Finding the right goal to keep your weight loss going

Results Not Typical

more>>

When Lisa Met 40...

Lisa met her goal of losing 100 pounds by her 40th birthday, but the struggle continues. Click through to read about losing the first 100 pounds or click on the links below to read about the new challenges.

March 16, 2011

March 2, 2011

February 16, 2011

February 9, 2011

Gearing up for a healthy New Year

Getting back to the gym after a long absence

Why I'm angry at Maura Kelly

Going backwards to move forward

Getting comfortable with the gray area between being on and off a diet

Lifestyle Highlights

more>>

Cellphone use may reveal your dominant brain

New research suggests the dominant side of your brain may make the call on which ear you choose to use while talking on your cellphone.

How to stay anonymous online

Pretty soon, just about everything we do on the Web will be logged, analyzed, and used for things outside of our control. Here are some ways to help stop that.

6 things you think add value to your home - but really don't

Certain projects, such as adding a well thought-out family room can be a wise investment, as they do add to the value of the home. Other projects, however, allow little opportunity to recover the costs when it's time to sell.

Naked painting of Golden Girls' Bea Arthur sells for nearly $2 million

A painting of a topless Bea Arthur sold for $1.9 million to an anonymous buyer at Christie's auction house, the New York Post reports.

High-frequency noise boosts math skills in study

Scientists report that they were able to improve the math-calculation skills of college students by buzzing their brains with doses of random high-frequency noise.

1 in 5 U.S. kids has a mental health disorder
As many as one in five American children under the age of 17 has a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to a new federal report.

Eyelash extension adhesives may cause bad reactions

Eye experts warn that the adhesives used to apply eyelash extensions can cause allergies and infections.

Look for new, improved sunscreen labels

New labeling laws for sunscreen will help American consumers choose the product that provides the best sun protection, experts say.

Most Americans say no to smoking in their homes, cars

Drop by for a visit or share the drive -- but please, no smoking.

Kirstie Alley slams Abercrombie & Fitch CEO for comments about "cool kids"

Kirstie Alley is no stranger to body image issues — and now she's speaking out against Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries about his feelings on weight.

By Lisa Spodak ResultsNotTypical@worldnow.com
Provided by WorldNow

Week 1 Weigh In:
Starting weight: 209

I'm about to shake things up a little!

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I've been struggling ever since surpassing my 100 pound weight loss goal for my 40^th birthday. I've gained about 15 pounds back and I haven't been able to find my motivation to keep losing and working toward my ultimate goal.

It turns out, just having a goal isn't enough – what's key for me is finding the right goal.

And I found it this weekend – my brother has set a wedding date in June and I'm going to lose 50 pounds by then!

I'm feeling motivated and rejuvenated in a way I was worried I wouldn't again and I'm raring to go. (I know that I'll eventually have to figure out how to maintain my weight without a definitive and aggressive goal, but I've got time for that.)

It doesn't hurt, either, that for the first time, my brother is struggling a little with his own weight and we've got a little competition going. It's interesting, because even though we're competing, I also feel like I can finally be of help to him, in a reverse to how it usually is with us.

I'm not changing my basic approach much… I'm still doing Weight Watchers and focusing on lots of gym time. I won't be making any radical changes there.

The big thing though, is making a break from the past 21 months. I'm still incredibly proud of what I've accomplished and I won't ever forget that… but I also need to stop focusing on the weight I've gained since my birthday and trying to make up for it. So, this is Week 1 again!

I've posted a starting weight at the top of the page and a "before" picture over there to the right. We all know I've already lost a chunk of weight, but let's pretend we don't and start over!

This week's goals:

1) Meet my friend Annie at the gym in the morning at least twice

2) Make use of all the groceries I've bought this week before they go bad

3) Go to bed before midnight at least 4 times

4) Try one new recipe

5) Resist all unplanned snacks at work (i.e., holiday candies/gifts)

Week 2
The challenge of recommitting to a weight loss plan

Weight loss is hard, isn't it?? You'd think that would stop surprising me at some point.

Week 4
Varying your approach to weight loss

I made a pretty big decision this week – I'm switching diet programs.

Week 5
Switching things up to get weight loss back on track

I had a great week! And as excited as I am about losing 3.5 pounds, I'm even more excited that I felt really in control this week – more than I have in a long time.

Week 6
Don't ruin your weight loss with bad New Year's resolutions

I think the problem is we make resolutions when we're all fired up and have grand plans for the year, but then reality sets in and suddenly that 7-workouts-a-week goal is (obviously) unrealistic and rather than scaling back, we give up altogether.

Week 9
When you need to recommit to your diet

So, I'm kind of embarrassed that I pretty much disappeared from this space for a few weeks.

Week 10
The 'round and 'round of emotional eating

I hope you can forgive the sort of hokey racetrack imagery in the title of this blog entry, but I just realized how appropriate it is that I start this week's story talking about a grueling 24-hour car race.

Week 14
Focusing on the positives when you’re struggling with your weight loss

I made an important realization this week – when I'm not motivated to lose weight, nothing external can make it happen. And when I am motivated, nothing external can stop me. So, while I'm definitely having trouble right now, it helps to focus on what I have already accomplished instead of my struggles.

Week 15
How finding the right challenge can keep you focused on your weight loss

It's 26 weeks until my birthday -- and I want to lose 26 pounds. Keeping focused on that and a couple of specific challenges is getting me back on track with my diet.

Week 16
A challenging fundraiser can help you lose weight while you support others

This is the perfect time of year to start a training program for a long distance walking, running or cycling event. Read about how you can help others while bumping up your exercise!

Week 17
Getting back to basics to get weight loss back on track

I'm back to counting calories for a week. Here's a peek into a day in my food/exercise diary (including an abundance of snacks, hobbit-style!).

Week 19
Trying to stick to good eating habits on vacation

Getting ready for vacation means packing, straightening my desk at work -- and planning how I'm going to eat and exercise while in a different country!

Week 20
Hoping that today’s fresh start is THE fresh start to my diet

It's hard writing about this because I feel like I've been saying these things over and over in different ways while sort of waffling about how to move forward. But the bottom line is that this is really hard and sometimes it takes some false starts to get going again.

Week 21
Trying to stay positive amidst diet difficulties

After countless efforts to lose weight over close to 30 years, this time is completely different. Because no matter how difficult or frustrating it's become, I refuse to get to the point where I just throw my hands up and say I won't bother trying anymore.

Week 22
‘Tis the season… for weight loss

I find it much easier to lose weight in the spring and summer than the winter. Winter just screams for comfort food. The heavy clothes let you ignore small gains (which add up). And the excuses to stay inside are plentiful.

Week 23
Getting back on track with weight loss when an injury throws you for a loop

Sometimes we need to deal with change and find solutions that may not be ideal but are at least a step in the right direction.

9/29/10
Letting go of "failure"

I'm still having a lot of trouble getting back into a good groove. I think the big problem is that I'm so stuck in the negative feelings of failure tied up in gaining some of the weight back that I can't seem to get the momentum to move forward again.

10/6/10
Establishing a routine to get back on track with a diet

I decided to keep my goals and approach to getting back on track this month very simple, focusing mainly on sticking to a food plan and cutting out alcohol.

10/13/10
Getting comfortable with the gray area between being on and off a diet

This week was definitely a mixed bag as far as sticking to my food plan was concerned.

10/20/10
Going backwards to move forward

I've reset my "Get Back on Track!" month to start today. In wanting to synch up with a calendar month, I probably didn't think things through as well as I should have in planning to be very strict with my diet when I had a bunch of special occasions coming up.

10/28/10
Why I'm angry at Maura Kelly

How have we gotten to a point where body size and shape are such overwhelming factors in determining a person's worth?

11/10/10
Getting back to the gym after a long absence

I said something to my friends this week that I hadn't really consciously acknowledged until the words were out of my mouth – I'm embarrassed to go back to the gym.

12/22/10
Gearing up for a healthy New Year

There's nothing magical about January first, but there is something appealing about starting the New Year with healthy new goals in mind.

February 9, 2011

I tried writing in this space about a month ago and got three paragraphs into it before I gave up. I just feel like I'm saying the same things over and over and not making any real changes that stick. But all I can do is try again and keep trying until I get out of this rut.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.

*DISCLAIMER*: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OR PROVIDED THROUGH THIS SITE IS INTENDED FOR GENERAL CONSUMER UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATION ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEFORE COMMENCING A DIET OR EXERCISE PROGRAM. USE OF THIS SITE AND ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OR PROVIDED THROUGH THIS SITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK AND IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES.