The First Week

March 31, 2015
Weight - 242.6

Well crap, I accidentally deleted the post.

Let's just say that I am down about 3 lbs and have given up caffeine, which is going ok ish.

The Starting Point and Some Rules

This is me, in all my yoga spandex glory.

March 24, 2015
Weight -245.8
Waist - 46.5
Hips -55
Thighs - 31
Upper Arms - 18
Bust - 46

I want to do this without a lot of calorie counting or a special diet (though I am currently gluten free and trying to be mostly caffeine free), but I do have rules that I need to follow:

1. Drink water - at least 96 oz per day
2. Keep my portions small, but honor my hunger level
3. One simple, grain or sugar based carb a day
4. One protein based snack a day 
5. Fill up on veggies
6. Fruit is not your enemy, but be careful
7. No artificial sweeteners

When it comes to exercise, I know that I have to keep moving for my own sanity.  Exercising is not the issue.  Here's the current schedule:

• Monday - Hot Hatha Yoga (60 mins)
• Tuesday - Tae Bo (45 mins)
• Wednesday - Hot Hatha Yoga (60 mins) - Substitute Tae Bo as needed for meetings
• Thursday - Tae Bo (45 mins), Yin Yoga (75 mins)
• Friday - Physical Therapy
• Saturday or Sunday - Tae Bo (45 mins)
• Saturday or Sunday - Rest Day

I really hope that sticking to this will do it.  I know where to find the hidden calories.  I know what I should eat and how much I should move my body.  I know that this will be slow.  It is a process and a journey. 

Self Acceptance and Starting Over

I have been working very hard on self acceptance in the last few years.  A lot has happened in that time (injured back, discovery of yoga, thyroid scares, raising kids, job fears), but I have come to accept that I am mostly AWESOME just the way I am.

I have also come to realize that because I have a certain vision of where my life will be - long, healthy, active life - I need to fix a few of the not quite as awesome parts. Most notably, my weight.

The year of physical therapy and just getting older has made me realize that I need to be strong, and at this point, to be strong, I also need to drop some of the fat.  I am not talking about being a size 2.  I am talking about being a healthy weight that supports the life I want.

And I want to do it in a sustainable, healthy way.  (There are those kids to consider in this whole thing.)

I know that I need to be accountable to something to make this work.  The idea of joining a group is just not something I want to do.  So, I am going to blog about it.

And guess what, I am going to record pictures and inches as well as pounds.

I am basically starting over.

But it will be worth it.