It's Up To Me

Hello Everyone,

Weight Today:  148.2

I am not doing so well with this little weight loss and exercise thing.  My eating plan is fine.  That is, I eat in moderation, no bread, no sugar, except on very special occasions.  When my weight is up a bit, I eat less.

 

Exercise?  No motivation.  Zero.  The best daily exercise I get is to take the dog for a walk.  To the Stop sign and back is maybe 1/2 mile.  If I do it 3 or 4 times it adds up, yes, but there is no cardio involved. 

 

Walking is something my husband and I did together, and since he passed away I have had no inclination to get back in the habit.  That, and other things we did together.  It's just not fun and when I do it, I think of him and turn into a sad mood for the rest of the day.  I am hoping that if I get a friend to walk with me, and make some new habits and memories, this will pass.

 

This is my birth month, so there will be food.  My aunt, who is now 98 years old, has forever baked me a cake on my birthday.  She will not be able to do it this year, but she will be able to get her daughter to do it.  (My aunt is like a mother to me, and her daughter is like a sister, so there will be cake!)  And I have already had invitations to go to lunch and dinner.  Why is everything about food??

 

I have been looking at some of your blogs for motivation, and it is certainly there!  I am so proud of some of you for continuing your fitness plans and getting up early and making time for yourself.  You do inspire me, so I guess I should keep reading. 

 

I am trying to keep things planned for the future for me to look forward to, so let's see what's out there.  SEC football season is coming up.  I love it!  I do have a couple of teams I follow, but am interested in the entire conference.  So Saturdays are covered until at least Christmas.  Then there's a family reunion at the end of September.  It is 3 hours away, and we are all spending 2 nights---fun!   There is a wedding the first week of November in North Carolina.  It won't be as much fun as the family reunion, but I hope to do some sightseeing.  The Biltmore is first on my list, as the wedding is 30 miles away.  And the weather will be crisp by then, so no hot summer dog days.

 

So what do you do when you're in an exercise slump?  Any hints would be appreciated.

 

 

Down 4 Lbs!

... And then the weekend hit.

I was doing so well getting back in the swing of things, keeping my food journal, walking every day.  Then Father's Day weekend happened.  Now, I am not a father, and my father is deceased.  But I stepped into the role of hosting a day at the pool with picnic food for a man and his children and grands. They brought chocolate meringue pie. And wine.  We ate hot dogs (beef) and baked beans (protein). I skipped the chips.  I cooked brunch for them the next day.

I got my Fitbit and am loving it, although still learning to use it. I haven't yet figured out how to send the stats to my blog. Hmmmm...

I went back to the chiropractor today for my fractured tailbone. One more visit and he will release me.  I have never been a fan of chiros but he certainly has helped me!

All the good may be undone this weekend when I drive a friend 10 hours to a daughter's lake house. We will also be boating and there will be food and boat drinks. And salty snacks.

I can do this.  I'm taking some of my own food and snacks.  Also cutting back this week so it won't ruin ALL my forward progress.

I hope everyone is having a great week.  Let's not let the heat derail our fitness plans!

Hello

I am ashamed that I have not posted since January.

 

I am ashamed that I do not at least keep up with reading your posts on a regular basis, and leaving encouraging comments.

 

I am pissed that I have let my weight creep back up to 150.  So that's why I'm back.  Nothing happened except I have taken a few weekend trips with friends and have had some yummy meals.  Home cooked and restaurant cooked.  And grilled by the lake!  There's nothing better than a cocktail cruise with some chips and dip, then come back for grilled ribs or steak.  Always dessert.  Blackberry cobbler, banana pudding, chocolate mousse.

 

Also, my psychologist tells me to get out with friends when I'm invited.  So when someone says meet me for lunch or dinner, I try to go.  And why should I eat carrot sticks at a restaurant? 

 

You get the idea. 

 

Oh, and I fell and fractured my tailbone a couple of weeks ago.  What is the cure for that?  Rest and time. 

 

So if I can't sit, I can certainly walk. 

 

My first plan of action is to do some planned walking every day.  Not just to the stop sign and back.  A friend here says walking from the condo to the gate and back is 0.8 mile.  I can take the circle to the marina and the houses and it should be around 3 miles.  So that will be my goal every day.

 

By the way, has anyone had success with the FitBit?  I was on the verge of getting one 2 years ago but then my life changed and I forgot about it.  I'm considering it again.

 

Next I need to make an eating plan.  I know what worked before, but it was boring.  1000 - 1200 calories per day, write it down, make the most of my calories, carry my own food.  It's just a matter of getting focused.

 

So, I'm open for suggestions.  I still have all my diet books, and should pick one for motivation and to remind me of my health.

 

There is another weekend trip planned for the last of June.  My goal is to be entrenched in my plan by then and to keep up with my walking while I am away.

 

I hope all my old friends are still around and are still mindful of their health plans.  Please tell me what is working or not working for you now.

 

I have missed you.

 

 

Join Me in a Holiday Challenge!

Hello Everyone,

Just in time for the holiday season, and to help me (and others) get back on the health and nutrition track, Plum Petals is offering the 50-Day Challenge.  It will run from November 12th thru December 31st.  Read about it here and join us!

 

This is not a difficult challenge, requiring lots of exercise, reporting, having to purchase strange foods, etc.  It is more of a common sense reminder of things that we should all be doing, and a way of  being a little more accountable to ourselves during the stressful and busy holiday season.

 

For me, it will help to get back into the habits of weighing regularly, drinking my water, thinking about what and how much I am eating, and how I am feeling.  Also, it will encourage me to get a little more exercise, walk a little further, be a bit more active.

 

I always enjoy being involved with others so we can get and give ideas and encouragement.  It doesn't cost anything to join, of course, and you won't have to go out and buy anything.  Just go over and leave her a message that you would like to participate.

 

As for my progress in getting back in the groove, I am weighing myself every day, drinking only water, eating no sugar whatsoever, and trying to cut down on the processed foods. 

 

That's it for now.  I am spending a lot of time reading and re-working my health and nutrition notebook to reflect the goals I want to achieve this time.  (I am a pen and paper gal, and like to have my reading and writing project in a bag or on a shelf beside me at all times.)

Planning to Begin Again

Hello Everyone, it's Monday again.  A nice day to begin a diet/nutrition/fitness plan.

 

My beginning weight for this round:  145.3

 

I'm not so concerned about the weight this time.  This time I want to focus on healthy habits.

 

Over the weekend I have been browsing through some of my weight charts, food logs, motivational material, reading material, anything and everything that might motivate me to buckle down and focus. 

 

Focus is difficult for me.  For the past two years I have not read a book because I cannot focus.  I have watched only a couple of movies.  When I have a project to do, I have do break it into increments - just do it awhile, walk away, and come back later or tomorrow.  Or even later.  I resigned from my job because I could not focus.  That, and my PCP said I was severely depressed.  Depression, focus, whatever.  It goes hand in hand, I suppose.

 

So my plan this time is to begin slowly by weighing every day and drinking my water.  My fridge and pantry do not contain a lot of junk foods, so I do not have to throw a lot of things away. 

 

I have gotten out of the habit of counting calories and will be focusing (that word again!) on my old food journals to see what the calorie counts are on the foods I eat most frequently.

 

And I must get more exercise.  Of course.  Yesterday afternoon I took the dog for a walk/run for a total of around 1 mile.  Lots of stops and starts there, if you know what I mean. 

 

The lobby of my condo has an exercise room with 2 treadmills, an elliptical, weight bench, balance ball, and a couple of other machines that I am not familiar with.  I have no excuse of cold/rainy weather.  And there is usually no one there until late at night, well past my exercise time.

 

See, no excuses.  I do not work at an outside job.  I have everything I need to exercise, plus numerous books to motivate me.  I have been down this path before, so I can brush up on the calorie counting, what foods work for me, are the most nutritious and tasty, so on and so forth.

 

My problem is motivation.  What's more motivating than good health, right?  And feeling great, and looking great! 

 

So for the next few days I am going to work on the motivation.  I will take some good notes and hopefully come back here with a list of things I have done to get healthy.

 

I would appreciate any hints you have that maybe I haven't considered.  We have all "begun again" so I know we have all found ways that work.  Let me know what works for YOU.

 

Thanks to everyone who has read and commented and welcomed me back here.  That in itself is very motivating!

 

 

Hello,

Missing my old friends tonight.  Can you send me some love?

I am getting my mind in gear to re-focus on health.  It has been almost 2 years since I lost my husband, best friend and soul mate.  It is hell.

Time marches on.  He would not like that I have lost sight of health goals, as they were so important to me.

Please accept me back into the fold and give me direction.

I am ready.

Catching Up

Good morning.

 

I have been lurking around and reading some posts this morning and wondering where some of my old friends have gone.  I realize I have not been around lately, either.  And I can see there are some serious health problems going on with either my old friends or their loved ones.  I can certainly understand how that pulls you away from Blogville indefinitely.

 

And I wonder if some have simply fallen off the wagon, or lost interest.  That happened to me, too, several times in the 2+ years I was a regular poster here.

 

I am hoping to get back to posting more often and chatting with you guys.  I have missed you!

 

Since this is a health/weight blog, I should first tell you that I am maintaining at just under 140 lbs.  I eat whatever I want, but I am still in the mindset to eat healthy.  Rarely is there fried, bread, or sugar.  I only exercise when I walk the dog, and we have a little route that is a mile round trip.  It's better than nothing, but just barely.  As a result, I have lost muscle tone of course.  At this age it is more and more difficult to regain, I know, but the day will come when I become focused again and get serious about it.  I did concede to my medical doctor and begin taking the cholesterol medication.  My body has been through such a physical and mental stress that I felt it was in my best interest to just do it.  After a lifetime of rarely visiting a doctor, it seems I am there now every month for one thing or the other, so I know my system is needy.  Is there a blog somewhere that addresses illnesses due to grief and loss?  There certainly should be.

 

So what have I been doing?  Lots.

 

I left you in December when I was selling our lake house and moving into a condo.  So in February I sold our other house in our hometown.  I have moved over 5,000 square feet of "stuff" into 1,500 square feet of condo and let me tell you, it won't fit.  So for the past 6 months I have thrown away, given away, sold, loaned, rearranged, hidden, and gone to many lengths to get rid of "stuff" and make my new little nest. 

 

We had some beautiful antique pieces which were heirlooms from our families.  Those I could not find a place for I tried to place back in the proper places - Husband's pieces with his family members, and my pieces with my family members.  Others were sold or given to people who I knew would cherish them as much as we did.  I had to take the attitude that We have enjoyed them all this time, and now it's time to pass them on to someone who will enjoy them as much as we did for years to come.  And I can't look back, because it is so sad to part with some of the things we most used or enjoyed.  But I know it's just stuff.

 

I probably mentioned before that I tried to do the same with Husband's personal clothing.  I tried to give it to his family and friends first, then to friends of friends, before packing it up and donating.  There are still a few things packed up under my bed and in the back of the closet. 

 

One of the best things I did with some of his clothing early on was to have a quilt made from his everyday shirts and jeans.  It is a small quilt and is done in nautical colors........well, I will put up a pic sometime.  Anyway, it is comforting to be enveloped in his clothing on a rainy day, or displayed on the foot of our bed.

 

I did keep quite a lot of our antiques, a few large pieces and as many small ones as the condo would hold.  I still have a few to find homes for, but I am getting there.  I have dishes and glassware still packed up and must go through it someday soon.  There is one bedroom here almost full of boxes of antique glassware and just general household stuff.  I participated in a 5-family garage sale a month ago and got rid of over $1,000 worth of things I had no place for.  It was heart-breaking to let go of some of those things, too, but I couldn't keep everything.

 

That's enough for now and I know it's boring for most of you.  I will try to get back to posting more often, as I do miss the friendships.

 

I would love to hear from you and how you're doing.