Healthy & Fitness - September 2014

[Harmony]

Nice post, RRose. You have done amazing things for yourself.

I know exactly what happened to me. I started gaining the weight back when DH went into the hospital. Then I was sick for a long while after that. Then I got the flu after I got over the first stuff. I've been too inactive that's for sure, but both times I got sick I got lethargic. All the energy I had went to doing necessary stuff, business things that couldn't wait...

And really it's not so bad. I still wear mediums or larges (more larges these days) and mostly size 12's. I must have a small frame though because at this weight I am uncomfortable, especially my "girls". They're what bother me the most. I don't know what in the world people see in implants. Hot, bulky, lopped over layers, yuck. I spent most of my life until menopause in junior sizes and B cups...so there is where I am comfortable. I don't know if I'll ever get back there, but it sure would be nice. I was in 7's in 1993. It all changed with menopause and at the time I had an on-my-feet job where I walked all the time and rarely sat.

So, with all this and going up and down a couple times I've reconciled myself to knowing I just can't diet and get down and be done with it. I'll have to eat a different way for the rest of my life. The idea that I can have a day off now and then might just get me through.

Right now I'm going to focus on moving more, snacking less. I actually don't snack much, it is just instant disaster for me I guess. One thing I'm uncomfortable about is my lack of strength... that's as annoying as extra weight. My advice to any younger ladies out there: lose the weight and gain muscle before your 60's when it is way harder!

[Lady Maverick]

RR - Thank you so very much for sharing this! I have read this post over and over. So much wisdom that I needed to hear. I suspect I will need to read it another dozen (and more) times before it fully sinks in and because a part of me.

I have found myself falling into the "stinking thinking" mode several times lately. I get discouraged and even a bit scared because I might have lost the confidence in myself that I can lose weight. I must have tried 2000 times to quit smoking before I finally did it. I think about that and tell myself I didn't give up and was finally successful. I just know that I can't give up trying to get this excess weight off.

[Lynlee]

Kathryn - I needed to decide to keep away from things that weren't good for me - n matter how much I 'loved' them. no excuses. Its a pity the chip wagon doesn't do grilled fish - and you take a salad. I eased off fish and chips onto grilled fish. Now I mostly do home food.

Great post RR. Being delighted with yourself for every step in the right direction is key imo - and also according to the brain plasticity book I read.

I'm in the dumps too. I need really see what I'm up too. Maybe that boxed cereal I have from time to time with the just a little sugar is enough to send me over the edge. I cannot afford to be here where I am at. And sugar was a major conspiritor in years past when I worked. Needing to go back to what I know works.

Everything I read says its older as you get older, and metabolism slows down. I've been skipping meals - that's not good for me either. but my weight bounced down. Still - I need to get regular.

For the upper body weight strength needed people - remember push ups to wall, counter or windowsill, or pull ups to a post. That will help.
I need get back to that too. A few or 10 would be better than none.
Doing the real ones at yoga is impossible for me atm.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Last month, my goal for myself was to write everything I eat down and I did. I even started to lose a little weight until the trip but for some reason it came back. Oh, and early in the month I had a friggin period (I still haven't forgiven my body for that!)

This month, my goal is to 1) write everything I eat down and 2) not drink any HFCS. Given my addiction to soda, that will be tough but I've convinced myself that I gained weight after giving up diet soft drinks so I need to cut out soda. I'm giving myself a slight out - if I can find soda that is flavoured with sugar or other natural sweeteners (i.e. kosher Coke) they are allowed. Today I made up homemade lemonade (storebought has HFSC) to have and got through the day with no soda. I know I can do this (I did for Lent, for instance - oh, and didn't lose any weight then.) If I come up with new eating plans and start following those - great - but in the meantime, the focus is only on cutting out soda. (There will be no replacing it with diet drinks - I'm off those and intend to stay off them.)

[Nancy]

Walked with my friend tonight.
Did good tracking food and meds. Today.

[FelineFriend]

Kept on track with food choices, counted calories, only had small amount of pollack after dinner, and walked 30 minutes and did 2 LOL, for more activity.
I had a little loss this a.m., which was just fine by me.

[Lady Maverick]

Yesterday I ....
** logged food on MyFitnessPall and stayed under calorie goal.
** Did daily treadmill - baby step increase was the incline time.
** drank all 4 of my water bottles (24oz each). When I took LO to the park last night, I needed more water so I drank an extra bottle. Not sure how many oz it was)
** stayed active. Almost reached my step goal (10,000) but much of my movement didn't count because it was bending and crawling while picking up a gazillion toys.
** Fruits/veg servings = 7

[Ramblinrose]

You've been criticizing
yourself for years and it
hasn't worked.

Try approving of yourself
and see what happens.

Louise Hay

[Ramblinrose]

nice to see everyone tracking their daily successes...now I don't feel so alone

Harmony... your post gave me the giggles. My "sisters" grew from 34 to 38 and from a C to a D so I know exactly what you're saying. Good news for me is they have come back to a 34 C again. Now if I could only insert a straw and blow them back up to where they used to hang out.

And I'm right there with loosing my strength. I hate that too. My friend was complaining about the same thing. She did all the physical work at our school taking care of the outside, plus moving and maintaining the classrooms. Then due to sun cancer, she accepted an inside clerking position. We were sharing our loss of strength woes when I told her all I wanted to be able to do was to open up a pickle jar. That became our challenge. I started doing some exercises like Lynlee suggested and so did my friend. One day I decorated a pickle jar and lefted it on my friend's desk and a note saying I now could open mine...what about you??? She still keeps it sitting on her desk to remind herself to do her daily exercises.

Good for you Kathryn for jumping on the no-soda bandwagon. I'm so impressed that you've already decided to do this. You, FF and LM are so good at writing down your daily food. I'm the hit or miss kind of girl. Please tell me what HFCS means... I am clueless.

Nancy...YGG.. I want to be able to say that my same jean fit a year from now...and with your beautiful hair I bet that teal anything looks good on you.

LM... I've been reading that a person should drink at least half their body weight in water each day. I've learn to push in at least 80 ozs a day. I hated water to begin with, but I've learned to love it. I know that drinking cold water is suppose to make you burn more calories, but I can't stand it that way. I drink mine at room temp. and can down an 16 - 20 oz bottle at one time. I'm not a sip and go girl. I put my four bottles out on my counter to remind me to drink. And I do much better during the summer than the winter.

There is a new study out today ...that says low carb diets are much better for your body than low fat. Try this...

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/low-car ... on=1206835

I had another headache come on last night...that means I am in a headache cycle. Took meds and went to bed. Figured there would be another bump up with my weight this morning, but was pleased to see it held steady. I submitted my weight and picture to my diet bet game because my new one begins today. It was accepted and now I am waiting to find out what my weight loss will be for the month. I finish up my $100 diet bet on Friday. I am below my needed weight loss to win, but am biting my nails till my weigh in on Friday. If I win, I will get my $100 back plus more, but won't know the amount until after the game. Till then I will keep on doing what I am doing....

[Ramblinrose]

Oh... reading about Kathryn's tea time in PWYC reminded me of something I wanted to tell you.

When I get "hungry" and want to start rummaging around for something sweet or salty, I've learned to drink hot tea instead. And, it works for me.

Depending on the time of day I either drink Lipton regular tea...cause I like orange/peka tea or my Constant Comet herbal tea. And sometimes I drink 2 or more cups a day.