A LATE BLOG TODAY. DAY 73

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

YOU CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF WITHOUT CHANGING YOURSELF!

It is 5:03 and I am late with this blog but I blog everyday and can't stop. SOOOOO. I'll probably be late tomorrow as well but that means I am getting busier with work. Thank Goodness.

Hubby and I went to Godfather's pizza for lunch and they have a buffet but they give you a little bitty bowl and plate. I had a nice tossed salad and a couple of small pieces of pizza. Not too bad and I didn't pig out. Then I went to a meeting where they had cookies and coke and I just had water. So I am really doing well because I would have grabbed a couple of cookies to eat there and 2 to take with me before. Don't know if I'll track my food or not.

I stopped at the new running store today and they gave me information about their couch to 5K program that is starting on Sunday. They will be running or walking on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00 a.m. and Saturday at 9:00 so I think I can do that. It is only 7 weeks and it culminates in a 5K race on May 1. I've done a 5K before so that isn't the problem. It's the running part. I hate to run, I like to walk so we'll see. Then my friend Pat has my signed up to join an exercise program at the local Air Force Base gym which is free and that starts next Tuesday. So we'll see on that as well.

I'll have to do one or the other. Or none. After all, my purpose in life is to have a successful business and if I get busy, something else has to go.

I'm to go and peruse the recipes for a coleslaw recipe to serve with my sloppy joes for dinner so tomorrow.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LUCILEELIZABETH 3/9/2010 8:41PM

You could always fall back on the daily dog-walking challenge if the Couch-to-5K or the AFB exercise class do not work out for you. I came home and put my shoes on immediately and hit the pavement. Since I spent three hours with a tantrumming child, I opted to leave the dog home and had my husband walk with me. He wanted to know how my day went, and I had nothing left for dog discipline. It felt good to get some fresh air even if it was only for 15 minutes (1 mile). I'm happy to hear business is picking up. You and I both need to keep some sort of physical activity as part of our day. I hate running, too. I'm doing good to get out the door and go for a walk. One thing at a time, right? Report Inappropriate Comment

REAL AGE ROCKS TOO! DAY 72

Monday, March 08, 2010

YOU CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF WITHOUT CHANGING YOURSELF!

My inbox this morning included news from REAL AGE and Dr. Oz! There was an article about how drinking coke can contribute to high blood pressure, even diet coke and moreso than coffee! I don't drink coke and only occasionally a diet. Mostly I drink water, even at restaurants. One caution, get your water without the lemon at restaurants. My son is a chef and the lemon is the dirtiest food in the restaurant, being handled by everyone and cut on the same cutting board. Not a very nice visual.

Real Age is a little easier to navigate but there is a whole heap of information. Dr. Oz also promotes the Spark! Today's tip also included the mantra "Better late than Never." and how saying that can help you move more. There is a whole lot of info about short exercises and things to do. Don't have time to read it all.

Thanks all who commented on my blog about my trouble goal, procrastination. I spent time this weekend taking 15 min here and there to pick up and clean things. It helps to talk about it and get feedback from others. And I feel so much better this morning knowing that the closet behind me is CLEAN!. I can see the floor and a whole huge trashbag of stuff when out the door! At communion yesterday at church, I said a little prayer, God help me overcome my procrastination! So now I have help too.

We have a woman's magazine that comes out bimonthly and in this month's copy, there is a note about the Couch to 5K program for beginning runners to be held at a new store on Sunday. The store is called Run WIth It and they sell all types of shoes and athletic equipment and they fit your shoes to you. So you are not just buying the ones on sale. Makes sense doesn't it? Anyway, I AM NOT A RUNNER. I HATE TO RUN. I'm going to go down and join up and give it a go, me a 61 year old overweight grandma. Maybe there is something I can learn to make it easier for me. I see there is also a team for that on here so there you go. Maybe I'll be a runner. Who knew.

I weighed this morning and lost a pound! I guess getting rid of everything I ate for the week last Friday and not filling myself up again did the trick. It was painful though but I'm glad I posted a loss today. Until tomorrow!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LUCILEELIZABETH 3/8/2010 9:12AM

Yay, Carol!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MY TROUBLE GOAL! DAY 71

Sunday, March 07, 2010

YOU CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF WITHOUT CHANGING YOURSELF!

One of the things I love about Spark is the daily e-mails and healthy articles that I find in my inbox every morning. Many of these articles can be applied to every aspect of your life, not just diet. That's why we are on a healthy lifestyle quest, not just weight loss.
Did you read today's lesson about overcoming setbacks? Great article! It talked about identifying our trouble goal and write about it.
My trouble goal would be procrastination for the big picture and overcoming my aversion to exercise in the weight loss picture.
You see, I can't start exercising until I clean up my house. I have so many piles of things all over the place that there is no room to stand in front of the TV or the computer to watch a video. I don't clean up those piles because they are too overwhelming, I'll never get to the bottom of the stack. I did this to myself you know. In January I decided I was going to wean myself off one of my meds for depression and in so doing, I lost about 6 weeks, maybe 8, of productiveness. My doc said to try it but after about 3 weeks, I knew I had slid into pergatory. My doc once said I had dysthymia. That is when your mood is constantly one level below normal. You are always in a mild state of depression. So I upped my dose again and now I am back to normal but I've lost those weeks of inactivity and inability to do anything about it. The worst of it is that it shows up in my work, lost business because I didn't attempt to get any.

Back to my aversion to exercise. I don't mind exercise. I like how it feels afterward and I like to walk, especially on nice sunny spring days. Yesterday was one of those. Did I walk? Did I take the dog out and treat her? NOOOOO. My excuse was I was recovering from my toilet hugging day on Friday but that wasn't really it. I could have gone. I just didn't. But I did spend a good hour or so dragging everything out of my office closet and filling a trash bag full of junk. I have to finish that today, sort out the pile I left in the middle of the floor which takes going through. Then figure out what to do with the 8 empty binders I accumulated. And the bag of wallpaper that has been sitting there for a year. And the pile of fabric books that need to be put away in the gargage but I have to get my husband to drive the car out first and then I've got to sort through those books and toss out the ones that are discontinued. And I can't just throw them away, I have to call the lady down the street to come and get them as she makes quilts so I'll put them in a pile until I get around to looking her # up in the phone book which may take 2 months. Finally my husband will load them into the car and take them to her.

Now where was I. OH, exercise. Oh,, I should just stop making excuses and get down to it. Get out and walk, the weather is beautiful. And I can finish the spot in my office today so I can do the 10 min exercises on the computer. And maybe I'll attempt to see if the DVD player works on the TV. I just have to get some of this underlying crap out of the way so I can get moving. Hating exercise goes back to when I was 13 and JFK came out with the Presidential Fitness Challenge which advocated doing situps and jumping jacks, etc. In gym class, I laid down on the floor to do my situps and could not get up. I could not move a muscle to bring my head up off the floor. How embarrassing is that. In front of your peers and your sister who is running rings around you? No situp was ever coming out of that stomach. I was always last at sports too. I was a clutz and it has stayed with me all my life. I do however like individual sports of walking and aerobic dancing, things I can be good at myself.

I'm glad I got that down on paper. Now what to do with it.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

IPATRICIA 3/7/2010 5:05PM

Brilliant Blog, I certainly could identify with it. Couldn't find the article you were talking about on my Spark'overcoming setbacks and writing about your trouble goal, I think it takes a lot of courage to write about it. Report Inappropriate Comment

ROYALQUEEN0708 3/7/2010 2:54PM

I truly can relate to where you are, but I am learning that I have to take a big girl pill and just do it. I have not clean my house up in over a year, because I stayed depressed and it was so overwhelming. Each day, I try to do one little thing until I get a room complete. I am starting to get better the more I have committed to the task. The same with exercise. I committed to doing at least 10 minutes for 3 days a week. Not I am between 30 & 35 minutes 3 to 4 days a week in less than two months time. You just have to start someplace. Hang in there you will succeed at your goals. Report Inappropriate Comment

LUCILEELIZABETH 3/7/2010 2:27PM

Maybe if you walk first and then tackle the clutter, you'll have more of the mental energy required to deal with the clutter. Just a thought. Hope you're enjoying this beautiful spring day! Report Inappropriate Comment

SNORFSNORKEL 3/7/2010 1:19PM

Well, you've certainly identified a common problem! My solution is a combination of bits I have gathered: When I get up, I feed the kitty and make coffee while my computer is booting. As I enjoy my cuppa while opening emails, I jot down small chores that occur to me, as I wait for the slow downloads - no more than 15 minutes of list-making. Then, I set the timer for 15 minutes and do something - doesn't matter what, as it all seems to be a priority (there is a way to identify what is urgent - today it is getting my kitchen and food in order, to eat healthy - space for floor exercise will come, in time, as I build my workout program) I take a pause to check the next download, then another 15 minute project. When it gets warmer, I go outside for a 15 minute walk around the block, enjoying the views and nature and the people I meet. Then another 15 minute project. And so on... With my dysthemia, it is an effort to stay focused on just one thing at a time, but knowing that in 15 minutes I can think about something else helps, as does the satisfaction of making progress - much more effective than sitting and worrying about all that needs to be done! It also helps to plan a pleasant pasttime as a reward to look forward to: a TV show, a good book, or playing one of several instruments - I set the timer for that as well, as I can avoid and escape into inactivity way too easily! I have some long-range goals and rewards to look forward to, when I have restored order in my life and environment, but I must reduce the physical and mental clutter that is distracting me first. I recently read a good book, "Into Thin Air", by Jon Krackauer, about the ill-fated 1996 Everest expedition, that several of my friends survived, miraculously. I saw a wonderful metaphor in reaching the summit, in spite of incredible challenges in environment and physical limitations, by taking just one step at a time, sometimes painful minutes apart, but ever continuing onward. Best wishes on your journey Report Inappropriate Comment

4DOGNIGHT 3/7/2010 1:17PM

Great idea about the 15 min. I did some of that yesterday by cleaning out my closet but everyday, I will try it. Report Inappropriate Comment

FOOFIT1 3/7/2010 12:16PM

At least you recognize you're procrastinating and are trying to change it! That's step one! A friend of mine experienced the same kind of messy house problem you seem to be talking about, and here's what she did to fix it. Promise yourself you'll do 15 minutes a day of cleaning up your house. No more, no less. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and get as much done as you can. When the buzzer goes off, walk away. It *really* worked for her. Thinking about cleaning the entire house was too overwhelming, but when she started 15 minutes a day, the house got cleaner and cleaner up to the point that it didn't seem overwhelming anymore, she finished up the job, and now she continues her 15 minutes a night so that the house stays clean!!! Just a suggestion. Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

MIGHTYMUSSO 3/7/2010 8:15AM

Its another beautiful spring day (or end of winter day) -- go for a walk! Report Inappropriate Comment

Out of the mouth's of babes! DAY 70

Saturday, March 06, 2010

YOU CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF WITHOUT CHANGING YOURSELF!

My son was watching COPS with his five year old son and his 6 month old brother. Jack asked, "Can kids get arrested?" My son said sometimes? "Can Babies get arrested?" No that's silly. "Is that because they can't put their arms behind their backs?"

Yesterday was a day from hell for me so I appreciate a little humor. I had a regional company meeting in Tallahassee and it is a 3 hour drive for me. I got up early, and in an unusual fashion took my morning pills along with some herbalife pills I was trying out all together on an empty stomach. I immediately ate a bowl of cereal and a banana, got showered and dressed and on the road. About an hour and a half later, I was standing on the side of the INTERSTATE letting it all out. After a rest room stop and another road stop I finally limped into the meeting, just a few minutes late. During the meeting I started to get cold so I wrapped myself in my friends blanket. At lunch, I ate half a sandwich and drank some sprite. Then about an hour later, it was all over. I slept on her bed and used her bathroom. Missed the last half of the meeting and then wondered how the heck I was going to drive home. They were concerned for me as well but I got in the car and I guess there was nothing left because I made it home with only one rest stop.

It was about 5:00 in the evening. My husband was out of town so I said hello to the dogs and immediately climbed into bed. I woke up a couple of times with a bad headache so I took some aspirin and went back to sleep and slept until this morning about 7:30. Now I'm feeling 100 % better and I didn't take the herbalife pills. While going through my e-mails I got one from Women to Women and there was an article about herbs and it said never to take herbs with your prescribed meds at the same time as it would negate the effect of the meds. WHOOPS! I should have know that. But because I was leaving early I missed my normal routine of drinking coffee and breakfast for 1 to 2 hours before meds. And I had taken the herbalife pills when I got up and my regular meds after bkfst and that seemed to be okay. I kind of thought that was the problem but I was having a fever and chills so it was almost like a 24 hour virus. I'll never know but I will say that I'm never sick like that so I'm blaming it on the herbs.

The bright side is that I lost 2 lbs. Heck of a way to lose weight and it probably won't stay off but I'll sure be watching what I eat. Soup for lunch I guess. I had to log in yesterday for perfect attendance and write a blog but I'll be starting over with spark streaks of water and nutrition tracking. Oh, well. Until tomorrow. Glad to be back.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LUCILEELIZABETH 3/6/2010 11:59AM

Carol, you are such a trooper. I don't know how you made it through all that sickness away from home. I'm so thankful you are feeling better. It's good you understand the danger of mixing herbs and anti-depressants. Don't put yourself through another slump (this time brought on by herbs). You are making wonderful progress without the herbs. Water works very well for me. Comment edited on: 3/6/2010 12:00:34 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

MARSHASTAR 3/6/2010 11:33AM

I am glad you are okay. It seems we both learned a lesson this week. Report Inappropriate Comment

LOGGIN' AND BLOGGIN'. DAY 69

Friday, March 05, 2010

YOU CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF WITHOUT CHANGING YOURSELF!

I was sick all day. See you tomorrow.