Being that it's long past Christmas, I'm starting a new blog for 2008, consistent with what I'm trying to accomplish this year. Take a look, here!
I'm in the home stretch and this will be the year that I cross the finish line (literally, as well as figuratively!) and enjoy the wonders of being at a healthy weight. How wonderful will that be?
Please come over and take a look, share your tips & struggles, and we'll walk through this 'eating thing' together. Lose ALL the weight - 2008!
Signing off,
A Much Lighter Karen
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
What Happened?
Well, I know what happened. I just ate how I wanted to instead of how I should have. It was sickening. I had lousy stuff, too. It wasn't worth it. Why did I do it? Why did I have a fairly easy time doing this for three months and now I want to eat everything in the house?
This morning I ate appropriately. The end is in sight. I can actually imagine being at goal. I can't give up this late in the game. I think maybe I need a shorter term goal or an event to shoot for because this is much easier in smaller chunks than just determining to stay diet-faithful for the rest of the year.
My 24th wedding anniversary is exactly one month from today. That can be my first 'chunk'. My 49th birthday is about 1.5 months after that. That can be my second challenge. After that I'll come up with something else. These little things really do help me. It's just a mind thing but it helps.
I need to rely on the Lord to help me get past these tough parts, the plateaus, and sometimes just the discouragement when I look at folks that can eat three times what I do and never gain an ounce.
Well, I have to get going. I was up early this morning and got a lot done, but we're starting our schoolday late because our other student is late this morning.
Have a good day, within your point system!
Karen
This morning I ate appropriately. The end is in sight. I can actually imagine being at goal. I can't give up this late in the game. I think maybe I need a shorter term goal or an event to shoot for because this is much easier in smaller chunks than just determining to stay diet-faithful for the rest of the year.
My 24th wedding anniversary is exactly one month from today. That can be my first 'chunk'. My 49th birthday is about 1.5 months after that. That can be my second challenge. After that I'll come up with something else. These little things really do help me. It's just a mind thing but it helps.
I need to rely on the Lord to help me get past these tough parts, the plateaus, and sometimes just the discouragement when I look at folks that can eat three times what I do and never gain an ounce.
Well, I have to get going. I was up early this morning and got a lot done, but we're starting our schoolday late because our other student is late this morning.
Have a good day, within your point system!
Karen
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Still on Track but not Losing
No problem. It's definitely cyclical. My job is to eat within plan and I'm doing that.
Jim has joined me in Weight-Loss-World. It's a little tough for him because they have lunch brought in two or three times a week at work for staff meetings and such. He's probably going to change that a bit or make it so they bring in some low-fat options. He's already gotten them to reduce the number of catered lunches. They were delicious, but made it nearly impossible to tally points. It's just nice to have him losing with me. It makes it easier when we're eating the same stuff for dinner and provides some exercise motivation for each other with a little healthy competition. The YMCA has a point system when you work out there, and we used to try and 'outpoint' each other. He always won when we did this a few years ago (But I win, too, because he gets healthy!!) I'm glad he's hitting this with some resolve because I'd like to keep him around for a good long time!
I think that is one of the hard things when you're changing the way you eat. I love to cook, and I love to make things that my dearest husband loves. Unfortunately, when we modify them to be lower fat, etc., it does remove some of the 'yum'. Last night I made a lovely cajun chicken & pasta dish for the kids and a revised version for us. It was okay but what I REALLY wanted to serve him after a long day at work was the rich, creamy, meaty version. Instead he got whole wheat noodles and a 'cream' sauce made with skim milk and bouillon. BIG DIFFERENCE. Hey, it filled the void. I'll have to make something with eggplant and tomatoes in it tonight. That always goes over well because it's lowfat to begin with as long as it's not breaded and fried.
Jim has joined me in Weight-Loss-World. It's a little tough for him because they have lunch brought in two or three times a week at work for staff meetings and such. He's probably going to change that a bit or make it so they bring in some low-fat options. He's already gotten them to reduce the number of catered lunches. They were delicious, but made it nearly impossible to tally points. It's just nice to have him losing with me. It makes it easier when we're eating the same stuff for dinner and provides some exercise motivation for each other with a little healthy competition. The YMCA has a point system when you work out there, and we used to try and 'outpoint' each other. He always won when we did this a few years ago (But I win, too, because he gets healthy!!) I'm glad he's hitting this with some resolve because I'd like to keep him around for a good long time!
I think that is one of the hard things when you're changing the way you eat. I love to cook, and I love to make things that my dearest husband loves. Unfortunately, when we modify them to be lower fat, etc., it does remove some of the 'yum'. Last night I made a lovely cajun chicken & pasta dish for the kids and a revised version for us. It was okay but what I REALLY wanted to serve him after a long day at work was the rich, creamy, meaty version. Instead he got whole wheat noodles and a 'cream' sauce made with skim milk and bouillon. BIG DIFFERENCE. Hey, it filled the void. I'll have to make something with eggplant and tomatoes in it tonight. That always goes over well because it's lowfat to begin with as long as it's not breaded and fried.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Staying Faithful
Today was a good day! I ate well but within plan and managed to spend 3 hours at the 'Y' playing with Carrie. Jim's NY Giants were in the NFL playoffs, so Carrie and I let him and the guys watch the game in peace and had a lot of fun at the same time.
Jim and I each got a stability ball to work on our mid-sections. If you're in the market, make sure you get one that is anti-burst (can you believe they make ones that aren't????) and get the proper size. Also, DON'T buy them at a sporting goods store unless you want to pay double the price. We bought a pair at Dick's then saw them 20 minutes later at Meijer for less than half the price. Needless to say, the first pair is going back.
We are trying to move our exercise routine to a more do-able location. The 'Y' is exactly a mile from our front door and my husband's work pays for the membership, however, I prefer not to work out with a bunch of people around and I can't just leave Carrie at home when I feel like working out. We eventually will probably get a treadmill, but if we do we'll have to spend the big bucks since my husband is very tall and you need a really good treadmill of the right size. Three of my boys are over 6 foot as well. Anyway, we're good for now. It's just nice to be able to get the exercise in even when there's a foot of snow or slop on the ground. (Today it happens to be slush)
I'm beginning to ramble so I'm off!
Jim and I each got a stability ball to work on our mid-sections. If you're in the market, make sure you get one that is anti-burst (can you believe they make ones that aren't????) and get the proper size. Also, DON'T buy them at a sporting goods store unless you want to pay double the price. We bought a pair at Dick's then saw them 20 minutes later at Meijer for less than half the price. Needless to say, the first pair is going back.
We are trying to move our exercise routine to a more do-able location. The 'Y' is exactly a mile from our front door and my husband's work pays for the membership, however, I prefer not to work out with a bunch of people around and I can't just leave Carrie at home when I feel like working out. We eventually will probably get a treadmill, but if we do we'll have to spend the big bucks since my husband is very tall and you need a really good treadmill of the right size. Three of my boys are over 6 foot as well. Anyway, we're good for now. It's just nice to be able to get the exercise in even when there's a foot of snow or slop on the ground. (Today it happens to be slush)
I'm beginning to ramble so I'm off!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Eat What You Love
Just a reminder to remember and relish those things that you LOVE to eat that are still good for you. Case in point: the wonderful, tongue-tingling grapefruit. I love the wonderful citrus that you can get so inexpensively in the wintertime. I brought home an enormous bag of grapefruit from the grocery store today for only $5. They are both intensely sweet and sour. They are so huge that my husband and I split one for dessert after our Weight Watcher-friendly dinner. They're devoid of fat, and loaded with nutrition and flavor. So, instead of lamenting over those things you shouldn't eat, delight in some of those wonderful things that you can!
Oh, and YES, I am on track today.
Hang in there!
Oh, and YES, I am on track today.
Hang in there!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Back on Track, Doing Well!
Wow! This is so much easier now that the holidays are over. I'm having no trouble whatsoever sticking to it. I think part of me is so worn out from rich foods that the healthier food is a welcome relief to my system, especially since I've been sick. (hasn't EVERYONE this week?)
I feel I need to say a word about 2007 and the original Crisco Challenge. I stuck to my plan like glue clear on through Thanksgiving. When I saw that I wasn't going to meet goal before Christmas in spite of my flawless implementation of 'the plan', I think I just let down my defenses for the holiday season. All is not lost, I still lost a LOT of weight in those first few months and now I'm 'in the zone' again and poised to finish what I started.
This year I think I will break up the year into quarters, each with a weight-loss, fitness, or nutritional goal. I think we all do better, at least I do, when we break things down into smaller chunks and work on them a bit at a time. My first chunk is to finish this weight-loss thing. I am getting SO close but this is where it gets difficult. I hit a plateau around my current weight, the pounds come off slower and I lose my focus. So here is my self-challenge: Eat according to plan every day for the first quarter of 2008. (The only exception is my anniversary in February, and I might not even take that. ) Write SOMETHING every day in this blog for accountability's sake. ALWAYS log in my Weight Watcher points on line.
Fairly simple. Very do-able. I decided to not tie it specifically to a poundage goal, simply because I can only control what I put into my body. I cannot, however, control how fast the weight comes off.
I have to leave in a few moments to drive Dan back up to school. More tomorrow. What are your weight/fitness goals this year?
Karen
I feel I need to say a word about 2007 and the original Crisco Challenge. I stuck to my plan like glue clear on through Thanksgiving. When I saw that I wasn't going to meet goal before Christmas in spite of my flawless implementation of 'the plan', I think I just let down my defenses for the holiday season. All is not lost, I still lost a LOT of weight in those first few months and now I'm 'in the zone' again and poised to finish what I started.
This year I think I will break up the year into quarters, each with a weight-loss, fitness, or nutritional goal. I think we all do better, at least I do, when we break things down into smaller chunks and work on them a bit at a time. My first chunk is to finish this weight-loss thing. I am getting SO close but this is where it gets difficult. I hit a plateau around my current weight, the pounds come off slower and I lose my focus. So here is my self-challenge: Eat according to plan every day for the first quarter of 2008. (The only exception is my anniversary in February, and I might not even take that. ) Write SOMETHING every day in this blog for accountability's sake. ALWAYS log in my Weight Watcher points on line.
Fairly simple. Very do-able. I decided to not tie it specifically to a poundage goal, simply because I can only control what I put into my body. I cannot, however, control how fast the weight comes off.
I have to leave in a few moments to drive Dan back up to school. More tomorrow. What are your weight/fitness goals this year?
Karen
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!
For all practical purposes, I always start the 'new year thing' on January 2nd. Usually because the first is still kind of holiday-ish, I'm entertaining some of my sons' friends with lots of gooey food, holiday mess still around, etc.
That being said, here are the things I've resolved to do in 2008. There is nothing too fancy or overwhelming as I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. My fitness/weight loss goal is this: stay on plan until I hit goal (shouldn't be too much longer), and then keep eating responsibly for the rest of my natural life; never letting myself get more than five pounds over my goal weight. Some might think that 5-pound buffer is a copout but I fluctuate like that even when I'm 100% in weight-loss mode. As far as fitness, my immediate goal is to just get moving more and start pre-training in the beginning of February for the Detroit Free Press Marathon, start training in June, and run it in October. I think that's enough!
I'm exhausted and there is a cat crawling on my neck in front of the laptop. Gotta love her.
More on resolutions tomorrow, as well as a new name for this blog. I will eventually move it but I think I'll just rename it for now!
Karen
That being said, here are the things I've resolved to do in 2008. There is nothing too fancy or overwhelming as I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. My fitness/weight loss goal is this: stay on plan until I hit goal (shouldn't be too much longer), and then keep eating responsibly for the rest of my natural life; never letting myself get more than five pounds over my goal weight. Some might think that 5-pound buffer is a copout but I fluctuate like that even when I'm 100% in weight-loss mode. As far as fitness, my immediate goal is to just get moving more and start pre-training in the beginning of February for the Detroit Free Press Marathon, start training in June, and run it in October. I think that's enough!
I'm exhausted and there is a cat crawling on my neck in front of the laptop. Gotta love her.
More on resolutions tomorrow, as well as a new name for this blog. I will eventually move it but I think I'll just rename it for now!
Karen
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