With my upcoming role as bridesmaid quickly approaching, I thought it might be a good idea to try to lose ten pounds. Why? I have no idea. While I could probably stand to loose the weight, I feel good and my dress fits perfectly. Still, knowing I am about to be on parade in a strapless dress in front of old college friends and potential husbands is motivation enough to want to look good…really good.
Hearing good things about SparkPeople.com (namely that it is free), I signed up to start tracking my calories and receive motivational emails about weight loss. You can even join a special online bridesmaid format for specialized “you-can-do-it” support.
My first day things went really well and I gave myself a little imaginary pat on the back for having met my caloric and nutritional goals for the day, but then things headed downhill…The following day was Sunday, a day of gluttony, filled with brunch out, afternoon cocktails and ice cream with the Sunday night movie. But then Monday rolled around and it was the Fourth of July, which being a holiday, is essentially like another Sunday all over again. My day began with a pre-hike, Fourth of July celebratory donut, which I promptly washed down with a 20 ounce Mountain Dew; I knew things were going to be ugly, at least calorically speaking.
After a long day of hiking and beaching, I returned home feeling revived from the sunshine and ready for some BBQ and brews. Not wanting to make a pig of myself @ the BBQ and also not wanting to wait to eat, I ate I nice big salad before heading out. Upon arriving at my destination I was glad I did because the only items left were hours-old kabobs and some dried up looking macaroni salad (hello people, mayonnaise in the sun?!?) I shrugged, broke out my beer pong champion coozie and started chatting it up with my new friends…
Having lived in foggy San Francisco for six years, we were ecstatic for a clear night and finally able to enjoy the fireworks from my friend’s roof. We even got in a little star gazing before it got too cold and we all headed home. Not wanting to abandon my ten-pound weight loss goal less than 72 hours in, I logged in to track my day’s calories. Breakfast = 1 glazed donut, 1 20 ounce mountain dew, Lunch = Spinach salad with strawberries, sliced almonds and (fat free!) balsamic vinaigrette, Dinner = Four Budweisers and six cigarettes. The results were tallied and I was way under my suggested calorie range! Satisfied with my success and my day, I climbed into bed smiling and thinking, “Maybe I’ll try to lose 15 lbs…”
