Fell off the Wagon...but still losing

After a week of Jillian, with three workouts a day, I decided that was dumb.  She has in her program, Body Revolution, that after the first week, it's only one workout a day.  I think I'll get back on the wagon with that.  Let's see what it does to do one DVD a day, and then an extra activity like walking and more.

Taking my nephew to Disney next week, so that will surely let the pounds go - with all the walking!  Looking forward to being out and at my favorite place.

I've been doing well on food, as I am not eating the calories I was at Christmas.  No one is!  Ha!  But, I'm just not buying the bad stuff to keep, and if I do, it's only because of a guest or something, and I buy what I am able to ignore.  That's a very important tip!  I do have some sweets, but mostly dark chocolate - lower in fat, calories, and sugar, high in anti-oxidants, and delicious!  I also have the Weight Watchers yogurt bars in the frozen section.  They are good when you are craving something sweet.

So, starting again, and I plan to get 100 off this year.  I really want it.  Here I go!  Stay tuned...

Diet is "Die" with a T

Okay, this is controversial.  I detest diets, food plans, and diet products.  Note: They may work for many people, and I'm not about to say if it works, don't change, but these did not work for me:  6 times for Weight Watchers, 3 Redbook Diets, Atkins twice, Gym plans, the South Beach Diet, Richard Simmons Meal-A-Deal twice, liquid diets, and when I was a teen- diet pills.  NONE worked for me.  They only made me more fat.  However, I know people that are on some of the popular programs, and they are doing well.  Can't take that away from them.

Diets just don't work for me.  I had to have a full-blown food overhaul and intervention.  I intervened, and refilled my fridge, freezer, and cabinets.  Hey, even my purse has healthy snacks.  But, once I let go of my favorite junk food, fried food, and other assorted bad habits, all you are left with are healthy choices.  It truly is a change of lifestyle.  People told me that for years, and I didn't believe them, but it's true.  You can't go back to the way you were eating, as that will put the weight back on.

Don't think short-term.  Think long-term, no matter how little or much you have to lose.  The habits you make in your resolutions or goals should be forever.

New Year's Resolutions

Do they ever work?  I've had a bad habit of not keeping them.  My number one goal is to lose weight, which is why I didn't start losing till last March.  On purpose.  I got through the "Resolution" time, all the ads for losing weight that they put on during the first of the year, and my own guilt for not starting.  You may say that's a bad strategy.

This is the first time I've lost this much weight (March to now) and kept it off.

I have wavered some days, but I'm losing without a resolution.  Don't worry about missing gym membership specials, just join when they put the specials on for "bathing suit" season, or start with just food in January, if you must start in January.  Why not start now?

Okay, maybe that's asking a lot during holiday season.  But, you can start with small changes.  I did that for two years before starting to lose.

1.  Cut out soda.  Don't do it cold turkey; do it over a week, weaning yourself off the caffeine gently,           cutting out those awful headaches.
2.  Drink water between drinks at a party or just before a meal.
3.  Get a scale.
4.  Decide where you are going to begin: starting exercise and food intake is difficult to do at the same time, and really sabotages your "live it," not "diet."  You will have these habits for a long time.
5.  Plan meals.  It helps.

That's where you can start, and forget about losing until you've done these things.  That's all.  No stressing about weight, just beginning with a few alterations.  It can be done.  

Gained - UGH!

I gained one pound over Thanksgiving week!  I really wanted to still eat and prove that losing over Thanksgiving is possible.  However, my step mom lost last week!  It can be done!  I did have two Thanksgivings.  No excuse, though.  However, I think that I will not make that same deal at Christmas. I always eat more at Christmas than any other holiday.  You know what that means...

Exercise!  Just have to make myself do it, and then I can eat, and perhaps even show a loss.  Basketball takes the weight off the fastest.  Guess I'll go with my hubby on his lunch.  Maybe I'll just go to the bleedin' gym!  Or, I could put on my tennis shoes and take a good old fashioned walk.

I believe I will do that tomorrow.   It's dark now.

Get up and walk off that turkey/ham/etc...!  Join me!

Halloween and Weight

Candy has a LOT of calories, sugar, and fat.  If you think it's worth the extra weight and the beginning of your descent into holiday madness and the dreaded 10 pounds or more holiday weight, then go ahead and eat your kid's candy after they go to bed.  After all, they won't miss it.  They don't need it.  You do, right?  And those snack sizes are a joke, too.  You actually eat more of them than you would have if you had just eaten a regular size bar.

What do you do?  Two ideas:

1.  Put your child's candy into sandwich bags, and put them in a basket or Tupperware out of sight, like in the top cabinet.  Keeps it out of mind, and you can just grab a portioned bag for the kids when you want them to have some.

2.  Have a party, it's safer, better for snacks, and more fun.  Invite some kids over- and adults, and have a traditional to theme party.  Send the food home with guests.  Ask people to bring their own "carryout" bag, or use your own, and put leftover candy, cookies, and other sweets in the carryouts.  Don't take "no" for an answer!  Remember, you also control the snacks at your own party, so it should be easier to make a few healthy options as well as the junk.

Here are a few ideas for food arrangements that are more healthy than others...

Eating on Vacation

Vacation and food go together, unfortunately.  However, there are ways to combat this evil!

Make food for the car or whatever ride you are in.  I'm on a car trip, so my hubby made chicken salad for me.  A couple of bananas, and I was on my way.  I did have a Frappe, but I had to stay awake!  For dinner, I made sure to fill half my plate with salad, a small piece of meat, some potatoes and a corn muffin.  Gotta have cornbread in the south!  It was a good food day.

Today will be challenging as it is my first full day on vacation, and I'm not in control of everything, only what I put in my mouth.  I'll have a small breakfast, since we are going out to lunch.  I hope there is some yogurt in the fridge.  I'll pick up some if there isn't.  It's my go to breakfast.

Join me on my other blog, Veronica the Vagabond to see updates on my trip!

Motivation When the Scale is Stalled

You simply keep going.  I've tried to analyze it, get out of exercise, not eat (thinking I would lose more), and more... but the fact is that you have to do two things: exercise and eat plenty.  Yes, calories must be considered, but they are not the only factor.  Drinking water helps flush and cleanse your body and blah, blah, blah ... you've heard it all, right?  Well, it's unfortunately true.

You've got to rid yourself of processed foods as much as possible.  Eat fresh and you'll lose weight.  If my husband did not insist on meat, as he is a typical carnivore, then my grocery bill would be even lower.  I have saved money since eating healthier.  You wouldn't think so, but switching out berries for ice cream or tea for soda, with no sugar, can save money.  Ice cream is expensive and so is soda, pop, or coke - whatever you call it.

Where's the motivation?  Keeping busy with all of the above can give you the motivation to see it on the scale.  Losing over 30 pounds now did something for me.  I am more motivated.  Getting my body rid of toxic food has done it as well.  I still eat fried food every once in a while, but have cut it out for the most part.  I had a diet coke the other day.  It tasted gross.  When I can get rid of a bad habit, I do feel more motivation.

I can do stairs with more ease.  That alone is reason enough to keep going.  That, and I'm not dead yet.

Over 30 down now!

I lost 5 pounds last week.  I've no idea.  I was more active, just a bit, though, drank more water, and ate less - but still, 5 is a lot.  I'll take it!  So, that's 31 pounds gone, and I am going to go exercise today.  This is the most I've ever lost on purpose, so I am thrilled.  YAY!

It's been a hard road just to 31, and I have SO much more to lose.  I was thinking that this morning, and I decided that I would just think about that later, and concentrate on getting under the next 10 pound marker.  If I keep concentrating on 10 pounds at a time, it's better for my mind, but it also keeps going into a different set of numbers, like from 289 to 279.  That's good to see, because seeing that double digit number go into the next set down is motivating.

Gotta go eat some breakfast.  I love berries and yogurt.

Family, Friends, and Fat

Even if some in your family or friends circle could stand to lose a few, some will still judge, worry, or talk to you about you being fat.  I can take most criticism now, because I know that people are looking out for me, but it's the mean-spirited way in which some people "tell" me how big I am.  I KNOW.  I look in the mirror every day.  I have arms that jiggle and a big booty.  I may not be happy with my weight, but I'm working on it.

Which means, step aside and let me work on it.  I've lost 25 pounds, and though it's not fast, it is going and not coming back.  That's a good thing.

Have you ever been criticized for your weight?  Of course you have - even if you're thin - because then people think you don't eat enough.  And they tell you.

I have a friend whose family has told her she looks older now that she's lost all her weight.  You can't win.  Hell, I would much rather look a little older and be thin and healthy.  That's fine with me.  But see, you can't do anything to please everyone, so make sure you lose weight anyway.  They're simply jealous.

I think that people that aren't perfect should not tell you how to "be" anything.  That would be everyone.