My Downfall: Calorie Intake

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Ugh, I feel pretty bloated. It's all my fault! I made some poor decisions these last several days of eating whatever I felt like. It is catching up with me! I'm keeping a good mindset though and I'm not going to give up. I have been keeping up with my cardio by walking and playing the wii at lunch, but one thing that I'm not doing now that I was doing before was aerobics class... I stopped going because they didnt' have it for over a month due to the instructor's father passing away. I need to start going back consistantly! That will help with an overall body workout. I am going to call and see if they have it tonight and my goal will be to GO!!! I am reading the motivational articles and keeping my spirits high! I'm not going to give up! I just need to find even more ways to keep my calories low... I found an awesome breakfast that I love and is within good calorie rang, but my downfall is supper! I never track my supper and I know I go way over in my calories!! Ugh! Any advice besides just tracking my supper? I need help in this area!!! I also need some encouragement to reach my goal of going back to aerobics!!!!
note to self --->

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MRSRAM 6/18/2010 12:44PM

Hey Jenna, I've been struggling with eating out like you are struggling with dinners. Every weekend my parents take me out to lunch on Saturday and I almost always go over calories. I hate it and feel like I can't get a handle on it. Then yesterday I went to the Perkins website (we got there most of the time) and made a list in my planner of meals I order for less than 500 calories. I feel so prepared for the next time we got there because I know I won't be taken by surprise. I agree with what other people have said about planning meals, even if it is just going through the recipes at SparkRecipes and finding low calorie options for thinsg you like, then next time you are wondering what to make for dinner you have a list of possiblities. I'm glad you aren't getting discouraged and giving up. That is the biggest part of the battle. As for exercise class, do you have a friend who can go with you? That way you motivate each other. Report Inappropriate Comment

SHARON10002 6/16/2010 10:08PM

Jenna, I am a firm believer in the baby step theory. I use it in my water aerobics classes with my students. Why not continue with the water aerobics class you were attending? The smaller plate at dinner works well, too. I do that one as well. Also, why not try setting a goal to specifically track your supper on your nutrition page with a Spark Streak? Try limiting yourself to one serving of whatever you make for supper - measuring helps. Your Sharon Report Inappropriate Comment

CAFFEINATED_09 6/15/2010 11:36AM

I had the same problem with dinner before. Now, I plan my dinners (and other meals) at the beginning of the week, so I never have that *standing with fridge open, deciding what to eat* moment - I already have a healthy meal planned, so I don't just blow through a bag of chips and call that dinner. Try cooking something healthy on Sunday and packing it up to eat for dinners that week. I also agree with eating off a smaller plate - and eating off a plate generally (not out of a bag or box) as good advice for helping you keep dinner under control! Comment edited on: 6/15/2010 11:36:40 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

PETE_NSH 6/15/2010 11:23AM

Baby Steps! Sometimes when I don't want to do something that I know I should do I just have to take the first small step toward getting it done and then it gets easier from there. A baby step for you might be to just put on your gym shoes or update your facebook status to "Going to aerobics class". It sounds silly, but it really works. Good luck! (btw I totally stole the baby steps idea from the movie What About Bob, it really does work though! lol ) Report Inappropriate Comment

CMIRRA 6/15/2010 11:09AM

JUSTJENNA3 - When you fall off the horse, get back on and ride. Make a favorites list for dinners you truly enjoy. Try using a meal you know is unhealthy like Nachos (my weakness) and putting it atop a salad, and making Taco Salad! That's my secret to keeping up with the game. Don't lose hope, and believe in yourself. YOU CAN DO IT! Report Inappropriate Comment

4ERICA 6/15/2010 11:08AM

I also am not good about tracking dinner. So one thing I did was get a kids plate. You know the kind with the little compartments it helps me with portion size and also with the need to finish everything on my plate. I found them at the $0.99 store. Hope this helps. Report Inappropriate Comment

Depression Free

Monday, June 07, 2010

I didn't think that I would ever see this day... The day that I realize that I am depression free. If you have ever been depressed, then you know the feeling it causes and the chains that hold on to you. I didn't have the ability to be happy. Yesterday I saw the pictures of when I was born for the very first time in my 24 years of life. They were pictures that my birth mother had. I was born c-section. She looked so happy, yet what she was about to do was the hardest thing a mother could do... she gave me a better life through adoption. When I saw those pictures, I just cried and cried and cried. I had never heard the story of my birth, and here it was in color. The phrases that I thought were: "I'm a person; I am normal; I am loved." Those were phrases that didn't exist in my depression. I have now found a new perception on life. I have a future to look forward to instead of waiting for the day that I get to leave this earth. There are places I want to go, things I want to see, and dreams I want to achieve. This new open book in my life is helping me to reach those things. I am preparing my life for each day and each day to come. I am making new habits, I am taking things one decision at a time, and I am learning to love myself. I am so glad to share this with all of you and I hope it SPARKS hope for someone else!!! God Bless!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MRSRAM 6/8/2010 9:45AM

Jenna this is such a wonderful story! I am glad that you got to experience that joy and peace in your heart. Report Inappropriate Comment

SHARON10002 6/7/2010 5:00PM

Jenna, I am so very happy to read these words from you! What a feeling that must be! You must feel like ing! I can only imagine how seeing those birth pictures must have made you feel. It is so difficult when we feel that there are parts of ourselves that are "missing". Know that you have indeed received a miracle today! You are truly blessed, and I am so HAPPY for you! Keep the blogs coming! Your life will unfurl in front of you like a beautiful , and each day will hold just for you! Lots of to you from me, and a big , too! Sharon Report Inappropriate Comment

ANEWME3536 6/7/2010 11:12AM

I'm so happy for you! I know what it's like to have depression and to feel like you will never be happy. Congrats on being happy and depression free! I hope you live a full and happy life from now on! Report Inappropriate Comment

Becoming a Habit

Saturday, June 05, 2010

So today is Saturday. I have to work every saturday but one a month. I work from 8-12. So I got up this morning and normally on Saturdays I like to "cheat" on what I eat just because it's Saturday, but today was different. I thought to myself, what am I going to have for breakfast? I could go to McDonalds and get a hash brown and frappe... but then I realized.. I don't want one! I don't want anything bad for me! I want to eat a healthy breakfast! Just because it's saturday doesn't mean anything! And then I was wondering where is this coming from?? Spark People! I'm starting new habits and keeping them! I slept in a little bit, so I didn't get up in time to go for a walk, but my dog Talula sure did give me this look like, "aren't we going for a walk???" I felt bad! I should have gotten up to go on a walk. My goal has been to get up early at least 1 day a week to go on a walk... this week I did it twice! I figured I'd start out small and work my way up.. I'm ready for monday to get here so I can get my new habit (routine) going of waking up, going for a walk, getting ready for work, and get my day going. I really didn't know if i'd get to this point, but I am here! I came in early to work so that I could eat my breakfast of my healthy oatmeal with flax seed. I didn't go get any bad sugary coffee drinks, I drank my bolthouse farms protein mocha cappuccino instead! I feel so proud of my decisions and now my decisionas are becoming a habit!!!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SHARON10002 6/6/2010 11:00PM

Jenna, You are growing! Keep reaching for the stars! Sharon Report Inappropriate Comment

KISSATESSA 6/5/2010 9:58AM

Good for you. Making healthy choices seems to get easier and easier as you keep doing them. The other day I was at work from 8:15 am to 7:45 pm and the last thing I wanted to do was cook dinner. I thought how tasty some MacDonald's might be as I haven't had it for 2 or 3 months but then realized why I hadn't eaten it for so long. Besides all of the calories, sodium and fat I always feel like crap after eating MacDonald's -- the 10 to 15 minutes of enjoyment while eating it sure wasn't worth the 2 to 3 hours of discomfort that were sure to follow. I did end up picking up dinner but got a tuna sub on whole wheat with lots of veggies instead a much healthier and in the end tastier choice as well. Report Inappropriate Comment

JETTER4 6/5/2010 9:52AM

You should fee proud. Good job Report Inappropriate Comment

One Decision at a Time

Thursday, June 03, 2010

I'm so glad to read other Sparker's blogs and how they are doing well. It may be as small as resisting a temptation or as big as losing 5 lbs that week. Either way it is all contributed to making one decision at a time. That is what I am learning. It's hard for me to say, "I'm going to cut out blizzards from DQ" or "I will get up early 3 times a week to go on a walk before work". What is getting easier is taking it one step at a time. When my alarm goes off that i set early, I have to make the decision to either push snooze, or get up and go for a walk. Lately I have been doing good at making the positive decision to get up. I may be half asleep while I walk, but I always feel good that I make that decision. And those small decisions are and will be turning into new habits! Healthy habits that I didn't think I could push myself to do... the awesome thing is that it doesn't feel like I'm pushing myself, it's a positive decision that I want to make!! I've been working on resisting too much sweet stuff aka extra bad calories. I take it one decision at a time. The other night after I did water aerobics I wanted a blizzard, but i knew that if I gave in, I'd ruin all those calories I just burned... so I made the decision to go home and make a fresh strawberry smoothie instead and got in another serving of fruit! Awesome!!! This morning I was feeling kind of crappy from a conversation I had with my husband. I really wanted a carmel frappe from mcdonalds. I couldn't resist that temptation and got one. BUT!! -> I made the decision to include that into my calories (even though they weren't good calories) for breakfast. So instead of eating more, I ate different than normal so that I would stay in my calorie range. It just makes sense! So... My motto for this month is "One Decision at a Time"!!! Love It!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SHARON10002 6/3/2010 8:34PM

That's the way to do it, Jenna! If it's only one thing that you have to overcome, it is easier than looking at all you might have to do in one day. I have to admit, I'm partial to Blizzards as well. Oh well, let's be honest - any kid of ice cream! I'm proud of you! & , Sharon Report Inappropriate Comment

Wow I Feel Good!

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Guess what just happened???? I just teared up because I got really excited to blog this morning. What does that even mean: Sometimes when I get really excited, instead of shouting "woohoo" or jumping for joy, my eyes tear up. I haven't done that for a very very very long time! I can't believe that just happened! I AM excited, and I DO have reason to be! I am learning so much from SparkPeople and I am carrying it's principles with me throughout my day. I have finally drilled it into my head that I know if I get up and do some exercise to start my day, I WILL feel good! And I do! I got up early today and went on a walk and I still had time to get ready for work and all that stuff. I'm really trying to be concious of my calorie intake as well! I am really excited! I know that if I keep this up, the results are going to show! I AM HAPPY!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MANDA_MICHELLE 6/3/2010 11:40AM

yay congrats on your success!! i know how hard it is to wake up 'not feeling like yourself', so on the days you do, it feels so wonderful. hope you have a great day! Report Inappropriate Comment

VICIOUS421 6/3/2010 12:41AM

That is great!!!!!! Way to go!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHARON10002 6/1/2010 6:03PM

Jenna, Ditto for me on CPOTSKY's message! Those are indeed tears of joy and happiness . . . ! You are an person! You have truly touched my heart. You have made amazing progress just in the short time that you extended your hand to me as a ! Keep following your . You are incredible! Sharon Report Inappropriate Comment

GRAMECLM 6/1/2010 10:50AM

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CPOTSKY 6/1/2010 10:49AM

Way to go honey! I got teary eyed just reading your blog! You should be so proud of yourself honey and keep it going. You are inspiring me and many others with your wonderful journey! Report Inappropriate Comment