Steppin' Up a Notch

It arrived today! 

The DVD that I've anxiously been waiting on was in the mailbox when I got home.  The step arrived last week, but the DVD of basic step aerobics had shipped separately and I was excited to give it a try. 

During my wait time, I tried to step to a video on You Tube without much success.  I propped the iPad up in front of me and sure gave it my all, but there is something about having your knee up in mid-air only to have the video pause.  So, off to the library to see if I could find a DVD until mine arrived.  I went to two libraries and found a couple to try out.

Step aerobics first became popular in 1989 and for some reason, 22 years later, I've decided to give it a try.  According to Wikipedia, the benefits of this type of exercise consists of burning calories, building endurance, improving balance, impacting positively on mental health and reducing stress.  All the benefits that I wouldn't mind having these days.

Last Saturday's weigh in was a positive one.  I celebrated the loss of 4.4 pounds.  Looks like the steps that I've been taking the last week and a half has been in the right direction.

My Fitness Pal

It's Friday night. Phew! What a week. It is also the night before weigh in.

Tomorrow morning, I face the scale again. I feel pretty good about what I've accomplished this week. It helps when you tell others what you are doing. I am blessed to be surrounded by friends and family that will wink and nod at me, as if to say, "I've got your back."

One of those family members suggested that I try out MyFitnessPal, which is a diet and fitness community built with one purpose in mind: providing you with the tools and support you need to achieve your weight loss goals. Sounds just like Weight Watchers, right? Right. Don't get me wrong, I am still a die hard Weight Watcher, but what I like about MyFitnessPal is that it is focused on calories in/calories out. MyFitnessPal saves me the trouble of carrying around a notepad and pen to track my calories and has a great database of foods. There's no math to do - it adds everything up for me and keeps track of how many calories I have left right on my phone! I am encouraged to eat less and motivated again to lose weight by simply tracking.

Getting back to the basics.   How you keep track isn't what matters rather that you are keeping track. No more mindless eating while standing at the pantry.

Overall, it has been a good week. Ended it tonight with a little dinner out with my youngest son, Patrick. We shared some pizza and then went to Dairy Queen for dessert. I quickly entered Dairy Queen Fudge Bar into the MyFitnessPal app and it popped up that it is only 45 calories! Okay, so I entered other items on that menu in first only to realize that I didn't have enough calories in my entire day's total to indulge.

All too often, people tackle weight loss by giving up everything at once, hoping to lose a huge amount quickly. That doesn't work for long term weight loss. What I've learned is the greatest success comes from the little steps taken in this journey. Giving up a little at a time will keep me from giving up altogether.

I'm back. I'm ready. It's on! (wink)

An Intervention

So, I need help.

An intervention, by definition, is the act of interfering with the outcome or course especially of a condition or process (as to prevent harm or improve functioning).

I need an intervention.

I have been on a downward spiral for about a year now. Slowly, I've gone back to my old ways. Finding comfort in food.

Last week, a friend and fellow Weight Watcher said to me, "What are you doing? I'm not going to let you go back. You've worked so hard to get to where you are." She just said it point blank. And it hit me. She didn't say it to be cruel. She said it because she cares. Most loved ones intervene when they see the one they love spiraling out of control. I'm thankful to her for saying something to me.

I've given my husband permission to "say" something to me, if he sees me lingering at the pantry. So, if you see me, please participate in my intervention. I need all the help that I can get.

I might not like it, but please intervene.