It's Not a Sprint, It's a Marathon...

A friend of mine used the expression "it's not a sprint, its a marathon" the other day. We were talking about something completely unrelated to exercise but it stuck with me. It made me think about what we are all trying to accomplish here. I think that's why I have been sticking to a routine of adding something into my health and wellness plan every month. I found through the years of trying different things by going full speed ahead it never worked for me. I think the saying goes "it takes 21 days to create a habit". That's pretty much what has been working for me. After I add in another part it eventually becomes such a part of my routine I don't even think about it anymore and then I add another and so on.

Hang in there everyone and just keep trying to see what works for you!

LMH

Second Chance

It happens in a nanosecond for me. I one day wake up, get on the scale, only to see that I am right back where I started. "What happened?", I say to myself, "you've been good, you've been eating better, you've been trying to get exercise whenever you can . . " Recently I was trying to inspire our in-house teenager to want to do better than average in her classes at school. I kept asking her repeatedly if she thought she was working as hard as she could to do all that she was capable of, and I finally saw her stop think and consider the fact that maybe she could do more. Now I have to ask myself that same question - "am I really doing all I can to take charge of my health, weight and eating?" The honest answer is no. So, I am implementing a new B-Hop rule, that is the one where we all get a second, third, fourth chance, whatever we need to keep on track.

I know I am not the only member of this blog who's struggling, which is why we haven't seen a grand total in the last two weeks. I was on vacation, than M was gone, now I am out of town again, so I have a multitude of excuses as to why I haven't "been good" lately. So what now?

For me, I am going to quit "trying" to lose weight, eat better and exercise, and I am going to do it, and when I stumble, I will expect any one of you out there in blog land to nudge, push and prod me to hold myself accountable for my life - my weight, my health and my ability to assist others, especially our daughters and son who need to look to M & I for their inspiration as to how they take responsibility for the outcomes of their lives, especially food choices, opportunities to exercise and knowing when they need to stop.

So, I take my mulligan and I start again. Thanks for being there to keep me honest and focused.

To Be Thin...

Back when I was attending Overeaters Anonymous meetings regularly, somewhere between 1993 and 2003, I found and bought this Mary Englebreit frig magnet and a lightbulb went off for me about how it might apply to my eating. The magnet says, "To Be Happy, Don't do whatever you like, Like whatever you do." I revamped it in my mind to read, "To Be Thin, Don't eat whatever you like, Like whatever you need and have to eat."

It's taken many years, but overall, this is where I am today. Most days, I stick to a regimen of foods that are good for me, ones that will not cause cholesterol or weight gain. Occasionally, like yesterday, I will attend a family gathering and have a piece of cake and a scoop of ice cream, but mostly I "eat whatever I need and have to eat" to be thinner. Over time, it's gotten easier, and I pray that now that I'm working on getting back down to the weight of my 30's that I keep this motto in mind, but also keep things in balance for a happy life. May we all find our road to tackling our own personal situation. I hope you've all had a good week and that the week ahead looks promising. I maintained my weight this week, probably because of that dessert yesterday, but I go forward with hope... Til later, Linda

Vacations: are they bad for your weight loss goals?

I've officially gone back to my "routine" now that our dear ones from Omaha have gone. No physical therapy for a week and a half, and weight loss wasn't on my mind a little bit while cooking for a crowd again.

I braved the scale on Sunday and I'd lost two more pounds which really astounded me. Of course I didn't have a cheese steak sandwich, either.

I've found that eating my major meal early in the day (1-2 PM) and then eating light in the evening is helpful both for weight loss and for my diabetes. And snacking? "Bet you can't eat one" of no matter what it is, so best not to start!

A New Dawn?

I received the photo of me 25 years ago from a friend in Nebraska this week, and it really opened my eyes. I know I can't do anything about the sags and wrinkles in my present face, but I'm thinking maybe it would be nice to go back in time with my weight. I weighed 30-35 fewer pounds in this early photo than I do today. I wonder what I would look like if I got down to that weight again. Any predictions? Above was my Christmas card photo this year, and this is where I begin... I'm two pounds down on the scale this morning since last Monday, and I'm encouraged. Thank you guys for your support...Linda

week five

I have heard from a few b-hoppers and we're at a total net loss of 68.5 so far, I suspect, some of you, like me, have either avoided the scale (guilty) or not wanted to report the findings. Never fear, let's look at this as a new dawn, and see where we land at the end of this week. B-Hop to it!

Spring Break

M, the kids and I just returned from our trip to Philly. We took the kids back East for a spring break getaway, and met up with K & her fiancee for a wedding shower with M's family and close friends. We had some great visits and good family time together in the van, in our little apartment in Philly and with our extended family away. We did some advance planning for M's dietary needs prior to leaving, packing gluten free pretzels, nuts, gluten free blueberry muffins (I baked them myself!) and a loaf of gf bread to make sandwiches on the way out. Everyone who fed us was very conscientious of M's diet restrictions and we ate like royalty. M's mother made gf meatballs, beef stew and I assisted with chicken on the ritz, substituting gf crackers for ritz on M's portion. M's sister made a delicous cheesecake dessert with gf chocolate cookies and cheesecake mousse, it was yummy. I took along a gf brownie mix, which was Bob's Red Mill blend, it was also quite yummy, especially with the fudge topping recipe on the back. We visited our sister-in-law and her kids one day and LMH joined us, they put together a kid friendly lunch, with gf choices for M and a luscious bowl of fruit to snack on after the kids played outside. All in all, our eating was pretty good, not ideal, but we tried to keep ourselves focused on not just blowing our forward progress on one vacation.

I managed to walk about three days, once with M to get our EZpass, which was about a mile and a half walk in downtown Philly. V & I went to taking the stairs down from the Penthouse floor of the building we stayed in to our 5th floor apartment, I didn't try going all the way up, perhaps I'll be able to tackle that on the next trip.

Highlights of the trip for me were: Seeing so many family members and friends at the shower for K & E. M's sister, KHH, and good friend Vee, threw a nice party, with great food and so many family members and family friends were present, many traveling several hours to be with us; our day spent in Cape May, we had a chilly walk on the beach, brunch at Uncle Bill's Pancake House (I got my potato pancake fix), trolley tour and tour of Physick Mansion, shopping, ever so briefly at Washington Street Mall, quick trip to the Lighthouse and dinner at the Lobster House; Spending time with LMH and family; our trip to Philly suburbs to have lunch with cousins and aunts; a horse and carriage ride through historic sites in Philly; my lunch time with KHH and a relaxing dinner on the "veranda" soaking up some sun and margarita's as we faced our last night in the city. We left Philly Friday morning, not without stopping for a real Philly cheesesteak from Dominick, a street vendor we've come to know. Poor M, had to settle for a few bites of the cheesesteak I handed him off of mine, but we all got a taste of this Philadelphia favorite. Our trip home was uneventful, other than hitting some heavy rain outside of Toledo. We stopped for lunch in Iowa City to meet an old college friend of mine, before arriving home around 7 p.m. M, left this morning for a business trip to Philly, and I leave next week for Denver. April will fly by into May for all of us.

Monday Review

The scale only went down one pound this week, but it wasn't because I wasn't trying. My biggest problem is when I'm invited out for a meal. It seems like no matter what I order in a restaurant, it stymies my diet. I'm getting so I almost cringe if someone suggests I meet them for a meal. This week on Thursday I had a salad with chicken and cheese and blue cheese dressing in one restaurant and then last night I had practically the same thing in another. I didn't touch the crackers or the bread either time and drank lots of water. Otherwise, I've been on my regimen at home and worked out at Curves three times last week. I guess I shouldn't be disheartened. Even if I just lose one pound a week, ten weeks from now, I'll be at my goal for China. I'll continue to let you know how it goes... Til then, Linda

Are You Up To Date?

I just had my yearly mammogram and I usually coordinate it with my yearly gyno. exam. I was shocked to find out that I haven't been to the doctor since 2006. Now I will always make sure they are scheduled for the same week.

I wanted to share with you a deodorant that doesn't contain Aluminum Chlorohydrate that actually keeps me dry! I have tried several and this one is the first one that I really like. Its called Crystal Body Deodorant Stick. It also comes in a spray. The true test will be in the humid weather. I still need to keep regular deodorant on hand for days that I really want to make sure I'm dry. But I like knowing that more days than not I am using something that is truly safe for my body.

My 8 year old son and I are "training" for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure on Mother's Day. So breast cancer awareness is really on my mind this month. Please check you records and make sure you are up to date as well.

My week in review:

--Worked out six days this week. 9 Miles ran outside. 3 days on the treadmill-40 min.each.

--Weights and Ab work four days this week.

--No soda at all.

--Lost 3 pounds but ate really bad the next day after that weigh in so hopefully by next weigh in it will still be off.

--Ran 1 mile with my son-two days in a row.

--Drank lots of water. Forgot my vitamins all week.

LMH

Getting back on track

I guess I was blind sided by Easter. I am trying to get back on track but it has not been easy. My plan this week was to journal my eating but that has not been happening. I promise to try to do better with that because I know it works for me. I have been watching The Biggest Loser and trying to inspire myself to push forward and try some different exercises. Wish me luck at my weigh-in Sat. AM!

Week Four

We're at a net total of 61.5 pounds lost after a month of support, journaling and encouragment, with only 5 B-Hoppers giving me their stats. 8.7 is our loss so far this week, so if you want to be in the count, let me know and I'll update this entry. Remember, this is a net loss, so not everyone reports a loss every week, but as a group we're doing awesome!