Road to Weightloss Success

Christmas in July: Deals on Wellness Gifts

2011-06-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

Treat yourself after your strenuous workouts or start your Christmas shopping early with summer clearance items on wellness products. These are some of my favorite findings:

Cool your eyes and head with an eye mask and spa pillow of pure herbal relaxation.

After your workout has left your back sore, treat yourself to a lower-back heat massager, providing full lumbar support. Ahhhhh!

After an exceptionally hard workout, your back will thank you for a full-back massage cushion. This massage cushion will distribute heat throughout your back. Your back will feel like new.

Next time you take a shower, or better yet, a bath, use a bath massager that includes vibration as well as a loofah sponge and a terry cloth. These create a heavenly spa experience you will treat yourself to often.

Back massagers, bath massagers, eye masks, and spa pillows are just some of my favorite finds during the summer clearance season. Want more? Check out more deals here. It's never too early to start your Christmas shopping or at least planning!

Check out more Summer clearance deals on fitness equipment and DVDs.

Get free shipping on tons of summer clearance items.

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My Weekly Eating Plan: Week of Mar. 13, 2011

2011-03-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

First, let me review last week's eating plan, which I've followed for the past two weeks. I stuck to it for the most part; that's the beauty of creating a detailed plan. When you stray, you don't binge or anything because you're allowing yourself sweets already; so if you have a little extra, that's okay.

I didn't have my pre-breakfast smoothie; I didn't build extra time into my morning routine. And the smoothie, especially the banana, started to go bad in a couple of days. Otherwise, with only some minor substitutions here and there, I did well. However, I didn't exercise, so I didn't lose any weight. The weekend is usually vague in that I have no idea what to eat; that being said, I do get creative that way though. I haven't ordered chinese food in two weeks now, yay! I was getting sick of it, and I was tired of the delivery guy lol.

Another thing that I need to pay more attention to is cutting out certain carbs, like the daily morning bagel, sandwich bread, and probably even pasta. Reason is it makes me so very bloated; at least, I think carbs are the cause. But I love my carbs! :(

Exercise is important, and I plan to incorporate it. However, my initial focus was to start eating better. Plus, I hurt my feet real bad, so I can't go walking or anything. Not that it's an excuse...

As always, you can follow me at SparkPeople, where I publicize my meal/nutrition tracking.

And now for the next week's eating plan (which I usually follow for two weeks)...
________________________________________

Sunday (today)
Breakfast: Starbucks multi-grain bagel with cream cheese; Grande Cafe Mocha skim (no whip, of course!)
*Snack: Two almond-stuffed olives
Lunch: Left-over penne pasta and tomato sauce topped with fresh chopped spinach and freshly grated parmigiana-reggiano cheese, 1 cup of organic, nonfat milk - Result: AWESOME, QUICK, HEALTHY, TASTY lunch
*Snack: Banana, graham crackers, and marshmallows...yes, I'm making s'mores
Dinner: I'm leaning toward making Spaghetti al' Oglio again...see last week's posting. I got fresh parsley, and I'm not afraid to use it!
*Snack: 3 Dove milk chocolate eggs OR Balconi MixMilk (an Italian snack, yum)
____________________________________________
Monday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter, decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: 1 cup Plain, lowfat yogurt, fresh raspberries, fresh blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, and a banana
Lunch: 1/2 Turkey/avocado sandwich; 1/2 cup of baby carrots
*Snack: Dove Milk Chocolate Eggs (3), cappuccino (Flavia)
Dinner: Leftovers from Sunday, "Spaghetti Al'oglio" (see above)
*Snack: Balconi Hazelnut roll (Italian snack), 1 orange
__________________________________________
Tuesday
Breakfast: Plain bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: same as Monday
Lunch: same as Monday
*Snack: same as usual
Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Texas Veggie Burger, garden veggie tortilla, salsa, spinach, and maybe 1 egg depending on how hungry I am; also, 2 almond-stuffed olives
*Snack: Balconi Hazelnut roll, 1/2 grapefruit _____________________________________________
Wednesday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: Organic maple oatmeal, fresh raspberries, fresh blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, and a banana
Lunch: 1/2 sandwich (not sure which yet), 1/2 cup carrots
*Snack: same as usual
Dinner: Smart Ones Lasagna Florentine, Spinach salad, 2 almond-stuffed olives
*Snack: Balconi Hazelnut roll (Italian snack), 1 orange ___________________________________________
Question: what to do with all the leftover fresh parsley?

Thursday
Breakfast: Plain bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: Organic maple oatmeal, fresh raspberries, fresh blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds
Lunch: Leftover from yesterday, 1/2 cup carrots
*Snack: same as usual
Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Texas Veggie Burger, garden veggie tortilla or pita pocket, salsa, spinach; 2 almond-stuffed olives
*Snack: same as Tue.
____________________________________________
Friday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: Organic maple oatmeal, fresh raspberries, fresh blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds
Lunch: Leftover from Thurs
*Snack: same as usual
Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Cheese Enchilada Whole Meal
*Snack: same as Wed.
_____________________________________________
Saturday
Breakfast: 1 egg, whole wheat toast (1 slice), jam
*Snack: 1/2 grapefruit
Lunch: ?
*Snack: ?
Dinner: ?
*Snack: ?

Looking to slim down this Winter? Look to a name you can trust.

Also, check out: SparkPeople's No-Gimmick Weightloss Strategies

My Weekly Eating Plan: Week of Feb. 28, 2011

2011-02-27T13:42:00.000-08:00

Over the last couple of weeks, I lost about 1 pound or so. I'm hoping to keep up the momentum for the longer haul and not revert back to my "bad habits." As a continuation from my eating plan of two weeks ago, which I have basically stuck to with only a few minor changes, below is this week's meal plan.

Monday
Pre-breakfast (before leaving my house to go to work): small glass of a delicious berry smoothie I made today.
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter (my indulgence which I am not prepared to give up...yet); decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: Lowfat, plain yogurt, strawberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, 1 small banana, 1/4 cup or less of granola
Lunch: 1/2 Turkey/Cheese sandwich; 1/2 cup of baby carrots; 3 black olives
*Snack: Dove Milk Chocolate Eggs (3), cappuccino (Flavia)
Dinner: Leftovers from Sunday, "Spaghetti Al'oglio" (thin spaghetti, olive oil, garlic (not too much or you'll reek!), lots of chopped fresh parsley, 2-3 flat anchovies, red pepper flakes.
*Snack: Hazelnut roll (Italian treat), berries
__________________________________________
Tuesday
Pre-breakfast: small glass of leftover smoothie
Breakfast: Plain bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: same as Monday
Lunch: same as Monday
*Snack: same as usual
Dinner: Homemade tuna (albacore in oil) salad with celery (no mayo) on 1 slice whole wheat bread;
*Snack: same as usual
_____________________________________________
Wednesday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: same as Monday
Lunch: Homemade tuna (albacore in oil) salad with celery (no mayo) on 1 slice whole wheat bread;
*Snack: same as usual
Dinner: Smart Ones Lasagna Florentine, Spinach salad
*Snack: same, 1 apple
___________________________________________
Thursday
Breakfast: Plain bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: same as usual
Lunch: Subway Oven Roast Chicken (1/2 of 6"); 1/2 cup carrots; 3 black olives
*Snack: same
Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Texas Veggie Burger, garden veggie tortilla, salsa, spinach
*Snack: same as Wed.
____________________________________________
Friday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream
*Snack: same or oatmeal
Lunch: Leftover from Thurs
*Snack: same as usual
Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Corn bread/Chili Whole Meal
*Snack: same
_____________________________________________
Saturday/Sunday
Breakfast: 1 egg, whole wheat toast (1 slice), jam
I usually play it by ear on weekends; not a great plan, I know...baby steps!
to be continued....

Check out more ways to track food and set up a sensible eating plan. We can do this! Join me over at SparkPeople!

My Weekly Eating Plan: Week of Feb. 14, 2011

2011-02-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

I spent a lot of time over at SparkPeople today and pre-planned my meals for this week. They have a wonderful Nutrition Tracker that lets you track every morsel of food, providing full nutritional information for many products. What seemed like a simple task, though, took me a couple of hours. In the past, I usually gave up halfway through but being that I have gained weight like never before, I had to complete this planning process.

Monday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream (my indulgence which I am not prepared to give up...yet)

Snack: Oatmeal (made with hot water), blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, banana

Lunch: Homemade tuna salad with celery (no mayo) on 1 slice whole wheat bread; 1 cup of baby carrots

Snack: Dove Milk Chocolate Hearts (3?), espresso with cream (?)

Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Texas Veggie Burger, garden veggie tortilla, salsa, black beans, spinach; side of celery (raw, 1 stalk)

Snack: 1/2 grapefruit

__________________________________________
Tuesday
Breakfast: Plain bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream (my indulgence which I am not prepared to give up...yet)

Snack: Yogurt (nonfat, vanilla bean), blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, banana

Lunch: Subway Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki on Flatbread; 1 cup of baby carrots, raw

Snack: Dove Milk Chocolate Hearts (3?), espresso with cream (?)

Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Texas Veggie Burger, garden veggie tortilla, salsa, black beans, spinach; side of celery (raw, 1 stalk)

Snack: 1/2 orange

_____________________________________________
Wednesday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream (my indulgence which I am not prepared to give up...yet).

Snack: Oatmeal (made with hot water), blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, banana

Lunch: Turkey/swiss sandwich with spinach

Snack: Dove Milk Chocolate Hearts (3?), espresso with cream (?)

Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Cheese Enchilada Whole Meal

Snack: 1/2 orange

___________________________________________
Thursday
Breakfast: Plain bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream (my indulgence which I am not prepared to give up...yet)

Snack: Yogurt (nonfat, vanilla bean), blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, banana

Lunch: Leftover sandwich; 1 cup of baby carrots, raw

Snack: Dove Milk Chocolate Hearts (3?), espresso with cream (?)

Dinner: Amy's Kitchen Texas Veggie Burger, garden veggie tortilla, salsa, black beans, spinach; side of celery (raw, 1 stalk)

Snack: 1/2 orange

______________________________________________
Friday
Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel with butter; decaf coffee with cream (my indulgence which I am not prepared to give up...yet).

Snack: Oatmeal (made with hot water), blueberries, 1 tsp ground flax seeds, banana

Lunch: Subway Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki on Flatbread

Snack: Dove Milk Chocolate Hearts (3?), espresso with cream (?)

Dinner: tbd

Snack: 1/2 orange

__________________________________________________
Saturday/Sunday
Breakfast: 1 egg, blueberry bagel with butter

to be continued... Saturday morning's weigh-in will, I think, determine the weekend's eating plan.

Looking to slim down this Winter? Look to a name you can trust.

Supportive Weightloss Christmas Gift Ideas

2010-10-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

As I wrote about in a previous post, community weightloss support to someone in this trying effort is paramount to achieving weightloss success. There are Christmas gifts better suited to someone trying to lose weight. For starters, steer clear of the chocolate towers and avoid buying clothing that you're not sure what size is right.

Here are some unique and non-offensive (assuming they know you support them in their efforts) Christmas gift ideas for the weightloss-minded:
Note: pictures are not links; click on bolded text links.

If your dieter is following the all-online Weight Watchers program or the free life-style changing "diet", The Spark, from SparkPeople, then she will surely appreciate a gourmet basket of California premium fruits and healthy snacks (pictured below), including smoked salmon, an omega-3 booster. Gift baskets are fun to receive and replacing the junk snacks with healthful, vitamin-packed, and delicious snacks will not sabotage her weightloss efforts.

This gift basket is easy to snack on and won't make the snacker feel guilty about going over his calorie limit. An overfilled low fat gift basket (pictured below) needn't be boring. Snacks like mixed nuts, vegetable/fruit juice, soy crackers and herb crackers with vegetable spread are safer to nosh on in front of the tv.

If your dieter has not yet started dieting and is looking for inspiration, then this next care package of healthy choices (not pictured here) can certainly provide the jump start he is looking for. This gift basket contains a dozen sensible snack choices which can help set up the dieter in your life for weightloss success.

Salsa is a low-fat food that can be enjoyed as a snack or in combination with other foods to create a healthful meal. Do you know someone who likes salsa? This spicy salsa foods gift package (not pictured) may just be the unique gift you are looking for!

Gifts certainly don't have to be food-based, although providing healthy foods can be inspirational to the dieter. I leave you with non-food Christmas gifts that pamper and soothe, like this heavenly-scented lavender spa gift set (pictured below). It's got a dozen items; everything from a pillar candle to bath fizz to a scented stationary set. Check out also the tranquility spa gift set (not pictured here).

My last suggestion is if your gift recipient needs a weightloss boost, then perhaps get a gift certificate to an online subscription, such as Weight Watchers.

Happy Holidays!

For WeightLoss, Community Makes All the Difference

2010-10-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

When you are trying to lose weight, get in shape, become healthier overall, it becomes vital to have a support system. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can help you reach your weightloss goal faster than if you went it alone. What kind of support is available?

All kinds. From your local gym to an online weightloss site to friends and family, support is out there. You just have to figure out which one is best for you. I found out which one works for me by trying out several different avenues.

"Fall down seven times, get up eight." - Chinese Proverb

What a wonderful quote. It tells us to try, try, and try again until we get it right, eventually. Weightloss is a journey, a life-long journey for which you will need support. It is up to you to decipher which type of support is most effective. For me, I found a site like SparkPeople to be helpful. This site has a vast online community ready to offer up the support that is so necessary when starting a weightloss program. Weight Watchers is another good resource. These sites can serve as a supplement to your Jenny Craig or to your local gym membership.

For me, however, an online community site is all I need to get me going. I am not at my goal weight or fitness level yet, but I'm in no hurry. The one message that you need to internalize is to take the weightloss race slow and steady. The gimmicks and the infomercials are so full of baloney; most of the commercials don't apply to "regular" folks like you and me.

"Earn Success Every Day."

Read: SparkPeople's No-Gimmick Book - It's amazing and the best down to earth and common sense book about weightloss you'll ever read. After you read the book, join their 100% free site - see, I told you there are no gimmicks; just wonderful people with a goal to lower the staggering obesity rates in the U.S.

It's a process. Embrace it! Make it happen!

Why I'm Trying to be a Vegetarian

2010-05-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've grown truly sick over the incessant commercials we are bombarded with everywhere we are:

- at home, it's on the tv (commercials and products in the very shows you watch, on cable, which you PAY for, so I cancelled my cable),

- online, ads are everywhere; I've switched to Gmail just so I don't have to view the ads that are slowing down and interrupting my email experience,

- radio (can't listen to two songs without being interrupted),

- just about everywhere you go once you step outside,

What does this have to do with my trying to become a vegetarian? It seems to me that certain diets, such as the Atkins diet, that promotes protein in the form of eating meat and fish, must get backing from the meat, poultry, and fish industry.

There is the message that B12 is only found in meat - not true. "Vitamin B12 are actually bacteria found in the soil. Animals consume this vitamin when they graze..." Let's consider this statement. How many animals do you know that have the *privilege* to graze natural farmlands today? Very, very few. Most animals today are born in factory farms and hardly ever (if ever) see the light of day, much less get to graze on any natural landscape. See how brainwashed we are by watching commercials like Perdue chicken, etc.? The quote was taken from Vegetarians in Paradise.

Get B12 from a supplement. Because, believe me, even us regular meat eaters aren't getting enough B12 due to the above.

There is the other message that omega 3 is primarily found in fish, such as salmon and tuna, and that we need the fish oil from it. Not true.

Diets tell us to eat lean protein and then define that protein as, e.g., turkey burger, white meat chicken, etc. Well, what about the other dozen ways to get protein? Why don't they emphasize the healthier alternatives?

You know what happens when you have a mainstream following of these types of diets? The meat, poultry, and fish industries respond accordingly and market these messages shamelessly. Other products join in and take as much advantage as possible, even if it means they are not being completely truthful.

Further, this "demand" of lean protein means only one thing: increased production in the slaughterhouses. Let's take this concept further. Whenever there is any demand for anything, what happens? Factories must keep up, at all costs. Usually, and obviously, it's the animals that have to suffer. Their already hellish "living" conditions disintegrate even more, production lines go faster and workers are pressured to produce, produce, produce (read: kill, kill, kill).

Speed is the name of the game. We all know when we're trying to get something done really fast, that quality and care might get thrown to the curb. After all, no one wants to lose their job for working too slow. So off with their heads and as fast as possible, even if it means an animal or two don't get completely slaughtered in the right way and end up in the pile of dead animals anyway.

Oh, God, this is too graphic, isn't it? I could not stomach seeing prolonged footage of any such atrocity much less be an employee and work in these factories.

Before globalization and exploding population growth, things were different. Well, not that different if you've ever read The Jungle, published in 1904! In today's age, and with increasing sadists running things in high places, a rethinking of traditional ways of doing things is warranted.

Sound crazy? Not when you consider who's been running things in the world, causing atrocities to happen to people (Bush sitting by and letting 9/11 happen all in the name of oil and profits for him).

I am the least political person, completely nonpartisan. But the above has me fired up, especially when such evil exists in more places than we care to acknowledge. And it comes right down to the very food we eat. Animals that are not cared for and are abused have no place in my body. I don't even miss the "taste" of meat. Meat, by itself has no taste anyway. It's all the stuff we add to it that makes it taste good. We don't need it. And I don't need another reason I could get cancer.

I'm sick and tired of companies marketing lies to me and taking me for an idiot. For too long, I've blindly (think, Perdue commercial) bought frozen meals, white meat chicken, turkey burgers, shrimp ("farmed" in horrendous conditions in Asia), etc. because a) I was too busy with work, and trying to have a life, b) I was taught from all those marketing messages that those were the only sources of protein. You don't see commercials for kale and spinach advertising their calcium sources and flax seeds and beans saying they are excellent sources of protein. Marketing takes money and only the meat industry is powerful (backed by political lobbyists) enough and rich enough to market shamelessly and untruthfully.

Let's find out what exactly we are eating. Let's educate each other instead of being educated by commercials. By returning to natural and organic foods, our bodies will thank us in more ways than one. Plain and simple. No more diet books needed!

Read: Open Letter to the Food Network

"Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it."

Ode to My Weightloss Mission Statement from a Year Ago

2010-04-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

How is it that after a year, I am at the same weight? I've gained some weight but then lost it. And now I might even gain some again.

Like many of you, I own a collection of weightloss books. I would start reading one, hoping to get through it but then find myself distracted by something else going on in my life, e.g., searching for a job. Then, I forget about the book completely and turn to another book or website for support.

Maybe I should put things into perspective. I've been through a lot this past year. That's still not a good enough reason for not achieving my weightloss and fitness goals, though, as I've been struggling with personal issues all my life; I mean, who hasn't, right?

I was thinking of giving up this blog because 1) it's obviously not effective for me as a weightloss tool; 2) I'm busy with other blogs and life issues, in general; 3) I feel like I'm not doing my readers justice by not sticking to something wholeheartedly.

I'll think about it. Your suggestions/thoughts are welcome.

Catching Up

2010-04-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while. There's nothing like going through something immensely liberating that helps take off a few pounds. I'm in the process of recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship as well as dealing with some family members who don't "get" it. Needless to say, the adrenaline coursing through my veins from all this healing and realizations has kept me from bingeing. I have a renewed sense of energy and have been spending some time over at SparkPeople instead of blogging here.

I've been going to the gym but still not as readily as I'd hoped. I'm definitely eating better. I stopped having a desire to eat meat and even some fish. That alone helped me drop some weight, I believe. Meat is filled with god knows what, as the animals that were lived in filth and the most inhumane conditions imaginable. I say this has come to the forefront of my mind only in light of my traumatic experiences with an emotional abuser. To the rest of us, and myself before this knowledge of my turbulent relationship, we believe what the commercials would have us believe. It's a lot easier to rest in ignorance than to see things for what they really are.

Open Letter to the Food Network

Interview with a Former Tyson Chicken Slaughterhouse Worker

Gluten-Free Adjustments to Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution

2010-02-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

In my last post, I began to re-read Dr. Phil's, "The Ultimate Weight Solution." It has been widely agreed that choosing products with whole wheat over white bread, pasta, etc will go a long way to stabilizing blood sugar levels (to an extent), which in turn, makes you feel less hungry. And Dr. Phil's program relies heavily on this valid scientific finding. However, in an earlier post, I discovered the harmful effects of wheat and what it could be doing to sabotage my weightloss efforts.

Now, I'm not saying I don't consume chocolate and other sugary and fatty foods. Because I do. And I don't go to the gym as often as I should. So I can't really blame wheat for my lack of weightloss. At least not all the time. I need to be eating more fruits and vegetables, plain and simple. I'm a starch girl. I love my bagel and butter in the morning as well as a host of other traditional breakfast foods that I can consume with my morning cup of decaffeinated joe. I actually gave up eating whole wheat bread because of the information on this website. But since I didn't replace it with any suitable alternatives, I'm making things worse on myself.

The point here is that if I'm going to start a sensible lifetime eating plan, and I know wheat (gluten) affects me in a negative way (bloating, chronic fatigue, dizzyness, light sensitivity, etc), then I will have to work that out in accordance with Dr. Phil's, The Ultimate Weight Solution. You see, I believe that consuming more fruits and vegetables as well as other natural foods is enough for us. Leave the meat to the animals, as they have a natural order of eating each other on the food chain; an order that we are not naturally a part of. But I suppose that's another post. Also, I am by no means a vegetarian; at least not yet. However, I did make this fantastic vegetable stir fry with tofu, posted on my other blog.

Back to Dr. Phil whose book I love. It is based on scientific merit and common sense. It was written a few years ago before the negative effects of wheat gained exposure among consumers. In fact, it is just starting to surface as you may have noticed in the gluten-free products we see more and more of on store shelves. Even mainstream products have started to go gluten-free. It will take some time, but at least the research is there. Folks suffering from Celiacs disease of which wheat (gluten) is the primary enemy or Diabetes need to read food labels religiously. There's no reason why we shouldn't do the same. Celiacs disease often goes undiagnosed, so how do you know you don't already have it? This is especially true if you're feeling any of the symptoms that I do (see above). And I haven't gotten tested either. So take the wise and timeless advice of losing weight sensibly that Dr. Phil outlines for us with today's further research on nutrition to create a realistic eating plan to stave off disease.

In my previous post, I started to utilize Dr. Phil's goal-setting strategies and targeting of negative behaviors for change. It is more of a realistic plan than most of them out there. If I keep my eye on the prize (weightloss), then I shouldn't have a problem following a plan that's designed to help me succeed without leaving me feeling hungry all the time. The tricky part will be simply to incorporate the lastest findings on wheat and other products that cause harmful effects on the digestive system. But that's getting way more scientific than I know about.

The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health--And What You Can Do to Take Control Now

I will use SparkPeople as much as I can to record my progress and food and exercise journals.

The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom

Get the book and let's do this together. I would love it if I had someone that was on the same page as me. Let me hear from you!

Subscribe to Road To Weightloss Success * Follow me on Twitter * Connect with me on Facebook, MySpace or SparkPeople.

The Ultimate Weight Solution: Getting Started

2010-01-21T12:26:00.000-08:00

That is the title of Dr. Phil's weightloss book I purchased several years ago. I read it, took some action steps, then it ended up on my bookshelf where I'm only now looking at it again. Yesterday, I started re-reading it and committed once again to completing the seven keys described within.

One of the very first things Dr. Phil states about his program is that, "All it requires is a willing spirit and an open mind." This is not to be confused with will power which "is unreliable emotional fuel that drives you when you are excited, motivated, and energized." That's the truth!

Another statement that often gets us going nowhere fast is "that gnawing and overpowering sense of urgency and panic that always seems to appear on the scene" at the beginning of our weightloss efforts. So definitely ditch that feeling and start slowly in a relaxed and calm manner.

Dr. Phil urges us to find our "get-real weight" - one that is "stable because you have taken control of every factor in your life that keeps it there." His messages on programming our lives, targeting negative behaviors for change, stopping emotional eating, and setting realistic goals are the crucial make-up of weightloss success. Without getting the rampant television-watching under control and without setting goals that you can "describe in a variety of terms and from different points of view," your weightloss desires will not take-off (pun intended).

So, to begin, here are is my goal and targeted behaviors needing change:

Goal: I intend to lose 25 pounds to reach my goal weight of 125 pounds.

Changing behaviors to fuel/support my goal:

Go to the gym twice a week: jogging/walking 40 minutes one day; elliptical training 40 minutes another day.
Walk 10,000 steps/day (inclusive of gym activity)
Back/neck exercises twice a week, including 50 crunches, 20 pushups, 20 butt exercises
Drink 5 glasses of water/day
Eat 1 fruit/day
Eat 1 veggie/day (usually with dinner)
Cut television watching down to 3 hours/day. Listen to classical/instrumental music
Cut computer time down to 6-8 hours/day
No tv/computer once a week
Limit restaurants to twice a month
Limit alcohol to once a week (unless socializing with friends, then a little extra)
Limit chocolate & sweets to once a week (unless it's 70%-85% dark chocolate, then 2-3 pieces/day)
Be in bed by 11:00 PM
Think positively and have positive internal dialogue
Always have food on hand to avoid take-out or fast food
Be more sociable; plan weekly social activities

I will use SparkPeople to record the progress of these things and more.

Next post: Setting mini-goals to reward myself along the way!

Get the book and let's do this together. I would love it if I had someone that was on the same page as me.

The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom

Subscribe to Road To Weightloss Success * Follow me on Twitter * Connect with me on Facebook, MySpace or SparkPeople.

Happy New Year, let's do this people!

My Fitness Tools

2010-01-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

Having some helpers to propel you along your fitness journey is necessary and can help you keep track of your efforts as well as provide extra support to keep you in tow. The following are some things I use:

Thera-Band® Exercise Band - I use this as part of my neck exercises for range of motion. This is a great way to maintain flexibility if you work in front of a computer all day long.

Weight Watchers Points Pedometer - I have a Jenny Craig pedometer but this pedometer from Weight Watchers is even better. You can enter your weight, height, and stride length. It will calculate points values, distance walked, and of course, the number of steps.

Waist Trimmer - Wear this belt while you work out or take your walk. With regular use, heat and compression will help to sweat off belly fat and trim your waist! Unfortunately, the key is regular use.

iPod touch - Invaluable to fitness training is music. We need it to get us moving, keep us moving, and for staying motivated. My iPod touch is always with me when I go to the gym or when I walk outside. Lately, I have been listening to classical music while working out. You would be surprised at how the "beat" sometimes equals the beat in hiphop! Best of all, the annoying and sometimes downright offensive lyrics are not intruding or messing up your concentration. It makes for a much better workout with a side effect of mental relaxation and release.

Hot/Cold Liquid Tumbler - It's important to keep water at your side during your workouts. There's something about the air in the gym that makes me very thirsty 20 minutes into my workout. I could get off the treadmill to get water from the water fountain or I could be wasteful and have a plastic water bottle, but I find that a tumbler is quite useful and fashionable!

Hmm, I think that's it for my fitness tools repertoire. The more support you can give yourself, the better off you'll be in the long run. Don't skimp on the support!

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Losing Weight by Dating Mr. Wrong

2009-12-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is probably not my best post for a sound and effective weightloss strategy. But in today's modern world, women are making sacrifices in order to have some kind of happiness until they meet Mr. Right. One such sacrifice is dealing with Mr. Wrong. You know who I'm talking about: the bad boy, the charmer, the sweet talker, etc. We know how addictive Mr. Wrong can be. We fight him off, and he keeps on coming back.

We eat to placate our heavy souls who cannot keep dealing with this guy. We get depressed because we have a poor body image and we let this guy return to us time and time again because he is at least giving us love, albeit the counterfeit and shallow kind; but it's still love. Meanwhile, the guys that are good for us are predisposed to look for the barbie dolls or they are perhaps dealing with their own insecurities.

So if life is giving you lemons at the moment, why can't we do something with them? Yes, there's lemonade. So let's make lemonade and let's make it taste as sweet as can be. Mr. Wrong is the sugar. We can't, at the moment, get him out of our system because we all know how addictive sugar is.

Am I suggesting that you replace food with Mr. Wrong? Hmmm, well, maybe. If he feels good (even if you do just see him every so often), then use that to your advantage. Stretch that good feeling. How about making it a point to lose a pound or two each week so that the next time you see him, you will feel sexier and more empowered, knowing you lost some weight and are achieving your weightloss goal, unbeknownst to him, of course. We don't want to give him any more power than we already have allotted to him! If you see him once a week, in ten weeks, you'll have lost at least 10 pounds.

It's not that I will put my social life on hold and not try to meet someone else, but trying is futile if I'm not happy with my body. Well, I will still continue to date. However, I'm also giving in to my addiction to Mr. Wrong and using it to my advantage. Women are forever getting themselves hooked onto the wrong guy who sucks them into their world with words and hopes. Then, as soon as we're hooked, the truth surfaces. All I'm saying is that women can use him just like he uses us. We are clever and just as resourceful as he is. We know what we want, and we know that he can't give it to us--ever. But we still hope for a miracle, right? Well, let's take that hope and redirect it inward onto ourselves. Let's hope we achieve our weightloss goals, and let's do whatever it takes. Let's think like Mr. Wrong. He will always do whatever it takes to get what he wants.

Sorry, I have rambled. This is all finally beginning to make sense for me. Ok, how many of you think I have really lost my head on this one? Does anyone understand what I am trying to say? Do I have an audience, lol?

Self-Love is the Best Christmas Gift

If I'm So Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight?

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The Road to Weightloss is About Change

2009-12-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

Being open to trying new things is critical to weightloss success. I have not tried enough different strategies this year. You know the saying, "Insanity is when you do the same things over and over again but do not get different results." Variety is key to staying motivated. I have implemented a new workout strategy that I think will keep me going for a while. When boredom sets in, I will tweak my schedule to make it more interesting. Once my energy level is up, perhaps I'll substitute one day per week at the gym for one day per week of dance lessons, alternating between the two.

Keeping things realistic is another major factor to making progress. So, on that note, to make a rigid workout schedule is just that, rigid. It will not fuel motivation but rather produce setbacks. We are busy, our schedules are hectic. We would love to have another 2 hours everyday to do things that will benefit our health, both physical and mental.

I think if I go to the gym once a week and jog for 20 minutes that that is more of an attainable mini goal than trying to go twice a week. The gym (Lucille Roberts) in my area is notorious for the worst parking. I could circle 20 minutes until I find a spot. Even then I may end up having to park 5 blocks away. By the time I get to the gym, I'm exhausted and frustrated. So rather than try to go even once a week, I end up not going at all because I have set my schedule to try going twice a week.

Now, I am being realistic and expecting not to go more than once a week but definitely not less than that! For the rest of the week, I think I can handle doing my back and neck exercises twice a week and doing a couple of sets of pushups/situps/butt exercises on alternating days. That leaves me with two days of rest. It may not sound like a lot but it's more than what I've been doing!

My grandmother warned me this summer: As we age, losing those extra pounds becomes increasingly difficult. We must always do what we can, when we can. But don't over do it or you will lose all desire to achieve any weightloss. I love her but you know what she sent me this Christmas? A package filled with her baked goodies and chocolates! I guess that's what we have New Year's resolutions for!

Save over 25% On Weight Watchers® Online

Christmas Gifts to Propel the Weightloss-Minded to Success

2009-12-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

Winter is the most difficult time to stay on track if you or someone you know is trying to lose weight and starting a fitness program. This Christmas, it is better to inspire weightloss than to buy high calorie food gifts that will do nothing but hinder progress. There are many non-offensive gifts for weightloss-minded folks to help them stay on track and let them know you are there for them and have their best interests at heart. Check out my picks below. Also, see below for a FREE SHIPPING offer! These gifts are all under $100.

Note: the pictures are not links, please click on text links.

I like this women's crew from Icebreaker (pictured below). It's comfortable, fits snug, and is long enough to keep your backside warm.
Its short-sleeve counterpart, this women's zip jersey by Pearl Izumi (pictured below) has the same comforting length and sleek design.

Help a girl stay warm and motivated during her morning walks in cold, blustery weather with this ultra-warm Osito women's fleece jacket by The North Face (pictured below). This is a top-rated jacket of the highest quality of fleece and will keep your gift recipient warm and still give her the flexibility to move around in the jacket. It comes in a few other colors: black, white, and moonlight.

Also from The North Face, a renowned sports gear manufacturer, is this Mossbud women's fleece pants (pictured below). Super comfortable and thermally warm, this pant is easily one of my favorite ways to stay motivated while braving the outdoors. Enjoy FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50, Shop now!

Another gift idea: Get someone a membership to Weight Watchers Online and save 25%.

Check out more gift ideas for the weightloss-minded.

Happy Holidays!

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Black Friday Christmas Gifts for Weightloss

2009-11-24T19:27:00.000-08:00

No need to wake up at 3:00 AM for Black Friday. These sweet deals are online-only and will not disrupt your precious sleep! Weightloss-minded folks will appreciate these Christmas gifts. They will be motivated to continue on their weightloss journey without getting sidetracked this holiday season. Cyber Monday deals also included below.

Get FREE Shipping on Orders over $50, coupon code AFFS7856 on yoga accessories, such as videos, pants, tops, bricks, mats, and so much more. This Premium Yoga Kit (pictured below) would be a perfect gift idea for someone getting started in yoga.

FREE Shipping on Orders over $50 (no coupon code needed) on sportswear by Patagonia, Wallaroo, The North Face, Nikita, and more brand names. For starters, I like this Carve Sunshine Hoodie (pictured below). It's long, comfortable, and made with organic combed cotton.
Save over 25% On Weight Watchers® Online (no coupon code needed): Give a subscription!

CYBER MONDAY OFFER: Free Standard Shipping with No Minimum purchase. Valid only 11.30.09 on all things sportswear from The North Face. Check out their Holiday Gift Guide for a ton of ideas.

Also, check out more Christmas gift ideas for weightloss-minded folks.

>>>>Also, check out these Black Friday shopping deals and free shipping offers on Christmas decorations, personalized gifts, tableware, more kitchen gadgets, small kitchen appliances, and so much more.

Happy Holidays!

H4KAKN5NRXR2

Going Gluten-Free

2009-11-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

I was doing some research about the gluten-free diet since I never really understood it except that I had seen some gluten-free products. What I found astounded me. I had tried low carb diets before and have seen some results, but this was different. Eating low carb always left me hungry; as if there was something missing. Eating a regular diet which includes breads and cereals (a mix of whole wheat and the sugary stuff) also did not leave me satisfied. In fact, it left me unstable and prone to hunger attacks.

In addition, I was, or still am, feeling constant fatigue, depressed, bloated, sensitive to light, and steadily gaining weight despite going to the gym (non-regularly, I admit) and walking. It's more exercise than I have done in years past. There are more factors that I can relate to, but these seem to be the primary ones for me in regards to eating wheat products. Here is an excellent article about what is wrong with wheat and the effects of gluten on the digestive system.

So, to stave off the numerous diseases and cancers that rid our American society today and to try to relieve the symptoms I am personally experiencing, I decided to look out for my health in a way I would have never considered since I didn't know anything about it. I decided to try going gluten-free. What does this mean? Well, for one thing, it means eliminating many, many products typically found on supermarket shelves, excluding fruits and vegetables.

I went to Fairway today to see what is available in the way of gluten-free products. Fairway has a good section of organic, vegan, and gluten-free items. However, they can be prohibitively expensive. It is not necessary to buy the gluten-free pre-packaged snacks, cites one blog I came across in my research. Learn to make your own. I'm all for that. But, as I spent nearly two hours in Fairway doing "research" by reading labels, I became overwhelmed and hungry. However, it wasn't the kind of hungry that left you with an empty feeling in your stomach. It was simply hunger that I didn't have to give in to right away or I was going to faint.

I was able to get this new hunger feeling from having gone gluten-free the day before. It works that fast. However, limited knowledge about what to eat and how to make it will probably leave me vulnerable to the "regular" foods still in my kitchen and pantry. I did end up buying a few gluten-free items, which, when I got home, I found a couple of them to be cheaper on Amazon; rice milk, white rice flour (save $.58 when you buy the 4-pack), coconut oil (get two for nearly the price of one; more on this wonder oil next time), and flax seeds (not so much).

More on my new weightloss journey next time!

My Food Diary for Today

2009-11-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

Although there are many wonderful recipes out there that address healthier cooking, I find that some of them are difficult to make. Difficult in that they ask for many ingredients or expensive food items. I think that if I could just eat sensibly in smaller portions and incorporate more veggies and fruits into my diet and weed out the meat and cheeses, that I would be better off.

Aside from occasional cravings, I have all but given up beef and pork (love prosciutto). I have incorporated more beans into my diet by way of coconut rice and beans. I bought a large pack of pre-packaged cod fillet singles that is perfect for cooking for one. I still eat chicken. I bought tofu and will want to learn how to cook this so I can make it more often.

My toughest challenge is eating smaller portions of my favorite foods, like chocolate. I could swap out the milk chocolate for dark chocolate, but in the end, my craving for the sweet stuff takes over. I shouldn't beat myself up though. I managed to beat two addictions this year, one is still very fresh. Caffeine and the latter, my narcissism-afflicted ex-boyfriend. One day at a time, and I will beat sugar addiction too, because that is what I am clearly suffering from.

Today I plan to:

Have 1 slice of whole wheat toast with strawberry jam with a decaf coffee, no sugar, but with coffeemate.

Have 2 slices of whole wheat toast with imported prosciutto and fresh mozzarella (2 slices) along with olives (heart-healthy!).

Have a snack: decaf cappuccino, hazelnut chocolate roll

Have leftover coconut rice and beans with shrimp.

And then...hopefully, just a cup of chamomile tea.

French Women Don't Get Fat

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Christmas Gift Ideas for Weightloss-Minded Folks

2009-11-03T18:14:00.000-08:00

Since I am trying to lose weight, I would want gift givers to steer clear of food-related Christmas gifts unless they were power bars and other healthy snacks. It can be expensive to be healthy, so I, for one, would not take offense at such gifts. Here's a wishlist for someone (like myself) who is trying to change their lifestyle for the better, and who would appreciate such thoughtful gifts during the most difficult season of all (I've included special deals, where applicable):

Yoga gifts: Yoga pants and shirts; yoga accessories, like mats, bolsters, and blocks; relaxation and meditation kits. Free shipping on orders over $50 (expires 12/15/09) Code: AFFS7856.

Athletic, hiking, camping, and workout gear. Jogging suits. Base layers to ward off sweat and insulate against cold weather. Heartrate monitors and more. 25% off plus free shipping (expires 12/09/09).

Vanilla Luxuries Pamper Basket. When we think of gift baskets, we usually think of food. But this basket is pure luxury in vanilla heaven. Such a wonderful treat after a workout! FREE shipping until 12/15/09!

Heart Healthy Low Fat Gift Basket. Don't let the name fool ya! It's got the best tasting snacks that a "dieter" could ask for. Healthy Choice granola snack bars, Tropical Trail Mix, Lemon Buds Candies, Grained Mustard, Low Fat Pretzels, Low fat Soy Garlic & Herb Crackers, Low Fat Vegetable Spread, and Low Fat Herb Chips to name a few... Save 10% off your purchase of $40 or more. Use promo code 725796

Losing weight and changing one's lifestyle is a lifetime commitment. A subscription to Fitness magazine or other health-related publication is a perfectly decent gift idea. Lots of tips and helpful articles each month to keep me inspired.

Planning my day and tracking what I eat is important. Therefore, I would appreciate a Day Book 2010 Planner. Weightloss is all in the details. I can continue to track my successes.

Sleepwear in luxurious viscose and silk. A treat by any woman's standards! Cosabella Margo Red Lounge Set.

So, you see, there are tons of options for healthy gifts that will not offend the recipient. I would never be offended by a beautiful gift basket or a luxurious silk pajama set!

Also, check out Black Friday deals for Weightloss Christmas gifts.

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Goal Setting for Weightloss

2009-10-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to wonder about goal setting and measurement taking as effective tools. I sometimes think that when I set a goal for myself to lose weight, that I'm actually setting myself up for failure. First of all, I'm a huge procrastinator in all facets of life.

What I typically do is give myself plenty of time to lose weight, since realistically speaking, it's impossible or more appropriately, it's unhealthy to lose weight in a short time span. So if I have made a goal to lose a certain number of pounds in a certain timeframe, I'll find myself sabotaging my efforts thinking I have sufficient time to lose the weight, what's the rush, right? Who wants to feel pressure, after all.

After many months of unsuccessfully undertaking weightloss, I realize my commitment may not be as strong. Or is it willpower? I manage to get to the gym about once a week (give or take). On other days, I work on my back and neck exercises because I tighten up rather quickly or I'll go for a walk. There's only so much one can do. Now it sounds as if I'm making excuses. I'm known for this. Can I blame it on my dad who jinxed me when he told a much younger me that I should never cheat myself. I feel like I've been doing just the opposite. I'm a capricorn and that means I always keep busy. Maybe too busy. I need to reallocate some time and I guess, commitment, also. I'll check back.

Drinking Water is No Small Feat

2009-10-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

It is said that drinking 8 cups of water a day is necessary for health and weightloss. I love to drink water when I feel dehydrated. It's so refreshing, isn't it? I also love to squeeze lemon into the water for that overall citrus flavor that makes drinking lots of water bearable. Other times, when I'm not particularly thirsty or I'd rather eat something rather than drink water (strange?), I can't stand the taste of it. The two things I need to get over that keep me from attaining the goal of 8 cups a day is the lack of taste water has (I heard that lemon juice can weaken teeth enamel) and the constant going back and forth to the bathroom. However, in reading an article on SparkPeople about how I can resist the flu by constantly washing my hands is definitely a motivator for drinking more water. Goal today: 4 cups.

SparkPeople Weightloss Site

2009-10-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

I was recently searching for an interactive community weightloss site. More help couldn't hurt. I found SparkPeople and was pleased with all the features of the site. It's much more than an active community of folks trying to lose weight in a healthy way (without pills). There are numerous tools available, such as to track daily fitness and nutrition progress, recipes contributed by members, personal blogs, and much more.

The site offers customized programs (free) for you to meet your fitness goal, such as getting your necessary cardio and burning a set amount of calories each week. Short videos of exercises are also available. Menus and food suggestions are provided for total guidance in eating. If you want to add your own foods, you could do that as well. Calorie information is automatically provided so you always know how much your intake is.

My favorite feature, and the one most motivating, is the SparkPoints system. Get points for logging in, for posting on message boards, for reading emails and articles, and other fun and motivational stuff. Another wonderful feature is that the site is completely free. It can be a bit overwhelming at first but as you take the time to go through the stages, the first one being the Fast Break stage, you will see how the site could be beneficial in keeping you motivated over the long haul.

The holiday season and cold weather are not helpful in staying on track. And even with my blog, Road to Weightloss Success, where I am accountable to you, the reader, I am hoping that SparkPeople will be another partner in my weightloss efforts. In essence, I'm creating a team for myself, which is much needed during the next few months.

Check out my profile on SparkPeople! Add me as a friend and let's get started :)

Turn On the Oven, It's Autumn!

2009-10-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have been browsing Ellie Krieger's recipes, of which she has quite a few that are healthy and delicious. Unfortunately, on my shopping trip to the grocery store recently, I did not pick up some of the necessary ingredients for the recipes I want to make. So I will be returning to the store very soon!

There is something so inviting about baking once the weather turns slightly cool. However, because I am trying to shed a few pounds, the usual butter and heavy cream just won't do. Canola oil is a mono-unsaturated, heart-healthy fat that can replace some of the butter in baking recipes, courtesy Ellie Krieger. This is featured in her Heart Healthy Apple Muffins recipe. I cannot wait to make this one as soon as I go back to the store to get some of the missing ingredients:

Ingredients
Cooking spray
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans (I knew I should have picked this up the other day)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 cup natural applesauce (yum, this adds extra moisture to the muffins)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk (lowfat might be hard to find)
1 Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch pieces (I think any apple would be ok here)

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12-capacity muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the pecans and cinnamon.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and whole-wheat flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and oil until combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in the applesauce and vanilla.

Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Whisk just until combined. Gently stir in the apple chunks.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the pecan mixture. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean.

Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack.

Another healthy recipe of Ellie's that will make your kitchen smell delicious as well as the rest of the house is a Zucchini Parmesan Crisp:

Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound total)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (3/4-ounce)
1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1/8 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch thick rounds. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini with the oil. In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan, bread crumbs, salt, and a few turns of pepper. Dip each round into the Parmesan mixture, coating it evenly on both sides, pressing the coating on to stick, and place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the zucchini rounds until browned and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove with spatula. Serve immediately.

It's back to the store for me because these recipes sound so good. I love to turn on the oven in the fall but my weakness is baking shortbread cookies, so full of butter and sugar, they are addictive to say the least. I will just start with the above two recipes and take it from there. Hopefully, this will have me baking healthier through the holidays as well.

So Easy: Luscious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Week

Subscribe to this blog, Road To Weightloss Success, and lose weight with me! I am making small goals for myself (for instance, lose 5 pounds), in order to stay motivated and keep things real. It's tough out there, too much temptation to keep piling on the calories.

Recipes courtesy Food Network

Yoga Class: One Tough Workout

2009-09-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

I recently took a yoga class at Yoga Works in Manhattan. The studio looked like a spa retreat. The floors are made of bamboo which aids in keeping the floor cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The large windows have wooden blinds adding to the retreat theme. Even the restroom made me feel like I was on an island somewhere. The soft lighting throughout the studio was so relaxing. However, the workout was anything but.

Being out of shape really showed through as I struggled to keep up with the "level one" class. This should have been an intermediate class. Actually, with my back problem, I could have used a special yoga class. It was difficult to keep up with the downward dog and upward dog positions. Constant getting up, going down, extending my legs back, etc. made me kind of dizzy. The hardest part for me was in the downward dog position, where my hands and wrists began to hurt more than any other part of my body. I mentioned this to the instructor, and she said that in time my body would be more balanced so that equal pressure is applied to my feet and legs as well as my hands and wrists. In any case, I was struggling with these yoga poses.

When I woke up the next morning, I was sore everywhere. My arms were the most sore though. I had not been to the gym in a couple of weeks so taking the yoga class woke up all those sleeping muscles. I could not sign up for a Yoga Works membership (they offer a complimentary first class), as I am already a member of a gym I hardly go to on a regular basis. There is no way I would keep up with going to another fitness center. I think Lucille Roberts offers a yoga class, I will have to check.

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Gym? What Gym?

2009-09-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

I have not seen the inside of a gym in a couple of weeks. Time is flying with only a month and a half to shed five pounds. This is not my goal - my goal is to actually lose about twenty pounds. But setting mini goals makes the bigger goal more attainable. I hope. It's these stubborn pounds, you know, the ones that keep you from your goal weight, that I have been struggling with.

As a follow up to my previous post, I was nearly done with cooking my way through my pantry, freezer, and refrigerator without buying anything other than fresh fruits and vegetables. Well, I caved somewhat, as I went to Fairway yesterday and with a handy coupon and bought some goodies I just could not resist.

I think my biggest obstacle to sticking to something is when I tell myself I cannot have something. If I say to myself that I cannot have chocolate, spicy foods, sugar, caffeine and alcohol from now through Christmas, I derail my plans instantly. Is this human nature or is this a blatant disregard for my own health and well being?