1.  The Scale

At WW this week, were reminded yet again to not let the scale be our sole means of evaluating progress.  Fitting better into our clothes and feeling healthier were just a couple alternative causes for celebration.

2.  Vitabot

This week I started using Vitabot (one of the perks/requirements of Lighten Up).  It's a software program which records the nutritional information of the foods we eat.  On the days when I've eaten an egg the Vitabot has sqwaked at me, announcing that my cholestorl intake is immediately too high. 

Should I let the Vitabot's warning prevent me from eating eggs?  I don't think so.  There's too much science out there in favor of eggs' protein, choline, lutein, and even cholesterol. 

3.  Activity Monitor

I think you can imagine my dismay when, after 4 miles of walking & sweating along to a dvd at home, my activity monitor showed hardly any progress at all.  (By comparison, after just 1 mile on the treadmill, the activity monitor blinks its perky green lights in a virtual parade of kudos.)

Should I let the monitor's blind-eye prevent me from working out at home when it's my only option?  No.

One of the nice side effects of becoming healthy is becoming less of a victim and more empowered. 

My Lighten Up 2014 honeymoon week went well.  Like the other participants, I used the excitement of the contest launch to propel myself into making good choices.  I planned and executed all my workouts, made healthy food choices, and found my little reward at the scale a week later. 

Like a lot of people, I feel "this time will be different."  What does that mean for me?  Well, I participated in Lighten Up several years ago.  During that experience and in the interim I've learned a lot about food, exercise, the support that's available, and the all important positive attitude.  This time I have a better idea of what I need/want to eat and how best to exercise; a lot of the guesswork is gone.

Another difference is that this time around I'm ineligible to win a prize, the competitive pressure is off.  Sure, I want to post good numbers in the newspaper but I'm more concerned with me this time, with how to get healthier for me, for good.  Last time I was so anxious about the contest that I made myself sick.  This time, I'm enjoying the blogs about everyone's successes.  Instead of comparing my numbers to theirs, I'm simply happy and hopeful for all of us.

Oh Sunday,

Sweet day of rest. 

You are when I leave the activity monitor on my night stand and close the cover of my food journal.

You are, more than those stolen moments during the week, the hours when my soul draws in the Breath of Life and releases the tensions of the goal-journey.

You allow me to renew my Faith and my faith, to pause, to Listen, and to reflect.

You restore my muscles and tendons.

You are the stretch and the calm, the balance to what lies ahead.

You are chosen my imperfection which frees me to do my best.

Yes, somewhere in this frigid land the sun is shining bright;

The boots are drying near the vent, and someone's hearts is light,

And now at home she's laughing, and with pride she does shout;

For there is joy in Coldville — mighty Karin has worked out!

Looking through the trash this morning because I forgot to record the nutrition information from yesterday's tofu package.

In other news, I've picked a new workout routine and have been reading up on the prevention of shin splints.

Happy Monday & good week to all!

Chances are that if you've ever had a goal, you know that when the linguists of yore conceived the word, they wanted to ensure that it was capable of (1) being yelled loud and long at sporting events ("Goooooooooooooooooooooal!"); and (2) supporting an appropriate acronym. 

Go

Out

And

Learn.

Fabulous!  Go out and learn!  Anyone can do that anywhere any time.  "What happens when I jump up?  Where is that smell coming from?  Is there an e on the end of tomato/e?  How do I actually, not just theoretically, lose weight?"  Learn learn learn learn learn.

But how do I know when I'm done, when I've achieved my goal?

So linguists of a little later yore came up with the word smart.  (Note: I bet their computer thesaurus didn't offer synonyms like elegant, neat, and chic.  Surely those words are synonyms for smart, but that's not what I was going for.  Does my computer not see my flannel pajamas and the fuzzy slippers on my tootsies?  But I digress.)

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Time-related

What's the point?  I really needed to define my Lighten Up goal more specifically than "I don't want to be fat."   Blogging this morning has been a very helpful  exercise (exercise -- woohoo!).  I now have a smart goal.  

Now that I've identified my smart goal (don't worry, it's just a few more words down the page... I mean screen), I can work on achieving it. 

 

Here it is:

 

So that I get to continue into the second half of Lighten Up 2014,

by and on April 26 I will weigh 5% less than I did yesterday morning.

 

For those of you who don't read Bookshelf Symbol 7:

So that I get to continue into the second half of Lighten Up 2014,

by and on April 26 I will weigh 5% less than I did yesterday morning.

 

Specific?  Yep.

Measurable?  You betcha.

Achievable?  Yes.

Realistic?  Absolutely.

Time-related?  Yeppers.

 

How am I going to achieve my goal?  Well, that's what this blog is going to be about, so be sure to add the URL to your favorites if you'd like to follow along. 

And if you want to read about my 1st go at Lighten Up a few years ago, check this out.

 

Standing in the chilly stairway, becoming acquainted with other participants as we waited to be weighed and measured, I noticed that those who'd completed the process were leaving with little white bags. 

What's this?! 

Goodie bags?!

Oh, huzzah!  Who doesn't love a goodie bag?  Whether it's filled with crayons and bubbles from a birthday party, bells and bubbles from a wedding, or with bounties of luxury from Hollywood award shows, the very name says it all:  Goodie!

I got home and poured out the contents of my goodie bag.  First there were the papers I'd tucked into the bag, including a gift from the wonderful people at Aladdin's (yay, Aladdin's!). 

Then more paper.

And some more paper.

And a pen.

And a pedometer.

*shake shake*

Um.  Nothing else in there. 

I don't know what I was expecting to find in my goodie bag, but whatever it was… I didn't find it.   Where was the thing that would zing the strings of my heart?

I hopped online where I found messages from Friends:

"Wishing you well with this adventure."  Oh yeah – I love adventure!  It's something I learned the last time I participated in Lighten Up.

"None of us should be afraid to try again."  I don't have to be ashamed of not having gotten there yet.  I'm in a far different place than I ever imagined.

"I thought you looked fantastic."

Presence and support, not just online but in the room filled Lighten Up organizers, partners, and participants.

I couldn't find what I was looking for in my goodie bag because the very bestest goodies of my life are the living, breathing ones (who don't enjoy being shoved inside paper bags).  It is they who fill in the spaces between activity monitors and calories, and who help me keep my fears in check, accompanying me not only within the confines of Lighten Up but in the big wide world of being my healthiest, most well-rounded (but leaner) me.

Goodie!