Almost to 1 year at Sparkpeople!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Next week my daughter will start her 2nd year at college. This 2nd year for her is a gauge for me. I decided last year on her 1st day of college that since I was no longer homeschooling that I would take some time to make a better more healthier me happen!
I have spent to last 11 1/2 months doing just that. I have last 35 pounds, have lowered my blood pressure and have more energy to do the things I love. I recently went with my family on a 2 week camping trip to the ocean and was able to go bike riding and hiking and wave jumping! I felt much cuter in my skort and short outfits and enjoyed vacation while still sparking my calories! Though I did gain 4 pounds (added them to the tracker today!) and will be working to lose them all over again I still feel good about the last year of goal completion and thankful for the support and encouragement of sparkpeople and my spark teams and friends!!

As I look to the beginning of year 2 with sparkpeople in October I am excited and motivated to lose the next 30 to 35 pounds and find that just right goal weight this year. I am in the middle of an amazing get healthy journey and know that I will succeed at reaching my goal weight and living this new healthy lifestyle for the long-term!!!
To all of my sparkbuddies...I wish to recommit to you that I will be walking on this spark journey with you for one more year and celebrating our successes and encouraging you as we handle each new struggle together as well!
Let's get sparking and working on our future bikini bodies together.
Hugs Barb

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NANCYLEE46 9/23/2011 9:48AM

I so remember when you started Spark and I am glad you are here and on some of the same teams. Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

TEDDYBEARDONNA 9/15/2011 8:39PM

It seems like you have been on our team a lot longer than that. Can't imagine you not being a part of us. Thanks for sharing. Donna Report Inappropriate Comment

FUNFROG79 9/15/2011 9:50AM

Congrats! You are such an inspiration! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOTLEM 9/14/2011 11:51PM

You have done so very well. Report Inappropriate Comment

WENDYWITKOSKI 9/14/2011 11:31PM

You have done very well! Report Inappropriate Comment

PCOH051610 9/14/2011 7:03PM

This is a great blog! I love your line "let's get sparking and working on our future bikini bodies together"! You've come such a long way in only one year so I hope you are mighty proud of yourself. Sounds like you had a lovely vacation too! Report Inappropriate Comment

Passing along a great blog post!

Friday, September 09, 2011

My sparkfriend crazydogladybo posted this and it made me smile. Thought I would share it with all my sparkbuddies! Enjoy and pass it on...

"I'm not hot or gorgeous. I don't have an amazing figure or a flat stomach. I'm far from being considered a model, but I'm ME. I have curves, love my PJ's, and I go without make up. I'm random and crazy, I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. I am who I am. You can love me or not, it won't change ME!!!"

Give yourself a hug today and smile at yourself in the mirror and be thankful
for who you are today!! There is only one you and she deserves to be cherished!
Hugs Barb

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PCOH051610 9/14/2011 7:00PM

It is so true, isn't it!? Thanks for posting this! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOTLEM 9/9/2011 9:41PM

Yes, it's pretty cool. Report Inappropriate Comment

NANCYLEE46 9/9/2011 4:26PM

Thanks for the lift in spirits and thank crazydogladybo for posting her original blog on this. Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

TYME2BME 9/9/2011 3:13PM

Thank you for sharing this. I enjoyed reading it and it is so true. Report Inappropriate Comment

FUNFROG79 9/9/2011 1:41PM

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Vacation and Exercising at the Beach

Friday, August 12, 2011

Can you say VACATION!!!
We are heading out to go camping in our trailer at the beach next week. We will be staying at an RV resort for 2 weeks and away from the normal exercise routine of home. I am leaving the exercise bike at home (it doesn't fit in the trailer!!!) and have come up wih a set of vacation exercise options...
1.Taking my bike along so can ride around camp, into town near our campsite, to the beach and on the beach when there is a low tide, and on trails in local state parks
2.Taking a kick board along so that I can swim laps in the pool during "adult pool time" at the RV park pool.
2.Planning some beach walks and hikes in the nearby state parks
Also need to keep eating healthy while enjoying the local cuisine!!
1. Plan to keep eating my daily morning oatmeal to keep my fiber levels up
2. Going to buy local shrimp and make bbq chicken tenders and make salads to take to the beach in a cooler for lunch or make tuna salad or chicken salad sandwiches.
3. Will plan in the calories for meal out and plan lots of barbecue dinners at camp
4. Definitely need to budget in some calories for smores, ice cream sundaes and smoothies! Vacation won't be vacation without the favorite foods!!

I am making a plan and going to have a healthy and fun vacation! How about you sparkbuddies? What do you do when you go on vacation...do you make a healthy plan? Do you say whatever...it's vacation and not worry about it? Do you think my plan sounds OK?
I know that I will not keep up the exercise if it is not fun and part of our daily activities so I am sticking to things we all love to do as a family or that are available to me during resting at camp times. I plan on burning some calories jumping in the waves, playing pool volleyball and riding funny ocean bikes too! Building Sandcastles should also be on the Sparkpeople daily exercise plan (don't you agree!!) Summer and Camping and the Ocean have been part of my life since I was a little girl and it is such a healthy vacation destination. I just need to put down the library book, get out of my beach chair and enjoy the view as I go walking and riding along the coastline...what's so hard about that?? Smiles and Sunshine to you today!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NANCYLEE46 8/25/2011 6:18AM

Can't wait for an update Barb. I know you will do just fine. I usually get more fitness in while on vacation - the time to be creative and also try new activities. Thinking of you. Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

AMBERLOU_87 8/13/2011 6:43AM

I love the idea of biking around at your destination instead of driving! It's been something I've wanted to do myself when at the beach but I've always had a baby with me when I went or was with my family who weren't into that kind of thing. I hope you have an amazing time and and reward yourself by choosing things you feel good about eating! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOTLEM 8/13/2011 5:33AM

I am sure you will enjoy. Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAZYDOGLADYBO 8/12/2011 7:17PM

Have a great time! Report Inappropriate Comment

SANDMSHELL 8/12/2011 4:27PM

Excellent plan and I am sure you will find other activities as well. Enjoy your vacation! Report Inappropriate Comment

JESSIEJUICE 8/12/2011 1:17PM

Sounds like a great plan! I try and budget for some indulgences but overall eat the same as I would at home (or I purposefully seek out lighter options at new places). There are a lot of options for exercise near you- I bet you'll end up torching more calories than you think because you'll be having so much fun doing it!! Report Inappropriate Comment

FUNFROG79 8/12/2011 10:37AM

YOU ARE GONNA DO AMAZING! ENJOY! Report Inappropriate Comment

My Feel Great Weight?

Sunday, July 31, 2011

I have decided to continue with my weight loss and get healthy goals with a new thought on my mind. I am going to seek to find my "FEEL GREAT WEIGHT!" I want to get to the point where my body looks good to me, I feel comfortable in the clothing that I wear each day and where I am in a healthy BMI range. From what I read this will be a weight range in which I can be stable and comfortable with just my regular healthy eating and consistent exercise routine. Not sure what the scale will say when I get there but don't think it really will matter if I can look in the mirror and feel cute and curvy and happy with what I see. What do you think Sparkfriends? Do you think there is a "Feel great weight" for all of us and how can we know when we find it? Would love to read your thoughts as I set some new goals and reach for the new healthier Barb!! I think I will find her somewhere in the next 25 or so more pounds...Hmmm....Smiles Barb

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NANCYLEE46 8/6/2011 10:57AM

Love your idea - whatever works for you to look and feel better about yourself. I love you anyway and so does GOD but since we are journeying towards being healthier this is an awesome motivator. Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

ALMOMMA 8/2/2011 10:38PM

I think a " feel great weight" is the best way to go. We can set a number goal to give us an idea of where we need to get to, but only our body knows for sure what it needs! When it says "I FEEL GREAT" and you agree then that is when to stay put and love life as you are! We can all do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOTLEM 8/2/2011 2:10AM

Yes there is a 'feel great weight'. Your idea is good. Trouble is with me is, when I get there, I get complacent. Maybe it's a subconscious thing, like if there's not some weight there to get rid of, what do I do? Ya! I must have weight to get rid of, because I have had weight to get rid of all of my life! Take that objective away from me, and what have I got? Ya! Just my soapbox vent. Report Inappropriate Comment

FUNFROG79 8/1/2011 8:35AM

I like"feel good weight" and that's what I'm aiming for. I think you are doing an amazing job on yourself! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITKITTYMAMA 7/31/2011 10:31PM

I definitely agree that there is a "feel great" weight for everyone. There is a range that our bodies function and feel their best. Report Inappropriate Comment

VICTORIA_THOMAS 7/31/2011 6:30PM

I actually think that finding your "feel good weight" is much better than setting a goal weight. Some people may come up with these super low numbers that may not fit their body frame or agree with their genetics and they end up crashing and burning at the end. I think that if you set a feel good weight, the only way you'll know that you made it is when you start feeling good! That means that progress can be endless and the scale can never disappoint you. I think this is a really cool thing to do Barb! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAZYDOGLADYBO 7/31/2011 5:36PM

I love this! This is how I am starting to think too! I think that we will know it when we are comfortable, fit and healthy! Report Inappropriate Comment

I want what I want!!!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

I went to the story today and tried to find a pair of shorts that fit me right and didn't have metal on them. I am allergic to nickel which is in most metal used on jeans and in pant buttons and so need to buy a pair that has a plastic or non metal button on them. I was so excited to get to buy a smaller size until I got to the store and could not find what I wanted!!!! Instead every pair of shorts looked like every other pair of shorts and not one looked like what I wanted!! So I came home and feel frustrated!! I will try again another day and at another store but here is my blog thought for the day....I want what I want!!!! Any one else ever feel that way when you go shopping?? Barb

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TEDDYBEARDONNA 5/15/2011 7:50AM

My biggest issues with shorts right now is getting the length that I want. I have a friend, who I haven't seen in ages but she had the same issues you do. Her DH put varnish or something on her zipper and other metal and it solved her problem. Sounds like your only choice is almost shorts with elastic. Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDAF49 5/15/2011 1:56AM

YES!!!! and WHEN I want it!!! You lightened my day with the reality that others feel the same way I do!!! Bless you! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRAZYDOGLADYBO 5/14/2011 12:45AM

All the time! I hate shopping! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOTLEM 5/14/2011 12:42AM

Yes, always. I want what I WANT !!! I sometimes shop for clothes at stores, but absolutely hate trying clothes on for size at stores. These days I buy 99 per cent of my clothes over the internet. Much better deal, and yes, more choice so that I get what I want! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLACKROSE_222 5/14/2011 12:28AM

I HATE SHOPPING!!! Even when I'm able to go and get a size smaller. I'm picky, I don't like a lot of stuff that people like - and I don't conform to change very well. I understand COMPLETELY. Hang in there, and try again tomorrow - if you need the shorts, you need them. It might take a few stores, but don't settle for something you just don't like - if you don't like it in the store, you will NEVER wear it at home... learned that the hard way many times. Report Inappropriate Comment