. . . as they say, is paved with good intentions. Well, I started the week off last week with the BEST of intentions; I was going to eat right, exercise daily, and -- help me Jesus -- WEIGH myself.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Well, let's just say the week got away from me. My Mom came back into town earlier than I thought she was going to (an entire week!), and then my in-laws decided to come in for a visit over the weekend. Don't get me wrong; I love my Mom, and trust me when I tell you, my in-laws are way better than yours.
Add in kids, a missing husband, a training partner who is nowhere to be seen, and a serious insomnia problem for the last week, and here's what you get: FAT. I meant to do all the right things, it's just that all the right things got away from me. I think I worked out three times last week. Eating clean? Don't ask. Those warm chips and yummy artichoke dip we had on Saturday were delicious, though!
So here we go again. I am going to do my best this week to take care of myself better, in spite of the fact that I'm hauling my Mom to doctor's appointments and tests and the senior center. I'm going to work out, even if I have to do it at night. I'm going to weigh myself -- really, really! -- before Friday.
The good news is, something kind of magical happened last week. My husband had an epiphany that I really do know something about exercise and eating, and he volunteered to let me train him. We've worked out two nights in a row, and it's been really fun. Go figure.
Now, I am running up to volunteer at my school-aged daughter's class for an hour, then picking up Mom from bingo (is that what we all have to look forward to?), then the oldest one from high school, drop everybody off, get groceries, then my middle schooler, try to get something done in the house before the health department shows up, and then wait for my elementary school girl to come home. Then it's homework, dinner, and working out with Stephen. Whew! I need a drink.
Prayer for the day: God, please help us to take care of ourselves, regardless of all of our obligations, duties and interests. Please let us put You first, without forgetting to put ourselves on our own to-do lists. amen.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The S-Word
I know I shouldn't do it, but I have to. This week, I'm going to go to Bally's and face the s-word: [drum roll, please] the SCALE.
Let me be clear on this. I HATE weighing myself. I would much, much rather take a pair of old jeans out, squeeze myself in them (or not) and make that my target goal. The scale is evil, a taskmaster, and I would prefer to blow it up or throw it out the window, but I have to get on it. By the end of this week (let's up the ante and say no later than Wednesday), I WILL get on the scale at Bally's and weigh myself.
Studies have shown that people who weigh themselves frequently tend to stay on track better. Don't get me wrong, I know that a higher concentration of muscle in your body can cause you to weigh more; the fact is, however, that the scale is one way to track your progress closely, and it can help you get back on track quickly, should things start to go awry. Even so, I weigh more than I did back when I was a size 16, but I am fitting (almost without putting anyone's eye out) into a size 10 pant again; the reason, I know, is that I have more muscle than I did back then.
That being said, the best way to track my progress is weighing myself, so that's what I'm going to do. I'm also going to keep a food and exercise journal, beginning tomorrow. That's always helped me in the past keep up with my progress to see where I may be falling behind or stalling in my fitness quest.
Prayer for the day: Dear God, I swear I will be a better person if you just make the scale at the Bally's on Route 40 read 10 lbs. lighter than it usually does. Help us all to stay on track this week and not get thrown off by stress, circumstances or life. amen.
Let me be clear on this. I HATE weighing myself. I would much, much rather take a pair of old jeans out, squeeze myself in them (or not) and make that my target goal. The scale is evil, a taskmaster, and I would prefer to blow it up or throw it out the window, but I have to get on it. By the end of this week (let's up the ante and say no later than Wednesday), I WILL get on the scale at Bally's and weigh myself.
Studies have shown that people who weigh themselves frequently tend to stay on track better. Don't get me wrong, I know that a higher concentration of muscle in your body can cause you to weigh more; the fact is, however, that the scale is one way to track your progress closely, and it can help you get back on track quickly, should things start to go awry. Even so, I weigh more than I did back when I was a size 16, but I am fitting (almost without putting anyone's eye out) into a size 10 pant again; the reason, I know, is that I have more muscle than I did back then.
That being said, the best way to track my progress is weighing myself, so that's what I'm going to do. I'm also going to keep a food and exercise journal, beginning tomorrow. That's always helped me in the past keep up with my progress to see where I may be falling behind or stalling in my fitness quest.
Prayer for the day: Dear God, I swear I will be a better person if you just make the scale at the Bally's on Route 40 read 10 lbs. lighter than it usually does. Help us all to stay on track this week and not get thrown off by stress, circumstances or life. amen.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Fatter
A few days ago, Stephen & I were discussing my future in helping people get fit and the fact that I am my "own first client." [Stephen has actually agreed to be my second client, and I'm helping him already work on his eating and exercise and blood sugars -- he is diabetic.]
Five years ago, I was in great shape, 137 lbs, size 7/8, and I felt great. Now, I am back up into a size 12 (although I can now fit into my 10's, snugly!). In the midst of that discussion a few days back, he asked me: "How did you get out of shape?" The obvious answer is, I ate too many french fries, drank too much wine, stopped working out like a fiend. But really when it gets down to it, that's not it.
A few years ago, someone I loved died. Within months of that, my Mom almost died. She has been struggling with her health ever since, and it has been an excruciating, uphill battle watching her change from an independent, vibrant older woman to a frail, dependent old lady. These past few years have been an emotional roller coaster for me, and in talking about it, I realized: I stopped caring about myself, about my health and about my future. I gave up.
When you think about what it is that causes you to overeat, sit on the couch and not take care of yourself and get fat, it IS food, but it's so much more than just food and exercise. Your emotions have a HUGE role in how you much you eat, whether or not you work out, and even how you metabolize food. Let me explain.
If you've ever watched "The Biggest Loser" (when is it back on, by the way?), you've noticed a really weird thing that happens to the contestants: the weeks where they're dealing with their emotional baggage are the weeks they lose no weight or gain weight. It's inevitable. I'm not sure what it is (although I intend to research it and post more on it in the future), but something happens to your body when you're unhappy or stressed that causes you to be fat.
What I do know about it is this: when you have an unhappy encounter, your body releases cortisol, the stress hormone that causes you to have belly fat; your blood pressure rises; your heart rate increases. I learned all of this information from a book called "The L Factor," which is a book all about likability and how being a likable person can improve everything in your life, from friendships to saving your job in a bad economy. Now I'm wondering, do these stress reactions have a corresponding effect on a person's weight?
At any rate, when I hit a size 12 last year, I decided enough was enough. I am still here, and as long as I am on this planet, I need to take care of the one body God has given me, respect the fact that food and exercise are in my life for good, and try to stay as positive as possible. This is not an easy feat right now, but the more I exercise, the better I feel.
Prayer for the day: God, thank you for allowing the difficulties in our lives to make us stronger, more compassionate people. Help us to handle it with grace and faith (and chocolate, when necessary). amen.
Five years ago, I was in great shape, 137 lbs, size 7/8, and I felt great. Now, I am back up into a size 12 (although I can now fit into my 10's, snugly!). In the midst of that discussion a few days back, he asked me: "How did you get out of shape?" The obvious answer is, I ate too many french fries, drank too much wine, stopped working out like a fiend. But really when it gets down to it, that's not it.
A few years ago, someone I loved died. Within months of that, my Mom almost died. She has been struggling with her health ever since, and it has been an excruciating, uphill battle watching her change from an independent, vibrant older woman to a frail, dependent old lady. These past few years have been an emotional roller coaster for me, and in talking about it, I realized: I stopped caring about myself, about my health and about my future. I gave up.
When you think about what it is that causes you to overeat, sit on the couch and not take care of yourself and get fat, it IS food, but it's so much more than just food and exercise. Your emotions have a HUGE role in how you much you eat, whether or not you work out, and even how you metabolize food. Let me explain.
If you've ever watched "The Biggest Loser" (when is it back on, by the way?), you've noticed a really weird thing that happens to the contestants: the weeks where they're dealing with their emotional baggage are the weeks they lose no weight or gain weight. It's inevitable. I'm not sure what it is (although I intend to research it and post more on it in the future), but something happens to your body when you're unhappy or stressed that causes you to be fat.
What I do know about it is this: when you have an unhappy encounter, your body releases cortisol, the stress hormone that causes you to have belly fat; your blood pressure rises; your heart rate increases. I learned all of this information from a book called "The L Factor," which is a book all about likability and how being a likable person can improve everything in your life, from friendships to saving your job in a bad economy. Now I'm wondering, do these stress reactions have a corresponding effect on a person's weight?
At any rate, when I hit a size 12 last year, I decided enough was enough. I am still here, and as long as I am on this planet, I need to take care of the one body God has given me, respect the fact that food and exercise are in my life for good, and try to stay as positive as possible. This is not an easy feat right now, but the more I exercise, the better I feel.
Prayer for the day: God, thank you for allowing the difficulties in our lives to make us stronger, more compassionate people. Help us to handle it with grace and faith (and chocolate, when necessary). amen.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Pass the Salt (and Fat and Carbs), Please
Why is it that the best of intentions can go to hell in a heartbeat?
Last night, Stephen (my husband) and I went to our friend, Flip's, house for a rousing match of Scrabble. Lots of trash talking, swear words, and laughter were had. If that had been all there was to it, it would have been a perfect night.
BUT NO.
See, we showed up at Flip's house without food and without a plan. This was the first mistake. The following round of (food) mistakes thereafter included two Mike's Hard Limes, one glass of red wine, one piece of garlic cheese toast, a small bowl of rice, quinoa (which I LOVE!) and some kind of Asian stew brought by Patti, who dominated the Scrabble board all night, topped off by a piece of Domino's pizza, full of meat. UGH.
I should have brought a gun, it would have been faster.
There's a new theory of spending out there called "Emotional Economics," which basically says that despite our best intentions, a full 70% of all spending is based on emotions rather than rational decision-making. I'm finding that the economics of eating is much the same.
Studies have also shown that when we go through the drive-through at McDonald's, in spite of the fact that they offer salad, grilled chicken and apple slices, the majority of the time, we will choose one of the fat-, carb- and salt-laden options, such as a Big Mac, fries, and a Sprite (for me, it's usually a fillet of fish, extra tartar sauce, fries that have to be piping hot, and a Diet Coke).
I tend to live life by the seat of my pants, and I even take pride in the fact that I seem to be the ONLY spontaneous person in my county. So I hate to say it, but here it goes: when it comes to healthy eating, you've got to plan. Without a plan, all of your best intentions will go out the window when you're faced with a piece of chocolate cake, a yummy Margarita, or a bowl of hot and salty tortilla chips. It seems we're hard-wired that way.
About a year ago, I visited a nutritionist, who basically told me that we are hard wired to eat what we see. This is why it's so important to keep your pantry full of clean eating foods and keep the bad food options to a minimum. If you see it, you will eat it. It's just biology.
Next week, we are set to return to Flip's for another evening of Scrabble (Patti, I'm going to kick your a*@!). Next week, I will have a plan. I might even show up with food of my own.
I've started off today with a bowl of oatmeal topped with nuts and blueberries, a cup of coffee and a few glasses of water. So far, so good. I am going to plan out the next week's meals and see if that helps me. I would encourage you to take a look at your week (especially any holiday outings) and see what you have planned, and get yourself ready if you see a chance for any food bombs to go off and set back your progress.
Prayer for the day: God, thank you for the grace you give us to start over each new day. Please help us to follow through on our plans and take care of ourselves. amen.
Last night, Stephen (my husband) and I went to our friend, Flip's, house for a rousing match of Scrabble. Lots of trash talking, swear words, and laughter were had. If that had been all there was to it, it would have been a perfect night.
BUT NO.
See, we showed up at Flip's house without food and without a plan. This was the first mistake. The following round of (food) mistakes thereafter included two Mike's Hard Limes, one glass of red wine, one piece of garlic cheese toast, a small bowl of rice, quinoa (which I LOVE!) and some kind of Asian stew brought by Patti, who dominated the Scrabble board all night, topped off by a piece of Domino's pizza, full of meat. UGH.
I should have brought a gun, it would have been faster.
There's a new theory of spending out there called "Emotional Economics," which basically says that despite our best intentions, a full 70% of all spending is based on emotions rather than rational decision-making. I'm finding that the economics of eating is much the same.
Studies have also shown that when we go through the drive-through at McDonald's, in spite of the fact that they offer salad, grilled chicken and apple slices, the majority of the time, we will choose one of the fat-, carb- and salt-laden options, such as a Big Mac, fries, and a Sprite (for me, it's usually a fillet of fish, extra tartar sauce, fries that have to be piping hot, and a Diet Coke).
I tend to live life by the seat of my pants, and I even take pride in the fact that I seem to be the ONLY spontaneous person in my county. So I hate to say it, but here it goes: when it comes to healthy eating, you've got to plan. Without a plan, all of your best intentions will go out the window when you're faced with a piece of chocolate cake, a yummy Margarita, or a bowl of hot and salty tortilla chips. It seems we're hard-wired that way.
About a year ago, I visited a nutritionist, who basically told me that we are hard wired to eat what we see. This is why it's so important to keep your pantry full of clean eating foods and keep the bad food options to a minimum. If you see it, you will eat it. It's just biology.
Next week, we are set to return to Flip's for another evening of Scrabble (Patti, I'm going to kick your a*@!). Next week, I will have a plan. I might even show up with food of my own.
I've started off today with a bowl of oatmeal topped with nuts and blueberries, a cup of coffee and a few glasses of water. So far, so good. I am going to plan out the next week's meals and see if that helps me. I would encourage you to take a look at your week (especially any holiday outings) and see what you have planned, and get yourself ready if you see a chance for any food bombs to go off and set back your progress.
Prayer for the day: God, thank you for the grace you give us to start over each new day. Please help us to follow through on our plans and take care of ourselves. amen.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A Whole Life
I've been thinking a lot about food lately, about what really constitutes a "healthy" diet, what kinds of foods have gotten us all in this gain/lose cycle from hell, and how to fix it.
Stress and hormones, for me, are the number one culprits of dietary disaster. Add to that the fact that I am NOT a great planner [although I am working on it!], and I end up with take-out crapola and delivery disasters that wreak havoc on all that working out I did this week.
This week, I've been reading Jonny Bowden's excellent book "The Healthiest Meals on Earth," in which he creates "polymeals," or meals that seek to incorporate the benefits of what I call the heavenly sevenly: red wine, chocolate, almonds, garlic, fish, fruits and vegetables.
This book is both a nutritional guidebook and a cookbook all rolled into one. I highly recommend it. He gives recipes for four-course polymeals and one-pot wonder polymeals (which are probably the ones I'm going to try out first).
At any rate, it's REAL FOOD, and food that is nutritious, delicious and good for your waist. I'm going to try some meals out this weekend, and I'll let you know (if anybody is actually out there) which ones are winners and which ones to skip.
This weekend, my goal is to focus on wholeness: in relationships (spending face-to-face time with actual people as opposed to over a phone or a computer); in food (focusing on real foods, not prepackaged); and in my spiritual life (talking to God while walking, focusing on being a more loving person). This should be a good test, because the girls are all home from school this weekend. This is a not-so-subtle way of saying, Pray for me, people!
Prayer for the day: God, thank you for giving us people in our lives to love and test us. Thank you for creating such interesting and delicious food. Help us to live lives wholly devoted to loving You with all of our hearts, minds and souls and our neighbors as ourselves. amen.
Stress and hormones, for me, are the number one culprits of dietary disaster. Add to that the fact that I am NOT a great planner [although I am working on it!], and I end up with take-out crapola and delivery disasters that wreak havoc on all that working out I did this week.
This week, I've been reading Jonny Bowden's excellent book "The Healthiest Meals on Earth," in which he creates "polymeals," or meals that seek to incorporate the benefits of what I call the heavenly sevenly: red wine, chocolate, almonds, garlic, fish, fruits and vegetables.
This book is both a nutritional guidebook and a cookbook all rolled into one. I highly recommend it. He gives recipes for four-course polymeals and one-pot wonder polymeals (which are probably the ones I'm going to try out first).
At any rate, it's REAL FOOD, and food that is nutritious, delicious and good for your waist. I'm going to try some meals out this weekend, and I'll let you know (if anybody is actually out there) which ones are winners and which ones to skip.
This weekend, my goal is to focus on wholeness: in relationships (spending face-to-face time with actual people as opposed to over a phone or a computer); in food (focusing on real foods, not prepackaged); and in my spiritual life (talking to God while walking, focusing on being a more loving person). This should be a good test, because the girls are all home from school this weekend. This is a not-so-subtle way of saying, Pray for me, people!
Prayer for the day: God, thank you for giving us people in our lives to love and test us. Thank you for creating such interesting and delicious food. Help us to live lives wholly devoted to loving You with all of our hearts, minds and souls and our neighbors as ourselves. amen.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Are We There Yet?
The Sunday before last, I did something I absolutely love to do -- I completed the 2010 Aflac Iron Girl triathlon for women. It's a .60 mile swim, 17.5 mile (very hilly) bike ride, and a 3.3 mile run. I completed it in 2:39:45, which for a 45-year-old woman is not a bad time (not stellar, but respectable).
I felt so good after I completed it. Total strangers cheer you on, and as you cross the finish line, they announce to everyone within earshot: "You are an Iron Girl!" It's an amazingly rewarding experience.
Ten years ago, I got in shape. I had my best friend, Mary Ann, as my training partner, and she kicked my butt! We did "Mommy Boot Camp" together, and we both were in probably the best shape of our lives. Then she and her family moved, and it's been a struggle to work out and eat right on my own ever since.
About four weeks before the triathlon, I met my current training partner, Shannon, who also happens to be a nurse at my doctor's office. She was signed up for Iron Girl and, like me, had not been training heavily. So we joined forces. The next four weeks were pretty intense, and having a training partner made it more enjoyable, more doable, and more challenging. It has been so great to have a buddy along for the ride again. I love having a training partner, and Shannon is awesome!
Fast forward to this past Tuesday, with me sitting in front of the computer. "Your Iron Girl pictures are ready for viewing," the email informed me. And then . . . you guessed it. BAM! Those damn pictures. Every part of me, from my face to my feet, looked BIG. All that momentum and happiness I had gained was lost with one stupid picture.
So here's my question for the day: When is enough enough? Yes, I am 45 years old and yes, I've put on some pounds these last couple of years, but I finished a frickin' TRIATHLON. Shouldn't that be enough? I really am ready to win the weight war, but it's taken two years to put it back on, it may take awhile to take it back off. I am ready for it to FEEL like enough, just to be myself and be where I am today.
Prayer for the day: God, please let us all know that we are enough, that YOU are enough, and that it's enough for us to do our best just for today. Help us to let go of all the negative crap in our heads and push forward to the finish line. amen.
I felt so good after I completed it. Total strangers cheer you on, and as you cross the finish line, they announce to everyone within earshot: "You are an Iron Girl!" It's an amazingly rewarding experience.
Ten years ago, I got in shape. I had my best friend, Mary Ann, as my training partner, and she kicked my butt! We did "Mommy Boot Camp" together, and we both were in probably the best shape of our lives. Then she and her family moved, and it's been a struggle to work out and eat right on my own ever since.
About four weeks before the triathlon, I met my current training partner, Shannon, who also happens to be a nurse at my doctor's office. She was signed up for Iron Girl and, like me, had not been training heavily. So we joined forces. The next four weeks were pretty intense, and having a training partner made it more enjoyable, more doable, and more challenging. It has been so great to have a buddy along for the ride again. I love having a training partner, and Shannon is awesome!
Fast forward to this past Tuesday, with me sitting in front of the computer. "Your Iron Girl pictures are ready for viewing," the email informed me. And then . . . you guessed it. BAM! Those damn pictures. Every part of me, from my face to my feet, looked BIG. All that momentum and happiness I had gained was lost with one stupid picture.
So here's my question for the day: When is enough enough? Yes, I am 45 years old and yes, I've put on some pounds these last couple of years, but I finished a frickin' TRIATHLON. Shouldn't that be enough? I really am ready to win the weight war, but it's taken two years to put it back on, it may take awhile to take it back off. I am ready for it to FEEL like enough, just to be myself and be where I am today.
Prayer for the day: God, please let us all know that we are enough, that YOU are enough, and that it's enough for us to do our best just for today. Help us to let go of all the negative crap in our heads and push forward to the finish line. amen.
Welcome to My Mid-Life Crisis
Well, it finally happened. A week ago today, I hit 45, meaning I am halfway through my lifetime (my best friend, Terri, and I have a pact to live to be 90) AND I've outlived my Dad, who died of bladder cancer at the ripe old age of 44.
When I was growing up, I thought I'd have life completely figured out by now, and that I'd be all settled in to my cozy home with my 1.5 beautiful children and a house in the country.
Instead, I find myself at a crossroads, still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, all while managing three kids (10, 12 & 14, all girls)and a house and a dog and a mostly absent [away on business trips] husband. Add to this the fact that my mother has all but moved in with us, and my stress level has gone through the roof, while my aspirations have been put on the back burner, along with all the cleaning that should have been happening in the past three months.
Sometime in the last six months, however, I decided I really, truly am a writer. That is what I'm meant to be. But since I've been raising kids for about a decade now and haven't been in the writing world since big hair bands were in, I can't get arrested in publishing, so a blog is going to have to do. I have been writing a few articles on fitness and nutrition, and I'm just going to post them here for all to read.
So here's my quest: to get back to an 8/9 pant size, which means I have to lose approximately 30 lbs; to earn my personal training certificate; to win the war on food; to be a better person, especially a person of faith; to give to the people I love and my community more, and to write every day. I am a professional procrastinator, so I am giving myself 365 days to do this. Come September 1, 2011, I will have accomplished all of the above.
Prayer for the day: Dear God, you know my heart and see all these dreams and wishes; please let those that are just right for me come true, and help me let all the other ones fade away. Please let all who read this find inspiration, humor, and honesty. amen.
When I was growing up, I thought I'd have life completely figured out by now, and that I'd be all settled in to my cozy home with my 1.5 beautiful children and a house in the country.
Instead, I find myself at a crossroads, still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, all while managing three kids (10, 12 & 14, all girls)and a house and a dog and a mostly absent [away on business trips] husband. Add to this the fact that my mother has all but moved in with us, and my stress level has gone through the roof, while my aspirations have been put on the back burner, along with all the cleaning that should have been happening in the past three months.
Sometime in the last six months, however, I decided I really, truly am a writer. That is what I'm meant to be. But since I've been raising kids for about a decade now and haven't been in the writing world since big hair bands were in, I can't get arrested in publishing, so a blog is going to have to do. I have been writing a few articles on fitness and nutrition, and I'm just going to post them here for all to read.
So here's my quest: to get back to an 8/9 pant size, which means I have to lose approximately 30 lbs; to earn my personal training certificate; to win the war on food; to be a better person, especially a person of faith; to give to the people I love and my community more, and to write every day. I am a professional procrastinator, so I am giving myself 365 days to do this. Come September 1, 2011, I will have accomplished all of the above.
Prayer for the day: Dear God, you know my heart and see all these dreams and wishes; please let those that are just right for me come true, and help me let all the other ones fade away. Please let all who read this find inspiration, humor, and honesty. amen.
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