Difficulties

O.K. so here's the situation. The weight loss plan (WLP) is not going great. I have lost 2 lbs since I started two weeks ago, but I'm really having a difficult time with it. Here are the important factors:

1. I like food. Really! I especially like sweet things. And salty things. Sweet and salty together is extra special. I think I should stop eating sugar, but it's really hard. I have done it before, but it wasn't fun and I missed it too much!
2. I work too much. I love my job. I love owning 3 Kittens. But the truth is that it's really hard to eat well when I spend so much time at work.
3. I don't get enough exercise - or any right now for that matter. I realized recently that in order to exercise, I really need to have a goal. When I am training for a marathon, I at least get in a few training sessions a week. When I was working towards my black belt in karate, it was easy to get motivated. I would like to go back to karate, but see #2 above. And, I'm not planning on starting to train for another marathon until May.
4. I have a gluten intolerance. It's not too hard to eat gluten-free, but it does make it more difficult to eat quick and easy things. And fast food is almost impossible.
5. I think I may have a thyroid issue. I've had my thyroid tested and it keeps coming back in the normal range, but I'm not convinced. My biggest symptom (other than my weight gain) is that I am tired all the time. I've even gone in for a sleep study, after which the doctor told me I just needed to get more sleep. Unfortunately, even if I get 8-9 hours of sleep a night, I'm as tired as if I get 6.5-7.5 hours per night. SIGH!

Anyway, those are the issues that are plaguing me. That said, I am still going to keep trying!

Lorenz Manifold

I finished crocheting the Lorenz Manifold last week, and I finally got around to trying to mount it. First, the instructions for the positive z-axis seem to be off. When I inserted the central unbendable wire, it was a little wonky - no a lot wonky. So, I ended up folding the Lorenz Manifold in half according to the photo in the instructions and then re-inserted the wire. Then I did the outer bendable wires which worked great - but I realized that the central wire is way too short.



My DH says he can get a longer wire, but not tempered - in other words it will bend. He'll have to heat-treat it in order to make it unbendable. So the project is on hold until sometime next week...

WLP: Much better today... Not perfect, but better.

DISASTER

Terrible day with food. Feelings of guilt and shame. I know I have to let go of those feelings and move on into the next day, so that's the plan.... 'Nough said.

Goal Orientation

Well, I've had it. I am way too big for my britches - literally! And, I've decided to use this blog as my daily (yes, daily) focusing tool for my new goal to lose 60 lbs. I can't believe I actually just put this out on cyber-space, but frankly something has to give, and maybe this is a way for me to be accountable...

I haven't given up on posting about knitting/crocheting/punchneedle/needlepoint. I'll still include updates on those - probably even more often now that I'll be on daily! As a matter of fact, here's a current photo of me in a vest from Classic Elite's Curvy Knits booklet that I finished in January:

And, while it's a beautiful sweater and it fits a curvy figure like mine, this photo abhors me! Look how skinny my hands look, then look at the rest of me. It's not a good thing.

How am I going to lose all those pounds? Well, first, I've signed up for Weight Watchers online. Second, I'm going to start walking again on a regular basis (now that the snow has melted). Third, I'm going to post my progress, trials, successes, etc. here daily... I'm sure other things will come up that will help me - like the support of my friends and family.

So, off we go...