New Year, New Attitude, Page Update

Monday, January 03, 2011

Well here we are into a new year. I really bombed 2010 in a BIG way and didn't stay consistent and work for my goals...sooooo...I gained...grrrrrrr! That's what I get for giving up and getting lazy. Had to go shopping,..for BIGGER clothes...how disappointing, :( :( !

No More! New attitude for the new month and the new year. Joined the 28 Day Bootcamp Challenge and am going to throw my BIG self into it! Joined all the team challenges and will do what I can to contribute to those goals. Perfection? No. Gettin' to it? Yes! Have to restart somewhere.

Emotional Eating...I'm kicking you to the curb.

New mantras...
NO MORE SWEETS
WATCH THOSE PORTIONS
GET UP and MOVE

Seemed like a good time to update my page too. Feels like a fresh start.

Now...if it's to be, it's up to ME!

Spark On!
Deb :)

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What IS a Calorie???

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

My son asked me this morning what the definition was of a Calorie. Hmmmm...I had really never gotten the actual definition...all I know is that I shouldn't eat too many or too few (not usually a problem) of them. So...on to a little research and thoughtful pondering........

A Calorie is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a liter (1.06 quarts) of water 1 degree. What's THAT mean???? It's a scientific way to measure energy. Kinda like gas for a car...Calories are 'gas' or energy for our body. Okay...that makes sense...we have to get our energy from somewhere so the Calories are the 'heat' to get our 'furnace' going so we can do what we need to do! Too many Calories and we have to 'store' that extra 'heat' somewhere...and that's what the weight gain is all about! I think of piles of wood stored next to the fireplace or as globs of fat on my body. Not enough Calories and we just don't want to go...the fire goes out when the wood runs out or we get lethargic when we don't consume enough Calories (or the right kind). Hmmmmm...my eyes or should I say mouth has been opened! (I need to learn how to shut it when my furnace has been properly stoked so I don't have piles of heat or energy to store!) I think I get it!!!! Is this an "Ah-ha" moment?????

This leads to the notion that it takes approximately 3,500 Calories below your Calorie needs to lose a pound of body fat or 3,500 Calories above to gain a pound. Sooooo...I'm thinking that I need to have a deficit of 500 Calories every day to lose a pound (500 x 7 = 3,500). If I could burn 500 Calories a day (a TALL order), there'd be another pound (500 x 7 = 3,500). It truly is up to me! Eat less, move more, lose weight...how simple is THAT? Too simple...I have to go and complicate it by slipping into old habits that sabotage my goals for better health such as eating too many Calories and/or not burning off enough of them! Portion control is HUGE (pun intended).

The number of Calories a person needs depends on age, gender, weight, height, activity level, and whether one is trying to gain (?huh?), maintain, or lose (that'd be me!) weight. My Calorie Range right now is 1200-1550. When I'm ramping up the exercise (should get on THAT pony more!) I suspect I may not be eating enough. I'll keep an eagle eye on this...and WILL adjust accordingly as I commit to Track, Track, Track...can't change what you don't acknowledge!

For me, coming to terms with Calories...how many to eat, how many to burn, and how to adjust as I go is a very important element as I move forward (and hopefully downward) on my journey to better health.

Here's to a Nutritious November...

Deb

Cheers!

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I'm 2!

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Two years on SP that is. I almost forgot about it until I responded to another member's blog about their Sprak-versary and got to thinking that 'my time' was coming too.

The first year I was more or less a 'lurker'. Then I heard about the Spark Convention in Cincinnati and thought to myself, self - let's go! Boy, am I ever glad I did! Knowing that I was going gave me motivation to really get involved in the site...posting, logging, exercising more, and so on. By the way...I'm patiently waiting to hear about another convention...how 'bout it SP????

I've had ups and downs along the way. Right now I'm not losing but there's reasons why and I know what to do to 'fix' it but just haven't done it yet. When I'm tired enough of doing so-so, I'll get to doing what I should be doing instead of the half effort I'm putting forth now. It's so much easier to encourage everyone else than stick to 'my plan'.

Still love the site and my virtual friends...they are a part of every day...my 50 point minimum points goal keeps me Sparkin' and I love to interact with other Sparkers!

Spark On everyone...never quit...it CAN be done...I read about success stories every day!


Deb

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Get to Know Me...Easy as ABC...

Saturday, August 07, 2010

This is a fun challenge from (((Sending Skinny Vibes))) Team for Saturday, August 7, 2010.

Heeeere we goooooo...

A - Available or married
~~~~Happily MARRIED
B- Book?
~~~~THE SPARK
C- Cake or Pie?
~~~Like BOTH...Staying away from them - sweets are my weakness
D- Drink of Choice?
~~~~WATER
E- Essential Item?
~~~~LAPTOP/CELL PHONE...so I can get online anywhere I go
F- Favorite Color(s)?
~~~~PURPLE, HOT PINK, YELLOW, BRIGHT GREEN
G- Game to play or watch?
~~~~SOLITARE GAMES...Online or cards
H- Hometown?
~~~~CRYSTAL, MI
I- Indulgence?
~~~~SPARKTIME
J- Job?
~~~~Happily RETIRED
K- Kids and names?
~~~~RENEE (39), TONY (28), KRYSTLE (26), grandson ZAYDDEN (5)
L- Life is incomplete without?
~~~~MY HUBBY #1, then rest of my family and friends
M- Music group or singer?
~~~~ANY UPBEAT MUSIC
N- Number of siblings?
~~~~SIX (6)...I'm the 'baby'.
O- Oranges or apples?
~~~~BOTH...Apples are easier, oranges need to be peeled
P- Phobias/Fears?
~~~~NOT STAYING FOCUSED ENOUGH TO LOSE WEIGHT
Q- Favorite Quote?
~~~~If at first you don't succeed...try, try, again! Don't worry, be happy!
R- Reason to Smile?
~~~I WOKE UP! To make myself and others feel better!
S- Season?
~~~~SPRING/SUMMER/FALL
T- Tattoos?
~~~~2
U- Unknown fact about me?
~~~~I'M LEFT-HANDED and SILLY
V- Vegetable you love?
~~~PEAS...To eat and frozen for swelling instead of ice!
W- Worst habit?
~~~HOUSE CLEANING...DON'T LIKE IT
X- X-Rays you've had?
~~~~CHEST, MOUTH, LEG, ARM, SHOULDER
Y- Your favorite food?
~~~~OATMEAL or HIGH FIBER BRAN FLAKES with fruit and/or nuts
Z- Zodiac?
~~~~LEO...and I'm not 'lion'...hee, hee


Deb

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Sprinter or Marathoner? (Relates to reaching your goals...)

Monday, July 26, 2010

This blog was an 'ah-ha' moment for me. Maybe you'd like to read it too! You can copy and paste it into your Search Box to check it out. I tried to make it a link but was unsuccessful at that?

http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=
one_step_closer_a_journey_for_a_lifetime

Maybe this WILL work, not sure so I given you both options...
www.dailyspark.com/blog.asppost=one_
step_closer_a_journey_for_a_lifetime

I clicked on the link and 'Sorry, the page you requested doesn't exist' came up. But if you click on the Google Search Box the first 'hit' is the blog.

Anyway, the jest of the blog is the question...

ARE YOU A SPRINTER OR A MARATHONER?

Me...I started out like a sprinter in August 2009. The Spark Convention was coming up and I wanted to attend as someone that was on her way to success in living a healthier lifestyle thanks to SP. I was going to meet the people 'behind the scenes' and didn't want to disappoint after all their hard work and encouragement! AND I was going to meet my virtual friends...other Sparkers! How could I go and not have success stories to tell?????

I did it all...drinking the water, using the trackers, not going over my calorie limits, exercising more, logging in daily, posting, encouraging others...you get the jest of it...I was thoroughly entrenched in the SparkWorld and nothing could stop me...

BUT ME! Eventually I started tracking occasionally, exercising less, not logging in every day, eating more, and more of the wrong foods and so on.

By Spring of 2010 I had gained all the weight back plus some. How could I let that happen yet again???? Right now I am the biggest I've ever been...so embarassing...especially when I know better! I don't even wear the Spark clothes or use any gear right now 'cause I don't feel like I'm a good representative of how successful one can be when following what SP teaches... :( :(.

What this has taught me is that I need to be more a like a 'marathoner'. Pacing myself for 'the long haul'. Laying down the foundation with training (exercise), proper nutrition, rest, equipment, and rest needed to finish such a long 'race'.

For me...this has to be for a lifetime...not just a short time. As recent as last week I have decided to go back to the basics...drinking plenty of water, using the Nutrition Tracker and tracking EVERYTHING that passes my lips whether solid or liquid! I have to start tracking either before lunch or right after lunch so I can 'see' where I'm at for the day so I can make adjustments before it's too late! I can also do more exercise and am working on that too. At least 10 minutes a day of SOMETHING...there's plenty of options and I need to kick my rear in gear and make it MOVE!

I'm happy to report that as of today, I've gone 6 days with NO JUNK, am on a 3 day exercise streak, have been much better about getting my water in, and have lost 2 pounds since last week and I hadn't lost any weight in a very long time prior to my decision to 'get real' with myself and what I was doing. I was doing a lot of talking with not much action behind it...I hate to admit that but it's so true. I'm better at encouraging others than doing what I should be doing for myself. Now, FINALLY, I want to do both! ('Bout time!)

Kudos if you got through all this!
I DO WANT TO MEET MY GOALS...and now I'm actually acting like it!


Deb

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