Future MILF Weigh-In: New Commitment, Week 1

This week I decided I had been pretending for the last 6 weeks. Knowing I wanted to lose weight but make exceptions here and there, this doesn't count, that doesn't count, oh that's about a cup, etc. Obviously it wasn't working, I was was up and down like the stock market--as were my moods. So on Tuesday I decided it was time to make some changes around here.

I joined Spark People which has a cool user interface, lots of resources, message boards, and good exercise and food trackers. I am putting everything I eat in there. I love that it gives a calorie range by day and it tracks things like fiber, fat, protein and calcium. I am a geek, I like numbers so the more the merrier.

I joined a program at the gym that introduces you to new equipment and work-outs. There are 35 squares on the bingo card, for each row you complete there is a prize and if you complete 20 you get a t-shirt. Good secondary motivation. So far this week I've completed 5, including a 20 minute stint on the stair climber yesterday that was excruciating. It feels good to mix it up.

I also read (and reviewed) Good Kids, Bad Habits and realized how much my choices impact everyone else in my house. Its hard to develop good habits in the kids if your own need serious work. Monkey see, monkey do is way more effective than do what the head monkey says. It was a little bit of a surprise that the kids eating habits aren't so bad, they eat a variety of foods including fruits and vegetables. It is the constant need for dessert we need to curb.

Last but not least, I gave up chocolate for Lent. I was eating a little here, a little there and lying to myself about how it adds up. I thought it was a good way to get the mind, body, spirit connection going as well.

So coming into Tuesday I had a -1.6 for the last six weeks. Since Tuesday I've lost 2.8 pounds. I don't expect to keep up that rate of weight loss. But I do expect to continue a downward path. I do expect there to be bumps in the road. I already feel better both mentally and physically.

Any other Future MILFs over at Spark People want to start our own little Spark Team? Thanks to everyone for your comments every week, knowing that I have a cheering section really helps! Hope that the rest of the crew had a great week!