This has been a really good week. I've really stuck with my eating and exercise routine, and I've even started to feel the weight loss in my clothes. I was going to weigh myself every other week because I get discouraged if I haven't lost enough, but this week, I could tell I'd lost. I got on the scales, and yes, I'm down another 2 pounds. That's 10 pounds in the last 3 weeks and 25 pounds lighter than a year ago!
I had a great conversation with a co-worker at work. She had done this health assessment that we do at work if we want to have the discounted rate for the gym on campus. I didn't do it this year, as I'm committed to the early morning workouts at Parkside. My friend is in great shape--she lost a lot of weight a couple of years ago but gained back five pounds in the past year. She told me she couldn't believe how much those five pounds impacted her numbers like cholesterol and such. She told me as further motivation to stay on track, and I really appreciate it.
She also told me about this plan she read about where you make one change each week. As she said, she has this tendency to make all sorts of changes all at once, but by making one change each week, you slowly add good habits. I haven't been drinking enough water, so my change for this week is to drink at least five glasses a week and add to it until eventually, it's eight glasses.
I also wanted to mention a great find. My niece is on a no sugar diet and has talked about Lara bars. When I was at Kroger the other day, they were (and still are) on sale for $1 each. I tried them, and they are amazing. I had one for breakfast on Friday and didn't get hungry all morning. Usually when I have any kind of bar like that for breakfast, I start getting hungry mid-morning, but not with these. And they have amazing flavors. I highly recommend checking them out!
Also, we have euchre tournaments for fundraisers for our Relay for Life team. The team provides a meal, and I decided to make a recipe I found on Pinterest for Apple Pineapple Crisp. It fit my diet, my niece's no-sugar diet, a friend's gluten-free diet, plus anyone with diabetes or on Weight Watchers. My niece included the recipe on her blog with the adaptations I made. So I'll just refer you to her blog:
http://spicingupmylife.blogspot.com/
(I think her recipe for Mexican Stuffed Shells sounds amazing, too!)
Well, here's to another week of healthy eating and exercise!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Here we go!
Well, my ramped up efforts have paid off. I lost eight pounds in the past two weeks! Other than a 700-calorie splurge involving some buffalo wings,I've really been watching it. (And even then, I stayed under my daily calorie allotment.) With the beautiful weather we've been having, I've spent a little more time walking outside rather than going to the gym, but either way, I'm really trying to move more, too. I hope this soon pays off with lower blood sugar, but I know that's a process and will involve a lot more weight loss and exercise. I'm excited!
It seems like I keep losing and finding these same pounds that I've taken off. I'll be super-happy to lose another five pounds. That will put me under one of those numbers I've set my sights on for quite awhile that I've struggled to slip below. Overall, I can't complain. I'm about 20 pounds lighter than I was a year ago at this time. I'm definitely headed in the right direction, and once I break that number I'm trying to dip below, I'm never going back. It's going to be down, down, down from here on out!
OK, I'll admit it. Yes, the cake looked good this weekend, but really, it wasn't TOO much of a temptation. I didn't eat out much at all this weekend--in fact, come to think of it, I don't think I ate out at all. Every meal was at home or at my sister's, so I'm sure that helps a lot, too. And today, I made some good choices at Qdoba for lunch, so it's all good.
I'm out to win this battle, once and for all!!!
It seems like I keep losing and finding these same pounds that I've taken off. I'll be super-happy to lose another five pounds. That will put me under one of those numbers I've set my sights on for quite awhile that I've struggled to slip below. Overall, I can't complain. I'm about 20 pounds lighter than I was a year ago at this time. I'm definitely headed in the right direction, and once I break that number I'm trying to dip below, I'm never going back. It's going to be down, down, down from here on out!
OK, I'll admit it. Yes, the cake looked good this weekend, but really, it wasn't TOO much of a temptation. I didn't eat out much at all this weekend--in fact, come to think of it, I don't think I ate out at all. Every meal was at home or at my sister's, so I'm sure that helps a lot, too. And today, I made some good choices at Qdoba for lunch, so it's all good.
I'm out to win this battle, once and for all!!!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A fundraiser, fajitas and a Skinny Piggy
I've had such a good weekend! I'm super-excited because my Relay for Life team held a Pampered Chef fundraiser on Saturday and made $566 for the American Cancer Society. Along with raising money for a great cause (both of my sisters are cancer survivors, so this is a cause near and dear to my heart), but I got to enjoy some time with some many people who also are very near and dear to my heart. A fun way to raise funds!!!
The party even kept me in tune with my diet. The consultant made some awesome fajitas that were made in a baker--all healthy ingredients, nothing fried or sauteed or anything like that. It all went into the microwave and was FABULOUS!!!
I love Mexican food and my family has discovered a restaurant that is inexpensive both financially and in terms of calories. The Villas (for local people, it's right across from Taco Bell) has the most wonderful tacos for just 99 cents each. These are amazing --you can get chicken, pork, or ground beef ones. They come with lettuce, tomato, and onion. There's no cheese, but they are so extraordinarily good that I don't even miss it! Who knew??? Two pork or chicken tacos with no cheese are 340 calories. I've been doing some reading and learned that soft corn tortillas are better for you than the flour ones, and you can choose either one at this place. We went to The Villas for lunch today, and I'm happy to say it was busy. It's the fourth time I've gone there and the first time it's been busy, so I think the word is getting out. They also have wonderful tamales--the kind in the corn husk--that are also 99 cents each and about the same number of calories. So check this place out. Don't worry if you don't see this fabulous deal on the menu...just ask them about it. If you dine in, they bring chips and salsa to the table--chips are 120 calories for 10 chips and the salsa is basically "free" when it comes to calories. I count the chips so I'm sure to not overeat them--if you count them out ahead of time, it's really quite an impressive amount. Enjoy!
This afternoon, I went to the Hallmark store. I had received a coupon for 30 percent off anything in the store so thought I'd take a look around. i am sooo excited with what I found. It's a skinny piggy bank. Yeah, no kidding! The pig is thin instead of rounded and it acutally says Skinny Piggy on the side. I decided what I'm going to do is put in $1 for every pound I lose and add another $1 every time I work out. When I reach my goal, I'll have some made money to put toward a vacation or something special that I want. I am sooo excited about my skinny pig!
This morning, I read my Made to Crave devotion and really appreciated the message. It was about a temptation that the author Lysa TerKeurst had when she was in high school. She wans't a Christian at the time, but she distinctly remembers God speaking to her, telling her she was made for more than this. She compared that to those of us struggling with our weight...and food. We are made for more this! How true! And we weren't made to fail. We were made to succeed with God by our side. We were made not to worry about food or to let food be our temptation. We are made to enjoy food, yes, but in moderation. We are made to be healthy and happy and to fulfill God's plan.
I am so pumped right now! I just finished a completely healthy dinner, I've gone grocery shopping and have a fridge full of healthy foods, and I feel filled with inspiration from my book, motivation from my Skinny Piggy, and an incredible feeling that I am so very loved by God.
It just struck me, the Footsteps story. God may have to carry me from time to time, but at the same time, it's time for me to make sure I get all my steps in! Here's to a new week!
The party even kept me in tune with my diet. The consultant made some awesome fajitas that were made in a baker--all healthy ingredients, nothing fried or sauteed or anything like that. It all went into the microwave and was FABULOUS!!!
I love Mexican food and my family has discovered a restaurant that is inexpensive both financially and in terms of calories. The Villas (for local people, it's right across from Taco Bell) has the most wonderful tacos for just 99 cents each. These are amazing --you can get chicken, pork, or ground beef ones. They come with lettuce, tomato, and onion. There's no cheese, but they are so extraordinarily good that I don't even miss it! Who knew??? Two pork or chicken tacos with no cheese are 340 calories. I've been doing some reading and learned that soft corn tortillas are better for you than the flour ones, and you can choose either one at this place. We went to The Villas for lunch today, and I'm happy to say it was busy. It's the fourth time I've gone there and the first time it's been busy, so I think the word is getting out. They also have wonderful tamales--the kind in the corn husk--that are also 99 cents each and about the same number of calories. So check this place out. Don't worry if you don't see this fabulous deal on the menu...just ask them about it. If you dine in, they bring chips and salsa to the table--chips are 120 calories for 10 chips and the salsa is basically "free" when it comes to calories. I count the chips so I'm sure to not overeat them--if you count them out ahead of time, it's really quite an impressive amount. Enjoy!
This afternoon, I went to the Hallmark store. I had received a coupon for 30 percent off anything in the store so thought I'd take a look around. i am sooo excited with what I found. It's a skinny piggy bank. Yeah, no kidding! The pig is thin instead of rounded and it acutally says Skinny Piggy on the side. I decided what I'm going to do is put in $1 for every pound I lose and add another $1 every time I work out. When I reach my goal, I'll have some made money to put toward a vacation or something special that I want. I am sooo excited about my skinny pig!
This morning, I read my Made to Crave devotion and really appreciated the message. It was about a temptation that the author Lysa TerKeurst had when she was in high school. She wans't a Christian at the time, but she distinctly remembers God speaking to her, telling her she was made for more than this. She compared that to those of us struggling with our weight...and food. We are made for more this! How true! And we weren't made to fail. We were made to succeed with God by our side. We were made not to worry about food or to let food be our temptation. We are made to enjoy food, yes, but in moderation. We are made to be healthy and happy and to fulfill God's plan.
I am so pumped right now! I just finished a completely healthy dinner, I've gone grocery shopping and have a fridge full of healthy foods, and I feel filled with inspiration from my book, motivation from my Skinny Piggy, and an incredible feeling that I am so very loved by God.
It just struck me, the Footsteps story. God may have to carry me from time to time, but at the same time, it's time for me to make sure I get all my steps in! Here's to a new week!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Stepping it up
In case you didn't read last night's blog, I am on the brink of having to start using insulin for diabetes. I learned this at the doctor yesterday. Even though I knew my numbers had been up last time I went there, I was in denial. I had a blood test yesterday, and hopefully the numbers will be better, but whether they are or not, this has been enough of a scare that I am approaching my eating and exercise lifestyle with renewed vigor.
So last night, as I was trying to process all of this, I hunkered down in my house and just became a couch potato. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I didn't want to think about it. I played Facebook games and read the newspaper while watching reruns of Big Bang Theory and later, American Idol. It was great to get my mind off things, but then when I went to bed, it took me awhile to get to sleep because my mind still needed to work out everything. I had a conversation with God, and I know He is there for me as long as I let Him in. I know this can be a turning point for me to a healthier life, but last night, it just felt a little bit like the end of the world as I know it.
So I let myself cry a little and feel sorry for myself for only a little while. Before I went to sleep, I had gone through the full range of emotions that comes from knowing you are at a crossroads where you have to choose whether you are going to help yourself or let yourself continue to go in a downward spiral. There is far too much of life that I want to experience. I am not going to let food and balking at doing less than an hour of exercise prevent me from leading a full life. After a good, strong pep talk, I was able tof all asleep and woke up this morning with a good outlook.
I know that going out to eat frequently has undoubtedly added to my weight issues, but at the same time, it's a very important part of my social life that is important to me. So, I really need to work on finding the right foods when I go out and be even more conscientious about it. I found this website, which lists several chain restaurants in the Peoria area with the nutritional value for the healthier choices. This will be a good start. I think I need to start a folder with menus from these restaurants and others so that when I'm out and about, I can make the right choices.
Here's the website: http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/SearchList.aspx?Code=PEORIA,%20ILLINOIS&&Miles=10
I will say this, I didn't give a second thought to getting up and working out this morning. So often, I think, "ugh!", even though I go ahead and do it. Today, I didn't think about how much I wanted to do it. I just did it.
One of the others working out at the gym finished before me and made the comment as she's leaving, "I'm so glad when that's done." That's exactly how I feel. I don't think I'll ever like working out, but I do like how it impacts my health. And that's what I need to concentrate on. I need to not look at the drudgery of working out. I need to look at the sense of accomplishment once it's done.
And the best bonus is I get to work out with my very dear friend Lynn. She is such a wonderful support and makes getting up in the morning well worth it.
So last night, as I was trying to process all of this, I hunkered down in my house and just became a couch potato. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I didn't want to think about it. I played Facebook games and read the newspaper while watching reruns of Big Bang Theory and later, American Idol. It was great to get my mind off things, but then when I went to bed, it took me awhile to get to sleep because my mind still needed to work out everything. I had a conversation with God, and I know He is there for me as long as I let Him in. I know this can be a turning point for me to a healthier life, but last night, it just felt a little bit like the end of the world as I know it.
So I let myself cry a little and feel sorry for myself for only a little while. Before I went to sleep, I had gone through the full range of emotions that comes from knowing you are at a crossroads where you have to choose whether you are going to help yourself or let yourself continue to go in a downward spiral. There is far too much of life that I want to experience. I am not going to let food and balking at doing less than an hour of exercise prevent me from leading a full life. After a good, strong pep talk, I was able tof all asleep and woke up this morning with a good outlook.
I know that going out to eat frequently has undoubtedly added to my weight issues, but at the same time, it's a very important part of my social life that is important to me. So, I really need to work on finding the right foods when I go out and be even more conscientious about it. I found this website, which lists several chain restaurants in the Peoria area with the nutritional value for the healthier choices. This will be a good start. I think I need to start a folder with menus from these restaurants and others so that when I'm out and about, I can make the right choices.
Here's the website: http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/SearchList.aspx?Code=PEORIA,%20ILLINOIS&&Miles=10
I will say this, I didn't give a second thought to getting up and working out this morning. So often, I think, "ugh!", even though I go ahead and do it. Today, I didn't think about how much I wanted to do it. I just did it.
One of the others working out at the gym finished before me and made the comment as she's leaving, "I'm so glad when that's done." That's exactly how I feel. I don't think I'll ever like working out, but I do like how it impacts my health. And that's what I need to concentrate on. I need to not look at the drudgery of working out. I need to look at the sense of accomplishment once it's done.
And the best bonus is I get to work out with my very dear friend Lynn. She is such a wonderful support and makes getting up in the morning well worth it.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Whoa!
Well, I got a wake-up call today. I went to the doctor and he used the "i" word: insulin. My numbers were up last time I had a blood test, and I had another blood test today. Hopefully those numbers will be better than last time. I have been eating better and exercising more, but I told my doctor that before we go down the "i" route, I want to put more effort into eating right and exercising more.
My Mom takes insulin for her diabetes, and I feel it is a major major step that I don't want to take...at least I want to delay it as long as I can. Good thing I made that resolution about no desserts this year. That should help my blood sugar numbers, I'd think.
I told Andy about it, and he has suggested that I read about using apple cider vinegar to reduce my blood sugar. I went online and read some about it, and it sounds like it's pretty effective. It can't hurt, right? Though Andy and a lot of other people online say it tastes nasty. Still, that's a small price to pay if it keeps me from having to go on insulin. I think I have some in my cupboard...if not, a trip to the grocery store is in order.
Lucky for me, I have a pot of vegetable soup waiting for me at home so I don't need to put a lot of thought into what I can have for dinner tonight. (And yes, I splurged at lunch with a burger and onion rings from the Spotted Cow and a few minutes ago, I broke my resolution and went to Sweet CeCe's with some co-workers for one last splurge of frozen yogurt--non-fat.) Now I need to get super-serious.
I'm sure they'll call me in a day or two with the results of my blood test, but I'm not waiting to hear back. The diet starts with dinner tonight. I'll be reading all I can get my hands on about blood sugar reducing foods...and I already know that exercise is one of the quickest ways to lower blood sugar.
I'm not feeling much "peace" right now...sort of a sickening, churning feeling. So I'm going to need to have some devotion time tonight and get in touch with my spiritual side, too. I'm so glad I don't have plans for tonight. I think it's going to be a good time to get in the right mindset, fight off anything negative I'm feeling right now, and get down to business.
Suddenly, this is more than something I want to do. The abstract "doing it for my health" thing is gone and now it's real. Now it's something I need to do.
My Mom takes insulin for her diabetes, and I feel it is a major major step that I don't want to take...at least I want to delay it as long as I can. Good thing I made that resolution about no desserts this year. That should help my blood sugar numbers, I'd think.
I told Andy about it, and he has suggested that I read about using apple cider vinegar to reduce my blood sugar. I went online and read some about it, and it sounds like it's pretty effective. It can't hurt, right? Though Andy and a lot of other people online say it tastes nasty. Still, that's a small price to pay if it keeps me from having to go on insulin. I think I have some in my cupboard...if not, a trip to the grocery store is in order.
Lucky for me, I have a pot of vegetable soup waiting for me at home so I don't need to put a lot of thought into what I can have for dinner tonight. (And yes, I splurged at lunch with a burger and onion rings from the Spotted Cow and a few minutes ago, I broke my resolution and went to Sweet CeCe's with some co-workers for one last splurge of frozen yogurt--non-fat.) Now I need to get super-serious.
I'm sure they'll call me in a day or two with the results of my blood test, but I'm not waiting to hear back. The diet starts with dinner tonight. I'll be reading all I can get my hands on about blood sugar reducing foods...and I already know that exercise is one of the quickest ways to lower blood sugar.
I'm not feeling much "peace" right now...sort of a sickening, churning feeling. So I'm going to need to have some devotion time tonight and get in touch with my spiritual side, too. I'm so glad I don't have plans for tonight. I think it's going to be a good time to get in the right mindset, fight off anything negative I'm feeling right now, and get down to business.
Suddenly, this is more than something I want to do. The abstract "doing it for my health" thing is gone and now it's real. Now it's something I need to do.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Gaining peace
Sorry I haven't been too good about posting lately. I stayed in over my lunch hour and just finished a nice salad. Between that and a pop-in visit from Jordan, one of my favorite students here at Bradley, I am motivated to check in here in again. Jordan tells me he has lost 30 lbs. since August. How cool is that?
I am so proud of him. He's one of those rare college students who weighs less now than when he came in as a freshman. He still wants to lose a few more pounds, but he looks wonderful. Of course, he always has!
I haven't gotten on the scale lately. It scares me to get on there because if I don't lose as much weight as I think I should, I get discouraged. So I'm better off staying away from the scales. Besides, I wasn't feeling the best for a few days last week and didn't get to work out like I normally do. I was back at it this morning, though. So between working out and staying in and eating a salad, I'm feeling really good about my efforts!
Oh, and yesterday, we were celebrating a birthday in the family and my sister made one of the recipes my niece Laura has tried as part of her anti-inflammatory diet. She is trying this new eating lifestyle in an attempt to beat migraines. You can find her blog at spicingupmylife.blogspot.com. Her blog includes recipes...we had the Southwest Chicken Tostadas, only we had flour tortillas (she had a whole wheat tortilla) and made them into tacos. Delicious, and guilt-free! Look it up and try it. I especially like the lime in the recipe...and my sister added corn to the recipe, too.
With Lent approaching, I am committed to being more faithful in my quest for inspiration by thinking and studying and writing about peace. Yesterday in Sunday School, we began a Lenten study. We watched a 10-minute video, then had a discussion. In the video, Adam Hamilton, the leader, talked about Luke 23:34 where Jesus is on the cross and says, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Adam makes the observation that "them" refers not only to the people there that day who wanted him crucified, but he was referring to all of us. He said that God's forgiveness, His love, was there waiting for us before we were even born. He drew an analogy saying it's like Christmas, when you have gifts under the tree. The gifts have been bought and are ready to be opened, but it's not until you open them on Christmas that you use them.
I especially am encouraged at the thought that people I know who do not believe in God also have their unwrapped gifts of love and forgiveness waiting for them. Talk about a giving tree! God keeps giving us more and more gifts every day. I found such peace in all of this. Knowing that God loves me this much, that he has even more unwrapped gifts waiting for me--some of them waiting for me as I follow Him more diligently and lose weight and get to do more of what He has planned for me--gives me such a thrill and a feeling of true peace.
As I've said before, this is the first time I've brought prayer and meditation into my weight loss journey. Wow, what a difference it makes. Today, I think about Jesus on the cross and know that essentially He was saying, "Father, forgive Nancy for she knows not what she is doing." This gives such an overwhelming peace. I mean, I've been foolish to not watch what I ate more closely all of these previous years. Yes, I've gone on diets and I've lost weight, but then, I've gained it all back and more. I didn't know how foolish I was being. I didn't think about consequences...I was thinking in the moment.
One dessert won't hurt me. A second helping won't hurt me. Now here I am, definitely slowed down by my weight and concerned that it could affect my health more than it already has. I was foolish, but I am at peace knowing that God is ready to help me, ready to hand me one more gift and then another if I will only follow Him...and if I do slip, He'll be there with a helping hand to lift me back up.
Now knowing that is true peace of mind!
I am so proud of him. He's one of those rare college students who weighs less now than when he came in as a freshman. He still wants to lose a few more pounds, but he looks wonderful. Of course, he always has!
I haven't gotten on the scale lately. It scares me to get on there because if I don't lose as much weight as I think I should, I get discouraged. So I'm better off staying away from the scales. Besides, I wasn't feeling the best for a few days last week and didn't get to work out like I normally do. I was back at it this morning, though. So between working out and staying in and eating a salad, I'm feeling really good about my efforts!
Oh, and yesterday, we were celebrating a birthday in the family and my sister made one of the recipes my niece Laura has tried as part of her anti-inflammatory diet. She is trying this new eating lifestyle in an attempt to beat migraines. You can find her blog at spicingupmylife.blogspot.com. Her blog includes recipes...we had the Southwest Chicken Tostadas, only we had flour tortillas (she had a whole wheat tortilla) and made them into tacos. Delicious, and guilt-free! Look it up and try it. I especially like the lime in the recipe...and my sister added corn to the recipe, too.
With Lent approaching, I am committed to being more faithful in my quest for inspiration by thinking and studying and writing about peace. Yesterday in Sunday School, we began a Lenten study. We watched a 10-minute video, then had a discussion. In the video, Adam Hamilton, the leader, talked about Luke 23:34 where Jesus is on the cross and says, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Adam makes the observation that "them" refers not only to the people there that day who wanted him crucified, but he was referring to all of us. He said that God's forgiveness, His love, was there waiting for us before we were even born. He drew an analogy saying it's like Christmas, when you have gifts under the tree. The gifts have been bought and are ready to be opened, but it's not until you open them on Christmas that you use them.
I especially am encouraged at the thought that people I know who do not believe in God also have their unwrapped gifts of love and forgiveness waiting for them. Talk about a giving tree! God keeps giving us more and more gifts every day. I found such peace in all of this. Knowing that God loves me this much, that he has even more unwrapped gifts waiting for me--some of them waiting for me as I follow Him more diligently and lose weight and get to do more of what He has planned for me--gives me such a thrill and a feeling of true peace.
As I've said before, this is the first time I've brought prayer and meditation into my weight loss journey. Wow, what a difference it makes. Today, I think about Jesus on the cross and know that essentially He was saying, "Father, forgive Nancy for she knows not what she is doing." This gives such an overwhelming peace. I mean, I've been foolish to not watch what I ate more closely all of these previous years. Yes, I've gone on diets and I've lost weight, but then, I've gained it all back and more. I didn't know how foolish I was being. I didn't think about consequences...I was thinking in the moment.
One dessert won't hurt me. A second helping won't hurt me. Now here I am, definitely slowed down by my weight and concerned that it could affect my health more than it already has. I was foolish, but I am at peace knowing that God is ready to help me, ready to hand me one more gift and then another if I will only follow Him...and if I do slip, He'll be there with a helping hand to lift me back up.
Now knowing that is true peace of mind!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Commitment
Source: sparkpeople.com via SparkPeople on Pinterest
I joined Spark People (a very cool website) a couple weeks ago, and while I don't fully utilize it, I really like some of the emails I receive. I follow them on Pinterest, too, and when I saw this motivational quote, I knew I needed to blog about it.
The words are so true about so many things, including dieting/choosing a healthy lifestyle. That "no excuses" kind of commitment can be tough when it comes to dieting--it's easy to just say, "Oh, the cookie's broken...no calories, right?" or "I'm tired (or busy, or don't feel like it, or fill in the blank); I don't think I'll work out today."
Believe me, I know. I've made those excuses, those rationalizations. But you know what? Without that full-on commitment, you also don't have full-on results. Sure, sometimes you can slip by and maybe still lose a little weight one week, but it eventually catches up with you.
Commitment is what led me to change my time for working out. If you had told me a year ago that I'd be getting up at 5:45 to work out, I would have said you were crazy. I HATE exercise and thinking about getting up early to do it was out of the question. I love to sleep.
But the thing is, my desire to lose weight and get healthy is more than a wish. It's a commitment, and I know exercise is an important part of the "healthy" equation. I also know that if I'm really going to commit to exercise on a regular basis, I either need to drop my social life and work out in the evenings or get up early and work out. (An added benefit is that I now work out with my friend, Lynn, so I have the added bonus of some socializing during those early morning workouts.)
It's not unusual for me to have plans two, three, or four weeknights in a week, and I'm a person who MUST have her social life. I'm the extrovert in those Meyers-Briggs tests who is energized from being around people. I think I would shrivel up into a heap of sadness if I gave up my time with friends and family to exercise. So what I've done in the past was exercise when I had no other plans. I was "interested."
Another thing I've noticed is that when I'm committed and working out every day, it just becomes part of my schedule and I don't really think about whether or not I want to exercise. I just do it. It becomes part of my morning schedule, like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. I've also noticed that if for some reason, I don't work out one morning, it's so easy to lose the commitment and not work out the next morning. I can't do that; it's what has led to roller coaster diets in the past.
I'm not falling into that rut this time. I can see how being overweight is affecting me. In the past year, climbing a set of stairs has become more of a challenge, my left knee will start to hurt if I walk too much--things like that, which, even though I've had weight issues my entire life, never bothered me before. I feel like I'm at a crossroads. It's time for me to get serious about this before things get serious in a different way. Right now, I can still commit to being healthy and do everything in my power to eat healthy and work out. If I start having trouble getting around, I know I will find myself at a whole other domino-effect level where I have trouble working out, which leads to gaining weight, which leads to more trouble working out, etc. I don't want to go down that path, and right now, I can still choose the healthy pat. Otherwise, I'm going to be aging before I should, with health problems galore, unable to get out and about like I'm accustomed to doing. I don't want to be that person. I want to be a vital, healthy woman who can go do all the things I want to do without hesitation.
So back to early morning workouts. The way I look at it, I am committed to putting my health first. So if exercise is an important part of that equation, why not make it the first thing I do each day? It's the one way I make it a no excuses commitment, and it has the added benefit of setting the tone for the day. It's so easy for me to slip in my eating habits if my exercise habits are slipping, too. And then, pretty soon, there I am, letting all sensibility about my health get tossed aside and indulging every time the opportunity comes up.
Speaking of indulging, I really believe that by keeping my resolution of no desserts in 2012, I will learn to be sensible about those indulgences. I will reserve those splurges for the really special treats that I truly will enjoy. I can't tell you how much I appreciate something my co-worker, Erin, said the other day. We were having an office celebration and there was this awesome looking chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and chopped Snickers on top. I told Erin after the party that the cake had been a big temptation for me. She told me it really wasn't as good as it looked, and what a difference that made. The leftovers sitting there right outside my office door lost their appeal. I know what she means. How often have you had some sweet treat that looks oh so good, but in reality, just doesn't taste THAT great. I mean, I would still eat it, and yes, it was fine, but it wasn't awesome. I'm holding out for the awesome stuff from now on, I mean--once 2012 is over, and if it doesn't taste as good as it looks, I'm not going to eat the whole thing.
That's part of my commitment. When I eat something that isn't healthy, I want to stop and assess, not just go ahead and eat it. If it isn't absolutely marvelous and also isn't absolutely healthy, I am going to stop eating it. Thin people do it all the time. It's time for me to do the same thing!
I just read this rambling stream of consciousness. I kind of went all over the place here, but these are the things I'm thinking today and after all, that's what blogging is all about, right? I know fellow dieters will understand, and hopefully, others will find motivation in what I've written.
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