This Could Be Working.

     Since last week I've done an okay job at keeping up with my intake on calories and staying below my goal. My "MyFitnessPal" page only shows a 3lbs. weight loss, but I have lost a total of 10lbs. since July 10th! This leads me to believe that the plan I am using is working. Three weeks into restarting my journey I have lost TEN never again to be seen pounds and four of those I lost in the past week. While I am absolutely aloud to be proud of my big loss so far, I do have to agree with MyFitnessPal and say that I have only lost a "Net" of 3lbs. since I began my changing process. So, I will only count that three towards my goal. The other seven never should have existed in the first place, and while I am happy that they are gone, I do not want to count that as part of my official loss. So, in short, I've lost 3lbs. since I started at 260.3lbs. Hello 250's!!!
   
     This loss does come with some realizations about my food habits. I now know that I used to eat almost three times the amount of calories I'm supposed to eat in a day in just one meal from a fast food restaurant. I will miss my little nugget friends, but they are not at the top of the menu list anymore. I also know that not all fast food is bad for me. This past week I was so happy that I was actually able to eat a "Whopper" of a burger and while I had a side salad in place of my usual fries, I did not feel cheated out of my fast food fix. I also have been warned by the MyFitnessPal website that if I am too strict with my intake, I might eat too little in calories and slow my weight loss due to "starvation mode". I actually had a day where I was logging my food for the day before bed and the website "yelled" at me in BIG RED LETTERS that I had not eaten enough calories that day. I thought, "Wait, ME? I have been not eating enough?" I didn't even feel hungry! Needless to say, I have been keeping better watch on my calories in both directions now, both too many and not enough. I don't want to risk lowering my metabolism any lower than it is already, so here's to a happy medium.

     One of the many weight loss tools I have been utilizing is the "give yourself a cheat meal," rule. I have found this in many different weight loss advice plans and thought it would be helpful for me in my fledgling state of healthful eating. The problem I have with this rule is that Kris and I chose to do the "cheat day" on different days. Being that we are the only two in the house, this posed a problem. My cheat day became my cheat weekend. This is honestly why I feel so surprised by the fact that I still lost weight. I didn't keep up with calories in the correct way for TWO days! Not to say that I just lost my mind and ate everything in sight, but I didn't exactly acknowledge everything that I put in my mouth. Now Kris and I will be doing our cheat time together. I'm even hoping to, very soon, not need to cheat at all. With all that I'm learning I can still eat, I may not have the desire to eat things that would be considered a cheat anymore.

     You may be wondering why I haven't mentioned running yet. I mean the name of the blog includes the words, "Clean Run," after all. Well, to make a long story short, I have an old injury from a high school ski trip where I tore my MCL (inner knee ligament), and I aggravated my knee a few weeks ago whilst tubing the river with Kris and his parents. In an attempt to be able to regain my fitness in a healthy way, I decided to make sure my knee was back to normal before running again. It's been almost a week pain free, so I don't think any real damage was done when I tweaked it. As a result, I haven't been running yet, but I plan on restarting my "learning to run" routine this week. I admit, I'm a bit intimidated, but, having attempted running before and going as far as I could then, tells me that I can do it and can keep getting better. So, I will report on running again next week.

    It's been tough to see the good side of myself lately. I am proud of myself that I can control my eating, but there is SO much more to this journey than just losing weight. I want everyone to know that I listen to advice and try to implement it to see if it helps. In taking advice from a dear friend, this week I tried to wake up everyday and make myself feel like I had a purpose that day. I had to wash the clothes. I had to work on school work. I had to be ready to go to the river with Kris. I think it's helping. I can see a glow around my life that I have let get really dim start to shine again.  So, to anyone reading this blog, thanks for your support. Advice and praise are ALWAYS welcome, but just knowing someone cares enough to read really helps. I don't know how many have or will read it, but I know that I owe it to myself to make sure that I give you something interesting to read about. That makes you all a source of inspiration for me. I also thank God and myself everyday for all that I can do. I'd be nowhere without those two. ;)
In light of my cheesy closing, here's an amazing song to listen to by Alanis Morrisette that really picks me up and seems to fit in with my state of mind.