Hi Friends,
We all complain about winter and sometimes the gray weather makes you want to stay indoors and EAT. Over winter I plow snow for some extra money and what a great way to burn a lot of calories in a day. I do some hand shoveling of sidewalks and driveway touch ups to give that added quality (something that most other plowers don't do). I weighed in last Thursday and this is the first time that I saw Dr. Berkeley since before Christmas. She was very happy to see that I lost the extra pounds from the holidays. I have a new motivation to really watch my diet in the coming months. My little girls take dance class at the New Spotlight Dance Studio in Mentor and they are starting to practice their dance routine for the recital in June. Well it looks like we are going to need three bouquets of flowers this year. One for Emily, one for Allison and one for Twinkle Toes Daddy. For over ten years they had the Dancing Dads join in during the recital with a dance routine of their own and they would bring down the house! Well, after a long break they have decided to welcome back the Dancing Dads and guess who was invited to join the group this year? Last year at this time I would have needed oxygen and a costume made by Omar the Tent Maker. I may not know how to dance, and have two left feet,but at least I will look good on stage.
Bob
A community of successful weight loss maintainers looking for the answers while finding themselves.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Protein Shakes Needed Part 2
Hi Friends,
I want to start by saying that I am fairly new at blogging and I tried to reply to the comment from HealthierMe and after writing it, I couldn't show my reply. I will talk with Jen and get some help. My reply went something like this as follows: I will be the first to admit that I am a nervous nelly when it comes to regaining back the weight that I worked so hard to lose. I can only speak about what works for me and I know that the healthy eating and exercise is the way to live as a successful maintainer. I also know that if I would have lived my life like that I would have never been over weight in the first place. I was an out of control eater and will always have to have my guard up and watch myself. There are many of you that would say that Optifast isn't natural or why would you do something so crazy like that. Well I no that after losing the weight, no one thought that I was crazy for losing the weight. I went for my weekly weigh in on Thursday and I achieved my goal of turning things around after a bad December with a 7 lb loss from last Thursday. I don't consider this a true loss because it is only the extra lbs for the holidays. Setting my self up for failure is not an option for me PERIOD!
Bob
I want to start by saying that I am fairly new at blogging and I tried to reply to the comment from HealthierMe and after writing it, I couldn't show my reply. I will talk with Jen and get some help. My reply went something like this as follows: I will be the first to admit that I am a nervous nelly when it comes to regaining back the weight that I worked so hard to lose. I can only speak about what works for me and I know that the healthy eating and exercise is the way to live as a successful maintainer. I also know that if I would have lived my life like that I would have never been over weight in the first place. I was an out of control eater and will always have to have my guard up and watch myself. There are many of you that would say that Optifast isn't natural or why would you do something so crazy like that. Well I no that after losing the weight, no one thought that I was crazy for losing the weight. I went for my weekly weigh in on Thursday and I achieved my goal of turning things around after a bad December with a 7 lb loss from last Thursday. I don't consider this a true loss because it is only the extra lbs for the holidays. Setting my self up for failure is not an option for me PERIOD!
Bob
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
New Year's Frustration
Happy New Year! I hope this post finds everyone healthy and well, and that you all had a joyous holiday season.
I've been a little absent when it comes to posting lately because I've been trying to follow the example my parents set for me. You know the old adage, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?" Yep...that's been my mantra as of late. I can't help it. This time of year, around the holidays and January 1st, frustrate me.
Every year we go from periods of excess and gluttony to periods of complete deprivation and unreasonable starvation. I go from being surrounded by food-pushers to diet-pushers. The one thing they have in common is that, regardless of what they're pushing, they both try to guilt everyone around them into believing and doing as they do. We go from, "What do you mean, you can't try my grandmother's famous peanut butter cookies? You have to try them!" to "You shouldn't eat that. I can't eat that, you know. It's not on my fill-in-the-blank-with-the-hottest-diet-of-the-moment eating plan. "
And, when I was a member of a gym, this time of year used to annoy me to no end. I was there, nearly every day of the year, working my tail off, regardless of a new year's resolution and yet each year, around January 1st, I'd have to battle a bunch of newbies (who would soon burn out) for parking spaces and my turn on the equipment. Thank goodness I now have a small home gym and no longer have to deal with that!
Couple all of this frustration with the general time of year and the cold, gray weather that accompanies it in Northeast Ohio and I can get a little cranky. I miss the sunshine, darn it! I'm starting to feel a little vitamin-D deficient, and I miss my walks! Oh, my lovely, hour-plus walks through the wonderful parks we enjoy here in Cleveland. I miss sitting outside with a good book or a magazine and enjoying the fresh air and the warm breezes. I miss fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmer's market, and grilling my purchases outdoors each night. *sigh*
So yes, I'm frustrated right now. I'm frustrated by people who have yet to realize that diets don't work, and only lifestyle changes do. I'm frustrated by folks who are looking for quick fixes and substitutes for the foods they used to eat. I'm frustrated by people who don't take the time to research scientifically sound plans of eating, and who are too blind to see that big medicine and big food only care about selling pharmaceuticals and the latest junk food they're advertising: they don't care about you, or me for that matter. Yep. I'm frustrated!
So I'm going to keep doing my own thing. I'm going to continue eating healthful, whole foods meals, devoid of processed junk, sugars, grains and starches. I'm going to keep drinking my water, getting my 8 hours of sleep a night, and getting some form of movement every day. And I'm going pray--long and hard--that the next 68 days go really quickly, because--darn it--I'm ready for spring!
-Jen
I've been a little absent when it comes to posting lately because I've been trying to follow the example my parents set for me. You know the old adage, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?" Yep...that's been my mantra as of late. I can't help it. This time of year, around the holidays and January 1st, frustrate me.
Every year we go from periods of excess and gluttony to periods of complete deprivation and unreasonable starvation. I go from being surrounded by food-pushers to diet-pushers. The one thing they have in common is that, regardless of what they're pushing, they both try to guilt everyone around them into believing and doing as they do. We go from, "What do you mean, you can't try my grandmother's famous peanut butter cookies? You have to try them!" to "You shouldn't eat that. I can't eat that, you know. It's not on my fill-in-the-blank-with-the-hottest-diet-of-the-moment eating plan. "
And, when I was a member of a gym, this time of year used to annoy me to no end. I was there, nearly every day of the year, working my tail off, regardless of a new year's resolution and yet each year, around January 1st, I'd have to battle a bunch of newbies (who would soon burn out) for parking spaces and my turn on the equipment. Thank goodness I now have a small home gym and no longer have to deal with that!
Couple all of this frustration with the general time of year and the cold, gray weather that accompanies it in Northeast Ohio and I can get a little cranky. I miss the sunshine, darn it! I'm starting to feel a little vitamin-D deficient, and I miss my walks! Oh, my lovely, hour-plus walks through the wonderful parks we enjoy here in Cleveland. I miss sitting outside with a good book or a magazine and enjoying the fresh air and the warm breezes. I miss fresh fruits and vegetables from the farmer's market, and grilling my purchases outdoors each night. *sigh*
So yes, I'm frustrated right now. I'm frustrated by people who have yet to realize that diets don't work, and only lifestyle changes do. I'm frustrated by folks who are looking for quick fixes and substitutes for the foods they used to eat. I'm frustrated by people who don't take the time to research scientifically sound plans of eating, and who are too blind to see that big medicine and big food only care about selling pharmaceuticals and the latest junk food they're advertising: they don't care about you, or me for that matter. Yep. I'm frustrated!
So I'm going to keep doing my own thing. I'm going to continue eating healthful, whole foods meals, devoid of processed junk, sugars, grains and starches. I'm going to keep drinking my water, getting my 8 hours of sleep a night, and getting some form of movement every day. And I'm going pray--long and hard--that the next 68 days go really quickly, because--darn it--I'm ready for spring!
-Jen
Monday, January 10, 2011
Protein Shakes Needed
Hi Friends,
I am trying to get back into the consistent weight loss mode and it is a challenge. I spent the 6 month period during the Lighten Up in 2010 contest, losing weight at a double digit pace each month. I am having a very good week and I think that I am finally focused after the holidays. I am drinking one protein shake a day to control my hunger and I may need to increase to 4 a day to help reach my goal of 199lbs. The Optifast shakes at 4 a day helped me to lose the weight and while I do not want to stay on these shakes for the rest of my life, I know that this is something that finally worked for me. I truly feel that once I reach this goal I will be able to maintain with a healthy diet and exercise. I can always fall back on the shakes when needed.
Bob
I am trying to get back into the consistent weight loss mode and it is a challenge. I spent the 6 month period during the Lighten Up in 2010 contest, losing weight at a double digit pace each month. I am having a very good week and I think that I am finally focused after the holidays. I am drinking one protein shake a day to control my hunger and I may need to increase to 4 a day to help reach my goal of 199lbs. The Optifast shakes at 4 a day helped me to lose the weight and while I do not want to stay on these shakes for the rest of my life, I know that this is something that finally worked for me. I truly feel that once I reach this goal I will be able to maintain with a healthy diet and exercise. I can always fall back on the shakes when needed.
Bob
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy New Year...Now Let's Get Started
Hi Friends,
I love the holidays! I have two young daughters (second grade and pre-school) so you can imagine how crazy and fun my holidays are at this age. I keep thinking about last Christmas and I realize that if I hadn't lost the 85lbs this past year, I may not have even been around this Christmas to share all the wonderful moments with my young family. I have started my plan yesterday with very light meals and one protein shake to start my day. I was hungry all day yesterday and I realize that I didn't spend much time feeling these hunger pains throughout the holiday season. If you stick to your plan with no snacking between meals, you will get truly hungry throughout the day and I have learned to welcome these hunger pains as my weight loss friend. If you want to lose weight, you have to experience HUNGER! This is a great time of year to put your plan into motion because I don't want to see another Christmas cookie for a while! The thing that makes this New Year so much different for me is that I know that I will stick to the plan and not just attempt to be good for a week or two and maybe even three weeks (for the really serious New Years Resolution minded) before falling off the wagon. I want to go to the YMCA today and do my 30 minute run and hit Bally's this week so I may have to do some zig zagging on the track to dodge the extra crowd of people but that's OK with me. Wish me luck!
Bob
I love the holidays! I have two young daughters (second grade and pre-school) so you can imagine how crazy and fun my holidays are at this age. I keep thinking about last Christmas and I realize that if I hadn't lost the 85lbs this past year, I may not have even been around this Christmas to share all the wonderful moments with my young family. I have started my plan yesterday with very light meals and one protein shake to start my day. I was hungry all day yesterday and I realize that I didn't spend much time feeling these hunger pains throughout the holiday season. If you stick to your plan with no snacking between meals, you will get truly hungry throughout the day and I have learned to welcome these hunger pains as my weight loss friend. If you want to lose weight, you have to experience HUNGER! This is a great time of year to put your plan into motion because I don't want to see another Christmas cookie for a while! The thing that makes this New Year so much different for me is that I know that I will stick to the plan and not just attempt to be good for a week or two and maybe even three weeks (for the really serious New Years Resolution minded) before falling off the wagon. I want to go to the YMCA today and do my 30 minute run and hit Bally's this week so I may have to do some zig zagging on the track to dodge the extra crowd of people but that's OK with me. Wish me luck!
Bob
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
I Refuse to Regain in 2011
Hi Friends,
Here we are on the night before another Thursday weigh in and I think I will be even from last week. I did manage to hit my goal of no gain last week after all the parties, so I must be burning it off. Remember "calories inc calories out". I know that we all worry about the holidays and the extra calories all around us, but if you can make it to the New Year, then things will go back to normal and what a great time to focus on finishing my goal. I set a personal goal when I started the Lighten Up in 2010 contest of 199lbs and I have about 20lbs to go. I have maintained the 85lb weight loss now for about 5 months. Over that time I have learned so much about my diet and what it is going to take to get the last 20 lbs off. Here is my plan as follows:
Bob
Here we are on the night before another Thursday weigh in and I think I will be even from last week. I did manage to hit my goal of no gain last week after all the parties, so I must be burning it off. Remember "calories inc calories out". I know that we all worry about the holidays and the extra calories all around us, but if you can make it to the New Year, then things will go back to normal and what a great time to focus on finishing my goal. I set a personal goal when I started the Lighten Up in 2010 contest of 199lbs and I have about 20lbs to go. I have maintained the 85lb weight loss now for about 5 months. Over that time I have learned so much about my diet and what it is going to take to get the last 20 lbs off. Here is my plan as follows:
- Breakfast - 1/2 banana and some fruit / coffee
- Lunch - salad w/fat free dressing
- Dinner - 5oz lean meat, chicken or fish and a green veggie
- Lot's of water and exercise.
Bob
Checking In
It's been quite a while since I have sat down to write a blog. The holidays are upon us and I am happy to report that I have not gained any weight. I cannot really take any credit for this though, because it was only due to a very stressful family situation that I am in right now. Luckily, I am one of those people who lose weight due to stress, not gain it. However, I must say this is NOT a good way to do it nor do I recommend it to anyone. Besides, once the incident has passed the weight would just come back on. But I am using it to my advantage, and have vowed to watch what I do more carefully when all is over. I have learned so much from all my experiences that I must put to good use. I was not able to attend the last Refuse to Regain Maintainers meeting, but will definitely be there in January. I find these meeting to be very helpful and necessary to keep me focused. (What a piece of work I am, huh?) I was also the one who said how helpful these blogs are to me, so I better do what I say and write! I am also looking forward to January and following a new group of 2011 Lighten up contestants as they go through their journey. I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year or whatever else anyone may be celebrating.
Sue
Sue
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