The Certifiable Dieter

A Final post

2010-01-11T00:13:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned last week I will be moving on from this blog. I thought I would run it until the end of January, but have decided to make this my last post. I will continue to challenge myself, strive for better overall health, both mentally and physically since they do go hand and hand. Since this was really only one aspect of my life I am looking forward to blogging about all of them. I have started a new blog called The Reinvention of Woman. It seems to say all that I am trying to do in my life right now, Reinvent. I am hopeful that 2010 is going to be a great year for me both fitness/health wise and everything in-between.
With that said-This last week has been a decent week, aside from a slight foot injury that has since recovered for the most part. I have been eating better, drinking more water, have once again given up red meat, and am not sure I have actually eaten any meat yet this year. Hmmm
I am going back to my chicken and aquarium (as my friend called it today) way of eating. I have been reading a lot of new books on healthy clean eating and looking forward to some of the great recipes. I have started and stopped my beginner running, and will start again when my foot is 100%. I have been doing my weight training and tracking it religiously for the last week, getting into stretching again and focusing on how my body feels as a whole and what it needs.
I will continue to try and look forward and appreciate all that my body does for me and how hard it works to keep me breathing. For that I think it deserves a lot of respect.
I will continue to post on my progress from time to time on my new blog, and I just know I will get to where I want to be by my next birthday! I will also keep telling myself that.
With all that said, I say good bye to my couple readers. I will leave this blog up until the end of January. I can now be found at- http://thereinventionofwoman.blogspot.com

Stats since blog started:
Pounds lost 33
Sizes 3 and several inches

Wishes for great health always,
The Certifiable Dieter

A lot about nothing

2010-01-04T00:09:00.000-07:00

I never make New Year resolutions, I think we should want to be good to ourselves all year long, not just in January. Did you know if you were needing extra income you could make some good commissions at just about any gym this month. This is the highest sales time for gym memberships that don't get used, supplement stores like GNC see a huge boost this month as well. You can find all kinds of deals on used exercise equipment on Craig's List and even better deals if you wait six months and buy the new stuff that people got sick of using as a drying rack or a place for their coats three days after they got it. People spend insane amounts of money on good intentions. If I only had a product for the insane intentions...hmmm
I have seen more people out running and walking on my regular path the last few days and I don't think it is my imagination, I think they are the resoluter's. I am sure they will fade as fast as they appear. Slow and steady wins the race, right? If that is the case than I should have come in first place a year ago.

I would really like to say I did my best to ward off those unwanted holiday pounds, but I didn't. I read a really good article about how our bodies process foods. Our bodies are not made to eat processed foods, it doesn't know how to handle it and causes overload sensory issues. Just eating a handful of golf fish crackers freaks your body out. It is better to have real butter and real sugar than chemically made products, but people still drink Diet Coke and eat margarine. Aspartame gets into every tissue in your body and never ever leaves, it can cause really bad damage more than if you had one can with real sugar. With that said, I don't eat sugar, I use Agave and Stevia and so far no bad reports that it will kill me soon or damage my organs and tissues. It also doesn't spike insulin levels in our bodies. As for the margarine, I heard you can leave it in the sun and it won't melt, kind of freaky to think about. So why do we stay away from the natural things our ancestors had been eating for years? Is it convience? The next great thing? I had decided to go back to fruits, vegtables and grains with some added protien and see how different I feel after a month. With that said, I did have that handful of goldfish crackers this last weekend. I was never off the diet of grains, fruits and veggies, I have just been the greatest of slackers this holiday season.

I got to thinking about this blog. What does it do for me? Nothing. Not many people read it, I don't feel accountable to it, I feel stuck on one subject and want a place that showcases all my crazy, not just my diet crazy. I feel the need to be reinvented and that is what I am planning on doing. I think at the end of January I will have my new blog going and say good bye to my Monday's here. 2010 is a big year and I think it is going to be a great year, I want a place I can talk about all that is going on, complain, whine, be crazy and just be all over the board if I want. I was in hopes that this blog would be a guiding force of some kind and that just didn't happen. I think weight loss and being healthy in general is a struggle, but so is everyday life. I think I have said I have no and I mean NO intentions of going into my forties with the way I lived in my thirties, and I am close to hitting that milestone and I am going to make damn sure I go in with a bang.

I will be working on taking off Christmas/New Year poundage this week. I may have mentioned that I thought of taking up running. I have done small jaunts and I do fine but am not sure how my knee will hold up, but it feels really good when I stop. The endorphins are amazing. Roller blading, Tennis and Golf are just a few of the "Yes I wills" before forty.

My fingers are crossed and my shoes are laced for a good five pound loss this week!

2010-01-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

Good v. Evil

2009-12-28T12:03:00.002-07:00

Even managing to be on my almost best behavior I gained some holiday weight. 1.5 pounds to be exact and every year it makes me mad. It is much harder to crave kale and white bean soup than say cheesecake cake with blueberries, especially when I bought a huge Cheesecake Factory cheesecake for my holiday guests. I woke up today hoping my husband had eaten the last of the great sour cream cinnamon breakfast cake that is given to us every year by a neighbor. Bless him, he did. I woke with the idea of steel cut flax oatmeal on the brain and that is what I had, but I am still wanting to eat all the glorious bad carbs that get in my path. I mean the bad carbs, white sugar, all the cookies and candies that were given to us, you name it. Every Monday I have brown rice cucumber rolls with extra ginger no wasabi. I think the girl at Whole Foods can set her watch to me walking in. Today I skipped it and am trying really had to reevaluate why I am still going in the same circle with no way out, buying semi healthy foods that make me crave more foods like it is one problem. I can't live like this forever, I can't continue to feel this way forever and I can't keep mentally beating myself up. I am a goal seeker, a person who likes to be challenged, competitive, but I keep failing at the same thing. What gives? I know it is me and no one else, it is not a medical condition, not pure laziness as I exercise daily, it's something I just don't know what. I know I refuse to enter my next birthday with the same set of issues. I need a competative work out buddy maybe that will help. I miss feeling comfortable in my own skin, I am not grossly overweight, but am just not comfortable with where or who I am with this extra baggage.
I am going to try and restore food balance to my fridge and body. Start taking my supplents again, the protien powder, no seconds until thirty minutes after my last bite, and come 2010, I am back off the beef.
Next year I will have a better attitude, I just know it. 2009 has not been a great year, but I don't think 2010 will be a great.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T06:28:00.001-07:00

Christmas week is all so full of last minute errands, cooking, baking and a lot of eating. With our weather mimicking that of early spring I have no excuses not to walk off my calories, I love a white Christmas, but am also really loving this great weather that I am sure will not be around long.
I have decided to up my walks a bit and start running. Something I said I would never do and couldn't understand why people loved it so much, that and biking. The bikers still drive me crazy and I don't understand the need to bike 20 miles a day, plus it kills my rear. After watching the Biggest Loser finale since that is all I watch of that show, and meeting someone who lost a lot of weight by adding running, I think I am ready to give it a go. I have a bad knee and some slight worries, but I will never know unless I try. I am not talking about doing the New York marathon or anything, just adding a mile or two by sprinting some. I have a treadmill I can test this out on, but hear it is never the same as the beaten path. For the purpose of safety I have gotten a running book basics and how to prevent injury. If I don't like it than I guess I just start swinging my arms more. Baby steps.
I won't be setting any goals this week other than what I strive for every week, I will enjoy the Holidays and the great food and company, and just try and pay attention to what and how much I am putting in my mouth. It is always good to eat dinner off a dessert/salad plate and that is one thing I will be doing for sure.

Have the Merriest Christmas!

I survived cookie baking 2009

2009-12-17T19:25:00.002-07:00

It just so happens that I made ten dozen spritz cookies, and only ate three, that's it. Now, it is entirely possible that I could eat a few more in the days to come, but I didn't overload on cookies and sugar this year. I didn't have a hankering for any kind of chocolate so the fudge was not a problem, either. I think I am finally getting better at this whole be healthier thing!

2009-12-14T01:22:00.004-07:00

I feel fairly confident that this time of year our metabolism simply stops. They just don't work...you can exercise and eat a lot of flax oatmeal and not lose a pound, just because it is the holiday season. What else could it be? I will admit we had a couple below zero days and I was so not in the mood to walk three miles so I only did one or one in a half. My bones were chilled, my face numb and my lips frozen quiet, it seemed only natural that I walk fast but less and reward myself we a white hot cocoa for getting the deed done. I am also completely aware that the cocoa had more calories than the walk burned, but in my head it all worked itself out just fine...until I weighed in. I didn't lose or gain and also wasn't expecting a loss. Disciplined or not-when it is that cold out it is all about comfort food and staying cozy. This week should pose a nice challenge with the truffle, spritz and other cookie and fudge making endeavors going on. I have stalked up on protein powder, steel cut flax oatmeal and other boring foods that should fill me up and stop the cookie dough eating and cookie baked sampling, or keep it to a minimum. It looks like it may be a nice week filled with 40's and a couple days of 50, so no reason now to haul on my walks. No schlepping for me this week, or so I tell myself now.
My goal is to evade the cookies, walk more, get my daily protein and by the grace of all things holy not gain any weight. I wondered if my neighbor's and friend's would notice if I just bought all these goodies, plopped them on a fancy plate and called it a day. I am guessing they would as would my husband who looks forward to his cookies every year. Not one of these people is watching their weight, how is this even fair? With grumpy determination I will move forward, with fingers crossed I will make it to next Monday without looking like Humpty Dumpty or feeling like him anyway.

2009-12-07T00:26:00.001-07:00

My Thanksgiving gain is gone, but I didn't lose the additional two pounds I wanted to lose. I guess that is my goal for this week. It is so amazing (not shocking) to me how easy it is to eat "bad foods" and then keep going like I never stopped.I remember when I did Atkins a few years ago, I stayed very faithful for the two weeks that you can basically only suck on green beans- and was shocked on how I no longer craved sugar or my favorite...bread. I think sugar is like muscle memory, you can go long periods of time without it, but once you have just a taste your body recalls everything about it. It is this time of year,and only this time of year that I admire the people that only eat to fuel their bodies and nothing more. I can't imagine not enjoying the different tastes of food, but there are people out there that just see it as a sustainable need and nothing else. That is just so baffling. I wish I could think that way during the holiday season. No suck luck, it appears that I like to cook and eat, and really taste what I am eating. Shocking isn't it?
I sometimes write this post the day before as I am doing now. I was running up the stairs today and realized that my body missed the extra muscle burn, I had such a boost from blasting up the stairs, my legs, calves and glutes felt good. If something that simple can cause a mood and body boost than I know I have been away from my harder workouts far to long. I think I will run my stairs and few more times today. It is also snowing and cold and I will be walking really fast today. I sweat more in the winter when it's cold than I do in the summer. That should tell the story of why I have not been losing faster. A small epiphany was just had.

I am going back to the basics all this week. I am in hopes to lose 4+ pounds, and really get back into the workouts I was doing and recently ignoring for various reasons. Since my Christmas baking starts next week I am hoping to lose enough to combat what I could gain. Hey, at least I am aware and not going in mindless.
It seems I spend an awful lot of time back at the drawing board...you would think I would learn by now.

2009-12-03T21:18:00.002-07:00

I have figured out the cure to weight loss-non stop sneezing and loss of taste due to a cold that is aggressively trying to make a home in my body. I am fighting it but think I have just lost. The good news...the two pounds are gone but so are a lot of brain cells from the constant sneezing. I would not recommend this form of weight loss, however, you can find it in any public area since NO ONE has read the memo on how to properly sneeze or cough. They just continue to do it without so much as covering their mouth, or they use their hands and then touch my merchandise, latte... you get the disgusting idea. Since I won't eat if I can't taste anything it worked for me maybe I will have dropped even more by Monday. Looking to drop a few? Head on over to Target or your local Starbucks, I am sure there is some fellow manner-less human more than willing to contaminate you.

2009-11-30T00:56:00.001-07:00

Lobster on Thanksgiving is no guarantee that you won't gain extra pounds. How do I know this? I gained two...
I am still puzzled by how this happened, it was in the 70's that day and I had an extra long walk before the indulging began. Then there was the pumpkin custard pie, pecan pie and whiskey cake that needed sampling. With it came two pounds. TWO!
This week I plan to lose four pounds, the two I gained and the two I should have lost anyway. The holiday season's are a weight killer. I read all the magazines and books on how to survive the holiday season's healthfully, but clearly they don't know what they are talking about and have never had Sunny's whiskey cake.
That morning exercise class on Thanksgiving that I swear I am going to do every year, didn't do it. Shocking! I think just saying it and thinking it has become a tradition on it's own. So sad.
My Christmas tree and decor are up, and only a couple of weeks until the baking begins. Maybe I would be better off not baking this year, but a girl has to learn some self control, right? Right.
Summary: Two pounds gained (damn it damn it) still not enough liquid intake other than the great Tejava, protein and fiber greatly lacking, and exercise aside from walking also lacking. I could keep going but would need a therapy session when I am done.
I will be working on all of thee above and the rest of my life this coming week and the next...this is such an ongoing process.

2009-11-23T17:48:00.002-07:00

Holiday weeks always seem so short, like a weekend. Since we don't do the "traditional" Thanksgiving in our house (we are not turkey fans) this is a bit safer than Christmas dinner and Christmas food altogether. This Thanksgiving like the last few we will have lobster tails, steamed sweet potatoes, salad, and the drawn butter. It will of course be followed up with pecan and pumpkin pie. It won't be all good, but, the local health club offers a free class Thanksgiving morning for a food donation. This year I am going to do it, I swear...
I have no goal weight to lose this week, just an I will see attitude.

This week I am just trying not to get overly stressed as I seem to when I am the one entertaining.
I have maintained the last week. I guess a no gain no lose is better than a gain, right?
I don't have anything great to post this Monday. The goals for the most part always remain the same and I can't wait for the lobster and pecan pie. We all have to indulge from time to time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No point really

2009-11-20T14:21:00.002-07:00

My plan all week has been to go see New Moon. So it is only fitting that last night's news would talk about movie popcorn. I normally don't do the popcorn and drink,if I do I get the kids pack. Dr. Dave, our locals news doc announced that a Medium popcorn and large drink was like eating three quarter pounders with cheese. So what is in a large? I have Friend's that can put away a large? He went on to say it wasn't heart healthily...you think?
Not that popcorn would even sound good at nine in the morning-but just knowing that was kind of gross. I could tell most people didn't see Dr. Dave last night, maybe they just didn't care.
I am guessing it is then healthier to eat the crappy nachos and yummy Milk Duds with a bottle of water.

2009-11-16T00:22:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of wet snow and chilly weather this weekend. I am always reminded just how fast my legs can move when it's that cold and I have no hat. I looked like I had white snow dreads, not an appealing look. I have been doing my best to remain germ free, take my C, and all the other crazy things I get from Vitamin Cottage, and I still woke up Sunday feeling like crap. Flu-ish with no fever or cold. I couldn't eat a morsel of food to save myself all day. I really hope I am not getting something. I know to many that have thought or have had H1N1 and that nasty respiratory stuff going around.
My weight has remained the same, this scares me with the holidays coming up. With my new business taking flight one of my advertisers just may be one of the nicest health clubs in my area. I am willing to trade for a partial free membership for the winter. This place is so nice you want to keep going back. I have been to their spa and it is a dream. That would get me to the gym. That fact that it is located so close to Borders and Nordstrom's not a good idea.
I am still really doing crappy with my liquid intake and know that is one thing that could really help keep me healthy this season.
My goal this week is to start and extra indoor walk on my treadmill in the mornings after my shake and as always -Yoga. I know I can't be the only person that meets people that say their lives have changed from this. Am I?
This week I will also hunt down great tips and recipes for the holidays and ways to fit in mini workouts.
I refuse to gain weight this holiday season. I swear I will not do it...

It's all madness

2009-11-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

Just about every week I say I am going to get on a better schedule, I am going to do this and that. This and that never seems to totally come about. 2009 has been a really stressful and crappy year, and I am more than excited to see it go. I know I am not alone in this.
I am a person that's life runs smoother when I have a routine/schedule. I live off my calendar and am somewhat of a type A personality, and I have a all or nothing attitude. None of which has served me well at all this last year. With the economy causing strife for many of us it only adds to the stress. What's my point to all this? I don't have one.
Every Monday I make promises to myself, publish them here and then contemplate them. Every Monday I also make other promises to myself in my personal and business life as well. All have fallen by the wayside these last couple of months. I am also a person who is fear driven, or creates miracles (for myself, family, not a over all miracle worker.) in a extreme time crunch/deadline. This last week I was thrown a dose of both. None of it pertains to my journey to getting healthier weight wise, but it does mentally. When things are accomplished, goals are met, and that fear has been pushed aside or taken care of I feel better. When I feel better mentally I take care of myself physically. I also hear I am a bit more pleasant to deal with.
I have a lot of personal/business goals that NEED to be met this week, with the deadline being the end of next week. With this need will create a schedule, one I am hoping will transfer into all aspects of my life as a whole. I will continue to try and hydrate, eat well and get more exercise, but, at the end of the day- it really all comes down to my state of mind.

Tejava...Try it!

2009-11-07T11:28:00.003-07:00

Tejava, my latest addiction. I have been surviving on this for weeks now, buying it by the case since we don't have Trader Joe's here and it is much cheaper there than at Whole foods. I assumed, like I assume everything, drinking a large bottle of this daily with a glass of water here and there if I remember will keep me full of fluid. I guess that is not the case. They can tell with a CBC and other blood panels that you are slightly dehydrated, and that is exactly what I am. If you are a tea drinker you must try the Tejava. It gives off the same buzz as a morning coffee. So I now have the total caffeine addiction back, too. Why is it so hard to drink water?
I will get there one day, I hope!

2009-11-02T02:07:00.000-07:00

The kettle ball is my new obsession, I played with one on Sunday for a few minutes and I can feel it. I think I may need to invest in two of them for sure. This last week was interesting to say the least. This week I am trying to get back on the schedule I was before two feet of snow dropped in my yard. The walks were far more grueling and sweaty in two feet of snow with winter boots on. Every year I say I am going to get snow shoes and never do, I think I just might. With the weather like fresh spring I think I will enjoy as much of the outdoors while I can. I do like winter, but I HATE the wind and we had some great winds blowing in my face during those walks.
Protein, fiber and water is what it is about this week. I also plan to go back to my crunches in hopes that don't cause unwanted extra pain. I am still losing about two pounds a week but didn't check before this post.
I can't believe it is November already, these next three months are the worst food months of the year. All the entertaining and baking, I may just have to join a gym for the next three months.

2009-10-26T00:33:00.001-06:00

Today I get my second opinion on this ongoing annoying stomach issue. I think I had a two pound weight loss this week and am still not totally able to lift weights and it is driving me crazy, and I have enough crazy issues to contend with thank you very much!
Seek and learn is my ongoing plan to get back to feeling good. I am craving Mexican food which I don't care for but want it because I can't have it. I would love love love to have a Sangria and the list goes on. I am still living off a short list of foods but dealing well. I have started drinking Naked (the fruit protein drink) and adding extra protein to them, it works well and I feel pretty good most of the day.
I am hoping this is the week of answers and I get back to my state of normal.

How fitting

2009-10-25T12:26:00.001-06:00

This was posted on my doctor's wall- So True!

Stomach pains

2009-10-19T00:00:00.006-06:00

I am happy to report that I am still losing a minimum of three pounds a week. The bad news and what a buzz kill is that I think it is related to the issues I have been having and not so much my hard work. I have explained that I have this ongoing stomach issue and it has taken a turn for the worse. Now-I am one of those people that assumes worst case scenario- but at the same time just wants the situation fixed so I can move on with life and not dwell. I don't do the poor me very well, I prefer to suck it up and move forward. I am in hopes that is just what I will be able to do this week. My crunches cause bad pains so I have had to forgo them this week. I have lost 3.5 pounds this last week, I am totally dehydrated and my only plan this week is to find out what the hell is really going on, find the solution-solute it and move on. I think that sounds dandy!

2009-10-12T00:30:00.000-06:00

What a cold weekend we had, it even came with some snow. I forgot how fast I am capable of walking. This last week was a really good week again, it is these weeks that improves my motivation. I have about two pounds to go and I am down another decade. I have tossed out more clothes again this week and am really liking how my arms are starting to take form. I think my puppy, Ruby, is mostly responsible for the right arm and I am working to get my left to catch up.

I have been sticking to a mostly clean eating plan, I am still in love with my Whole Foods brown rice California rolls, I have been adding protein powder to other items to get the most protein possible. Since Saturday was cold and chilly it called for comfort food. I made lasagna, but before indulging I had a long fast walk and half the portion I would have normally had. I ate a salad first and drank water. I was impressed with myself, that is a hard food to resist.

A friend that I have had most of my life told me the other day she thought surgery was quicker than a diet. I am greatly disturbed by this. I am not sure I would have been had she been a bigger girl her whole life, but she hasn't. She has gained a good amount of weight in the last two years, but she quit smoking, her mom passed away and they gave her an anti depressant to deal with it, add that to the birth control shot and eating out six days a week and you will gain some weight. The stopping smoking alone will do it. She has a friend that has always been really big and had the surgery, and has convinced her there is no need to diet. Honestly!

My point in sharing? I just can't imagine going to that extreme without even trying to modify my life first. I don't qualify for the surgery and I doubt she does either, but spending 20k to not have to exercise and eat better is unthinkable to me. It make me just a bit prouder that I have been getting somewhere on my own, even if it is a slow and painful process. In the end it will be all me.

I have been finding that buying shrimp (its on sale) and taking it out of the freezer as needed and cooking chicken breasts and Quinoa ahead of time has helped me make better choices when I am hungry. If I get hungry at night I ask myself "am I hungry or bored"? Mostly bored and I am working on not eating after 7:00 pm.

By my next post I will be down the rest of that decade and working towards the next. I have started my strength training program again, and hope to keep that up for my 21 day rule and then it will be habit. As frugal as I am-I am really liking this clothing toss that has been going on.

It is so nice to put something on that you love but didn't fit and now it is just right or slightly big.

The Everything Salad

2009-10-05T14:14:00.004-06:00

~The Everything Salad~

I had this at a local restaurant and you can add whatever it is that you like. I used mostly the same ingredients they did, but left out what I don't eat and that is the red onion, tomatoes and avocado.

A variety of lettuce such as: Butter, romaine, iceberg and radicchio and spinach chopped well
a can or fresh shoepeg corn (drained)
small diced cucumbers
diced artichoke hearts
asparagus
grilled chicken breast (cut into pieces)
shrimp cut into pieces
diced apples pieces-gala or granny smith
Sprinkle with almond slices

Toss together and add creamy cucumber dressing or poppy seed is good too.

(for more fiber and protein you can sprinkle cooked Quinoa or another grain over the top)

2009-10-05T11:30:00.002-06:00

It has been a six pound weight loss this last week, it was enough to push me over so that I had to discard a lot of clothing that started falling off...literally. I think I like this method of weight loss better than the evils of the scale. I am sure the longer walks and my addiction to the everything salad has helped greatly. I am feeling really focused and driven, I am also hoping the feeling last longer than today.
I use to track everything I ate and found it to be time consuming and not that useful. I think I may give it a try this week to see if I can find my triggers.
I read Oxygen magazine, Cleaning eating and Oxygen's special seasonal addition. I am not into the fitness modeling or body building although some of the women just look healthy and lean, and they have some great advice and exercise tips in every issue. Anyway, they have just done the first ever motivational issue and it has great tips and stories of regular people and their journey's. I think it is part of my driven mind today. I also love the clean eating plan that Tosca Reno created.
I would love to lose another six pounds in a week but know it isn't healthy. So I will shoot for three. Six more and I think I would be done another size. That should be motivating itself.

INSANITY

2009-09-28T00:56:00.000-06:00

Some of you know that I have recently been having some issue with my stomach (since May). I have been going though yucky tests and impatiently waiting some results. Still-I have no answers, other than my scope was clean. To make a long story short, I ended up in the urgent care on Sunday. Not something I ever EVER like or want to do. In finding out that the pain is caused from some of these GI issues was annoying to say the least. On a funny note my release papers read like this: Esophageal irritation, no need for food for several days. It really says that word for word. So I don't need food for several days, aside from getting cranky, and homicidal from lack of sustenance I should really drop more than five pounds following these doctors orders. I bet some of these Hollywood tartlets would love those orders.
It does state I can drink warm liquid. How many days is several? Three or four? I was sent home with really gross liquid pain killer, it has made matters worse and me very sick to my stomach. Maybe that was the point of several days??
The stress that this has caused is enormous, I mean all around not just Sunday. I normally don't like to share these kinds of things unless I really know you and don't want to come across as whining as I know there are many others that have it worse than I do. It is just not pleasant to try and drink water and have it cause shooting pains in your chest. For that, I whine.
I have allowed this a lot of power and mind consumption and decided that Monday would be the day I finally make the commitment to Yoga. I have been doing stretching to prepare, but I need focus and this week it is Yoga, and hopefully some good news or news in general from my GI doc.
My goal this week is really to find a positive attitude somewhere, I wish they sold them at Target, I would get a spare. The negativity is swallowing me whole and I don't enjoy it and neither does my husband.
A lot of warm tea, painful water and a good attitude mixed with Yoga. That is my Monday.

2009-09-24T00:10:00.001-06:00

Thirteen quirky questions floating around in my head~

1. Why have I not started the Rosetta stone French 1 that is sitting on my office floor. (I took French in HS and thought I would see what I remember from those few classes I made it to.)

2. Why is it when you go for a haircut and tell them not to do this or that, they do it anyway? I always leave with shorter hair than I intended. Good thing it grows fast.

3. Why are people in their late twenties and early thirties getting Botox and that other junk? I know people that have these parties at their homes and find it disturbing. The fountain of youth until your face falls off from all that poison! These same people also never looked shocked or surprised.

4. Why do our favorite musical artist always take so long to release new music?

5. I actually ate a hamburger after over a year of not touching beef. I am still so not interested in the pork. I am disappointed I ate the beef, but it seemed to have helped the strange bruising I was having, or it's all in my head.

6. My puppy has severe ball addiction, enough that she sleeps by one or has one in her line of vision at all times. I wonder...do they have rehab for puppies? It is like a sick addiction she even gets all glassy eyed.

7. Why do they years go by so much faster as we get older, but can't wait for them to come when we are younger? I am glad this year is almost over, but am wondering just where it went.

8. Why is it all my good healthy magazines have all these cake recipes in them? How is that good for my new way of life? Now I have to make the apple cake, the apple upside down cake and the apple and cranberry pie. Look what they have started and I don't normally bake.

9. This morning I sat in my silly sock monkey pajama's and watched my new workout DVD, some how I convinced myself that I was burning calories just from anticipation of when I will actually do this workout. I wonder how many other people just watch their workout DVDs?

10. Why is it when I see something I may want to own at the store, go home, think about it, go back, and it is always gone? Sometimes just a few hours later? This is the story of the maroon hoodie. Two hours later, they had four.

11. Why is Wal-mart so insistent on dominating the market? We will have 4 in about a five mile radius in a couple months. Over saturation and I hate that store, why couldn't it be Target?

12. Why is it my to do list keeps getting longer and my time shorter?

13. Why are success and failure so often used together? I find that daunting.

2009-09-20T21:39:00.004-06:00

It has been a really great chilly Monday. My plan today was to start the uphill hike again, but rain stopped that. It is really no fun walking in mud. This weekend included some lemon meringue pie and other things I normally don't eat. I am tryinig to get my husband on board with all this clean eating and it is harder than I thought. I ordered two new books. Clean Food and The clean eating cookbook. Why is it, if you name a food something strange like "orzo", men won't even try it?
With this week looking very much like fall I plan to get in all the extra exercise and outdoor activities I can. I really have no food plan for this week. I am hoping one of my new books will be in the mail today with some great ideas. I have been doing much better on the water drinking and am thinking of weaning myself off my addiction to all black teas. I think tea addiction is keeping me from my much needed water. I have broken the caffience addiction once, I am hoping I can do it again.
Aside from the same goal of dropping a couple pounds a week, I have nothing more this week.

Things I am into right now

2009-09-17T13:14:00.004-06:00

Things I am into right now~

1. Whole Foods custom made California rolls (no avocado) with brown rice. 250 calories for 8 pieces, maybe less since that is with avocado and 14 grams or protein.

2. Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater, I won this off A Passion for books blog. Thanks, Maria. I have got nothing done today. :)

3. Justin's Organic Almond/peanut butter squeeze packs in honey. 7 grams of protein and enough to ward of hunger and hypoglycemia. They are fifty nine cents at Whole Foods.

4. My puppy, Ruby. She is leaving hard parts of puppy hood and finding her personality. For instance, she loves Ellen Degeneres and cocks her head left to right though the whole show. She also took to her leash quickly, which has been great. Now if she would just lean to love the car. She is now over 50 pounds and I often still have to lift her in. Baby steps.

5. Working on my products for walkers, runner's and everyone in between. I never knew finding the right containers could be so hard and rewarding.

6. The fall weather and the smells that it brings. All my fall candles are out, my wreath is up and I am loving the cool evenings.

7. Fall cleaning my house-it has to be done. I even shampooed my vehicle and it looks great. It is the little things that make me happy.

8. Core Fusion-thighs & glutes DVD

9. Amazon.com-this is my new late night addiction. This is why it's hard to lose weight, we never ever have to leave the house again. Everything we could possible need can be purchased on the net. I bet you could even buy fresh air.

10. Ginger peach black tea.

11. The new Leona Lewis song Happy

12. Stories my niece has to share about the trials and work of a Kindergartner. At five years old I sometimes think she has the drama and comedic timing of a teenager.

13. Recreating some of my favorite recipes to be healthier and looking forward to busting out the crock pot for the winters months.

GI and Transmitters

2009-09-16T17:28:00.002-06:00

I make it a point to try and following a clean eating plan, one that also has me really watching the Glycemic Index or the GI diet as it is called. In my mind when something on the GI list is high, I do my best to stay away from it or eat small amounts of it. I like to think that I have some brain sense, so when I stumbled across and small article on this very subject I was surprised by a few things.
1. If you combine two foods, each with a different GI rating, the overall rating changes. So, if you want a bread and it is high in the GI, add some peanut butter and it will change the higher rated food. Impressed? I kind of was, since it makes sense if you really think about it. There was my lack of brain sense.
2. The GI is an imperfect tool, much like most dieting suggestions other than calories in and calories out.
3. Carrots are not the enemy. They kind of are on the GI scale, but it was stated that you would have to eat a lot of carrots for it to be a problem, they have roughly 5 carbs a piece. I am not a carrot fan at all, I did hear they were the enemy of this plan.
4. In the end, watching the carbs, minus your fiber of course, and stay away from the "white" and "processed" ones and you really don't have to worry so much about the GI diet. Moderation and planning. If it were only that easy.

A website was listed that is supposed to be helpful when calculating GI foods together. I have not looked at it myself but here's the link. www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

Part two-

Many people think (self included) that when we crave something our body is telling us something, or we are nutritionally missing out on something. In some cases this may be true, but mostly just wishful thinking. Cravings are set off by our neurotransmitters. A few deep breaths and they will pass. I will have to test this one out. But it's always fun to be able to say "it was my transmitter, it's faulty".

2009-09-14T18:11:00.004-06:00

I am so excited that fall is approaching, I love to be outside hiking and walking when it is cool enough to wear a long sleeve tee and not be cold or hot. Last week I did that great hike and was all gung ho to make it a three times a week deal and then build up my time. I got shin splints, back pain and rear pain from that hill. The no pain no gain rule was obviously made by someone who felt very little pain. I will take the challenge again this week, with a dose of Advil. I have been doing this blog for over a year now, and am not sure I am getting what I wanted from it. I also am not sure what I thought I would get from it. I know I have met a few goals along the way this last year and stumbled a lot. I was thinking today what great shape I would be in if I had followed though on my weight lifting and strength training routine. Each day is a Fresh day to start over, and I am hoping that is exactly what I will do tomorrow.
I have maintained my recent weight loss and have not budged this week. I would like to lose 7 or so pounds by the end of the month, and that is approaching quickly.

2009-09-07T18:30:00.004-06:00

I kept thinking today was Sunday. The holiday weekends do it to me every time. I did however start my Monday off as planned so somewhere my "mad cow" kicked in and I forgot what day it was.

I started my morning with a hike straight up a hill. I think it is about a mile up and a mile down, the down may be more depending on the route. I can feel it in my rear, legs and back. The burn was unreal. For someone who walks daily, I have found out that my walks are clearly not mixed up enough. I plan to do the "hill" three days a week. I went with another walker today, but decided that the scenery would be much nicer and quieter alone. When I get to the top I see this great view of the mountain range.

With birthdays and lot's of dining out this last week I was shocked to find out I lost 5 pounds. I would like to drop another 3 pounds or so this week. I bought all kinds of healthy foods to enjoy while amping up my exercise.

I am in hopes of keeping my positive outlook and starting some great new habits. As always I am forever working on the water intake and think this will always be one of my biggest challenges. I have been introduced to a product called CLA and plan to start this supplement this week. Aside from aiding in belly fat (it can take up to two months to notice that part) it has some other great benefits as well. Here is a link that I found with some general information. I am looking forward to all the benefits, not just the belly loss. http://thyroid/about.com/cs/dietweightloss/a/cla.htm

I am hopeful for a great week!

2009-08-31T22:00:00.000-06:00

Every year on my birthday I reevaluate where I want to be the next year in all aspects of my life. Many do this on New Years, but I think birthdays are better, unless of course your birthday is January 1st. This last weekend I turned 39, where did the time go? Next year is the big 40. So many of my friends that have turned 40 said it was the best year of their life so far. I am not stressed about turning 40 but plan on turning it in the best shape of my life.

On my birthday I had a consultation with another trainer and now have a new routine. Within 30 minutes of waking I go for the cardio. Today was my first day and it is not good to bring the puppy. Tomorrow I plan to pound that pavement. I got my cardio on, had my protein and was alert and way to chatty all day. It gave me a burst of energy. I am not sure that I can stick to this plan everyday since sometimes things just get in the way. On those days it is back to the protein for breakfast right away. My protein intake has been upped and I think I actually made it today. My household menu is changing for more of the Clean Eating that I have been doing alone. No more!

Yoga is still a big part of the plan as is Nordic walking. I plan to get my poles this week. With fall fast approaching I am very excited to add this to my walking routine. I see people all over doing it and read great things.

The girls I grew up with my whole life will also be turning 40 next year and I want to look great if we make it to Hawaii.

There is still really no news on my burning belly issues so I will continue on like it is not happening and stop worrying, or at least try.

This week I plan to try my best to stick to the new plan. I think that will be work enough. Of course this plan will keep changing but I am exited to get going. 363 days to go!

2009-08-24T22:20:00.003-06:00

Nothing screams sore muscles like standing on a six foot later cleaning lights and painting the trim on the house for hours. I am shocked that I am able to move-much less walk and type. I didn't make my five pound loss but maintained what I was at last week (monthly hormones will do that). With the raging heat I also have not been walking more than two miles. I was really logging the miles for awhile. I would rather trudge though snow than sweat in the heat.
Wednesday is "the day" I will finally find out what is burning my stomach. Maybe I can then skip the applesauce and popcorn and enjoy Olive Garden with my neighbor on her birthday. My fingers are crossed.
I have kept up my stretching and promised myself that if all comes back well, I will pay the overpriced cost of doing the Yoga classes closer to my house (so that I go) other than the ones with my friend.
I have no goals this week other than to simply make it though Wednesday, after that I will make and post some new goals.

2009-08-17T13:56:00.002-06:00

I am simply amazed at the results I am having from drinking all this water. Now I just need to some how keep it up. My skin looks better, my weight loss is greater and I am not as hungry. I am guessing that is from actually being hydrated, imagine that.
Since my appointment for last week was cancelled I am still eating applesauce and snack pack popcorn, but had started adding chicken and will dare to add grilled veggies I picked up at the farmers market this weekend.
I got a great comment from a neighbor on Friday. I was out doing some work on a rental and she said "I didn't know it was you, I thought you hired someone, you are looking really great". Very nice since I don't notice it myself.
I plan to lose as close to five pounds as I can this week. That will bring be to a whole new decade. Then I can work my butt off trying not to jump back up.

Water, Stretching, trying my new DVDs and losing five pounds are my goals for this week.

2009-08-10T05:26:00.001-06:00

Two more days until my stomach issues are checked out and hopefully resolved. My fingers are crossed for non-scary news. Then it is back to my mini meals and food other than popcorn. I am also looking forward (strange as it is) to getting back to my stomach crunches that I have been unable to do. This Monday is all about keeping calm and waiting. This last week I started late night long walks with a friend and saw the benefits on the scale. I am two pounds down from last week. It is amazing how far you can go with good conversation and a nice evening.
This is it for my Monday post. I have not set any real goals for this week...just hope and finger crossing.

2009-08-03T20:50:00.003-06:00

Monday's come and go without a lot of great improvements. It is all my fault for not executing all the great intentions that I have. My newest goal is to get involved in Yoga and continue it for a whole year. I know that sounds like a big commitment with lot's of room for failure, but then, so did my walking plan that is going on two and a half years later. If I don't lose weight but become stronger and calmer, than it will all be worth it. Calming my mind is a way bigger job than losing weight. That itself could be another blog. :)
I plan to start with private classes and move on to the group one when I am comfortable. I have not been on a regular eating schedule since my bought with stomach issues that have yet to be resolved. I have been living off of 100 mini packs of popcorn, black tea and sometimes chicken or chicken soup and applesauce. I am still of course trying to pump the water and get and stay hydrated.
Since I have started a stretching program before I start my yoga, I will continue with that until I have these stomach issues answered and fixed. Hydration and stretching is it for this week.

Has anyone else noticed that if you type from word that blogger won't let you paste it in? I am wondering if this is caused by the new 8.0 Explorer.

Fresh Monday

2009-07-27T18:18:00.002-06:00

There is nothing like having a fifteen year old boy around to get you active. My nephew is here visiting and loves going on my walks with me as well as many other things. I always worry I will eat to much or bad when I have company, this always proves to be true. This time with all the baseball, driving range outing and today's huge hike, I have managed to lose a pound this last week. I have eaten out three times and we have had Root Beer floats a few nights. I loved the extra activity, but can feel my age catching up with me. I will be sorry in the morning, I am sure.
I know I have mentioned eating for the purpose of fueling your body. I try to do this but I like food. It doesn't mean I have to eat crap, but I like food that taste good. My point is this, my nephew eats for fuel, not because he is bored or just wants junk. I am not sure he is even aware he is doing it but he is. Even with eating out and indulging aside from some funny typical fifteen year old stuff, he has taught me a few things.
Today's picture was taken at the Canyon we hiked. Going down was fine but going back up was a killer.
My goal this week is just to figure out what is going on with my stomach and get back to life. Dropping a couple pounds would also be nice.

2009-07-20T21:23:00.003-06:00

I often wish I could snap my fingers and have the desired results I am looking for. Why is it so much easier to gain five pounds than lose three? Calories in calories out, how many times in a day do I say that? People say that losing weight or being your desired weight will not make you happier, I totally disagree and know several other that would second that. Happy in your skin, happier in your life. You would feel better, look better, have more energy and so on...

This week I will have the company of my fifteen year old nephew. He is active and will keep me busy for five days. Now if I could just balance the calories coming in with those going out, it will be a great thing. I always seem to gain a pound or two when people come for a visit.

I am still extending my walks when it isn't blistering hot and upping my water with my wee bottles. I don't have a goal in mind this week other than to enjoy my nephew and the fun family time we will have when he is here.

I have also found that I like the "real California rolls" and the Tao rolls. Who knew? I don't so sushi but this is all cooked and rather healthy with good protein, heart happiness and three pieces are rather filling. Trying new foods can be exciting or scary.

Since I can't snap my fingers and have things they way I want them, I guess I will wait around for more patience.

Yoga

2009-07-14T17:25:00.002-06:00

I have an acquaintance that I see every so often. She and I are very similiar and have a lot of the same driving factors in common. We always discuss healthy options, what we have been doing and so on. I saw her last month and was shocked at how great she looked. She always looks good, but, now she is long and lean and has killer arms. Her secret...Yoga. She goes five days a week and runs three or more. She lost me on the running, but swears he toned body is 100% yoga. She also sleeps better, has mental clarity (what is that?) and just has a better sense of well being. Seeing her today, I was again shocked at how much leaner she is looking. She is in fantastic shape and you would never know she has two tween boys by looking at her. I have said way to many times-I am going to start yoga this week, and I never ever do. I think I am going to go to a yoga center, pay the money for the classes and then I will go since I hate to waste money. Frugal girl here has been trying to get her own yoga practice going at home with the DVD's I have, to no avail. Knowing the shape of my aquantace before and seeing her now has giving me a charge. Now let's see how long I keep it.

2009-07-13T16:34:00.001-06:00

A pure week of neglect and indulgence, yet the scale has not budged. So I won’t complain this week. My husband had surgery last week, aside from taking care of him just in general, I bought some foods that were not exactly healthy, but quick. I didn’t eat them, but I did enjoy two root beer floats (not on the same day) and some cake that was made for him. A Milky Way cake to be exact, three bites will put you into sugar coma.
What I normally love about summer is the light eating; I plan to go back to that this evening. I rarely turn on the stove in the summer and grill everything. I am looking forward to my grilled white eggplant and chicken. I have been eating smaller meals and finally found a way to get my water quota up. I was at Costco today and they have these 8 oz small bottles of water. If I can drink 6-8 of those a day, I can then be trusted to start drinking my full glasses of water. Good for the environment…No. Good for my goal…Yes.

I have added an extra walk a day to my routine and will get to the weights soon, too. I just know it!

2009-07-06T18:33:00.002-06:00

With the goods coming in at the local Farmers Markets, eating healthy is becoming much easier.
I could live off vegtables in the summer. I My food choices have been great lately, part in thanks to that heartburn flare up, and then noticing when I don't eat certain foods I just feel better.
My exercise is lacking greatly, and it is true what people say, you get busy and forget. So aside from my daily walks, my tank top arms have been forgotten. I will start that up again Wednesday. Wow, I wonder how many times I have said that. Countless.
Nothing has really changed, all the goals remain the same, until I make a big enough improvement to kick it up another notch.

2009-06-29T23:02:00.002-06:00

Today an old friend called and was in town. My friend has always had weight problems, the last time I saw her she was over 400 lbs and I was sure it was the last time I would see her. Her legs were blue from lack of circulation and she was an ash color. That was a year and a half ago and although she is still over 300 lbs she looked much better, her legs were swollen but a normal color and she had color back in her face and is still very much battling her weight like many of us. Her ex husband who was also overweight had come to her town in May for their daughter’s graduation. He had vowed that he was going to eat healthy and start exercising since he realized how out of shape he was. He never made it back home; he died of a heart attack on the drive back to TN. What’s my point? I have been suffering a heartburn attack for the last week, I am not sure what has set it off but I know that I never want this to happen again and that health is a precious thing that we have control over. I don’t have control over when or how I am going to die, but I do have control over how I live right now in this moment, and I want to make the most out of those moments, and not get an illness that could have been prevented. I had already been working on how I think about this journey, but it the small wake up calls like my chronic flare up, or a friend’s ex dying from something preventable, that’s what make it really hit home.

2009-06-22T19:03:00.001-06:00

One’s health should be Nonnegotiable, yet we make excuses for why we eat badly, why we have not exercised, why, why, why. Too many excuses!
The set of rules I have for my life, my marriage, relationships, work, is not negotiable, so, why do I allow my health to be? A very good male friend once told me “you are given one body, you have to live in it your whole life, and how you take care of it now is how it will take care of you later.” If you are ashamed of your body, why did you treat it that way?”
This was many years ago when I was much younger and actually in pretty good shape. Although I didn’t think it then. I don’t want to enter my 40’s the same way I entered my 20’s and 30’s, with self doubt, bad body image and very unhealthy habits as well as unhealthy thoughts. I am a person that needs structure and a good plan and I can execute that in all aspects of my life except this one. I am determined and don’t easily give up, and I refuse from here on out to constantly negotiate with myself on my health. I have come to the conclusion (late in the game) that this is a relationship and I need to treat it and myself the same way I do all aspects of my life. My weight and health both mind and body is no longer up for negotiation.
I am sick of the cycle, the justifications, feeling uncomfortable and scared of all the risks associated with an unhealthy and/or overweight lifestyle.

13 things that have nothing to do with anything

2009-06-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

I am sick of the gloomy weather, I am not a fan of summer, but would like to experience some of it this year. Clouds and rain don’t make for great hikes. Neither does extreme heat but some sunshine would be nice, just not a lot of heat.

I am in a rut and can’t get out…I’m stuck in all things life.

My petunias are growing fast and large, thanks to the rain. I bought the one that fall over the planter and can’t wait for them to get bigger. They are vibrant and pretty.

Puppies are like toddlers, always going. They make good walking companions until they get tired and just rollover and rest in the grass. Very Entertaining!

I keep reminding myself-21 days makes a habit, I will start tomorrow. It has been over 21 days of me saying that, so, I guess that is the new habit.

Even if I stay up until 2:00 am, I always wake at 5:15, what gives? Could be the new puppy…

I hate cottonwood trees; they are trying to kill me, Really! Allergies galore.

I discovered on my walks hoards of these big mud huts that looked like huge bee hives, it turns out they are Swallows and should one disturb their homes under the bridge it is like and Alfred Hitchcock scene. This is the first year I have ever encountered them and there are thousands per bridge. I know nothing about them other than they fly low and feed their young at about 7:30 pm.

I have a stack of book as high as my hip that I have not read, yet, I keep buying more books to add to the pile.

I have been planning on this great arm workout program for months and have yet to start it.

I had to cancel my summer getaway but plan on going canoeing in Frisco as soon as we have some decent weather in the mountains. It is so pretty and peaceful up there.

I still want to try rollerblading and learn to golf. I think I will sign up for the free lesson at my course today!

I am still blaming the Ghrelin for my weight gain and set backs…bad hormone.

2009-06-15T20:36:00.000-06:00

I have this strange photobucket background that has popped up on my blog, I have no idea where or why it is here. Has anyone else had this problem?

2009-06-15T20:31:00.001-06:00

This week like all weeks is about those tank top arms-I have no fantastic goals or lists for this week. I plan to just keep working on something new every week and hoping for the best. My goal is to lose five pounds by next week. Sleep, good hard undisturbed sleep that is my other goal. That one I am sure to lose.
This is a short fresh Monday, and I maintained from last week. Nothing new- no rewards, just taking it a day at a time.

13 Rewards I have given myself

2009-06-11T00:00:00.000-06:00

Pedicure and new OPI polish

New walking outfit and socks

Cool new flip flops

A hair color and some B &B shampoo/Conditioner

Skinny vanilla latte (we have not seen summer yet in these parts)

Workout DVD

A facial

A movie

Cooling foot spray for after my long walks

Coconut shower gel

Half fat butterscotch malt ( it was worth that extra walk)

A few new books

A chemical free sunscreen

Promises Promises

2009-06-08T17:08:00.003-06:00

I had added the scale back to my schedule and what a relief, I do think it keeps me more on track and in check with my diet and exercise. I have not gone up and that is a good thing. I continue to struggle and make promises to myself that I will start a better and more consistent workout regime, and yet...I have not.

Everyday has so much potential, what do I do with it?

Back to the workout drawing board and getting my trainer involved again. Apparently paying for someone to boss you around and cause muscle pain is the only thing that keeps me going. Results do too, but not when I am not doing anything but my daily walks. Menu and snack planning are essential and it is another thing I ignore. Today I woke at five am and didn't eat until after three pm today. By the time I got around to remembering to eat more than Iced tea or coffee I was in a state. One would think as often as I forget to eat I would be a twig. It happens so often that my husband has become the food attitude pro and will remind me I need to eat something.

I would love to lose a few pounds this week since I am down another pant size and liking it a lot.

I think my only goal is to re-focus like I was when I started this blog and check in with my people on how to re-group.

13 thirteens

2009-06-03T23:55:00.002-06:00

Motivation is something you create yourself not something you wait to get. It is a reason for doing. This is mighty wisdom from my fitness people~

Body Imagine-There are some people in this world that are rather large yet have great self esteem and are happy with their bodies, or so they say. I think I have had a bad body imagine since I was a kid. I think, in my case and that of my friends it stems from childhood, before all the magazines we read to make it worse~

Ghrelin- a hormone in our gut that they now claim could be the reason why some of us can’t fight temptation when it is right in front of us. It apparently sends signals to our brains saying EAT IT NOW! I’ll buy that for now, until they have another theory. Anything is possible~

Crunches- They work and they work well, when all else fails and all the gadgets on TV get boring or don’t look so thrilling, remember all the “old school” gym exercises when gym class, they will never go out of style. Same goes for push ups~

DVD’s, Fitness bands and a good pair of walking shoes can be as good as any gym…and it’s free.~

Set a time- I have a hard time following this rule. No food after 6 or 7 pm. Close the kitchen down. People I know that follow this rule have greater success than I have had, sometimes it is just mindless eating at 10 pm and that is no good ~

Freebies- With the economy in a slump and wanting to save money there are a lot of perks. Like: Two week-one month free trail memberships to some good gyms, trainers who offer one free session, this is a great way to learn proper form so you can do it on your own. I had a free consult from a nutritionist and dietician that was recommended to be from the natural living department of what is now Whole Foods. It is nice to get a collective opinion on all the good options and ideas out there. Local rec center sometimes have freebies as well ~

Rewards- I use to reward myself for levels of pounds lost and then stopped, well I have started again and must say getting to that five pound loss was a pedicure waiting. Bringing back rewards, be it, a book or a spa treatment is like a mini trophy of success in motion ~

Living- Women in Japan live the longest; the claims are because they eat so much soy and drink green tea daily. Women in France have the least hart attacks of any country because they drink wine. Who knew? It was in a magazine I read. I don’t like soy, green tea or red wine; I think I’m in trouble ~

Routine-A routine is great to have when changing your lifestyle, but that also includes being good to ourselves on every level, not just diet and exercise. Setting aside time just to breath and read, or 5 minutes every morning and evening to lotion up your body are great ways of just appreciating yourself. I once saw a woman on Oprah who moisturized every morning and night without fail and she was in her 70’s and look late 40’s and swore it was from taking good care of her skin, it is our largest organ, so why not? ~

Vitamin D- It is stated that 77% of all Americans are Vitamin D deficient. When I was at a doctor’s appointment with my husband recently they suggested he start taking 800-1200 IU’s a day in addition to what ever sun he gets and what is in his multi. My friend the GP also recommends a supplement since being low in D can cause all kinds of heath problems. So this household is now on D. Back in the day they use to worry about toxicity but I read it would take 10,000 IU everyday for at least 6 months before you would be toxic. Think about D! ~

Why is it- Whenever a person is losing weight, changing their lifestyle there is always someone or two there to bring you down, find the negatives and just not be supportive? I recently had company that complained I was acting to “healthy”. I think people fear change in their friend’s and get jealous and that is why. That is my take anyway. I guess I would rather act too healthy than too lazy~

The Battle- I think even when I get to my ideal weight or the weight I am comfortable with I will still feel fluffy. I think when gaining a good amount of weight and being a dieter most of your life, even when there was no need (if I could go back for a day) it all lies in the whole self esteem issue. I think this will be a battle the rest of my life, the thing about not being 16 anymore is I can handle the battle and look at it as a challenge and lifestyle and not the DIE-T. I don’t care what others think of me, but I do care what I think of me…and one day I hope to change my perception of me, and think of my self as a conqueror of many things.

2009-06-01T04:00:00.000-06:00

If ever there was a need for a Fresh Monday, it is today. I had company from Thursday on over the weekend. With the greatest intentions on eating healthier and being an example, to some degree I think that was the case, but when junk is brought into the house, I tend to want to eat it. I think it is a good thing that I am not weighing myself again this week. Anything gained may be minimal, but still a gain at the end of the day.

Alan once told me if I eat within 30 minutes and straight protein I am firing up my body’s furnace and will lose weight from that alone. I know I have posted that before, but I am holding myself to the highest of standards this week with proper eating both in food and timing. I did manage to keep with my fitness routine and am sure that is what has saved me from a five pound gain. I know when I eat things like fried Pita chips and cucumber dip my body feels sluggish and I get really tired. I think that is an obvious sign that junk food is bad and weighs me down in more than one way. Strangely enough I am grateful for my body feeling like crap, I guess it means that I am doing something right when I am on track and it is reacting when I am off track.

My goals this week-Not to weigh myself, eat my within 30 as well as healthy snacks and mini meals, drink more water and have an extra walk every morning as well as Zumba a few times this week.

I know I can do it!

Mistakes I have been making

2009-05-28T00:17:00.003-06:00

I never drink enough water no matter how hard I try

I under estimate calories sometimes

When I hit an unhealthy patch I justify it in some way

I have an all or nothing attitude towards exercise and that can be a big problem

I don’t give myself credit for what I have done

I don’t get enough protein

I forget to eat and then eat bad things to stop the hypoglycemia feeling (sugar)

I have a long list of things I want to try but never get around to it

I get obsessive about weighing in, hence the reason for hiding the scale

I stopped rewarding myself

Calories in calories out, it is as simple as that…now if I would just get back to burning off the extra calories like I use to.

Negative self talk is forever swirling in my head

Forgetting I only have this one body and one chance to treat it right and give it the respect it deserves, for myself and the people that care about me.

2009-05-25T10:19:00.001-06:00

Long holiday weekends always seem to be an invitation for eating like crap. This weekend was no different, the one difference is I can’t weigh myself and that may be a good thing about now. We had two dinner engagements this past weekend and although I felt I make okay choices, I still could have done much better, and worked out harder to try and burn some of the extra calories off.
This next week is full of lunches out, company coming, and they always want to eat out. I have resigned myself to 6:00 am workouts even if it kills me so that I can try and stay on track. I do plan on some healthy cooking for my company, I don’t know that they will be up for it, but at least I will do my best to eat right. This healthy lifestyle is much harder than some make it look.
My crunches start today, as do my walking lunges and ZUMA. I have some hope left for this week. I am still working on those tank top arms…
I did cheat last week and over weighed myself at the neighbors, the numbers were in my favor but I think I will wait another week before I do it again (from home).

13 good diet tips to try and follow

2009-05-20T23:02:00.003-06:00

Drink plenty of calorie free liquid- (water is best as it cleans our systems). Liquid is important. Sometimes being dehydrated makes us eat more.

Think about what you can add to your diet, not just take away- Great in season fresh fruit and vegetables or a handful of walnuts instead of that snickers bar. Even a protein shake smoothie with your favorite fruit and not a Frap from Strarbucks. Try something new every week, something you have read about or is out of your comfort zone, you just may be suprised. I know I have been.

Consider whether you’re really hungry-Being bored, sad or just mindless eating can pack on those extra calories we forget we had. Sometimes I am just thirsty or bored.

Add spices and mustards- I save a lot of calories and fat by spicing things up or using mustard and not mayo or butter. Bad Byron’s Butt rub is good on veggies, meat, potatoes and has just enough kick to be pleasing and not overbearing. I use it in place of the bad stuff.

Eat a protein at every meal- I find if I do this I stay full longer and crave less of the bad carbs. My goal is 75 grams a day, I don’t normally make it, but I shoot for it daily. I notice a really big difference in how I feel and weigh loss when I get enough protein. Again, I am chucking the bad carbs and think that has something to do with it too.

Eat several mini meals - If I do this then my “furnace” as Al called it is always running and burning and I don’t get hungry and tend not to eat a lot of junk. It has been a hard thing for me to get use to but is very useful when I can do it. Sometimes packing the meals and snacks ahead of time works the best for me.

Don’t make dinner your “big” meal- When I don’t do mini meals, I make sure my breakfast or lunch is my biggest meal of the day. Then for dinner I will have a cup of soup and piece of cheese or some fruit and cottage cheese and tea. I have been told you need the bulk of your calories to keep you going in the morning and throughout the afternoon. I found this made sense and started using this practice on my husband on the weekends.

Use a smaller plate- I use a really cute brunch type salad plate for my meals and that way I am not overloading on a huge dinner plate. It seems to hold the right portion sizes and works out great. I also like having my own special pretty plate.

Eat slowly- I have yet to master this. For some reason I eat at warp speed and then my brain doesn’t have enough time to register if it is full. I have been trying to really taste what I am eating and enjoy it. Set it aside for a couple minutes and then continue. When I actually do this I eat much less. Sadly, all this great advice can be hard to follow and sometimes I forget to eat and am so famished I just inhale. I am making it a mental practice to eat slowly especially when I eat out.

Eating out- If something comes with fries or a potato, I swap it for steamed veggies, a side salad or skip the unhealthy side all together. Sometimes I just order off the children’s menu since it has smaller portions. I also get a to go container and set aside half of what I have to go right away. Many places are more than happy to accommodate and now have much healthier choices.

Never Banish- There are many foods I try not to eat anymore, mostly processed ones and really sugary desserts and things like that. Never say never! Once you mark it banished it is like you have to have it. So, it is always good to treat yourself to something you enjoy on occasion. When I do this, I try to not do it at home. Having pie or anything like that in the house is setting myself up for temptation. It’s a nice treat to just go share a piece of pie and coffee with someone, so why bother with temptation. I do think it is important to have some of the things I know I shouldn’t. After all life should be enjoyable.

Lifestyle change not a diet- A diet is temporary and never has long lasting results. So, I am thinking of this as a lifestyle change, it is something I plan to do for life, not just to get to a certain size. I think the word Diet should be banished. Die-t, like to die from starvation and lack of control with a T on the end.

Be active- It is so important to be physically active, even if it is just a walk to the end of the street and back. The benefits are far greater than losing some unwanted weight. The mental clarity alone is worth it. I slack sometimes on the grand workouts, but never miss a walk and that is the one thing that has helped my sanity, and given me time just for myself, and the one thing I am proud that I kept doing no matter how many set backs I have put on myself. Even running up and down my stairs gives me a boost. Being active is rewarding and your body and mind deserve it, you deserve it.

2009-05-18T00:25:00.000-06:00

I have made it a whole week without weighting myself and am going for one more (I had my hubby hide the scale). It was becoming unhealthy and obsessive. I can tell my clothes fit differently and will take that as a good sign, two more pair of pants are now too big to wear. My goal for the 200 sit-ups remained a good intention in my mind but I plan on starting them today-really I do, and moving forward with these great intentions all week long. My new trails have proved to be a decent workout as well. The inclines and different terrains originally provided me with shin splints, but are now just fun to explore. To bad it is bug season! Nothing like gnat protein on a walk…Yuck!

I feel like I have the same goals week after week, and it is getting boring. Better foods, more proteins, more water….blah blah blah. I think this week I will just try something new, keep track and report it later.

13 of my must haves for getting healthy

2009-05-14T07:55:00.001-06:00

8 & 12 pound hand weights

Several resistance bands

Good walking shoes & socks

My iPod

Protein shakes

Stability balls

Medicine ball

Yoga mat (I swear I will start using it one day soon)

Punching bag (it is so handy to have around)

The Magic bullet (whips up protein shakes and smoothies in no time)

B Energy Complex

Goody’s “stay put” elastic bands

A good attitude about health and exercise (I have this most days)

Make no sense Monday

2009-05-11T12:10:00.001-06:00

I have no clue what my goals are for this week other than not weighing myself. It is becoming a problem again. I have found some new walking trails and hope to one day return to my old ones as well. My insane goal is to get up to 200 sit-ups a day, and then bump the number every two weeks. I know people that do 500 a day or a few days a week and that really seems like a lot, but I think I can handle the 200. I am always impressed how fast my stomach reacts to crunches and sit-ups and the whole muscle memory is fascinating too.

I have stocked up on a lot of different liquids. Some say it doesn’t count as your water intake if it has anything in it, but I say hydration is hydration, unless caffeine and sugar are involved. So I think my Propels and Vitamin 10 calories waters do count at least in my house.
Food is still an issue right now; I forget to eat and am still not getting enough protein. You would think I should be a walking stick figure by now. That is so not the case.
I have so many grand plans for my exercise routine and how to make it a life long habit, but it still isn’t getting much further than the thought process and good intentions. With the weather heating up a day or two this week I could kick myself for not working harder on the tank top arms since I refuse to go sleeveless.
I guess today’s Fresh Monday is rambling on and not making any sense, this has been going on for a couple weeks now.

What I need to do:

Get back to the protein shakes and mini meals
Improve my fluid intake
Stick with the routine
Find a walking/workout friend
Get a jump start on those 200 sit-ups
Get my arms into shape
Stop thinking of the great ideas and actually put them to work

13 healthy foods I always have on hand

2009-05-07T17:19:00.000-06:00

Frozen & Fresh Spinach

Walnuts & Almonds

Almond breeze unsweetened

Whole grain oatmeal with flax

Greek yogurt

Agave

Stevia

Fresh watermelon and berries

Celery

Natural peanut and almond butters

Light laughing cow cheese

Chicken breast

Lots of different greens that make a great home for the chicken breast

Fresh Monday on Tuesday

2009-05-05T11:50:00.001-06:00

It has been a very sad week. I kept my walking up and lost 7 pounds in 4 days from stress and sadness. My goal is to keep the 7 off and knock three more off this week. My appetite is still not back, but I am eating mostly fruits and veggies. This week I plan to get back on the workout routine since it is a big help in feeling better mentally as well as a distraction. My life’s routine has been thrown off, so I am now looking to make big changes in all aspects of my life, including being much more diligent about my health and wellbeing.

2009-04-26T23:44:00.003-06:00

With the devastating and sudden loss of the best workout buddy a girl could ask for-I will be skipping my Monday post. My daily walking partner, Chewy, left us on Sunday after 10 great years of being the the best dog in the whole world. She will be forever missed.

13 Favorite cheat meals or treats

2009-04-23T00:00:00.002-06:00

Fettuccini Alfredo

Eggplant Parmesan

Jimmy John’s turkey Tom with extra sprouts on whole grain

Brunch-The wonderful waffles or french toast, blintzes....ahhh!

Peking chicken and cream cheese wantons

Any kind of good bread

Strawberry Rhubarb pie

Cranberry walnut oatmeal cookies

Two pieces of Original New York Pizza

Red Robin BBQ chicken wrap with fries

Chik Fil A #1

Butterscotch malt

Twix

An Expert? Ha!

2009-04-20T01:00:00.000-06:00

I heard or read somewhere that it is said-if you study something for more than three years, even just as a hobby, it will make you an expert in that subject. I am not sure if this is 100% true, but let’s just say it is. Then I should be an expert in healthy living and exercise. I have been reading fitness magazines since I was a teenager (way more than 3 years) ton’s of books, classes and how-to’s. So by my estimation- I should be one really educated, super smart and fit thirty something year old. As I was reading yet another fitness magazine I love, it dawned on me that I should be really fit with this wealth of information that I am taking in all the time, and I am not. I admire their shapes, clip the recipes, and file all the great tips in the back of my mind somewhere and then move on to the next wealth of information and do the same. I just finished two great magazines that have, as always great information, and this week I am not just going to file it away. I am going to try some of the exercises, and at least one of the recipes. If it takes three years to be an expert, I should have a PhD in this field by now, so, it is time I start using it.

I am hoping for a three pound loss and if it really does not snow again and it get this wave of great spring weather I will be spending a lot of time on the trails soaking up some sun.
I have gone back to (sort of, let’s be honest) eating clean, and eating right away in the morning, along with my fluid intake I lost the three pounds I wanted to last week. I am also going to add one more bottle of water a day to my already mounting intake.

13 Ramblings

2009-04-16T00:00:00.001-06:00

It is a fact the eating to fast will make you gain more weight, your body doesn’t have enough time to register with your brain that it’s full, and some of us will just keep going.

Mindless eating happens more than it should in my world, I eat things with out evening thinking about how much or why I just ate them.

Just because it says Vitamin water doesn’t mean it’s good for you, that is 100 + calories out of my diet I just drank. Not good. They have, however, come out with a tasty 10 calorie version that I am loving- without that icky aspartame or Splenda.

Drinking just double what I normally do (not what they wish I would) has made me eat less, but oddly enough has made me thirstier.

I am an all or nothing kind of girl, so if I feel like I have fallen off my routine or healthful ways-I sometimes just keep going until the next day. What I need to do is stop viewing it as a “Health Crime” and get back to the Rehab plan on my next meal or snack. One slip up doesn’t justify a Food Crime spree.

Normally very driven by stress or fear I have found the exact opposite to be true lately and have been slacking on all things in my life. I have no idea why that has changed but it is adding more stress just thinking about all the things I have let go. Including- my previous great exercise routine.

My five year old niece can do Yoga better than I can and has shared with me that it makes her healthy and she knows this because she can feel her heart beating. If I only had the wisdom of her five year old self and the discipline!

After giving up caffeine in large doses in 2003, I have found myself drinking coffee and overindulging in caffeine lately. Normally it is just one black iced tea. I find if I drink to much caffeine I eat like crap. I have no idea why, but know this to be true. I always thought it suppressed the appetite, not so in my case.

I won my first ever contest from another blog. I am still overly excited. It is Dr. Kracker products. http://www.drkracker.com/
I won five boxes of original and one of a new flavor, I believe. I am excited as this will make a healthy snack and I love to try something new. The best part is….I won!!!

I had stopped taking pretty much all my supplements for the sake of being lazy and there were so many. I have started again and it has only been three days, but I think I feel the difference. Maybe the nutritionist and trainer really do know something.

I think standing naked in front of a full length mirror or any mirror for that matter is one scary wake up call. It can also lead to depression and a world of “How did I let this happen”? What if, , why, and I should of…

Since I mentally beat myself up on a regular basis (It is now just habitual) it is nice to have a husband that see’s things from a different prospective, and still after all these years and this awful weight gain he thinks he is a lucky man. He is my biggest cheerleader, and yes, he is a keeper!

This week I made pesto chicken breast with South Beach potatoes (pureed cauliflower with butter and parmesan cheese) it was one of the best dinner’s we have had in a long time, it was healthy and a hit. Why didn’t I think of it before? And who knew my husband would eat green looking chicken. I am excited that spring is sort of here and summer is on its way. Some of the best healthy foods come off my grill.

2009-04-13T10:32:00.003-06:00

I would like to think I did relatively well food wise this Easter, but I don’t think that would really be the truth. We had a morning buffet, and there I did well. I ordered a half of a half of a mushroom and cheese omelet, fresh fruit, one blintz and coffee. Calorie wise I am sure it wasn’t so great, but it wasn’t bad either. Dinner I caved to the cheesy potatoes, pea salad, and cheesecake. I am still full this morning. I truly don’t know how anyone has great control on big food holidays.
I am still fighting on the water issue; my PT would like me to try and drink half of my body weigh in water. I feel like if I do that the Oompa Loompa’s will show up and push me out to sea. That is a lot of water. I have not yet figured out why it is so difficult for one person to drink even the slightest of required water. Yet I know that it will flush out my system, curb hunger and that sometimes dehydration could be why I am hungry and maybe why I can’t stop craving watermelon.
My three pounds were gone, after yesterday I am not so sure, I didn’t even bother to check today. My clothes still fit so I will just take that as a good sign for today.
I am in hopes of losing 3 pounds this week and if the weather channel is even slightly right I think I will be able to get a few extra walks. Those 100 crunches will also be happening 4 days this week as well as the other part of my workout routine.
It should be an interesting and painful week (muscle pain that is).

An Expert? Ha!

2009-04-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

13 things I am finding frustrating this week

2009-04-09T00:02:00.000-06:00

I am frustrated I can’t find the motivation I need/or had (must have left it somewhere!)

I am frustrated pastries are EVERYWHERE and I love them

I am frustrated the weather keeps going from nice to cold/windy and snowy

I am frustrated I can’t seem to stick with my program this week

I am frustrated that I fear the Easter buffet

I am frustrated I can visualize myself doing my 100 crunches, but just don’t do them

I am frustrated that I need to lose more than the ten pounds my friend is battling

I am frustrated that I can gain a pound quicker than losing one

I am frustrated that I am always so self conscious

I am frustrated that monthly hormones give me crazy cravings

I am frustrated that I just can’t seem to drink the amount of water my body needs daily

I am frustrated that quick fixes don’t exist

I am frustrated that I put myself in this unhealthy state

2009-04-06T08:51:00.000-06:00

At first I thought of this 3 pound gain as a great disappointment, but it is just a stumbling block that I am not going to get upset over. I know I will lose it this week and that in the scheme of life it will be an ongoing battle, it always has and always will be- I am just excited to reach the place where it is all about maintenance. I choose to look at this as just another challenge and I know where it the extra poundage came from. Too many carbohydrates (the bad kind)
This week I will revisit my workout routine with my trainer, and this morning started with my protein shake. I am excited to get back on schedule; summer is just around the corner.
By next Monday I know I will be down 5 pounds, if not more. It is going to be a great week!

13 Words I associate with my weight-loss journey

2009-04-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

Frustration

Perseverance

Movement

Determination

Failure

Exhausting

Stressful

Doubt

Potential

Drive

Sweat

Change

Success

Heathy Choice in a pinch

2009-04-01T16:01:00.000-06:00

I am really not fond of frozen dinners like -Weight Watchers or Healthy Choice. I think it is best to get your calories from real food (yes I know this is real food) not overly processed food. I am won’t eat frozen food with meat in it. I have no idea why this just spooks me out. Yes, I have a point.
Healthy Choice has come out with a new line of frozen entrées, and many don’t have meat, and in a pinch-they have turned out to be great. I loved the Mediterranean pasta, Pumpkin ravioli and the portabella Spinach parmesan. Aside from having high carbohydrates which I tend to stay away from, they are worthy of a try if you are in a hurry and watching your weight.

2009-03-30T20:07:00.002-06:00

My Fresh Monday post slipped my mind…

Will Power- manifests as inner firmness, decisiveness, determination, resolution and persistence.
A combination of determination and self-discipline that enables somebody to do something despite the difficulties involved (these are two of the definitions that I located)
Discipline-the practice or methods of teaching and enforcing acceptable patterns of behavior-mental self-control used in directing or changing behavior, learning something, or training for something.

I always thought these two were pretty much the same, I think I have fairly good Willpower or am just strong minded on certain things. When it comes to the discipline part I am lacking greatly and don’t get why. Maybe it is that really don’t have conscious control like I think I do. Actually, I know I don’t. This is something that has to be worked on since there really are no great excuses for living unhealthy life and feel my body crappy food. No excuses at all.
I can follow a routine, decide that things are going to change, but some of these things are not fully imbedded in my head as being an extreme priority. So then I guess I am lacking more Willpower than I thought as well. I think these two go hand in hand but clearly not the same.
I have found lately that I have had really great excuses for not exercising my tail off, it isn’t like I don’t have the time, I do. I just seem to find what my brain seems to think are better things to do.
It is most important that I be healthy, within a normal weight range and have healthy eating habits. I keep blowing my routine and it makes me mad, and then I do it again the next day, too. I need to recalibrate and get my mind together. That is my goal for this week. I will not be that fat person who has every excuse in the book on why I ate pizza or had to have that dessert-I find those excuses as weaknesses and weak I am not.

25 Random things about me

2009-03-29T11:56:00.003-06:00

This was a pass it on email, I decided to post here.

1. I have been somewhat of an insomniac my whole life
2. I never nap-even when I should
3. I am overly analytical
4. I am married to the love of my life
5. I like my dog more than humans
6. You will never finds dirty dishes in my sink or my counter
7. I am a chronic list make ( jumped at the chance for this one)
8. I hate bananas
9. I like things to be organized and not cluttered (some call it OCD issues)
10. As of this list I have walked 748 days straight even in our recent blizzard conditions (and counting)
11. Monday is my favorite day
12. Sunday is my least favorite day
13. I buy things in two’s and three’ and don’t know why
14. I am frugal for the most part (not cheap just thrifty)
15. My favorite flowers are hydrangeas and tulips
16. I read a lot
17. I really do like most healthy foods better than junk (no tofu)
18. I think loyalty is very important in friendship
19. I think I have been on a diet longer than I haven’t
20. I change out my walking shoes religiously
21. I promise myself daily and weekly I will workout harder and find greats ways to skip it (see #16)
22. I like photography and am pretty good at it
23. I catalog all my music and every book I read
24. I am addicted to my iPod
25. I don’t really like chocolate but will eat it sometimes (yes it is true)

13 goals I am working on fitness/general

2009-03-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

Tank Top arm by June (or at least feel comfortable enough to wear one)

Lose twenty pounds or more by June

Actually read the book I have on golfing for women, and using my free golf course

Give rollerblading a try

Really finding a routine that works and not going back and fourth

Stop judging myself so harshly all the time

Really take the private yoga sessions with my friend

Experiment with some of the other great trails by my house

Pop in my Rosetta Stone Italian and get to learning something new

Try not to see the negative and find a positive in it when I do

Be grateful for what I have accomplished and just having the capabilities to keep going

Go sledding this week if we really get a lot of snow (a good workout climbing those hills)

Actually finish my basement gym and then use it

2009-03-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

Spring is finally here-I have been waiting and waiting! I am looking forward to all the great things I can do outside. This week my focus is on calorie count and water. I have been doing much better with liquids, but not where I need to be. I have been eating lots of fruits and veggies as the great weather brings out the healthy in me.
Six days a week starting this Fresh Monday will be my workout regime. It was hot out the last couple days and I so badly wanted to be out in a tank top, but self-conscious got in the way. So I am going to work out giving myself tank top arms.
A start to great arms is my goal this week. Yoga is still in the back of my mind, too. I have a friend who is willing to do private lessons with me and hope we get that set up soon.
I lost two pounds last week and plan on three this week.

13 songs on my walking play list this week

2009-03-19T00:00:00.001-06:00

Back in Black-AC/DC

Fergalicious- Fergie

Suddenly I see – KT Tunstall

I can’t get no (satisfaction)- The Rolling Stones

Sexyback- Justin Timberlake

Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes

Bittersweet- Big head Todd & monsters

The way you move- Big Boi

Woodstock- Alice Smith

Imagine- John Lennon

As- Stevie Wonder

Golden- Jill Scott

Beautiful day- U2

Two Year anniversary!!

2009-03-18T19:02:00.006-06:00

On March 11th was my two year walking anniversary. I have walked countless miles gone though 4 pairs of Saucony shoes and am on my 5th pair right now. In that two years, I did not miss one walking day. It snowed on me, rained, hailed, darn near blew me a couple states over, but I still kept going. I couldn't have done it with out my loyal dog, who at times needed a break when she was sick or sore, but I still manage to get up and go daily. It started as something for my dog and a 21 days habit-to see if I really did walk for 21 days straight would it become a part of me, and it did. I can't believe it has been two years, WOW!

That cute dog above is the most loyal walking buddy a girl could ask for, her name is Chewy.

2009-03-16T04:01:00.000-06:00

This last week has been unimpressive. I didn’t do anything super grand and the scale agrees. My clothing is still becoming loose, which is always a good sign.
There are a few trails by my home where I walk. I have a main one that I walk more than others as it is more public and close to the police station. There is a woman who rollerblades there almost daily (when it is nice) and I just can’t believe how different she is starting to look compared to last year. I am thinking I may just need to give rollerblading a try, it really made her legs look strong. Now, I will just need to find a buddy to do this with incase I fall and kill myself.
I have been craving and eating watermelon and blueberries like crazy and have no idea why, but I guess it is better than my mini Twix bars.
This week is St. Patty’s day and I always cook the Irish dinner, and am looking forward to it already. This week is again supposed to produce nice weather with bad winds, but I am looking forward to the extra walks. If I don’t start kicking up a notch soon, I will not make my goal for this summer. It is amazing how easy it is to talk myself in to little setbacks, like a mini Twix, or a small but still packed with sugar Root beer float. I try and keep these evils out of the house, but when you have guests these things are sometimes needed. See how easy that was to justify?
I was not going to measure my successes by weekly pounds lost for March, but it is apparent that is exactly what I need to do. This week my hope is to lose 5 pounds, even with company and St. Patty’s day dinner.

13 Things I have done this week

2009-03-12T10:49:00.000-06:00

Injured myself
Walked 3+ miles everyday
Drank more liquids
Worked out with a DVD
Forgotten to eat all day (never a good idea)
Ignored my eat within 30 minutes of waking rule/routine
Ate a lot of veggies and watermelon
Lost another pants size (whooohoo)
Broke a good sweat at least three times this week
Remembered to stretch in the morning
Discovered pumpkin granola is really good with yogurt
Had a massage last night (not the relaxing kind, the I need it kind)
Am on my way for a pedicure right after this post

2009-03-09T20:08:00.002-06:00

Wow, am I late with this Monday post. I think there is a possibility that I have injured myself with some of my new workout routines. Aside from that my week was pretty good.

I have upped my water intake and can tell, so now I wait until after my 3-5 mile walk to down my water intake to spare myself the need for a roadside restroom (Ewww)
With the weather being friendly I have been walking and pushing myself and it has been great. I have no disappointments or set backs this last week aside from my side ache.
My goal this week is to rid myself of said side pain, and continue with my exercise regimen and healthy eating. I have been craving and eating a lot of fresh blueberries and watermelon lately. I guess it’s better than extra pie or Jimmy John’s.
I am pretty sure I will lose a few pounds this week and happily (not really) slowly continue with my water intake. Something about pending spring weather just makes me excited for all the good healthy foods that will be at the local farmers market and all the grilling options. I always feel better when I am making good choices.

13 Things I have or am learning about myself

2009-03-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am stronger than I thought

I have more will power than I imagined

When ever you make changes not every one is on board or happy for you, and I don’t care

Regret and bad self talk will not shrink my butt or tone my abs, but could talk me into garlic bread

Eating one dessert will not kill me or make me gain 5 pounds, but 3 might!

That much like a child- I work well with a reward system

I am more competitive than I thought

Lack of exercise and bad food days are going to happen, but that is no reason to EVER quit

Taking the stairs, parking at the end of a large parking lot really is a good thing, even in the cold (I move quicker in the cold)

I do better with a planned out routine

I have learned to appreciate all that my body can do (still a work in progress)

I am learning that weaknesses are not failures, just room for improvements and little notes to self

I have a lot left to learn as it is a never ending process, so I may as well enjoy the ride

A great Workout

2009-03-03T15:59:00.003-07:00

Often I buy or borrow workout DVD’s to try, and then, never even bother. The workout program I have of Tracy Anderson’s is not one that is sold, but has sold me, enough that I just ordered two of her sets. She demands a lot of reps which is very challenging, but I am up for it, and you feel it EVERYWHERE later. I guess I was right about myself, I do like unconventional. I know she trains Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, and that had no bearing on me trying her style or liking her since I could care less who works out whom. I also read an article she did today and like the information and answers provided. I know a dozen or so of her exercises will be incorporated into my weekly workouts at least 5 days a week. Some you could do just while talking on the phone. I think that mat exercises are great for people who don’t like cardio, but still want to keep those muscles toned. Finally a workout I like.
Now if I could just love yoga this much!

2009-03-02T05:11:00.000-07:00

March is here already, where does the time go? This month I am not focusing so much on pounds lost per week, I will be keeping track, but would like to have close to a 20 pound loss by the end of March. With new routines and food plans underway, I am hoping I can really push myself harder than ever to make this goal.
My plan was to pre-cook meals and have them ready to go, but that is just not me. I will settle for the mini meals and having the good snacks on hand, be more conscientious of what I am putting in my mouth and why. To try and stay hydrated is my other goal for the month.
Lately I have been meeting people that are really enjoying the Tracy Anderson DVD’s. They claim to feel leaner and tighter. Starting today, I too, will give her boot camp a go. I am excited to start mixing my workouts up bit and seeing different results. I know there are trainers that don’t like her unconventional techniques, but anything is worth a try once. Unconventional may be just what I need. Another friend sent me a Zumba clip and I ordered that DVD, too.
This Fresh Monday is all about getting my March in order, setting attainable goals and ways to keep them, letting go of the doubts that cloud my mind and looking for easy ways out, there are none.

13 reasons I am starting love exercise

2009-02-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

The rush and energy I have when it’s over
A slightly tighter rear
The inches I lost with out knowing it
The muscle definition coming back, especially in my stomach
Lowering my risk of heart disease and other diseases
Because I do it for me and no one else- it is my time
Pushing myself to go farther and longer every so often and being amazed I did it
Compliments from my neighbors, friends and my everyday fellow trail people
I feel Stronger
Sometimes the scale reads the same, but my jeans tell a different story
It lowers my anxiety and stress levels
The biggest reason I am learning to love it is; I can’t and won’t live with the alternative

Cravings, I hate Cravings

2009-02-25T17:16:00.003-07:00

Today as I was walking in this great weather we are having-I walked past the tennis club that I walk by daily. On days like this it is packed with players, as I was coming though the parking area three women came out, and my dog being the people lover she is (and believer that all people love her as well) padded up to them for a visit. All three of these women were over sixty, in tennis skirts and sleeveless shirts and have the physiques of twenty year olds or so. I was so impressed with how good they look, that I want to look that great as I age, no saggy skin, and a lot of ripped older woman muscle going on. It was impressive, you could just tell they took great pride in themselves and it was wonderful to see.

After all that impressiveness and walking, my hormonal surge jumped and my wonderful efforts lost on the 3 oatmeal cranberry walnut cookies. I have managed to squeeze in another walk, in hopes of buffering some of the sugar damage. I have decided I hate the hormonal cravings bad enough that I am going to see someone about it. All this hard work feels destroyed by cookies, I know that is not the case, but it feels like it. What will I do tomorrow or later tonight if they hit again? I don’t keep sweets in the house-AT ALL!
So then I have to drive somewhere to get them, and 99% of the time can talk myself out of it.

Although only half the week is over, it has been one of awareness and reflection. I saw a large woman that had to back herself into the driver’s seat of her car, I did feel bad for her, but also thought I don’t ever want that to be me. I have a friend that is very obese and says she is not sure how it happened, that it was progressive and a lot of bad choices-she now has trouble making it though the grocery store or Target. I just don’t ever want it to be a progressive thing with me, something I miss as the sizes go up and not down, someone who makes excuses to eat like crap, or excuses on why I am overweight. Laziness, pure and simple. Without judging (as I am in place to judge others bodies), some of the people I see like the woman trying to squeeze into her car make me more aware of what can happen if I don’t take care of myself daily and remain aware all the time.
People always say “it will never happen to me”, really you never know, it could! I would have never in my life thought I would see a day I need to lose fifty pounds or so, but it happened.

2009-02-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

With a slight bout of nice weather on Saturday, I pulled out my favorite pair of spring cargo pants. I slipped them on and they were too big, I wore them anyway, but walked around pulling them up all day long. I was happy with this progress, but I really loved those pants. So it has been another week of inches verses pounds, and the inches won!
I have manage to stay just were I was last week, that is better than going up, right?

There is no excuse not to try and log in 40 walking miles or more this week should we have the nice weather they claim we will, I may have to spare the dog and do two walks a day on the really nice days. I hope the weather man was right.

I am food bored, I seem to eat the same things over and over and need some new recipes or tips from other dieters. You can only really eat so much salad so many ways before it is boring, same with protein shakes and snacks. I know people that make menus and then cook everything Sunday for the week and follow their menus, I am not sure I am that motivated, but am willing to get it a whirl.

Strength training and logging my 40 walking miles is my goal for the week, as well as finding some new fun foods.
Pounds lost would also be a big plus, but settling for inches is fine, too.

13 things I can't wait to wear

2009-02-19T00:13:00.000-07:00

A swimsuit (I just won’t wear one now)
Matching bra and panty set (that actually looks good)
A summer dress
Shorts
A tank top (in public)
Fitted Tee’s
My favorite clothes that are hidden away
My skinnier jeans
My black suit
My favorite Adidas workout track suit
Something off the rack the says size 6, 9 anything with one number
Sexy pajama’s (that really look sexy, not just in my head)
I really can’t wait to wear some more confidence and self esteem

Back on the List

2009-02-16T00:35:00.001-07:00

I am a list kinda girl; I make them daily as well as weekly for work, home and everything in-between, I am normally successful at getting everything checked on my daily and weekly lists. I also follow my calendar as if it is my lifeline, it really is! If something is not on it, then it will not happen. I like direction, having a plan, knowing what my daily tasks involve and where to start and end.
Having said all this and hearing many other women say “I have put myself back on the list”, I think it is time I do just that. If I schedule my workouts, yoga session or whatever I intend to do, then it will be one more thing I have to check off my list. It will be my start or my end, but it will be done. I have my daily walks that are as habitual as brushing my teeth at this point, and I need to make strength training and yoga habitual as well. I know that had I incorporated and stuck with the great workout programs that I was given, I would be so much closer to where I want to be, and not still beating myself up for my little failure and setbacks.

If I can make the time for errands, laundry, work, walking the dog, then I can make time to be healthier, and that is just what I am going to do. Sadly it should just come natural and hopefully one day it will.

This week I plan to just be on my daily list and see where it takes me, I am hoping to whole new set of great habits. Maybe I will even drop a couple pounds.

Musings, Ramblings and Rants

2009-02-14T11:39:00.001-07:00

A dreary Saturday with a dusting of snow that looks more like fairy dust, it seemed like the perfect morning to make a batch of chocolate butterscotch fudge, and that is just what I did. Now, it is my hopes that when it sets I can get it cut and get it out the door with only sampling a piece. The sugar cravings are still with me and I hoping making a sweet treat for my neighbors and friends will be enough to satisfy me for now.
It has been a week of struggling but I did manage to take my two pounds back off. What an evil cycle that is.
A friend asked me why I don’t have pictures of myself up on the blog. I like the end results, you get a lot of before and after pictures or progress pictures, I will post both of my before and after picture as well as statistics the end of my journey. In the next five months I hope to have dropped most of the 50 pounds I want to lose. I think that seems reasonable.
I have met some impressive people lately, in the fitness world anyway. One girl who shall remain nameless was into drinking and starting drugs, she wasn’t happy with her weight or herself. Someone introduced her to fitness modeling and it changed her life and her entire body. I don’t want to be muscled up, but when she is not in season as they call it, she looks trimmer with very little fat and so lean. I am very impressed with her results; it takes a lot of discipline and hard work, not six hours a day like on BL, but a daily routine that she will only stray from on the holidays. She doesn’t drink or do drugs, she now goes around and mentors at young adult treatment centers, and is proud of her success, as she should be. I love transformation and the stories behind them.
This last week a friend of mine went in for gastric bypass, I am not for it personally, but think it can save lives. My friend didn’t need the surgery, she was not 100 pounds over weight nor did she have the BMI number to qualify. What she did have is a medical degree, and that was enough. I am disturbed that she was able to bypass all the mental exams and requirements that a person needing the surgery would have to go though, just because of her degree. I hope it works out well for her, but she could have done it with out re-routing her body or using her education to her advantage. And people wonder why the medical community isn’t trustworthy, hmmm.

I met another girl who lost one hundred pounds all by herself-no medical help, pills or crazy tricks, just eating better and wanting to love herself and her body, sick of the years of yo-yo dieting and the trauma it causes as well as the shame. She works out 4 times a week and does cardio daily, in the form of a 40 minute power walk, jogging or the elliptical. She doesn’t have all the extra skin you'd think someone losing that much weight would have, she firmed herself up good and looks great. I like collecting tips from the “successfuls” as I call them and she provided me with some great ideas, DVD’s and will be emailing me recipes soon, too. I asked where she got the will power to keep trucking though; even when she’d have setbacks and bad days-she replied “the other option is just not appealing”. Makes sense to me, since I always say “Consider the alternative”.

13 Healthly snacks I like to eat

2009-02-12T04:02:00.001-07:00

1. Multigrain oatmeal with cranberries
2. A wedge of light laughing cow cheese
3. A handful of walnuts
4. A handful of sea salted almonds (my favorite)
5. Apple slices with almond butter
6. A slice of Ezekiel toast with natural peanut butter
7. A cup of chicken broth seasoned with garlic and pepper and spinach leaves
8. Two sesame Wasa crackers with humus
9. Two Dalmas
10. One cup mixes fruit (blueberries and strawberries)
12. English cucumber slices with no cal spritz sesame dressing
13. Chocolate protein shake with frozen cherries
14. String cheese

2009-02-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

My hopes of weight loss this week are long gone, I actually gained two pounds or they just found there way back home. I was really doing great in the beginning of this journey, maintaining and pushing in the middle, and now I am stuck stupid somewhere and have yet find my current location. This last week the weather was great, I took extra walks, longer walks, but still didn’t engage in any other activities. I have found a lot of time for lazy, it is really easy to find and spend countless hours doing, and wow does the time fly by. I have fallen from my routine and every week something else goes. This can’t be blamed on hormones, nope, just my lazy slacker self.
I had a couple great days where I ate great (never enough water) and some where it just seemed like that old fashion chocolate cake donut needed my attention. The slacking and laziness has officially disgusted me. When you do things for yourself like, weight lifting, circuit training, lunges, squats and other things that can even be done in front of the TV, you feel better about yourself, I do anyway. I also have noticed what a great impact my daily walks have had on my anxiety levels and when I was working out a few times a week it were even lower, that right there is motivation to get back into it. It is national heart awareness month and I am a supporter of www.goredforwomen.org and with all the reading I have done I know a lifestyle change as simple as walking can reduce my risk of heart disease and other diseases. No more donuts, no more Jimmy John’s and no more of the white evil (sugar) I am going to kick my own butt this week, I will boot camp it if I have to or worse yet, do the naked mirror stare down. It is back to the steel cut oats and protein powder for breakfast and of course more liquid intake.
When I was at the grocery store Sunday picking up a few things, I noticed that my berries cost ($5.99), Celery ($3.20) and other great veggies were really expensive. However, if I wanted to feed my body more crap like I have been doing, I could eat gross TV dinner 10 for $10.00, a dollar a piece, Hot Pockets and Pizza rolls were cheaper then frozen vegetables. That is all kinds of crazy wrong if you ask me. Oprah, the news, magazines, you hear everywhere the obesity rate is up; people are gaining far too much weight. Aside from it really being the individuals own doing as we all have control over what we put in our mouths and how much or little we move, I do think with the sad state of our economy, there are many that can only afford to buy the 10 for $10 and other cheap items that will take there dollar farther, you can’t blame them for needing to feed their family, but, for that, we can blame the current state of our government. My point being, it is so much cheaper and your money will take you farther if you just eat crap. It has always been this way, it is just getting worse, the really good for you foods are getting far to expensive.
I am in hopes to greatly avoid eating things that are not part of my clean eating plan, I will not talk myself into a quick bite out with a friend or other meals I know don’t work well for my body. I do better on more protein and less refined foods. Refined foods and carbs gravitate to my fat cells, I am pretty sure they see me coming in the stores and prepare for attack.
It has been a really bad week; I hope I can do better for myself starting this Monday. I do think this has been the worst so far since I started this. I am not a fan of set backs. I know I created it myself, and from here I simply pick myself up, dust myself off and move on.

2009-02-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

A week filled with Cranberry walnut oatmeal cookies, Jimmy John’s, and lucky charms is not a good thing, health wise and scale wise. Again, the hormones need to step up and take the blame. Since they are now on their path back to a regular normalcy, so am I.
If there was bad food to be had, I had it. I have also found I am very much a Flexatarian. I eat a meatless diet for the most part and will eat chicken from time to time, I had a Falafel Gyro this weekend and it was good. I never eat any red meat, lamb or pork, but it was good. I found an article that explained all the different “Tarians” from Vegetarian on. This is how I know I am a Flex, this week anyway.
September 6, 2008 is when I started this blog, and had I followed my own goals for working out and staying on track, I would be within five pounds or so of where I would like to be. I am disgusted at my lack of will power lately. I stocked up on healthy foods for this week, and with the weather again looking rather nice I have no excuse not to push myself. In my basement, I have: A treadmill that is never used (I prefer walking outside) A punching bag, a weight bench with all the different size weights anyone would need, a weight pulley, a dozen or so exercise bands in different sizes and strengths, jump robes, a stability ball, a 27 inch TV and a host of work out DVD’s. Yet, here I sit, with flab still on my arms, and a million excuses or mental ones anyway on what I could be doing aside from exercising. I am fortunate to have this stuff, and it is about time I utilized it. Daily walking only gets me so far when I am eating like crap or when I am not partaking in other activities. For nine years I have lived off of a golf course, I can see it from my back yard, and it is so close a golf ball even hit my roof once. I have golfed it once, and it is free to all the residents in this community. I also love Tennis and we have free courts, yet I have only played a half dozen times. Both are good forms of exercise and I plan to take lesson for both this spring. Enough is enough.

So my main goal this week is to jump on the weights and some of the DVD’s I own. I would like to be five pounds lighter by this time next week; I think if all goes like I have it planned in my head, then it is a good possibility. Not all things in my head go as planned, if they did, life would be a whole lot different and less interesting.

2009-01-26T02:55:00.000-07:00

After a week of eating what I call “crappy”, I still managed to lose three pounds, hormones and all. I hope this week is easier craving wise. I have stocked my kitchen and freezer with all the good stuff, and have, for the most part, stuck to the thirty minute rule. I really do feel a difference when I eat with in the first thirty minutes, and I think my day goes in a better direction, too. I will chalk the loss up to the extra miles I was able to walk when we had seventy degree weather. We are now back to frigid, Yuck!

What I put in my body is all choice, so, eating like total crap was 100% choice, even though I would like my unstable hormones to step up take some of the blame here. Every week I say I am going to work on my water consumption, every week I don’t. I have become the quintessential slacker. I am not following my own 21 days rule, and can’t or have not tried to find my way out of this rut. This also goes for my few minutes of peace or centering daily, my stretching and a whole fantabulous list of things that would make me healthy and…

Note to self: Work on the good stuff and see what happens!

2009-01-19T10:34:00.003-07:00

Here I sit at the start of another Fresh Monday, and all I can think about is the damage I did these last four days. I am not one to find excuses on why I ate like crap, but, I have one, my hormones. I know most women can relate. The sugar cravings once a month could send a girl into a carb induced coma.
I woke up this morning and hopped (slowly) to my protein shake within the first 30 minutes of waking. Although I am still craving the bad food and some sugar, I will move ahead and force myself to eat as clean as I can this week. I had been doing relatively well and had forgotten how good the bad tasted.
I am still not sure what balance I will find, but am looking forward to some of the new things I am going to try.
This week I am going to sit for 5 minutes a day in silence and to try and bring myself to center. I am still not sure what that really means, but I am up to any new challenge. Every time your mind wonders (and mine is that of a great wonderer with 4 lanes of traffic in need of traffic control, so, can you see the challenge?) you then bring it back to the quiet place or whatever you have chosen to focus on. I see this being a bigger challenge than eating clean -since I am a chronic thought processor.
I have found some great healthy recipes and think I may start posting some of them. I will commit to a 7 minute a day stretch, moving on to 15 minutes a day at some point.
Since I am also a chronic worrier (not warrior) with an anxiety disorder I was told to try Natural Calm, by Natural Vitality. It is a magnesium powder that you drink like tea and is said to do wonders for sleep as well as anxiety, and get this, it is also good for your muscles and heart and other things. www.petergillham.com

It is the little things that we don’t think about that can make the biggest difference in our lives, like: eating a bit more fiber daily, or more green vegetables, an extra glass of water or a 7 minute daily stretch, all of which we have time for, but just find excuses not to.

I don’t want to focus on the scale as much this week. I plan to focus more on getting back to eating 5 meals a day, adding water and some of the things listed above. We are going to be having record breaking warm weather, and I will be taking great advantage of it as I have been these last few days already.
I do hope to see some positive results scale wise all the same.

2009-01-15T08:21:00.003-07:00

As I have mentioned, I am under construction, I am liking this new background, as it has my 2009 Happy Colors in it, but, I can't get the header adjusted, unless you read it from FireFox. Any suggestions? I am not so good at this, yet!

Balance is Key

2009-01-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

Health as a whole on every level! I had been thinking about this for sometime, and then it hit…Media everywhere was covering it….really? Are they really reporting this on MSNBC and my local news? Yes, they were. Oprah, she gained forty pounds, say it isn’t so. Then her magazine came in the mail and that went into detail about how after all these years she was still dealing with her weight. She then went on to do a whole show about it, which was really informative in the sense that many of us, me included, assume once we lose the weight, were done, no more worrying about that goal, time to move on. It doesn’t work that way, unfortunately. It does if you’re a super model with great genes and a lot of bank.
Oprah, made a point of saying this very thing about losing and assuming she conquered it, and that was that. I was glad someone else was thinking like I was, and it opened my eyes a bit. I know that to be healthy, it is me as a whole, not just wanting to lose weight.

Balance is what I am looking for more than a size 4 pair of jeans, not that I would complain if I could slide a pair on, but, really it is balance. When I am stressed, and boy have I had my fair share of that the last half of 2008, I function on auto pilot, not taking care of me, just what needs to be done. Then all that stress makes Cortisol and that in turn has its own set of problems when it is running all the time or so they say.

When I think of Balance, I think harmony, and most things in life running smooth and on schedule, for me anyway. In my search to be healthy, I focused as I have said just on the scale and thinking of food as the enemy, not something to be enjoyed.

Yesterday, I was talking food with someone who agreed with my trainer, if you want to lose weight you should eat bland food that brings no joy to your taste buds. You must suffer to look good. That is vanity not health, and I am not looking to be vain, just healthy and happy with my life, looking for that perfect for me balance.
That is my new focus for my blog. Not just the weight ups and downs and goals, but everything, because I am a whole person, not just the number on the scale. I want to live a long life, with a good ticker, low blood pressure, cholesterol and taking care of the only body I will ever live in.
Now, I am off to look for that thing they call balance.

My Blog Award

2009-01-14T19:03:00.003-07:00

The Premio Dardos Award-

This was given to me by Maria at http://lifelongbookpassion.blogspot.com/

(copied from Maria's site)

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.
The rules to follow are:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I am so excited over this award. I don't read many blogs, but will be passing this award on to:

A cloggie in training

http://acloggieintraining.blogspot.com/

Curvaliscious

http://imsocurvaliscious.blogspot.com/

Maya's World

http://mayaford.blogspot.com/

"Under Construction"

2009-01-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

This last week wasn’t the greatest, hormones sometimes make you crave and cave to things you’re trying to stay away from.
When I set out to do this blog about my dieting issues and struggles, my goal was to focus on me as a whole person. I don’t think I have been doing that. I have been careful to make this blog strictly about “Fresh Monday’s” and my goals, I have left out everyday- stresses, hormones, and other factors that make me who I am and why I got here. I feel this blog is boring and non informative. I plan to reformat and change that this week. I may be a Certifiable Dieter, and just Certifiable, but there is why more to me than my daily walking and weight loss goals for the week. I am aware I don’t have a load of readers, and I am okay with that, for those one or two of you, I am hoping to change the way I blog. :)
I set goals for myself weekly in all aspects of my life, there are things I greatly enjoy and other blogs I read, but never added to my site because they didn’t pertain to my attempts at healthy living.
I imagine some things will stay the same, like my weekly weight loss, mostly because it is like a journal or sorts to me. I have been learning and collecting great recipes, reading great books and gaining interest in other activities, so why not share all of that Healthy living is a way of life, not just a number on the scale.
I am officially under construction-site and self!

2009-01-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

I think the New Year is starting off on the right note, health wise anyway. I successfully lost all that was gained over Christmas, thanks in part to the great weather we are having and getting back on schedule.
I have been reading a lot of health related articles since there are a lot of those this time of year, and, in speaking with others that have a successful track record I have found a key rule, one I ignore on a daily basis.
Thirst First-meaning, are you hungry or thirsty? I have made that my new goal for this week to always check Thirst First.
I have found that when I drink a lot of liquid on a daily basis, my body does a better job at functioning, or so it seems. I am also less hungry and crave less sugar.
I will be working out 5 hours a week, over and above my daily walks. I will use the 21 days rule, some how.
My goal this week is to lose 3 pounds-All week we are looking at pleasant walking conditions and this make for much longer calorie burning walks. I will be meeting and talking with people in the health and fitness field this week and am excited for all the new ideas. I have already learned two new exercises that I am excited to try out, both are for the hips and rear.

This is going to be a great week!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T00:00:00.001-07:00

Wishing everyone the Happiest, healthiest and most successful New Year!

May all your dreams and aspirations come true.

2008-12-29T04:07:00.000-07:00

I don’t do New Years resolutions; I think it is important to have goals and dreams all year long. I am sure you all know the statistics on the New Years resolutions so I won’t waste space with that tid bit. I have made them in the past, and for the most part they are forgotten or blown off. Quitting smoking was on that list for years and that I finally did it, just not on January 1st, it was three months later.
Throwing myself into this healthy lifestyle is still relatively new, but I am looking forward to all that I can accomplish in 2009. I started this venture late in 2008 and now have a whole new year to give it a good go. Although I have had disappointments, I have also had some great improvements, and am still proud that I have not and will not give up.
Here is to looking, feeling and being the best that we can all be in 2009!

Things I do-

Always use the small salad plate at dinner
Use a smaller ice cream bowl for soup and salads
Walk daily
Take the stairs and not elevators
Park farther away from my destination (unless arctic)
Stretch daily
Take a multi and supplements
Eat a lot of green leafy stuff
Have a cheat or treat meal (not a whole day)

Thing I need to do or plan to do-

Drink a lot more water
Drink water before eating
Eat more fruit and other veggies
Expand my food choices and make meals in advance
Eat more protein
Circuit train a couple times a week
Yoga and Pilates
Did I mention more water?

Things I have learned and am learning-

Drinking enough water really does help with weight loss
Protein does keep you full longer
Squats work well and quick
Fiber is your friend
Rewards are a must
Eating in the first 30 minutes of waking makes all the difference in the day
Consistency is key
Stretching is really vital
My dog is the best walking partner
With all the positives there will still be negatives
This is much harder than I planned
People will always judge others no matter what, and that is not my problem
Reevaluation is important every once in awhile
People have advice and opinions on all aspects of whatever you’re doing and some of it is worth listening to.
Friends are the greatest for boosting your morale
A little bit of positive goes much farther than any kind of negative

Since the party food and cookies has come to and end, my New Years Eve dinner consists of some great healthy sea food, and with this week have a couple days in the high 50’s one almost 60, I am looking forward to some great long walks and dropping the tiny bit of weight the scale did show, I know I can do this. I love a Fresh Monday, followed by a Fresh New Year!

Intentions

2008-12-26T16:48:00.001-07:00

All roads are paved with good intentions, all of my roads start out this way, but I am finding that they often end in dead ends or half paved. I am good at organizing, business, running a house, among other things. I am good at setting my mind to something and making it happen, usually.
I decided almost two years ago to start walking daily no matter what kind of weather was out there. I have never missed one day. I decided to quit smoking and did that cold turkey almost five years ago. My point is, I normally conquer, and am finding this task to be much harder than quitting smoking. It is frustrating, hard, boring, and frightening.
With all the things in life to take seriously, health should really be # 1.
I slid from my normal routine, I didn’t do the 30 minutes after waking rule, I slacked on weights and crunches, and I made way to many treats even though I cut them back by over half. I had pasta, bread and carbs in general. I am not a total die hard when it comes to carbs, but find I do much better when I limit the processed ones. There is really no such thing as a great unprocessed Christmas cookie. Damn!
I have had Cheesecake, Bread pudding with whiskey sauce, Mimosas and a sampling of other treats.
My thoughts were-it is fixable, enjoy. Not the case, gaining weight for enjoyment to have to lose it again is not a smart thing to do or a healthy way to think. I literally had bad dreams about this last night. The weight gain is minimal, but feels enormous. My goal was to get up today like none it happened and move on with life. I didn’t, unless you count banana bread for breakfast and left over spinach lasagna as moving on. I hate ruts, and have found myself in that of the great holiday rut. If you really limit carbs even for a week (the bad ones) you body stops wanting them, it takes one bite of anything processed for your body to say “Wow-I missed you” and the craving starts again. I am not a food addict or a sneak eater, but wonder if those people have that same feeling.
If you were to ask me today where I am at, I would tell you-back to square one. That is the one square I didn’t want to be standing on again.

2008-12-22T06:01:00.001-07:00

Even though I think of this Monday like I do all others, I can’t help but know, it will be filled with a lot things I wouldn’t normally eat, this week alone I have made up for months of lost calories. This last week I made roughly 15 dozen cookies, truffles, fudge, lemon drops, brownies, as well as sampled lovely lemon tea cakes and other treats from neighbors. With the greatest of intentions I let all my hard work go out the window, or down my throat. I know this is not completely true, but I am disappointed in my lack of cookie control. I just don’t think it is possible to eat just one. What normal person can honestly eat just one? It doesn’t count if you don’t like the cookie. I know if I was home for the holidays enjoying my mom’s cooking and baking, I would be in even bigger trouble.

I have this complete feeling of shame, it didn’t stop me from having those last two oatmeal cranberry walnut cookies, but I still feel it none the less. What I do know is this: I should have more control, and no matter what the outcome, be it a 1.5 pound weight gain, it is 100% reversible and I can live with that. I was and still am so worried about my choices on Christmas Eve all the way to dessert and cocktails. This is not something I do weekly or even monthly so I will allow myself the enjoyment of the holiday season.

My walks have been shorter this week due to the arctic cold and winds, this was not a good enough excuse for why I didn’t workout harder indoors, but like every week that goes by, it is again my intention to do an hour of cardio daily aside from strength training. If it is cold, then I will also have to force myself to hit the treadmill after walking the dog. Maybe I can get in enough exercise to balance some of the really great food that I will be eating this week. Either way, it is fixable; I have proven that to myself once already!

Peace and Joy to all!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-15T04:22:00.000-07:00

Today is more of a Frozen Fresh Monday. We have had this wonderful 50’ and 60’s weather and have just been hit with the freezing singles digits. My walks get shorter when this happens and Sunday was brutal. Not for the dog who was allowed to run leash free since we were the only ones visit the trail at the North Pole. I just hope I am burning good calories since I walk fats and hard just to stay warm. At least it wasn’t windy, so I don’t have that much to complain about, and it looks Christmassy.

Since Christmas is one week away and baking only 5 days away, I will be going to the extremes with my eating and working out. I also have caved and had a dish that had hamburger in it. I felt like crap for two days. My husband seems to think it was more mental. Men!
I did my two pounds this last week but am confident that I made up for it sampling Chocolate chip mint cookies, and hot cocoa as well as Jimmy Johns.

This week is the Biggest Loser finale and I love watching the amazingly fast transformation. I find it so motivating even though I don’t have kind of weight to lose; they work ten times harder than I do.
My thought is: If they can do it why can’t I? I don't watch the show all season, just the ending.

Recently I read an article that said if you want to own a piece of do it all equipment, buy a rowing machine. I am thinking about that.

Since I don’t have a lot of mini goals this week, I will update the insanity later in the week.

If anyone has diet tricks for the holidays that don’t involve drinking a ton of ice water I would love to hear them.

2008-12-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

Laziness is the only way to describe what my exercise routine has been lately. Had I been following the plan, I would be down more, and maybe less fearless of the holidays. Coldness is not a motivating factor to get outside and get going. I walk everyday regardless of the weather, but when it is under 20 I don’t get my 3-5 miles in. You would think this would be the perfect time to really focus on the equipment I own at home, and start perfecting my weight routine. That has not been the case.

I know I get in my own way of good intentions; I am still a bit unclear why. I am pretty good at staying with routine in life, but apparently not in health. It has been said that you can’t sit around and wait to be motivated, it is not something that comes to you, it is something you make. I think this is true and my motivation maker is experiencing technical difficulties. I am hoping to fix that this week, followed by a two pound weight loss.