I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! Having the heart attack in Sept of 2013 threw me off my game more than I thought I guess.
However, that is no reason to let myself slide back into bad habits. It should have made me even more determined to get healthy. But what it actually did was make me afraid.
Afraid to do much of anything because what if I had another one? A bigger one? THE big one, you know?
I have now reached the point that the fear is still there but the urge to get back to what I was doing before has begun to overpower it. Oh sure, I have made attempts over the past year, eating mostly vegetarian meals, making smoothies here and there, but nothing that stuck.
Instead I lived in denial as slowly the weight began creeping back up. As the breathing became more labored,the aches and pains and trouble walking grew worse with each day. My energy level is next to nil now, I have to really force myself to do anything. I tell myself it is because I am getting old. The heck with that, 57 (well 58 in a couple of weeks) is NOT that old! It is time to do something about this.
I miss riding my bike. I miss sleeping well and waking up ready to greet the day and get stuff done. I miss cooking and eating healthier meals. I miss going off with the camera for " photo walkabouts". I miss not having excruciating cramps (charley horses) every time I move wrong or sometimes even if I move at all.
After gaining almost 20 lbs over the last 3 months I have decided that it is time to take action.
I actually began cutting back the day after Christmas, the 21st actually because we celebrated it on the 20th this year, and I have already lost 5 lbs. I am now motivated and ready to surge ahead on this goal of getting healthy.
Again.
Hopefully 2015 will be the year that I meet my goals in this area.
No, let's change that to 2015 WILL be the year I meet my goals!
Will it be the year that you meet your health goals? Would you like to join me on this journey? Maybe we could challenge and support each other along the way.
I know I could certainly use the company and somebody to keep me accountable.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Time to Step up the Game
During the past ten months I have made several major changes in my life.
I quit smoking on Christmas Eve last year. I began clearing all processed foods from the house and making more foods from scratch.
Green smoothies became a daily habit in March, as did having more meatless meals.
The fridge overflowed with vegetables and fruits, bought by several trips every month on my Schwinn to the local store. In fact, the bike became a vital part of my life, used almost daily for errands, appointments or just for fun.
My youngest son and I began a major backyard renovation this spring also that involved LOTS of digging, raking and screening of loam....not to mention moving about a gazillion little stones from place to place!
He began joking that once the grass came in he wouldn't be surprised to find me in the backyard grazing, that's how noticeable my cravings for leafy vegetables had become!
I was losing weight, sleeping great, had more energy than I could use up and for the first time in almost a year was not suffering from daily charlie horses in my legs, feet, arms in fact, there wasn't a single body part that I didn't get cramps in.
I thought I was doing a fairly decent job of living a healthier lifestyle, so imagine my shock when I was rushed to the hospital on Sept. 20 because I was having a mild heart attack!
I admit that I slid back to some old habits during the two weeks before that, my stress levels had skyrocketed and I began seeking out the old comfort foods, even had a couple of cigarettes that I begged from a neighbor, but it was only two weeks of *garbage* in a ten month period!
Anyhow, a week later, 2 new stents, 5 new prescriptions and two hospital stays later (Yes, I was admitted again the day after I was released for a possible second heart attack!) I am more determined than ever to get myself in shape.
This was a wake up call that scared the heck out of me. Hearing the tears in my 28 year old daughter's voice over the phone, listening to my 29 year old son who has Down Syndrome begging me over Skype to come home, seeing my 23 year old son, who has Asperger's Syndrome, struggling to appear brave while I KNEW that inside he was panicking, watching my 10 year old grandson cry as the EMTs took me out of the house the second time...and being so afraid that I would never be able to see or hug any of them again...well if that wasn't a big enough kick in the butt to get my attention then I don't know what would be.
At this time I can't do much of anything. I have to do a lot of resting until I get the okay from the Drs, and for once in my life I am doing exactly what I am told to do.
My family needs me for one thing, but mostly, because I want to live. I want to be here as long as I can, I want to share as much of their lives with them as possible. I CAN do this and I WILL!
While I am by no means an expert at this, I would be very happy to help anyone that also wishes to change their eating and lifestyle choices to healthier ones. If nothing else we can cheer each other on!
I quit smoking on Christmas Eve last year. I began clearing all processed foods from the house and making more foods from scratch.
Green smoothies became a daily habit in March, as did having more meatless meals.
The fridge overflowed with vegetables and fruits, bought by several trips every month on my Schwinn to the local store. In fact, the bike became a vital part of my life, used almost daily for errands, appointments or just for fun.
My youngest son and I began a major backyard renovation this spring also that involved LOTS of digging, raking and screening of loam....not to mention moving about a gazillion little stones from place to place!
He began joking that once the grass came in he wouldn't be surprised to find me in the backyard grazing, that's how noticeable my cravings for leafy vegetables had become!
I was losing weight, sleeping great, had more energy than I could use up and for the first time in almost a year was not suffering from daily charlie horses in my legs, feet, arms in fact, there wasn't a single body part that I didn't get cramps in.
I thought I was doing a fairly decent job of living a healthier lifestyle, so imagine my shock when I was rushed to the hospital on Sept. 20 because I was having a mild heart attack!
WHAT!?!?!?
I admit that I slid back to some old habits during the two weeks before that, my stress levels had skyrocketed and I began seeking out the old comfort foods, even had a couple of cigarettes that I begged from a neighbor, but it was only two weeks of *garbage* in a ten month period!
Anyhow, a week later, 2 new stents, 5 new prescriptions and two hospital stays later (Yes, I was admitted again the day after I was released for a possible second heart attack!) I am more determined than ever to get myself in shape.
This was a wake up call that scared the heck out of me. Hearing the tears in my 28 year old daughter's voice over the phone, listening to my 29 year old son who has Down Syndrome begging me over Skype to come home, seeing my 23 year old son, who has Asperger's Syndrome, struggling to appear brave while I KNEW that inside he was panicking, watching my 10 year old grandson cry as the EMTs took me out of the house the second time...and being so afraid that I would never be able to see or hug any of them again...well if that wasn't a big enough kick in the butt to get my attention then I don't know what would be.
At this time I can't do much of anything. I have to do a lot of resting until I get the okay from the Drs, and for once in my life I am doing exactly what I am told to do.
My family needs me for one thing, but mostly, because I want to live. I want to be here as long as I can, I want to share as much of their lives with them as possible. I CAN do this and I WILL!
While I am by no means an expert at this, I would be very happy to help anyone that also wishes to change their eating and lifestyle choices to healthier ones. If nothing else we can cheer each other on!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
4 Exercise Tips For the Working Mom
With the pressures of daily life, sometimes working out regularly can become difficult for a working mom. I know what you're thinking, "How do YOU know? You don't work!" You're right. I don't work now, but I began working at age 13, and worked for many years when the kids were younger, only becoming a stay at home Mom when I had no choice 12 years ago.
I remember very well how it was working second shift, then sleeping a few hours before needing to get up to take care of my family. I also remember how the stress of trying to do all the errands, housework, and cooking while trying to spend time with my 3 kids and husband before it was time to leave for work sometimes made it impossible for me to stick to my weight loss plan. As for exercising..who had the time!
However, I reached the point where I couldn't fit into any of the smocks we needed to wear at work. I could barely walk or even play with my kids. I decided that things had to change and I stopped letting stress become an excuse for avoiding exercises!
Each of us has 24 hours a day that we must fit all of our daily activities in, how is it that you cannot find time for exercises? Don't you brush your teeth, or take a shower everyday? Why do you do these? Because they are part of your daily routine. You know that if you don't brush your teeth regularly, you will suffer from tooth decay. Similarly, if you don't take a shower regularly, you could skin diseases, or at the very least, not smell very pleasant! You should know that if you don't workout regularly, you will become overweight and make exercising a part of your daily routine also.
It's not right to use the 'lack of time' as an excuse for avoiding exercises, as I did for years, when to be honest, I was afraid of exercising and didn't know where to start! This might be what is really preventing you from exercising too.
1. Find a friend to workout with. Working out alone is not always an enjoyable experience. However, if you can have a friend workout with you, chances are that you will start loving your workouts instead of hating them! Plus seeing someone else working out in the gym will motivate you to continue with your exercise routine. You don't even have to go to a gym, if you have a very child, put them in the stroller and go for a walk, or take the dog for long walks. If you know another working mom, or a few of them, who has the same fitness goals as you, then rope them in as well. It is more fun to walk with a friend, or even your family. Maybe you could start having the whole family go for a walk after supper.
2. Get an IPOD or something similar. I used to walk with a cassette player (yes I am dating myself I know..LOL) Take it with you whenever you hit the gym or go walking. This is a great way of kicking out the boredom out of your workout routine!
3. Do what you love. There are exercises that you probably don't love to do and if you force yourself to do them it is only a matter of time before you become bored and stop doing them. If you find exercises that you actually love, then it becomes easier, even enjoyable, to do them. They don't have to be situps or squats either! Do you like bike riding? Take the bike instead of the car occasionally. Put on some music at home and dance while doing the housework. Swim laps at the Y, or your own pool if you are lucky enough to have one. Anything that gets you moving and makes you work up a bit of sweat is good for you and if you love doing it, you WILL do it!!
4. Start slow: If you have never exercised in your life, it is only natural that you will be afraid to hit the gym or think about walking for miles. Ignore people who say that you have to exercise daily in order to lose weight. Instead, try to take it easy: start by working out only for fifteen to twenty minutes per day, for two or three days a week. As your body gets accustomed to your new workout routine, you can scale up the intensity of your workouts!
Remember at the beginning of this I mentioned that I had gotten fed up and decided to change things? Well, I ended up losing 144 lbs in 1 year, and went from a size 30 in jeans to a 16! Actually, I could wiggle into 14's but 16's were comfortable.
I started walking a few days a week. At first I thought I was going to die, just a trip around the block seemed to take forever. But soon it was 2 blocks, then 3. Finally I measured out a 4 mile route and every morning after the kids went to school, I laced up the sneakers, put the headphones on, grabbed a bottle of water and hit the streets. After a month or so I was able to walk that 4 miles in 20 minutes! I did that 5 days a week and added aerobics (Sweating to the Oldies with Richard Simmons is GREAT!!) 2-3 times a week. I also began walking during the 30 minute lunch break at work while drinking a Chocolate SlimFast.
My point is this. If you want to live longer, to be there to see your children grow up, to meet your grand and even GREAT grandkids, or if you just want to be healthier for yourself, to be more confident and have better self esteem (believe me, your whole personality and outlook on life changes as your size changes!!) then you have to MOVE! Of course, you also have to change your eating habits......but I will leave that subject for another post!
If I did it, I know YOU can do it too! In fact, I will be joining you on this journey because I gained a few pounds back recently after I quit smoking and am working to get rid of them again.
I remember very well how it was working second shift, then sleeping a few hours before needing to get up to take care of my family. I also remember how the stress of trying to do all the errands, housework, and cooking while trying to spend time with my 3 kids and husband before it was time to leave for work sometimes made it impossible for me to stick to my weight loss plan. As for exercising..who had the time!
However, I reached the point where I couldn't fit into any of the smocks we needed to wear at work. I could barely walk or even play with my kids. I decided that things had to change and I stopped letting stress become an excuse for avoiding exercises!
Each of us has 24 hours a day that we must fit all of our daily activities in, how is it that you cannot find time for exercises? Don't you brush your teeth, or take a shower everyday? Why do you do these? Because they are part of your daily routine. You know that if you don't brush your teeth regularly, you will suffer from tooth decay. Similarly, if you don't take a shower regularly, you could skin diseases, or at the very least, not smell very pleasant! You should know that if you don't workout regularly, you will become overweight and make exercising a part of your daily routine also.
It's not right to use the 'lack of time' as an excuse for avoiding exercises, as I did for years, when to be honest, I was afraid of exercising and didn't know where to start! This might be what is really preventing you from exercising too.
I'm hoping that these tips will help you achieve your fitness goals!
1. Find a friend to workout with. Working out alone is not always an enjoyable experience. However, if you can have a friend workout with you, chances are that you will start loving your workouts instead of hating them! Plus seeing someone else working out in the gym will motivate you to continue with your exercise routine. You don't even have to go to a gym, if you have a very child, put them in the stroller and go for a walk, or take the dog for long walks. If you know another working mom, or a few of them, who has the same fitness goals as you, then rope them in as well. It is more fun to walk with a friend, or even your family. Maybe you could start having the whole family go for a walk after supper.
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| Photo by: Peter van der Sluijs |
2. Get an IPOD or something similar. I used to walk with a cassette player (yes I am dating myself I know..LOL) Take it with you whenever you hit the gym or go walking. This is a great way of kicking out the boredom out of your workout routine!
3. Do what you love. There are exercises that you probably don't love to do and if you force yourself to do them it is only a matter of time before you become bored and stop doing them. If you find exercises that you actually love, then it becomes easier, even enjoyable, to do them. They don't have to be situps or squats either! Do you like bike riding? Take the bike instead of the car occasionally. Put on some music at home and dance while doing the housework. Swim laps at the Y, or your own pool if you are lucky enough to have one. Anything that gets you moving and makes you work up a bit of sweat is good for you and if you love doing it, you WILL do it!!
4. Start slow: If you have never exercised in your life, it is only natural that you will be afraid to hit the gym or think about walking for miles. Ignore people who say that you have to exercise daily in order to lose weight. Instead, try to take it easy: start by working out only for fifteen to twenty minutes per day, for two or three days a week. As your body gets accustomed to your new workout routine, you can scale up the intensity of your workouts!
I know that these tips can work for you because they worked for me!
Remember at the beginning of this I mentioned that I had gotten fed up and decided to change things? Well, I ended up losing 144 lbs in 1 year, and went from a size 30 in jeans to a 16! Actually, I could wiggle into 14's but 16's were comfortable.
HOW did I do it?
I started walking a few days a week. At first I thought I was going to die, just a trip around the block seemed to take forever. But soon it was 2 blocks, then 3. Finally I measured out a 4 mile route and every morning after the kids went to school, I laced up the sneakers, put the headphones on, grabbed a bottle of water and hit the streets. After a month or so I was able to walk that 4 miles in 20 minutes! I did that 5 days a week and added aerobics (Sweating to the Oldies with Richard Simmons is GREAT!!) 2-3 times a week. I also began walking during the 30 minute lunch break at work while drinking a Chocolate SlimFast.
My point is this. If you want to live longer, to be there to see your children grow up, to meet your grand and even GREAT grandkids, or if you just want to be healthier for yourself, to be more confident and have better self esteem (believe me, your whole personality and outlook on life changes as your size changes!!) then you have to MOVE! Of course, you also have to change your eating habits......but I will leave that subject for another post!
If I did it, I know YOU can do it too! In fact, I will be joining you on this journey because I gained a few pounds back recently after I quit smoking and am working to get rid of them again.
Shall we do this together??
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Sunday, February 13, 2011
over 6 lbs lost..woohoo
So thought it was past time to check in , haven't done a weigh in for 3 weeks, mainly because for 2 weeks I was bouncing around between 251 and 255 lbs, but for the past week I've been doing much better, eating well and getting more than enough activity in to burn off lots of calories. I noticed last week I had dropped below 250 again, but didn't want to jinx it by getting excited so stayed off the scale until this morning. Where to my delight I saw 245.6 lbs! Cool!! I haven't been below 250 in forever!
Now if I count back from 2009 when I first started this blog at 284 lbs I have lost 39 lbs...not a lot in 3 years huh? LOL
19 of those pounds were shed between Nov. 2010 and now, which averages out to a little over 1 lb a week , without counting the weight I regained and lost a couple of times.
Hopefully I won't have anymore of those regaining weeks and will continue to lose weight, and if not lose every week, at least maintain and not gain!
Now if I count back from 2009 when I first started this blog at 284 lbs I have lost 39 lbs...not a lot in 3 years huh? LOL
19 of those pounds were shed between Nov. 2010 and now, which averages out to a little over 1 lb a week , without counting the weight I regained and lost a couple of times.
Hopefully I won't have anymore of those regaining weeks and will continue to lose weight, and if not lose every week, at least maintain and not gain!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Fun morning :-)
One of the great joys of losing weight that makes the process so worth it is when your size changes. I noticed that this morning when I tried to wear one of my favorite shirts, only to discover that it hung on me so bad that even I had to admit it looked awful!
That got me wondering, so I began pulling out shirts to try on. To my delight, as well as a small amount of sadness at losing old favorites, I have so many that are too big now that I started a "donate" bag. A part of me wants to keep these shirts, you know, just in case?
However, been there, done that. It's way to easy to gain weight and not even notice when you have a larger size laying around that you can slip into when your clothes start feeling just a little too snug! So out they go, Tony has a bag of clothes he wants to get rid of, I still have a bunch of Josh's big clothes here ( ok, I've been wearing them!!) and I will easily have a bag full..time for a call to the Big Sisters...or is it Little Sisters? I can never remember but luckily I save their card. I like calling them because they pick up the clothes and they go to FREE clothing banks ( I know this cause I saw some of Josh.s that I donated at one that I was going to) Yes, I'm sure there are folks that take advantage of that, but I know there are plenty of other folks that really need free clothes.
Of course the flip side of this is that I can now wear old favorites that I kept hoping to fit back into *someday* and there are a few more that I will be able to wear if I lose 5-10 more pounds and I pulled out the next size down in jeans too. Not to wear yet since I just went down a size in them, but as motivation :-D.
Oh and in other news..I am still smoke free! Struggling daily with this, being sick the past week helped a lot and even made me glad I wasn't smoking because my cough would have been so much worse and I probably would have ended up with bronchitis again. I've been using Altoids and all the flavors of Extra gum instead of smoking. Let's face it, a stick of Strawberry Shortcake chewing gum is much more enjoyable than a nasty cigarette!
That got me wondering, so I began pulling out shirts to try on. To my delight, as well as a small amount of sadness at losing old favorites, I have so many that are too big now that I started a "donate" bag. A part of me wants to keep these shirts, you know, just in case?
However, been there, done that. It's way to easy to gain weight and not even notice when you have a larger size laying around that you can slip into when your clothes start feeling just a little too snug! So out they go, Tony has a bag of clothes he wants to get rid of, I still have a bunch of Josh's big clothes here ( ok, I've been wearing them!!) and I will easily have a bag full..time for a call to the Big Sisters...or is it Little Sisters? I can never remember but luckily I save their card. I like calling them because they pick up the clothes and they go to FREE clothing banks ( I know this cause I saw some of Josh.s that I donated at one that I was going to) Yes, I'm sure there are folks that take advantage of that, but I know there are plenty of other folks that really need free clothes.
Of course the flip side of this is that I can now wear old favorites that I kept hoping to fit back into *someday* and there are a few more that I will be able to wear if I lose 5-10 more pounds and I pulled out the next size down in jeans too. Not to wear yet since I just went down a size in them, but as motivation :-D.
Oh and in other news..I am still smoke free! Struggling daily with this, being sick the past week helped a lot and even made me glad I wasn't smoking because my cough would have been so much worse and I probably would have ended up with bronchitis again. I've been using Altoids and all the flavors of Extra gum instead of smoking. Let's face it, a stick of Strawberry Shortcake chewing gum is much more enjoyable than a nasty cigarette!
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