Losing It - Hopefully

Like so many people I've decided I need to take off some pounds. This is a common goal for women of une certain age I know but I have had enough of going through several items in the closet before finding the one thing that fits. This is eating into my sleeping time! Have to get up earlier than I'd like just to figure out what'll fit the figure.

On the up side the proportions are still in the hourglass category - there's just too much damned sand in said hourglass. Plus there is a wedding at the end of September and I have a dress I'd like to wear but at the current levels of hourglass "sand" I'll be lucky to get one leg in it. And the bride is a size zero so PRESSURE!!

I have discovered a couple of new tools to aid me in this quest: a web site and phone ap called "Lose It!" which can be found here: http://loseit.com/ The aps for the phone works with both the iPhone and Android platforms and it is free. The other thing I like is that you log in not only the food but whatever exercise you're doing. When you set up your plan you tell the ap how much you weigh now, how much you want to lose and few other details and TA DA! it will tell you when you will hit your goal. For me it is by the end of the year if I lose 1 1/2 pounds per week. Sounds easy enough. And give that my once upon a time iron discipline went "poof!" when Les died I really need "easy". PLUS you can search for pre-programmed brand name and restaurant foods - you don't have to type in every little thing.

The other tool is the Mayo Clinic Diet, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mayo-clinic-diet/my01646. Which is a not too expensive book ($25 plus shipping) that you have to order directly from the Mayo Clinic to be sure you get the real one. When you order online you get a free download of the eating out guide. As you might imagine this is a lifestyle change kind of program. Haven't finished reading the book yet but liking the whole adopt 5 new habits and break 5 old habits approach. And the foods are real foods nothing freaky, no proprietary supplements to buy and so forth.

Now the thing that I doubt I'll use because really you don't want to hear it is the part of the LoseIt! ap that allows you to sync your progress with Facebook and Twitter. No thanks. I do like that the phone ap will sync with the web profile but that's about it for the "too much info" department. I'm not going to tell you the starting weight or the goal weight. You'll not be hearing about daily weigh ins (good Lord who wants to do that anyway?) or any other obsessive crap.

Of course I'll blog about it hear in some detail but not all the gory details because let's face it, a person needs support on an endeavor like this one and when you have a mom that is your biggest saboteur you need the encouragement. Of course if anyone would like to join me LoseIt! also allows you to link up with friends through the program page so you can cheer each other on.

The goofy thing is that you earn "badges" for your profile when you do stuff. I find that a bit silly but it could be motivational for some folks. The last time I earned badges was in Girl Scouts. I think I'll leave it at that, thanks.

I did get up this morning a scant 15 minutes after the alarm went off (normally I don't since, as you know, I hate mornings) fed the little furry beasts and went for a 20 minute walk. Okay it was only worth 69 calories but it is a start I suppose. Once I make some progress with all of this stuff I have a coach potato to 5k program that I intend to embark upon - but that is for Spring 2013 I'm thinking.

Stay tuned, this will either succeed or fail spectacularly.