Week 21: Pounds +0.2; Points +35; Activity +16; Workouts 3

Week 21 Summary:

Overall, an "acceptable" amount of food and exercise, but also lots of room for improvements.  

Pounds ... my Monday weigh-in had me up 0.2 pounds ... no issues there, essentially flat 

Points ... went 35 points over my daily allowance & activity points (Weight Watchers Points) 

Activity ... earned 16 points (2 runs & 1 elliptical workout)

Learnings:

1) I need to track daily ... I kept a list on a post-it with my food from the week, but forgot some items & didn't have all the nutrition information beside me to calculate correctly

2) I am still struggling with my frequent chocolate cravings & had quite a few treats this week I need to cut out in future weeks (I am trying to replace sweet cravings with 70% dark chocolate) 

3) I need to increase to at least 4 workouts a week, my body seems to respond better to more frequent, shorter workouts vs longer less frequent workouts

A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Wish

Mission ... 

To lose 25 pounds (eat healthier & work out more), complete a race (original goal was a 5K, revised goal is a half marathon & a triathlon), inspire someone (as I've been inspired!)

Status ... 

Lost 7 pounds ... 18 to go, I jogged my first race in April, a 10k (I'll write a post on that) and signed up for my second in June (taking a hiatus from drinking for 4 weeks until post-race).

Plan ...

I've had some ups and downs (see chart below) but this is the most consistent I've stayed focused.  Slow and steady ...

Pounds to go ...

In the past I might have had a health kick for a few weeks, maybe even few months but then might fall off the wagon for the better part of a year or longer ... But, as time has gone on, my length of staying focused on being healthy have gotten longer and my spans of being unmotivated have gotten shorter.  

On top of that, for the first time, I've actually started to enjoy running ... 18 months ago jogging for even 10 minutes was a struggle and now I can jog a solid 60 minutes.

Title quote: Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Although, per wiki "The earliest appearance yet located of this statement is in 50 Ways to Lose Ten Pounds (1995) by Joan Horbiak, p. 95, where it is quoted as an anonymous proverb. It seems to have circulated as such for a few years before it began to be attributed to Saint Exupéry around 2007."

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Per usual, I've been over ambitious!  

Well firstly, I've signed up for a 10K (my second ever race), 4 weeks from now, number 345.  I planned to do a 8-10 week training plan originally, but similar to last time I think it will be a few sporadic runs to prepare!  (I did my first jog today in weeks of just over 5k with LC).

Secondly, my over ambition on how much I can achieve impacts all aspects of my life ... Such as this blog & how I thought I'd find time to write!  But I have a few draft topics and more ideas ... So I'll get there!

Trying to start a new hobby (blog writing), boyfriend moving in (finally an end to long distance!) searching for a new apartment to move to (unfortunate timing and not planned to need to move), trips away (every weekend!) a birthday surprise for my boyfriend (he loved it!), and starting back to school (does online/self-study count as going back to school?) ... all in the same 4 weeks is a recipe for failure :-)

Hopefully once we are moved into the new place June 1 and I find a good exercise and study schedule, then my blog writing will find its way into my hectic schedule!

Until next time ...