The first week is always the best...

Seriously, why can't week 7 be the big weight drop week?  With every diet attempt I've ever had, I've always lost a pretty significant chunk of my weight goal during the first week, and then plateau or even gain further down the road.  Its most likely because I am the most motivated and focused on losing during the first week, and then as time goes on, I let myself slip up, and that is when I plateau.  My goal for this attempt is to not let myself get complacent, and challenge myself, so during week 7, I can lose as much as I have lost during week 1.

While I was lifting weights today, I picked up 2 20 pound dumbells to do my calf raises with.  And I realized that that is the stress I would feel if I was 40 pounds heavier than I am now.  My joints hurt; it was hard to get up onto my toes.  And it made me wonder how great my joints and muscles will feel when I do lose all the weight!  It is amazing how just adding a little bit of weight can put so much stress on your body.

AND I have a recipe for you all! I can't take credit for this one, because I found it in a Cooking Light magazine, so I'm posting the link to their website.  My mom gave me a subscription to Cooking Light for Christmas, and I have been trying to make a dish each week.  Last week it was sauteed chicken with a tomato sauce; tonight's incredible dish was 5 ingredient tex-mex pork.  It was easy and SO yummy! Here's the link, and I hope you will all try it!
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=50400000108389

Current weight: 192.0 lbs
Weight loss to date for this attempt: 3.0 lbs
Total weight loss from beginning of blog: 10 lbs!

-Austin

Update

Well, I don't have much to update. I'm sorry I haven't updated much these past few days, but I've been enjoying my days without studying :) No tests until next Wednesday, so I have a few days where I don't have to hit the books. Its been nice being able to watch tv and sleep in.  Its also been nice being able to work out again, because I've been missing it.  There's nothing like a good workout to make me feel confident about myself.  Plus, its fun to be able to see the results already!

I am frustrated, though, that the weight isn't coming off quicker.  I know I set the "one pound a week" goal, but I just remember doing Weight Watchers when I was in high school and the weight just coming off like 2 pounds in a week.  I for sure hit the plateau doing that, so hopefully by slowing down the weight loss, and allowing myself to splurge every now in then (I would die without Chipotle), I will be able to avoid the dreaded "plateau" that often comes with weight loss.

Current weight: 198.4 lbs.
Weight loss to date: 4.2 lbs.

Good luck this week, all those who are doing this with me! We can do this!
-Austin