Damn You Superbowl

I've had "juggler's fatigue," where worrying about my food intake and being healthy is hard to maintain with so many other balls in the air. So my news wasn't awesome on the scale this morning:

274.5 lb.

I've actually gained a little back from the past two weeks. I'm not feeling it, totally don't really care today. But I'm trying to stick to my tasks and I've put this on there. I'm monitoring my weight weekly and monitoring my food-consumption daily. (Well I've been AWFUL about the last part, so I'm going to make it a priority today.) Already logged my modest breakfast. Wish me luck! My sister's "Big Game" spread of food and a couple of beers totally didn't help.

... and a heavy New Year

Busy, busy -- first day "back at work" at so many things. I let myself relax a little on diet and activity for the holidays. I gained about 6 1/2 pounds since last time I posted here. Not great, but could be worse! Now I'm back to monitoring intake and weekly weight. I'm considering this year a fresh start. My goal weight by year's end is 225 pounds -- achievable if I'm willing to keep at it. Here's where I'm starting:

275.8 lb.

Only 50.8 pounds to go! (Yes, I know my feet don't look awesome. One thing at a time!)

Humpday Reporting

I'm shifting my weekly weigh-in to a day other than Monday, being as how I'm often too groggy to remember to step on the scale before I start throwing things off by drinking/eating, etc. We'll try Wednesday for now. Middle of the week seems fair for a representative weekly weighing. I'll ask Siri to yell at me in the morning to remind me.

269.4 lb.

Weekly Loss: 1.8 lb.

Total Loss Since 8/17/2015: 23.8 lb.

Less than two pounds and I will have achieved one of the personal goals I've set for myself: Lose 25 pounds by the time my son is born. Jensen Edward Chambers is predicted to arrive on December 15th--but we'll see if he decides to enter the world a little early. Maybe I can make it to 30 before he makes life more interesting!

Time Flies When You Forget to Post

Who's got two thumbs and forgot to weigh-in last week? It's been a crazy one, with Halloween activities for the little one going on for a full week. (Remember when holidays used to be one day out of the year, and somehow they keep growing until they are week-long events or even entire seasons? It's almost as if companies who financially profit from holiday-frenzy are pushing consumers to think and spend more on each one so we're always focused on purchasing something or else be shunned by polite society. Sorry, I digress.) I am very proud to say that I managed to avoid all of the delicious, mass-produced sugary goodness from the various candy buckets and bags. Even while playing D&D yesterday I was the one who passed on the Halloween candy (it was carrots, hummus, and pita chips instead). I have, however, allowed myself the occasional treat of my liquid apple pie because we have to have some vice in our life.

Anyway, two weeks late I've got good news!

271.2 lb.

Weekly x 2 Loss: 2.4 lb.

Total Loss Since 8/17/2015: 22.0 lb.

HALLELUJAH!

I got over the 20 lb. milestone! And I managed to still show a decent 1.2 lb. average loss per week (since I didn't actually weigh in last time). If I can do just slightly better this week I'll make it down into the 260s and I'll be one happy camper. My once-tight jeans seem very loose and I need a new belt. I wear this stretchy-material one and I've pretty much mangled it and now my pants are falling down no matter how tightly I try to cinch it up. My size 2XL shirts are looking looser on me and I'm not too far from being able to wear my old XL shirts without looking like a pudgy adult trying on little kids' clothes.

Halloween --> Thanksgiving --> Christmas --> New Year. Every month brings in traditional treat/feast days. I survived the first, but there are three to go, not to mention all the baking and treat-making I do this time of year. Help me stay strong, Internet. Willpower has never been my strong suit.

Steak & Martini Downfall

We'll make this short and sweet. I was on track to make my 20 pound goal, but then I traveled to Kentucky to conduct some business and help out one of my best friends — the amazing Lindsay Archer — at an art showing at a games and comics store. This weekend involved two steak & martini dinners, and I'm fairly certain I overdid a bit. (Mmm ... baked sweet potato ...) Still, I still lost for the week and I'm really close!

273.6 lb.

Weekly Loss: 1.4 lb.

Total Loss Since 8/17/2015: 19.6 lb.

I'm less than half a pound from the first major milestone of twenty pounds of lard erased. This is GOING TO HAPPEN this week. I'll see you when it does!

So Close to 20!

Working off a few pounds is good and important and all that ... but when you can honestly declare "I've lost twenty pounds" that you feel like you've really accomplished something. Twenty pounds makes a difference in how you feel and look. And I'm soooo close, you guys. In fact, I would probably have made it but I indulged this weekend with some mini-anniversary celebrating with my lady-love. A cocktail, Cajun dinner, and even dessert! No regrets. I still made progress for the week!

275.0 lb.

Weekly Loss: 1.4 lb.

Total Loss Since 8/17/2015: 18.2 lb.

This does represent the least amount of weekly weight lost, but once again: crawfish bread and pumpkin bread pudding. SO GOOD. But I'm going to try and do better this week. I want to be able to announce I hit the 20 lb. milestone!

Pumpkin Plumpness

Still working at it, some days I'm better than others, but I'm keeping track of what I'm eating and slowly working my way there.

276.4 lb.

Weekly Loss: 1.8 lb.

Total Loss Since 8/17/2015: 16.8 lb.

The bad news is that's the least amount I've lost in a week since I started working at weight loss again. But the GOOD news is that I'm still going in the right direction and I came within spitting distance of my 2 pounds per week goal. And the extra good news is that based on that two pounds per week lost average, I'm still about five pounds ahead of where I wanted to be at this time. Keep me strong, Internet—this is the month of pumpkin bread and trick or treat candy!