Suddenly 20 lbs heavier

Friday, September 21, 2012

No, I didn’t eat 70,000 extra calories. I decided to get serious about strength training. The set of weights I got for Christmas 10 years ago were gathering dust in the basement. Maybe I would be more likely to use them if I put them by the TV, right in my line of sight.

So I picked up two 10 lb dumbbells and started walking upstairs. Whew, at the top I was actually out of breath. So this is what it was like carrying the extra weight? And I was carrying more than 20 lbs way back then.

I don’t EVER want to go back there. My heart and lungs don’t want to go back there either. If I have to weigh my food forever, it’s a small price to pay for the new me.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MJZHERE 9/21/2012 10:21AM

Alright, this is like the parallel world in Fringe. Had hubby get weights out, right out where I would see,trip over them, right before I got hurt. I did have him move them out of the way till I can start using them - love your idea of carrying them up the stairs. The other day I was telling DH that I don't "see" that much difference from the 28 lb weight loss, and he told me how he was carrying 20 lbs up the stairs and how he realized what a great deal of weight to carry around that was! Report Inappropriate Comment

CELIAMINER 9/21/2012 9:07AM

Ha, ha, you had me going with your title. I wondered if you were having a med reaction or something dire, so it was great to see nothing was wrong. I recall going into my weight loss initially hoping to lose a bag of rock salt (40 pounds). I'm now closing in on 2 bags of rock salt, and when I struggle to haul those bags down to the basement, I cannot believe I used to carry that weight around ALL the time. Report Inappropriate Comment

KANOE10 9/21/2012 8:52AM

I put my dumb bells by my TV also. That is a great reminder when you are working out. I do not want to go back to the fat girl again either. It is worth all of the work of weighing and tracking. Great job on staying focused and healthy. Report Inappropriate Comment

MAHGRET 9/21/2012 8:30AM

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"Later Never Comes"

Thursday, September 20, 2012

“Mommy, will you color with me?” asked my 4 yr old daughter back in 1973.
Maybe I was busy with the baby. Maybe I had homework to do (grad school). I don’t remember why, but I replied, “Later, Jeannie, I’ll do it later.” Sadly, she said, “Later never comes.” Yes, I changed my mind and picked up a crayon.

I remember that now whenever I’m tempted to put off something I know I should do, like plan my food for the day or get out and exercise. I’m trying to extend that to other procrastinating areas of my life.

Going through my deceased parents things: That’s hard. Each item has a memory attached.

Catching up with an old friend: Facebook makes this easier, doesn’t it?

Gathering healthy recipes: Thank you SP. You’ve simplified this for me.

Jeannie will be 43 on Saturday. She’s well aware of her 4 year old wisdom and applies it to her own family life.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SWEDE_SU 9/24/2012 6:42AM

great message - thank you for sharing! Report Inappropriate Comment

KANOE10 9/21/2012 8:55AM

That is excellent. Later does never come I have ignored my cats and took the time to play with them. On the important issues like exercising..that is good to tell yourself...No choice..later never comes. Report Inappropriate Comment

ANDASI 9/20/2012 8:19AM

Thank you for this little peace of wisdom so true i will have to put this to use. Report Inappropriate Comment

I Can’t Turn Back Time but maybe I can slow it down a little.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Once I proudly pulled my new driver’s license out of my wallet.
Once I wore an ID around my neck to advise building security that I belonged there.
Now I carry a Medicare Card.

It all went by so fast. I never thought about what I was eating. I was grateful to corporate America for their prepackaged foods and the fast food restaurants available on every corner. With a husband, 3 kids, a zillion activities, my workouts and a demanding job, it simplified getting food on the table. Compared to the rest of America I looked pretty good, probably because I was always active.

Suddenly, I notice that the Obituaries include a lot of people from MY decade.
Suddenly, I observe that residents in the nursing home I visit with my church group are not that much older than me.

Once time stretched out before me like an endless superhighway and I was pushing the speed limit. Now, I’m meandering down a narrower country road. I don’t want to be one of the wrecks broken down on the shoulder, so I better take care of this engine and all its parts.

Wherever you are on the road of life, take care of yourself. Do it now for a longer, happier road ahead.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MNNICE 10/6/2012 11:10AM

Healthy eating and exercise definitely will help slow it down. Sometimes it's downright scary knowing that too soon we'll be facing the difficulties of aging, so we focus on enjoying the simple pleasures of life as often as we can for as long as we can. I'm sure you remember the old Lady Clairol advertisement, which is my motto: "I'm not getting older, I'm getting BETTER!" Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZYMOBILE 10/6/2012 10:56AM

Aw, c'mon! Surely you can't be in the Medicare generation too? Report Inappropriate Comment

MJZHERE 9/19/2012 8:00PM

This is a great blog! Dh and I dusted off our Harleys because we found that country road we've been wanting to explore. Have you ever noticed, there is something special about those roads - ours is quiet, beautiful scenery, few cars to run you off the road, and the best part is we can still enjoy it. Lots of time on the road for those thoughts you could never ponder before. There is something to be said about wisdom. Theres a lot to see, a lot to learn when we slow down, just have to be healthy enough to enjoy it. Report Inappropriate Comment

JSMC10 9/19/2012 7:05AM

make the most of every day and every opportunity Report Inappropriate Comment

I don't want to go the gym today.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

I don’t want to go to the gym today, but it’s raining heavily so I have no choice.

I don’t want to hear “I told you so!” Especially when it isn’t true.
I don’t want to hear “Running will ruin your knees” Especially when it isn’t true.

The naysayers accustomed to seeing me run 30 to 40 min at a time while they mutter about how foolish I am, will likely not be encouraging as I work my way back with quarter mile intervals.

Maybe I should wear a sign that I’m injured because I tripped over a step while checking out a buffet. Eating hurt my knee, not running.

Rehab is hard enough. I don’t need the negativity.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

AMBER_DAWN1 9/18/2012 11:05AM

Hang in there!! When we are surrounded by Debbie Downers we just have to make sure our internal tape recorder is set to POSITIVE THOUGHTS and then turn up the volume!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MJZHERE 9/18/2012 10:39AM

Wow, I am going through the negativity right now also. Never knew there would be naysayers about me losing weight, then add in an injury. Of course it doesn't help that it is my tailbone and I have lost padding there! At least mine was rollerskating and not at a buffett lol. I can consul myself with that. Here is to your continued recovery! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAHGRET 9/18/2012 9:42AM

It just blows my mind that people would even comment. well I guess it doesn't, since I switched gyms to find one where people mostly keep their mouths shut. Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 9/18/2012 8:37AM

I can just see the T shirts: "I injured myself at a buffet - food hurts you" or "Food alert - I tripped at a buffet" That would be priceless! Report Inappropriate Comment

JUDYAMK 9/18/2012 8:31AM

I learned not to tell certain people what I am doing ,because when I do miss a work out or eat a little too much or partake of a treat they look at me with a sneer. You know you can get right back on track. Every one of us even those sneering people have a desire to accomplish something no matter how small or big. I think the people that try to intimidate , are secretly deep down harboring guilt because they want to do some thing to change whether it is their own weight ,or anything else.I know of people that want to sky dive but make unkind remarks about those that sky dive. you just keep on take no mind to them this is about YOU not them Take Care Judy Report Inappropriate Comment

3 Years on SP - My First Blog

Monday, September 17, 2012

I feel like such an oddball. I didn’t have dramatic amounts of weight to lose. I never yo-yo dieted. I was always rather content with my pear shaped body and I was always active and fit.

However, by age 61 I was carrying 30 lbs more than in college (20 lbs more than after 3 pregnancies) and I just didn’t want to show up for my retirement physical and have to move that big 150 lb weight on the doctor’s scale. Plus, my 5K times had been getting gradually slower and I decided that I would be better off if my heart and lungs didn’t have to drag that extra weight up those hills.

So what to do? I was already running 20 miles per week and drinking only water (after my morning coffee & OJ). So much for “easy” stuff – move more and cut out soda. Fortunately I love numbers and data, so I began tracking my food on a different website, less comprehensive than SP, and using SP for the articles and information.

I was amazed and impressed by all the stories of great success, but didn’t feel comfortable joining in. I reached my goal weight (22 lbs lost), but compared to everyone else, it seemed like so what… big deal. So I kept quiet. I didn’t even use a “ticker.”

But I discovered that I love eating healthy and knowing what’s in my food. I love planning the day using the tracker and playing “what if I eat this and not that?” I love my food scale and improving my ability to estimate weight and portions, and I still love to read about everyone else’s successes.

So as I approach 3 years of maintenance at goal weight (132-135), I joined the Maintenance Team. Maintenance difficulties are universal, no matter how much we weigh. Now I hope to find my voice. Maybe there’s someone else out there like me?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUZYMOBILE 9/23/2012 11:12AM

Yup. Maintenance is more involving than weight loss ever was, and calls on all the self-awareness and analytical skill you can muster. Report Inappropriate Comment

KANSASROSE67 9/18/2012 7:51PM

I "only" lost 25 pounds on Spark and I don't think my story is very interesting or exciting either...but just because we don't have dramatic stories doesn't mean we didn't achieve something great! We just didn't have as far to come as some people. Glad you're moving forward into the spotlight a bit! Report Inappropriate Comment

MJZHERE 9/17/2012 8:33AM

I am glad you have "joined" in and I think you have found your voice! I felt like you with the 30 lbs to lose, but the more I was on here, the more I discovered that the weight people are trying/have lost is from every range. I also discovered it is good to be "with" a group of people who also want to be healthy, fit, and eat well. And I agree - love reading the success stories. Report Inappropriate Comment

JANEMARIE77 9/17/2012 8:07AM

you are awesome Report Inappropriate Comment