Weight Loss Update & Tips for Surviving the Holidays

It has been slow going, but I have lost a total of 26 pounds since returning from vacation in June.  I'm feeling so much better.  I have more energy and I am feeling more confident in myself.

I have to admit that I have fell off the wagon a few times, but I haven't given up.  I have been doing my best in the past month.  I wanted to get on track and get my head clear and straight before the holidays.  I feel more confident than ever that I can reach my goal this time.

Well, I just wanted to give a little update on my progress, but I also wanted to share some tips I have come across to stay on track during the holidays.

Choose these snacks/appetizers at parties or holiday functions:

Cheese:  A small serving (1 oz. or 5 small cubes) of full-fat cheese is loaded with protein.  Choose full-flavor cheeses like Parmesan or Gouda, their sharp taste can help satisfy cravings quickly.

Festive Nuts: Toss 1 cups each of almonds, walnuts and pecans, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary, a pinch of red pepper flakes, sea salt and pepper.  Roast in the oven at 350 on a baking sheet for 20 to 25 minutes.

Nuts are high in calories.  To avoid overdoing it place a handful of nuts on your plate and snack on that throughout the evening instead of grabbing a handful every time you pass the bowl.

Dark Chocolate:  New research finds that the antioxidants found in dark chocolate can boost your mood and calm your body's response to stress.  Try a serving of one truffle or two squares of dark chocolate containing 70% or higher cocoa per day.

Shrimp:  An appetizer of 9 medium shrimp can fill you up and only contains 50 calories.  Shrimp contains omega-3 fats, which helps you stay fuller longer.

I'm Still Here

Hi everybody.  Sorry, I've been MIA for a while.  So much has been going on, but I'm still hanging in here.

I must admit that I fell off the wagon for just a bit, but I am back on track and doing better than ever.  I had to get my head on straight with the holidays approaching so quickly.

I'm going to try to post some holiday tips in the next few days.  I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still at it.

Please check back soon for some holiday tips to stay on track!

God bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Confession Time

I must confess, the past week and a half have been incredibly difficult for me.  At times I literally lost control, and I failed to journal most of last week.  As I've shared before, journaling is essential for me.

I have no trouble putting my finger on the problem.  I have been feeling stressed and then I came down with a nasty cold.  Those are two huge triggers for me.  My self-control went right down the drain and I ate just about everything I could put my hands on.  (I'm not kidding!!)

Confession made, I'm happy to report that I am back on track this week.  I have regained my self-control and determination.  I refuse to turn back.  This journey isn't easy; I never thought it would be.  Nothing worth doing is ever easy...right?

The reason I share this detour in my journey (I refuse to call it a failure.  Failure is falling down and not getting back up.) is to let you know that I'm human.  I make mistakes and it's okay.

I want to encourage anyone who is traveling this road with me to be real.  Don't beat yourself up when you stumble.  Get up, dust yourself off and keep moving.  We can do this!  Take it one day at a time, one foot in front of the other.


Philippians 4:13
I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

What Are You Craving?

I ran across these snacking options while reading the other day and I thought a lot of them sounded good.  I love that you can choose between sweet or savory craving options.

If you're craving sweet:

• Cherries (1 cup) + almonds (10)
• Orange (1) + pistachios (30)
• Peach (1, sliced and grilled) + "cream" (puree 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 1 teaspoon honey and cinnamon until smooth)
• Berries (1/2 cup) + low-fat vanilla yogurt (6 ounces).  Craving chocolate?  Stir in 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Apple (1, chopped and baked in microwave for 1 minute) + almonds (10, chopped).  Sprinkle with cinnamon. 
• Banana (1) + walnuts (5 halves)

If you're craving savory:

• Cherry tomatoes (1 cup) + low-fat mozzarella cheese stick (1)
• Olives (5) + edamame (1 cup, steamed in shell)
• Celery (1 rib, sliced) + peanut butter (1 1/2 tablespoons)
• Cucumber (1 cup, sliced) + tuna (3 ounces with 1 tablespoon light mayo)
• Grapes (1/2 cup, whole) + turkey jerky (1 stick)
• Pea pods (1 cup) + hummus (4 tablespoons)

Snack Time Favorites

Snack Time

You don't have to feel guilty about snacking.  Healthy snacking can help you reach your weight loss goals by controlling hunger and preventing a binge.  Looking for a snack?  Here are some of my snack time favorites; all around 100 calories.

• The Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Original - 70 Calories
• Rold Gold Braided Twists Honey Wheat - 8 for 110 Calories
• Mini Caramel Rice Cakes - 7 for 60 Calories
• Clif Crunch Bar White Chocolate Macadamia - 1 bar for 95 Calories
• Hershey Bliss Dark Chocolate Squares - 3 for 105 Calories
• Sundae Shoppe Italian Ice Strawberry or Lemon - 100 Calories

Almond Joy Trail Mix

I ran across this simple recipe in a magazine.  I love Almond Joys and this sounds so yummy and easy!

Almond Joy Trail Mix

Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes and 12 almonds. To add more volume, add a handful of popcorn.

Fight Hot Flashes

Fight Hot Flashes

Tired of suffering from hot flashes and night sweats?  Relief maybe be as far as your kitchen.

Fill up on a variety of these fruits and vegetables:

• Garlic
• Peppers
• Mushrooms
• Salad Greens
• Strawberries

Recent studies have shown that eating a variety of these fruits and vegetables can help reduce symptoms by 20%.  It certainly can't hurt to try!

Good For You Egg Salad Recipe

Protein packed eggs are one of the most versatile foods.

One large egg only costs you about 75 calories.

Good For You Egg Salad
3 extra large eggs
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon of slivered almonds
Pinch of fresh ground black pepper

• Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with water.  Bring to a boil, turn off the heat, cover the pot and let it sit on the hot burner for 8 minutes.
• Remove from stove, drain water and run cold water over eggs.  Peel eggs, discarding two of the yolks. Place the whole egg and the two whites in a bowl.
• Mash with a fork.  Add the celery, parsley, mustard, almonds and pepper and mix.

Eat as is or serve on flatbread.

Serves: 1

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Nutrition:  173 Calories

Fluid Retention and Weight Loss

I have been retaining fluid this week.  And, as I shared in my last post, my weigh-in this week was very disappointing with a five pound gain.  So, I did a little research and I found the following tips:

Diet Changes That Can Help Relieve Water Retention

• Reduce your sodium intake.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. 
• Drink up to eight glasses of water a day.
• Add 15 minutes of aerobic exercise daily, especially on the days you are retaining fluid. (Exercise reduces stress and promotes blood circulation, which creates a positive effect on your metabolism and this in turn assists the body in regulating itself.)

This morning I got up and did a 30 minute workout of walking/jogging in place, leg lifts, stretches and a little bit of dancing.  I hate watching a video to workout.  I prefer to either turn on some peppy music or just watch television and get moving.  

After my workout, I went to take my shower.  The whole time I was in the bathroom the scales were calling out to me.  So, against my better judgement, I decided to weigh again today.  (I usually don't allow myself to weigh more than once a week.)  But, it proved to be a positive experience; I had lost one and half pounds.

It was a relief to see a little bit of that gain was gone and it really gave me a boost of motivation for the week to come.

Till next time....God bless!

Weigh-In Friday

My morning did not start off "happy, happy, happy."  My weigh-in results almost had me bolting for the candy aisle to comfort myself.

I gained five pounds this week!  I know part of the reason is that I am retaining fluid; but I don't know why. I feel puffy and my hands and feet are swollen.

One of my medications was changed to a different brand, but it's basically the same thing I have been taking. I am getting more than my required water intake, it's basically all I drink.  I have been snacking on baby carrots and cucumber slices.  It's just so frustrating.

The good news:  I'm happy to report that I did not lose control or have a pity party while stuffing my face full of unhealthy junk foods.  I did allow myself a moment of pouting and then shook it off.

I am more determined than ever to stay on track and keep putting one foot in front of the other. I'm getting my health back one day at a time.

The Myths and Truths of Fad Diets

The Myth: Don't Eat Carbs
The Truth:  Our bodies need carbohydrates.  If you eliminate this nutrient from your diet completely, you could suffer a reduction of the hormones that control fat loss.  This reduction will make it harder to have the lean body you desire.  Good Rule to Follow:  Allow yourself more carbs on the days you are active and fewer on the days you're not.  Also, make sure the bulk of your carbs are obtained from whole foods such as fruits and vegetables.

The Myth: You Must Not Eat at Night
The Truth:  This is a very restrictive way to live and is not linked to any science-backed rules of weight loss.  The only way you will get fat by eating in the evening is by overeating.  If you know how many calories you should be consuming each day, you can consume those calories at whatever time of the day works for your body.

The Myth:  Fasting
The Truth:  Researchers at the University of Utah discovered that people who fasted one day each month were 40%  less apt to develop clogged arteries.  There are many different ways to fast.  An important thing to remember is to never feel that you have to eat if you’re not hungry.  Short daily fasts (for 12 to 16 hours) or a once-a-week daily fast can have health benefits.  It can also help you to learn the difference between boredom or thirst from true hunger.

The Myth:  Supplements for Weight Loss
The Truth:  You should build a foundation of healthy eating and exercise.  However, there are some supplements that can be beneficial in filling any nutritional deficiencies and help your body perform in a more efficient manner.  Using a supplement of 2,000 to 3,000 IU of Vitamin D3 is a wise investment  that will benefit your overall health and weight-loss goals.

More Tips and Facts to Aid Weight Loss

Did You Know?

Getting Enough Sleep can aid in weight loss.  Aim for seven to eight hours per night.  Going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday will help train your body clock - which will make it easier to go to sleep at night.  I personally do not get enough sleep.  I have suffered with insomnia since I was 15 years old.  I just wonder what would change if I did get sufficient sleep.

Stress can make you fat.  Secreting too much of the stress hormone cortisol can increase appetite (the body is trying to attain energy to manage the crisis).  Cortisol causes the extra weight to settle around your stomach, and fat around the belly is linked with heart attacks and strokes.  Exercise is the best cure for stress. Exercise releases endorphins, improves your mood, helps you sleep better and can clear the mind of worries.

Tomato Juice in place of your sports drink can help
post work-out inflammation.

Protein rich meals prevent the secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin and stimulate the release of the satiety hormone peptide YY.










Social Networking temporarily causes you to feel more connected to friends and family and gives your self-esteem a boost.  Unfortunately, there is a down side.  It decreases self-control.  One study showed that people who browsed for five minutes were more likely to choose an unhealthy snack after, than those who spent the same amount of time scanning a news site.  Don't worry, there's no need to stop surfing altogether - just stay away when your hungry, since that is when our will power is at it's lowest.

Eating With Chopsticks makes a meal an event, slows you down and helps prevent overeating.








Getting Off Your Bottom for about one additional hour a day can decrease stress, heighten your mood, energy, focus and productivity.

Tomato-Melon Salad

This is another recipe I found that sounds really yummy!

Tomato-Melon Salad
Makes 4 Servings
50 Calories Per Serving

In a bowl, combine 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, 2 cups seeded cucumber half-moons, 2 cups watermelon balls, and 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion.  Toss with 2 teaspoons thick, aged balsamic vinegar. Let stand 5 minutes, then sprinkle with leaves from a sprig of tarragon and cracked black pepper to taste.

(Instead of the vinegar I will use a Sun-Dried Tomato Vidalia Onion Dressing I love.)

Cherry Cashew or Almond Bark

I came across this recipe the other day and thought it sounded really yummy.  It's a quick little recipe you can mix up for a snack or you can increase the ingredients and make a batch.  Either way it sounds like a yummy little chocolate "fix" for only 100 calories!

Cherry Cashew Bark
1/2 oz. Dark Chocolate Chips
1 tsp. Dried Cherries
1 tsp. Chopped Cashews or Almonds

Melt the chocolate chips, mix in other ingredients and let cool until set.  (100 Calories)

Weigh-In Update

This past Friday's weigh-in went well with a two pound loss. That brings my total weight loss to eight pounds since returning from vacation. Although I would love to step on the scale and see a five or six pound loss; I am just so grateful for any progress.

Over the past weekend I faced a little bit of a challenge.  We had a birthday party for a dear friend and there was not only birthday cake, but there was also pecan pie there.  Those are two of my favorite sweet treats.  But, I am thrilled to report that I only had the smallest piece of birthday cake.  Not only was it small, it wasn't a corner piece with a lot of icing, which is my favorite part of a birthday cake.  I was so proud of myself for resisting the temptation to throw my will power out the window for the evening.

I feel like I am starting to make healthier choices without having to really think about it or feeling deprived of something.

This was just a short sweet entry to update my weight loss.  Keep watching; I have some exciting things I've been researching.  And, I will be sharing soon!  God bless!

Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight

Hallelujah!  There are foods that actually aid your weight loss efforts.  Better yet, in my research I have found some that I like.  Now I'm sharing them with you!  

Sunflower Seeds are full of mono and polyunsaturated fats, which help your body burn 23% more calories than saturated fat.  They're also loaded with protein and fiber which helps to keep you fuller longer.

Almonds contain mono-saturated fat which helps keep you fuller longer.  Additionally, foods that require a lot of chewing give you greater satisfaction.

Pears with their combination of water and fiber will fill you up and satisfy a sweet tooth.  In one study participants eating three pears a day lost almost 2 pounds in 10 weeks.

Watermelon with its high content of water keeps you full longer with few calories.

Spaghetti Squash is high in potassium and fiber and contains few calories.  It is a great swap for pasta.  I have actually used spaghetti squash in place of noodles and it is really good.  My guys like it too, which is a plus.

White Beans are low in fat and contain 4 grams of fiber per half cup serving.  Pureed, they can be a substitution for cream in soups.

Eggs eaten for breakfast in one study showed that dieters felt fuller longer and lost twice as much weight as those who got the same amount of calories from a bagel.  Eggs aren't just for breakfast, try adding them to a salad to give it staying power.

I will continue to search and share new and delicious finds with you.  I hope you are as excited as I am to try new and healthier options.  As always your comments, suggestions and questions are welcome!

God bless!

Challenges

I had a challenging weekend.  There is no doubt, I am very human.  In order for this blog to benefit me and my readers I plan to be transparent with my failures as well as my successes.

It started off with an unhappy weigh-in on Friday morning.  I didn't gain.  For that fact alone I know I should have been happy.  But I really wanted to lose and I didn't.    

On top of being discouraged by my non-progress, I had started getting sick the prior evening.  Having just recovered from a stomach bug the week before; I was very disgusted that I was once again under the weather.  By late Friday evening my symptoms included fever, body aches, sinus congestion/pressure, headache, light headed, dizzy, etc...in general, I felt awful.  I was so weak that I stayed in bed all of Saturday and Sunday.    

Let's go back to early Friday...I started feeling a little sorry for myself, okay, maybe a lot sorry for myself. Not a good "head place" for someone trying to lose weight.  Eating has always been a comfort to me.  Being sick, depressed, happy, any emotion has been an excuse to celebrate or soothe with food.

So when we stopped by Andy's after lunch I ordered the medium Key Lime Pie Concrete knowing two things: 1) I didn't need it; I was full from lunch, and 2) the small had almost a whole day's worth of calories and I certainly did not have that many to spare.  

My internal dialogue went something like this:  "I deserve it, I don't feel good.  I don't get to have Andy's that often.  The Key Lime Pie is a seasonal flavor and if I don't order it today I probably won't get one until next year.  I really should order the small.  I mean it's not like I'm getting the large, that's a positive, right? No, not really.  Oh well, it's only this once!"  I know you know what I'm talking about! You've been there!

I'm betting that most of you also know how I felt after I ate that medium Key Lime Pie Concrete.  Not only did I feel sick because I was so full; I felt defeated for giving into my food demon.  Shame hit me pretty hard also, because I knew I had to blog about this failure.  

I promised myself when I started this journey that I would be painfully honest. Even if I only have one reader, I will tell the truth.  Because this journey isn't just about changing my life.  My hope is to encourage others in this battle.  I don't believe that will happen if I don't show you my human side.

Now that I have that off my chest....

No one said this would be easy.  It's important for me to remember that I can start over.  If I make a poor choice, it's not the end of the world.  I just have to end it, and not allow myself to spiral out of control.  No, I don't have to starve myself for the next two days.  I just have to make healthier choices and keep moving forward.

Till next time....God bless!! :)  

Exercise

We all know that exercise is important if we want to be successful at losing weight and keeping it off.  Regular exercise is also a great source of energy, produces feel good chemicals and relieves stress.

One major issue I have with exercise is that I get bored very quickly, so I need variety to keep me motivated.  The following are a few I plan to give a whirl.

With the exception of the jogging, these are simple, easy to do exercises that don't require a gym or any equipment.

1. Jogging in Place  - Jogging in place is a great high impact aerobic exercise that can raise your heart rate quite high.  A 150 pound person burns 544 calories jogging in place for one hour.  You can jog in one place or around the room, kicking your feet really high and raising your arms to increase your heart rate.  
2. Leg Lifts - Leg lifts are great for building up strength and muscles in your legs.  If you find it hard to do the exercises with your legs straight, try bending them slightly.  I am currently doing these.  I do 60 reps per leg in 10 set intervals.  I vary the position of my leg and I alternate flexing my foot for 10 reps and relaxing my foot for 10 reps.  I also vary lying on my side and on my back.
3. Dancing - Dancing is a wonderful exercise, which is great for your heart.  Not only that, but it can lift your spirits as well.  This is a no-brainer for me.  I love music and I love to dance.  Furthermore, dancing doesn't feel like exercise; it's just fun!
4. Walk in Place - Walking in place requires no special equipment and it won’t put a strain on your body while you do it.  Just march your legs up and down.  I'm gonna try doing this while watching television.  

I look forward to reporting on my progress.  In the meantime, if you have any exercises, tips or advice you would like to share; please feel free to comment.

Finding My Power

Someone shared the following quote on Facebook today and I have made it my new motto:

"You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself."

Glinda in The Wizard of Oz

When I read the above quote today something clicked inside my head.  I have always had the power inside of me to change my health for the better.  I just had to believe it.  And nothing is more empowering than progress.  As of today, I can report that I have lost two more pounds bringing my total loss to six pounds since returning home from vacation.  

This new journey is not easy; but what is that old saying?  "Nothing worth having ever came easy."

Getting a handle on my eating habits has been easier than increasing my activity levels.  My biggest problem is lack of energy.  At the moment I am really battling my insomnia.  No sleep equals one very sluggish woman.  However, I am aware that regular exercise will produce more energy and boost positive emotions; so I'm going to start putting one foot in front of the other and pushing through.  Hopefully my sleeping will improve as well.

Speaking of exercise, I promised that I would keep you all apprised of my Zumba experience.  I was very optimistic and excited about trying it.  But I really should have considered how terribly uncoordinated I am before I ordered the DVD.  I suffered a temporary lapse in judgement; I forgot that I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time.  That being said, I'm not giving up.  I'm just going to move and try to have fun at the same time.  Like I've said before, if I don't like it, I won't do it.

Before I go, I want to share a few tips/tricks that I am finding helpful.  Maybe they will work for you too.

• Munch on Crushed Ice:  This keeps me from looking for something to eat between meals.  Added benefit; I'm upping my water intake.
• Brush Your Teeth or Chew Minty Sugar Free Gum:  Brushing my teeth or chewing minty sugar free gum will temporarily cause foods/treats to taste bad.  
• My Fitness Pal:  As I mentioned in my earlier post, at http://www.myfitnesspal.com you can sign-up for a free account and journal your meals, exercise, and progress.  I can't recommend this tool enough.  It is essential for me to keep track of my calories so that I don't get off course.

It is my hope that sharing my journey will encourage others who are struggling.  I am by no means a professional. There are going to be ups and downs and I am going to make mistakes along the way.  But I feel like I have finally found my power.  I encourage you to search within yourself and find yours too.  It's there, you just have to believe it!

Until next time, God bless!!!  :)

This Is Me

This is me.  This picture was taken in late June while I was on vacation with my family.  I was miserable.  I couldn't walk and breathe at the same time.

This vacation was a wake up call for me.  I had to do something to change my health.  I did not want to go on being this way.  There were a couple of moments during this vacation that I cried because of how uncomfortable I was in my own body.

I haven't always been this heavy but  I have always struggled with my weight.  When I was about 14 - 15 years old I had reached 200 pounds. That's way too much weight for someone who is only a hair over five foot tall. I decided then to make a change.  I started counting calories and exercising and I managed to lose 70 pounds over the next year.

I kept the weight off for the most part (it was a constant struggle) until I was married.

When I was pregnant with my son I gained 40 pounds.  When he was born he weighed ten pounds and before I left the hospital I had lost 27 pounds.  I lost the rest of the baby weight before returning to work, but I was still a little heavier than I wanted to be.

My son was about two years old when I started Weight Watchers online.  I started losing at a pretty steady pace and was feeling a lot better about myself.  Then something went wrong.

I was dead on my feet.  I was so tired and sleepy (me the insomniac) all the time; all I wanted to do was sleep.  My hair started falling out, my skin broke out, my fingernails were splitting and chipping, and I started gaining weight quickly.  I gained 30 pounds in a month!  I thought I was dying.

I made an appointment and went to see my doctor.  After running some tests, he discovered  that my thyroid had basically quit working.  I have been taking medication for hypothyroidism since that day.

Losing the weight was much harder after that.  It seemed I had to work much harder and it came off very slowly.  I battled with the scales, up and down, up and down.  I eventually just gave up.  I was tired of fighting.

You know what happened then?  I gained more weight.

That brings me to the present.  Here I am, not the heaviest I've ever been, but way too heavy for my small stature and miserable in my own skin.  I'm being gut-wrenchingly honest here.  I don't normally talk about something this personal to me in this open a manner.  My weight is a very personal and embarrassing issue to me.

I have lost four pounds since I returned from vacation.  I'm eating less and moving more.  I'm trying to make positive healthy changes in my life.  I have a long way to go before I reach my goal but I'm more determined than ever to get there.

I have decided to write about this journey because I know I'm not the only person fighting this battle.  I hope that writing about it will help me stay on track.  Maybe it will help you too.  I welcome your encouragement, tips, or even questions (no haters please).

God Bless...
 

Keeping Track Keeps Me On Track

I always do my best when I keep track of what I eat.  In the past I have used a notebook to keep up with my daily calorie intake but not anymore.  I have found a free, easy to use, website/phone app that makes this task a lot easier.

At MyFitnessPal.com you can sign up for a free account.  It allows you to enter your stats, such as weight, height, measurements, etc.  This information is used to calculate how many calories you can consume each day and still lose weight. You can also plug in your exercise and find out how many calories you burn.

One of the features I absolutely love is the iPhone app, which is also free.  It has a scan option that allows you to scan the bar code on a food label and add it to your diary right from your phone. This makes it so easy to keep up on the go.

MyFitnessPal isn't just a place to track your calories and exercise though.  You can also blog, keep track of weight lose, make friends, interact with other members through the community and so much more.  You have to check it out for yourself.

Check it out at:  www.myfitnesspal.com

Little Victories

I lost four pounds this week - whoop, whoop!!!  Everybody do the happy dance.  I know I did when I saw the numbers on the scale.

I have finally found my groove again.  I started swimming laps this week.  I have only been able to do ten and that has been a great challenge.  This old girl isn't used to that much exertion yet.  I had to take more than a few breathing breaks during those ten laps.  It feels good though to be making an effort and a change.

Today, when I did those laps I was able to take fewer breathing breaks.  I took that as a sign that I'm building my endurance and soon I will have to add some laps.

I also made some adjustments to my eating.  I am trying to eat less.  I haven't put myself on a real restrictive diet.  I don't do well with eliminating foods.  My main goal at this point in time is to eat less and move more.

I think the fact that the scale showed a four pound loss this week indicates that this plan is working for me.  I am really encouraged by this small victory, which to me seems bigger than it probably does to those of you reading this.  I have been struggling for so long to get my mind back in this place.  The place where I feel I am in control.

I also ordered a Zumba DVD.  I just received it in the mail yesterday and I am looking forward to checking it out.  My hope is that it will be a fun form of exercise that I can switch up with my swimming workouts.  It's important for me to find exercise that I will enjoy.  If I don't like it, I won't do it.  It's just that simple.

I'm really excited and I want to encourage anyone out there who is struggling to just hang in there.  Try something new and don't beat yourself up.

I'll let ya'll know how the Zumba goes!

God bless...

Still Don't Have My Groove Back

Sunday was Mother's Day.  You know what that means - treats I shouldn't eat right under my nose.  Of course I resisted - NOT!  I ate everything  that wasn't nailed to the kitchen counter.  It's very frustrating to have no self control.  

I'm very tired.  I feel like I have cement in my extremities.  It's an effort just to breathe.  I don't want to feel this way anymore.  I want to feel light and energetic.  I don't want to be trapped in this over sized body the rest of my life.  Scarier still is the thought of how short my life will be if I don't shed this over sized body.

So, why can't I get this right?  Why am I stuck on this roller coaster of overeating and eating the wrong things?  Why can't I get motivated to do the right things?

It's not like I don't know what to do.  I'm not stupid.  I know the right things to eat, I know I should exercise.  I have known most of my life the right things to do.  Worse, I know what could happen to me if I don't do something about it.  I have heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol chasing me down.  My father has had open heart surgery twice, he has type two diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure and he isn't really overweight.  The doctors have told him these things are in his genes.  So my being overweight only makes these things more likely for me.  

You would think knowing these things would somehow "scare me straight."  Still, all I want to do is drive to the nearest fast food joint and fill my face with fried food.  Why?  I really don't know.  I truly don't want to be this person anymore.  

So, today, I start over again.  

Why Can't I Get This Right?

Frustration - my companion and my constant frame of mind.  I am so frustrated by my lack of will power and motivation to stick to a healthy living plan.  Once again, I have edged up the scale and am in serious need of starting over.  

So, here I go again.  One day at a time.  That's all I can allow myself to think about.  I get overwhelmed if I think further ahead.  

I'm using an app on my iPhone to log food, activity and weight loss.  It has one of those handy little bar code scanners, which makes it somewhat easier to track what I eat.  

Now, I just need a kick in the butt to start exercising.  I hate exercise.  I hate to sweat!  Yes, I said it, I admit it - I absolutely hate exercise and sweating!   I know I'm not alone.  Feel free to comment on this post and share your thoughts on "torture."  

Today is day one.  My journey starts again.  I'll let you know how it goes.