In the bag

Week one is in the bag!  Phew, what a week it has been.  Best laid plans of mice and men I guess!

Between crazy busy-ness at work and a few emotional swings for one reason or the other (hunger??), it has been TOUGH to maintain this.  But here's the only thing that matters:  I HAVE!!

Come on, you know I've earned a little high-five action... 

So the good news is, I'm still going strong.  The bad news is - writing everyday just isn't going to work for me.  So I'll check in as frequently as I can.  

Here's what we've missed: 

- The first three days of a diet SUCK.  Just suck.  Day 1 is OK because you're all motivated and ready to take on the world.  But then there is day two which is just mentally exhausting and day three where you are legitimately hungry.  Deeply hungry.  Crossed over into angry hungry.  Hangry.  You've been there.  But if you power through those three days, everything gets easier.  I promise.  

- Myfitnesspal.com is a great app.  Great.  Log your food (EVERYTHING!) and get some friends and they'll help kick your butt in no time.  Definitely keeps the motivation high.  My favorite part is the barcode scanner that picks up the nutrition content of pretty much any packaged food.  I haven't found anything that doesn't work yet. Even if it isn't a "single serve" pack, the app just calculates one serving worth and then you can adjust.  It's great.  I also love "MapMyWalk."  Walking outside is way less horrible than the dreadmill and then you can race you from yesterday along the same path.  And the two apps work together!

- I'm still trying to decide if I'm just eating to my calorie goal (right now, between 1200 - 1500) or if I should be "eating back" the calories I'm burning in exercise.  Myfitnesspal says I should be... I want to lose weight fast... For now, I'm keeping the option open for those hangry days.  You are welcome, friends, family and co-workers.

So, that was week one.  All in all, a success.  10,000 steps a day and never over my calorie goal.  Today... it's 12:50PM and I'm only at 2362 steps.  Maybe we'll take today as a rest day?  I sure feel like I could use one.  If so, I'll lower the goal to 8000.  That should be doable right? 

Speaking of goals, here are my milestones: 

Every pound = $1 in my jar.  I can then spend it on anything I want... including new workout clothes.  No money in the jar?  No new workout clothes.  That's the rules, man... 

<250 - Pamper myself day - new tennis shoes, massage and a mani/pedi
<225 - New work clothes - a week's worth!
<200 - SKYDIVING!  Seriously.  Planning a "skydiving" girls weekend to celebrate.  Who's in? :)
<175 - Trip to the Beach!
<160 - GOAL!  That's reward enough right there...

Any other good ideas?