Is this a good thing??

Ok, here's what my pedometer reads...steps=11,994, miles=2.271, calories=746.9.  So am I doing good?  I have no clue.  I depend on the numbers on the scale or the numbers on a tape measurer.

Yes...you did good.  You rocked it! You want to strive for 10,000 steps as day. How did you feel doing this?  Did it feel do-able for you? Keep it up!!!

I guess I felt ok...was too busy to think about it.  That was all my walking around stores, around the house, up & down stairs.  I was kinda busy yesterday...lol.  I guess what I'm REALLY wondering is if the lost calories are all that much?  Doesn't 3500 calories equal a pound?  If so, then that means I barely lost a 1/4 of a lb.  Ok, now I'm REALLY thinking about this.  So, hmmm...now I understand the importance of journaling my food intake cuz I have NO idea how many cals I consumed yesterday.  Hey, this is starting to make sense.  Bear with me as I brainstorm.  So if I only ate, say, 600 cals, which I know isn't right for yesterday, but hypathetically, then I would have lost all that I consumed plus a little extra, thus weightloss.  So am I on the right track here?  Am I understanding correctly?  Geez, I feel stupid!  Gggrrrrr.  

Ok...glad that this in making you think.  To burn 1 pound of fat, you must burn 3500 calories.  Does not necessarily mean that you will lose 1 pound, because you have increased your muscles mass slightly and may even retain some water - water is needed to make glycogen which the body uses to fuel your activity (science stuff). But....you are seeing the importance of calories in vs calories out and how journalling fits into the equation.  THAT"S GREAT!!!!! Now, in a perfect world, if you eat 600 calories and burn 900 calories then yes you would lose weight.  HOWEVER...the body will not allow us to live in a perfect world and will go right into starvation mode if it feels that you are starving it (thanks to the great potato famine for us Irish folks and well...caveman rations).  This is the problem that I am having...finding that balance between calories in and calories out.  I burn too many calories each day and do not eat enough (ok...with exception to last Saturday at Jackie's house - haha) - therefore, I retain water very easily and have even gained 10 pounds (I know for a fact that it consists of muscle, water and 3% body fat - and, based on what I am learning now in my nutrition class, that may be because of my high protein/low carb diet - so I'm still playing around to get it sorted out).

Do not EVER feel stupid.  This is science and we are ALL different.  Some lose weight on a diet of 1200 calories...not me...I gain - haha.  Some lose when increasing their activity...not me....I stay the same or even gain a little.  It's like they say...diets don't work and it's because we are all different. The point of this exercise is for you to get in physical activity so you are HEALTHY.  And you are working towards that.   I'M PROUD OF YOU!!!!

Ok, ok...I DON'T feel stupid...just unknowlegeable...is that even a word??? LOL  But I'm learning.  Frankly, as long as I can keep the numbers on the scale & the tape measure going down, I'm a happy camper.  I'm noticing that I've been doing that thing I really hate to hear others say or thing...the "but I've ONLY lost 39 lbs!"  Sometimes I think I will never bust 200, then all of a sudden I'll start sliding down again.  So it really is all about what goes in your face & whether or not you're moving, even if it's just around the house.  At least I am now solidly in size 16s.  I have some shorts that I need to retire, but am hanging on to them for around the house or the yard.  But I wouldn't be caught DEAD out in public in them or if anyone's coming over...lol!!!  As for you being proud of me...thanks, Jill...I needed to hear that I guess.  But I still remain ever the eternal optimist...I know I will reach goal someday, just not tomorrow.  Ok, I'm off to clean the kitchen!!!  I love you!!