Posts: 31,374
4/4/12 12:24 P

I WILL give support to my Spark family.

How do you give support to members of your Spark teams?
By leaving comments on their activity feed, read blogs & leave words of encouragement leave a comment.

Do you randomly visit members' pages leaving encouraging messages?
Yes

Do you give goodies?
Yes

Do you post on your team boards daily?
Yes

current weight: 141.0

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135

Posts: 7,536
4/4/12 9:05 A

I WILL give support to my Spark family.

How do you give support to members of your Spark teams?

I try and visit their blogs as often as I can, visit friend feed and like their comments or leave a comment.

Do you randomly visit members' pages leaving encouraging messages?

Sometimes.

Do you give goodies?

Yes

Do you post on your team boards daily?

Yes.

This is a good challenge Mauri, it helps remind us of things we should be doing as often as we can to help support each other. Thank you!

Hugs,
Shirl

current weight: 172.0

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140

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Posts: 7,958
4/4/12 7:34 A

Great challenge Mauri.


I WILL give support to my Spark family.

How do you give support to members of your Spark teams?

I log on each day and post on the team page as well as create a blog. I try to leave each person with a positive word of encouragement. The team members are my extended family...I care.

Do you randomly visit members' pages leaving encouraging messages?

Yes

Do you give goodies?

Yes, probably not as often as I should, as I tend to forget about the "goodies" until I'm reminded by someone sending me one *grin*

Do you post on your team boards daily?
For sure...this way I know that my day has started out right.


Hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 8,124
4/4/12 2:37 A

I WILL give support to my Spark family.

How do you give support to members of your Spark teams?
Do you randomly visit members' pages leaving encouraging messages?
Do you give goodies?
Do you post on your team boards daily?

When my work schedule allows, I post daily challenges here.
I also like to award teammates with goodies or emoticons as encouragement or rewards for goals achieved.
Again when my work allows, I visit my teams daily.

Pounds lost: 5.5

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15

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
2/23/12 7:14 A

The next on our motto is:

I WILL share this road with others.

How do you share this road to good healthy living with others?
Do you exercise/walk with someone?
Do you exchange healthy recipes?
Have you shared info on your journey with people in your life?
Do you limit sharing the road to your Spark teammates?


I am doing a virtual walk with teammates and am so grateful for their support and encouragement. Sharing the journey makes it more fun.
I share info on my journey with those in my life that I feel lead to share with.
Sharing with my Spark teammates is my vital link!

Have a great and wonderful day.,

Hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 31,374
2/22/12 4:41 P

I WILL share this road with others.

Do you exercise/walk with someone? - No
Do you exchange healthy recipes? - No
Have you shared info on your journey with people in your life? - Yes
Do you limit sharing the road to your Spark teammates? - No

current weight: 141.0

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135

Posts: 7,536
2/22/12 1:12 P

The next on our motto is:

I WILL share this road with others.

How do you share this road to good healthy living with others?
Do you exercise/walk with someone?
Do you exchange healthy recipes?
Have you shared info on your journey with people in your life?
Do you limit sharing the road to your Spark teammates?

I walk with a friend a couple times a week.
DD and I share healthy recipes.
Yes.
No.

Hugs,
Shirl

current weight: 172.0

173 164.75 156.5 148.25

140

Posts: 8,124
2/22/12 8:11 A

The next on our motto is:

I WILL share this road with others.

How do you share this road to good healthy living with others?
Do you exercise/walk with someone?
Do you exchange healthy recipes?
Have you shared info on your journey with people in your life?
Do you limit sharing the road to your Spark teammates?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am lucky to have two people at work who know I am on this journey and who are very supportive - without being watchdogs.

Most of the time I share the ups & downs with my Spark teammates and with my therapist.

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Posts: 2,856
2/16/12 5:13 A

I will try to be strong today and positive. Had to take hubby to urgent care last night and they put him in hospital - blood clots

current weight: 241.0

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Posts: 31,374
2/15/12 8:09 P

I will find other ways to exercise

current weight: 141.0

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135

Posts: 2,856
2/15/12 9:21 A

I will have a Positive Day !!

current weight: 241.0

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Posts: 7,536
2/15/12 9:17 A

From our Team Motto, the next "I WILL" is:

I WILL believe in me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you already believe? What do you need to do to strengthen your belief in yourself?


I believe I am on the right track for pursing and accomplishing healthy goals.

What I need to strengthen is:

My belief that I am capable of doing this and this will become a way of life for the rest of my life.

Hugs,
Shirl

current weight: 172.0

173 164.75 156.5 148.25

140

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
2/15/12 7:17 A

From our Team Motto, the next "I WILL" is:

I WILL believe in me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you already believe? What do you need to do to strengthen your belief in yourself?

I believe that I am very good at my job, in prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
I believe that I am extremely loyal to those I love.

What do I need to do to strengthen my belief in myself?

I need to learn to have more compassion for myself, to not be so hard on myself.

Hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 8,124
2/15/12 6:08 A

From our Team Motto, the next "I WILL" is:

I WILL believe in me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you already believe? What do you need to do to strengthen your belief in yourself?


I believe I am really good at designing and implementing the Hope Bus program at work.
I believe I am a good person, a person of faith, compassion and kindness.

What I need to strengthen is:
My belief that I can pursue a healthy lifestyle and be successful in it. To do that, I need to not become discouraged if my scale goes up a 1/2 lb. I know what works for me and need to focus more on that than turning my attention to what makes me fail.

My belief that my opinions are valid and worthwhile. Instead of becoming a "shrinking violet," I need to develop more confidence in expressing my opinions in conversations.

Those are the beginning challenges for me.

Pounds lost: 5.5

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Posts: 2,856
2/10/12 8:52 A

I will make postive decisions today including
drinking the water I said I was going to drink for each day
will exercise more I did walking yesterday and so exhausted by end of day [shows how out of shape I must be.]
Plan my meals ahead better

current weight: 241.0

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165

Posts: 31,374
2/9/12 1:28 P

I will be patient with myself
I will take care of myself
I will stay focused on the positives

current weight: 141.0

174 164.25 154.5 144.75

135

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
2/9/12 7:38 A

I will be less stressed:

I love this one.

I chose to just go with the flow yesterday and believe that everything would work out in the end. (and it did!)

Hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 2,856
2/9/12 7:17 A

my idea of a stress free time to chill out is just to go for a nice car ride [hopefully sunny day] and just enjoying the beautiful scenery. Maybe a half hour or so and I get home and feel ready to get things done again.

current weight: 241.0

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Posts: 31,374
2/8/12 10:40 A

Reading & crocheting are relaxing for me

current weight: 141.0

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135

Posts: 7,536
2/8/12 10:07 A

The next from our motto is:

I WILL be less stressed.

What are ways you reduce the stress in your life?

Make cards for people.

Listen to relaxing music.

Read a good book.

Hugs,
Shirl

current weight: 172.0

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140

Posts: 8,124
2/8/12 7:54 A

The next from our motto is:

I WILL be less stressed.

What are ways you reduce the stress in your life?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lately there has been a lot of stress in my life...some related to the earlier lines of our motto - physical being, physical space & financial situation. These are some of the things I do to reduce the stress.

1. Make quiet time for myself at home - a cup of tea, a book, an old movie.
2. Meditate.
3. Take deep breaths.
4. Read my affirmation cards each day and the daily reading from "Peaceful Living."
5. Play at pogo.com.
6. Schedule a technology free day - no computer, iPod, mobile phone, home phone.
7. Spend time playing with my kitties.

What do you do?

Pounds lost: 5.5

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Posts: 7,536
2/1/12 4:33 P

I will go with the flow and not fret when things don't go as planned, like today, lol.

Hugs,
Shirl

current weight: 172.0

173 164.75 156.5 148.25

140

Posts: 31,374
2/1/12 11:17 A

I will stay on track
I will organize my filing cabinet today

current weight: 141.0

174 164.25 154.5 144.75

135

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
2/1/12 7:31 A

I WILL improve my financial situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you work towards improving your financial situation? What things do you do that you can share with the team to help those who need ideas?

1. I live on a budget.
2. I save and plan for items that I need or sometimes want.
3. I will only use a credit card for those purchases that are big ticket and then only if I have the money to pay it off right away. No living on credit! I refuse to carry a balance and pay someone interest.
4. I shop for groceries using "specials" and on value coupon days.
5. I buy in bulk as much as possible. It saves on packaging (environmental) and it is cheaper.
6. I don't buy chemical cleaning products, but use good old fashioned baking soda, vinegar and non-toxic cleaners. They work very well as well as being environmentally friendly.

Hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 8,124
2/1/12 7:17 A

I WILL improve my financial situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you work towards improving your financial situation? What things do you do that you can share with the team to help those who need ideas?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. On payday, I get up an hour earlier to get my bills paid according to a planned budget.
2. If I feel the urge to buy something, unless extremely necessary to live, I will wait 3 or 4 days. I think about whether it is a need or a want - and what will I do with it in a month.
3. Unless it is something I absolute need, I only buy items on sale.
4. I clip coupons and shop sale items at the grocery store. My last grocery excursion found me saving 25% of the original total between coupons & sale prices.

Looking forward to some new ideas!

Pounds lost: 5.5

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Posts: 7,536
1/26/12 2:54 P

Forgot to check back for this challenge yesterday.

I did stay within my calorie range.

I did get more than 8 glasses of water in me. Slosh slosh.

I did do my exercise, even did one video twice. They are short.

I did have a great day.

Hugs,
Shirl

current weight: 172.0

173 164.75 156.5 148.25

140

Posts: 8,124
1/26/12 10:26 A

1. I am continuing on staying to date on my mail so I have no pile.
2. I will remove 3 items from my apartment when I leave for work today.
3. I will sort through a growing pile of materials/requests on my desk, answering at least 3 of the requests. - Didn't get to this because I received a call from a distraught survivor and went out to meet with her re: her visits to surgeon & oncologist

Pounds lost: 5.5

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15

Posts: 2,856
1/26/12 10:03 A

I will work with hubby on the clutter in basement- long overdue

current weight: 241.0

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165

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
1/26/12 7:18 A

Mauri...I was so tired yesterday that I didn't get this one done, instead I went to bed. I WILL do this one though on the weekend as I get my family room all back together.

Hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 31,374
1/25/12 10:59 A

I will clean up my stack of papers

current weight: 141.0

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135

Posts: 2,856
1/25/12 8:41 A

I will take the stairs instead of using elevator to go to third floor to visit at hospital today.

current weight: 241.0

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165

Posts: 8,124
1/25/12 7:24 A

The next "I Will" in our motto is:

I WILL grant importance to my physical space.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How will you do that today?

1. I am continuing on staying to date on my mail so I have no pile.
2. I will remove 3 items from my apartment when I leave for work today.
3. I will sort through a growing pile of materials/requests on my desk, answering at least 3 of the requests.

What about you?

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Posts: 2,856
1/19/12 6:53 A

I will stay motivated today

current weight: 241.0

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165

SparkPoints: (40,853)
Fitness Minutes: (24,287)
Posts: 3,978
1/18/12 6:22 P

I will smile

May Minutes: 0

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1200

Posts: 31,374
1/18/12 1:45 P

I will exercise today & take down my Christmas Tree-lol

current weight: 141.0

174 164.25 154.5 144.75

135

Posts: 2,856
1/18/12 9:44 A

I will postively exercise more today- have to gradually do more. I ride my recumbent bike every day and do as much as possible. yesterday was eight miles- not sure how much will do today but have been up to ten miles twice.

current weight: 241.0

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Posts: 7,536
1/18/12 9:43 A

I WILL grant importance to my physical being.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you grant that importance to yourself

By trying daily to make those better food choices, drinking my water, getting in some kind of daily exercise for my physical well being.

Hugs,
Shirl

Edited by: YOYONOMORE1 at: 1/18/2012 (09:44)

current weight: 172.0

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140

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
1/18/12 7:24 A

I WILL grant importance to my physical being.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you grant that importance to yourself?

My determination carries me forward to getting my steps in each and every day. By keeping my body moving and maintaining healthy nutrition, I am granting importance to myself.

I have set myself reminders to get up from my desk at work and take a couple of minutes to walk somewhere to ensure that I am getting some exercise.

When I get home from work, I allow myself to sit for a few minutes and then head to the basement to get my Wii steps in. By keeping track of my steps on a notepad, I am able to see at a glance if I am on target or not.

Have a wonderful day,
hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 8,124
1/18/12 7:13 A

I WILL grant importance to my physical being.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you grant that importance to yourself?

In 2011, this went downhill quickly for me with my work schedule that was out of control. This year I am making it a CONSCIOUS priority to come home and not check my work emails unless I am expecting something urgent. In this way I grant my body/mind/spirit time to recover from the "hits" it takes during the day. If I do have a long day, I try to fit it quiet time in the morning.

I have CONSCIOUSLY granted importance to nutrition and fitness. So far I have done well with fitness and most of the time stay within my nutrition guidelines...Had one binge day this past Sunday. Recognized it. On Monday, I let it go and got back "on track."

One of the ways I can unwind my brain is playing a computer game or two on pogo.com. That clears my head for reading, watching news or a movie, etc. I am more able to CONSCIOUSLY perform whatever activity I choose to do.

Pounds lost: 5.5

0 3.75 7.5 11.25

15

SparkPoints: (37,541)
Fitness Minutes: (36,691)
Posts: 5,983
1/13/12 7:44 A

I am late posting this, but my over-riding challenge for Wednesday was renewing my Kaspersky security on my PC, and it took some doing as I am basically a techno-phobe. Renewing is bad enough, but this time I had to remove the old one and then download the new one. Three phone calls to their help line, an hour out of my day, major stress making me feel sick, and £30 later, however, and IT IS DONE!!!

current weight: 175.0

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168

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1/11/12 8:27 P

I will get in some kind of exercise today.

Shirl

current weight: 172.0

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140

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
1/11/12 7:44 P

I will achieve at least 8000 steps today. I will continue to walk until I get those steps in.

Hugs,
Wanda

Posts: 8,124
1/11/12 11:28 A

SORRY THIS IS LATE...LEFT FOR WORK AT 6 AM.

I WILL gradually increase the minutes I exercise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Share how you will do this.

In order to increase my minutes, I joined the January Jumpstart Challenge at SP. It has worked for me since i am being more diligent with exercise.

I am also getting up early to walk with my Walking away the pounds DVD.

Pounds lost: 5.5

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Posts: 8,124
1/7/12 7:31 A

Lexie, yes, a zucchini here in the U.S. One of my favorite veggies...along with spinach and Brussels sprouts. Yum!

I will check out your blog...

Pounds lost: 5.5

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SparkPoints: (37,541)
Fitness Minutes: (36,691)
Posts: 5,983
1/6/12 8:19 P

You may know it as a Zucchini. :-)

And it was very delish. :-) Did you see my blog today? I bought the biggest mushroom to go in the bolly sauce. It was enormous! LOL

Edited by: LEXIE63 at: 1/6/2012 (20:20)

current weight: 175.0

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1/6/12 9:15 A

Sounds delish, Lexie. Have to check what a courgette is.

Pounds lost: 5.5

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15

SparkPoints: (37,541)
Fitness Minutes: (36,691)
Posts: 5,983
1/6/12 7:52 A

I WILL eat more nutritionally.

I am in the process of experimenting with my new slow cooker. I treated myself to a recipe book at Christmas, and also use websites for recipes. I'm enjoying making big batches of tasty, veg-enriched meals, then freezing the leftovers for future meals.

Today it is a spaghetti bolognese recipe I'm trying out. It will be meaty (lean mince) but also have lots of red peppers, mushrooms, aubergine, courgettes, onion, garlic and tomatoes in it.

Working out the nutritional values of these meals is going to be the fun part. LOL

Hugs,
Lex xxx

current weight: 175.0

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168

SparkPoints: (71,749)
Fitness Minutes: (56,854)
Posts: 7,958
1/5/12 7:31 A

Although I didn't get the chance to stop in after work yesterday, I WILL do better!
Love the challenge Mauri...what a great idea.

I WILL eat more nutritionally.

I started getting out of the habit of not eating breakfast once again. Partly due to the fact that I really am not hungry at 4:30am, but mostly due to just being to lazy. I have consciously been making the effort to make myself some breakfast to take to work with me if need be, but have actually taken the time to make myself a very nice warm bowl of oatmeal porridge. I don't like to make a lot of noise in the kitchen at that time of the morning, but I have discovered that I can do things very quietly!

I have nutritional snacks already to take to work with me for those munchie moments that hit, and then I have been finding that I prefer to eat a larger lunch and a lighter supper. I am usually in bed around 8:30/9pm on work nights so anything heavy for supper does not sit well.

I WILL eat more nutritional foods... I am determined.

Hugs,
Wanda

SparkPoints: (8,976)
Fitness Minutes: (407)
Posts: 808
1/4/12 9:13 P

I will eat healthier.

I am in the process of figuring out what I can and can not eat with the IBS as well as the Diabetes. I have discovered over the past month that I can not have onions in any shape, so I am reading labels down to the tiniest detail because even onion powder is affecting the pain. Because I am alone for the next 2 weeks I know that I will fall back on my old habit of peanut butter and bread. This can not happen so today I went to the store while I was out and bought some frozen single serving meat items that didn't contain onions. I also can not carry much because of my shoulder injury in November so picked up 3 boxes plus a bag of PEIsland frozen veggies without onions. This should keep me going for a couple of days while I figure out a menu from my do not eat list. I am working on a list of fresh cooked foods that I can eat, I always find that it's less depressing if I can instead of I can't.

Pounds lost: 32.0

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Posts: 7,536
1/4/12 3:13 P

Hi, Mauri, Janet and Patti all good posts.

Mauri, that is great about the ice cream, I am the same way with ice cream, I can't have it here in our freezer, but once in awhile I'll get a sundae at McDonalds.

Janet, I hadn't heard of the salad in a jar, that's a great idea, especially for working people.

Patti you'll be right back on track and all will be fine..

I will continue not to bring junk food into our apartment, I will choose healthier snacks, such as celery with PB, apples, clementines.

Hugs,
Shirl

current weight: 172.0

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140

Posts: 31,374
1/4/12 10:14 A

Today I will get back on track. I had my grand daughter over for the last 2 days so my schedule was a little altered. Hope to get back on it today!

current weight: 141.0

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135

Posts: 3,023
1/4/12 9:19 A

Great idea, Mauri.

I Will eat more nutritionally.

Since I am not the one who cooks my meals, I only have so much control over dinner. While I've asked and encourage healthier things, there's only so much I can do since cooking that dinner is my husband's joy.

But what I can do...and what I'm working on....is taking my lunch to work. I'm doing much better about it. I got containers to make it, I won't say simpler, but more consistant (who's word is that?). One set of containers has divided section, so it makes me think beyond just a sandwich. The other I got is kind of a plastic mason jar. I've tried the salad in a jar technique where you put the dressing in, then the "stuff", and last the greens. Then when you're ready to eat, you shake it up. It works great. They say one will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days as long as the dressing and greens don't touch. I haven't tried more than 2 days yet, but if I can make lunch ahead, so in the morning I don't have to think about it, just grab it and go, that would be good.

Little steps......I will....eat healthier.

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1/4/12 7:13 A

I thought it might be helpful to find positive ways to incorporate our team's motto "I Will" into our lives...and what better way than to help each other do that. So for the next 10 Wednesdays, we'll explore each phrase of the motto.

January 4, 2012:

I WILL eat more nutritionally.

How are you/will you increase the nutrition of the foods you eat? Are there foods you will eliminate/avoid? Are there foods you will add to your diet?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the past 4 or 5 months, I have really let my focus on the nutritive value of foods go. First, when my arm broke and I couldn't lift pots or pans to cook so I began eating take-out foods - mostly from the local Chinese restaurant or the local "House of Pizza" and lots of sandwiches. It is also difficult because my stove/refrigerator are in the kitchen, but the counter/sinks are in the pantry so it's carrying it across the kitchen to the sink/cupboards. I still have to limit the weight of what I can lift so I have to plan well.

As I began anew on Jan. 1st, I was sure my freezer is filled with veggies. Though cheaper to buy the bigger bags of those veggies, I spent the extra few cents so I have the boxes. They are lighter and easier on my arm.

I am planning ahead on what I will eat for the day.

When I'm tempted to fall back on take-out or sandwiches, particularly on late workdays (like last evening since my workday went to 8 PM), I have a post-it note in my car with my planned dinner to remind myself it really isn't that much work.

No unhealthy foods will be bought...and if it's a craving I have, I will limit what I buy. For instance, ice cream is one of my downfalls. Instead of going to the market and buying a container, knowing I can't restrain myself, I will stop at the local creamery and buy a kiddie cup. I can satisfy the craving but not have it at home to tempt me to my old habits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What methods do you use?

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