Just Five Pounds Goal: 218.5

Well, it's 5:20 AM -- and I am awake in my kitchen.  Quiet.

9/27/10 Weigh In: 223.5
Goal Weight Loss: 5 pounds
Final Weight: 218.5

I'm really trying to keep it simple.  I'm really trying to focus on a small task.  I know weight loss is about so much more than the scale.  It's about my life -- and how I want to live it.

I'll weigh in next Monday and see what progress I have made.

Just Five Pounds

Goals are important--yes! 

But goals are overrated!  Really they are! 

Yes I have goals!  I have things in my head that I want to accomplish.  I have things I want to accomplish written down on a piece of paper.  I have reasons why I want to lose the weight -- need to lose the weight.  And I know what they are.  Honestly -- all of my words, words, words makes things very complicated!  Spelling out all of these goals to you right now just isn't worth it.

Now seeing me ACT on a simple goal--that would be an accomplishment!


So I'm trying to keep this simple.  And here it is--a simple goal: to lose 5 pounds.  And to reward myself when it's accomplished!

Tomorrow morning, I will share my weight.  And I will do the work to lose 5 pounds.

It's just five pounds!  Even with a busy life, I can do that!  I might not be in the "gym rat scene" right now, but I can step up my activity.  I might not be the "perfect" eater right now, but I can make some better choices in order to make a little progress.

 5 pounds is a little step.  5 pounds is nothing.  5 pounds is keeping it simple.  5 pounds is doable.

Check out my journey to lose 5 BIG little pounds.  It's a simple goal.  It's my goal.

How would you change your life if you were just going to lose just 5 pounds?

Weighing In and Goals, Goals, Goals

Weekly Weigh In: 229.5 pounds (Mon 5/10/10)

When I started JentoLose back in February, I had the hardest time setting my goals.  This time I have my goals set and I'm moving forward!  I have my goals listed on my Progress Page, but I wanted to make some comments on these as well--comments are in red below.  I'm also trying to start small and focus on manageable chunks, so I have some May Goals set as well:

May Goals

So here are my goals for the month of May (about 3 weeks left):

--To lose 2 pounds a week for a total weight loss of at least 5 pounds
--To make healthy "in plan" choices when going out to eat
--To walk outside every day-- it's doable
--To finish reading The Worry Cure (picked up at the library--want to find strategies for keeping my worries in check)

That's it for May.  Of course I'm doing more stuff, but this is where my focus lies.  I'm going to gave a May goal update each week.  Probably boring details for some, but not for me!:)


Jen to Lose Goals (with comments in red)


1. Scale Goals -- I will use the scale as a tool to track my weight loss, but it is not the everything. (Have to start with the scale---it's unavoidable, at least right now)

• I will do the work to reach a weight that is within a healthy range for my height.  I will reach this ultimate weight goal by focusing on smaller goals (If I'm being honest, I have 150 in my head, but I'm trying be be flexible with myself and focus on what's most important--just moving and making healthy choices daily)
• I will focus on losing 5 pounds at a time, rewarding myself at each success (giving special attention to reaching my pre-pregnancy weight and my lowest weight in the last five years)  (I can do 5 pounds)
• I will also track my measurements monthly

2. Food Goals

• I will use Weight Watcher's point system to track and guide my calorie consumption and food choices.  (This is what I know and feel most comfortable with.  It gives me flexibility and some options, so I'm going with it.)
• I will write down everything I eat in a daily food journal.
• I will use the plan to increase my intake of whole, natural foods. (I'm throwing around the idea of going more organic, more grass fed beef and better chicken, but the cheapskate in me has to take baby steps in this area)
• I will not binge! I commit to regrouping immediately after having a setback with my food choices. (I think THIS IS KEY to my success and growth as I continue this journey!  What to do when I want to abandon my goals and eat everything in sight?  And how do I regroup immediately and keep moving toward my goals!  Again THIS IS KEY!  I would love to say that I'm going to perfect with my eating choices--but that just ain't going to happen!  So if I can figure out this area, I will be making awesome, awesome progress!)

3.  Activity Goals

• I make the commitment to DAILY activity and exercise.  I will schedule a daily activity/walk at least five times a week. (I know I need to start small, but I need to commit to the activity.  So that is what I am trying to do!)
• I will schedule and plan more ways to be active with my children and family --at least three times a week.
• In September 2010, I will begin to add jogging to my weekly activity, working up to a 5K race in May 2011 (About 10 years ago, jogging was a small part of my work out schedule.  I would jog for about 20 minutes at a time.  It was challenging, but I know I can do this again!  I want to do this again!)

4.  Finding Me Goals --Part of this journey is about identifying the reasons why I have used and abused food.  To do this I will. . .

• Write in a journal or Jen to Lose on a regular basis, checking in with myself about my success, challenges, and where I am going.
• Identify new ways to better handle stress, worry, and hormones.
• I will set smaller, monthly goals in order to manage my journey in smaller chunks.
• If I am having challenges and struggles, I commit to use my journal and blog as a tool.  I commit to keep going, to keep writing, to probing deeper. (Honestly, I feel a little lost right now--just keeping in honest.  Probably has something to do with being a SAHM for five years now and having a new baby.  I know I need to take on some new challenges.  And right now, my weight loss goals are the priority!)

5. Other Goals

• In October 2010, I will have a family portrait taken.  (I always avoid pictures--hate them!  But I am committing to having a family photo taken by the end of October 2010--5 months from now!)

Well, this doesn't say it all but it is a solid start.  I would like to add something about my family, but I think that will come with time.  Ultimately this is not only about the scale.  This is not about perfection.  It's about taking one step towards saying what I want and doing the work to make it happen.

You have your goals Jen.  You have your starting point.  You have a vision.  It is strong.  It is doable.  It is a plan you can act on.

Rambling Goals -- April 2010

So I have had the hardest time spitting out my goals.  I've just been avoiding actually making sense of this weight loss BS and what I really, really want.  And I've had it.  I'm going to get them out of my head, down on paper right now!  They might be messy, they might not be pretty.  It might be all long and drawn out -- but at least I'm getting them out there so I can move forward (act, move, learn). 

So this is my "rambling goals" post.  I need to write this to focus my thoughts.  Then I'm going to follow up with my "specific goals" post that finally gives me some clarity.
Here goes:



So Jen -- What Do You Really Want?
I want to lose weight.  I want to lose the fat off my body.  There.  I said it.  It's pretty basic.  I've said it before, and I'm saying it now--that's what I want!

I want to live differently.  Live better.  Treat my body better--with the respect it deserves.  I want to feed my family better and live with my family better.  I want to be THE model for my children.  I don't want them to inherit my bad choices and unhealthy way of living.  I want to teach them that there is SO much more to celebrating life than just food!

I want to be active -- on my own and with my family.    I want to move.  I want to really live instead of watching another day, month, year go by without making this change.  I want to radically change my life, starting small and building up.  I want to walk, run, jump, swim, race, move, live, love, be, jog.  I want to work hard.  I want to sweat.  I want to change.  I want to change now.

I love my body and I want to treat it better.  I want to feel comfortable in my body.  I want my body to reflect all that is good about who I am and who I know I can be.  I want to grow old in my body.  I want to care for it.

I want to act.  I want to be healthy.  I want to make the right decisions.  I want to respect who I am -- my body, my mind, my spirit.

I want to live my best life -- the life I am destined to live.

I want to make minute by minute, and hourly and daily choices based on what I really, really want.  And this is it!

I want to choose me!  I choose me!  I don't want the food!  I don't want the inactivity.  I want the real me.  I choose the real me.


And this is what I want even more:

I want to choose me for more than just a few weeks, or even a few months.  I want to make these changes -- FOREVER.  When life gets stressful, and choosing me is hard,  I want to keep going!  If I have rough patch, and I choose food and inactivity for a moment, I want it to be just a moment and not a reason to crash and burn.  I want to keep going toward my goals of living my best, best life!  I want to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward.  This is key!

I want to make this work.  I want to make this my life.  I can do this.  It's about doing the work, moving my body, and moving forward.  One step at a time.  One decision at a time.  One moment at a time.

Act on what I want the most.  Act, Move, Learn.

Now spell out the specifics Jen. . . stay tuned for the specifics.  They are a coming.

My Five Things #1

So I have to go to bed, but I just want to get this started.  Since I saw the recent episode of Ruby, I'm inspired to change my life by starting with just five things.  I'm inspired to identify five things that I can do or change that can help me live a better, different life -- today, right now.

I've decided that I'm going to use April to focus on changing these five things.  And then once May hits, I'll change it up and perhaps identify five different things.  But let's take it one step at a time.  I can do anything for a month, right?  So here it is. . . the first of my five things:

#1 Limit watching television to ONLY while I am moving!

Now I'm not going to do this forever, but I think this is a good place to start right now!  I'm the first to admit that I have a real problem with watching TV--watching too much that is.  I would love NOT to have our satellite and just have basic channels (have I mentioned I'm a frugalista--my fancy way of saying cheapskate).  But this is an argument I just can't win with my husband.

I waste way too much time watching TV -- when I could be doing other things--more productive things.  My routine has been to finally get the kids off to bed and then to crash on the couch with some food for at least two to three hours.  I stay up too late, get too little sleep -- all because I veg in front of the TV. 
I have a pile of books from the library I would LOVE to read, but I don't even touch them!  I could actually talk to my husband or take a bath or write in a journal or on this thing.  Or I could scrapbook or read a magazine or garden or tackle a project.  Just think of the time I could have on my hands!

So here's my plan!  I'm NOT going to watch TV sitting on the couch.  But I will LET myself watch TV if I am doing it while moving my body, while exercising.  I have a step that I can use.  And if I want to watch, I'll have to step -- up and down, up and down.  If I want to watch, I'll have to move (also part of my new Act, Move, Learn philosophy).

I'm going to give this a try for the month of April, and then I'll let you know what I learned.  It's great to be starting just five things!

Now, off to bed.

Jen to Lose Goals

Knowing exactly what you want is the first step to getting it.

Sometimes all of my words get in the way of really saying what I want to say. So I'm going to keep it simple:

Long Term Goals:

Weight Loss Goal #1: I will reach my pre-pregnancy weight of 205 pounds.
Weight Loss Goal #2: I will do the work to reach a weight of 180 pounds.
Weight Loss Goal #3: I will do the work to reach a final weigh of 150-155 pounds.

Non-Scale Goals:

Long Term Goal #1: I will do the work to take care of my body and improve my health. I will track this success by having my cholesterol and blood pressure tested. (I will share my current numbers soon.)

Long Term Goal #2: I will become more active with my family, making the dedicated effort to move more and be active with my children on a regular basis.

Small Steps - Small Goals:

#1 -- I will strive for a 2 pound loss every week.
#2 -- I will control my food/calorie intake by keeping a written food journal.
#3 -- I will use JentoLose on a regular basis to explore my thoughts, feelings, successes, and set backs through this process. I will use it as a weight loss tool.
#4 -- I will reward myself for each 5 pound weight loss.