SDAILEY4's SparkPeople Blog

Today's Eating Challenge

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:29:06 EST

I have, unfortunately, been a FAST eater my entire life. I have no idea why, but it's true. I have been trying to lengthen my meal times and have, to some extent, been able to make some progress. Coach Becky suggests chewing at least 10 times. I have been trying to get to 15 chews per bite ... the only real problem I have is when I have my blueberries/banana/Greek yogurt lunch. Man oh man! Bananas & blueberries disappear FAST. But I'm going to start feeling good at making just 10 chews...

Do Something Scary????? Me??????

Sat, 4 May 2013 06:54:41 EST

Today's challenge ... do something scary. Now, I am one of the reclusive types. Everything is scary in some way. Yet I can't think of a single thing to challenge myself to do! Maybe my daily routine has gotten so ingrained that my poor little pea-brain just won't connect. So today's challenge is going to have to be simply THINKING of something scary to try. Actually trying it will probably have to wait until tomorrow ... IF I come up with it today! Wish me luck, please.

Intuitive Eating

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:00:19 EST

I've always thought of myself as a 'very intuitive' person. Before I retired, I was always the one who could pick up vibes that someone in my office was out of sorts. Once the person could talk to someone (me) about whatever was bothering them, they felt better. I always felt good about "being there" for them. Now when it comes to eating, I'm not so sure that intuition carried through. Not sure because sometimes, when I'm stressed about something or someone, I actually THINK I'm hungry w...

X-ercise and Me

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:46:39 EST

Being extremely literal and habitual, I track my food for the day and exercise routine first thing in the morning (after breakfast, of course:). I check back throughout the day to make sure I'm fixing what I said I was going to fix for lunch and dinner. With the exercises, I make darn sure I get them all in because they're on the track. Keeps me honest about working out. And I refuse to delete anything so I HAVE to get it done. It helps.

Eating Schedule

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 06:30:29 EST

Today's challenge is to "eat by the clock". I think I do this already: I cook my breakfast immediately upon waking because I ALWAYS wake up hungry:) Within a couple of hours after breakfast I start thinking about food and reach for my banana or apple, whichever I see first. Then, within a couple of hours, I'm hungry AGAIN so I eat my lunch. That seems to hang on more than breakfast (I have no idea why because my breakfast is actually my biggest meal of every day). I'll eat my other frui...

Accomplishments

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:40:26 EST

The SparkCoach challenge today was to list three recent accomplishments. Sounds easy, but it isn't! Too many "little" things get lost in the shuffle for me. But I actually thought (and thought and thought:) about possibilities and finally came up with three.

Yesterday I got our groceries for the next 10+ days. Shopping is NOT my favorite pastime, but I did it ... single handedly! AND got them put away pronto! Single handedly! And I really did feel good about it.

...

Tomorrow and Tomorrow:)

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 07:05:11 EST

Today we're building the beautifully tastey Ground Beef Potatoe Casserole. Since there's only the two of us (plus the two pooches, of course, but they don't get much of the really good stuff:) there will be plenty for our next two dinners. The casserole plus lots of steamed veggies ... what more could we ask for!!! My husband gets a little tired of the veggies-only routine (not really "only" but light on the meat) and this casserole fits the bill to improve his "I'm not on a diet" attitude...

Another SP Benefit - Big Time for me!

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 08:21:54 EST

I have never had "good" fingernails. They have been thin, peeling, no half-moon ugly nails. Even polish couldn't make them look good to me. I started SparkPeople early November 2012. Being totally literal, I followed every direction for tracking to a Tee. Last week I looked at my fingernails and couldn't believe what I saw. They were actually growing and looking healthy!!! They had become ridged as I grew older. They are now almost ridge free! Has anyone else discovered this? I KNOW...

My FitGirl Goal

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:00:24 EST

Joining my FitGirl Team is my most recent life highlight! These girls are absolutely wonderful! When I joined, I signed on to the 10,000 step goal - knowing I had hit it once, but not since ... and was even having trouble making 5,500 steps per day. But I signed on to it anyway, thinking it was "time" to get serious. I made 10,750 steps the first day! Wellll, on Tuesday I was fairly crippled ... hip joint pain (have no idea why) and my legs were really feeling unhappy. Wednesday was a l...

My Future Me

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 07:52:03 EST

Visualizing is not always easy for me. Today's coaching session helped me see me 10 years from now. It was lovely. I feel so much more healthy right now after a few months with SP. I am totally committed to following the program til my last breath. It makes me feel good about myself everytime I track my food, plan my meals and plan my workout routines. While I'm my best critic (always quick to jump down my own throat), when I can't get our walk or my workout completed, I don't jump dow...

Adding On!

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 07:44:57 EST

I've been reading my SparkPeople Recipe book. Started from the beginning and am working through it. It's amazing! Chef Meg's suggestion of kitchen utensils was an eye opener, too. I do not own any form of a dutch oven ... never have used one, to be honest. I mentioned it to my husband yesterday. He seemed placid abut it (because we've never used one). This morning he said "today why don't we go down to Wally's (WalMart) and see what they have?"
I could have cried! I'm so excited!...

Oops!

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 09:37:05 EST

I have been so consumed with Coach Nicole's DVD's that I haven't even thought about just strength training. My 3 pound weights get some use with the DVD's but I know I can get better results with the 5 pounders. Duhhhhh! Revelation #4,449: USE THE 5 POUND WEIGHTS! AND MORE OFTEN!

Keep on keeping on

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 06:21:07 EST

I've always thought of myself as a positive person ... looking for the best in any situation or person ... but I apparently don't/haven't had the same mindset with myself. I read the motivational articles and watch the videos but there seems to be a big ugly block in my brain when it comes to feeling it within myself. I'm working on more positive self-talk along with re-reading the articles/blogs so am going to keep on keeping on until I get it right!

Every Day is a New Day

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:19:52 EST

I still wake up each morning with breakfast on my mind. I've discovered a blend of 1/4 cup lentils, 1/4 cup brown rice, one whole egg and 1/4 tsp flaxseed nuked for 3 minutes in an over-sized (I think) custard looking bowl with 1/2 a whole wheat pita and it fills me up better than anything else tried so far. I'm energized! So far I've made it 3 hours and no banana snack yet! Progress. I love it!!!

What? Emotional Eating??? Meeeee?????

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 07:10:09 EST

Today's SparkCoach topic ... emotional eating. I've been pounding myself the past few weeks because while I measure, count, etc., etc., within two hours of eating my breakfast I feel (I think) hungry. Admittedly, in my "previous" life I could down about three cups of Angel Hair pasta for breakfast (topped with a pour or two of soy sauce). Yes, it would take me through to lunch where I'd eat a whole plastic container (the larger ones .. quart size?) of tossed salad with probably a cup of co...

My goal motivation

Sat, 5 Jan 2013 07:50:20 EST

My mother (1918-2007) was an "I can't" type of gal who refused to take care of herself. After watching her health decline to the point of no return, I swore that I would never allow myself to fall into that sort of trap. Somewhere along the way after her death, the memory faded ... then I retired ... even though I work in the yard and walk with Mick, our dog, I wasn't really living a healthy, active lifestyle. At least not to the point of being healthfully wise:) With SparkPeople's help,...

New Habits aren't so "hard to learn"

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:27:15 EST

I had this revelation last week sometime ... suddenly, as I was putting together my meal tracking for the day (and enjoying it) I realized how easily I had transitioned from the "old" me to the "new" me nutritionally. Before SP I probably ate a fresh fruit MAYBE once or twice a year. Now I eat them daily ... still haven't experimented with new 'exotic' stuff yet, but apples, pears and bananas keep my nutrition goals right on track and I love them. Now that I have my 28-Day Boot Camp video,...

Meal Planning

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:36:34 EST

I'm an habitual meal planner. Seem to go through stages of turkey this or turkey that and then move to chicken breast, pork or hamburger meals for dinner. We (just two of us humans in the house) get to eat "warm-ups" the day after cooking and it works perfectly for us. Since SparkPeople, I've added numerous recipes to our eating and my husband has loved every single one thus far. I'm lucky that he has almost the same food preferences that I have:) With the SparkRecipes, I've been able t...