dianaschnuth

After some thought, I finally figured out my next mini-goal reward: a pair of black slingbacks for work. I’d been wanting some work-appropriate black sandals, so once I reached my five-pound mini-goal, they were mine.

I’m not allowing myself to buy any more clothes until I hit my next five-pound mini-goal (or, as I thought of it until quite recently, Goal). I actually have several hundred dollars socked away in a savings account called “Goal 170″ that I opened a few years back, but now I’m confused about whether I should use it when I reach 170 or when I reach Goal — currently 160. As a reminder, I’m 5’10”.

(Mel, the director of my work’s Fitness Center, told me that she’s guessing 163 will be where I ultimately stabilize, and that I’d look unhealthy if I went much below that. We’ll see if she’s right! …Eventually.)

I’m teetering on the edge of the “normal” (aka “healthy”) weight range for my height. This is kind of a big deal for me, so I’ve been telling anyone who would give a shit — partially because, well, go me, but also to keep me accountable. I’m telling everyone that I’m a normal weight for the first time in my adult life, but that I still have fifteen pounds to lose before I’m where I want to be.

Yes, I know that everyone’s different… but the weight ranges and BMI calcs are based on statistical analysis of health issues at varying weights, so I’m perfectly OK with using those as overall goals for my own fitness journey. Like I told Mel, once I actually reach my target weight, then I’ll start focusing on things like body composition, body fat percentage, things like that. For now, I’m just totally stoked to be so close to my goal, and finally — finally! — feeling comfortable in my own skin. Mostly.

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Data collection is pointless unless the data is analyzed and conclusions drawn.

That’s my opinion, anyway.

I track everything I eat and all exercise I perform, and I aggregate the overall numbers to determine the basic truth that, yes, I really should just follow the Weight Watchers plan as specified if I want to lose an average of about a pound a week.

That’s not telling me anything I don’t already know. That’s not helping me rethink and change my behaviors.

It’s time to drill in from the aggregate, high-level view and get into the daily details. Ask the hard questions.

Why did I eat that?

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I started May being all fired up and ready to do it right. Then I ate an Oatmeal Creme Pie and a big, processed frozen food dinner all in one day, and that somehow derailed my entire week. Once I go over my Weekly Allowance Points, I have trouble staying on-plan — hence that can of macaroni and cheese I enjoyed another day that same week after Connor went to bed.

After that, I made a rule that I don’t eat anything after Connor goes to bed — only drink tea or water. I even brush my teeth with Connor to keep myself from wanting to eat anything after his bedtime.

My May NSVs mainly center around clothes and compliments.
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