TRESA7

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Starting over for the umpteenth time.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

It's the "Start-Over-Again Lady." I think that's a pretty good nickname for me.

I decided to come back and give SparkPeople another try. Funny thing is, I'm at or very near the weight I was before I left.

This time I bought an e-Book version of THE SPARK (by our founder), and I'm pretty sure it will help me stay on track.

Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CARRIEDD 4/25/2013 11:43AM

you can do it!!! Just keep getting back up that is what counts!!!!!!

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RAINBOWFALLS 4/25/2013 10:00AM

Just keep trying and it will make a difference

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JEFALLEN 4/24/2013 9:03PM

Hey welcome back, and remember

"It doesn�t matter how many times you fall; it�s the number of times you get back up again that count"

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Hey, I'm back and starting over -- AGAIN.

Friday, December 28, 2012

for all the comments on my last post. When I can convince myself to exercise, I have to admit that it helps with the stress!

I finally decided to come back to SparkPeople today. At first, I considered making a new account so that I could use Spark Coach for free. However, I figured I wouldn't use it more than three times which is the same amount of times I used it before.

On the other hand, I did Start Over on my weight-loss goals because I managed to gain back all the weight I had lost before. That's right, I weigh 216.6 pounds which is approximately where I started last time.

My weight-loss goals are extremely simple, at least for now.
1). I intend to exercise for 15-30 minutes at least three times per week!
2). I plan to cut down on sweets! My new limit will be two servings per day (which is a lot better than eating as many as I want)!

That's it. These two things are all I'm going to attempt for the next month! Once I can make a habit of this, I will add a couple more. However, I do NOT intend to ever make a rule that requires me to record everything I eat because that is just setting myself up for failure!

Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MARYM63 12/31/2012 11:16AM

that's the way to do it. Small steps. You will get there.

Mary

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RAINBOWFALLS 12/30/2012 7:06AM

Great goals - as time goes on I'm sure you will add more.

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JEFALLEN 12/29/2012 2:34PM

I am not sure I would call it starting over. Hey we have all fallen at one time or another (hence part of my user name).

Here is a link to a video featuring the poem, "The Race", by D.H. Groberg, that sums it up far better that I ever could. Just copy it to your browser.

http://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=7NsWghmFeRQ

Have a Happy, Prosperous, and Healthy New Year!

Jeff

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KINEPS 12/29/2012 7:35AM

Glad to have you back. One day at a time -

and we are all here for you!

Hugs,
Maryann

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SLIMGRAM2 12/29/2012 7:27AM

You are doing the right thing, little goals and adding to them. It has worked for me in the past. Looking forward to seeing you add more goals to your journey. You are not in this alone.

. I'm starting over too. So let's keep in contact!

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TRESA7 12/28/2012 8:21PM

Candice293, perhaps my middle name should be "starting over" too. Whenever I "fall down" on any goal or trying to form a routine, I usually sit down and make out a new list of what to do.

This is definitely better than quitting, but I often waste time making lists that are extremely similar to the one I gave up on. This is probably the first time I've gone from having four or five "goals" to only stating two. I'm hoping I can follow those two and not give up again.

Also, thanks to everyone else that commented on this post already. It makes me feel good.

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GOPINTOS 12/28/2012 7:13PM

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LINDA! 12/28/2012 7:07PM

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LYNCHD05 12/28/2012 6:52PM

Good for you making goals that work for you. We look forward to watching your progress.

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BRADIA 12/28/2012 4:56PM

Good for you. It is never too late for a new beginning.
Welcome back.. i just did the same last month and here I am, tracking my everyday meals. I am sure you will be doing the same.

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CANDICE293 12/28/2012 1:14PM

Starting over is my middle name. I am constantly starting over I think in the new year though I will restart all my goals and try to stick with it this time. I think you have really good goals to stick too! Good luck and keep us posted. :)

Candice

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ITSMATT 12/28/2012 1:09PM

Hi there!

Today's a GREAT DAY to make positive choices.

I like that you don't have "weight by a date" goals listed. Hard to control those. Getting exercise and watching what you eat are good ones.

I'm someone who tracks everything and finds it pretty easy to do so. Been doing that for 50-some days now and I'm at a point where it takes less than 5 minutes a day to do it. I like to do it primarily so I can see the statistics on what I'm eating. I'm not very good at knowing how much X is in a food - calories, sodium, fat, etc. So that helps me.

I look forward to hearing about your progress!

Make it a great day!
Matt

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What should I do???

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Hello, everybody. I'm sorry I haven't been on here for so long! I've really had a rough time lately!!

I am seriously thinking about canceling this account!! I just have NO motivation anymore!! I can't form any routines and believe me, I've tried!

Part of this is because I've been looking for a job! Part of it is because my mother-in-law broke her hip and for the last two-and-a-half weeks, stress has been almost constant!!

Friends, I especially apologize for asking you to"remind" me to keep track of my food and then not even signing-in to get your e-mail. I unchecked the box for receiving e-mails when I receive Spark Mail

I managed to lose two pounds -- mostly because I've eaten little or no lunch for most of those 2-1/2 weeks. However, I honestly wonder -- should I start over, AGAIN or should I cancel this account and try to lose weight on my own??????

Member Comments About This Blog Post:

VUKONPAU 10/28/2012 4:10PM

Hey Kiddo; don't lose heart. I just put in info on our progressive walk but I'm not tracking food or exercise daily as I don't have the time either. Remember that we are flexible creatures and can increase or decrease involvement as time and energy permit. It's really okay.

Just take some time for yourself each chance you get because that may not be daily either- and remember,we are all here working through our issues - together.

Take care and I hope to see you on the flip side- let's think HEALTH not poundage.

Comment edited on: 10/28/2012 4:14:11 PM

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JEFALLEN 10/24/2012 9:01PM

I pretty much agree with everyone else. I just want to remind you of a Mother Theresa quote, "To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it." Don't forget to take care of yourself too.

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TAMMYELAINE1 10/24/2012 5:28PM

Small steps -over and over again produce posiitve results. One step a day is all it takes to be successful.. YOU can do this! One little bit at a time.

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ELAYNE39 10/24/2012 9:58AM

Life is complicated. Maybe right not is not a great time to focus on weight loss, but it is ALWAYS the right time to focus on YOU! Rather than trying to do it all, focus on just doing healthy things. With the level of stress you have during this period, getting in some walking will help. Focus on making healthy eating choices, but don't fret tracking for now. To taking care of others requires we take care of ourselves. Maybe you can't give yourself 100% right now, but you do need to take care of you. Rather than just completely abandoning the journey, just focus on overall healthy things for yourself. It's not starting over, its just continuing the journey differently.

What ever you decide, I hope you will be happy and healthy. Good Luck!

Comment edited on: 10/24/2012 9:58:20 AM

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RAINBOWFALLS 10/24/2012 7:50AM

Just try to make small changes and if you don't have time to siign in don't put that pressure on yourself. Good Luck

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SWEETYOUNGTHING 10/24/2012 6:07AM

It's not a decision anyone can make for you. As with anything else in life, listen to your heart and follow. Best of luck to you!

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BLUE42DOWN 10/24/2012 12:54AM

Very good rethinking. When trying to change our lifestyle rather than just diet, one of the more important things to ask is whether the change we're making is something we can willingly do "for the rest of our life". If it isn't, then it may not be a workable change to make - at least not right now.

It can really help to start with small doable goals. Kind of like strength training for our mind, the more goals you can set and meet, the stronger your ability and motivation to work toward more challenging goals.

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TRESA7 10/23/2012 11:17PM

Thank you, Julie. I have read several "Success Tips" for ideas and I decided that Starting Over with Very Small steps sounds like my best option!!

I usually try to make 3-4 Major changes and that just isn't working. When I ask too much of myself, I'm setting myself up for failure.

From now on, I'm just going to meet one or (at most) two goals for 21 days!! I read one suggestion which stated that it took 21 days to form a new habit and several that said to start with one teeny-tiny step -- even as small as reducing sugar intake by 1/2 teaspoon!! I would never have thought to go that small because I was thinking I had to give up sugar entirely (or at least cut it in half)!

Watch for another blog post Very Soon and keep in contact, okay?

Comment edited on: 10/24/2012 10:46:33 AM

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JUMPINJULIE 10/23/2012 9:32PM

I think leaving wouldn't help you to feel better or less stressed.

Comment edited on: 10/23/2012 9:35:29 PM

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Distractions and delays.

Monday, September 24, 2012

After watching the SparkCoach video about using time more wisely, I have to say that my biggest problems are distractions and delaying what I actually need to do.

One example: Instead of writing OR doing ANY exercise today, I read and replied to a few e-mails, read an article or two and played games on my computer!

Now I realize I need to plan specific times for e-mail and reading. I know I shouldn't play games until my other priorities are taken care of and I really, really need to set my priorities in order!

What's a person with Attention Deficit Disorder supposed to do? Write EVERYTHING down? I already make plenty of "plans", but I have problems with the follow-through!!

Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RAINBOWFALLS 9/25/2012 12:59PM

Make it a goal to not allow yourself a game until you have worked out and then limit the time allowed by specifying that in the goal.

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DDOORN 9/25/2012 8:46AM

Hey this isn't just an ADD thing! :-) With all the gadgets and competing forms of media we're ALL driven to distraction: if we ALLOW ourselves to be!

Hang in there, cut through it all and stick with stuff that MATTERS!

Don

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WARMSPRINGDAY 9/24/2012 9:46PM

You are not alone.

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MEME102 9/24/2012 8:54PM

Ahhh Tresa -- that's that commitment component I talked about in my blog!!! We all are motivated 'to do something'....it's the following through and sticking with it that's so hard -- at least for me it is. So I had seen someone else's blog about making a commitment to themselves (afterall aren't we important and shouldn't we value ourselves??) So if you make a commitment at work - you do it - if you make a commitment to your family - you keep it. Well the same should be true for commitments to ourselves....I am now on day 7 of my commitment and while it's been terribly hard...I don't want to break a commitment to ME. Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you! (and yes I spend a lot of time at my computer as welll -- but I take the 10 min or whatever it is I want to achieve that day and DO IT. )

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Tracking Food

Monday, September 17, 2012

Hi, I'm back again. I don't think I've signed in more than three times since I wrote "Starting Over - AGAIN" on July 24, 2012. I have two BIG problems - lack of motivation and NOT tracking food!

I just found out about the two week trial of SparkCoach and I'm very happy it's free. However, when I looked under "What to eat", it says to TRACK EVERYTHING I eat for the next two weeks (at least)!! It says, "... realizing that you ate 10 cookies over the course of the week might make you think twice before reaching into the cookie jar again tonight ...." Ha! I've eaten over a dozen cookies in one day!! Not a good idea for someone trying to lose weight!

I guess after all this moaning and groaning, I will ATTEMPT to track my food every day. Maybe I can do it if I go back to writing items down in a small, portable notebook. Will somebody out there please, please send me an e-mail or something EVERY day reminding me to track my food???

Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DDOORN 9/19/2012 2:33PM

Trackin' the snackin' is unquestionably the cornerstone of building our new, improved lifestyle. Unfortunately while I'm a firm believer in this, I'm not as good as I could be in following my own advice...ugh!

Don

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MEME102 9/18/2012 3:19PM

Hey young lady -- you will track your food for these 2 weeks!! It is now a habit for me and even when I go over my calorie range - keeps me honest, keeps me focused!! You can do this !

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RAINBOWFALLS 9/18/2012 7:06AM

I am also a believer in tracking your food. I think it makes a big difference and it can deter you from eating that cookie!

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BLUE42DOWN 9/17/2012 3:12PM

I'm definitely someone who swears by tracking. I've learned a lot about the foods I eat - serving sizes, nutritional value, and even how certain combinations of food through the day work better than others. Finding out how many more calories I consumed when I gobbled a bag of dark-chocolate covered almonds rather than a single serving was eye-opening in a way that just knowing it was "too much" didn't.

One thing I would recommend. Even if you forget some of what you ate, tracking every single thing you do remember will get you much further than not tracking anything at all - and helps build up a habit of paying more attention to what and how much you're eating.

I'll try to remember to send you a Spark Mail each morning (for a couple weeks) as a reminder.

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