JuliaQuinnFan07 , 23

Well, I can't say I'm holding up on my end of the bargin.  I only played DDR 3 nights last week and over the weekend, I drank more soda than I should have.  Oh well, Mondays are the best days to get back on track.

I'm adding a few new stipulations to my weight loss program.  The first is to start weighing myself every morning instead of just once a week.  Studies show that people who do this lose more weight, I'm guessing because it's a constant reminder that your weight hasn't changed.  The second thing is to drink at least 22 ounces of water per day.  Apparently drinking water is good for not just because you aren't drinking any calories but because your body uses calories to digest the water, so you are burning calories simply by drinking water.  Anyway, the reccommended amount of water per day is 64 ounces (8 glasses at 8 ounces per glass) and that is way too high for someone like me who strongly dislikes water, but if I start at 20 ounces, I should be able to work my way up.

I haven't weight myself today, I've saving that honor for tomorrow and every day after, so thanks for reading.

DDR X arrived in the mail yesterday and I spent a good 2 hours playing it.  I took turns playing with Russell (my fiance) and Kaitlyne (my future step-sister).  I was really excited about it because I read a few excellent reviews on it before purchasing it, but I am a little disappointed.  Usually the new versions have some of the old songs on them as well as quite a few American songs, but the only songs I recognize on this one are Butterfly (from previous versions), "Here it goes again" by Okay Go  (which I love because it has the treatmill video), and "Can't touch this" by MC Hammer.  They also have a new commentator who is nothing short of exasperating.  The old commentator was annoying, but tolerable, the new one has me frantically searching for a way to shut him up.  They also changed the difficulty rating system.  Originially, it was rated 1-10 feet, and now it's 1-14, which is just the most random change.  Surprisingly, the load time on this one is longer than the old ones and that seems retarded, because aren't new games supposed to be faster?  But I digress.

I'm definitely making progress, though I'm not seeing any results yet.  Obviously I'm exercising more, but I'm suprised at home much soda I've stopped drinking, now that I'm limited how much I can have, I drink it slower and I don't feel as deprived as I thought I would.  I have started buying strawberry lemonade for my at home substitute, which probably isn't much better, but it's a start.  Plus, it's hard for me to find things to drink instead because I'm both picky and poor.  I don't like the taste of water (I don't care what all you delusion people say, water definitely has a taste), but I drink it at work (because the boss provides it) and whenever I'm playing DDR (because during physical exercion, it actually doesn't taste as bad as normal).  I also hate the way fake sugars taste.  I can taste the awful too sweet aftertaste that both splenda and aspertame have.  So that seriously limits my options.  I do like milk (whole milk, not the watered down crap), V8 Splash (not plain V8 because just the thought of cold tomato juice makes me feel nauseous), and most juices.  Unforntunately, all those things cost more than soda.  Mountain Dew Code Red is $1 at Walmart whereas Milk is $2.50, V8 Splash is $1.98, and juice is outrageously high.  I do buy some V8, but my fiance ends up drinking most of it before I get a chance to.  Maybe water is an acquired taste that I'll get eventually.  Heres hoping!

I did remember to bring the rest of the measurements today and they are as follows:
Bust: 39"
Wasit: 33"
Hips: 39"
Belly: 40"
Thigh: 24"
Calves: 14"
Arms: 105"
Wrist: 6.2"

I know the wrist measurement is random, but supposedly you can tell what size body frame you have from your wrist measurement, who knows.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

Okay, so I'm a bit of a bum because I didn't play DDR all weekend.  In my defense, on Friday the power went out around 8 pm and didn't come back on until around 3 in the morning and the dance pads I have a cheap 2 for $10 pieces of junk that you can't even get a C on even if you know you hit every note.  I was expecting my new one to arrive in the mail on Saturday, but as of yet, it hasn't appeared.  It comes with the newest version of DDR, DDR X, which I'm superexcited about.  I must confess that the only reason I own a playstation is because I wanted DDR and to this day, I own 7 games for it, and they are all versions of DDR (that number includes the one that has yet to arrive).  I stopped playing simply because I really don't have time for it, but I do enjoy it and look forward to regaining my previous skill level.

Anyway, the only exercise I did this weekend, was I worked my shift at Tuesday Morning on Sunday.  Trust me, after a truck, working at Tuesday Morning is more physical labor than we get paid to deal with, but I don't mind, I actually like the physical labor, it's the customers that get on my nerves.  "Are you sure you don't have another one of these in the back?" "When will you get more of these in?"  "Do you think this curtain will look good in my living room? This shade of brown is the exact color of my couch, but the carpet is, like an off-white, oh what's that color called?  Eggshell, that's it.  Anyway, what do you think?"  Grh!

Some good news is that I have definitely cut down on my soda consumption and maybe a little bit of sweets.  I did take the rest of my measurements, but I left them in a notebook at home and my memory is not good enough to remember them, so I guess I will try to bring them tomorrow.  I did weigh myself yesterday and I must confess that my best friends scale is now my worst enemy.  I don't think it is accurate, but since it is the only one I have access to until I buy one of my very own, I'll have to go by it.  I stepped on it three times in a row and it still gave me the same number, so I just have to swallow my pride and post it, even though it will make it look as though I have gained weight this week, which I haven't.

Here goes nothing:
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 164 lbs.

I'm not posting any measurements because I'm going to remeasure myself tonight and bring the results in for tomorrows post.

Thanks for reading!

Well, I'm a little annoyed because I wrote and entry yesterday and I know I hit "preview" and the "publish", but it says I haven't written any blog entries, so this one will be a rewrite and probably won't turn out like the last one did because my rewrites never do.

Well, I have decided to use the blog on this account to track and record my weightloss progress (and results hopefully).  I know that if after a week or so, I can't find definite results, the likelihood of my continuing is slim, so I'm hoping that if I record whatever miniscule change that is made, I'll continue in hopes that a miniscule change will turn into a immense change.

The goal is to lose 25-30 lbs.  The plan to do this is simple, exercise at least 30 per day and eat a little healthier and give up most soda (most, not all).  I can't give up all soda simply because I have already tried that and it gives me headaches because I'm so used to having caffine.  My goal with soda, at least to start off with, is to drink no more than half of what I'm used to.  Only one 12oz glass at lunch, instead of the normal two and the same goes for dinner.  No soda in between, and I already drink milk with breakfast, so that doesn't need to be changed.  Well, some might say it needs to be changed because I drink whole milk, but I refuse to drink watered down milk (aka 2% or less).  As far as the food goes, I can't change the way I eat and go completely healthy, one because then my fiance would starve because he doesn't like vegetables, and two because "healthy" food is indefinitely more expensive than everything else.  My fiance is unemployed and I barely make enough (working 2 jobs no less) to cover everything, so we shop at Aldy's (which is a cheap store that sales off brand food).  So making over our eating habits isn't a possibility (unless anyone can tell me how to do that on a budget of $120 for groceries per month).  What I do plan on doing is dropping most of the junk food and buying healthier alternatives for when I want a snack.  The snacks that I'm going to start buying are light yogurt and cottage cheese with fruit.  The exercise portion of the plan will consist of 30 minutes of DDR on a level no less than standard per day (that's Dance Dance Revolution, video game where you jump around on a dance pad, google it if you are unfamiliar).  Regardless of what anyone says, that game works your ass off, after few songs, you are sweating like a pig and your legs are sore.

My dream would be to have this accomplished by the end of the month, but I know that is an unrealistic goal.  I will set the goal date at April 30, 2010.  If I haven't lost most or all of the weight by then, then I will throw in the towel.

I'm going to post my basic info now and then once a week to track it, except my height will only be posted this time because it's not going to change.
Basic
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 156 lbs

Basic Measurements
Bust: 39"
Waist: 31"
Hips: 40"

I'll try to do the rest of the measurements and post them on Monday for the weekly check in.
Now, I know I am not technically overweight.  I'm actually right at the edge of the healthy range for my height, but I'm generally unhappy about the way I look and I don't want to gain that few pounds that will officially move me from being healthy to overweight.  I'd like to be 130 lbs, which is the lowest healthy weight for my height.  Oh, and I don't own a scale, so I don't weigh myself very often, 156 is just what it seems to say everytime I dare to step on one, so on Monday's weigh in, I'll make a point to find somewhere to weigh myself, so it might actually increase.

Well, wish me luck!