NMCINTYRE1's SparkPeople Blog

Happy Monday!!!

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:14:02 EST

It's MONDAY! FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!!!

I feel exhausted today, 'cause I didn't use my weekend to "recharge". Now I am paying the price. But at least I have the opportunity to enjoy and make the most of another day and hopefully another week!

Stay strong. 213

Inch by Inch.....

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:54:26 EST

Who knows maybe I'll stay on track a little longer than last time.

At least I haven't given up completely. I accept who I am and will work to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle for myself and my family. I want to be around as long as possible to enjoy all my family and any more that come in the future!

Enjoy the day

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:24:06 EST

It's been doing nothing but raining here lately. Reviewing a few of your blogs has been so therapeutic for me today. So my blog today is just to give a "thumps up" to all of you how take the time to share your insights, progress, successes and short comings. It really makes my day.

148

Good Monday Morning - New Week New Challenges

Mon, 9 Jul 2012 09:23:56 EST

Good morning to all. Just a little note to remind everyone to be blessed with this life and where you are in it. Keep working on your goals day by day. Break these goals down so that they are achievable.

Everyday is an opportunity to enjoy life and taking another step to making someone else's and/or your life enjoyable and to achieve the goals you wish.

Hope all have a fortunate and fantastic day! Maybe someone will win the lotto too!

How random right? 3...

Another Opportunity!

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:31:20 EST
I just want to take this opportunity to share how fortunate I feel to have a family that loves me unconditionally. I feel the same way about them. They accept me for who I am not what I look like. I am my own worse critic and enemy.

There are things I know I could do to change my life for the better. I am working on them. This is a great place to be to achieve this particular dream. But if I fall short of my goal, I will have still make some progress in being more aware of my c...

Happy Monday!

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:09:48 EST
Have a wonderful day everyone. I am hopeful to have a good start to this week with making more healthy eating choices.

I wish you all the best in staying on track today and keeping from falling too far from your goals. We can do it.

306

Guess what???

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:59:12 EST
I am still logging into SPARK every now and then.

Gotta get the habit going again. Slow down on the eating girl! Make good food choices!

Hope you all have a wonderful and happy Monday!

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 12:23:03 EST
Boo! to Girl Scout cookies. They really took me off track. I have been having issues getting started again.

Today is the day. I undid all the accomplishments I made previously and now I am back to square one and maybe even further behind that where I started before. No worries though. I did a 30 day shred session last Thursday and one this morning. I am trying to stick to the 17 day plan for today and will give another go tomorrow.

However, I have to plan to be off t...

Status

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 11:41:02 EST
Still feeling sick. Sore throat and congestion. Will be trying to get a doctor appt today if possible. I have not stuck strictly to my planned diet and haven't been exercising properly. But what I did do the first week must have helped jump start the metabolism because I lost about 4 lbs and was able to fasten my belt loop one more hole smaller.

That makes me feel pretty good considering not being able to following this properly.

Hopefully I can get some antibiotics and ...

Whoops

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 08:58:33 EST
Well yesterday wasn't so good. I didn't complete my food journal and got off the plan I have been following.

Oh well, I can do better today. I haven't gained back what I have lost which is good. But this congestion is killer. It is keeping me from feeling well enough to exercise much. I am so afraid of getting full-blown sick if I start excising along with trying to follow a pretty strict diet. Well, I will just keep trying to fine tune this. At least I was able to make a little p...

Hump Day

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:28:49 EST
Not sure why I am feeling this way today. I feel like my OCD is really kicking in. Unfortunately, it is a method of procrastination for me. I do and do and do. But don't get all the really important things done that require maximum effort. I accomplish a lot of little things which is great. My mind plays with me on a daily basis.

This of course has me a little frustrated with my eating plan as well. I have not been strictly following the 17 day diet as I had planned and instead o...

Keeping it going

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:00:51 EST
Week two. Not perfect, but still I believe I am moving in the right direction.

For those of you out there struggling with your will-power. Take it day by day.

YOU CAN DO IT. Just do something toward your goal. The hardest thing to control for me is my mind.

I start thinking too much and mentally talk myself into and out of cheating, working out etc. Mind over body.

I am trying to focus on what I want to achieve. Visualize. Even if I can't see my...

NOT BAD FOR WEEK ONE

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:53:25 EST
I had great intentions. Though I did not follow the plan as outlined, I guess my results are proof that nothing ventured nothing gained.

Sunday the scale indicated that I had made some progress. Clothes are fitting better through the waist and I was told that it looked like some of the puffiness in my face was going away. What a great compliment! (I think. I new I looked puffy, no I know that others were noticing.)

Hopefully, I can continue on this journey and try my bes...

Off to a pretty good start...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:18:03 EST
I had to add a little to my breakfast in order to take my vitamin supplements. But I feel pretty good so far. I actually got my morning 17 min. of exercise in and am looking forward to the rest of the day.

I sure hope I can continue to fight off the thoughts not doing what I know I need to do tomorrow morning.

I am already worried about how I will fit exercise in next week when I don't have as much time in the morning. I have to make my brain stop. Because it will keep ...

Here I go again...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:57:53 EST
OK. One more time. Tomorrow I plan to try to start the 17 Day Diet program. I should be more positive about it when writing. But because I have started and stopped so many times, I am reluctant to do so.

Tuesday is a strange day to start I know. But I did not make it to the store this weekend to make sure I had everything I needed for this week. So I'll officially start on Tuesday.

However, I did start the exercise portion of this today and I have been pretty vigilant a...

How about that...These jeans are not so tight!

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:53:11 EST
Small daily changes, guess they work when you do it consistently for a few days.

A pair of jeans I expected to take a bit to get into, actually fit this morning. That's a pretty good way to start the day!

What am I doing....?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:21:27 EST
I decided not to completely make any new years resolutions. But I am finding myself, trying to select better choices periodically anyway. Guess that's progress. The scale doesn't agree. At least I am pretty sure it doesn't. I haven't stepped on it in over a month. Because, have gotten to a point where I can tell I am at the same weight or more and I really don't want the confirmation of a scale.

Anyway, I will keep plugging away, even unintentionally. Now that I have lowered by g...

January 2012

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:34:22 EST
Welcome back all....

Trying to finish up something that I was determined to finish out prior to the end of last year. So guess what? My goals (resolutions) were already in place and these are a priority since they did not get completed.

I have maintained a pretty steady weight but still no weight loss. I am working on other parts of my life right now, health wise. But I know that my health would certainly benefit from the loss of at least 10 pounds. I think that is what ...

2ND Week Goal Setting...

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:22:11 EST
Last week went better than expected. I made it though 4 days, 2 more than my goal with only 1200 cal. per day. Exercised delibrately 2 times during the week.

So this week, I'll shoot to make it for 4 days at the 1200 mark and get in 3 days of cardio and 2 of weights. I have been putting off lifiting weights again because I don't always feel like I am getting enough burn in calories for the effort. But I have be doing some motivational research and have been reminded again muscle ta...

Fabulous Friday!

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:06:34 EST
Well, made it to Friday. Today has been pretty difficult. But I don't have hunger pains and so far I have been able to stay on track.

I have noticed that I do have issues with getting enough protein. I did not excise yesterday and I didn't feel too good about that.

I was unable to stop myself from getting on the scale yesterday or this morning. I knew I would be disappointed in the number. Guess I need to work on not torturing myself too. lol

Hope you all have...

I DID IT - GOAL REACHED!

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:29:09 EST
I managed to get through 3 days of calories under 1500 per day. I was even able to get some exercise in a couple of days too!

I am nervous about being able to maintain it though. I hope to add 2 more days and at least make it to Friday evening. Maybe Sat. will be a small splurge to 1600 calories.

At any rate, I am feel like my pants are fitting better and some of them are a little loose even. Wow! Now I must make my self continue to change my habits one day at a time.

Day 3 is Here!

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:14:38 EST
I made it through 2 days at less than 1200 calories. But yesterday, I didn't eat dinner. I had to work and didn't get home until late. I think that may have sabotaged my plan as my body reacts by stalling weight loss if I don't eat regularly.

Alas, I am not giving up but instead made sure to breakfast. Off to a good start. Already have over 32 ounces of water downed.

The scale is even budging a little. But I am trying hard to stay focused on how my clothes fit instead of...

Made it through Day 1

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:30:40 EST
Unbelievable! I made it through day 1 with less than 1500 calories. I can't lie, it was HARD. But one day down is one day down.

So far off to a pretty good start today, but I didn't eat enough this morning I know. I even did 30 min of cardio and some core work last night. Ate my last meal before 8:00. That never happens. I am realistic though. There is no way I can expect to eat everyday before 8:00 pm. Our lives are just to hectic and we are away from home a lot in the evenings. <...

Here is a new goal...

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:08:44 EST
So one of the many fitness magazine articles and Lean Cuisine website planner suggests to lose weight it is simple math. Keep your intake less than what you burn. Duh??!!

So this week I decided on a 3 day challenge... Stay under 1500 calories per day with my goal of 1200 per day. I realize that this is going to be really hard to do as I just finished my lunch and I am already around 9??. Augh!

I think I will be doing a lot if I can do this for 3 days. So I am going to s...

Up but wait...

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:54:50 EST
OK - seems my plan to not to succumb to the sore throat business has worked. I upped my protein intake and monitored what I ate, took my vitamins as I planned and the sore throat is gone. I even worked out on the elliptical yesterday evening (I find it very challenging to do 30 min. at this point).

This morning I wake up and I feel a little "twinge" in my right knee. Guess I'd better listen to my body and don't push too hard. I'll have to focus elsewhere to make sure that I don't ...

Once Again...

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:25:56 EST
OK ... so here I am again. No worse but no better. I refuse to give up. I know there are plenty of people out there that would say, "Don't even complain", "You have nothing to complain about". So I won't.

I'm starting again, reading blogs of others in similar situations and trying to keep myself motivated. Hubby helped me out by agreeing to help me purchase an elipitcal trainer. So guess what? No need to waste time driving to the track or the gym. It right at home. No excuses. No...

Still here...

Wed, 18 May 2011 10:55:04 EST
The want to is here. But I have so many distractions I let myself procrastinate my way out of doing much. I haven't had a good results from the efforts I have put forth in the recent past. Now that DH is feeling his clothes are a little snug, he want to put the accelerator on a treadmill purchase. I should be excited. But instead I am thinking it will be relegated much like other equipment we have purchased in the past, to either a garage sell, the attic or by the curb eventually.

...

OMGosh! I'm in a NON-EXERCISE coma!

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:20:20 EST
Still thinking a lot about SPARK. But I am stuck in a bad spot. Hope to get back soon!

Gone but I haven't forgotten

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:37:38 EST
Bummer! Things haven't gone as planned this month. Imagine that! Life happened and now I have issues with getting back on track. Well Spark is never far from my mind and I know that you all are here when I get going again. I went longer than I had previously. I also made some changes that I know are better for my overall health and have continued with that despite not getting my information in the nutrition tracker etc. I haven't been able to SPARK every day as I had been before and I haven't...

I've fallen and I can't get up...

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:49:15 EST
What in the world - I have fallen off my Spark Wagon and can't seem to get back on track. I'm still here though. But having a little bit of trouble getting it together.

Oh well, I'm feeling pretty good. So maybe I will be able to get going again more diligently before too long.

Happy Valentines Day All

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:39:12 EST
Don't have a lot to blog about today. This weekend was not a good weekend on so many levels. Not to mention I didn't log in once this weekend. Too busy running around to kids activities and not staying on track with my eating and exercise plan.

I had a very disappointing Sat. morning and feel so behind for this week. I haven't had a chance to make a good list for grocery shopping or a solid plans to celebrate V-day with my hubby and kids. It has me a little down today. I really don...

Seeing a trend here...

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:04:52 EST
So this will be short and sweet (or not).

There is no way around it, I have a very difficult time staying on track with my eating. I have been able to exercise pretty consistently, but I must really enjoy eating whatever I want. Because I seem to do so no matter knowing the consequences.

I have done better at making better choices more times than before I started this time around, logging what I eat and exercise etc. But I still have a long way to go to get this part of ...

The Good News...the BAD news...

Mon, 7 Feb 2011 09:29:05 EST
Good News: I won the 1st Qtr pot last night in the super Bowl. I splurged and ate a second piece of pumpkin pie with lite cool whip.

Bad News: I missed my 4th day of Level 2 Shred. And to top it off, woke up with a bad sore throat and stomach cramps. And today is my son's last basketball game. So the only way I will get to shred today will be if I do it just before bed. It may in fact come to that if these stomach issues die down.

I am disappointed about this situation....

Uh Oh

Sat, 5 Feb 2011 23:51:50 EST
It's Sat. night and I have learned what I did not want to know. We invested in a new scale that will display Body Fat, Water Content etc. I already knew the scale did not like me but now it has been confirmed. Whoa! I had no idea what the scale would tell. Body Fat is off the charts! Something else to track in the future.

I almost forgot to do my workout today but I made myself go ahead and do it so I am still on track with my Shred Experiment for the 30 days. But I totally blew ...

Did it again - Didn't mean too!

Thu, 3 Feb 2011 09:48:44 EST
Woke up this morning with a terrible sore throat and congestion. The scale is sooo evil. It said I gained a pound and I hadn't hardly eaten anything last night. What a terrible way to start the day.

I haven't been trying hard to eat less but yesterday I pushed it too hard I guess and didn't eat enough calories and good food early enough to keep this cold from kicking into gear. So this morning I skipped my workout but I hope to get it in this afternoon. I am starting my calories ...

Guess I'll have to keep on doing what I'm doing...

Wed, 2 Feb 2011 17:26:04 EST
OK, so I made a commitment to myself to complete the 30 day shred as a challenge to myself. I have been fighting a sore throat and runny nose for the last 5 days but I haven't gotten completely sick enough not to complete the 25 min. workout.

So yea me! I accomplished 10 days in a row, a REAL accomplishment for me as I haven't been able to do more than 3 days in a row of exercise without getting sick in over a year. I have been making modifications to my eating but haven't been rea...

Monday Morning Routine...

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:09:06 EST
I guess it must be true that 7 days make a habit. It wasn't as painful getting to the workout this morning. I get dressed before I drop my son off at school and have the dvd ready to go when I get back. I have managed to get 8 days in a row in which is a record for me. I still occasionally feel a bit of a sore throat but I am a fighter. I will win. I am looking forward to moving on to level 2 of the 30 day Shred series.

Unfortunately I really blew it on my eating this weekend. In...

TGIF - But planning to stay on track over the weekend

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:16:42 EST
Wow! I can hardly believe I made it to 5 days in a row of Level 1 Shred. It is truly a milestone. Now for the hard part. The weekend. I plan to get up early Sat. and Sunday (no matter what) to get this work out in. I have decided my reward to finishing to 10 days straight of level one will be a Pedicure.

Now I have to come up with something for the next level. I think if I finish the whole thing I may treat myself to getting someone to come and clean my house. What I dream. But...

Fighting the inner voice

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:47:29 EST
CONDENSED VERSION:
* DON'T WEIGHT SELF BEFORE 20 MIN WORKOUT
* TELL THE VOICES YOU DON'T CARE - YOU ARE ALREADY COMMITTED TO DO IT
* BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOURSELF BY PUTTING YOUR THOUGHTS HERE IN
SPARKPEOPLE
*DOING SOMETHING IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN DOING NOTHING
*GIVE YOURSELF A REWARD (HOWEVER SMALL AND NOT FOOD) FOR FOLLOWING
THROUGH WITH YOUR COMMITTMENT TO EXERCISE AND/OR EATING RIGHT
*REWARD DAILY SO YOU DON'T LOOSE YOUR COMMITMENT...

Pictures don't lie

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:54:35 EST
Ok, so I finally gave in and I took pictures of myself to see where I stand. I haven't wanted to ask anyone to take the photos because I think deep down I knew it was bad. I was having a difficult time admitting that I have let the situation get this out of control. Over the past 5 years, I think I have gained 15 pounds. I look in the mirror (not a full) in my bathroom and I think to myself "It's not that bad" but deep down I know I have great mirrors. lol

I have no one to blame b...

Off to a good start....for a Monday

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:58:13 EST
So far, I'm off to a pretty good start for a Monday. I have managed to get to work on time, get my morning Shred in (so exercise is started) and my eating hasn't been too bad this morning so far. I'm really hoping to keep it up and do my daily exercise while watching what I eat. I didn't do so good this weekend, logging what I ate. But I am finding that I am making better choices about the selection I choose and I have also noticed that I am not finishing my complete meal when eating out.

I vow to do my best

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:28:34 EST
Today is going to be one of those days where I can't really expect to get a lot accomplished. So I am NOT going to beat myself up for not being as productive as I would like to. I am going to try hard to journal my food intake (working on a solid week) in a row. It is quite a feat for me. I think I may be trending toward become more and more ADD as I have gotten older.

I have changed my focus to not get so caught up in the amount of exercise I am not doing and trying to stay focuse...

It's a new year - hoping for a new me

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:45:02 EST
Today, I will officially start my attempt to get back in the grove of my pursuit of a healthier body and a healthier weight. I have my doctors appointment scheduled for today. So today is as good a day as any. Slow and steady will have to win the race for me. I found in November that when I hit it hard with a strict diet and exercise regime, I knocked myself out of the race by getting too sick to function daily much less continue with my weight loss goals.

So here's to all of you ...

Tomorrow is a new day..

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:28:08 EST
Tomorrow is Monday. But it is also the Monday before the biggest Holiday of the year. There are a million things to be done along with guests coming and presents still to be bought and wrapped. I don't plan to stress too much about getting consistent exercise in this week. But I will plan to modify what I eat and do MY best to make good choices when eating on the run. I will not get on the scale this week and maybe not the next given the events that are coming. Not to mention the goodies to ...

My body is in Rebellion!

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:13:21 EST
Well, I was going pretty good last week. But now my body is infull rebellion. I guess I ran down my immune system too much with the diet food and intake I was doing along with my excercise program. So now, I am waiting for a doctor's appt to get some antibiotics for this horrible cold (flu symptoms) I have now.

I think I will continue with the exercise and skip diet food. Just stick to limiting quantiies and eating more often. I'm am not giving up. 28

Make it a Beautiful and Wonderful Day!

Thu, 9 Dec 2010 09:50:56 EST
I am hopeful that I can make the most of today despite some obstacles I am anticipating. Hope you all enjoy your days. I plan to make the most of the day too!

It was hard but I persevered!

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 10:06:52 EST
This morning was a mental battle! I thought and thought about how I could get away with not working out this morning. I wanted to wait and do my work out this afternoon. Though most say don't get on the scale but once per week, it was the motivation I needed to get my butt in gear and do the 20 min. work out this morning. A little bit of progress really motivated me to get in gear.

I also adjusted my goals to give myself a shorter timeline. It will be really tough since the holiday...

Always something...

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 09:18:01 EST
Well, three days in a row of ciruit trainng with a video for my morning workout. Now my finances are acting up. It's always something. I started having money automatically withdrawn from my account to a seperate savings account in order to save money for things that we need. And low and behold, I haven't yet paid my cc off in full and we are running a bit short. I refuse to change my automatic withdrawls at this point because I want to push us into trying to make it work with what we have.

Holidays are Here

Mon, 6 Dec 2010 10:40:47 EST
Made it through Birthdays, Thanksgiving and now on to Christmas. No better time than the present to try to stay motivated with the incentive of being able to spend some quality and wonderful time enjoying friends and family over a good meal and games.

I haven't entirely given up on my goal but realize that I am the only one holding me back. So here I am again.

Fell off the face of the Earth, Ouch!

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:23:21 EST
I fell of the face of the earth for awhile. I don't know what brought it on exactly. Mostly likely, stress, guilt, emotional issues. That is the brunt of my challenge in meeting all my life goals.

Unfortunately for me, I don't have a love affair with food. It is a means to an end to survive and keep my body working properly. But occassionally, I feel like I use it to destroy myself and try to make myself feel bad by eating what ever I want, when I want and then "beat myself up" o...