Pork, bacon, hamburgers, Filipino food, all fast food restaurants, and most deep fried foods. French fries have made their way back as an occasional treat.

My gradual migration away from HMR resulted in about a 15 lb weight gain.I believe that is natural since most foods have more sodium than HMR. I won't attribute it all to sodium. I did get carried away with cheese. I love cheese...more than meat. I also found that the more I ran, the more muscle I gained. My waist fit a size 8 but my legs didnt!

I never did reach my goal weight of 150 but I feel like this is a good time to make a 12 week phase 1 commitment.

I am in day two...i am going through withdrawal and my mind is drifting to the thoughts of the cheese sitting in the fridge. Haha. Oh well. My plan is to do this on my own with the support of my family. If I cant manage it alone, then I will rejoin the program.

I've stocked up on 120 shakes and made savory and sweet muffins. I also have MRs, bars and cereal. I have dugout my old phase 1 journals to recall my schedule back then. I'm prepared.

Happy New Year!

It's been a while and now that 2011 is here it's time to take things back to basics. The last few months have been.... let's say... educational. I learned that:
a) I'm not ready to be in maintenance.
b) I need a better plan when I DO go back to maintenance.
c) I need to stick w/ my original coach

I love telling stories, so let me back up.
In my last post, I was going into maintenance. I did that but made a critical error. I switched coaches. The new coach was very nice and sweet. She did not come down on me if I gained a pound here or there. We blamed it on my monthly TOM. Some of it was the normal process of going back to "normal food". But I needed a Jillian --- or better yet, I needed my old coach back! She would have sat me down after the first 5 lbs and held me accountable.

Then came the dreaded holidays. They weren't horrible...I enjoyed, but I also worked out and had lots of veggies and shakes. I did however enjoy too much cheese and bread. I tried to compensate for my cheese habit by increasing my running miles. BAD IDEA! I ended up straining my left hip and that left me unable to do any exercise for 3 weeks!

So the week after Xmas, I was back in the clinic having a heartfelt conversation w/ my now ex-ex-coach. She told me she was proud that I recognized that I've gotten off track and I was seeking help. She helped me refocus and get back to basics.

Shakes. Veggies. Water. 60 mins on my bike. Journal my food.

AHHH I'm back in my box! Yeah! I feel in control! Yes! And my reward for a week is 6 lbs gone.

So my current weight is 175. Yes, I gained 16lbs between Nov and Dec. It's not hard to do!

But I'm back on track. I have not been derailed - just side tracked.

I'm mentally OFF maintenance and back in Phase 1. I'm excited. I hit a huge plateau in July and I think my little bump in weight will be the thing I needed to push through and hit my goal this year. My hip is pain free and it's cold has heck outside so I'll be sticking to the bike for at least a month until the weather warms up.

So for any of you starting 2011 with a weightloss goal, GOOD LUCK! We call can do this. Remember...
Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!!!