Sunday, January 10, 2010
Lunch!
I need to know what you all eat for lunch when you are "dieting" or trying to be more healthy???? I keep eating the same things EVERY day & I'm getting bored! Please help me.....I need some yummy ideas!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
5 Steps to a Workable Goal
5 Steps to a Workable New Year's Resolution
Who hasn't spent a New Year's Eve resolving to be svelte by spring? Then by mid-February, you've sold your rowing machine and bought a new couch. Follow five steps to make this year your most successful yet.
For many people, a new year's resolution is a highly personal goal that, if fulfilled, becomes a "private victory." But whether you keep things quiet by accident or by design, you are giving yourself an out: You can fall off track, and no one will be the wiser.
On the other hand, you are more likely to follow through with your resolutions if you share them with the significant people in your life.
Which brings us to our five-step resolution-reaching plan.
1. Make your resolutions public
Share them with one or more people so they can help you stay on track. If you let your friends and family in on your dream, you can use their support to help you make it a reality.
2. Write down your resolution
But don't stop there: Also include the steps you will take to keep it. According to Laura Hess, a Nevada-based personal and business coach, having a clearly articulated goal and a plan of action is vital for success.
3. Keep things simple
Break a big goal into a series of smaller goals. Want to lose 50 pounds? Shoot for losing 5 percent of your body weight first, or set five 10-pound incremental weight-loss goals.
4. Mark your achievements
Each time you make a small lifestyle change aimed at reaching your goal — adding five minutes to your daily walk, for instance — put a star on your calendar so you can see your progress.
5. Make small changes
If weight loss or a healthier lifestyle is your goal, put a bowl of fruit or vegetable pieces front and center in the fridge, and hide the cookie jar behind the oatmeal. Each week, try a new low-fat cereal or an exotic fruit or a vegetable you haven't tasted before. Stash away your car keys for a weekend and challenge yourself to walk wherever you need to go. Lose the deep-fat fryer, too, and steam, bake or microwave your food.
Who hasn't spent a New Year's Eve resolving to be svelte by spring? Then by mid-February, you've sold your rowing machine and bought a new couch. Follow five steps to make this year your most successful yet.
For many people, a new year's resolution is a highly personal goal that, if fulfilled, becomes a "private victory." But whether you keep things quiet by accident or by design, you are giving yourself an out: You can fall off track, and no one will be the wiser.
On the other hand, you are more likely to follow through with your resolutions if you share them with the significant people in your life.
Which brings us to our five-step resolution-reaching plan.
1. Make your resolutions public
Share them with one or more people so they can help you stay on track. If you let your friends and family in on your dream, you can use their support to help you make it a reality.
2. Write down your resolution
But don't stop there: Also include the steps you will take to keep it. According to Laura Hess, a Nevada-based personal and business coach, having a clearly articulated goal and a plan of action is vital for success.
3. Keep things simple
Break a big goal into a series of smaller goals. Want to lose 50 pounds? Shoot for losing 5 percent of your body weight first, or set five 10-pound incremental weight-loss goals.
4. Mark your achievements
Each time you make a small lifestyle change aimed at reaching your goal — adding five minutes to your daily walk, for instance — put a star on your calendar so you can see your progress.
5. Make small changes
If weight loss or a healthier lifestyle is your goal, put a bowl of fruit or vegetable pieces front and center in the fridge, and hide the cookie jar behind the oatmeal. Each week, try a new low-fat cereal or an exotic fruit or a vegetable you haven't tasted before. Stash away your car keys for a weekend and challenge yourself to walk wherever you need to go. Lose the deep-fat fryer, too, and steam, bake or microwave your food.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
MY LIFE WITH PCOS
One day, while sitting at the kitchen table, my brother Jake said "Wow you have a lot of hair on your chin!" I ran downstairs to my bathroom. I was mortified to find that he was telling the truth. I quickly shaved it off.Than at 18 I went to my Gyno because I was getting on Acutane for my Acne. During the exam my doctor said that I "may" have PCOS. After an ultrasound it was confirmed. I was given a small pamphlet and sent on my way with my birth control and Acutane. No other explanation given.
At 23 my husband and I decided to get off the birth control and start our family. After a year trying on our own - we decided fertility was the answer.
Once again the diagnosis - PCOS.
The fertility specialists told me to measure my temperature for 30 days, than clomed for the next 3 months, and then almost daily shots of Repronex in my stomach with 3 rounds of insemenations, and 15-20 days a month at the doctors office checking my ovaries. An emotional nightmare which did NOT result in pregnancy.
During this time I bought this book I pictured above. I actually bought 5 different books but this one helped me the most to really understand what PCOS was. I began using the information I read to help me get the weight off.
The doctors tell you that birth control helps, they tell you that fertility drugs help, they EVEN tell you weight loss helps. But not once - even to this day on shows such as "The Doctors" or "Dr. Oz" do they tell these women HOW to loose the weight.
I lost 55 lbs and the month after we stopped fertility treatments - I became pregnant all on my own.
My journey has been painful. Having facial hair, acne, weight problems, and just overall not feeling womanly.
Not being able to get pregnant does something to you that you just cannot explain. Especially when it feels like it's your fault.
But now I know you CAN do something about it. Without birth control, without fertility drugs, and without costly procedures which can leave you feeling drained and emotionally spent.
How To Start:
1. Buy books or go to the library and check them out. Read them. Learn about PCOS.
2. Get OFF the carbs. No more sugars (except fruit, brown rice & whole grains)
3. Get moving. Cardio and weights.
4. Be consistent. Never take a "day off". But treat yourself every once and while. Just remember that when you splurge your sugars are going to go off the chart and it will make it harder to keep going and not eat a whole bucket of red vines (if you have PCOS - you know exactly what I'm talking about).
5. Be positive. Changing the way you eat and live is hard to do. The day to day humdrum of eating healthy and finding time to exercise can be overwhelming. But when you get on the scale after that first months and you've lost 5-30 lbs it will make it all worth it.
I am not even sure if anybody wants to hear any of this. But this has honestly changed my life. I just wish I would have known about my insulin resistance, my PCOS, and my options years ago.
Sabotage
This conversation comes at a perfect time. I could probably write more than a page but am trying to hold back!
I've lost about 20 lbs (gain and lose 5) with more to go. I went to the gym the other day and was working out with skinny girls with boob jobs. I felt like dirt. After all the work I've done to lose I weight, I still felt like I wasn't good enough. Right then I realized everything I felt was in my head. I bet at least 5 out of 10 of those girls would point out something they didn't like about their body. I bet if we all sat down in a circle and just chatted, we would have all talked about something painful we are all going through. We all have some type of crutch we are searching for. That's when I realized, it's time to quit sabotaging myself. It's time to quit comparing myself to others because it doesn't do me any good. Please don't read this as if I am a pessimist, I am more of a realist. This is how I feel: it's time that we start embracing those parts of us where we feel we are lacking. One way to embrace those negative parts of ourselves is by sticking to our meal plan, no matter what. We can't hide behind food anymore. We can't give up and then call ourselves crappy names. No more self sabotaging!!! I say this to myself more than anyone.
I have learned a lot from my trainer, Neil Anderson, stud of the century!!! (don't tell him I said that, it would just go to his head. He has written some amazing articles. They were hard for me to accept but once I thought about it, his writing has helped me tremendously.
If you want to read his article you can click here. Just to warn you, he doesn't flat out say some 4-letter words but he does some **** so if you get offended by that, there's your warning. Also, he has a radio show and you can download it here. January 2nd it the interview about sabotaging and I still need to listen to it.
Oh, and my goal is to train for a triathlon I signed up for that will take place in April or May.
I've lost about 20 lbs (gain and lose 5) with more to go. I went to the gym the other day and was working out with skinny girls with boob jobs. I felt like dirt. After all the work I've done to lose I weight, I still felt like I wasn't good enough. Right then I realized everything I felt was in my head. I bet at least 5 out of 10 of those girls would point out something they didn't like about their body. I bet if we all sat down in a circle and just chatted, we would have all talked about something painful we are all going through. We all have some type of crutch we are searching for. That's when I realized, it's time to quit sabotaging myself. It's time to quit comparing myself to others because it doesn't do me any good. Please don't read this as if I am a pessimist, I am more of a realist. This is how I feel: it's time that we start embracing those parts of us where we feel we are lacking. One way to embrace those negative parts of ourselves is by sticking to our meal plan, no matter what. We can't hide behind food anymore. We can't give up and then call ourselves crappy names. No more self sabotaging!!! I say this to myself more than anyone.
I have learned a lot from my trainer, Neil Anderson, stud of the century!!! (don't tell him I said that, it would just go to his head. He has written some amazing articles. They were hard for me to accept but once I thought about it, his writing has helped me tremendously.
If you want to read his article you can click here. Just to warn you, he doesn't flat out say some 4-letter words but he does some **** so if you get offended by that, there's your warning. Also, he has a radio show and you can download it here. January 2nd it the interview about sabotaging and I still need to listen to it.
Oh, and my goal is to train for a triathlon I signed up for that will take place in April or May.
Getting the weight off my thighs AND my mind
I wanted to only write about my goals today until I read the posts by Jenn and Shelley. I can definitely relate to the negative thought patterns and poor body image. At my lowest adult weight (which was 15 pounds below my Weight Watchers goal), I didn't look any different to myself. I always thought I looked fat.
This morning I received an email from someone I used to date, though we haven't communicated in months. It was a link to a New York Times article titled, “Study Says Women With Mate Get Heavier.” He knew I have weight worries and perhaps thought that would be an easy way to take a jab at my new marriage. What the message really made me consider is that if everyone else knows the extent to which I worry about weight, I probably dwell on it way too much.
I had my fifth baby over seven weeks ago. My first goal is to get a battery for my scale. I have heard that a person should weigh weekly while trying to lose, but she should weigh daily when trying to maintain. That advice makes sense to me.
My next goal is to get to back to my pre-baby weight, which means I should lose 10 pounds. Unfortunately, my pre-baby weight is about 16 pounds over what I'd like to weigh. I also want to get back into running (ok, jogging) and start with a 5k this spring/summer.
Thank you, everyone, for sharing your experiences...it's comforting and motivating.
This morning I received an email from someone I used to date, though we haven't communicated in months. It was a link to a New York Times article titled, “Study Says Women With Mate Get Heavier.” He knew I have weight worries and perhaps thought that would be an easy way to take a jab at my new marriage. What the message really made me consider is that if everyone else knows the extent to which I worry about weight, I probably dwell on it way too much.
I had my fifth baby over seven weeks ago. My first goal is to get a battery for my scale. I have heard that a person should weigh weekly while trying to lose, but she should weigh daily when trying to maintain. That advice makes sense to me.
My next goal is to get to back to my pre-baby weight, which means I should lose 10 pounds. Unfortunately, my pre-baby weight is about 16 pounds over what I'd like to weigh. I also want to get back into running (ok, jogging) and start with a 5k this spring/summer.
Thank you, everyone, for sharing your experiences...it's comforting and motivating.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
I need to figure out a way w/o the crutch!!!
Shelley....thanks so much for sharing this story with us. It made me realize that I'm not alone. When I was 18-27 yrs old....I had a different "form" of anorexia.....I was addicted to Diet Drugs. In high school, I weighed about 140 which is normal for someone that is 5'7.....but all my friends were tiny...so I turned to diet drugs to lose weight. I took way too many & almost passed out a few times....I wouldn't eat much either. I got down to 110 lbs & looked horrible. At the time, I thought I looked great, but looking back now...I see how horrible I looked. When I was 26, they banned these diet drugs from the market because people were having heart attacks & dying. I was devastated w/o my diet drugs. I tried a bunch of other stuff I found in the grocery store & it didn't work & I started gaining weight back. That was my crutch...I couldn't lose weight on my own....I needed that crutch!!! Now I'm all grown-up with kids....I just can't seem to get down to the weight I want. I always have that crutch in the back of my mind & wish I could have it back. I'm afraid to say it, but if those diet drugs came back on the market, I'm positive I would buy them again! Crazy, I know! I have been trying so hard for 10 years to get back on track with my weight & feel good about myself again. I need to find a new crutch....something healthy or just find the courage to achieve my goals w/o the stupid crutch!!!! I am so happy that all of you are willing to contribute to this blog & help me with this battle. THANK YOU SO MUCH! This means so much to me! :0)
Eating Disorders and Negative Thoughts
I am writing this to share my experience because I don't think I am alone, and it is something that I am still dealing with! Here I sit, watching Biggest Loser. Eight and a half months pregnant...huge for a reason:)... and yet when I watch them weigh in and say how they feel, I feel like I am one of them. I feel larger than the rest, like I stick out, and very conspicuous in a group if that makes sense! To give a back ground- before my pregnancy I was a normal weight. To be honest- I started my pregnancy up 10 lbs from my normal weight which was 150- which is healthy for my height- 5'7". In jr. high and high school, I dealt with anorexia. Not to an extreme of being hospitalized, but it started in 7th grade and I lost 30 lbs. Like I said, when I sat with a group of kids I felt like a giant huge person filling the hall way. When in fact at that time I was a size 7!!!
I guess why I think sharing this is valid, is because even though I received help- and really felt I over came this- no matter what I do sometimes these thoughts and feelings still overwhelm me. I can go from a positive plan/program and feeling like I can do it! to so so negative and desperate! I have had one time that I really felt success and strong in this area. When I did Body For Life For Women. It was 3 1/2 years ago, I lost 30 lbs in 2 1/2 months and felt amazing! This program really works and is normal healthy eating with an exercise plan that is not too hard. The book was key to my motivation.
Tell me what you do when negative thoughts and desperate moments come to you! Like I said, mostly I am ok, but honestly these thoughts still come regularly. I hope everyone has the success they are seeking from this!
I guess why I think sharing this is valid, is because even though I received help- and really felt I over came this- no matter what I do sometimes these thoughts and feelings still overwhelm me. I can go from a positive plan/program and feeling like I can do it! to so so negative and desperate! I have had one time that I really felt success and strong in this area. When I did Body For Life For Women. It was 3 1/2 years ago, I lost 30 lbs in 2 1/2 months and felt amazing! This program really works and is normal healthy eating with an exercise plan that is not too hard. The book was key to my motivation.
Tell me what you do when negative thoughts and desperate moments come to you! Like I said, mostly I am ok, but honestly these thoughts still come regularly. I hope everyone has the success they are seeking from this!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)