End of Week 1....2 pounds down

I weighed in this morning and found that I lost 2 pounds.   Two pounds doesn't seem all that significant, especially in our Biggest Loser culture, but a trick I learned from Weight Watchers was to find some way to visualize what those pounds actually are....what else weighs that amount.  I searched through my kitchen and found that these added up to 2 lbs:

So, when I held these in my hands this morning to visualize what 2 lbs actually was---I felt more successful.

As far as sticking to a plan I really only did an adequate job.  I tracked in My Fitness Pal for a couple of days and then when the deadlines of the semester ending felt overwhelming I ended up abandoning my tracking plans. Even when I didn't track I did try to make healthy choices---and I probably did that 80% of the time.  That other 20% consisted of taco pizza and Michael's famous puppy chow.  Mmmmmmm.  Puppy chow.
I'm hoping that with my break from teaching I'll be able to make tracking a habit.  The same goes for exercise.  I couldn't muster up the willpower to start a new ritual the week with all of the grading I had to get done.  So, like every good chubby American, I'll probably start my exercise routine after the Holidays.

Now on to week 2.  I'm nervous because most of the time we will spend traveling and visiting family.  These family events are actually not all that bad, it's me who is the problem.  Every time I travel my brain decides it's on a break from all things responsible (except parenting) which includes healthy habits.  My brain decides, "Wooohoo!  Calories don't count if you are more than 30 miles from home!".

"Failure to plan is planning to fail".---Wise Person

So, my plan will be to track in My Fitness Pal while traveling, really consider portion sizes instead of a "this food looks so good I don't know when I'll have good food again so I must eat it all now" approach.  I will also bring a water bottle with me and pack some sort of protein-type bar in my luggage (I've found that not having a protein-packed breakfast is a guaranteed route for me to fail, at least this has been good habit of mine for a few years now).  I am also going to wear my pedometer--if I'm not going to hit the gym until after the New Year, I can at least try to get as many steps in a day as I can.

End of week 1.  2 pounds down, 63 to go...