This post is written as part of a journey inspired by the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s My Healthy Weight Action Plan, an online tool geared towards helping you live a healthier life. Feel free to get caught up on previous posts: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5
Here are the stats to show my progress in my “Get Healthy Challenge”:
Start Weight: 190 pounds
End of Week 1: 185 pounds
End of Week 2: 183 pounds
End of Week 3: 182 pounds
End of Week 4: 179 pounds
End of Week 5: 179 pounds
Starting BMI: 28.9
End of Week 1 BMI: 28.1
End of Week 2 BMI: 27.8
End of Week 3 BMI: 27.7
End of Week 4 BMI: 27.2
End of Week 5 BMI: 27.2
My goal is to reach a normal BMI which would be 24.9 (the top of what is considered a “normal” BMI) at 164 pounds and from there, I plan to reassess.
This week is the first week since I’ve started this that I didn’t lose any weight. I wish that I could say that it was because I exercised SO much that I gained weight in muscle, but I highly doubt that. My energy levels are still not 100% and, to be perfectly honest with myself, I didn’t try hard enough to exercise as much as I should have. It’s all about timing, I have to MAKE time for exercise and I find it a huge challenge for me. It *could* also partly be due to water retention as well. I’ve never paid that close attention to my weight and how it fluctuates around that time of month, but I’ve seen a few other woman post about that, so it could be the case for me too.
Heart and Stroke “My Healthy Weight Action Plan” Update:
I am continuing to use the FREE online Heart and Stroke Foundation My Healthy Weight Action Plan Tool in order to track the food I am eating. I am still quite surprised at how accountable I feel when I know that I must record it on the tracking sheet.
On the homepage of “My Healthy Weight Action Plan”, there are three sections: My Tracker, My Planner and My Goals. In the My Tracker section on the “home page”, you can see which days for that week you entered food intake and which days you entered activity. For the My Planner section, you can see an overview for your day with regards to meal plans and activity plans (or intentions) and for the My Goals, it refreshes your memory on what your overall goals are and how you are going to achieve them.
Up until now, I haven’t been focussed on my planning my week, instead I’ve focussed on tracking my eating and activity as I go. Now that I have made this a routine, I would like to start focussing on making plans. This will allow me to have more goals and to be more organized with regards to grocery shopping and meal planning. I am feeling slightly overwhelmed about planning my week in advance because so many unexpected things arise that could potentially affect my plan. At the same time, I also know that when you plan ahead, you might be able to achieve your goals with more ease. You also might not be as inclined or tempted to stray from the plan. This way, those little “life happenings” that occur that typically stand in your way from exercising or from eating that healthy snack are no longer as much of an excuse.
This Week’s Challenges:
- Exercise continues to be a challenge for me and something tells me, it always will be! I only did DDR twice this week. I still don’t feel like my usual self energy wise, but should this still be an excuse?
- I slacked this week on preparing raw veggies and salads ahead of time. This lead me to making different (not bad) choices than I should have.
This Week’s Smiles:
- I didn’t drink as much coffee this week.
- Pampered Patty gave me the BEST suggestion for drinking my hot lemon water. I was having difficulty with the tartness of the lemon and I was feeling guilty for putting a drop of Agave syrup in it to add sweetness. She suggested I cut the lemon and add more water. Not rocket science, but I hadn’t thought of that! It worked SO well and it got one more glass of water into me early in the day which cut back on my desire to drink coffee! Thank you, Pampered Patty! Visit Patty on Fridays for her Firm ‘N Fit Friday posts!
- I tried out two protein shakes from Arbonne and I can’t even begin to tell you how delicious they were! I’m not kidding you when I say they tasted like milk shakes, but they are SO healthy!
- I have found two Protein Bar/Cookies that I feel OK about eating as a meal supplement (with fruit or veggies) or as a snack. Luna bars are the “best” bar I have been able to find and Smart For Life Protein Cookies are not bad either.
Goals for Next Week:
- Exercise! Enough said.
- Try not to be discouraged when I step on the scale and it isn’t moving!
- Continue to find healthy recipes.
- Wash and cut up veggies and prepare salads for easy meal supplements or snacks.
Check out the healthier recipes I’ve found:
Brussel Sprout and Broccoli Slaw
Individual Cookie Dough Oatmeal Cake (Breakfast)
Breakfast “Grab and Go” Cookies
Biggest Loser Oatmeal Pancakes
Sweet and Sour Roasted Chickpeas
Here are some healthy recipe websites and blogs that I referred to this week:
Here are the Blog Hops if you are interested in checking them out:
Opinions expressed belong to Multi-Testing Mommy and are NOT influenced in any way. See MTM’s Disclosure for more details.
Wow! You’re doing great and what a great tool! Thanks for sharing.
You’re doing great. And i know it’s frustrating when you don’t go down.
I’ve been tracking my weight for awhile (weekly for about a year).
So, of course there are just exceptionally good and bad weeks. However, if i’m following my healthy lifestyle, i can pretty much guarantee the week before “my time” I either stay the same or go up slightly. If i go up more than a pound I attribute it to diet and lack of exercise. but if i stay the same or go up a pound, i generally know that’s why.
too bad the next week i don’t double the weightloss!!!!
being a girl rocks.
I think you are doing fabulous girl. keep at it!
You are doing great. Those recipes sound yummy. I will need to check them out
As a woman, it can be so darn frustrating trying to lose weight when you have to take things like water retention due to the time of the month into consideration!
It frustrates me a lot! 🙂
I know that weighing yourself weekly is part of the plan you’re using but try all you can not to focus on that number because yes, there are so many factors that have to do with that darn num on the scale!
For example, I have been working out with a personal trainer since Novemeber 16. For the most part I’ve been following an eating plan and working hard. I didn’t lose a pound and in fact gained one.
Then I sprained my ankle, and haven’t worked out for 3 weeks and I’ve lost 2 pounds sitting idol. I know the reasons behind it all but go figure huh? As if weight loss wasn’t confusing enough??!
Keep up the good work and don’t get discouraged!
Awesome job, you’re motivating me!
I’m trying the brussel sprout and broccoli slaw this week. I bought the ingredients this weekend. Keep your focus on the big picture 🙂 You’re doing great!
You are doing amazing. I’m so happy that you are going strong. Keep it up love. 😀
You are doing amazing. Try not to let it get you down if you have one off week or the scale remains the same. You are putting in the effort and that in and of itself is inspiring. You should be proud of yourself. 🙂
hopefully you will see some action on the scale next week. I know I didn’t lose anything on the scale two weeks ago due to that same issue. And I hear you about making time to exercise – it is HARD to find time for YOU. I know that I feel guilty heading out the the gym when DS is still awake. But I need to remember that this is for both of us. If I feel healthier and stronger I will be a better mom too!
I think you are doing great! Your motivation is inspiring…keep it up.
You’re doing so great, I look forward to the next update! 🙂