May - like mayking it happen

Saturday, May 04, 2013

So yesterday I resigned from one of my jobs - starting unfortunately only on July 1 but still, the relief was instant in my mind. I have no idea how we'll make up for the lost money, but I hope for the best.

April has not been too good - too much stress. I think stress is definitely my weight's worst enemy as it slows down my system in some way. Have there been studies in this area? At one point I have been down three pounds but packed them back up.

May will be different. I will care for myself more and try to eat to the book - no long fasting periods, more healthy cooking, more rice

It will still need to be exercise when I grab the time inbetween items on the agenda but so far I have been able to squeeze at least 3 elliptical sessions per week and it has become a routine. At least one time I do strength and I do try to stretch every day.

I've got my public lecture coming on May 22 - and this is the last item on my tenure procedure which will hopefully finish a year long period of constant stress and impossible tasks at most impossible times.

So May is for Mayking it happen. Are you climbing on that wagon with me?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CARTOONB 5/7/2013 11:12PM

Stress has definitely been proven to make it easier to gain weight. Sounds like you are on the path to getting to a healthy place. I'm excited about May being the month of Mayking it happen! Woo hoo! Report Inappropriate Comment

BKNOCK 5/4/2013 9:42PM

I also agree that stress can put on the weight! I am so happy to hear that you are doing something about it. Remember the Lord works in mysterious ways! Report Inappropriate Comment

HICKOK-HALEY 5/4/2013 3:08AM

I agree, stress can affect one's body. Since my Hubby was out of work for 1 1/2 yrs. I gained. He just got a part time job, so i'm hoping to relax more, and get back down to where I was weight wise. I'm glad you quit your job if you are feeling overwhelmed. Everything will be ok. It might be tight money wise, but you will be ok. Report Inappropriate Comment

So it's April

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

March was not very successful - except I did my work-out for most of the month (the last week excluded for obvious reasons). No loss there. I need to get serious about food, I think. There are several things that work against it:
I work to much which prevents going to the shops for decent shopping (DH does the shopping, but his and DD's ideas of what is needed are well, not agreeable with my system); lack of time for eating, irregular eating times, many routine changes as I also travel a lot for work. A routine that's healthy would need to be more stable, eating good, healthy stuff at certain time every day. Saving money at this moment does NOT help either.

What can be done?
I will try and make time for grocery shopping or just do lists for DH this month.
I will pack lunch in the evening to just take along the next day, even on trips (and I will eat on the train which I HATE)
I'll stack up my locker with soup options where you just add water and whole meal crackers.
I will make April my no sweets month starting with today (with chocolate eggs still on the table!) I will report daily on the success with this.
I'll plan my food in the tracker.
Let's see how successful we get with this.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TRIANGLE-WOMAN 4/6/2013 7:04PM

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BKNOCK 4/3/2013 1:33PM

Sounds like a great plan! Good luck! I am going back to the gym today and I plan on eating less as well. Report Inappropriate Comment

CARTOONB 4/2/2013 5:03PM

I hope your plans work for you...and that you don't have to eat on the train very often. Good luck!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

A change of mind of another sort

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The other day I happened upon a SP article which suggested ways to change for the better and it caught my attention. (I'm sorry I can't find the link, but will do my best to reproduce the main thoughts - 4 steps to be exact).

I am willing to try because it just is what I have been looking for!
So, in order to bring about change, you have to change your attitude, right? Right! You can't do different things with the same sort of attitude, and you can't change results if you do not change the way to live! But HOW???!!! I am certain you have seen me whining about this inability! So here the 4 promising new steps that should be easy enough.

NO 1 The odd out routine: Occasionally you do things right and get some results. Can you think back on such times and record what had happened in these successful moments?
I found that very encouraging for two reasons: one is it made me feel better because I FELT that on occasion (and sometimes for rather long patches) I did things right and could do them right.

NO 2 (and I really loved this one). Imagine a miracle happened and you woke up to your perfect life. What would it be like? What would you do? Feel? Be with?
I went crazy with this one. It's a rather LONG list of ideas there and I am still in the process of writing them down. Just the exercise of this feels most amazing. I am not good at imagining stuff. Life is too serious. But again, imagining my miracle made me feel that indeed I may be entitled to one!

NO 3 What's the pay off for your 'sins'; one does not eat chocolate for no reason; or sits down to eat; or sits on the couch all day doing nothing or... I did not yet start on this list but it is promising. Can't imagine though that the feeling of melted chocolate or the texture of puff pastry in your mouth to have an alternative! But may be there is something behind this still and the texture and taste are fronts to deeper issues? Must think. Will let you know.

NO 4 - you guessed it, I did not do that one either and it's about predicting your way to success. Amazingly put because I noticed that even while staring a routine I already envisioned my failure in it and was counting all the things in my head that could go wrong and make me fail. So I will try this! Most definitely.

So, what do you think of this? Can you relate? Have you got some experiences to share with me?

What else do I wish for you - I'm wishing for you a perfect miracle.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

GODDREAMDIVA1 3/28/2013 10:36AM

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CARTOONB 3/26/2013 9:37PM

This sounds like an excellent article that found you at just the right time. A time where you could read it, accept it and implement it. I'm looking forward to seeing your successes!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BKNOCK 3/26/2013 7:44PM

I love your new background! I am going to have to re-read this blog and let it sink in! Sort of sounds like counting your blessings and envisioning your future? Report Inappropriate Comment

DRAGONCHILDE 3/26/2013 4:46PM

It is very bright. Woo. Veeeery bright. Report Inappropriate Comment

JUNIAATROME 3/26/2013 4:33PM

BTW - don't you like this green and pink of my page? Report Inappropriate Comment

February is my month for change

Thursday, January 31, 2013

In Feb of 2008 I have started Sparkpeople. I have had some great success in the beginning which was partially in pounds (-20!) but has been great in feeling, flexibility and endurance and general wellbeing!

Well, the past three years have not been great and I have gained back all my weight. I feel miserable physically and totally overworked and stressed. I can't complain, there have been some great things too in my life, but it has been too busy. I am not blaming anyone. I am determined to change because that nobody can change things for me.

It's February again and with spring my life seems to wake up. I am inclined to think that really you love the month you were born more than any other! So it happens we are on semester break for the month and I will not be travelling. I am determined to take time off and step on the elliptical or do dancing at least 5 times a week for an hour. I have decided to cut short my hours (did a lot of self-imposed overtime that I am NOT paid for) to fit in proper eating and paying attention to my needs as an introvert (which is private desk time!)

I will be tracking.
That's the plan for February. If I manage to stick to it, I will be 10 pounds lighter and hopefully, I will regain some of the lost energy. Very much needed. Both things!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KSNANA2 2/1/2013 8:34PM

Sounds like February is going to be a very good month for you! I believe you will make it so! Report Inappropriate Comment

CARTOONB 1/31/2013 11:31PM

I have faith in you!!! You are totally worthy!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BKNOCK 1/31/2013 10:15PM

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ELISADENK 1/31/2013 8:17PM

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Can you advise me on SLOW?

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Apparently, you can't lose weight over night but have to take it slow and easy. Small steps, they say! Well, I can't see how that can work for me.

I have to be fully focused to do it. It feels like I'm at war with the thousands of enemies that play guerrilla war on me.
Tactic 1: Lets keep her occupied with stuff, the more the merrier! You need that money, honey! you can't just quit!
Tactic 2: The tired routine - you deserve your rest! What do you mean stepping on it? Will you get yourself a heart attack? you have worked hard today. Just relax now.
Tactic 3: You can't go and cook after this hard a day! Someone else should have done it, but, since they didn't - too bad. You have to eat something. Have a sandwich... or two!
Tactic 4: Now that was not a real meal, was it? (Never mind the calories, it just did not feel right without a few cookies, or that chocolate with whole nuts that DH left hanging around!)
Tactic 5: Have a cup of coffee! Everybody is having one! It'll look weird if you just ordered water
Tactic 6: You are feeling tired - have something to eat. Best, get that fine Danish pastry from the bakery across the road!
Tactic 7: You should buy that chocolate bar - you have not bought one in days (and eat it of course)
Tactic 8 --- you get the picture.

There are no small steps in this; it's all or nothing because these incredibly persuasive little voices will not let me alone. I will fight and meet my fitness plan, but will not resist the pastry or the chocolate; I'd cook, but then I would not have the time for the elliptical. etc. etc. And the more time progressed, the more difficult it becomes to get on anything. let alone fitness, and you needed to struggle to pick yourself up and start going only to be ruined by some other horrid soldier of the enemy army!

It's not small steps, I tell you! It's all or nothing. It's a war. small steps do not work for me. Small steps are just not making it for me.

Have you got an alternative??

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KSNANA2 1/3/2013 10:42PM

Those could have been written by me. But I am working on it. I started using my pedometer again and find it is helping me. I keep trying to get more steps in and will walk circles around in the house to get those steps! My cold is back and sinus drainage is making my stomach feel sick, so I was eating carbs such as crackers or donuts, but decided to make it Cheerios cereal instead so it would at least have fiber and little sugar. I'll have to let you know how well it all works. I have made some poor choices already this year in my food, but I have also corrected it. So I am giving myself a pat on the back for that. Just keep doing the best you can and never give up. And I like the batch cooking idea. I make big pots of soup on the weekends and just love it. DH is not so keen on it, but he will come up with ideas for himself if he does not want what I am serving for that meal. Good luck figuring it out! You are worth the effort! Report Inappropriate Comment

CARTOONB 1/3/2013 9:23PM

I hate when those darn voices make so much sense! For cooking, can you do some batch cooking one day per week so you just have to heat something for dinner? Or use a slow cooker? If you eat the chocolate or the Danish, forgive yourself, move on and try not to buy new ones. easier said than done! No one ever regrets a workout but we often regret skipping one. You deserve to be healthy and you deserve to forgive yourself. It is impossible to be perfect, but you can always strive for excellence. You can do this! Report Inappropriate Comment

ELISADENK 1/3/2013 7:41PM

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BERRY4 1/3/2013 6:42PM

Sounds like a need to "change the tapes". I find that a major part of my "war" is fought in my mind / thoughts. -- So a LOT of what I have been doing for the past year, is examining my mental tapes (before ipods!) and choose a replacement tape or way to think when I encounter each situation. Good luck in your journey towards health and fitness! Report Inappropriate Comment

BKNOCK 1/3/2013 5:08PM

Wow, what a great, honest blog! Now that you know who you are you have to figure out a plan that works for you. I know it is not easy because I am also not a big loser in this race. Anything I can do to help, let me know! Report Inappropriate Comment

TANGYTANGERINE 1/3/2013 4:45PM

I wish I could say that I did my friend, but at least you are taking steps - I have stopped walking completely... I got myself so far down in the dumps that I just gave up. Finally got myself to the doctor and we did some testing. It would appear that my recent weight gain wasn't all food related - I am now taking medication for hypothyroidism. It has been less than a month now - they say it takes approximately 60 - 90 days for it to really kick in. But I figured why wait - I gave myself until the end of the year (and a little bit of this year) and I'm getting back on the horse starting Monday (the 7th). Wanna ride with me ;-) Your friend in SPARK TangyT - a/k/a Deb Report Inappropriate Comment