Status quo is easy, really. You just settle in to that nice, comfortable familiar existence that has been serving you so well and don't rock the boat.
But what if the status quo really isn't serving you so well? Maybe it's time to challenge yourself.
I see that this blog has picked up several followers, and some of you have even contacted me saying how I motivate and inspire you. This not only flatters but shocks me as well. I'm just a normal woman, trying to get fit. But, if my stories can motivate you then sometimes I think it's important for me to really TRY to motivate you!
Today is motivation day, baby....
Many of you look to this blog for motivation on your weight loss. How's that going for you, by the way? Are you still chugging along, losing those pounds? OR...are you stuck...hit a plateau...lost your drive?
Well, here's my challenge to you...........
CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Yep...that's right...an open ended challenge. No specific motivation from me today. YOU do it. Figure out some kind of challenge for your own personal weight loss and fitness goals and then get on it! I've joined a 500 mile challenge. Sounds nuts, right? It is, a little, but I'm doing it, and so are several other people...only one of whom I've ever met in "real" life. See the rest of them are bloggers, or readers of blogs. We've all come together for Ashli's 500 mile challenge. Walk it or run it, but the challenge is 500 miles in a year. I have a "widget" to the right that shows my progress. It shows you what I've done most recently and then my "lifetime" mileage.
That 500 mile challenge is motivating me and totally challenging me. I'm in that push to get under 200, so I'm working out a lot. I'm watching my food intake and trying to really burn a LOT of calories every day. But that 500 mile challenge motivates me even further.
For example, I record lots of stuff on the DVR...and laying on the couch watching those shows doesn't burn calories. BUT, walking a couple of miles on the treadmill WHILE I'm watching sure does! And those calories add up, baby...they totally add up!
So find something to challenge yourself. Maybe you challenge yourself to get up 30 minutes earlier 3 days a week and take a 30 minute walk. Maybe you challenge yourself to use that gym membership that has been coming out of your checking account every month even though you haven't set foot in the place in 2 months. Maybe you walk your kids to school instead of driving.
Whatever it is, challenge YOURSELF. Let's face it, folks...the holidays are coming up, and for me, that is NOT the easiest time to lose weight...or even MAINTAIN. But this year, status quo on holiday eating is NOT going to bring me down. Oh, no...this year it's a brand new game baby, and I'm gonna be my own starting quarterback!
Go forth....and CHALLENGE YOURSELF!
(...and PLEASE...post a comment and let me know what YOUR challenge is! If anyone is interested in the 500 mile challenge, post a comment and I'll get you the link)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Time Marches On...Are You Marching or Standing Still?
A year ago I was, quite frankly, a mess. I was a complete wreck...physically and emotionally. Everything came to a head one night after hitting the wine trail with some friends. A great friend...an old friend...had come along as my "date". After departing the drunk bus, we headed to McDonald's for some grub before heading home. She was staying the night to avoid the drive home, so we knew we'd have some good "girlfriend gab" time. It was just what I needed.
See, I think you have some friends that are surface friends. They see what's on the surface and don't dig any deeper. If you say you're fine...then you're fine and everyone moves on. Then there are those "below the surface" friends. Those are the ones that hear "I'm a friggin' mess" when you say "I'm fine" and they DIG...they dig deep baby, 'cause that's the kind of friend they are, and they WANT to help.
Debbie is a "below the surface" friend. We've seen each other through job changes, births, marriage troubles, family troubles, death, and just about any other miserable thing one can endure. Let me say...for the record...Debbie isn't my only "below the surface" friend. I am blessed to have several. But, she was there that night, and she did the digging that led to my return to life.
We started talking about the past 8-9 months. So much had happened in my life...Schuyler (my nephew) was killed in Afghanistan...my Mom died unexpectedly...physically I was a mess on a whole other level. My weight had increased to probably the highest it had ever been. I was severely depressed but hadn't admitted it to myself. But Debbie asked...she asked how I was.
"Fine...doing ok."
"No, REALLY...how are you DOING?" (this is digging deeper)
I thought about that and ended up breaking down completely. I lost it. I was not fine and it was time to face that.
Debbie and I talked at length that night. Maybe it was having a trusted friend...maybe it was the wine...maybe it was just time...or maybe it was a combination of all of these. But this would end up being the night that changed everything. Debbie encouraged me to talk to someone about medication. She got me to admit that I was depressed...really, really depressed. And she got me to realize that it wasn't getting any better as time went on, but actually getting progressively worse. She helped me realize that I needed help in getting out of the fog.
So, I ended up taking Lexapro to help me deal with the depression. Thankfully that worked really well for me and helped me climb out of the hole that I was stuck in. I made it through the holidays...those first holidays without Schuyler and Mom. I made it to January 2010...a new year and hopefully a happier year.
And what a happier year it's been. Life isn't without sadness...nobody should expect that. But, I have found that HOW you deal with those disappointing or sad times makes a world of difference. I'm not the eternal optimist, but I do try to see something good even in the most difficult of situations. I am trying to look at the simple things in my life that bring me happiness. The year after Schuyler and Mom died there was a LOT of family time...LOTS and LOTS....and those were really happy, really comforting times. The 6 hour drive to visit "home" isn't such a "task" anymore, but a destination where fun times and memories are being made.
Mid-January I decided that my mental health was on the right track so it was time to get my physical heath in check as well. I started this "Fit By Forty" journey, and honestly, I would NEVER have imagined I would be where I am today. In January I weighed 265 pounds. I was wearing a 22/24 and XXL shirt. I THOUGHT I felt pretty good. Then I started losing the weight. Initially I set small goals...at 265 my goal was to be in the 250's. At 259, my goal was to be in the 240's...and so on.
Here I am...the end of September and beating down the door to under 200! I am at 203 as of this morning. I am wearing a 16 jean comfortably, and a 14 is button-able and zippable, but not comfortable! YET. I buy Large shirts. My shoe size has even gotten smaller! From a 9.5 EE to a 8.5 B.
But, the best thing about all this isn't the numbers. It is how I FEEL. I feel energized. I want to go DO something...not just lay low. I am active...I am happy...I am fit.
Life is good.
So, this brings me to the title..."Time Marches On...Are You Marching or Standing Still?".
I was totally standing still in 2009. But 2010? Oh, in 2010 I'm Marching...I'm leading-the-band marching....and it feels GREAT.
Life is hard...nobody should expect it not to be. But how you deal with those curve balls you're thrown will make a HUGE difference in whether or not you march or stand still.
Maybe life is like living in the jungle...the weak, injured animal that stays still is going to be the one to get eaten by the mighty lion. It's OK to be weak and injured, just don't stay still for too long so that the lion has to go elsewhere for his dinner.
L
See, I think you have some friends that are surface friends. They see what's on the surface and don't dig any deeper. If you say you're fine...then you're fine and everyone moves on. Then there are those "below the surface" friends. Those are the ones that hear "I'm a friggin' mess" when you say "I'm fine" and they DIG...they dig deep baby, 'cause that's the kind of friend they are, and they WANT to help.
Debbie is a "below the surface" friend. We've seen each other through job changes, births, marriage troubles, family troubles, death, and just about any other miserable thing one can endure. Let me say...for the record...Debbie isn't my only "below the surface" friend. I am blessed to have several. But, she was there that night, and she did the digging that led to my return to life.
We started talking about the past 8-9 months. So much had happened in my life...Schuyler (my nephew) was killed in Afghanistan...my Mom died unexpectedly...physically I was a mess on a whole other level. My weight had increased to probably the highest it had ever been. I was severely depressed but hadn't admitted it to myself. But Debbie asked...she asked how I was.
"Fine...doing ok."
"No, REALLY...how are you DOING?" (this is digging deeper)
I thought about that and ended up breaking down completely. I lost it. I was not fine and it was time to face that.
Debbie and I talked at length that night. Maybe it was having a trusted friend...maybe it was the wine...maybe it was just time...or maybe it was a combination of all of these. But this would end up being the night that changed everything. Debbie encouraged me to talk to someone about medication. She got me to admit that I was depressed...really, really depressed. And she got me to realize that it wasn't getting any better as time went on, but actually getting progressively worse. She helped me realize that I needed help in getting out of the fog.
So, I ended up taking Lexapro to help me deal with the depression. Thankfully that worked really well for me and helped me climb out of the hole that I was stuck in. I made it through the holidays...those first holidays without Schuyler and Mom. I made it to January 2010...a new year and hopefully a happier year.
And what a happier year it's been. Life isn't without sadness...nobody should expect that. But, I have found that HOW you deal with those disappointing or sad times makes a world of difference. I'm not the eternal optimist, but I do try to see something good even in the most difficult of situations. I am trying to look at the simple things in my life that bring me happiness. The year after Schuyler and Mom died there was a LOT of family time...LOTS and LOTS....and those were really happy, really comforting times. The 6 hour drive to visit "home" isn't such a "task" anymore, but a destination where fun times and memories are being made.
Mid-January I decided that my mental health was on the right track so it was time to get my physical heath in check as well. I started this "Fit By Forty" journey, and honestly, I would NEVER have imagined I would be where I am today. In January I weighed 265 pounds. I was wearing a 22/24 and XXL shirt. I THOUGHT I felt pretty good. Then I started losing the weight. Initially I set small goals...at 265 my goal was to be in the 250's. At 259, my goal was to be in the 240's...and so on.
Here I am...the end of September and beating down the door to under 200! I am at 203 as of this morning. I am wearing a 16 jean comfortably, and a 14 is button-able and zippable, but not comfortable! YET. I buy Large shirts. My shoe size has even gotten smaller! From a 9.5 EE to a 8.5 B.
But, the best thing about all this isn't the numbers. It is how I FEEL. I feel energized. I want to go DO something...not just lay low. I am active...I am happy...I am fit.
Life is good.
So, this brings me to the title..."Time Marches On...Are You Marching or Standing Still?".
I was totally standing still in 2009. But 2010? Oh, in 2010 I'm Marching...I'm leading-the-band marching....and it feels GREAT.
Life is hard...nobody should expect it not to be. But how you deal with those curve balls you're thrown will make a HUGE difference in whether or not you march or stand still.
Maybe life is like living in the jungle...the weak, injured animal that stays still is going to be the one to get eaten by the mighty lion. It's OK to be weak and injured, just don't stay still for too long so that the lion has to go elsewhere for his dinner.
L
Thursday, September 23, 2010
An Update
It has been a fair amount of time since my last post, and for that I apologize. Like everyone else, life has been crazy and I just haven't taken the time to write. So, here's what's been going on in my "diet world".
I bought a treadmill and have been using it a LOT! I am using Daily Mile to track my mileage because another blog that I read is doing a "500 miles in a year" thing and I need to be able to easily keep track of the miles I'm putting in each week. Hubby got wireless headphones, which are totally cool because I can watch something on the DVR and crank it way up so that I can hear it while running and not worry about waking the kids up! Sweet! Loving that! I ran/walked a 5K this morning on the treadmill...my burns this week have been really great (very high).
I hit 205 this week...so close to finally under 200! So, it is time to get back to business and get those pounds OFF! I have not been logging my food in the program for a while. I am paying attention to what I eat, and hitting my burn target, but I have not been logging/weighing/measuring like I was before. Granted, the number on the scale is going DOWN, so I'm not too worried, but it's going slower than before, so I think that it's time to get back to business to get it to move a little faster.
Today I logged my food for the first time in quite a while. I logged just under 1800, which is my target, so I think I'm doing pretty well keeping that running total in my head daily. When I hit 190, that will be 75 pounds gone. Then I'm going to ease up on logging the food and settle in to a slower pace for weight LOSS through the rest of the year. HOWEVER...IF I gain, it's back to logging the food. I think I can manage fine (if the past several weeks are any indication) but I love the fact that the Body Bugg gives me that tool, should I need it. It also gives me the flexibility of not logging the food and still being able to use the burn numbers to gauge where I'm at.
So, in a nutshell, that's where I'm at. I bought a pair of size 14 jeans this week. I started this wearing 22/24's. I bought the 14's because they were a great deal ($15) and was pleasantly surprised that not only could I get them on, but I could button AND zip them! Granted, I wouldn't want to wear them for a LONG time, because they were TIGHT, but I got them on and in 10 pounds, I'm totally rockin' those babies!
Keeping my eye on under 200!
Lori
I bought a treadmill and have been using it a LOT! I am using Daily Mile to track my mileage because another blog that I read is doing a "500 miles in a year" thing and I need to be able to easily keep track of the miles I'm putting in each week. Hubby got wireless headphones, which are totally cool because I can watch something on the DVR and crank it way up so that I can hear it while running and not worry about waking the kids up! Sweet! Loving that! I ran/walked a 5K this morning on the treadmill...my burns this week have been really great (very high).
I hit 205 this week...so close to finally under 200! So, it is time to get back to business and get those pounds OFF! I have not been logging my food in the program for a while. I am paying attention to what I eat, and hitting my burn target, but I have not been logging/weighing/measuring like I was before. Granted, the number on the scale is going DOWN, so I'm not too worried, but it's going slower than before, so I think that it's time to get back to business to get it to move a little faster.
Today I logged my food for the first time in quite a while. I logged just under 1800, which is my target, so I think I'm doing pretty well keeping that running total in my head daily. When I hit 190, that will be 75 pounds gone. Then I'm going to ease up on logging the food and settle in to a slower pace for weight LOSS through the rest of the year. HOWEVER...IF I gain, it's back to logging the food. I think I can manage fine (if the past several weeks are any indication) but I love the fact that the Body Bugg gives me that tool, should I need it. It also gives me the flexibility of not logging the food and still being able to use the burn numbers to gauge where I'm at.
So, in a nutshell, that's where I'm at. I bought a pair of size 14 jeans this week. I started this wearing 22/24's. I bought the 14's because they were a great deal ($15) and was pleasantly surprised that not only could I get them on, but I could button AND zip them! Granted, I wouldn't want to wear them for a LONG time, because they were TIGHT, but I got them on and in 10 pounds, I'm totally rockin' those babies!
Keeping my eye on under 200!
Lori
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Race
On Saturday, September 4th I participated in a 4 mile road race in my hometown of Kewanee, IL. I was hoping to finish the race in under an hour...preferably without dying.
I finished. I so totally finished. I finished in 46 minutes and some odd seconds. That's a little under a 12 minute mile. HOLY MOLY.
Push yourself...strive for something a little outside of your comfort zone. You will be amazed at how amazing you feel when you accomplish that thing you pushed for.
Here are a couple of tips I figured out at my first ever organized race.
I finished. I so totally finished. I finished in 46 minutes and some odd seconds. That's a little under a 12 minute mile. HOLY MOLY.
Push yourself...strive for something a little outside of your comfort zone. You will be amazed at how amazing you feel when you accomplish that thing you pushed for.
Here are a couple of tips I figured out at my first ever organized race.
- If the race provides a chip for your shoe for "official" times, attach the chip HIGHER (toward your ankle) instead of lower, toward your toes. Why, you ask? Well, it is possible that the chip will wedge in your shoe in a spot and press down on your toe, causing your big toe (maybe even the one on your right foot) to go totally numb. (Can you tell I learned this from experience???)
- Don't get frustrated when what seems like the entire field of participants passes you before the first 1/2 mile! I was really getting bummed out, but I ran at my own pace, and finished in about 12 minutes less than I had guessed. Don't get frustrated...you're out there...you're doing it. Who cares of you're the last one to cross the line? You crossed it...that's more than most people can say!
- The race packet includes a bib (participant #) and 4 safety pins. Hey, guess what Einstein...they give you 4 pins for a reason. It's irritating if while you're running the bib flys up and hits ya in the face if you were too stupid to pin it at the bottom...I'm just sayin'...
- Some rockin' music is a great asset you respond to that kind of stuff...just make sure your headphones are secure (as in maybe UNDER your shirt) otherwise they're gonna get tangled in your hands and nothin' hurts like ripping the ear bud outta your ear several times!
And, most of all, have fun. Give yourself some credit...you're doing it. You're rockin' it!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Compliments
Compliments are nice, but not everyone knows how to take one. I'm one of those people. I never have been able to take a compliment. I usually pop back with some smart assed retort to make comedy out of the situation. Not a good thing, but just the way I am.
I've had a lot of compliments lately, so that whole thing has gotten really strange for me! People are noticing that I've lot a lot of weight, and comments are being made about that...people notice, then they compliment, then they ask how I'm doing it.
I'm really trying to get better at accepting a compliment and not get embarrassed. Yesterday, a friend's husband saw me, didn't really recognize me (I had sunglasses on) and then when I took them off, he came over, gave me a huge hug, and grabbed my ass. Now, this may seem shocking to some, but I am not the kind of person that this is going to offend, nor is my husband. And, this friend is not the kind of guy you'd be shocked at for doing something like that! It's just the way he is...and I'm ok with that! Hell, that's one of the reasons I like him!
Well, my face went BEET RED when it happened! It's nice to be recognized for my hard work, but some times it's just embarrassing!
Moving on...we're at the football game a few hours later. Jeff was talking to someone else and I was distracted and BAM...outta no where some guy is hugging me and grabbing my ass. Two times in one day? What the.... Well, it was one of our best friends, and again, this is not unusual behavior for him, so it's all good.
Maybe now I should start feeling like a hot momma....but I'm not quite ready for that.
Moving on to today. It's girls' breakfast...a little gathering of some of the gals for breakfast after the kids go to school. We sit, talk, eat, talk, talk...talk....it's just a nice time for all of us. One of the gals that lives in the neighborhood tell me that her son, who graduated high school in May recently said to her something to the effect of "That Lori Martin is starting to look HOT".
OH
MY
GOD
OK, now THAT one...well, that one takes the rice cake, folks! That completely cracks me up, and probably flatters me more than 2 good male friends giving me their "swat" of approval. Wow...seriously? Hot...me??? Oh my...now, that is flattering!
I hope you all have a flattering weekend, filled with plenty of compliments that you gracefully accept!
I've had a lot of compliments lately, so that whole thing has gotten really strange for me! People are noticing that I've lot a lot of weight, and comments are being made about that...people notice, then they compliment, then they ask how I'm doing it.
I'm really trying to get better at accepting a compliment and not get embarrassed. Yesterday, a friend's husband saw me, didn't really recognize me (I had sunglasses on) and then when I took them off, he came over, gave me a huge hug, and grabbed my ass. Now, this may seem shocking to some, but I am not the kind of person that this is going to offend, nor is my husband. And, this friend is not the kind of guy you'd be shocked at for doing something like that! It's just the way he is...and I'm ok with that! Hell, that's one of the reasons I like him!
Well, my face went BEET RED when it happened! It's nice to be recognized for my hard work, but some times it's just embarrassing!
Moving on...we're at the football game a few hours later. Jeff was talking to someone else and I was distracted and BAM...outta no where some guy is hugging me and grabbing my ass. Two times in one day? What the.... Well, it was one of our best friends, and again, this is not unusual behavior for him, so it's all good.
Maybe now I should start feeling like a hot momma....but I'm not quite ready for that.
Moving on to today. It's girls' breakfast...a little gathering of some of the gals for breakfast after the kids go to school. We sit, talk, eat, talk, talk...talk....it's just a nice time for all of us. One of the gals that lives in the neighborhood tell me that her son, who graduated high school in May recently said to her something to the effect of "That Lori Martin is starting to look HOT".
OH
MY
GOD
OK, now THAT one...well, that one takes the rice cake, folks! That completely cracks me up, and probably flatters me more than 2 good male friends giving me their "swat" of approval. Wow...seriously? Hot...me??? Oh my...now, that is flattering!
I hope you all have a flattering weekend, filled with plenty of compliments that you gracefully accept!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Competition Moves
My gym recently had a "Biggest Loser Couples" type contest. I talked Jeff into entering. I'm not sure why, because honestly, I didn't really like the first individual one I did, so I have no clue why I wanted to do another one. Temporary insanity, probably.
Let me clarify...I didn't like the first one just because I felt so restricted. Restricted by the competition. If I wanted to indulge in a glass of wine or whatever...no freaking way...I'm in the competition. And, I need another scheduled weekly event like I need a huge chocolate bar on my kitchen counter. THAT is why I didn't enjoy the first one.
So, off we go for 8 weeks of competition. Here's where I must confess. I am competitive...just a little. But the hubby...well, he's got some serious competition moves...he's gonna take you down, no matter who you are. He's competitive. And, after 15 years of wedded bliss...I know this about the man, so who better to team up to lose some weight and win some prize money...right?
Ugh...did I mention I don't like restriction???
He was good...oh, so good. No drinking...no eating badly. He dropped his daily caloric intake down to something less than it takes to keep normal humans alive. But he's in competition mode, so he's all over it. He's dropping pounds left and right. I'm just humming along like usual. I'm losing weight slow and steady, but I've done my kamikaze time and I'm ready for a little tortoise living. Slow and steady, baby....slow and steady.
Then we were out of town for a week for work. He was still good. I got enough exercise, but I ate and sometimes not the best choices. It's a crazy week and there were nights that if I didn't grab a slice or two of pizza then I wasn't eating, and as we've covered here before...I NEED to eat. If I don't, I'm gonna binge. Then, there was a dinner meeting...business stuff...you know. Yeah, well, red wine. That's all I'm saying on that matter.
So then we get back from that and we have 2 weeks of competition left. Time to dig deep, get serious, and see if we can win this thing. The team in 1st place was losing at a nice steady rate. We did the math and it was gonna take some serious commitment from us and some slacking from them. Commitment I can do...the other team slacking was looking doubtful.
Well, the day of the final weigh in, the husband on the 1st place team gained .5 pounds. Jeff and I both lost again, and that put us over the top. It was CLOSE...way close! They lost 6.65% and we lost 6.99% of our combined body weights. WOW...that was really close!
And now, we're out of competition, so I can get back to my wicked ways! I say that very tongue-in-cheek, folks. What I mean is that if I want to have something that's not particularly diet-friendly, I'm going to have it, but I'm going to have to get back on track with my eating and work out a little more to compensate for eating something more caloric than normal.
We took the kids to the state fair. I had some of Avery's snow cone...a fried tenderloin...some of the kids ribbon fries...some of Avery's ice cream...and a bunch of other fair food junk that I normally would not eat. My burn that day was high due to exercising and then walking all over the fairgrounds. But I don't even want to venture a guess as to how many calories I ate that night! But you know what? That's OK...and it's only OK because on Sunday, I went back to clean and healthier eating choices. I ran 4 miles. I did not let that one extravagance define my downfall. It was just a choice I made that day and then I got back on track the next day.
That's where success lies...it's not in NEVER falling off the wagon; It's dusting yourself off and getting right back on it the next day.
If you've been doing less than you expect from yourself lately, tomorrow is the day...make tomorrow the day that you re-commit to your goals and to yourself. Getting healthy is something we all deserve. Tomorrow is YOUR day!
Let me clarify...I didn't like the first one just because I felt so restricted. Restricted by the competition. If I wanted to indulge in a glass of wine or whatever...no freaking way...I'm in the competition. And, I need another scheduled weekly event like I need a huge chocolate bar on my kitchen counter. THAT is why I didn't enjoy the first one.
So, off we go for 8 weeks of competition. Here's where I must confess. I am competitive...just a little. But the hubby...well, he's got some serious competition moves...he's gonna take you down, no matter who you are. He's competitive. And, after 15 years of wedded bliss...I know this about the man, so who better to team up to lose some weight and win some prize money...right?
Ugh...did I mention I don't like restriction???
He was good...oh, so good. No drinking...no eating badly. He dropped his daily caloric intake down to something less than it takes to keep normal humans alive. But he's in competition mode, so he's all over it. He's dropping pounds left and right. I'm just humming along like usual. I'm losing weight slow and steady, but I've done my kamikaze time and I'm ready for a little tortoise living. Slow and steady, baby....slow and steady.
Then we were out of town for a week for work. He was still good. I got enough exercise, but I ate and sometimes not the best choices. It's a crazy week and there were nights that if I didn't grab a slice or two of pizza then I wasn't eating, and as we've covered here before...I NEED to eat. If I don't, I'm gonna binge. Then, there was a dinner meeting...business stuff...you know. Yeah, well, red wine. That's all I'm saying on that matter.
So then we get back from that and we have 2 weeks of competition left. Time to dig deep, get serious, and see if we can win this thing. The team in 1st place was losing at a nice steady rate. We did the math and it was gonna take some serious commitment from us and some slacking from them. Commitment I can do...the other team slacking was looking doubtful.
Well, the day of the final weigh in, the husband on the 1st place team gained .5 pounds. Jeff and I both lost again, and that put us over the top. It was CLOSE...way close! They lost 6.65% and we lost 6.99% of our combined body weights. WOW...that was really close!
And now, we're out of competition, so I can get back to my wicked ways! I say that very tongue-in-cheek, folks. What I mean is that if I want to have something that's not particularly diet-friendly, I'm going to have it, but I'm going to have to get back on track with my eating and work out a little more to compensate for eating something more caloric than normal.
We took the kids to the state fair. I had some of Avery's snow cone...a fried tenderloin...some of the kids ribbon fries...some of Avery's ice cream...and a bunch of other fair food junk that I normally would not eat. My burn that day was high due to exercising and then walking all over the fairgrounds. But I don't even want to venture a guess as to how many calories I ate that night! But you know what? That's OK...and it's only OK because on Sunday, I went back to clean and healthier eating choices. I ran 4 miles. I did not let that one extravagance define my downfall. It was just a choice I made that day and then I got back on track the next day.
That's where success lies...it's not in NEVER falling off the wagon; It's dusting yourself off and getting right back on it the next day.
If you've been doing less than you expect from yourself lately, tomorrow is the day...make tomorrow the day that you re-commit to your goals and to yourself. Getting healthy is something we all deserve. Tomorrow is YOUR day!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Who Needs A Bugg?
Recently I was out of town for a little over a week for a yearly convention that I go to due to my job. I see many of the people only once a year at this convention. These are the folks that REALLY noticed my weight loss.
And you know what happens when someone notices weight loss...the question is going to get asked! "How did you do it?".
Oh, how I hate that question, because EVERY single time I've given the answer (the TRUTHFUL answer) I can see the disappointment and let-down on their face. They were hoping for an easy, quick fix to the problem. Here's how it goes:
"Wow...you look incredible. You've lost a lot of weight."
Me: "Thanks, yeah, I've lost a little over 50 pounds."
"Wow...how did you do it?"
Me: "Exercise and watching what I eat."
"oh"
Ha ha...it's sad, but true! They're looking for the easy fix. I often tell them about the Body Bugg and how it has helped turn weight loss into fairly simple math for me. This often leads to someone pondering if they, too should purchase one of these Body Bugg things.
Which leads me to my post title...Who Needs A Bugg?
Here's the thing...I don't think everyone needs one, because it's not going to work for everyone. That's right...I said it...it WILL NOT WORK for everyone. There is one simple reason for that statement...everyone will not work it, so it will not work for them.
Huh?
I think that in order for the Body Bugg to work for YOU, you need to be ready for the Body Bugg. I think that you need to start and stick to an exercise program. You should get 30 minutes of exercise 3 times per week MORE than what you've currently been doing. So, if you're doing nothing, then exercise 3 times per week for 30 minutes each time. If, however, you've been doing two 20 minute walks during your lunch hour each week, do not count this towards your 30 minutes 3 times per week goal. The 30 minutes, 3 times per week are IN ADDITION to what you're currently doing.
Then, I think for the Body Bugg to work for you, you also need to keep a food log for at least a month. In January, when this all started for me, I HATED the entire concept of the food log. What a freaking WASTE of my time, I thought. Well, folks, it works. Because if you're going to have to write it down, you're going to think twice about it. So, keep that little notebook with you and start writing it all down.
If you can do those 2 things for a month or two, then I really believe that the Body Bugg WILL work for you. It will help you speed up that weight loss and see results. It will help you get through those plateaus. And finally, one day, it will help you MAINTAIN your weight loss and keep it off for good. Here's why I believe in this so firmly. For the Bugg to really work, you have to be accurate. You have to accurately log in what you consume during the day. If you can't make that work with a notebook, you're never going to be faithful to getting on the computer and doing it. Also, if you can't get your butt to the gym or outside or whatever a few times a week, no weight loss program is going to work for you. Body Bugg has shown me that weight loss is simple math:
Calories Burned - Calories Consumed = Weight Loss (or sadly, weight gain)
So, if you cannot exercise and get that calorie burn target in every day, it's just not going to work. The other amazing thing that the Bugg showed me is that you don't have to hit the gym to get to that burn target. On the days I wasn't going to make it to the gym I took the dog for an extra walk (or two), parked at the far end of the parking lot and walked the store browsing while I shopped, I went up and down our steps several times to get a few more calories burned...I learned to do whatever it took to get to that burn target.
I don't think that Body Bugg will work for anyone, but I do think that if you're serious about taking the steps to weight loss that the BB requires for success then it will work for you. I tell people all the time that if they can add some exercise and log their food intake for a month and stick to it, then they should buy one. If you've spent that month doing what it takes to succeed with the Body Bugg then once the device arrives you're well on your way to a success story!
And you know what happens when someone notices weight loss...the question is going to get asked! "How did you do it?".
Oh, how I hate that question, because EVERY single time I've given the answer (the TRUTHFUL answer) I can see the disappointment and let-down on their face. They were hoping for an easy, quick fix to the problem. Here's how it goes:
"Wow...you look incredible. You've lost a lot of weight."
Me: "Thanks, yeah, I've lost a little over 50 pounds."
"Wow...how did you do it?"
Me: "Exercise and watching what I eat."
"oh"
Ha ha...it's sad, but true! They're looking for the easy fix. I often tell them about the Body Bugg and how it has helped turn weight loss into fairly simple math for me. This often leads to someone pondering if they, too should purchase one of these Body Bugg things.
Which leads me to my post title...Who Needs A Bugg?
Here's the thing...I don't think everyone needs one, because it's not going to work for everyone. That's right...I said it...it WILL NOT WORK for everyone. There is one simple reason for that statement...everyone will not work it, so it will not work for them.
Huh?
I think that in order for the Body Bugg to work for YOU, you need to be ready for the Body Bugg. I think that you need to start and stick to an exercise program. You should get 30 minutes of exercise 3 times per week MORE than what you've currently been doing. So, if you're doing nothing, then exercise 3 times per week for 30 minutes each time. If, however, you've been doing two 20 minute walks during your lunch hour each week, do not count this towards your 30 minutes 3 times per week goal. The 30 minutes, 3 times per week are IN ADDITION to what you're currently doing.
Then, I think for the Body Bugg to work for you, you also need to keep a food log for at least a month. In January, when this all started for me, I HATED the entire concept of the food log. What a freaking WASTE of my time, I thought. Well, folks, it works. Because if you're going to have to write it down, you're going to think twice about it. So, keep that little notebook with you and start writing it all down.
If you can do those 2 things for a month or two, then I really believe that the Body Bugg WILL work for you. It will help you speed up that weight loss and see results. It will help you get through those plateaus. And finally, one day, it will help you MAINTAIN your weight loss and keep it off for good. Here's why I believe in this so firmly. For the Bugg to really work, you have to be accurate. You have to accurately log in what you consume during the day. If you can't make that work with a notebook, you're never going to be faithful to getting on the computer and doing it. Also, if you can't get your butt to the gym or outside or whatever a few times a week, no weight loss program is going to work for you. Body Bugg has shown me that weight loss is simple math:
Calories Burned - Calories Consumed = Weight Loss (or sadly, weight gain)
So, if you cannot exercise and get that calorie burn target in every day, it's just not going to work. The other amazing thing that the Bugg showed me is that you don't have to hit the gym to get to that burn target. On the days I wasn't going to make it to the gym I took the dog for an extra walk (or two), parked at the far end of the parking lot and walked the store browsing while I shopped, I went up and down our steps several times to get a few more calories burned...I learned to do whatever it took to get to that burn target.
I don't think that Body Bugg will work for anyone, but I do think that if you're serious about taking the steps to weight loss that the BB requires for success then it will work for you. I tell people all the time that if they can add some exercise and log their food intake for a month and stick to it, then they should buy one. If you've spent that month doing what it takes to succeed with the Body Bugg then once the device arrives you're well on your way to a success story!
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