Time for a new plan

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

So tired of logging food. Therefore, it is time for a change of plan.

1. My evening meal needs to be 500 calories or less. Evening snack: 200 calories or less. I have daytime food under control at this time. It is the evening food that causes me trouble. So I will continue to eat reasonably during the day (800-1000 calories). At this time, I am not going to be concerned with the ratio of protein/carbs/fat, just make healthy choices.

2. I am keeping a "success" log. And not just for health-related items. I always focus on those things I said that I shouldn't or things I should have done that I didn't or mistakes that I made. As I do things successfully, I will be jotting them down in a small notebook. It will be a reminder of things that I do right!

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Pure and careful thoughts

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Since my last blog, I have continued to gain weight. Ugh! I am not walking as much as I would like (knee pain), but am still exercising. With my tax refund, I bought a new hybrid bike. Easier and more enjoyable to ride. And I am storing it in the basement while I am work instead of parking it outside where someone will covet it and "borrow" it like my last hybrid bike.

I am trying to figure out what is different from last year than this year. A new job. More time at work. A longer commute. Result? More stress, less personal time. I can eat well and regularly during the day, but feel I need to eat in the evening to "enjoy" my downtime. I can eat a whole day's worth of calories after dinner! Not the way to lose weight.

In my last blog, I talked about visualization. I did not remain consistent with my efforts. But lately I have been thinking about it and also my personal self talk. I really believe that my thoughts affect my attitude. Duh! Then I ran across this:

"Be careful what you think, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful what you say, for your words become your actions. Be careful what you do, for your actions become habits. Your habits define your character. And your character chooses for your soul and your destiny....." Author unknown

and it reminded me of this:

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Have I been thinking thinking about the pure things, the lovely things, the kind things? Honestly, I do very well when thinking about other people. I give them the benefit of the doubt, assume any "bad" they do is not their usual behavior. I do NOT do this when I think about myself. As many people are, I am too hard on myself. I am an undisciplined person because I gained weight. I am an inconsistent person because I reverted to old habits. I should be able to just take care of it.

So what am I going to think about? I have reduced my BMI from 42.9% in 2006 to 35% today. I am fitter today then I was then. I had trouble walking 2 miles. Now I can walk more, bike alot more, and have more endurance. I am smaller now than I was when I last was this weight. My resting pulse is 10 beats less than before. These are significant accomplishments. Even with weight gain, I am more healthy than before.

So each day, I need to remember that I am able to make good choices. My evening downtime does not need to include overeating. I deserve time to myself to do what I want. I plan to work fewer hours and increase my personal time. It does not matter that I took the wrong path. I can find the right path and continue on. It does not matter how long it will take, just that I am on the path.

Here's to pure and careful thoughts.

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Still searching for the spark ...

Friday, January 22, 2010

When I visited my email, I found so many emails from SparkPeople... I figured something was up. Then I found that I was Motivator of the Day! All those great comments and thumbs up! Wow! I found myself being motivated by you. Thanks!

An update of my search for the Spark. Due to cold, ice, and injuries, I have made the decision to join a fitness club for a couple of months. I tried it out this week and am not crazy about the extra travel time and commitment, but have found that I feel much, much better. Much less pain in my joints. So for these winter months anyway, I am going to try some spinning and yoga as well as the treadmill and elliptical. I hope to still get on my bike outdoors this winter, but when it is less icy and 20 degrees or warmer (seems we're not getting much of that...).

Eating. Still working on it. I am reading The Spark (very slowly, I might add). I read until something "sparks" with me. Then I think about that for a few days. Yesterday's reading was about visualizing. It dawned on my that I think about going home and eating before bed. I think about how nice it will be, how good the food will taste, how I will feel while eating (somehow I don't bother thinking about how I will feel the next day). Visualizing. Hmmmm.... I didn't even know I was doing it.

So yesterday, I visualized having a cup of chai tea with soy milk at bedtime. How nice it will be. Sweet, warm. How I am treating myself nicely. Did it work? Yes and no... I enjoyed the tea but still had some food, but it was less food and healthier food. So I would say it is a success. I am going to keep working with this.

Thanks to everyone for motivating me and supporting me!

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Looking for the Spark again

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Hi everyone! My break was nice in that I spent less time online and more time cross-stitching. I made aprons for my nieces. My sister's (their mom) did not get done, so I am still working on it. They turned out really nice, but took a very long time to complete. I will try to remember to take photos after I finish the last one.

On the other hand, the dreaded weight gain happened. I am up a couple of sizes and not liking it much. I took a spill on my bicycle three weeks ago and messed up something in my knee. So my knee is bothering me alot and because I am not exercising, my back is in serious trouble. Right now, pain meds are everything to me.

So, I am back logging my food and tracking my fitness (pitiful though it is). And I need to start some strength exercises for my knees and back. Tonight is a possibility.

I also bought the Spark book, so I am hoping for a bit of encouragement there.

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A SparkBreak is in place

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

It has been a couple of weeks since I stopped logging my food. No change in my weight. That is good. Unfortunately, there is no change in my evening habits either. I have posted some goals in my "goal" board at home:
1. Regular portions (one or maybe two portions of a particular item....unless it is veggies, of course).
2. No eating out of the package. Measure my food so I know how much I am eating.
3. Only one serving of sweets per day.
4. Only one serving of food for an evening snack.
5. Take my supplements.

I have not been meeting goals 3 and 4, but it's no worse than it was when I was logging my food.

I am still exercising (biking and walking), and sneaking in a set of pushups here and there.

Most noticeably, I am taking a bit of a SparkBreak. I am still going to log my fitness and check in on groups and folks occasionally. But lately I have spent less time here and am finding it less stressful. Not that SparkPeople is stressful! Don't get me wrong. SparkPeople is an important tool that has got me to where I was. Even though I have gained some weight in the past six months, I am still 80 pounds down from when I began my journey three years ago and 60 down from when I found SparkPeople.

So don't be offended if I am not commenting or "liking" something you do. I am on a vacation of sorts, and I will see you around for sure.

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