So I started on August 1st, and I gave myself a goal of losing 5 pounds in 31 days, till the last day in August.  I already lost 2 pounds in 5 days!  It's day 6 today, and my weight is consistent with yesterday.  

I'm not going to get too excited, because the closer I get to my goal weight, I know the harder it could be to lose.  But losing these two pounds was easy!  I just cut back on my calories, moved around a lot, kept active throughout the day, exercised for 45 minutes one day and 30 minutes the next...nothing extreme, just dancing (Weds), weight training, and yoga(Thurs), and errands, housework, and cooking all day Friday.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are my stats:

Height:                  5 foot 0 inches

Starting weight:   110.8 lbs.

After 6 days:         108.8 lbs., weighed this morning.

Goal weight:        105 lbs. by August 31st.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, keeping a weight loss diary has helped out SO MUCH.  I recommend it to anyone trying to lose weight.  Especially if you have a problem with portion control or snacking.  It keeps you accountable and honest, and helps you plan ahead for snacks and dinner.  I also keep a calorie counter book nearby.  Here's a sample page from my notebook (yesterday):

_____________________________________________________________________

H20*: 10 tick marks! (I had 10 cups of liquid)                 Weight: 108.6 (1st thing in am)

                                                                                      Water weight**: 51.7% (my scale offers this info)

Breakfast smoothie (see previous blog for recipe)  220

Amy's gluten free, vegan burrito 240

3oz. sliced avocado 150

1/4 cup raw mixed nuts 140

Organic carrot juice 80

Large apple 100

Low-sodium, organic tomato soup (with the following) 90

Soup ingredients: organic kale, chopped carrot and celery 70

Soup ingredient: 1 cup organic garbanzo beans 220

1/2 of a Larabar (vegan fruit and nut bar) 110

Total: 1420 calories

EXERCISE: None...it's a Sunday!  Actually I did 5 minutes of Tibetan moves (kind of yoga-like moves) and went up and down stairs quite a lot, so that counts. 

_____________________________________________________________________

*H20 includes pure water and liquids like almond milk and tomato soup.

**I keep track of my water weight percentage because it tells me if I'm dehydrated OR bloated because it's that time of the month.  I know that for me, if I'm above 52%, that means I didn't drink enough water the previous day OR it's that time of the month, so I'm retaining water.  This way I know that I have to drink more water if I'm dehydrated, or note that if my weight went up, it's due to my water weight being 52% or higher.  For me, 51.something% is IDEAL.  I'm hydrated and not retaining water...this is when my weight is most accurate.