Stress and Weight Gain

Stress causes weight gain.  When you are under stress, you don't eat properly to begin with.  I have a friend who watches her weight expertly, but when her husband was in the hospital, I saw her eat a 4 candy Whitman's Sampler - at 6 in the morning!  She was not paying attention, grabbing what was close, and just eating mindlessly.  We all do that from time to time.  Why?

When we are stressed, adrenalin is increased, which makes us ravenously hungry.  At first, it decreases appetite, but that doesn't last long.  How do you handle your stress?  If you don't, you'll be in a vicious cycle of eating because you are stressed and then feeling bad because you gained weight.  I know I do.

How to handle anxiety and stress:  yoga, meditation, music, and friends.  These are my top favorites.  Everyone says to do them, but not many do.  that's why we're all freaked out!  Our world is a pressure-cooker.  Anything can change at a moment's notice - whether in the world or your own family.  Stress is everywhere.  However, is you implement the above suggestions, you might just calm down and lose some weight.

For more info on stress and weight see the Mayo Clinic article at the link below.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/AN01128

And WebMD 
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/can-stress-cause-weight-gain

Vacation and Weight

I've been away this week, and I ate like it: take-out and a bit of junk.  I'll forgive myself; I was on vacation, right?  I should have been more careful, but I did try to eat healthy, and I got my water in.  Had some exercise, but nothing to write home about.

I stopped.  I rested.

Yeah, I got off the world for 5 days: no TV, Internet, or much phone - only texting sometimes.  We listened to a lot of music.  We rented from Red Box, and we caught up on the new and older releases.  I haven't just rested without guilt for a while.  However, I missed my routine, and I was on the Internet only once when I went to the library.

When there's no entertainment that you're used to, well, you go swimming.  We did that, but it seemed the dog had more fun than even we did!  You also demo a bathroom and prep it for tile.  So, I suppose there was a lot more activity than I realize.  At least the weekend isn't over.  I'd love to fit in some basketball.

The thing about vacations is, you really do eat off your plan.  Forgive yourself.  I did.

P.S.  Weigh Day will resume next Wednesday... lol

Small Goal Achieved!

Okay, so this was a small goal of mine, and it looks as though it has happened: to sit comfortably in a seat for a doctor's office, Target, or a restaurant.  Yesterday, I was waiting for medication at Target, and went to their chairs, as I had no other shopping to do.  I was comfortable in the usually dreaded experience of a public chair.

Being fat is no fun, and that's one of the reasons that I write this column: to remove some of the stigma of the average "fat" person.  On the way into Target, a little boy called me fat, and his mother looked humiliated.  I simply smiled.  Children have no filter, and it's true, I am fat.  One day, I won't be, but for now I am, and I must live with it.

And ... just when the little boy was getting to me, I went to one of those Draft Houses, and I usually don't fit comfortably in booths.  I not only fit, there was room to spare!  SO excited.  That made up for the comment.  I have to remember those little things.  People don't realize that I didn't want to be this way.  It wasn't my life's goal or anything.  It happened.  Now, I'll fix it.

Another Pound Gone...

Some weeks the weight doesn't fall off; it dribbles off.  However, my hubby pointed out that everything I've done lately is mostly muscle-building, so I felt better about that.  Perhaps some muscle is going on.  My pants are about to fall off!  I suppose it could be true.

Still, 22 pounds gone is a good thing.  My next goal is losing 10% of my weight, as it's close and I think I can get there quickly.  I haven't logged in my food for about a week, so that's made a difference in the speed that I'm losing.  I have to log in or I will under or overeat, and neither is good for losing.

Back on the exercise wheel and logging in the food!

Kristina Louise Cabaleiro: New Noir

Introducing:  My daughter's blog.

KristinaLouiseCabaleiro: New Noir:  My very young blog has decided to get a facelift. I am going to focus your time and my time in discussing the modern day noir. That world o...

Non-Exercise Activities for Exercise

What?  Yeah.  That's what I said - non-exercise activities for exercise.  Like playing a basketball game for fun.  Or, swimming, bowling, and other things unrelated to traditional exercise, but you still sweat.  For example, I laid down a hardwood floor yesterday, and I feel like I went to the gym for days and days.  I used every muscle, sweat my booty off, and it took 7 hours!  We only took a couple of small breaks.  I count that as exercise.

I painted the front porch today.  As if yesterday wasn't punishment enough, we took on the terrific, at least when we were done it was terrific, task of painting the front porch from red to cream.  Much better, and it matches the house.  I sweated, used every muscle, and felt like I'd gone to the gym.  I count that as exercise.

The FUN part of the chore, is that you have accomplished something immediate and tangible that you can see.  Weight does not come off every week.  So, at least if you have things to do around the house - do them!  Get off the couch and just do it.

Promise each other a back rub when you're done.  It's the best part. :)

Keep on Going

When your head tells you, "Don't exercise!"  Do it anyway.
When your brain says, "Eat that!"  Don't do it.  Really.
When your mind plays tricks on you, saying, "You'll always be fat."  Don't believe it.
When the devil on your shoulder says, "You look fat."  Don't believe it.
When people look at you because of your weight, smile at them and wave.
When you step on the scale, remember the number can be changed.

It's all between your ears, people.

Banana Nut Smoothie

Banana Nut Smoothie  (my own recipe)

1 frozen banana (peel before freezing in a sandwich bag)
6 whole almonds
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup milk
cinnamon to taste 1 tsp
1 Tbsp honey

Blend all and enjoy!  Delicious for breakfast or any time of the day.

Honey and cinnamon together are natural healers and delicious.

To read about the benefits of honey and cinnamon, click here.

Inspiration for Weight Loss

Seems like my sister has been doing not only hot yoga twice a day, but also power walking up to 2 miles a day!  Kelli has middle-age weight, like most of us get, but she's not at all near my weight.  She's started a new routine, one I was doing, and intend to emulate now.  She's down 8 pounds, and she feels great.  She was even told that hot yoga is not enough exercise!  HA!  Tell that to her scale and her body.

I love yoga.  Hubby's idea of hot yoga is a DVD and turning up the thermostat.  With the price of the yoga classes a mile away - well, I need to sell some books for that!  Till then, I have plenty to do around the plant, the gym, walking, and basketball.  I need to try to do at least 2 things of exercise a day, 6 days a week.  One day off.  If I didn't have such a sedentary job, I wouldn't feel the need to take in so much exercise, but it isn't hard anymore, at least not as much as it was, and I can do it.

I'll report back in a week.

Meds and Motivation

I'm going through a medication change, which includes sleepy time medication, and I feel like a zombie!  Time to back off a bit, I think.  I want to be out there exercising, but my body feels like mud.  Like I'm trapped.  I'll update, but I won't go on about it.

Motivation:  Where do I get it?  I'm good at helping others and pumping them up, but why can't I do it for myself?  I do want to be stronger.  I want to be thinner, and I want to be healthy.  I think I need to work on a goal board with goals reached and reward on the other side, something tangible that I can see.  You know?  Like a dream board.

Well, it is, really.  And then there's Darlene in my ear, "Stop thinking, Veronica, and just walk."

She's right.

McDonald's

I'm craving it.  I want it.  I know it's all psychological, but I do crave a Big Mac, some fries, and a coffee.  Man, I'm drooling just thinking of it.

Enough of that!  Good thing it's raining, or I might be tempted.  It's raining hard too, so it's a no-brainer.  Hmm...an obstacle in my way towards life-threatening food.  Thanks for whoever is helping me out there.  The feeling will pass, as most cravings do, and in a compromise, Hubby is making his famous George Foreman Grilled hamburgers with homemade oven fries.  Better for me, and better tasting!

Could use the coffee.  BUT, today was weigh day, and I'm up one pound.  Gotta get back to exercising ever single day, even is only a good walk.

That's my goal for this next week.

The Pork Rind Incident

I did not buy them.  I did not bring them in the house.  I did, however, eat them in a freaky panic of wanting something now, not something I'd have to cook, and something salty and crunchy.  WHY did I do that?  Temptation.  The worst possible thing I could eat, as well.  I wasn't going to blast this to the world in this blog, but it's the truth.

It's also why I am all swollen and puffy from the salt.  It also real and true.

We all have cravings and in the middle-of-the night munchies.  If they weren't an option, a "red light food," or convenient, I wouldn't have had them to eat.  No more of those will come through the door.  After I munched on those, I did redeem myself.

I put them in the garbage and ate a bowl of blueberries instead of more processed snacks.

I really can't believe I did that.  Tomorrow is weigh day!

FREE BOOK

Hey, Everyone!  My book, She's So Bipolar, is FREE for Kindle users from today till Tuesday.  I would love some more reviews on Amazon, and would appreciate anyone willing to take the time to do this.  Here's some links:

Amazon

Amazon UK

It is available in many other countries!

Some reviews for She's So Bipolar:

"A must-read for parents, teachers, and anyone connected to BPD. Cronin opens up an entire world with her frankness and honesty. Readers with loved ones afflicted by this disorder will have crucial insight into understanding how their parents, siblings, spouses, and friends perceive life. The photos say whatever has been left unsaid. You'll weep, you'll laugh. More importantly, you'll become aware."  - Mindy

"I thought this would be a quick read but it was so intense, I felt like I was going through her mania with her. Excellent for readers who are not familiar with bipolar."  - Darlene

"Veronica Cronin wrote an awesome book about her life as a bipolar person. She describes her life in easy to read and understand words yet you can see that she really knows personally and medically what she is talking about. This is a must read for any one dealing with this disease in themselves or a family member."  - Cheryl

"I have known Veronica Cronin since she was in high school and one of my daughter's very close friends; however, I have not seen her for many years and was never aware that she suffered from this disease. This account of her struggles and how she has learned to cope on a daily basis with being Bipolar is both heartbreaking and at the same time inspires so much hope for those like her as well as their families. This is a must read for them as well as for those of us who do not have first-hand knowledge of this disease."  - Kathleen

Thanks for considering the book!  Have a great day!

Exercise: Seeing Improvement!

This is a an awesome thing:  things are getting easier.  Like what?  Well, after exercising for a few months now, I can report that physical tasks are not as hard as they were before.  For example, I clean an office once a week, and used to have to rest while doing it.  Not anymore.  I put my headphones on and go, therefore getting done quicker, and moving aerobically.  It's not a hard job, but it was at over 300 pounds and being a couch potato.

I am no longer a potato.

Also, my clothes are fitting better, even if the pounds are moving slowly.  I've lost 20, but I want to lose a lot more than that!  I have to remember that I'm working out at the gym on my muscles, and muscle weighs more than fat, so I am happy that I am gaining muscle.  I went to the gym the other day, and not only did I double my time on the treadmill, to ten minutes (I know, but I have a weak ankle).  Also, I use it to get my heart rate up, and then I do the machines, with my heart rate staying high enough to burn calories.  I can feel my abs now, and my arms and legs are stronger.

The weight is such a burden.

I saw a girl, must have been in her twenties, at the gym on the pull-ups bar.  She was going to town on that thing, and she must have done a hundred of them.

I'll be that strong.  One day.