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4DOGNIGHT's Recent Blog Entries
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Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Two blogs in one day! But I was thinking about my mom this morning and I wanted to share. She died when she was 60, I was 30, so I never really got to know her as a mother-daughter relationship. We had a tumultuous relationship as it was so it was sad she died so young. I am going to be 62 in March so I can't imagine what she went through. She had leukemia and was in a hospital about 5 hours drive from me and I had 2 small babies and I wasn't there.
But I learned a lot from her. Back in those days, when I was growing up, women actually cooked dinner for their familes. Every night we had a balanced meal, meat, a starch and vegetables. When she was working, she would often leave instructions for cooking dinner for my sister and I to complete so it would be ready when she came home. She was a good cook and my sister and I are as well. I followed her example and always had the basic 3 at our family dinners, which were most nights. My sons talk about family dinners to this day and they are in their 30's.
My mom was alway diet conscious. Not necessarily on a diet but conscious of not eating too much and eating right. We've lost that as a nation now, too much fast food available. I also learned to sew from her. I used to make all of my clothing and even sewed for my husband and my boys. That too is a dead art. What I didn't learn from her was how to keep house. Oh, she taught me to dust and vacuum but somewhere along the way I decided to give it up. A famous decorator (Mario Buatta, the prince of Chintz) once said, "Dust is a protective covering for your furniture." Thank good ness for my husband who vaccuums nearly every day and keeps things organized. And the cleaning lady who comes every other week.
I could go on but time is wasting and I have a client to see this morning so must go. Until tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Well I skimmed through the book. Now I have to go back and reread it and apply it, not only to weightloss but to my business and personal life as well. I am a real procrastinator when it comes to something I don't want to do, organize my company files for 2010, end of year accounting for 2009, changing my print ads to reflect the new year, finding new clients, etc. etc. I don't think I am ready for the new business year just yet. I 'm still in vacation mode as we go to Disneyworld with family for 4 days this weekend. When I get back next week, then it will be time to organize or else.
I'm having too much fun getting organized with weight loss goals. I got on the scale this morning and it was hovering around a 1 or 2 lb loss. My scale is not accurate so I probably need a new one but not yet. At this point, lb loss isn't important. Sticking to my goals and food plan is. Last night, I briefly considered a klondike bar after dinner and I stood over my husband as he ate his. He offered me a bite but I declined and had a cup of warm cinnamon milk instead. It is still freezing cold here in Florida. I don't know how you snow bunnies do it. All my elephant ears are dead and my blooming hibiscus has succumbed to the cold. It comes back every year so I'm not worried about it.
I did not do my boot camp exercise yesterday! I simply made the decision not to do it. It might have had something to do with getting unbundled from the sweaters and coats and blankets I'm wrapped in and not wanting to bare myself to the cold. Today, I am going to try and do twice the exercise. It shouldn't be difficult, just have to take the time. I didn't get to walk the dog yesterday until after 4:00. As a result, we didn't go too far, the temp was already going down. I ought to consider adding shivering to exercise.
There is something in the book about getting points for reading each chapter. I'll have to delve into that part further. I can already feel my stomach is flatter. I concentrate on that roll of fat at the waist and it just feels flatter. Also, I am not stuffed with food as I often am. It's all good. Until tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
I woke up early this a.m. to 22 degree weather in Florida! BRRR! I have an early morning meeting so I'm blogging now because I'm excited to get it down in writing. I'm reading THE SPARK, and I'm in stage 1, Fast Break. My action step is to write my goals as clearly as possible, long-term, medium-term and short-term.
As I lay in bed last night, I visualized some goals that I must put down right now.
1. I want to lose 30 pounds in 7 months (end of July) I think this is reasonable. I started out thinking a year but I think I can do it in 7 months.
2. I want to learn to love exercise. I dread the E word and will do anything, make any excuse to avoid it. But once I get into it, it feels great so why the dread? That's why I love the 10 min challenge. I can do 10 min. It is over before I start looking at the clock.
3. I want to reserve dessert and sweets for special occasions, not an every day treat. When I was growing up, my mother cooked healthy meals and we only had dessert occasionally. When I got married, my mom-in-law was a baker and a cook. She always had fresh baked pies or cakes or cookies and when she served them, one pie would only yield 6 pieces. And she would plop it down in front of you and you were expected to eat it, no matter if you were dieting or what. So I got really used to having dessert all of the time. Now she is 90 and unable to cook and bake so I am not faced with temptation. I want to learn to reserve dessert for special occasions again.
I can't believe I am actually falling into this website with so much enthusiasm. It sounds like I am taking on a lot but really, these goals I am setting are wishes and hopes I have had for years but was unable to do anything about. Maybe I am really ready to make that lifestyle change I've been hoping for.
My fastbreak goals are simple, cook dinner 5 out of 7 days this week, avoid desserts, and eat 2 fruits a day. The avoid dessert is one of my long-term goals so I can do that. Nothing in the house except Klondike bars anyway and I've left them in the freezer. After dinner last night it briefly crossed my mind that I would like one and then I immediately pushed it away and had nothing and didn"t miss it.
Sunday night I cooked a porkloin so last night I combined 3 asian recipes from this site to make stir-fry pork, peppers, cabbage, and onion with a sweet and sour sauce over noodles and it was delicious. Tonight is chicken, green beans and brown rice. Planning is key and having healthy food in the fridge available to cook. Today's lunch is leftover from last night.
And the exercise part, not so bad with the boot camp video and I've promised to walk the dog every day this year and she won't let me forget it.
So I'm moving along. I think I'm going to go ahead and let this blog post to facebook. If everyone knows about this, I guess I have to stick with it. Hope it warms up before I have to take the dog for a walk. We who live in Florida don't really have a lot of warm clothing stored up for cold days. Until tomorrow.
Monday, January 04, 2010
WOW! I've been reading the Spark Book and there is so much to do! If you do everything, there isn't time to eat so you naturally lose weight! Yesterday I set some goals for myself and today I am setting one very important goal. By 9:00 a.m. I will have finished my spark blog and exercise and I will have showered and dressed, ate breakfast, read the paper and I'm sitting at my computer running my business. I have 54 min to accomplish this goal today.
Last night I read the Positive Force chapter of the book. One of the reasons I have been successful in business is that I like to help people.
" If you help enough people get what they want, you'll get what you want!"
Quote from my regional director, Windy Pugh.
Chris Downie says in the book, "Working closely with another person to develop his or her spark can inspire both of you to reach new heights."
I want to be a spark leader, coach, role model, etc. and it will take some time but I will get there. I don't want to be in charge of anything, I just want to help.
I hope that I am committed to this program. So many times, I have done the yo yo dieting saga only to lose and gain it back. I don't want that to happen this time. I am already visualizing a flatter stomach and comments from people like, Wow how much weight have you lost? And you look great! I don't want to fall off the wagon this weekend in DisneyWorld and eat too much. I don't want to get off track and lose contact with Sparkers. I really want to be a success story, not a failure. So I am putting myself out there, on the line. On my first blog post, I listed 10 goals. I have already met those ten goals, I just have to keep it up! Got to go, only 45 min left.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
We spent the night in Biloxi and saw the Beach Boys perform. It was fantastic! I never saw so many 60 somethings dancing in the aisles and swiveling their hips. OUght to be able to count that as exercise! Two of the guys were original and "old" but they sang and performed for 1 hr and 45 min! A great show. They are coming back in October for Cruising the Coast whatever that is. It will be at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS.
I've been reading my Spark Book and I'm on the Fast Break Part. When I got back at 11:00 a.m. today I went right to the computer to check on my spark mail. I've been here for 3 hours. This is ridiculous. There is so much to do, I don't have time to eat. Maybe that is the key. It took me a while to find the Bootcamp video but when I did, I jumped up and kept up with it. Should have had shoes on though and the dog thought it was time to play. After I found it I didn't want to stop for any reason or else I would have lost it again.
It is cold here in Florida, 32 degrees this morning and that is not usual!!! And I promised to take Panda for a walk daily so I'll have to bundle up at some point. The Week 1 first Action step is to set my fast break goals. I'm supposed to start modestly to get off on the right foot. I already drink enough water to sink a ship, never a problem for me. I'm already committed to the exercise so these are the 3 goals I have set up for my first week.
1. Cook dinner at home 5 out of 7 days. (We eat out sometimes 3 or 4 times a week so this is a good goal for me.
2. Avoid dessert at least 5 out of 7 days. No ice cream, klondyke bars, cake, cookies, etc.
3. Eat 2 fruits a day.
We will be going to DisneyWorld on Friday for 4 days. This is the annual Walt Disneyworld Marathan and we go every year with our son and his wife, 2 grandsons, and her parents. Last year my hubby did the full marathon and completely burned himself out on exercise for several months. He is back into it now again. Erin and her dad will be doing the half marathon and I will babysit. One year, I attempted the half marathon. I really wasn't in the best of shape and so at the six mile point, I decided I wasn't going to feel any better at 13 miles than I did at six. In addition, I had reinjured my left ankle so it was best I did quit. I think after I get into sparking, I might be able to do this next year or the year after. Walking of course, not running. Until tomorrow.
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