5-11-2012:
The FIRST thing I started doing in the WHATEVER IT TAKES column was to get to bed earlier in order to get more sleep! I was going to write about it here, but there was a blog about sleep/weight loss that I read this morning and here are my comments that I copied and pasted:

It's probably not possible, but I think it would be interesting to study the association of WHY people don't get enough sleep, thus having more problems with weight loss. My dear mother was a ...

5-11-2012:
The FIRST thing I started doing in the WHATEVER IT TAKES column was to get to bed earlier in order to get more sleep! I was going to write about it here, but there was a blog about sleep/weight loss that I read this morning and here are my comments that I copied and pasted:

It's probably not possible, but I think it would be interesting to study the association of WHY people don't get enough sleep, thus having more problems with weight loss. My dear mother was a lonely divorced woman, an RN who worked double shifts (this was in the days of 8-hour shifts) who never got enough sleep and overate continually, even after being diagnosed with diabetes. (Yes, she eventually became obese, not just overweight, and that was AFTER the diabetes diagnosis.) I suspect the same stresses that caused her to overeat contributed to her lack of sleep. I also think that being tired makes it more difficult to be self-controlled as well as more difficult to identify fatigue or hunger that needs to be satisfied.

The SECOND thing I did was to decide to start a dessert-free streak. The next day I discovered the 4-weekSUGAR CHALLENGE and joined that. It's bound to help me stay off the desserts and probably learn other ways to avoid sugar.

The THIRD thing is a reward. I give myself a reward of $1 each day for each successful day. Rewards have not worked for me in the past, but this one is working. I love seeing that jar with my little wad in it every time I walk into the kitchen, and I look forward to adding $1 each night. :)

The FOURTH thing I did was to start back on my 10-minutes a day / 5 days a week exercise. (I usually do more, once I get started.) I will never be able to walk enough to generate weight loss, but it is good for my cardiovascular system plus I feel so much better about myself just having exercised that little bit of self-discipline!

My weight was down only .9 of a pound this week, but it was DOWN! It continues to go down slowly. I'm still positive!

An interesting insight: Yesterday as I wrote a very private journal about my negative feelings toward a certain friend, among other things I discovered is an inner conflict I didn't know I had. I LIKE the inner me very much; I HATE my (outer) body. Mmmmm ... something to think further on!

5-3-2012:
Several things have come together serendipitously that have encouraged me to start over.

Last Sunday our minister was speaking about making God the number one priority in our lives, and among other things, he said DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! I do want God to be the prevailing priority in my life, but the rule applies to all goal seeking.

Then I watched Steve Siebold’s video on STARTING OVER, which made me realize that my backsliding doesn’t mean I have to give up. There are times when it is necessary to start over; this is one of them!

Wednesday I read NEVERORNOW’s blog that she wrote on Friday, April 27, expressing her thoughts on the NEVER QUIT pledge that is going around SparkPeople. She said that before SP, she’d have quit and gone back to all her old habits and undone all the progress she has made. (She has lost 60 pounds!) I was on the verge of doing the same thing! (Again!) Like Karen, I have been inspired repeatedly by articles, blogs, challenges, and messages on SP. However, I have been away for such a long time, it was very tempting to throw in the towel … again. If I had, I know I would never have tried to lose weight again; I was standing on the edge of a cliff! If anyone reading this is discourage, I recommend her blog!

Notes to myself:

(1) STARTING OVER
(a) Put this on my SparkPage as my new beginning, using dates to track my progress as well as my struggles.
(b) Read THE SPARK again
(c) Follow the steps in THE SPARK (I’ve been working on [read “fiddling around with”] a vision board for more than a year!)
(d)Use more recipes from THE SPARKPEOPLE COOKBOOK. (Those I have used are delicious!)

(2) DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
(a) Get to bed early enough to get a good night’s sleep!
(b) Sign in to SP every day
(c) Be open and honest with my weigh-in. (Log it weekly, even if it is a gain.)
(d) Be open and honest with my food tracker. (Allow others to see it.)

(3) NEVER QUIT!

I am signing the pledge here and now AND I’m copying it and posting it on my fridge … or pantry!


NEVER QUIT

Today, I promise I will not quit.
I pledge that no matter, how many ups and
downs I pass through,
I will continue on my journey.

I pledge to make a NEW START today,
and forgive myself for my past,
and to stop being so critical of myself.

I pledge to take control of myself,
To stop making excuses,
And stop blaming other people or situations.

I pledge to treat myself as I would my Best
Friend,
Because that is who I am.

I pledge to stay in the race
and to be a WINNER.

Signed – Barbara (Puglover1999) 5-3-12



August 2006 (I think):

I'm discouraged. I KNOW all I need to know about weight loss, but I seem to be more determined to be fat and ugly and disobedient to God than I am to be healthy, slender and obedient to God. I'm saying "obedient to God" because I believe my self-indulgence and my using food to satisfy needs that I should trust Him with are sins. I joined Spark People several years ago, but have not been active. However, I continue to read articles (WONDERFUL ARTICLES) that are sent to my email and have decided I have probably been ignoring the biggest help available to me (second to God's answering my prayers ... when I pray)! So ... here I am again ... still fat, but hopeful.

Read More About PUGLOVER1999 (Updated June 10)

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