...go!

The time has come!  It's a bit earlier than I had thought it would be--I send my thanks to my ever supportive husband who helped me drink the last few cokes in the fridge.  I, however, can take full credit for the disposal of the remaining Hershey's Bliss chocolates that were tainting our otherwise healthy pantry.  Okay, mostly healthy pantry. 

There is still a canister full of Lucky Charms which I will allow to become the exception to my healthy eating plan as long as they last.  You may be wondering what an almost 30 year old is doing eating Lucky Charms for breakfast every morning, but let's face it folks.  They are delicious and to be quite honest, they are the only thing that gets me out of bed some mornings.  I'm with the leprechaun: 'You can't take me Lucky Charms [yet]!"

So anyhoo, aside from my sugary cereal fix, I am officially starting my 30 by 30 plan today.  I weighed in this morning with the fear that my pantry cleansing efforts may have left me with more than 30 pounds to lose, but miracle of miracles, I am still "just" thirty pounds away from a BMI of 22.  Again, this experiment is more about gaining health than losing weight, so the scale will not be the only way I judge my progress.  Waist size is an excellent indicator of health according to "You: On a Diet" (the ideal waist size for women is 32.5 inches or less and for men, 35 inches or less).  Therefore, I've decided to track my weight weekly and my waist monthly.  I'm not quite gutsy enough to post my actual weight and waist size for the world (or at least my six followers) to see, but I will post the difference from my starting point here each week.

At the suggestion of my favorite doctor-to-be, I also plan to have a physical and labwork done within the next couple of weeks to determine my starting blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting glucose levels, etc.  I hope to be able to run these labs again in August, but it will depend on our insurance coverage.

I think we've all heard that the promise of rewards can help us achieve our goals.  Becoming healthy has many built in rewards (more energy, a longer life span, and becoming a good role model to my girls to name a few), but I'm afraid that's just not going to cut it.  I'm going to need something a little more tangible.  Like a fabulous new dress, a hair cut/style, and a night out on the town for my 30th birthday!  Or maybe a weekend in New York City full of shopping and Broadway plays?  Perhaps a week at an all inclusive resort?  Maybe two weeks?  I can almost hear Chris gasping as he reads this.  But don't worry, hubby, August is still six months away.  And think of all the money we'll be saving as we no longer need to support my coke habit. :)

Well, I hear Nicole waking up from her morning nap, so I'll sign off.  Raise your glasses [of water]--here's to week one!



 

On your mark, get set...

As of February 18, 2011, I am less than six months away from my 30th birthday. Yes, my friends, my own personal roaring twenties are coming to an end, and I have to say it's been my favorite decade yet. I graduated twice, moved a lot (eight times!), got married once, and had two kids. So here I am, a twenty-nine-and-a-half year old stay at home mom to my darling daughters Allison (three years) and Nicole (four months). According to my Wii, I am also exactly 30 pounds over my ideal weight (it suggests a BMI of 22 for greatest longevity). Which brings me to the title of my blog--"thirty by thirty." You guessed it folks, I am challenging myself to lose 30 pounds by my 3oth birthday.

Now I know there will be a kind-hearted soul or two out there [Mom] who will say, "Good heavens! You do not need to lose 30 pounds--you will be way too thin!" To you I say, "Thanks [Mom]." But do not fret, the main goal here is not actually weight loss, but a healthy life-style. I would like to meet the woman I would become if I actually did all the things I know I am supposed to do (and heck--I think my husband and the rest of my family might like to meet her as well!).

So at least until August 18th, hello fruits, vegetable, nuts, lean meats and whole grains. Hello hydration and multi-vitamins. Hello 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Hello 8 hours of continuous sleep a night (hahaha--just a little joke for all you mothers out there...)  Goodbye sugar, enriched flour, and high fructose corn syrup. Goodbye coke. I will miss you the most.

I know I will not actually be cutting out sugars and processed foods completely for the next six months, but the idea is to make the healthiest choices that I can and see how that makes me look and feel.

I think I've covered the who, what, and why of this particular experiment, all that is left is the when. I have a little prep to do before I begin. And by prep I mean I must rid my home of all the unhealthy foods that will tempt me. Mostly, this is the 7 or 8 cokes I have in my fridge which I intend to drink over the next several days. Chris was so kind as to point out that I could just dump them out, and I was so kind as to say, "No, thank you." I will set my official start day as March 1st, and check in with you then if not before.

Finally, this post includes my 'before' picture. It's tempting to post the usual 'before' picture. You know the one I'm talking about: the one where you throw on your frumpiest looking outfit with your messiest pony-tail, slump your shoulders, stick out your stomach and frown. That way, even if you gain 5 pounds, all you have to do is brush your hair, suck your stomach in and smile and you look ten times better. I will resist in the name of fair comparison.

I know this will not be the easiest six months of my twenties, but I hope that it will be my healthiest. Wish me luck (or better yet, join me!).