To me, the New Year always seems like a fresh canvas must seem to an artist....
...a spot where ANYTHING can happen...it's just up to YOU, the artist to make that first swipe of the brush and see where it leads you...
I knew a few things would happen right away with my fresh canvas. First of all, my 2010 canvas' final masterpiece featured the loss of 70 pounds. So, with the new canvas begins the journey to lose an additional 30. The first step in this journey for ME is to put the Body Bugg back on, create a new program, and get back to what WORKS for ME. And as such, on January 1 I charged the Bugg back up, created the new program, and put it back on my left arm. I didn't log food on the 1st. I like to take baby steps! (Plus, we were having ham and beans, and I just didn't want to go there!) But today, once I had eaten breakfast (which, of course, was carefully MEASURED) I logged into the site and entered my food.
Step one of my 2011 canvas complete...
But, logging one meal isn't the finished product. Now I have to plan meals again, and choose what I'm going to eat based on how many calories I want to spend for that meal. Probably sounds like a pain, right? Well, it is, a bit, but once you get used to it, it's really not bad at all. And, I can tell you for SURE...the pain and inconvenience of logging food is NOTHING compared to the pain and inconvenience of lugging around an extra 70 pounds. FOR SURE.
And in the spirit of baby steps, I am changing one thing a week (or so). I followed this thought process last year, and will do do again. So, this week, I am changing my water consumption. That's right, I'm going to drink 8 glasses a day every day this week. Once the week is over (in my experience) it's become more of a habit than a chore, and I am a firm believer that water consumption is a HUGE help in weight loss. I have my bottle of smart water...it's a 20 oz. bottle. I drank the initial bottle and have filled it from the fridge once. So, I'm well on my way. Now, I know that the recommendation is 64 ounces, so drinking 8 of these bottles is MORE than enough. I'm aiming for 5 bottles full...that's 100 oz. and that's good for me.
Environmentalists, do not despair! I open ONE bottle per day and refill it. Yeah, I know I should use a washable bottle and all that, but I'm all about baby steps, remember? So I put ONE bottle per day into the trash. It could be 5, so I'm making a baby step there! Work with me....
Readers (if there are any of you out there) I challenge you to get back to basics, whatever that is for you. If you don't know what works for you yet, figure it out! There are tons of great weight loss "assistants" out there...these things will assist you in succeeding. You can do it. Change ONE thing this week...cut your soda consumption in half...go for 3 walks for 30 minutes each....stop eating fast food....just DO SOMETHING! Trust me when I say that these small changes will add up to BIG RESULTS in the end. If one a week is too much, change one thing every two weeks...you can do it!
~Lori~
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Bugg Year in Review...
Even though it hasn't been a full year, I thought that now is a good time to reflect on the my use of the Body Bugg. This blog post actually came about because I was responding to a thread on the BB Message board and got logged out. So, I thought perhaps I should come on over here, say my peace, and then get my booty on the treadmill!
So, this post is geared to anyone curious about the Body Bugg. Maybe you've recently purchased one, maybe Santa is bringing you one, maybe you bought one and haven't used it, or maybe you're contemplating the purchase. Regardless of your Body Bugg state of mind, I hope you find this post informative and helpful.
It's helpful to know a bit of back story, so here goes:
I started dieting on 1/15/2010. I had hit 265 pounds and after seeing 400 pound people on the Biggest Loser workout like insane people, run, and drop weight like crazy, I thought to myself, maybe I can drop a few pounds and get some distance between me and 300 pounds. With my 40th birthday looming in the distance (2012) I figured that was as good of a time as any. So off I went!
First, I joined a women's only gym. This is a fitness center in my town that offers cardio machines, classes, personal training, and spa services. I joined the gym and decided that a once-per-week session with a personal trainer might benefit me. Much to the trainer's disappointment, when asked for my "goal" weight, I said I'd like to be in the 250's.
She did not like this..."No, really....what's your GOAL weight?"
"I want to get into the 250's. At 259, we'll talk again."
I wasn't going to budge. I wanted small, manageable goals that I could fairly easily attain. I refused to put a huge goal on myself. She even tried me to say "I want to get under 200" but I refused. I wanted to get into the 250's.
In February my husband could see I was really interested in the Body Bugg, after seeing it on the Biggest Loser contestants. I had done lots of Internet research and really felt that this device might be a HUGE game changer for my weight loss. "Order it for your birthday if you REALLY want it" he said.
So I did. And that's honestly when EVERYTHING about weight loss changed for me.
I hit my "in the 250's" goal...then I hit the "in the 240's" goal, and so on. And now here I sit today, at 195. I'm not done yet. I have a new goal...any guesses?
Yeah, I want to be in the 180's.
But, right now, for the rest of this year, I'm content to celebrate what I HAVE done this year. I have lost 70 pounds. I have gone from wearing a 22/24 to a 14. I no longer buy 2X shirts...I buy a Large. I can run. I am stronger. I am healthier. And, amazingly enough, I am happier.
So, to new Body Bugg users asking "can I do this"...I have but one thing to say to you. ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY!!! You can and you will...but I do have a few tips for you.
1. Be honest. The BB will keep you honest on how much exercise you're doing, but for the BB to really work, you MUST be honest with the food. Buy a food scale and weigh/measure as often as you can. After a while, you will KNOW what 1/2 cup of cottage cheese looks like, but for a while weigh and measure everything. I know it's a pain, but seriously, it will make a HUGE difference.
2. Avoid eating out at restaurants as much as possible at first. You can control what you eat at home, but it's so easy to go overboard in a restaurant. If you must eat out, educate yourself BEFORE you go. You can get on the Internet and find "good" choices at restaurants. Make sure you STICK to that choice once you get there. Don't add in an appetizer or load a salad with dressing. KNOW how that meal is going to factor into your daily calorie target and adjust other meals accordingly. My personal favs are Subway and Applebee's.
3. Exercise! It seems obvious, but you have to exercise. The trick is to not look at "exercise" as being in a gym or on a machine. Small changes can make a huge difference. When I go to a store or the mall, I park WAY out in the lot. (unless it's bad weather) That extra walk will add up! A lot of my weight was lost by walking. In the evening if you're short on calories burned and/or high on calories consumed, walk in your HOUSE! If you have multiple levels, go up and down the stairs several times. Reset the "trip" meter and do the stairs or walk around until you hit 100 calories. Do step-ups. March in place. Do something!
4. Get support! I think that one of the most helpful things for me was having support. My hubby and kids knew I was trying so hard to eat healthy and exercise. They sometimes complained about a trip to the gym or dinner choices, but most of the time they knew that they needed to help and not complaining was a huge help. Friends also knew my struggles so they didn't sabotage me. I also got support from the BB Message Board. Find those sources of support and turn to them when you're struggling.
5. Set manageable goals! Obviously I'm not a long-term kinda gal! Had someone told me in January that I would lose 70 pounds I would have laughed in their face. However, by slowly chipping away at it, that mountain of 70 pounds became possible. I'm sure some people do well with big long-term plans, but not me! I needed small manageable goals that I could hit and then celebrate the success and then move on to the next goal. Just don't celebrate with cheesecake!
6. Speaking of cheesecake.....I think it's important to not deny yourself ANYTHING. That's right...I said ANYTHING. Now, sometimes when faced with the choice of eating something and then doing an extra 20 minutes of exercise to burn that special treat, I would CHOOSE to skip the food. But, sometimes, the food was totally worth it! And then I didn't mind that extra exercise at all. If you're going to a party or out to dinner with friends, exercise BEFORE you go and add in the extra time to burn those extra calories. I would never succeed if I thought I could NEVER have a glass of wine, some chocolate, or a nice steak again in my life. But, with the Body Bugg I can plan for that and still lose weight. That is just beautiful to me!
7. Water....lots and lots of water! Seriously. Drink a lot of water. When I was hard-core losing, I was drinking a lot of water. In addition to flushing out all that bad stuff, my skin looked great, my hair was awesome, and I felt generally better. I can tell that even right now I'm not drinking as much and I don't feel quite right. Can't stand more water? Crystal Lite packets....mix it in and drink down another serving!
8. Change ONE thing per week. Yeah, I said ONE. Hell, if that's too much, change one thing per MONTH. The point is, Rome wasn't built in a day and you're not going to conquer all of your weight loss issues in a few weeks. Start with small changes. If you drink regular soda, either switch to diet or mix 1/2 diet and 1/2 regular until you can get yourself off the regular soda. If you eat out all the time, start packing your lunch for work. Take a look at your life and make a list of the really bad habits that you have. Change one at a time into a good habit and then move on to the next one.
9. Finally, don't give UP! You're gonna have a bad day and not log food. Or, you're going to gain one week. Or you're just going to get tired of logging food and measuring and weighing, and it's all going to seem not worth it. But, stick with it...push through. Because it's not just weight we're talking about. It's health...it's your LIFE. I would've never imagined that losing those 70 pounds would make such a difference on not only my physical health, but my mental health as well. Don't get me wrong, I was happy before, but now it's a different kind of happiness. I was the 265 pound woman that was confident and happy with who I was....or that's what I told myself anyway. Now, at 195, I can tell you that I'm happier on a whole different level. I fit better into life. I can play with my kids and not get winded. I can cross my legs and not feel pain, and even look down at my muscular calf and think "wow...my legs are starting to look pretty damned good". Don't give up...your life is worth enjoying and you will be amazed at how much better you can feel.
There are probably more tips that I could share, but for now, that's it. Millions of us will make those New Years Resolutions, and plenty of those resolutions will include weight loss or lifestyle changes. Good luck to you on your journey and remember that YOU are in control!
So, this post is geared to anyone curious about the Body Bugg. Maybe you've recently purchased one, maybe Santa is bringing you one, maybe you bought one and haven't used it, or maybe you're contemplating the purchase. Regardless of your Body Bugg state of mind, I hope you find this post informative and helpful.
It's helpful to know a bit of back story, so here goes:
I started dieting on 1/15/2010. I had hit 265 pounds and after seeing 400 pound people on the Biggest Loser workout like insane people, run, and drop weight like crazy, I thought to myself, maybe I can drop a few pounds and get some distance between me and 300 pounds. With my 40th birthday looming in the distance (2012) I figured that was as good of a time as any. So off I went!
First, I joined a women's only gym. This is a fitness center in my town that offers cardio machines, classes, personal training, and spa services. I joined the gym and decided that a once-per-week session with a personal trainer might benefit me. Much to the trainer's disappointment, when asked for my "goal" weight, I said I'd like to be in the 250's.
She did not like this..."No, really....what's your GOAL weight?"
"I want to get into the 250's. At 259, we'll talk again."
I wasn't going to budge. I wanted small, manageable goals that I could fairly easily attain. I refused to put a huge goal on myself. She even tried me to say "I want to get under 200" but I refused. I wanted to get into the 250's.
In February my husband could see I was really interested in the Body Bugg, after seeing it on the Biggest Loser contestants. I had done lots of Internet research and really felt that this device might be a HUGE game changer for my weight loss. "Order it for your birthday if you REALLY want it" he said.
So I did. And that's honestly when EVERYTHING about weight loss changed for me.
I hit my "in the 250's" goal...then I hit the "in the 240's" goal, and so on. And now here I sit today, at 195. I'm not done yet. I have a new goal...any guesses?
Yeah, I want to be in the 180's.
But, right now, for the rest of this year, I'm content to celebrate what I HAVE done this year. I have lost 70 pounds. I have gone from wearing a 22/24 to a 14. I no longer buy 2X shirts...I buy a Large. I can run. I am stronger. I am healthier. And, amazingly enough, I am happier.
So, to new Body Bugg users asking "can I do this"...I have but one thing to say to you. ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY!!! You can and you will...but I do have a few tips for you.
1. Be honest. The BB will keep you honest on how much exercise you're doing, but for the BB to really work, you MUST be honest with the food. Buy a food scale and weigh/measure as often as you can. After a while, you will KNOW what 1/2 cup of cottage cheese looks like, but for a while weigh and measure everything. I know it's a pain, but seriously, it will make a HUGE difference.
2. Avoid eating out at restaurants as much as possible at first. You can control what you eat at home, but it's so easy to go overboard in a restaurant. If you must eat out, educate yourself BEFORE you go. You can get on the Internet and find "good" choices at restaurants. Make sure you STICK to that choice once you get there. Don't add in an appetizer or load a salad with dressing. KNOW how that meal is going to factor into your daily calorie target and adjust other meals accordingly. My personal favs are Subway and Applebee's.
3. Exercise! It seems obvious, but you have to exercise. The trick is to not look at "exercise" as being in a gym or on a machine. Small changes can make a huge difference. When I go to a store or the mall, I park WAY out in the lot. (unless it's bad weather) That extra walk will add up! A lot of my weight was lost by walking. In the evening if you're short on calories burned and/or high on calories consumed, walk in your HOUSE! If you have multiple levels, go up and down the stairs several times. Reset the "trip" meter and do the stairs or walk around until you hit 100 calories. Do step-ups. March in place. Do something!
4. Get support! I think that one of the most helpful things for me was having support. My hubby and kids knew I was trying so hard to eat healthy and exercise. They sometimes complained about a trip to the gym or dinner choices, but most of the time they knew that they needed to help and not complaining was a huge help. Friends also knew my struggles so they didn't sabotage me. I also got support from the BB Message Board. Find those sources of support and turn to them when you're struggling.
5. Set manageable goals! Obviously I'm not a long-term kinda gal! Had someone told me in January that I would lose 70 pounds I would have laughed in their face. However, by slowly chipping away at it, that mountain of 70 pounds became possible. I'm sure some people do well with big long-term plans, but not me! I needed small manageable goals that I could hit and then celebrate the success and then move on to the next goal. Just don't celebrate with cheesecake!
6. Speaking of cheesecake.....I think it's important to not deny yourself ANYTHING. That's right...I said ANYTHING. Now, sometimes when faced with the choice of eating something and then doing an extra 20 minutes of exercise to burn that special treat, I would CHOOSE to skip the food. But, sometimes, the food was totally worth it! And then I didn't mind that extra exercise at all. If you're going to a party or out to dinner with friends, exercise BEFORE you go and add in the extra time to burn those extra calories. I would never succeed if I thought I could NEVER have a glass of wine, some chocolate, or a nice steak again in my life. But, with the Body Bugg I can plan for that and still lose weight. That is just beautiful to me!
7. Water....lots and lots of water! Seriously. Drink a lot of water. When I was hard-core losing, I was drinking a lot of water. In addition to flushing out all that bad stuff, my skin looked great, my hair was awesome, and I felt generally better. I can tell that even right now I'm not drinking as much and I don't feel quite right. Can't stand more water? Crystal Lite packets....mix it in and drink down another serving!
8. Change ONE thing per week. Yeah, I said ONE. Hell, if that's too much, change one thing per MONTH. The point is, Rome wasn't built in a day and you're not going to conquer all of your weight loss issues in a few weeks. Start with small changes. If you drink regular soda, either switch to diet or mix 1/2 diet and 1/2 regular until you can get yourself off the regular soda. If you eat out all the time, start packing your lunch for work. Take a look at your life and make a list of the really bad habits that you have. Change one at a time into a good habit and then move on to the next one.
9. Finally, don't give UP! You're gonna have a bad day and not log food. Or, you're going to gain one week. Or you're just going to get tired of logging food and measuring and weighing, and it's all going to seem not worth it. But, stick with it...push through. Because it's not just weight we're talking about. It's health...it's your LIFE. I would've never imagined that losing those 70 pounds would make such a difference on not only my physical health, but my mental health as well. Don't get me wrong, I was happy before, but now it's a different kind of happiness. I was the 265 pound woman that was confident and happy with who I was....or that's what I told myself anyway. Now, at 195, I can tell you that I'm happier on a whole different level. I fit better into life. I can play with my kids and not get winded. I can cross my legs and not feel pain, and even look down at my muscular calf and think "wow...my legs are starting to look pretty damned good". Don't give up...your life is worth enjoying and you will be amazed at how much better you can feel.
There are probably more tips that I could share, but for now, that's it. Millions of us will make those New Years Resolutions, and plenty of those resolutions will include weight loss or lifestyle changes. Good luck to you on your journey and remember that YOU are in control!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Struggle
The followers of this blog know that I have been using the Body Bugg to help me with my weight loss. Once I hit under 200 I thought it was time to take a little break from the constant logging of food and being so extremely diligent about my weight loss. A pound a week was probably very do-able without the constant logging.
...um, yeah....RIGHT.....
Here's the thing. I have lost. And then I'd gain. Thanksgiving was KILLER for me! I had lost a few pounds from Monday to Thursday, but then when I went to weigh in Monday...I had gained what I had lost and then some. All in a week's time.
So, what seems like a depressing reality to me is just simply reality. The reality is this...I have to be not only conscious of what I eat, but VERY conscious. So, I am logging food again. And what I saw today really surprised me.
I logged food for months in the Body Bugg program. Months and months and months. But, I also lost pounds and pounds and more pounds! So by the time I stopped logging I was pretty dead on for estimating my calorie target intake every day. Well, apparently for me that really slides when you add a little this here and a little that there.
I just sat down and logged in breakfast, am snack, lunch, and pm snack. That leaves me with a whopping 450 calories left for dinner. Really? I was pretty sure I had at least 6-700 available. Ouch. But, the most amazing thing wasn't the fewer calories, it was my NUTRITIONAL breakdown. When I was in the big "dropping pounds like crazy" phase of this I had a hard time getting enough fat in my diet. Yeah, you read that right.
So, imagine my surprise when today I logged in what I had eaten thus far and realized that not only was my fat intake WAY off the chart for me for a day, but my sodium was also. Ouch...did I mention OUCH?
Do I love logging my food? NO. But, am I going to get back to doing it to help me get those last 30 (well, more like 35 now) pounds off? YES. Abso-freakin-lutely. Because I didn't work this hard for this long to toss it away. I want to get a comfortable 20-30 pounds away from 200 so that I can absolutely say I will NEVER see the 200's again.
I must admit...I normally have NO problem getting the "calories burned" target in. I can hit that target every day, so I had this false sense of security that I was staying within my "calories consumed" target. Apparently I was hitting the target and then some. Time to get real. Granted, it's the holidays so eating healthy EVERY DAY will be a bit of a challenge, but I intend on being good MOST of the time and over-correcting for those days when I totally blow it.
Stay tuned....
...um, yeah....RIGHT.....
Here's the thing. I have lost. And then I'd gain. Thanksgiving was KILLER for me! I had lost a few pounds from Monday to Thursday, but then when I went to weigh in Monday...I had gained what I had lost and then some. All in a week's time.
So, what seems like a depressing reality to me is just simply reality. The reality is this...I have to be not only conscious of what I eat, but VERY conscious. So, I am logging food again. And what I saw today really surprised me.
I logged food for months in the Body Bugg program. Months and months and months. But, I also lost pounds and pounds and more pounds! So by the time I stopped logging I was pretty dead on for estimating my calorie target intake every day. Well, apparently for me that really slides when you add a little this here and a little that there.
I just sat down and logged in breakfast, am snack, lunch, and pm snack. That leaves me with a whopping 450 calories left for dinner. Really? I was pretty sure I had at least 6-700 available. Ouch. But, the most amazing thing wasn't the fewer calories, it was my NUTRITIONAL breakdown. When I was in the big "dropping pounds like crazy" phase of this I had a hard time getting enough fat in my diet. Yeah, you read that right.
So, imagine my surprise when today I logged in what I had eaten thus far and realized that not only was my fat intake WAY off the chart for me for a day, but my sodium was also. Ouch...did I mention OUCH?
Do I love logging my food? NO. But, am I going to get back to doing it to help me get those last 30 (well, more like 35 now) pounds off? YES. Abso-freakin-lutely. Because I didn't work this hard for this long to toss it away. I want to get a comfortable 20-30 pounds away from 200 so that I can absolutely say I will NEVER see the 200's again.
I must admit...I normally have NO problem getting the "calories burned" target in. I can hit that target every day, so I had this false sense of security that I was staying within my "calories consumed" target. Apparently I was hitting the target and then some. Time to get real. Granted, it's the holidays so eating healthy EVERY DAY will be a bit of a challenge, but I intend on being good MOST of the time and over-correcting for those days when I totally blow it.
Stay tuned....
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tomorrow is the day!
So anyone that's been around my blog for a while knows that I have participated in several "Biggest Loser" type challenges at my gym. These competitions are good for me, because frankly, I don't like to lose!
Unfortunately, I haven't been involved in any competition for a while and I think I'm in need of a good old competition. This is why, when recently I was browsing the body bugg website message board, a particular post caught my eye.
The post was for people needing to lose those last 20-30 pounds.
Normally I would've glanced at it and gone on reading posts that are relevant to me. BUT, I paused for a moment...20-30 pounds. Wow, that is FINALLY me. In all honesty, I'd be pretty happy with 15 pounds, but then the competitiveness of me kicks in. Why lose 85 pounds? Go for 100, 'cause really, doesn't "I lost 100 pounds" sound so much more epic than "I lost 85 pounds"???
Well, not really, because both are totally epic, but to my deranged head, go for the wow-factor of 100!
So, sitting at 70 lost I'm thinking....20-30 pounds...that is ME! I'm going to join this group.
Now, please let me make perfectly clear...this group is NOT a competition. There is no prize for the person that hits their goal first. We weigh in on Monday, post our stats, and then the group organizer keeps track of all of that and reports on how we're doing.
It's just the whole THOUGHT of it for me, though. I want to see those other folks' numbers and see if I can just make mine a LITTLE better....what a nut job, right? Seriously, I am...total freaking nut job.
BUT...if THAT is what it takes to help me get these last 20-30 off, then SO BE IT! Bring on the competition moves baby, 'cause I'm READY and I NEED the motivation!
So tomorrow it begins. Today there is no accountability. I eat, I exercise, I lose a little, and life goes on. Tomorrow, it's on like Donkey Kong. Because tomorrow there is going to be someone else looking at that number from MY scale. And they're possibly gonna think "Hmmmm...she's about my weight...wonder if I can lose more than she does this month....". Or, maybe NOT, but there COULD be, and so because of that, I will be motivated.
Sick, aren't I?
The point in all of this is to know what motivates you, and if a little competition motivates you, then go for it! Or if a cute little black dress or pair of jeans that's a size smaller than what you currently wear motivate you....plaster it to the fridge! Find your motivation BEFORE you need it. Then, when you start to stall, bust out the motivation and work it! Use the motivation to help drive you closer to your goals!
I will keep you posted on how the first weigh in goes and which of the group members I've got my focus set to!
Lori
Unfortunately, I haven't been involved in any competition for a while and I think I'm in need of a good old competition. This is why, when recently I was browsing the body bugg website message board, a particular post caught my eye.
The post was for people needing to lose those last 20-30 pounds.
Normally I would've glanced at it and gone on reading posts that are relevant to me. BUT, I paused for a moment...20-30 pounds. Wow, that is FINALLY me. In all honesty, I'd be pretty happy with 15 pounds, but then the competitiveness of me kicks in. Why lose 85 pounds? Go for 100, 'cause really, doesn't "I lost 100 pounds" sound so much more epic than "I lost 85 pounds"???
Well, not really, because both are totally epic, but to my deranged head, go for the wow-factor of 100!
So, sitting at 70 lost I'm thinking....20-30 pounds...that is ME! I'm going to join this group.
Now, please let me make perfectly clear...this group is NOT a competition. There is no prize for the person that hits their goal first. We weigh in on Monday, post our stats, and then the group organizer keeps track of all of that and reports on how we're doing.
It's just the whole THOUGHT of it for me, though. I want to see those other folks' numbers and see if I can just make mine a LITTLE better....what a nut job, right? Seriously, I am...total freaking nut job.
BUT...if THAT is what it takes to help me get these last 20-30 off, then SO BE IT! Bring on the competition moves baby, 'cause I'm READY and I NEED the motivation!
So tomorrow it begins. Today there is no accountability. I eat, I exercise, I lose a little, and life goes on. Tomorrow, it's on like Donkey Kong. Because tomorrow there is going to be someone else looking at that number from MY scale. And they're possibly gonna think "Hmmmm...she's about my weight...wonder if I can lose more than she does this month....". Or, maybe NOT, but there COULD be, and so because of that, I will be motivated.
Sick, aren't I?
The point in all of this is to know what motivates you, and if a little competition motivates you, then go for it! Or if a cute little black dress or pair of jeans that's a size smaller than what you currently wear motivate you....plaster it to the fridge! Find your motivation BEFORE you need it. Then, when you start to stall, bust out the motivation and work it! Use the motivation to help drive you closer to your goals!
I will keep you posted on how the first weigh in goes and which of the group members I've got my focus set to!
Lori
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!
Seriously, is anything worse for a person on a diet than the holidays? I think not. I think this time of year should be renamed the Terrifying Trifecta or some such, because seriously, this is a hard time to eat healthy.
BUT...it is NO TIME to give in, either. Now is the time to buckle down and get serious. I'm serious...time to get serious. I have decided that even though getting totally serious and continuing to lose 2 lbs per week would be GOOD, it is actually BETTER for ME to cut the loss back to maybe 1 pound per week and ENJOY the season.
That's right...I'm going to ENJOY the season.
Now, let me state right here and now (before some of you run out and grab a pint of Ben and Jerry's) that when I say ENJOY I don't mean GO INSANE.
I can enjoy an occasional dessert...I can enjoy some of the kids Halloween candy...I can enjoy a few glasses of wine at a party. But I'm not going to go insane and eat every thing within my reach and drink the liquor cabinet dry.
There is an easy medium between total denial and total free-for-all consumption.
You just have to find YOUR easy medium.
Here's what's working for me:
BUT...it is NO TIME to give in, either. Now is the time to buckle down and get serious. I'm serious...time to get serious. I have decided that even though getting totally serious and continuing to lose 2 lbs per week would be GOOD, it is actually BETTER for ME to cut the loss back to maybe 1 pound per week and ENJOY the season.
That's right...I'm going to ENJOY the season.
Now, let me state right here and now (before some of you run out and grab a pint of Ben and Jerry's) that when I say ENJOY I don't mean GO INSANE.
I can enjoy an occasional dessert...I can enjoy some of the kids Halloween candy...I can enjoy a few glasses of wine at a party. But I'm not going to go insane and eat every thing within my reach and drink the liquor cabinet dry.
There is an easy medium between total denial and total free-for-all consumption.
You just have to find YOUR easy medium.
Here's what's working for me:
- Halloween candy: Yep, I ate some, and I continue to eat some! Today, however, I set my absolute LIMIT at 2 pieces. I enjoyed those 2 pieces and will not eat any more. I ate some on Halloween night...I even "helped" the kids demolish the scary gingerbread house. I didn't DENY myself, but I did enjoy SOME, but just not ALL.
- Pumpkin anything: I'm a sucker for fall flavors. Pumpkin bars, pumpkin soup, pumpkin spice latte, etc....etc....etc. I LOVE it. So, I will enjoy a bit here and there...again, not total denial, but I'm not going to eat the whole plate either.
- Thanksgiving: I host Thanksgiving at our home. My sister-in-law actually called me to make sure I wasn't going to be serving a "Tofu Turkey and/or all diet food". Ha ha! No, my Thanksgiving menu will be the same...the same stuff my Mom always fixed, and the same stuff I've fixed since taking it over 9 years ago. But, you can bet your sweet bippy that after enjoying all of that stuff I'm going to be making darned sure I burn a LOT of calories that day, the day after, and after that, and probably even after that. You've gotta off-set the extra consumption by extra burn!
- Christmas: Sorry...no wise words of wisdom here. I honestly have to get through Thanksgiving before I can wrap my head around Christmas. I wish the stores wouldn't put a single Christmas thing out until at least 11/15. But, I am sure inspiration will strike, and when it does, you'll be the first to know!
So, there you have it...my holiday plan is to scale back on the intense weight loss and expect a bit less from the scale. I still expect movement DOWN in the digits, but not as quickly as I've experienced at other times during this journey. I will enjoy all things, but in moderation. For me that is the only way to make this a sustainable life long commitment.
Good luck to you during the holidays and if you have a great "surviving the holidays" tip, please share in the comments below!
Lori
Sunday, October 17, 2010
I Feel GOOD.
Oh, yeah, crank up the James Brown, 'cause I feel GOOD baby!
Seriously...I feel really good.
I went shopping last week. I met my niece and a college roomie and we hit the outlet mall. We hit it hard, too! I was in need of "fall/winter" clothes, and even a new coat if I could find something. Normally these shopping trips are all about kids' clothes, but this time...it was ALL ME, baby! And it was awesome.
Here's what was awesome about it. Before I went there I mainly got clothes from either Cato or Kohl's here at home. And I guess I had pretty much convinced myself that those 2 stores were really cutting their clothes big, 'cause I'm still pretty sure that I'm not wearing a Large shirt or a size 14 pant. Must be the generous cut those stores carry...right???
WRONG...guess what...those sizes fit me in every freaking store in the outlet mall. And trust me, I tested the theory! I got stuff at Tommy Hilfiger, Old Navy, Van Husen, Bass, and a whole bunch of other stores in between! There were a few stops that I thought the shirts were really short, and I didn't like the way they fit. And for once in my life, if I didn't LOVE the way it fit and how I looked, I could skip it. No more "well, this will have to do". Oh no...total love or leave it on the hanger.
In January when I started all of this at 265 and wearing a 22/24, had anyone told me that before Halloween I'd be under 200 and wearing a 14 I would've referred them to the nuthouse. I can't believe I'm here. Really...still can't...but going and trying on all those clothes sure put a dent in my confusion.
And you know what, this is for good. This isn't a short-term thing. This weight loss has been so manageable and so real-life that I KNOW that it's for good. I know I can continue to do this for the rest of my life. Fat Lori has left the building, and she's NOT coming back.
The other thing that is important to disclose, is that I honestly feel that the loss that I've managed so far is not just a physical test, but a mental one as well. My way of thinking has shifted. I finally see that I DESERVE to be healthy, happy, and fit. And I see now that losing the weight that I have has helped make me a happier person. I would never have described myself as sad or grumpy before, and I surely thought I was enjoying my life then. But now, enjoying it now...well that enjoyment seems so much more intense, and so much more capable of saturating my soul with sheer joy. My cup is totally running over, and I am so thankful for that.
Believe in yourself...surround yourself with people who believe in you as well. Dig deep and realize that YOU DESERVE to be healthy, happy, and fit. Do whatever it takes to get started and then find it within yourself to know that you DESERVE this and YOU are the only person that can control your success.
You're so worth it....
Seriously...I feel really good.
I went shopping last week. I met my niece and a college roomie and we hit the outlet mall. We hit it hard, too! I was in need of "fall/winter" clothes, and even a new coat if I could find something. Normally these shopping trips are all about kids' clothes, but this time...it was ALL ME, baby! And it was awesome.
Here's what was awesome about it. Before I went there I mainly got clothes from either Cato or Kohl's here at home. And I guess I had pretty much convinced myself that those 2 stores were really cutting their clothes big, 'cause I'm still pretty sure that I'm not wearing a Large shirt or a size 14 pant. Must be the generous cut those stores carry...right???
WRONG...guess what...those sizes fit me in every freaking store in the outlet mall. And trust me, I tested the theory! I got stuff at Tommy Hilfiger, Old Navy, Van Husen, Bass, and a whole bunch of other stores in between! There were a few stops that I thought the shirts were really short, and I didn't like the way they fit. And for once in my life, if I didn't LOVE the way it fit and how I looked, I could skip it. No more "well, this will have to do". Oh no...total love or leave it on the hanger.
In January when I started all of this at 265 and wearing a 22/24, had anyone told me that before Halloween I'd be under 200 and wearing a 14 I would've referred them to the nuthouse. I can't believe I'm here. Really...still can't...but going and trying on all those clothes sure put a dent in my confusion.
And you know what, this is for good. This isn't a short-term thing. This weight loss has been so manageable and so real-life that I KNOW that it's for good. I know I can continue to do this for the rest of my life. Fat Lori has left the building, and she's NOT coming back.
The other thing that is important to disclose, is that I honestly feel that the loss that I've managed so far is not just a physical test, but a mental one as well. My way of thinking has shifted. I finally see that I DESERVE to be healthy, happy, and fit. And I see now that losing the weight that I have has helped make me a happier person. I would never have described myself as sad or grumpy before, and I surely thought I was enjoying my life then. But now, enjoying it now...well that enjoyment seems so much more intense, and so much more capable of saturating my soul with sheer joy. My cup is totally running over, and I am so thankful for that.
Believe in yourself...surround yourself with people who believe in you as well. Dig deep and realize that YOU DESERVE to be healthy, happy, and fit. Do whatever it takes to get started and then find it within yourself to know that you DESERVE this and YOU are the only person that can control your success.
You're so worth it....
Thursday, October 7, 2010
So Long...Farewell...Auf Wiedersehen...Goodnight
Today was a pivotal day...a defining day...a day that I have been waiting for.
Today I said good-bye to 200. I weighed in this morning at 199.0. No more "I weigh two hundred and .... .
Oh no. Now I will say I weigh ONE HUNDRED and ... .
Wow. Really? I can't believe I'm there. Remember back in January? My goal at 265 was to get into the 250's. Getting below 200 at that time was just too daunting of a task, so I broke it down into smaller reachable segments.
And here I am...ONE hundred and ninety-nine pounds.
You wanna know the craziest thing? It really has NOT been THAT hard. Seriously. I don't know if it's because my perspective of "hard" is really skewed due to seriously hard things, but I would not say that getting to this point has been that hard. My life style, my eating habits, my exercise habits...those are all things that I can see easily manageable in the future. And so, this weight loss will be permanent. This is not a quick-fix, but a change in thinking.
And that's what I've been doing a lot of today...thinking. Thinking and watching. I watch people. I watch them drive by me in cars, I see them pass me in stores, and my brain is just churning, watching, wondering why the rest of the world can't see how easy this really is.
Don't get me wrong...there have been really horrible, dreadful, miserable times during this year. I have wanted to quit and I have wanted to indulge, and I have wanted to just chuck it all and go back to my old ways. But the only thing that is going to do is make me unhealthy and set my children up for losing their Mom too soon. So, even if I can't do it for myself, I can and will do it for THEM. And becoming Fit is not just about me...it's about the whole family. My kids will try more vegetables. They know how to read a label and choose the more healthy option. They understand (although they don't always LIKE it) that you need to put good food into your body for FUEL before you eat any junk or snack foods.
Ultimately, the decision to change MUST be yours. You have to find that piece of yourself that recognized that YOU deserve it. In the long run, everyone around you will benefit from your own healthiness, but YOU have to realize that YOU deserve it most. Getting fit and living a more healthy lifestyle is not expensive, too time consuming, or just too plain difficult for anyone to manage. You can do it, but first you must realize that YOU deserve it.
To those people that have supported me thus far, THANK YOU. Thank you so much. Your comments on this blog, phone calls, Facebook messages, etc. have driven me when I had no gas left in the tanks. I appreciate the motivation so very much and I hope to pay it forward 10 fold.
Today I said good-bye to 200. I weighed in this morning at 199.0. No more "I weigh two hundred and .... .
Oh no. Now I will say I weigh ONE HUNDRED and ... .
Wow. Really? I can't believe I'm there. Remember back in January? My goal at 265 was to get into the 250's. Getting below 200 at that time was just too daunting of a task, so I broke it down into smaller reachable segments.
And here I am...ONE hundred and ninety-nine pounds.
You wanna know the craziest thing? It really has NOT been THAT hard. Seriously. I don't know if it's because my perspective of "hard" is really skewed due to seriously hard things, but I would not say that getting to this point has been that hard. My life style, my eating habits, my exercise habits...those are all things that I can see easily manageable in the future. And so, this weight loss will be permanent. This is not a quick-fix, but a change in thinking.
And that's what I've been doing a lot of today...thinking. Thinking and watching. I watch people. I watch them drive by me in cars, I see them pass me in stores, and my brain is just churning, watching, wondering why the rest of the world can't see how easy this really is.
Don't get me wrong...there have been really horrible, dreadful, miserable times during this year. I have wanted to quit and I have wanted to indulge, and I have wanted to just chuck it all and go back to my old ways. But the only thing that is going to do is make me unhealthy and set my children up for losing their Mom too soon. So, even if I can't do it for myself, I can and will do it for THEM. And becoming Fit is not just about me...it's about the whole family. My kids will try more vegetables. They know how to read a label and choose the more healthy option. They understand (although they don't always LIKE it) that you need to put good food into your body for FUEL before you eat any junk or snack foods.
Ultimately, the decision to change MUST be yours. You have to find that piece of yourself that recognized that YOU deserve it. In the long run, everyone around you will benefit from your own healthiness, but YOU have to realize that YOU deserve it most. Getting fit and living a more healthy lifestyle is not expensive, too time consuming, or just too plain difficult for anyone to manage. You can do it, but first you must realize that YOU deserve it.
To those people that have supported me thus far, THANK YOU. Thank you so much. Your comments on this blog, phone calls, Facebook messages, etc. have driven me when I had no gas left in the tanks. I appreciate the motivation so very much and I hope to pay it forward 10 fold.
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