Goal Update: January 31, 2012

Well, I did it!  I lost a whole 20 pounds!  It took me 2 months, almost exactly to do.  That is 2 pounds per week for those of you who can do math, or a little bit more for the months that don't have 5 weeks!  I need to lose 40 more.  I'm motivated to do it this time.  I realized the other day why I'm motivated to lose the weight.  This time around I'm doing it for myself.

The first time I *really* needed to lose a lot of weight was when I came back from Argentina.  I didn't realize how big I had grown over there.  I ate a lot of empanadas and a lot of alfajores (Argentine cookies).  None of the foods I ate were particularly good for me.  I walked a lot, but I was eating out and drinking TOO MUCH.  

When I came home, Mom and Dad took us out to the Peking Palace for Chinese food.  Peking Palace was our family's favorite restaurant while I was growing up.  My Mom and Dad loved their Sizzling Rice Soup.  I loved their Egg Drop Soup.  When we walked in the Chinese lady said, "My have you grown."  She was blunt and rude.  We haven't been back since. Hearing those words from her  was eye-opening and made me want to lose weight.  I wanted to do it for appearances, not really for myself.

I began riding my bike about 10 miles a day with Jon (my friend from high school), while I waited to go back to college, to get on with my life.  By the time I arrived back at American, I had lost about 20 pounds.  I continued to lose by eating more healthily.  I also became a vegetarian around the same time, which really helped with the weight loss.

The second time I really had to lose weight, I did it for Hubby and my wedding.  I lost 50 pounds.  I kept it off for two years, until I became pregnant with Son #1.  Since then, I've always struggled to take the weight off in between pregnancies.  I have led more and more of a sedentary lifestyle.  Now, I'm willing to do something about it FOR ME, not for anyone else.

I met most of my goals from last week.  I attended taekwondo four times (or more).  I actually went to three classes today.  I needed the stress relief, but now I sort of feel like I can't remove myself from this chair!  I attended a lunch class, the Family Class with Son #1, and then the evening adult class.  I love the way I feel after working out hard, like I have a whole new lease on life.  Plus, I absolutely adore my taekwondo friends.

Bathrooms: What a chore.  I did two out of four.  Two out of four ain't bad, is it?  I'll do the other two tomorrow.  Plus, I need to vacuum.  Do you know how much I abhor housework?  My Mom does.

Leg Throws:  Hubby and I did well with these at the beginning of the week, but he strained his neck and hasn't done any more.  I did them one day without him.  I really need to stick with this strength training exercise.  Leg throws definitely increase and strengthen my ab muscles as well as my leg muscles.

Oh yeah, and I didn't get sick, and I DID lose the 1 pound!!!  YAY!!!

Goals for next week:

1.  Vacuum downstairs every day.

2.  Test for my 2nd Level Green Belt and Advance in Level!

3.  Walk -- Taekwondo takes a week break usually after testing, so I'll have to seek other  exercise next week.

4.  I'm going BIG -- Lose 1.5 pounds!

Let's see if I can pull it off!