A beginning is a very delicate time*

It strikes me this morning that the beginning is the hardest part. It's hardest to cut back on portions and step up exercise in the very beginning stage, when it's all deprivation and no reward. Later with some pound loss under your belt (so to speak, ha ha) it can kind of self-perpetuate, success begets will power which begets continued effort and continued results. But those first steps, where you're doing it and there's been no payoff yet, that's the part where it's hard not to eat the theoretical PopTarts in the cupboard.

* A line spoken by Princess Irulan in the movie Dune. I'm such a nerd.

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Now playing: Muse - Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever)

Keeping on

I think all is going pretty well.

The plan: to fast breakfast and lunch three days a week (six meals, that's the same as fasting two 24-hour periods, right?). Physiologically it might not be quite the same, since different hormones are secreted with longer fasts; but in terms of calorie-reduction I think it works out the same. And it has the benefit of allowing me to eat dinner with my family every night. Fasting dinners was somewhat difficult to explain to my children.

Fasted two yesterday, eating today, fasting two tomorrow. Exercising. Hoping for good things. Not weighing until Sunday, because I don't want to go "WHAT?!" and have it sabotage me.

New goal: to be able to run 1.5 miles without any walking. Did a mile yesterday, so excited about that. Trying to build.

limping along

I should be exercising.

I fasted two meals yesterday, which I thought would make a measurable difference in my weight this morning. But I weigh about .8 pound more than the last time I weighed. Funny how that stupid number—and I know how sketchy weight is as a measure of progress—has taken the wind out of my sails this morning.

So stupid.

Because I feel great! I'm doing so well!

This is why I should weigh in no more than once a week, ever. And also! I should not care! Seriously, what is the big deal about .8 pounds?

Hungry today

Not unmanageably so, but my stomach is making its empty presence known. Still, I feel great about how the week has gone—not eating sugar, not craving sugar, subsisting on controlled portions, lots of great exercise. It's a good beginning.

Hope like crazy it's sustainable. Going camping tomorrow—can I resist the smores and keep my portions low? I'd love to see a loss at the end of week one, and not gain back whatever I've managed to lose thus far.

Life I love you. All is groovy!

Feeling insanely good this morning. Did 35 minutes of cardio before I woke the kids up, and then went out and ran a half mile afterward. Half mile isn't much, but there was a light rain falling and it just felt so good to push myself a wee bit harder than I already had. Abs work yet to come.

Down about five pounds since Sunday morning's weigh in.

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Now playing: Simon & Garfunkel - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

Finding my limits

So I fasted two meals Sunday (total calories ~500) and walked about a bit, expending more than sedentary would.

I fasted two meals Monday (total calories a bit less than 500) and exercised about double what I usually would. My energy level, despite the previous and current day's fast, was fantastic yesterday.

I was going to eat only fruit leading up to my evening meal today, as a sort of cleanse. Tried to exercise, but could only do about 30 minutes of cardio and really pooped out during strength training. And I got light-headed around 3:00 and decided I needed to eat a meal.

Lesson learned: Just barely over 1000 calories is not enough nutrition to sustain me into the third day.

Lesson number two: I lost a total of about four pounds in two days. That's a good beginning. Am weakish right now, and looking forward to a good, filling dinner.

Oddly, am not struggling with hunger pangs or cravings. No sugar three days now, though the cupboard is full of it. *shrug* I never know why things go well, I'm just glad they do.