Skipped the Gym Today - Could Barely Move

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

Oh my, when I got up this morning my muscles were so tight.  I thought I was sore yesterday.  I didn't want to go to the gym and have people see me crying and bent over like a ninety year old woman.  Still, I knew I needed to stretch out and loosen up.  I am telling you the worst was trying to sit down to go to the bathroom.   Ouch!!  I guess that might be TMI.

I pulled out one of the tapes I had and did a short work-out to help loosen those tight old muscles.  It did help some.  I felt like I could at least get up and down without moaning.  

After that I went on to something even more painful.  I worked on my taxes.  I couldn't finish them because my husband had some information I needed and he had to go to Chicago for work today.

After my husband got home we had to run to see his mother.  His sister called last night and said she was bad.  Well when we went over she seemed fine.  Mom and sister tend to panic about the least little thing.  I know her health isn't great, but every time she feels bad  she thinks she's dying.  She has lots of anxiety about dying.  I really wish my husband would see her more, that would probably help her to feel better.  

I have always had a very close relationship with my parents.  And now I have a close relationship with my children, so I just don't understand their family and how they interact.

The highlight of my day has been visiting all of the blogs in the blog hop and reading the comments from all the hoppers.  There are some incredibly talented woman out there! Linking with the Ladies has been one extraordinary experience.

Tomorrow morning I have to get my hair colored, hopefully I can still make it to the gym.  If not, I will use one of the tapes for a workout.  I am really getting so I need to workout.  I wish my diet was going better.  

Maybe I should blame my diet failures on all the blogs I looked at today that had such incredible food pictures and recipes.  If I just started looking at those today though that doesn't explain everything before today does it?  Come on you guys, encourage me!

Linking with my Ladies - My First Blog Hop

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

I was invited to join a blog hop today.  I thought it might be fun to be a participant in the hop.  

I spent time last night going around and looking at some of the blogs and making comments.  I became a follower.  It is amazing how many different blogs there are and all so different.  They all reflect the personality of the creator.

That makes me wonder, does my blog reflect my personality?  I don't know if I have gotten comfortable enough yet for it to really be me.  I think I may still be at the point where I am learning who I am.  You would think that at almost 59 I would know who I am by now.  I really think I am comfortable with being myself, but writing and putting your personal thoughts out for everyone to read is a little different.

Who am I?  I am a mother of four children.  Well actually four adults now.  My first husband died when I was 24 and I had three children ages 2, 4, and 6.  For a few years I was really only a mother.  I had three children that needed me so desperately.  It was a while before I started dating again.  

I later got remarried and I had another child, he is 18 now, so soon I will no longer have a child at home.  I have had a child of mine living in my home for 40 years now.  So I will have many changes in the next year.  I am a grandmother now too.  I have grandsons that are 5 and 10.  Is this who I am?

A little over a year ago my job was downsized and I left work to stay at home again.  I have looked for work but the job market is horrible now.  I didn't want to go to work for next to nothing.  That was depressing at first and definitely caused some weight gain.  I have come to terms with that and I have found a new niche.  I have been working on my genealogy and blogging.  

I think right now I am a wife, a mother, and a grandmother who wants to be healthy and be around for many years to enjoy my family in a different way.  That means I need to make a priority of taking care of myself.  I have raised my children to take care of themselves and to do what makes them happy.  I need to do that for myself.

Okay, if I have been rambling, please forgive me.  I shouldn't write late at night!

Oh My Aching Body! Did I Overdo At The Gym?

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

I went to the gym yesterday for the first time since last Thursday.  I got a late start leaving home and I had to meet a couple of my husbands friends for lunch.  He had to be out of town and they were supposed to meet,  he had worked with them for 30 years before he retired and took a new job.  He had something I needed to take to them.  They meet for breakfast or lunch every so often.

I had to speed through my workout so I wouldn't be late for lunch.  I decided to just do a hard leg workout.  I probably increased my reps too quickly.  I haven't been really sore since I started back to working out two weeks ago.  I thought I wasn't pushing myself hard enough .   So, I pushed hard yesterday.  I am really sore today.  I feel really good though.  I feel like I accomplished something.

This morning I was prepared to start my new workout at home.  It is called KettleWorx.  I looked at the CDs and decided I should stay away from something that did too much in the way of legs.  I decided to do the CD for the core.

Believe it or not I liked the exercises, but the CD is not so great.  It feels like the CD is skipping like an old record.  There is a large repetition of the exercises, which wouldn't be too bad, the workouts are only twenty minutes.  They were put together cheaply.  Each time an exercise is repeated the same part if the tape is repeated.  So you get to hear him say the exact same things over and over.  At first I thought something was wrong with it, then I realized that's the way they made it.  You have 3 CDs one for core, one for cardio, and one for resistance.  Then each have 6 levels, it is supposed to be a six week workout.  They tell you to do one on Monday, one on Wednesday and one on Friday.  There are 3 additional CDs.  An introductory workout explaining the program, with a sample workout.  The others are Fast Abs and Fast Fat Burn.

It also includes a Fat Free in 42, which is a healthy eating guide to go along with the program.

I guess on the days that you do the regular twenty minute workout you can add a supplemental workout to go with it.  Today since I was sore I just went with the Core workout alone.

I bought this program for $20.00 on a clearance table.  If it gets me started on a routine workout for a while until I can figure out what else I wan to do it will be well worth the money.

Once I got to moving around the soreness was'nt  horrible.  Probably if I sit too long I will feel it again.  

Sounds like hot tub time this evening!!!

Oh yeah, I had a three hour lunch at Steak n Shake yesterday with my husbands friends.  We caught up on old times, talked about genealogy research, which is my new thing, I have a couple of blogs on that too, and just had a really good time.  They told me that I should start coming to eat with them instead of my husband.

Here are my genealogy blogs if anyone is interested.  My mom's family and my dad's family.

Back to the gym - FINALLY!!!

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

I haven't been to the gym since last Thursday.  It feels like an eternity.  I don't understand it, but once I start going I really get excited about working out at the gym.  But then I will go months without going.

I really am one of those people who like to work out.  I really used to go four to five times a week.  When I was 50 I was going all the time.  I was wearing a size 4 for a while!  That only lasted about a a year.  Then my husband, son, and I went on a cruise.  I ate every time food was offered.  I mean we were on vacation. Right??

After the cruise I could never get back to where I was.  This is where my mind and body need to make changes.  I become obsessive compulsive with something for a while and then something just snap and I revert back to my old habits and I go right back to my old weight and body.

I did notice at the gym that my legs are still very strong. I have  retained some of the muscle I built.

I need to figure out how to just make a lifestyle change that lasts.  I am trying not to diet obsessively this time, just make minor changes that will stay with me forever.  Any tips?  Last spring I lost 20 pounds in a couple of months,  I kept it off for An additional few months and then slid right back.

 My doctor told me to slow down on my weight loss and just lose a pound or two a month.  So I just went back to eating and then eating too much again.  Oh does this horrible cycling ever end.  Up and down.  How do people get to a healthy weight and stay there?

Sophie likes to help me blog! I have to try to keep her from adding lots of unwanted letters to my pages. My son was watching her last night and took this pic.

Weigh-In !! A Good Week?

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

Well I started my day with my weigh-in.  I am not so excited about it.  I dropped 1/2 pound this week to 179 1/2.  I lost 4.5 pounds last week.  I am a little disappointed, but I am telling myself that this is for the long haul.  One week is such a small section of that time.  

Since I had a big drop the first week, I probably am just leveling out a little this week.  I just hoped for a bigger showing.  I did have the chicken mixture which I know has a lot of salt, so I may be holding on to some water too.  Oh well, it will all work out over time.

I need to start this week on a high note.  Getting disappointed causes you to slip sometimes, and I don't intend to do that.  I also have to be able to enjoy things.  I have 39 1/2 pounds to go.  If I average out my weight loss to 2.5 pounds per week, that's not so bad.  If over the next 5 weeks I could lose 5-10 pounds that would be fantastic.  My size 12 jeans are looser already.  Most of my capris and shorts for spring are in size 10's.  I hope to get in those by the time spring gets around.  I know when the weather starts to warm up I will spend lots more time outside, working in the yard.  Things will really pick up then.

So, this was a good week.  I lost weigh and I am ready to keep going.  I hope you all had a successful week, too!

Weekend? What does it do to your diet?

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

Usually the weekend offers many more obstacles.  Are you able to hurdle those obstacles?  I have been thinking about that this weekend.

On Saturday, I spent most of the day at home.  Later in the day I had to run to the grocery store.  Talk about a zoo.  Most people must have been in for the day yesterday.  I live rurally so going to the grocery is about a fifteen minute drive.  I cane  home and made a vegetable soup.

My son went to spend the night at a friend's.  Myhusband and I decided to go to the Casino.  We each put $20.00 in the machine.  It took us about five minutes each to lose our money.  We stayed around there for a while and then headed back home.  I made it through the day without too much struggle.

Today my friend called and asked me to have lunch.  She is going through some domestic issues and needs a friend right now. We went to Hoolihan's and sat for about 3 hours.  I got lettuce wraps.  I haven't looked up the calories yet, but I didn't eat the little crunchy things or the peanut sauce.  I just had lettuce and the chicken mixture.  This evening I ate leftover vegetable soup.  I don't think my eating was too bad.  Weigh-in tomorrow.  We'll see how the week goes.  I am not trying to lose weight rapidly, just lose consistently and enjoy life in the process.  This is a long term goal, not a rapid weight loss and then gaining it all back.

My exercise is definitely lacking.  I just need to get going more.  I don't have a treadmill or any exercise equipment at home.  I do have numerous exercise tapes.  I sometimes just climb stairs at home in the evening.  I won't make it to the gym until Tuesday.  With missing Friday it seems like its been a long time now.

Well weight - in tomorrow.  Cross your fingers!

I didn't exercise at all yesterday! I am okay with that!

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

You would think that since I missed my gym day yesterday I would be upset.  This time I am not upset at all.  I didn't go into a room and dance as some suggested.  I am one person who has absolutely no ability to dance.  I just don't hear the music.  People find this hard to believe, because apparently most people just feel it in their bodies.  My husband and son are so musically intoned.  Music makes them come to life.  They need music.  I don't feel the music.  I have absolutely no sense of rhythm. (I guess I can't spell it either, I had to look it up). Oh well enough about that.

We were frozen in yesterday for a good part of the day.  My eighteen year old son and my husband were at home.  My son and I have been doing a challenge to complete a check-off list of items in a book celebrating the 150th anniversaries of the Civil War battles.  One of the items on the check off was to watch Gone With The Wind.  The movie is 233 minutes. That's almost four hours.  I have watched the movie several times but it has been years since I have seen it.  

We had family time and the three of us watched the movie together. At the end of the first side of the DVD we called Pizza King which is pretty close to us in our little town and went and picked up a pizza and breadsticks.  This really isn't on my eating plan, but I didn't overdo.  We spent the day hanging out together and having a great family time.  My son, will be moving away to college in about six months.  We probably aren't going to have many more days like that.  When the roads had thawed by late evening my son went off to do things with his friends and my husband and I went to Wendy's and had a reasonably healthy snack and spent time at Barnes & Noble.

It was a great day so I have no regrets.  I will go to the gym next week.  I will try to get some good movement in over the weekend.

I have three children in their thirties and I have my eighteen year old.  I know the times like yesterday are going to fewer and further apart as the time goes by.  I am very close to my older children, but we don't get to spend that much time just being together. I do occasionally spend the day going to the Indianapolis Colts game with one of the older boys. They both have sets of season tickets.  My daughter is so busy raising her family now, but we get some time together.  I value the quality time with my children.

Life is about taking moments when they come with no regrets.  I need to be healthy to enjoy life and be around longer, so exercise and diet is a priority.  My first priority is to myself and my family.  Part of being healthy is being happy.  My family makes me happy!

Friday's Friends & Gym Plans Foiled By Mother Nature

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

I have decided to use Friday to say Thank You to some people who haves motivated me each week.  I am just getting started and some people have been very kind and commented to help me through some things.  Others have motivated just by their posts.  I have spent a lot of time reading other people's posts.  There are some great ones out there!

This weeks  Friday's Friends are:

Sky n Surf
Miles For Seconds
Believing in Myself
Diary of An Aspiring Loser
Daily Thoughts

Thanks to all of you.  Take a look at their blogs, if you haven't already.  They all have very inspiring stories.

Now, on to my Gym Plans.  We got freezing rain and sleet through most of the night.  My husband and son are sitting at home too!  Schools are closed.  I don't think I can go to the gym.  It's a half hour drive one way so I don't think it makes sense to get out on icy roads.  If the temperature comes up enough later in the day maybe I can try it then.  Exercising with the two of them at home is not possible.  They stand around and laugh at me.  The distraction is too much.

Make Friends at the Gym!!!!!

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

Today when I went to the gym I realized what I had been doing wrong.  When I used to go to the gym all the time and my weight was where it should be I did things differently.  I joined with friends, and I know that helped.  The main difference though was my friends and I were having a good time and got to know everyone who came to the gym around the times we did.  We talked to all the women in the locker room and when we went to classes. On the days that my friends couldn't be there I felt very comfortable because it  was liking being at home.  My friend got so comfortable there that she went to work for their weight loss division.  She worked there for about 3 years.

When I started back to the gym this last week I took my headphones and wore them the whole time I was there.  I talked to the person at the front desk who checked me in and out.  One of the trainers was standing there and asked me about my son.  He trained my son a few years ago.  He was the only person working there that I even recognized.  It is a cold and unfriendly atmosphere.  I need to change that!

When I went to the locker rooms I thought it is up to me to make this into my friendly place.  I was sitting in the locker room and three ladies came in from swimming class.  They were talking to each other and seemed very happy.  I heard them having a conversation about bras.  One of them had found a great place to find  custom bras.  Well, here was my chance!  I said, "I am so sorry to interrupt, but I overheard you talking about bras.  Where is this place your were talking about?"  The woman was really glad to tell me.  People like being the person that knows something that everyone wants to know.  She gave me all the details and said this place would be very good for you, since you are well-endowed.  All women can talk about bras.  I put the information in my phone and thanked her.  I needed to get to my work-out.  

Anyone who came near me while I was working out got a smile and a hello.  I still wore my headphones, but I didn't go away by myself.  

I don't like being bothered when I am working out, because I want to get my workout done.  I just want to feel good about being there and enjoying people.  I always enjoy people!  There are some people that don't like being talked to at all, but that is pretty easy to see.  Most people enjoy a comment or a smile.  

When I used to miss a workout, someone would say, "I missed you yesterday!"  It's good to belong and feel like people notice whether you are there or not.  

Please take the time to give and receive a comment or a smile at the gym.  I think it will make you happier and healthier.

Wow I don't look very happy there, do I?  It's hard to take a picture of yourself!

Don't read this blog!! Okay maybe you can.

I have kept this blog hidden from my family and friends. Why is that? I don't want them to know my true weight. This has always been an issue for me. I can put this out here for strangers because if they are judging me I don't have to see them.

I don't want people I know and love to read my thoughts about my body. Will they have less respect for me? Will they love me less?

They see me all the time, they know what I look like. They just don't know how it makes me feel. Should I be able to allow others to know how I feel about getting too heavy and getting flabby. Are other people having the same kinds of feelings about how they feel about their own bodies?

I know and understand that we should all love who we are. I have been able to do that about most things. Body image is still a problem for me. When I was young I was thin and now I can say I had a fabulous body. At the time I probably wouldn't have said that. I'm sure I could have found something wrong with that body too! Why do I do this?

I will think I have gotten to the point to accept myself for who I am, body and all, and then I realize I haven't. A friend who knows I am blogging, asked about where this blog was and I wouldn't tell her. She laughed and said, "your not sharing?" She reads my genealogy blog every day. I wouldn't give her this blog. I don't have it listed on my google profile. I know it has my name listed when i post it. She could find it if she tries. She is heavier than I am, but that doesn't even matter. How my body looks to me has nothing to do with how other people look. It is just something inside my brain. I understand how people can become anorexic. What they see is not what others see. Why is body image such a important issue to us?

I hope someday we can figure out that as long as we are healthy and happy are bodies are perfect. Did our great grandmothers worry about their bodies. I guess so with those horrible corsets they wore to keep their waists tiny. Speaking of that, I had a 22 inch waist after having three children and I wasn't happy with that. Our mothers and grandmothers even wore girdles so tight they couldn't take deep breaths.

Ok i guess I have talked myself into making a stand. I am going to add my blog to my google profile today. Maybe in a day or two I will tell me friend the name of my blog. No, probably not! It will take a little longer to get that open with it. Maybe after I have lost twenty pounds.

WELL OFF TO THE GYM!!!!

Slim For Life - It is Possible!!

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

This afternoon I was watching the The Anderson Cooper Show and he had Jilliam Michaels on as a guest.  She talked about her book Slim For Life.  Now I don't particularly care for Jillian on The Biggest Loser but the things she said really made sense to me.

Her two main points were:

• Eat Less
• Move More

Sounds simple enough.  Why do we have such a hard time doing it?  She says if 80% of our calories come from  healthy choices and 20% come from treats that you will always do fine.  

Now I believe her idea of treats and mine may be entirely different.

She says that you should always read the labels of foods and check for the first three ingredients and serving sizes.  If something says it has 2 1/2 servings, unless you are going to invite 1 1/2 people to share it with you then you probably should make a different choice.  She said you can eat chocolate as long as it's healthy chocolate and she pointed out that a Hershey bar doesn't qualify as healthy chocolate.  

Sugar hides on the label in many forms.  Most of those end in ose, such as fructose, dextrose, sucrose, etc.  Food manufactures scatter those through the ingredients list so you will be fooled as to how much sugar in really in the food product and to try to keep it from being in the top three.  So basically, you need to add all the oses up.

I haven't read the book, but I believe it says all the things we already know.

Tomorrow I go to the gym!!  We have a winter storm coming in so hopefully it will hold off until much later in the day.

Do You Blog in Your Brain All Day?

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

I started two blogs on my family history in late December.  Then I decided to start this blog about 3 weeks ago. I thought, "Hey, maybe this will help me to get healthy and in shape.  I can create a support group through a blog."   I don't know if it is because I am knew at it, but I seem to blogging in my head all day.  When something happens or I do something, I think, how can I put that in my blog.  

I don't know if this is a common phenomenon or if I am just weird.  Will I outgrow this?  Is it just because I am knew at this or do people who have been blogging for a while still do this?

Okay, now that I have that out of my system, I got up feeling BLOATED today.  I hate when that happens!  Don't you?  

I need exercise!  I don't know, maybe I need to pull that P90X out of the box and try it by myself.  I have so much to do today.  I guess on the days I go to the gym it takes so much time out of my day, since I have an hour round trip just to get there, that I feel like I need to get other things done on the off-Gym days.

MY COMMITMENT FOR THE DAY - EAT HEALTHY AND TRY TO GET SOME MOVING AROUND DONE.

I hope my blog doesn't have this effect on you!

The Secrets of Happy Families - Go Out and Play

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

This isn't about weight loss, but I saw something I found interesting on the news tonight.  They were talking to Bruce Feiler about his new book The Secrets of Happy Families.  He says families should be like teams.   Like a Navy Seal team, where everyone cooperates.  Every member should have a say, and their opinions matter.  Things should be planned out by the group.  

He has a new approach to family dynamics.  You know, it might be worth a try.  I think I am going to get the book just to find out what it's all about.  I only have one child still at home and he will be off to college in a few months.  Who knows, it might still have some information that we could use.  Maybe it could even be adapted to married couples.

Three of the things that he mentioned were:

• Adapt all the time
• Talk a lot
• Go out and play

I think all of the above would be positive for a married couple.  Sometimes we get set in our ways and don't like change.  Most married couples don't really talk.  And going out to play keeps things fun and happy.

So go buy the book!  I am not affiliated with the book or making any money off it either, I just think the plan sounds very good. 

The Gym Was Calling My Name!

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

This morning I got up feeling light-headed and just overall crummy. I thought maybe if I ate I would feel better. For a while after I ate I felt worse. In a hour or so I felt a little better.

The gym kept calling my name. In my mind I kept hearing "if you miss today, it will be easier to miss the next time and soon you won't be going at all". So I pulled myself together and headed to the gym. It was almost noon when I got there. I made it!

I enjoyed working out. I still don't feel great but I feel like I accomplished something. I am at the point where if I miss, I can easily quit. Maybe next month after I have established a routine it will not be as important to get there every time. But today I think it was.

What's Wrong With Me?

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

I got up early and fixed my son's breakfast. I decided to lay back down and read. I was back asleep within minutes and slept until 9:30.

This is my gym day. I was all excited about going and then I overslept, which puts a crunch on my day. I got up and started moving around and realized I feel light headed and just not quite right. My head hurts. I moved around a little and decided I had better eat and take it easy for a little bit to see how I feel. I don't want to get sick at the gym.

I need to go to the gym or this will screw up my entire week. I feel so off-kilter though. I started thinking back and wondering if I ate enough calories yesterday. I am pretty sure I did.

After eating, I don't think I'm feeling better, possibly worse. Oh wonderful! I don't want to be sick!

I give it a 1/2 hour before I decide whether to head to the gym.

Why is Exercise Such A Difficult Issue?

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

I have been giving some thought to my exercise options.  I love going to the gym.  Once I get there I have no excuses for not working out.  I'm there, I should do it.  

My problem is I live in a small rural area.  It is a 1/2 hour drive to the gym.  With gas prices that just seems crazy.  My friend says she might go with me in March, but her big issue is the cost of the gym and the cost of gas.

I was sitting thinking today.  I know several people who have done well on the P90X program.  I have the original program.  I haven't used it, but I do have it.  I have been thinking it might be a good idea to see if one of the churches would let us have a workout class there.  We could just use the P90X tapes and do our workout together.  I know it is a hard workout, but I'm sure there could be modification.  I don't know if I could get others involved.  It would be difficult finding people who are available in the mornings.  I have to do mornings, as soon as baseball season starts I will be going to games in the evening.  

I have been thinking that if it an issue for the two of us, others may have the same thoughts.  

It would be inexpensive.  There would not be any charge for the class unless we have to pay a fee for the room.  Sometimes the churches will allow people to use their rooms if you aren't making money on it.

Any ideas?  Does this sound like a dumb idea?  I would be building my own support group. 

This is so my husband!!

Today is a new day! This is the only day that counts!

My husband loves to feed me.  He does the same thing to my son.  The three of us decided that last Monday we would all start eating healthier.  So here comes Wednesday, it's Valentines Day. He walks in with a chocolate cake.  Gee thanks!

My husband thought we were both mean because we turned down his cake and made him eat it alone.

I saw this cartoon today so I had to post it.

Looking in the Mirror!

I have been looking in the mirror at myself with no clothes. I look worse than I have ever looked. In the past when I have gained weight. I used to be able to see some firmness under the flab. Now everything seems to be hanging.

I imagine what it would look like it I got a nip and tuck. You know at times it seems like that would be so easy. Just have them tighten everything up. Physically I would look better, but would it improve my health. Probably not!

My best friend went in and had surgery a few years ago. She had several surgery scars on her abdomen before she had the surgery. She hated the way her body looked. She spent $17,000 on plastic surgery. New boobs, tummy tuck, and leg and butt lift.

Was she happy? At first she loved her new look. Her scars looked so much better, so that was great for her. She told me if she had it to do over, she wouldn't do it. The pain was horrible. She had to lose weight to have the surgery. After the surgery she still has the same weight issues she had before. She still has a much tighter abdomen though. She got bigger boobs and now she struggles with finding a bra that fits properly. I really don't feel she is any happier with her body than before.

I could do lots of things with $17,000 that would make me much happier. When I think about surgery, I tell myself I can lose weight and exercise. Then I can take the money I saved and go to Paris. I love Paris! A week in Paris would make me happy for a while. I could probably get three trips with that money, that's about three years of happy. So unless I win the lottery and just have more money than I know what to do with, I probably will never have surgery. I also don't think the risks are worth the outcome,

I guess this means I am going to have to just work harder to make the woman in the mirror more to my liking. And I guess I also need to remember that she is nearing 60.

It here! Weigh in! my first week results.

Thank goodness, I have made it through my first week. I think the first week is the hardest. I had several challenges this week and I hurdled them all. There was Valentines Day and two birthday parties. I stayed away from cake on three separate occasions. That is a major victory!

I haven't gone to the scale yet. I am putting that off. I decided to write first then go weigh in.

They called last night to remind me of my doctor's appointment on Tuesday. I cancelled it! My husband said I was bing stupid. I need a few more weeks to get in better shape before I go. Maybe just two or three. I just don't want to have my weight this high when I go in. I know my husband is right, it was dumb. It was just a reaction, before I gave it any real thought. I had been thinking I was scheduled for early March. It came as a surprise when the call came. So I just reacted.

Okay, before we all get to excited, my scale is three pounds light.  So that means I am at 180.0.  Last week I weighed 184.5.  So I am down 4.5 pounds.  Since this is the first week, there is probably a lot of water loss in that number.  But hey, 4.5 pounds is 4.5 pounds lighter than I was last week.  I don't expect to continue at this rate, but I hope this is motivation for a few days.

SO WEEK ONE:  DOWN 4.5 POUNDS!!!!

Another Day, Another hurdle!

I had a wonderful time with family today. My daughter's house was the location of a party for her two sons. The oldest one turns ten in March, the little one was five last week. Today's party was a combined party for the two of them with family. We had a large group of people there. There was a birthday cake for each birthday boy. They served snacks and pizza.

I feel like I did pretty well at the party. I didn't even go near the cake and ice cream. She had wings, I only ate one. They were a few other unhealthy looking things. I stayed away from those. I ate a small piece of supreme pizza and a small piece of cheese pizza. Seriously, they were very small pieces. I think I did okay. Those things are not something that cause me to go haywire. If I had eaten the cake, I would have gone off on a sugar high. I would have been scouring my kitchen this evening looking for something sweet to put into my mouth.

I AM A SUGAR ADDICT!!!! I can not handle sugar responsibly.

I haven't gotten any exercise in today. I didn't really yesterday either, but running around keeping up with five year olds used up lots of energy.

I am changing my gym schedule. I was going Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I don't like the gym on those days. It is too crowded and I have to wait on equipment. Since Monday is President's Day and my son will be home from school, it is a good week to change. My plan is to go on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. It shouldn't be nearly as crowded and I can accomplish more during my time there.

Party one is over!

Today I went to my older grandson's basketball game.  They lost!  Next, it was on to the friends party.  It was a party at a indoor play area, with bouncing and climbing, lazer tag, and arcades.  A five years olds party with 13 in attendance.  Needless to day, I was exhausting, but fun.

I could smell the birthday cake!  There was pizza, birthday cake, and ice cream.  I stopped by Panera between the game and the party and got a bowl of black bean soup and an apple.  At the party I had water.

Well I made it through the first party.  Tomorrow's party is the family party.  It is more difficult to get through, but I am determined to make it.

Challenging Day

My grandson has a friend party today and a family party tomorrow.

My biggest challenge is birthday cake. I am a sugar addict. I will believe I can eat one small piece. Then I am eating a whole cake. After that comes eating frosting out of a can! I just can't eat things that are predominantly sugar. Sugar is like a drug. If I stay away from sugar my weight melts away.

I WILL NOT EAT ANY BIRTHDAY CAKE THIS WEEKEND!!!

My workout was great!! Nice to get into the groove.

I went to the gym, actually worked hard today.  I will probably be sore this weekend.

I had lunch with a friend of 30 years.  Her birthday was last Friday, but she had gone to Chicago to see her son.  We had a long lunch and caught up on things.  She was my old work out partner.  I worked on her at lunch, trying to convince her to start working out with me again.  She says maybe after the first of March.  I asked her if she might have time to go for a walk once or twice a week.  Maybe??  I need someone to motivate and to help keep me motivated.  We'll see.

She wanted to eat at Cracker Barrel.  I had grilled chicken tenderloins, turnip greens, and pinto beans.  I drank water, three glasses full, I must have been thirsty from the work out.  I turned down the bread.  I am avoiding wheat and sugar.

Overall, the day went pretty well.  I'm going to watch the high school kids play basketball tonight.

Off to the gym-Excited about my workout

I am posting quickly this morning. I did sneak a peak at the scale. It is moving. Will update on Monday. I have a friend's birthday lunch after the gym. Will try to stay healthy. As soon as I can get my dog back in the house I have to move it-move it. She is outside chasing squirrels.

It's hard to believe but I am really ready to hit the gym today. That's good!

It's snowing outside again though. I am so ready for spring.

She didn't catch a squirrel but she would like a treat.

A Lot of Hard Work Needed

I still didn't have the motivation I needed.  I didn't make time for exercise.  They day isn't over, so maybe I can do something yet this evening.

My morning went haywire.  My husband was really stressed over his paper this morning and took up quite a bit of my time.  My grown son texted me and wanted me to do some things for him.  He was tied up in meetings today.  As soon as that was all taken care of, my grown daughter called, and while we were talking, someone rear ended her at the stoplight.  It became a very stressful morning.  After taking a couple of Advil, I decided to go out and eat lunch.  I called a friend that is having major problems at home.  I spent a couple of hours listening to her.  I guess my life is not so bad.

I came back home and did a little work.  Then my husband wanted to take me out for Valentine's Day.  So, we went to have dinner.  My wonderful husband, trying to be sweet, brought me home a delicious looking chocolate cake.  I think I may have hurt his feelings when I said, "I told you I wasn't eating that stuff, I'm on a diet!"  Then I toned it down and told him it was a great idea, but I can't have that.  If I eat that I won't stop and there goes my diet.  He said, "I'm never buying you another Valentine's gift."  He will, he would buy me anything I wanted.  He's like that.

Today for lunch I went to Panda Express.  I probably had a little more than I should have.  All entrees were grilled chicken.   I didn't eat very much rice.  Unfortunately I hadn't had breakfast again.  At dinner tonight I didn't order much.  I had lettuce wraps, didn't use the peanut sauce or the crispy noodle things. My husband also got me a lobster, but I brought it home for my son.  I am having a few strawberries this evening.

Well tomorrow I go back to the gym.  That will be a better day for me.  

What's My motivation?

I woke up this morning at 6:45, after going to bed at 1:15.  My dog came to my bed and wated to go out or I would still be dozing happily away.  I'm thinking should I go back to sleep or do I need to get moving for the day,   This is a non-gym day, but I have oodles to get done.

My husband needs some help on something he is working on today. I loaded the tax program yesterday, need to get those taxes done. I have got to get an exercise routine planned for my non-gym days. If I continue to just wing it day to day I won't get anything down. That's pretty much how it went on Tuesday. I didn't have a plan in place, and I had a list in my head of other things to get done, so the other things won out. A true plan is harder to skip over.

My eating went very well yesterday. Now I am laying here thinking how great some sweets would be.  I am a sugaraholic.  This reminds me of the delicious macaroons in France. You can even by them at McDonald's,  Of course, on my last trio I took pictures. So I'll post one for you.

I think I am going to take a little nap. When I get up I promise to exercise.  I can't let my one loyal reader down, can I?

How to Get Healthy And Enjoy It!

This is day 3 and I am really pumped up today.  The days I go to the gym I am so much more motivated all day long.  The problem is the gym is 30 minutes away and costs me lots of gas money.  I had decided to only go 3 times per week, so I have to find something that motivates me on the other days.  I need to find something fun and that I really enjoy doing.  

Seriously, after the workout today I came home and had so much energy I started doing major house cleaning.  So I really got a second workout.  Now, how can I get that feeling every day?  It would be great to feel like really cleaning house every day?

My son graduates high school in June.  I have to plan an open house here.  I really need to totally clean out everything.  And when I was cleaning the floors in the kitchen today, I decided I really need to repaint.  I have been sitting around for a few months and not thinking like this.  I'm telling you that's what exercise does to me.

I ate pretty well today too!  I skipped breakfast (bad idea).  I had too many things to do and didn't want to take the time. After workout I was starving.  I stopped at Panera, by myself, and ate a bowl of their vegetable soup (150 calories) and had an apple, with a large glass of water.  My dinner this evening was a large salad and pork.  I cooked a pork roast in the crockpot today.  I'm sure I'll be crunching on carrot and celery sticks later.

I still have to come up with an enjoyable exercise for the non-gym days.  One of my friends will occasionally call to walk in the state park.  She works lots though, so that's not very often.  The state park is 30 minutes away also. so that doesn't help with the gas situation.  I really enjoy the walks in the park.  We can walk for an hour or two and talk.  It is up and down steep hills.  If I could find a friend who is available on the non-gym days and a great place to walk nearby that would work.

When I do things that take an hour round trip and an hour of more of workout it also eats up a lot of my day.  
I need to do things other than exercise.  Maybe in the spring I could just ride my bike around my home area. Still that's boring to do by yourself and since I'm in a little town, I have to stop at all the streets.

Well I guess there it more work to figuring out those non-gym days.  Any suggestions?

Another day. Another excuse

Another day, another excuse! That's the way my weight loss and health issues have gone for awhile.  I am trying to change that.  I can't get discouraged by not completing a short-term goal and just remember my long-term goal can be reached through some small steps along with the giant leaps.  I must just continue toward my goal.

Today is gym day.  I am a little sore today. Yesterday I thought my weight work out on Monday must have been too easy because I wasn't sore. I guess it was about right because I am just sore enough to feel it but I can still move without winching,  That's good.

Okay workout today,  work on my blogs, taxes, housework and take my dog a walk.  Just a few of my goals for the day.

I Made Half My Goal For Today

I did okay on my food today.  Since I didn't go to the gym for exercise, I kept putting it off and doing other things.  In the evening with my husband and son home it is just difficult to exercise.  I will go to the gym tomorrow.  

Day 2 - Harder than day 1

Yesterday I was all hyped up.  I was just getting started. Today is like, oh gosh, I have to do this again.

I'm still in bed thinking what do I have to do today.  First thing, get on the scale, surely I've dropped five pounds since yesterday.  Then I think, maybe I should only weigh myself nice a week.  Then you don't see as many ups and downs and get discouraged. I still haven't decided.  Maybe I'll weigh every day but only put my weight on once a week.

If I get up I have to figure out what to eat today.  As long as I lay here, I don't have to really make any decisions.  Maybe I shouldn't get out of bed today.  Oh but I promised myself and you that I would do some sort of exercise daily. Do leg lifts count. I can do those and stay right here.

Now that that!!!! You will get moving!!! Moving is the most productive part of weight loss.

I am not going to the gym today.  I am only going there on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It's a pretty decent drive and I can't use up that much gas.  It's too expensive.  I will have to walk and do some exercise at home.  I got the original P90X package, I have never used it.  Maybe I could break that out today. Okay, I'm already starting to feel a little motivated.  Gotta go before I slip back into my bed and get comfy.

I did it! I made it to the gym for a workout.

Okay, this is finally day one.  I pulled my out of bed this morning for the second time.  I had been up earlier cooking breakfast.  I took some before pictures and weighted in.  Ugghh!!  I never like telling anyone what I weigh, but this is supposed to help me, so here goes.  I weighed in at a whopping 184.5 pounds.  This is disgusting.  I haven't been on the scale for a while.  I am back to where I was a year ago. I go to my doctor next month.  He's not gonna be happy.  I'm 5 ft 4 3/4 inches.  I should probably weight about 145 according to weight watchers.  So I guess I have 40 pounds to lose.  I am almost 60 years old so it gets harder to lose the weight.  I took my own pictures with my cell phone so they're not great.

Okay there is the gut I have been talking about.  And the butt definitely needs firming.  Here is the pictures to prove I went to the gym.

I walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes, then I worked out on the weight machines.  Didn't go crazy I want to be able to move tomorrow.

For lunch today I had a favorite for me.  Grilled chicken tenderloins and a double order of turnip greens at Cracker Barrell.  I was too hungry to fix anything.  It was after lunch time when I got done at the gym.

Well tonight's dinner will be Grilled Salmon, Cottage Cheese and Salad.  I might have some grapes or some applesauce for a snack later.  I usually snack on pickles if I want something crunchy.  I know they have lots of sodium, but I love them.

Well wish me luck on getting through day 1.  The first few days are always the hardest.

Day one: Let's Get Something Started

Okay I woke up at 6:45. I got up and cooked breakfast for my husband and son before they took off for work and school.  I had some scrambled eggs and a little sausage. I need protein for my workout later.

I laid back down and used my iPad to check all my friends blogs for the morning. I was up until after 2. I just wasn't sleepy.  Now I'm tired. I can't talk myself out of working out. I really miss having a work out partner. There is just no one that I can talk into it right now.  I had a friend who was going to start with me a few weeks ago but she keeps making excuses so I have given up on her.  I should have just started back then.

I can't figure out how to get everything done in a day.  That's probably why I'm up so late.  I need to get house work done, cook, exercise, work on my new blogs, ( I have started 2 new blogs on my family history) research for my blogs, study French, (i purchased the complete Rosetta Stone package last month) and job hunt.  And I need to do all that before lunch!

How does life get so full and you get thrown to the back burner? I know my exercise should be a priority. As I have gotten older the health issues have become involved.  My older siblings are all diabetics now, do I want that? Of course not. The question is: how bad do I not want it? My doctor says exercise is the best way to get from getting it. Such a simple solution, so difficult to do.

When I get myself dragged out of bed I will weight and take my before pics!  In the meantime, here is a picture of my dog. She's prettier anyway!

Am I ready? My Diet Plan

I need to get started early tomorrow and eat breakfast, then head off to the gym.  Last year about this time I started with full intentions to get into great shape.  The first day I went to Curves to work out.  Well I did my workout and then just about passed out.  My blood pressure had skyrocketed.  I wasn't allowed to work out again until I saw my doctor.

The doctor wouldn't let me work out for two weeks.  I had to start taking a new blood pressure medicine and a cholesterol medicine.  Lovely!!  I did really well, started to get in good shape, had lost about 18 pounds and then I had to start traveling with my son for his summer travel ball league.  We were out of town about four days a week.  When that slowed down a bit the Curves I had been going to went out of business.  It was just hard to start somewhere else.  I had built friendships there and felt like I belonged.  So I just quit!!

This time I need to stay with it.  I am not going to be able to eat all the great foods I would like to eat anymore, at least not as often.

I have decided to start with a diet of very little processed foods and no foods with lots of processed sugar.  I have done this before and it worked very well.  That will get me started and get the sweets out of my system.
This means I can eat meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and maybe a little dairy.

If I could have my choice it would be something like this:  I had this meal in the Bavarian area of Germany a few months ago.  I love

Tomorrow- The Start of My Transformation

Okay I keep telling myself this is going to work!  I am going to change my diet and lifestyle forever.  Of course, I still have today to eat anything I want.  Oh, if only I could go to Paris and eat today.  I was in Paris twice in the past year, and the food there is heavenly.  Truth is, I walked so much while I was there that I came home a couple of pounds lighter.

Paris, the city of beauty and food.  I have the most wonderful dreams of eating more meals like this in Paris. This was my lunch one day in a little bistro.  The place was packed and the food was fabulous.  My friend's pasta had a egg yolk on top of it too!  You can see it in the back of the picture. s

Ok, I am still sitting in my house, no fantastic meal sitting in front of me.  My husband wants to go eat at Olive Garden.  Is that an appropriate last meal before my life changes.  It really doesn't sound all that exciting, but someone else is cooking it for me, so I'll go for it.

Check back tomorrow for the start of things to come!

Should I go for the Wheat Belly diet?

A few months ago I read the book "Wheat Belly".  My husband and I went on the diet for a while.  We were  both losing weight.  Of course, he was eating worse than me and losing more weight.  It worked fine until I went on my trip to Europe.  So have you ever been  to Paris and not eaten wheat?  Well I certainly haven't

So should I go back and give this one another try.  If I intend to keep the weight off long term and this one didn't work long term  why try again.  But then is it the fault of the diet or the fault of the dieter.  Is there any diet that will work long term.  I have to decide where I'm starting soon.   Maybe I need to wait another week so I can get this figured out.  That way I get another week to eat what I want, but one week longer to making my gut disappears and to tighten up those butt muscles.

Countdown 1 more day!   Maybe?

2 Day Countdown to Body Makeover

Well I have 2 days before I start my new diet and exercise revolution. This means I can eat anything I want today and tomorrow. Right?  Okay, good because hubby and I went to McDonald's this morning for breakfast.

No I didn't find anything healthy. I had bisquits and gravy, with a sausage patty. It was so good!  Don't tell I shouldn't have it! Diet starts Monday, not today.

My Husband - One of Biggest Obstacles

Okay, so now my husband had started a diet.  His idea of a diet is to pretty much eat what he wants.  I think he has cut back some on desserts, and maybe just eating a little less of other things.  But guess what?  He has already lost weight.

Why, oh why is it that he can eat anything he wants and really never gain more than 15 pounds?  Are you husbands like that to?

Then to top it off he is always offering me food, like I don't know what I should eat.  I can't eat the stuff he eats.  It's hard enough to not eat things, but when someone is putting them right in your face and says, "Why can't you have just a little?"

Okay that's my rant for the moment.  I am still thinking about starting this diet thing.  You never start a diet before Monday.

Oh yeah, and he decided we needed to go to a bar and have 1/2 price appetizers tonight.  Fried pickles and hot wings.  Ok, so I had already blown it.  To top it off I ate a banana with Nutella  and whipped cream on it.  Delicious!!

Source: howtolosefatonstomachfast.com via John on Pinterest

How Can I Lose Fat?

I have been thinking about this for a long time.  I have been able to lose my gut and firm my butt several times over the years.  The biggest challenge for me is to keep it that way.

I am a little older and I have 4 grown children.  I have spent years working on my body, hard to tell by looking now.

I plan to start a new plan on February 11, 2013 and this time I plan on it working forever.  Those of you out there that need to do this please come along with me.  I am going to blog on my trials and tribulations daily.  Any great hints or if you just want to follow along so you can laugh at me when I hit landslides, that works too.

I am going to spend the weekend researching eating plans and deciding which route to take.  Any suggestions?  

You don't get any fat pictures today, maybe when I start on Monday.  I know you need progressive pictures to see how I am doing.  I hate taking pictures of me, especially fat pictures. Uggh!!!  I guess I'll put some beginning weight stats up then too.

Okay get ready to follow along and please I need all the help I can get!

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