Progress

So, my new workout and diet routine is going pretty well.  On Jan. 17th I tipped the scales at 194.8 pounds, and as of this morning I was down to 188 even.  That's a loss of nearly 7 pounds in 15 days, and I'm more than satisfied with that, particularly since I really got a late start on the workouts (first one on Jan. 23rd) and the diet (didn't get strict until Jan. 24th).  I had cut back on sodas and sausage gravy biscuits for breakfast starting on my birthday (the 17th), but I've really only been "on the program" for 10 days.  In that time I've done 5 cardio workouts and 4 strength training workouts, taking a day of rest this past Monday.  So far so good.

I still get hit with cravings to eat bad stuff (particularly anything with chocolate in it), but I've done pretty well with tricking myself into either eating something else (like a piece of fruit) or by cutting WAY back on the portion size.  You'd be surprised, but if you eat 5 chocolate chips very slowly, and really savor each one, that your desire to eat a huge bowl of ice cream pretty much goes away.

I tried to quit all forms of soda, cold turkey, but I just can't hold out on that front.  I do only drink the diet sodas, and I'm only having one every other day, but I still want to quit eventually.  It's not the caffeine that I need, I think it is just a need to have something sweet to drink occasionally.  Mostly I drink a lot of water, so I don't feel too bad about the diet sodas.  I think if I keep cutting back I will be completely free of that monkey by the end of February.

The soreness from working out is starting to lessen a bit, and I'm finding it easier to get up in the morning and get moving.  I'm sleeping better at night which definitely makes it easier to get up and work out at 6 AM.  Tomorrow is an upper-body strength training day, which is my favorite, so I don't anticipate any problems with closing out the week without missing a workout.  I still have to do cardio on Saturday, but I've got a totally free day scheculed this Sunday when I can eat what I want and just lay around playing video games before the SuperBowl.  That should be nice.

By the way:  Who is the coolest person you know?

Wrong.

Unless you said "Sunburned Goose" that is.  He is going to Italy this month and just called to tell me that I can continue to babysit his 360 through the end of February.  It could be a secret plot on his part to con me into buying one of my own and ruining my marriage, but for now I am taking his generosity at face value.  I think I might hit the video store and try to rent something fun for the 360.  Anybody have any recommendations?