Day 1

So Day 1 of my new resolve. Not as good as I had hoped, but progress was made.

To recap - this week is probably the busiest work week of my year, so work has been very consuming. In addition, due to one of my co-managers transferring to another position within our company, I was selected to replace her...and I'm bringing along 50% of my existing job with me. I wasn't "asked" to take this new job on (it was a transfer) -yet, I'm hopeful that it will prove to be a good move for me. Only time will tell. So, the stress of my existing job (which, again, has very high demands this week and month) and the prospect of learning another new job and properly managing and tackling the issues of another new group looms large.
So...that's why today wasn't as great as I hoped.
But...the progress! Okay, so, I've been thinking about the best way for me to track my journey. I need to be honest - yet, motivated. Encouraged - yet, careful to monitor my expectations. I know I didn't gain this weight or change my eating habits in a day....so Icannot expect to lose the weight and retrain my brain to like healthy foods in a short time either.

To track my progress I will do the following on a daily basis:

1. Report my meals
2. Report caffeine consumed (i.e., cups of coffee)
3. Report cups of water drunk
4. Be honest about any cheats
5. Report exercise activity

That's it. Five simple things. I will report my weight loss once per week.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I joined Weight Watchers last year - shortly before I blew my knee out and had surgery. So, my WW plan was simply to track my eating...which is why I enrolled in the iPhone app and online-tracker offered. Which I proceeded to NEVER use. $15/month down the drain. So, to commit to this reporting of 5 things/day, I am fully aware that I am (at least) a YEAR late in this decision. This year is not a year for regret. No sirree. This is a year for PROGRESSING AND MOVING FORWARD, DARNIT.

In the spirit of the daily 5...drumroll, please...here they are:

1. Breakfast - protein shake; Lunch - french dip sandwich & chips; Dinner - pasta with meat sauce & piece of french bread; snack - 1.5 bananas.
2. 2 cups of coffee (breakfast & lunch)
3. 10 cups water
4. I didn't eat any chocolate today...which is a pretty big deal since I have a glass jar of Dove Chocolates on my desk for others to snack from. Also, I am REALLY craving a glass of wine right now, but I will not partake. Not tonight. Normally, I'd be all over that and have a corkscrew in hand before I thought twice...but, this is a new year. And I have new resolve.
5. Exercise. well, not much today. I worked late, so I missed bootcamp. I will be grabbing my exercise ball and doing some crunches once I finish this post - that's probably about it.

What would I change about today? First, I would wake up earlier - get to work earlier - get off work earlier to get to bootcamp. It all starts in the morning, and I am, admittedly a NIGHT person. Also, I would have chosen a healthier option for lunch...salad or veggie wrap. For dinner, I cut my portion size on the pasta to about 1/2...so, while pasta may be a controversial choice, I feel good about it. Before coming home, I stopped by the grocery store and, man, was I hungry! I can proudly say, I avoided all snack and junk food aisles and instead purchased lean meat, carrots, spring mix salad, blueberries, and loaf of french bread. That's it. It's the simple victories. That's how I'm going to do it this year... one step at a time, my friend.

Okay, I gotta go work on my abs and obliques. It's crunch time.