Slimmer this Summer Challenge: Week 3

It's time for the Slimmer this Summer update/check-in/fess up post for week number 3.

 Word of warning:  I got a bit wordy (Ok, wordier than usual) today!

I was able to stay true to my goals for the challenge again this week! Holy COW that's a miracle!  Once again, the days went by just fine without a hitch.  No time spent thinking about eating something or sneaking a snack!  Maybe this really does mean I'm finally over using the food for anything other than it's purpose! 

Water intake stayed the same-- I was able to drink 64 oz of water each and every day followed by another 16-24 oz of my beloved iced green tea made with spring water, Splenda, and lemon juice.

Exercise: I walked every day again BUT because our heat index was 105-115 every day, I only got in 12.5 miles this week.  Tucker just can't tolerate that humidity and tends to sit down and refuse to move when the heat index is like this EVEN THOUGH we start out very early in the mornings.  No worries though- I compensated in the afternoons with Zumba, Pilates, and Just Dance for Wii!   





Calories: Once again, I have not had trouble with keeping the calories down. I am still giving credit for this to 1- livestrong.com; b- Debbi's delicious recipes; 3-my own sheer determination; and d-the challenge.

The lovelies and their boytoys were home this weekend along with my dad and step-mom (you can see some pictures on yesterday's post).  I planned accordingly and had some great low-calorie dishes prepared.  Even with everything that was going on and the two containers of Bryers Ice cream and the huge cookie cake that the kids brought into the house---I DID NOT GO OFF MY PLAN ONE SINGLE TIME!   That's right!  I stuck completely to my plan and did NOT venture off at all!  I wasn't even tempted!  WHAT?!

Oh WAIT--Friday night I DID eat AFTER 8:00 pm.  BUT it was because we didn't eat supper until 8:30 and I had nothing after supper at all nor did I snack before.  So I do NOT consider this a cheat- it was supper.  I just wanted y'all to know that I did eat after 8:00 since one of my goals is no eating after 8:00.  That was too wordy, wasn't it?  

Here's the breakdown for week two:

• Monday:1126
• Tuesday:1277
• Wednesday:1360
• Thursday:1347
• Friday:1370
• Saturday: 1121
• Sunday:1179
• Total calories for the week: 8779

Discoveries?  YES.

1. This weekend was not difficult at all which tells me that, so far, I'm determined to to make this a permanent life-style change. 
2. I usually eat about an hour or so after walking in the mornings.  Yesterday, it was so humid that I just wasn't hungry.  However, my dad had cooked two pieces of turkey bacon for me when I returned so I went ahead and ate them--but nothing else.  My discovery is that IF I DON'T eat the calories I'm accustomed to for breakfast (a two-egg-white omelet with a smidge of Cabot's extra sharp cheddar and two pieces of turkey bacon), I get hungry too quickly for lunch.  
3. This is not really a discovery as I already knew it---it's more of a reminder:  I shouldn't let myself get hungry because then I've waited too long and, in the past, would overeat to compensate.  I did discover yesterday that I can control that overeating tendency.  Hey!  That's a discovery after all! (and too wordy).

Goal changes? None this week--although I'm not sure what to do about the walking----I'm not going to be able to keep the desired mileage with this heat because Tucker just can't do it---SO, I'm considering changing my walking goals to walking as much as can be tolerated (usually two miles) and adding Zumba, etc. five days/week.  I know most people would just leave the dog at home and go walk, but I just can't do that to Tuck!  He loves it too much.  And I'm not one to go back out after bringing him home.  Heck, I even take bottled water on our walks and stop every so often to let him drink it out of my hand.  He's spoiled.  And I know it.  (Geez, with the wordiness already...).

On a related note, I'm so very much hoping to be able to walk/run (at least) a 5K by Thanksgiving!  Ambitious?  Maybe.  But one just never knows what one can do when determination is present!

Here are the numbers for week 1:

Weight loss:  -2 lbs (Total for 3 weeks: 17 pounds gone forever!)
Inches: -3 total (chest:= -.5; hips = -1; waist = -1.5; neck = -0)  Total for 3 weeks:-13 inches off forever!

 While this has worked out great for me so far, I still find myself waiting on the proverbial 'other shoe to drop' almost daily.  I'm extremely grateful that it hasn't but I have no idea what the future holds.  All any of us can do is take this thing one hot summer day at a time. 

 
Hope everyone has a fantastic week!