why is it?

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

why is it that when things don't go our way, we reach for dessert or whatever our trigger food is?

why is it when i was so close to losing 5% during the biggest loser spring challenge that i jumped off track and gained it all back when i learned that i needed a pace maker.

why is it when i started the new fall biggest loser challenge this week, that i had to have desserts/chocolate when i had surgery on my face to remove a cancerous place.

why is it that i have to have my comfort foods at what i might call LOW TIMES in my day or week.

does anyone have an answer?

thanks,
linda in bama

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KRW4LIFE 9/16/2011 11:43AM

I think this is the best blog i have read so far. Way to put yourself out there and let us know that you are struggling. Somethimes I feel like I am the only self destructing and it is nice to know that I am not alone. I will be your comfort card buddy. Report Inappropriate Comment

PINKAMBER18 9/16/2011 10:15AM

I had a similar struggle this week. I needed an emergency root canal on Tuesday and they finished it Thursday. I found myself using that as an excuse for many many things (ie; not exercising (my mouth hurt), not making dinner (the pain meds made me tired), not eating good (I'm miserable, shouldn't I get to at least eat what I want?) But, it is over, and I can go back to my healthier ways. And you can too :) We are in this together! Report Inappropriate Comment

PATRISNA 9/16/2011 9:03AM

Linda I love the idea of comfort cards. I will make one to put in in my journal. I keep my journal by my computer to write down quotes. I have a sparkling Blue journal I started Just for the Sapphire team. My sparkling purple journal is full of stuff from Spark people and other things I have found to motivate me. I also have the emotional eating problem. I think we all turn to food for comfort and that is why we are here. This whole journey is about changing our lifestyle to a healthier one. You have such great ideas! thanks for this blog and posting it on the jammies thread. I agree with Di and Georgia you are a strong determined woman and you will succeed. We are so lucky to have such great friends and this web site. Dermatologists do that! They see a mole or spot and just say here let me burn that off. Ouch... or start cutting a suspect spot for a biopsy and it really is surgery because they take quite a chunk out to make sure they get everything. Been there. So I can understand how shocked your were. Hugs, Pat Report Inappropriate Comment

BESTCK 9/16/2011 7:49AM

This is why ! Because I had this same issue this week. I left work feeling really stressed and bad and asking myself, "How do I feel better without eating?" I'm finding the Nap works for me. (I'd love the idea of a bath. Sadly, my tub is too small to be of any relaxation and I can't get in and out of it without feeling like a circus act.) I know I don't get enough sleep during the night, so when I find myself struggling with food, I just lay down until a healthy solution comes to mind. Unfortunately, this is counter productive to the problem of "I don't want to exercise!", but we're working on that. Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDAINALABAMA 9/14/2011 10:35PM

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY, to hear from my friends on this very sensitive topic just absolutely brings tears to my eyes. i need to say to myself an I statement --- I NEED COMFORTING and i'm gonna make me a COMFORT CARD of 3 things i can do to comfort myself without food and put it on the frig - RIGHT THIS MINUTE. how about: 1 - I comfort myself with my dogs 2 - I comfort myself with a nap 3 - I comfort myself with yogurt or bengal spice tea - even if it takes enough to float a boat. thanks so much!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

GEORGIA_KAY 9/14/2011 10:20PM

Hello....did you write this--or did I? LOL I did the same thing--I'm ashamed to say. destructive eating isn't anything new for me...it's an old habit that I work very hard to break. I'm not always successful, but I keep on trying. Know what? So do you!!! Di is right, you're still here, still trying, still challenging yourself and you truly are a wonderful, strong, loving human being that I am so proud and grateful to call "friend". Don't knock yourself so much for reaching for the old, comfort foods...it really is an ingrained--almost instinctive habit for those of us who self medicate this way. It will take time and patience, but you can do it. We can do it together! Report Inappropriate Comment

DIFROMWYOMING 9/14/2011 5:25PM

I wish I knew the answer to this...for me I think it is that I am used to using food for comfort and to deal with my emotions, so when my emotions are running that is what I turn to...and sometimes it is to numb myself from feeling at all. Might be something different for you. But here is what I do know: I know you did lose 5% in the challenge and that no matter what happened you were here, exercising and challenging yourself. I know that no matter what happens to you - you do not quit on yourself and even if you have a blip on the scale you come back and keep trying. And I know you will keep doing just that because you are a wonderful, strong and loving person who deserves to enjoy all the things life brings to you. Hugs, Di Report Inappropriate Comment

FIT AND FOCUSED IN THE FALL

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Hey Everyone,

i've been asked by my Sapphire Spark Biggest Loser Team to write a blog about where I am for the fall challenge.

Right now I am sitting right in the middle of RELAPSE. Let's just call a spade a spade. I know it all has to do with me getting a very unexpected pace maker implanted on aug. 10th. I appreciate 'polly' so much. and i celebrate my good luck at accidentially finding out that i need 'HER' - by eating chocolate every single day. i have some hidden right here in my cpu desk.

BUT..... I am moving in to the CONTEMPLATIVE phase b/c as soon as I finish this blog, I'm CONTEMPLATING going back to the websites and see when i can start exercising and how much. i forgot to ask the doc. it has been two weeks tomorrow. the st. jude tech said that i could walk at any time - but i've kinda ignored that b/c of the torn - but healing - ligament in my knee. can't we find all kinds of excuses??? i found that i couldn't have knee surgery until i got the pacemaker and now my knee feels so much better, that i may put that off.

THEN....i'M gonna move again into the PREPARATION phase when i find out about the exercise and start doing what i can in the mornings. i've learned through SPARK that i do like to exercise and i do like drinking my water. I also PREPARED today by getting sugar free chocolate pudding mix and 0% milk so i can have my chocolate and eat it too.

SO..... by the time sept. 6-7 comes around i will be ready to spring in to the ACTION phase and put all of these components together b/c i know that my sapphie spark team needs me and i need them.

SO....... LET'S GO TEAM!!!!

LINDA

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BESTCK 8/26/2011 7:21AM

Linda! Please take good care of yourself and follow the DR.'s instructions so you can be fit and ready to get back to your wonderful self. Something like that would have sent me into a full on eating binge, the likes of which you've never seen. Good for you for knowing where you are and where you need to go. Look forward to working with you on the team. Report Inappropriate Comment

DIFROMWYOMING 8/24/2011 8:34PM

Linda what a thoughtful blog! You obviously have put some thought into this (I think you're in contemplative as we speak!) and gathering information about the kinds of exercises you can do is a wonderful first step! I'm proud of you for taking such good care of my sapphire sister! Report Inappropriate Comment

Look at Strength Minutes in a New Way

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

hey all,

i've been looking at strength training in a new way. there are even websites you can google to get some ideas. here are some of them.

* grocery shopping
*carrying grocery bags into the house
*putting your groceries away
*changing the sheets - that good old tug and pull
*carrying a laundry basket full of wet clothes
*even opening the frig, washer, and dryer doors,
*putting in and taking clothes out of the washer/ dryer
*cleaning out your car
*picking up and taking in the dry cleaning
*buying and carrying in the pet food bags
* same for cat litter
*picking up and putting down children, pets,
*talking on the phone while holding a child
*walking up the steps to you home or those inside your home


so...... re-think how you count your strength minutes and never record a zero or 5 min. again .

what others can you add?

linda in bama

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

-LINDA_S 6/26/2011 9:58AM

Well, I guess those bags of pine bark nuggets I just lugged and spread around my garden must count! And maybe the wee pulling, too. Thanks for a new way of looking at things. Another Linda (in NC) Report Inappropriate Comment

KALIGIRL 6/23/2011 12:32PM

You are so right! Report Inappropriate Comment

SANDY1969 6/23/2011 8:30AM

Im a cashier at walmart...you have NO Idea how many cases of pop, water and huge bags of dogfood a cashier handles in 1 shift. :) Thanks for reminding me that is strength training! Report Inappropriate Comment

DIFROMWYOMING 6/22/2011 4:13PM

Linda I LOVE this! What a wonderful way to put a twist on something I look at as boring most of the time. Climbing stairs is not boring, and I do that all the time! Excellent blog my friend. Report Inappropriate Comment

IS BEING CONSISTENT THE ANSWER?

Thursday, June 09, 2011

I'm thinking this moring about what role being consistent plays in being successful.

then i think, well....dhu! of course. everything that gets done, gets done b/c someone was consistent...put one foot in front of the other day after day.

and it has to be the same with getting healthy and losing weight.

it's the old, if i keep doing the same old things i've always done, i'll keep on getting the @#$#@ things i've always gotten.

my only plan to be consistent is with little baby steps:

* - to get my sparkexercise done first thing in the morning
* drink my water is easy in this 90 degree weather
* baby steps in sticking to my low carb eating - one meal/ one snack at a time.
* do 15 minutes of FLY housework several times throughout the day
* stay in touch with my sapphire biggest loser spark group daily.

what did i leave out?

linda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JAZZYNUME 6/10/2011 2:04PM

Good Luck! Just dont overwhelm yourself. I think being consistent also comes with being realistic and being honest about what you can and more importantly what you are willing to do!!! Looking forward to reading more!! Have a great day Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDAINALABAMA 6/10/2011 12:10AM

yes, i love affirmations. great idea. thanks. Report Inappropriate Comment

BAYBELIEVER 6/9/2011 10:50PM

I think you have it all covered! I like what you say about one foot in front of the other...that is my mantra especially when things get tough! Report Inappropriate Comment

GEORGIA_KAY 6/9/2011 7:35PM

Nothing! You left out nothing. It all sounds good! Maybe add in some daily affirmations to stay positive is all... Other than that, your plan ROCKS!! Comment edited on: 6/9/2011 7:36:31 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

VERY SMALL REWARDS

Monday, June 06, 2011

I don't do rewards. I mean, since I retired, what greater reward can there be? I sleep as late as i want, i stay up as late as i want.

I was careful in my retirement planning so that I can pretty much buy whatever i want when i want it, within reason.

but i read something on spark tonight that 'spoke to me'. the article said to plan small rewards.

for the summer biggest loser challenge, i am planning on taking baby steps. i'm not new to spark, but baby steps feels right to me.

so, of all the things i saw on the small rewards list, i like the one of putting a $1 in a jar when i have mostly reached my goals for the day.

then when i get some money built up, i'll spend the money on something small: maybe have someone come in and clean my windows which have not been done in a long time, or take my car to be cleaned up - i always do it myself, or get a 30 min. massage instead of paying the price for a whole hour.

i like the idea of NO PRESSURE. i'm gonna give that a try for the summer challenge - NO PRESSURE.

maybe i could even try to make them very small rewards, for fun. have someone clean just the windows on the front of the house first. or have them vac out the car really good but not wash the car, maybe get half of a subscription to my fav magazine that cost too much for a whole year so i don't get it, and maybe just a 15 min. massage on my shoulders. this could be fun.

this could really wind up being fun. maybe put a $1 in the jar for small accomplishments each day, and then when i have $7, just look around and see what great LITTLE thing i can find to spend it on as a LITTLE REWARD.

over the 11 week challenge, i could have 11 very small but very special $7 rewards.


what do you think?

linda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BRANDISMARG 6/8/2011 3:53PM

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LINDAINALABAMA 6/7/2011 1:13PM

yes, i will pop in there and let everyone knows how the small rewards are going. some that have come to mind are: *swimming in the salt water pool at a nearby summer camping park for $5. *finally finding and visiting a guild in a nearby city that teaches classes in spinning wool in to yarn. *buying some fresh produce at the local farmers markets...there are 3 within 10 miles of my home *find great deals at yard sales - but only something i need, not something that will just set and need dusting - hahaha *i am going to 'the big city' huntsville in two weeks and will check out the necklaces at target that was suggested by a spark buddy. *donate one $7 a month to a charity - my favs are greenpeace and the salvation army veterans program. Report Inappropriate Comment

KABOOPER 6/7/2011 1:00PM

Great Idea! I love it. I know there are some nice necklaces at Target for $7. I will have to see if I can do the same! Thanks for sharing. Report Inappropriate Comment

DIFROMWYOMING 6/7/2011 8:37AM

Wonderful idea! I posted a new thread for my own accountability to check in weekly and post how I've done...so maybe you can pop in there and tell us what your 'rewards' were! Fun! Report Inappropriate Comment