9 lbs and counting

It's been 2.5 weeks since I started tracking every piece of food I put in my mouth, even drinks, and been working out as much as I can.  I have been at the gym from 30 mins to an hour and 30 minutes every night, unless I have been out hiking or playing softball.  On Ash Wednesday I gave up soda for the 40 days (which by the way its actually 46!) for Lent (its a Catholic thing).  The good thing is all I drink otherwise is water and Gatorade.  I am not a tea drinker or really any other treat drinks.  I even stopped drinking hot chocolate because it said the Swiss Miss was 120 calories.  BUT if i want I drink it - i just took it out of the routine.  That took about a week to get it out of the routine.  The soda was cold turkey and it's just the catholic guilt that has gotten me through a solid week so far. 

I had also talked to some people who said they have changed what they eat when.  They eat like a king for breakfast, queen for lunch and servant for dinner.  A few really good things for me is that I LOVE LOVE LOVE lunch.  So I eat what I want for lunch, with the calorie count in mind and as the weeks have passed I make slight adjustment.  A great thing is the combo deals all include a soda, so instead I don't do the combo and end up with just an entree and one side - not two that combos seem to give.  Then I just have water to drink.  I come home from work and work out, which makes it later in the night before I would be ready for dinner anyway, so at that point I eat some fruit, or some veggies and call it a night.  The other best part about this is that if I am eating out dinner I have filled my body over the day with other foods that at dinner I am not starving and I enjoy my food.  The leftovers become lunch the next day.  I go over on the calories some, but I am staying under 1,700 every day and more around the 1,100 to 1,300.  I will say once a week I get to that 1,700, but I do it consciously and enjoy it.  I am still working out and trying to burn 300 - 500 calories 3 days a week and 200 - 300 the rest.

Livestrong.com My Plate has become a great tool for me at this point.  I am down 9 lbs and hope to hit the 11 or 12 sometime next week.  The goal was 2 lbs a week, so I am still at that goal and not going to worry if the 3 lbs a week goes away and it gets to 2.  As long as I am losing that's all that matters at this point.  I am wondering when people will start noticing though - I have wondered about that.  I am betting around the 20lbs mark before anyone says anything.

I love having a goal and this is a great one!  More later!