Week One- Half as Small as You Are

It's the end of week one for the group diet efforts hosted by Casey over at Half As Good As You. Here are the excited statistics, the trouble spots and the areas to work on for this second week:

Beginning Poundage: 135
Monday Mornings' poundage: 132

Trouble Spots:

Wine with friends after The Phoenix Cotillion's Fall Fashion Show and Luncheon. Delicious, great fun; wouldn't change a thing. Three women want to join us starting this week, too!

Wine Tasting Party for Boots & Heels fundraiser. Good company, good wine; wouldn't change a thing.

Candy Corn and other assorted Halloween candy. Okay, 4 days left and then it's all gone, thank goodness. Also, found out no one else has the gas problem when eating these tasty morsels. Is this some one's cruel joke on me?

Exercise:

Went to Pilate's, visited the gym several times and hiked three different days. I feel a little stronger and I am not so out-of-breath.

This week's goals: End this week at 130 pounds;
Exercise 5 days this week;
Drink more water;
Skip alcohol around dinner several nights this week.

This marks the end this very exciting post. I know that my words just make you want to add a comment at the end of this article, saying, "I want in...give me the details!" Come on, you don't have to be an empty nest Mom to enjoy the FUN of group-dieting.

This is NOT Me

This is Not me, but it is the picture I am printing and putting right next to the Halloween candy bowl at my house. My sister sent this to me on an email today and I have to admit, I was spooked. And, I've suddenly lost my appetite for candy corn and orange anything!

Half as Small as You Are: READY, GO

This is the first week of the club challenge put together by Casey at Half As Good As You and, as is always the case when starting a new diet, I am SO EXCITED!!!

I've taken my before shots of myself but will not subject you to these just yet. The pictures above of two plates of mashed potatoes give you a real accurate depiction of what my photos/body look like. But not in that yummy, I want to melt butter all over you and eat you up sort of way! More like, Thanksgiving Dinner is over, you've had two servings of everything and a piece of pumpkin pie and these dishes are what's leftover and no one wants...sort of way.

Starting point: 135 pounds. Now, I know it's just a number and everyone carries their weight differently. I have a friend who's one-inch taller and weighs 155 pounds, but she has the perfect body to me.

I have one positive thing about exercising more: you can always look a mess, but when you say, I'm working out and trying to lose weight, people forgive you for leaving the house looking like a wreck.

This empty nest Mom is on a roll, and this time around, it's not the dinner roll-type!

Freshman Fifteen to Lose

Mark October 20th on your calendars as the perfect day to begin losing the 'Freshman Fifteen' I have gained since my daughter went off to college this year (she's the Freshman). Casey over at Half as Good as You is hosting a 'Club Half as Small as You' party of sorts.


Today's the last day to join, so why don't you join me in this attempt to get back into our clothes!


She has asked us to write and publish a blog post on our blog sites (if you don't have one, you can just email me and I'll add to my post), detailing the following information, so hear goes:


1. What motivates me and why do I want to do this challenge?

I really want to be able to fit into the clothes in my closet. Also, I want the college boys to be able to say, "that Beth, she's really a MILF", without breaking into hysterical laughter mid-sentence!


2. What is my long term goal?

I would like to be able to run for long distances. I want my high school legs back!



3. What is my long term weight loss goal?

To lose 10-15 pounds. Also, I want to eat healthy foods and burn enough calories to enjoy my wine and desserts every once and awhile (okay, nightly).



4. What tools are available to me?

I belong to an awesome gym and take Pilates at a fantastic studio.



5. How often can I exercise?

I CAN exercise 3 hours a day, 7 days a week. All my good excuses have flown the nest.



6. What do I plan on doing?

To exercise 5 times a week, mixing it up so I don't get too bored.



7. What has worked for me in the past?

I respond well when I am losing weight, it's the first week or two that I have a hard time remembering why I am doing all this exercise.

That's it. The Freshman Fifteen is going away!