Fat Tuesday

For the first time in my life, I'm on a diet.  I'm not technically overweight (though the "healthy" range for my height is 118lbs to 159 lbs, a huge spread, if you ask me), but I've been feeling self-conscious about how I look.  After learning about myfitnesspal.com from my sister, I decided I'd try it. 

MFP.com is a free site where you can keep track of the calories you eat and exercise away on a daily basis.  It allows you to enter your current weight, your goal weight, and how much weight you'd like to lose per week, and it tells you how many calories you should aim for each day.  I'm currently on a 1300 calorie diet, which is challenging.  I feel like I eat pretty healthy things, but I wasn't good about portion control.  And I wasn't much of a snacker, but doing MFP has pretty much cut out all snacks (can't have a snack if I also want dinner!). 

I've been really happy with the results so far.  My goal is to lose a pound per week, and after two weeks, I've lost 3 pounds.  I was already losing some weight before I started MFP; I've lost a total of 5 pounds since my California trip.  My goal is to lose around 10 pounds, but once I get there, I may readjust my goal and keep going.

I'm also exercising.  I walk/run on my treadmill at least 5 days per week.  I've committed to exercise AND reading my Bible on a daily basis, so I've decided to combine them.  I have a Bible app on my phone, with my reading plan, so as I walk, I read my 4-5 chapters on my phone.  If I finish my reading and haven't walked at least a mile, I run until I reach a mile, if not further.  Then I also do abdominal exercises, pushups, and lunges.  I'm noticing a difference both in how I feel and in how I look, so I'm really pleased!