JUGGLER101's SparkPeople Blog

Not every day is good

Thu, 2 May 2013 18:57:57 EST

Yesterday I ate a lot, I was hungry most of the day. Sigh. I spent some time thinking about why and I think it was sugar. I had a cookie from trader joes with my morning coffee. I think it sent my sugar high and I spent the day on a blood sugar roller coaster.
So I am going to keep that in mind going forward. It was one day, today is fine and I am hopeful that those kinds of days will be rare.

No struggle

Wed, 1 May 2013 18:17:28 EST

If you had told me this I would not believe you, Monday I ate 600 cals and it was easy. Once in the evening I wanted some ice cream but I told myself I could have it the next day. No prob.
5-2 is working out for me. Some days I love my food and some day I pass on most.

Hubby on board

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:24:33 EST

I got some very positive feedback this week in the 5 -2 plan. My husband was asked at work how long he was going to stick with the plan. He said time will tell but it is the easiest program he has ever tried, it requires no thought and no effort beyond the afternoon of the two minimal food days. We do have an easygoing attitude about he days, we usually talk on the weekend and pick the two, our default is Mon Thu now, but we change it when we have schedule conflicts. I think it helps that our...

Adjustment to 5-2 plan

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:48:56 EST

We decided to make some changes in our 5-2 plan, I say because my husband has joined me on this program. Anyway we were eating freely on all days except Tue and Thursday, Tuesday and Thursday we were eating 600 cals. Tue was going well but Thu was usually a crabby day in our house so we have decided that we need two days between fast days. This past week we did Mon and Fri because of social events and going forward we are shooting for Mon and Thursday,we will bend if we need to for social eve...

Surprises on 5-2

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 13:41:36 EST

We went on spring break, took the juicer and a cooler full of veggies. I am on the fence about doing that again. It is a lot of work away from home. Time will tell. We did not fully stick with 5-2 while we were gone, normally we eat only 600 cal twice a week, and have no restriction the other 5 days. When the first mini-fast day rolled around we had breakfast but no one really wanted dinner, no kidding we did not WANT to eat. We were so used to the plan our bodies wanted a real from food, wei...

Juicing, and 5-2

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:07:29 EST

I think that lasting weight loss is accomplished with changes applied over time. I want to share two changes I have made that are important to me. The first is juicing.
Like many people I heard about juicing from Joe Cross. I had prayed for help in my weight loss journey and Joe's work crossed my path. I ordered a juicer and started juicing right away, I was planning on doing a fast but my doc was not happy about it so I decided to take the longer journey. I have have been juicing for 4 ...

another doodle

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:42:17 EST

morning doodle

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:46:11 EST

I am trying to have more fun in my life and part of that is doodling, here are some doodles from this week.

Grounding report

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:07:19 EST

Time for an update on the grounding. I have been doing this for a month or so. I found a couple of things, the method I first used does not work for most people, so clearly I am more sensitive. I had used a static discharge bracelet used in electronics work, what I did not know is the bracelets for this purpose have a resistor in them. So it explains why I felt a greater effect when I used the products rather than my homemade stuff.

When I got the kit is had two parts a rubber type...

struggle

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:45:28 EST

This week has been a struggle but I think I had learned something so I am going to write about it in hopes of improving for the future. Things had been going really well for me. I was exercising, eating on plan, losing weight and feeling good.
Then several things happened at the same time that got me off track. First i had to go to training where the food was provided buffet style, someone else got my food because I cannot stand in line, and the food was not something that fit my plan. T...

Small Steps - calorie budget

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:56:07 EST

I am trying adjustments to my plan to help me be satisfied with my calorie budget. So for a week or so at a time I am testing a lunch. This week I am testing having a deli sandwich with an apple and chips. That is a lunch that has a lot of variety, and has enough volume to satisfy. I think it might leave me less prone to snack. I figure I need to test lunches and find a list of interchangeable, acceptable lunches that do not leave me prone to snacking. They have to be filling enough that I do...

Blown Away

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:19:16 EST

I was blown away today by my workout. I was able to really up the intensity of my weightlifting. I work out with a trainer on Mondays. I have been with her since before my accident and she knows me and my abilities really well. Today we really jumped some weights, so much so that she cut me off and said she would not allow me to increase my weights any further for fear of injury. But it still way too easy, I had to concentrate not to bang the weights because they were so easy to lift.
...

Adventures in Earthing

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:23:04 EST

I tried something that sounds wacky, Earthing, or grounding. The idea is simple - ground yourself electrically. I heard about a project near me for advances in exercise. It has three components compression, cooling and grounding. The article I read said that grounding was supposed to help you sleep better and reduce inflammation. My kids have had trouble sleeping so I thought it would be a cheap and simple thing to try. I checked my electrical circuits for proper grounding and jumped a wire ...

My best self -One year from now

Thu, 26 May 2011 16:37:10 EST

One of the things that I like to do is visualize success. And When I get stuck it is because I cannot believe that things will get better. Think Yoda quotes now...

Anyway today I am thinking about my best self a year from now. My best self will be playing golf a year from now. My best self will be 75 lbs. lighter a year from now. My best self will be walking so much better a year from now. My best self will be spending time with friends. Go to movies, or just having folks over for ...

What is Working - exercise

Wed, 25 May 2011 19:56:02 EST

I vividly remember the so many milestones after the accident : the first time I got to bend my leg (after months without bending), the first time I was allowed to put pressure on the leg (4 months) the first time I was in the pool after riding a lift into the pool (5 months) and now 11 months later I have come so far!

I started walking hanging on to my physical therapist in four feet of water. Once across the pool that first time. Then I worked my way up. Now I swim for 1/2 an hour...

What is Working- food

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:14:36 EST

Before my accident I was moving away from packaged food, trying to learn to eat a diet mostly of meat and produce. Nothing out of a box. I did continue to have things like canned tomatoes in soups, but few canned goods other than out of season fruits or veggies.

This all went by the wayside as my family took on all my duties after my accident, we were all just trying to make it through the day, whatever it took. I ate as well as I could but when someone has to bring you EVERYTHING...

Insight into me

Fri, 20 May 2011 10:59:59 EST

This has been and interesting week in the mental game of weight loss. I have embraced things that I have resisted for years. I think now I can admit to myself and embrace the reality that I neglected myself and gained so much weight as a punishment for flunking out of USAF flight school. I was a supersonic jet pilot a week from graduation and I flunked out. Not really because of my flying, although I could have been better. But really I was a mental wreck and I made myself a pariah in some ci...

More Magnesium please

Sun, 15 May 2011 14:12:40 EST

My trainer suggested that I try added magnesium to deal with the knots I was getting in my muscles, I was skeptical because I already take a balanced calcium magnesium table along with vitamin d because of my broken leg. But I did some research and my research convinced me to give it a try. So this past week I added 1/2 a tablet (100 mg) of additional magnesium citrate.

WOW! it was dramatic. I could tell the difference right away - I did not have the soreness I usually have after ...

Out of my wheelchair, walking again!

Fri, 13 May 2011 11:18:42 EST

It has been a long road back from my accident. Almost a year now, mostly in a wheelchair. The good news is I did not gain any weight, which is really a big deal according to my surgeon. The bad news is I cannot do so many of the things that would really help me lose weight, like walking. But now I am cleared to walk, and I walked into my house from the garage. It hurt and I limped but hey I did it.

I am walking a bit more each day and it does hurt but I am determined to keep going....

No more sugar

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:17:13 EST

I saw the doc and got bad news about my blood sugar. It was too high. Part of that is due to medication for my breathing issues. But the reason does not matter, the sugar can still damage my body. I need to get it down.

I am going in for a retest in a couple of weeks but I expect that I will be on another medication, ugh. But hey if that is what I need to do I better get on with it.

Just another reason to get my act together and lose weight!

Acknowledge stumbling blocks

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 13:25:46 EST

I found this article online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052
748704111504576059823679423598.html

To be helpful. I am looking for lifelong change that I can live with, rather than using willpower to fight unhelpful behaviors. For me the first step is to notice and to name behavior. Negative behaviors such as eating whatever portion is served in a restaurant, rather than asking myself "how much do I want to eat". And now my friend Ari has made a great observation tha...

Swimming is great

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 19:12:59 EST

It is an activity that works for me, I am up to 50 minutes now for a workout and my laps have gone from 1:15 to 0:55. I do two laps and then do a resting lap of breast stroke. I added two minutes a week to get to my current 50 minutes. I have little lap timer / counter to keep track I got it from Amazon for about $20, it is like a tiny watch that you wear on your finger rather than your wrist.

I use a pull bouy for my legs since I cannot use my leg due to an accident. I am lucky my...

Swimming for the rest of my life

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:49:34 EST

With the leg injury the surgeon says I will never be able to do walking type exercises again. So for me swimming it going to be my lifelong exercise. That means really learning to swim well. I am lucky because my gym has a masters swim team, it meets at 5am, ugh. But happily, the coach stays on as a lifeguard and is very willing to coach me when I come to the pool after physical therapy.

Really the the principles are not too different from walking going to running. Build a base, l...

I might walk again, but several surgeries yet to come

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:41:32 EST

So I saw the surgeon again last week. The good news is there is evidence of bone repair the length of the fracture, which is great since I do hurt much anymore. There was a surprise in that the joint showed a large gap on the outside of the knee, the surgeon now believes that the ligament was torn but missed in the initial surgery.

So in order to walk many things need to happen, one the knee has to be replaced, two the bone needs to heal fully the entire length of the fracture, thr...

Hoping for a good report

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 22:58:53 EST

I am off to see the (bone) wizard tomorrow. I am praying for good news, hopefully the fractures will be healing and they will tell me that I will have a chance of walking again. If not I will get to work on becoming a wheelchair athlete.

Fit by fifty, it sounds nifty...

More along the road to success

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:41:41 EST

So I recovered from surgery, and then was transferred to a skilled nursing facility SNF. I got PT twice a day, OT, and learned how to do things without ever touching my right leg on the ground. I made friends and inspired a few folks, my roommate cried wan I was released, she wanted me to stay with her... I met many dedicated healers and was blessed by their skills and their dedication.

I do not know what the future holds. The bone may never heal enough to let me use the leg again....

A funny thing happened on my road to success

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:23:42 EST

I had been doing well, getting so much stronger, working the biggest loser process. Then out of the blue my life changed, possibly forever.

I was at the dog park with Kepler and, thankfully, my husband. I was watching Kepler and got blindsided by a Saint Bernard, and a Labrador running at full speed. Time slowed down, knew I was seriously injured before I hit the ground. I also knew there was going to be no complaining, all my efforts and thoughts would be focused on "what now". No...

One challenge managed, many to go

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:00:29 EST

Ok today hurt! I have an old injury that causes my ankle to swell, today durning my workout it swelled so much that my foot went numb and my calf seized up. I had to stop three times to remove my shoe and rub the affected areas to restore circulation. In the past I would have quit but now, I think about what I can to to make it workable, not great but workable. I think I did the right thing and I think I will wear my shoe looser to begin with. One challenge managed!

Biggest loser plan week one- no more boinking

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:10:40 EST

I have started Dr. Hs plan outlined in his book. It is tough, no doubt but I am hoping for a real payoff. I like the biggest loser process, it seems to lead to real losses that can be sustained in the real world after folks leave the show. It especially suits the frustrated athlete in me, the one who is buried in a mountain of fat dying to get out and surf, ski , run, bike and of course zipline!

This week has been breaking down barriers of the mental kind. The first thing is he exp...

Renewal: A vision of the future

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:19:03 EST

I read the spark book and spent some time thinking about things. I have a group of friends who started this journey together and watched something that intrigued me the people who had the fastest "success", fell away and, I expect, regained their weight. It reminded me of the medically supervised fast I did. Everyone lost but I only know one person who kept the weight off. He made the lifestyle changes that supported his change, everyone else went back to their lives thinking they had lost th...

Insulting Stranger

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 13:07:36 EST

Well I have had a mixed day. I got some walking in a mile and a half but I wanted two so I will have to get more in later.

I was walking at a school today. And I had one of those moments that is really aggravating. ARI could have handled it, but I did not do as well as I should have. Out of the blue a woman walked up to me and pointed to the display for my bodybugg and asked if it was a pedometer - not wanting to have a long discussion because I was leaving, I said: "partly".
...

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:26:32 EST

I saw a good recipe on Nigella Express that we have really been enjoying. You take a sweet potato and slice it into circles, then cut those into four pieces. You do not even peel it, and you end up with triangles (about the size of a sugar cube). Drizzle with olive oil and then dust with cinnamon and cumin. Roast for about 45 minutes in a 450 degree oven. My family loves it!

Nigella did it with roasted game hen, prepped with the olive oil and spices, delish! We have also had it wit...

The hunger monster

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:31:02 EST

I have been swimming lately and the thing about swimming is - it makes you want to eat. I have heard various ideas about why, I don't know why, I just know it happens. But today a funny thing happened; I came home form the gym and an hour of swimming and I was HUNGRY. I put dinner in the oven and then the second I closed the oven I got an important phone call and I had to deal with it. I was surprised that when the call was over the hunger monster was gone. I was still hungry, but it was a n...

Walking with a purpose

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:26:18 EST

We have several major issues in our school district. One thing that I am doing now is walking at one of our sites. They have a fabulous program there that has really influence kids, they walk and get feet charms for every mile they complete. The kids have gone around the world four times in distance since they started.

Well now I am walking and earning feet, but my purpose it to address the concerns of the parents about changes going on; winnning them over one step at a time.

The Dialogue in my Head

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 23:27:54 EST

I have had and funny couple of days as I ponder the lessons of the book "the four day win". I have been talking to myself in my head. I have always been told that I need to listen to my body and if I just did that I would not overeat. Baloney, this week instead I have been listening to my brain.

I AM HUNGRY

you ate two hours ago

I WANT TO EAT ANOTHER LUNCH

well that is interesting, but really it does not matter, because you just ate lunch two hours...

End your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:36:20 EST

I recommend "The Four Day Win"--Not the best title and a really disjointed start but for me this book feels like the answer. I am flooded with my response to reading just the first 70 pages so it is hard to explain it. The short version is -- the horse whisperer for the beast that causes you to eat when you don't need food.

Or -- starving yourself to try to lose weight sets up a negative cycle of perceived starvation. the more you diet the more your body gets scared and hoards food...

Lonely

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 11:35:39 EST

Today I am missing my dog Barney who died this summer. I miss the happy presence I. I miss knowing that someone is glad when I come home. I miss the security I got from having him around when my husband is out of town. I just miss him.

Someday I may get another dog but not today, it doesn't feel right.

I Recommend the book "Nudge"

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:33:20 EST

This book is really interesting to me. I am about half way through it. It deals a lot with barrier to smart behavior. That is: why we don't do what we know we should. Or how small changes can change choices.

Hmmm. Like eating well and exercising. I am hoping to learn how to change my own behavior. This book has already changed my behavior some. I realize I need some set of uniform meals that meet my goals. And a set of "party" rules, so I don't blow it in the social whirl. Those e...

Operation: Metabolism part one

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:02:52 EST

With the success of my sprinting I have found something interesting. My eating patterns have shifted. It is not something I forced or something I even necessarily expected but I have noticed it happening naturally. I am eating less at a time but more time in the day. I need a mid morning snack, so I grab a piece of fruit. After a modest lunch I need to eat mid-afternoon so that I am not ravenous at dinner, I know that will lead to overeating.

Yesterday was an example of that. I wa...

Sprinting

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:47:09 EST

I have added sprinting to my workouts. Really I have replaced my treadmill time this summer with sprinting. The funny thing is I am getting better results with less time.

Now I have to clarify about the "results". I am not talking about weight, yet. But wow, everything else I can think of: energy, stamina, size, muscle tone, core strength, balance, focus. These things are noticeably better, and I am talking knock-you-upside-the-head better, not just some little change.

...

I had a good game

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:05:35 EST

I played golf with a friend today. It went well and most of all I could see a real physical improvement. It was Hot, in the 90s when we finished. But I was able to keep up, and swing well the whole round. I still used a cart but the improvement is really neat to notice.

Today was Barney's last day

Sat, 8 Aug 2009 21:20:38 EST

The cancer made it impossible for Barney to swallow, so today we said goodbye for the last time. He was the best soul I have ever known.

Keeping up and feeling good!

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:20:09 EST

I twas hot today so we waited to go out untill sunset. I had a nice walk with my family. my husband said several times "hey you are keeping up". And I was. It was nice that he noticed and made positive comments. But is was really nice that I was able to keep up. We went on a trail that would trough hills and vineyards. The uphill parts were a real challenge and I was the only one huffing but hey I made it back, first.

I think back to starting out and barely being able to walk aft...

I am so lucky

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:18:41 EST

First an update on my hand, it is healed! 104

Second I have a nasty bug. My family has been sick for a while and I finally succumbed. I made a run to the store today and got Campbell's soup, cola, tissues with aloe, medicine. How lucky I am to have access to all the wonderful products. I have used a whole box of Kleenex in 12 hours, just think what that would be like with regular Kleenex OR ::shudder:: no Kleenex at all!

For most of human history people have ...

probiotics for healing

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:14:52 EST

I thought I would share a health improvement I have had. I have always been a poor healer. Cuts that my husband would heal from in a week would take me a month to heal. But I have been adding probiotics in significant amounts. I did it to help my digestion, but I have read that the digestive system and the immune system are tied closely.

Anyway you guys know I hurt my hand, It was bad and I seriously consider stitches. In the end I opted for several butterfly bandages. The hand has...

Running toward health... what a difference a day makes

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 14:18:21 EST

My new sprinting workout is such a challenge to me that I was not sure I would be keeping it up in the long run. Today I found a visualization that helped me. I imagine I am running toward health. I visualize a finish line approaching, with my arms in the air in triumph, and a banner that says health.

What a difference, I am squarely reminded why I am doing this and the effort required makes sense. Few worthwhile thing are easy. But they are easier with the goal firmly in mind.

The hardest four minutes

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:37:14 EST

I have started a new kind of exercise. The CLAIM is that you can get fit in four minutes a day, every other day. I have been stuck for so long getting stronger with my workouts but losing little weight. I decided to TRY this new way and see for myself if it is possible.

I bought a $400 machine and began. Not surprisingly there is an option to do more, up to eight minutes a day. And the off days you can do different muscles as long as you take one day completely off. I had the inte...

Cooking fish

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 23:02:43 EST

One of the things that I have been trying to do this year is add to my cooking skills. we love fish but we usually eat it in restaurants because I did not know how to prepare it. But the web is a wonderful thing and I have been learning so many new things by checking the web. www.cookitfrozen.com/

Has great tips for cooking frozen fish. I have been buying frozen fish from Costco. I love to grill it and serve it with salsa. Of course I am still buying my salsa form ...

The love of a Sainted dog

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:12:01 EST

You had a sad, lonely beginning. Five years, left in a kennel with no interaction. We had the pain of terrible pet losses and heroic efforts to save them. We saved you from aching loneliness, and you saved us from black despondency.

You are a humble gentle soul. Happy in all things and times. Gentle even in the vet's where they do things that hurt. You stayed by my side when I was sick. You are always happy to warm my feet. You are up for every bit of fun: a walk is a grand adventu...

The zen of golf

Sat, 30 May 2009 12:48:45 EST

True confession time. I used to be a big golf hater. I disdained golf, golfers and laughed when people described it as "Exercise". Hitting a tiny ball and walking slowly around -- some exercise. Ha! just goes to show once again -- that you should not judge until you spend some time in the other person's golf cleats!

I love golf because if you are going to have success you must CONCENTRATE. And that concentration on your grip and your stance and your swing and... takes you to anoth...