There is no better feeling then those weeks where the pounds just pour off! That's right everyone!!!! The 10 pound mark has occurred and passed before I could even get a chance to write! I am now at 11 lbs although the way things have been going, I fully expect to hit 12 lbs by tomorrow. Working out while watching TV (right now we're still on a Biggest Loser kick) has been really working. I have been losing a pound every 2-4 days. My husband is also losing fast! It's so fun to see the changes in our faces and bodies. Strength training just adds to that as not only do you see yourself getting skinnier, but you see big muscles developing. The more you lose, the more motivated you are. Now that I'm out of the 30s and now only 28 lbs left, it makes my goal feel within reach.
Another thing I've noticed about working out at night is that it beats the late night cravings. I always feel a deep need to snack come 8:00-9:00. For some reason, working out seems to curb those cravings. Now when I get hungry, I just promise myself to wait until after I do one routine of everything (weights for arms, pilates for legs, and crunches for back and tummy) before I give in. Everytime, I'm no longer hungry after the workout (or too tired to get up and get something). It helps me give my body the time to let the hunger pass.
Another thing we are doing is just a little watching of our diet. We have been limiting our soda intake to one a day. We have been being mindful of the calories we eat. Instead of forcing ourselves to eat carrot sticks, we are choosing to take a few calories off of every meal (hold the mayo!) or eat smaller portions. If we can do both, fantastic! Really, we are still eating such things as pizza and Taco Bell, we are just continually eating less or better than we did before. For now it's working. When we start to plateau, we'll have to take everything a step farther.
One amazing benefit to all of these changes has been my desire to up the ante in my spiritual life. It just came naturally. I was given a free One Year Chronological Bible and found that it really intrigued me to read everything in chronological order. So I started reading it. I found that all of a sudden not only am I doing my daily devotions, but I strongly look forward to that time of the day when I can sit with coffee and read it! One choice that has been helping me is that I do not demand that I get it done every day. Instead, I leave it as a treat. When it stops being a treat, I'll have to get more hardcore, but right now I'm enjoying delighting in it.
So for now, we are eating a realistic diet, adding a realistic amount of exercise into our life, making realistic changes to our spiritual life, and winning more and more! Guess what? We are also losing unrealistic pounds! It's working!!!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
A Realistic Workout
So what is a realistic workout? This is something I have been struggling with and probably will always struggle with. I was never the athlete. I do not enjoy beating myself into submission. Goals and statistics mean nothing to me. The big question today is how to exercise when you're not good at it, don't have the time, don't have the drive, and especially when you're not always sure why.
Being a mom with lots of jobs and activities, I really don't have time for an hour in the gym every day. The good days are the days that I have 30-60 minutes off where I could choose to exercise (sacrificing other things I'd like to do during that time like cleaning, relaxing, napping, etc). So I need exercises that I can fit into all of the different types of days I have. The days where I don't have time, the days where I do have time, and the days that I have time but choose to use it for something else.
Here are some of the options I have had success with. Maybe they'll help you. (If nothing else, skip to #4, because I put the best tip at the end.)
1. Taking walks/runs. I am just not at the place yet where I can or will get up early just to go walk/run in the cold. So we keep this as a social option of exercise. My husband and I like to take walks/runs together when it is a nice day and we have time. It's wonderful to be able to chat and workout together.
2. Xbox Kinect Your Shape. My husband is a gamer, so we have some expensive exercise equipment in the house on our TV. There are several game stations that offer exercise games, but my favorite after trying several is the Xbox Kinect Your Shape. It offers all types of workouts. It looks at your body and tells you if you're doing them correctly. It also shows a very realistic (complete with fat bulges) view of your body on the screen as it works out. I've found this quite motivating. The game follows your statistics and gives you grades on your workouts so you can keep improving. It also changes up your workouts tailoring them to your skill level. The game is not perfect, but I've found that it gives me a good workout without going overboard and making me frustrated. It works you out like a workout video, except it's like having a trainer in the room that corrects your form. The bad thing about this game is you have to have time to do it without kids around. You also need a big space to workout in without anyone coming into it (for us that means using precious naptime minutes and the hassle of moving the couches around). I like to use this exercise method when I have the time to myself. It is the hardest workout that I have available.
3. Elliptical. We do have an elliptical. However, it is really old so a) it squeaks something awful and b)the settings are old school and it starts the resistance a little too high for my out of shape knees. I love the elliptical, but ours kind of sucks. I can go to the gym and do it forever, but I can only handle ours for about 10 minutes before my knees start giving out, needing to stop before my heart rate gets up. So this is a hopeful future workout as I get stronger.
4. Workout as you relax! Weird concept I know, but this one has helped me the most. My husband picked this up from some tips off The Biggest Loser. At first, I thought he was crazy, but I've since become a bit addicted to it. We like to watch quite a lot of TV and movies at night. So instead of just sitting there, we've started using the dumbells to do arm exercises as we watch, doing situps, push ups, and pilates exercises. It feels a little embarrassing at first with your partner right there and like you're going to deprive yourself of relaxation time. Yet, I feel more relaxed after as I get to enjoy my program, get rid of guilt for just sitting, and feel accomplished by the muscles I feel growing hard all over my body. I've found I have a tendency to do more reps while I'm distracted by TV. Oddly enough, I get more work done while I'm relaxing (when the pressure if off) than when I have a whole hour set aside just to work out by myself.
Please hear my shouts of encouragement over the internet and start working while you relax! It's the best feeling and makes the relaxation feel more complete. Just give it a try! It doesn't really matter what you do, how well you do it, or for how long. Just do something!
I am always looking for more good ideas for realistic workouts. Feel free to share!
Being a mom with lots of jobs and activities, I really don't have time for an hour in the gym every day. The good days are the days that I have 30-60 minutes off where I could choose to exercise (sacrificing other things I'd like to do during that time like cleaning, relaxing, napping, etc). So I need exercises that I can fit into all of the different types of days I have. The days where I don't have time, the days where I do have time, and the days that I have time but choose to use it for something else.
Here are some of the options I have had success with. Maybe they'll help you. (If nothing else, skip to #4, because I put the best tip at the end.)
1. Taking walks/runs. I am just not at the place yet where I can or will get up early just to go walk/run in the cold. So we keep this as a social option of exercise. My husband and I like to take walks/runs together when it is a nice day and we have time. It's wonderful to be able to chat and workout together.
2. Xbox Kinect Your Shape. My husband is a gamer, so we have some expensive exercise equipment in the house on our TV. There are several game stations that offer exercise games, but my favorite after trying several is the Xbox Kinect Your Shape. It offers all types of workouts. It looks at your body and tells you if you're doing them correctly. It also shows a very realistic (complete with fat bulges) view of your body on the screen as it works out. I've found this quite motivating. The game follows your statistics and gives you grades on your workouts so you can keep improving. It also changes up your workouts tailoring them to your skill level. The game is not perfect, but I've found that it gives me a good workout without going overboard and making me frustrated. It works you out like a workout video, except it's like having a trainer in the room that corrects your form. The bad thing about this game is you have to have time to do it without kids around. You also need a big space to workout in without anyone coming into it (for us that means using precious naptime minutes and the hassle of moving the couches around). I like to use this exercise method when I have the time to myself. It is the hardest workout that I have available.
3. Elliptical. We do have an elliptical. However, it is really old so a) it squeaks something awful and b)the settings are old school and it starts the resistance a little too high for my out of shape knees. I love the elliptical, but ours kind of sucks. I can go to the gym and do it forever, but I can only handle ours for about 10 minutes before my knees start giving out, needing to stop before my heart rate gets up. So this is a hopeful future workout as I get stronger.
4. Workout as you relax! Weird concept I know, but this one has helped me the most. My husband picked this up from some tips off The Biggest Loser. At first, I thought he was crazy, but I've since become a bit addicted to it. We like to watch quite a lot of TV and movies at night. So instead of just sitting there, we've started using the dumbells to do arm exercises as we watch, doing situps, push ups, and pilates exercises. It feels a little embarrassing at first with your partner right there and like you're going to deprive yourself of relaxation time. Yet, I feel more relaxed after as I get to enjoy my program, get rid of guilt for just sitting, and feel accomplished by the muscles I feel growing hard all over my body. I've found I have a tendency to do more reps while I'm distracted by TV. Oddly enough, I get more work done while I'm relaxing (when the pressure if off) than when I have a whole hour set aside just to work out by myself.
Please hear my shouts of encouragement over the internet and start working while you relax! It's the best feeling and makes the relaxation feel more complete. Just give it a try! It doesn't really matter what you do, how well you do it, or for how long. Just do something!
I am always looking for more good ideas for realistic workouts. Feel free to share!
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Tortoise or the Hare?
My husband and I have recently been competing for weight loss. I'm the tortoise. I've been slowly and steadily losing for months now.
My husband's drive is a new thing. He is definitely the hare. His goal is to keep his caloric intake to 1000 tops working off any excess. He walks at least 3 miles a day and when he can does 100 pushups and 100 situps. In other words, every moment of the day that he's not doing anything, he's exercising. Working the barbels in front of the TV, walking around the basement at work in between things, you name it...no please don't...then he'll do that, too! Driving me nuts!
His drive is partially motivating to me and partially just guilt inducing torture. I do not have times at work that I can work out like he can. I don't have the drive to torture myself like he does. I am the personality that works out only if I have to and within reason. Whereas he thrives in self-flagellation. It makes for an impossible situation where I cannot possibly workout like him, yet feel the pressure from myself and him to try.
Don't get me wrong, he will never be the husband that calls me fat or pressures me to look a certain way. But he does want me to be healthy. And I really appreciate it.
Anyways, we ended up in an unintentional race this week to the 10 pound mark. We both ended up coming down to the finish line together! Unlike the famous children's tale, the hare won this race fair and square. He beat me just barely! It was kind of fun though. Kind of poked my competitive side into action.
I guess I need to kick my butt into gear because there is no way I can let him beat me to 15! I'm still racing with .2 pounds left until that big 10 pound mark! Pretty proud of myself already!
My husband's drive is a new thing. He is definitely the hare. His goal is to keep his caloric intake to 1000 tops working off any excess. He walks at least 3 miles a day and when he can does 100 pushups and 100 situps. In other words, every moment of the day that he's not doing anything, he's exercising. Working the barbels in front of the TV, walking around the basement at work in between things, you name it...no please don't...then he'll do that, too! Driving me nuts!
His drive is partially motivating to me and partially just guilt inducing torture. I do not have times at work that I can work out like he can. I don't have the drive to torture myself like he does. I am the personality that works out only if I have to and within reason. Whereas he thrives in self-flagellation. It makes for an impossible situation where I cannot possibly workout like him, yet feel the pressure from myself and him to try.
Don't get me wrong, he will never be the husband that calls me fat or pressures me to look a certain way. But he does want me to be healthy. And I really appreciate it.
Anyways, we ended up in an unintentional race this week to the 10 pound mark. We both ended up coming down to the finish line together! Unlike the famous children's tale, the hare won this race fair and square. He beat me just barely! It was kind of fun though. Kind of poked my competitive side into action.
I guess I need to kick my butt into gear because there is no way I can let him beat me to 15! I'm still racing with .2 pounds left until that big 10 pound mark! Pretty proud of myself already!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Back to the Beginning of the Diet Cycle
Things are looking up since my last post. My life has not got any less busy. For instance, I have dishes and old food sitting in my kitchen that have been there for three days. Not sure when I'll actually get to them. That's what happens when you pick up extra shifts and work 14 hour days. Oh well, that's life and my reality.
However, things are still looking up. I have hopes for a better, more balanced future. Some changes are already in the works to the amount of hours I work. A little scary as it will mean a drop in income, but I know that we will be taken care of. God is the one causing the changes, not me, which helps my nerves. My husband is also stepping it way up and helping take some of my load.
I am still struggling though. My crazy life and being sick for three weeks straight now is not making dieting easy. Yet, I'm feeling more motivated than I have in a long time. There are a couple of things that are really helping:
A song that hit me today, especially the tragedies of losing parents this week.
However, things are still looking up. I have hopes for a better, more balanced future. Some changes are already in the works to the amount of hours I work. A little scary as it will mean a drop in income, but I know that we will be taken care of. God is the one causing the changes, not me, which helps my nerves. My husband is also stepping it way up and helping take some of my load.
I am still struggling though. My crazy life and being sick for three weeks straight now is not making dieting easy. Yet, I'm feeling more motivated than I have in a long time. There are a couple of things that are really helping:
- We got a new exercise program on our Xbox Kinect! It gives us a great way to have many different styles of workouts in our own living room. The bad news is that just the set up fitness test kicked my butt. I'm still hobbling around 3 days later. :)
- My body is shouting for good food! It's to the point where junk food is making me sick. There really is not a greater motivator for me than having a sick stomach.
- Watching a close friend slim down with her new exercise routine.
- Conversely, getting family pictures and seeing just how big I am in the camera's eyes. Yikes!
- I've had several situations around me lately of parents leaving their children early due to bad health. My bad eating and lack of exercise will lead to cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and who knows what else that is not within my family. It breaks my heart to think of me putting my family in that situation, me leaving my son without a mommy. Talk about motivating...
A song that hit me today, especially the tragedies of losing parents this week.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Failures Bringing Success?
I lost two pounds this week. I came down terribly sick and frankly did not have anyone getting me food, so I just didn't eat. Not the best way to lose weight, but I guess at least it worked. So far, I've had a long stint of keeping off the pounds, but not losing anymore. I guess I just need to keep getting sick. Last time I directed kid's choir at church I was sick every other week. Maybe I will look at that in a positive light as my weight loss plan...
So, I obviously haven't been on in a while and I obviously haven't been winning as I haven't lost any weight. I honestly haven't even been trying. The problem with a realistic, holistic diet is that is doesn't just include your diet. Your whole life is involved. I am finding out that the way I have my life set up is making it impossible to achieve my goals. The root problem is no longer the food, but rather the way I run my life.
I am slowly wrestling through these problems and hopefully will have more answers or at least clear posts soon. For today, all I have are big questions, possibly unanswerable questions. I don't know. But it's all I have.
- Is selfishness in proportion a bad thing or a good thing?
- Can you live your life well completely selfless (obviously Christ did, but can we?)
- What is my definition of selflessness. Can it possibly include being a doormat?
- At what point do you just give up.
- I let the people around me run me over constantly. How do I learn not to do that? What part of my response now is healthy boundaries and what part is spiteful, bitterness?
- How much longer can I do this? Is doing everything really the smartest idea? If not, how do I fix it?
And perhaps the saddest one in my mind, yet the one that got me thinking about all of the rest:
- Who takes care of me?
I am wishing today that I had somebody, anybody, who has been through this in their family. A counselor, a godly wife who serves too much, a woman who tries to be superwoman, someone.
The truth is that I am out of energy. I just can't do it. I spent yesterday in bed not really because I was sick, but rather because I couldn't face reality. If I can't handle life, how in the world can I handle a diet? And that is realistically and honestly where I'm at.
So, I obviously haven't been on in a while and I obviously haven't been winning as I haven't lost any weight. I honestly haven't even been trying. The problem with a realistic, holistic diet is that is doesn't just include your diet. Your whole life is involved. I am finding out that the way I have my life set up is making it impossible to achieve my goals. The root problem is no longer the food, but rather the way I run my life.
I am slowly wrestling through these problems and hopefully will have more answers or at least clear posts soon. For today, all I have are big questions, possibly unanswerable questions. I don't know. But it's all I have.
- Is selfishness in proportion a bad thing or a good thing?
- Can you live your life well completely selfless (obviously Christ did, but can we?)
- What is my definition of selflessness. Can it possibly include being a doormat?
- At what point do you just give up.
- I let the people around me run me over constantly. How do I learn not to do that? What part of my response now is healthy boundaries and what part is spiteful, bitterness?
- How much longer can I do this? Is doing everything really the smartest idea? If not, how do I fix it?
And perhaps the saddest one in my mind, yet the one that got me thinking about all of the rest:
- Who takes care of me?
I am wishing today that I had somebody, anybody, who has been through this in their family. A counselor, a godly wife who serves too much, a woman who tries to be superwoman, someone.
The truth is that I am out of energy. I just can't do it. I spent yesterday in bed not really because I was sick, but rather because I couldn't face reality. If I can't handle life, how in the world can I handle a diet? And that is realistically and honestly where I'm at.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Positive Addendum to My Negativity Party
I ended the last post feeling like Wesley in the Pit of Despair. I feel like I'm failing and have no answers on how to stop. So I decided to go back and read some of my older posts to get my blood pumping a motivating beat.
I realized something. I am not a complete failure.
For someone who is a people pleaser and unrealistic goal setter, this is not a phrase I use often. Instead I adore beating myself over the head and shouting "Failure!"
Instead, I need to speak truth. Here are a list of things I have succeeded in these least dark weeks. Here's the truth:
I realized something. I am not a complete failure.
For someone who is a people pleaser and unrealistic goal setter, this is not a phrase I use often. Instead I adore beating myself over the head and shouting "Failure!"
Instead, I need to speak truth. Here are a list of things I have succeeded in these least dark weeks. Here's the truth:
- I hardly ever eat to fill a need anymore. Eating to reward myself or fill a need is not even on my radar these days. When did that happen?!
- I am much more concious of what I eat and if I could afford it I would choose to eat healthier foods. That is a change.
- I am working at being more put together. I made myself spend money on me and bought some new clothes. I got a nice new haircut that is easier to care for and very trendy (loving it!). I dyed my hair a fun red to look more attractive and polished.
- I was very, very tempted to quit these last few weeks. But I didn't. And I won't. That above everything else is a huge success!
It Hit the Fan
All hell has broken loose at my house. I think it would be easier for me to say what I'm not doing these days. Oh wait, that would be eating healthy, reading Scripture, stopping when I'm full, and losing weight.
Most people would call this a fall off the wagon, but I refuse to think in those terms. You know what people do after they fall off the wagon? Give up and die. I just can't do that.
Does that mean that tomorrow I'm going to get back on my diet? Hee hee, that's funny. Probably not the next day either. But I'm holding out that maybe the next day things will be different.
And besides, being that this is a realistic and forever diet, I never actually went off of it. Just haven't had a successful diet experience these last couple of weeks. My diet is not dependent on my success, only my weight loss is.
So the big question is, how to get started. I have just a few obstacles to hurdle first. Namely the millions of things I do and problems in my life right now.
I'm a wife, mommy, admin assistant, nanny, voice teacher to 6 people, mommy, director of a 60+ children's choir, librarian, mommy, household accountant, household chef, mommy and oh yes household maid. I recently charted out my week and not counting mommying or family time, I work 53 hours a week bare minimum. Yikes!
Those are just the things I do. Obstacles? Well, we are dirt poor at the moment so I don't have the money to eat healthy food (still living off mac and cheese); due to crappy food, busy schedule and crazy hormones I am nothing short of bone tired all of the time; I don't have family here supporting me nor time with friends to gain that support.
Wah wah wah. There's my pity party for the week.
You know what all of these things are? Excuses. Oh yes, they are slightly legitimate and do have an effect on my diet, but the bottom line is I (me, myself, and I) am still failing.
As I have been failing in finding time to prep for this season's kid's choir which starts Sunday, (failure is a common theme lately) I have instead been grabbing onto some fantastic advice my mentor and worship director gave me. Just let go and let God. Overly used and sappy, I know. Yet, so very true! Especially in the ministry!
I think that's where I am right now. I just have too much on my plate and I'm failing at everything. I can't do it. I just can't do it!
Maybe my situation is a purposeful celestial reminder to me. Who knows. But I really am at a place right now where I cannot possibly get back on that wagon (so to speak).
So I'm letting God pry off my fingers... I'm letting Him help figure this all out... I'm surviving on the hope that He does...and SOON!
Most people would call this a fall off the wagon, but I refuse to think in those terms. You know what people do after they fall off the wagon? Give up and die. I just can't do that.
Does that mean that tomorrow I'm going to get back on my diet? Hee hee, that's funny. Probably not the next day either. But I'm holding out that maybe the next day things will be different.
And besides, being that this is a realistic and forever diet, I never actually went off of it. Just haven't had a successful diet experience these last couple of weeks. My diet is not dependent on my success, only my weight loss is.
So the big question is, how to get started. I have just a few obstacles to hurdle first. Namely the millions of things I do and problems in my life right now.
I'm a wife, mommy, admin assistant, nanny, voice teacher to 6 people, mommy, director of a 60+ children's choir, librarian, mommy, household accountant, household chef, mommy and oh yes household maid. I recently charted out my week and not counting mommying or family time, I work 53 hours a week bare minimum. Yikes!
Those are just the things I do. Obstacles? Well, we are dirt poor at the moment so I don't have the money to eat healthy food (still living off mac and cheese); due to crappy food, busy schedule and crazy hormones I am nothing short of bone tired all of the time; I don't have family here supporting me nor time with friends to gain that support.
Wah wah wah. There's my pity party for the week.
You know what all of these things are? Excuses. Oh yes, they are slightly legitimate and do have an effect on my diet, but the bottom line is I (me, myself, and I) am still failing.
As I have been failing in finding time to prep for this season's kid's choir which starts Sunday, (failure is a common theme lately) I have instead been grabbing onto some fantastic advice my mentor and worship director gave me. Just let go and let God. Overly used and sappy, I know. Yet, so very true! Especially in the ministry!
I think that's where I am right now. I just have too much on my plate and I'm failing at everything. I can't do it. I just can't do it!
Maybe my situation is a purposeful celestial reminder to me. Who knows. But I really am at a place right now where I cannot possibly get back on that wagon (so to speak).
So I'm letting God pry off my fingers... I'm letting Him help figure this all out... I'm surviving on the hope that He does...and SOON!
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