Focus...Focus...

Sometimes we lose sight of the big prize...getting healthy.
I believe it is a daily journey. I have to sit and mentally plan out what I'm going to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner OR I will eat Pop-tarts, McDonalds, and all the carbs I can fit on a fork.

Stepping off of the ride that is dieting, is such a key component in gaining self-worth. Loving who you are makes you want to eat better and exercise more.

Just remember to focus on you and all the benefits your family will enjoy because you chose to get healthy.

If today was a bay day...make tomorrow better.

Feb.23rd

Today is my birthday.
I am eating cake.
That is all.

My Birthday Cake



Tomorrow, I will work it off...LOL.

Diet Algebra, huh?

Wow...there are so many numbers and letters when dieting that I get lost.

Calories.

Points.

BMI.

BP.

Time.

Carbs.

Ounces of H2O.

Measurements.

I agree that a lot of those are important, but don't let them get you bogged down.

Remember, stick with what works for you.

I am using the calorie method.

Low calories + Good Workout = weight loss.

However, if you like doing the WW point system...do it.

Find what helps you reach your goals and stick to your plan.

I promise you will lose weight.

 

PTI...funeral last week.

Last week my husband's grandmother, whom his mother has cared for over the last 8 years, passed away. She was very sick in her final days and her health had been diminishing rapidly these last few months. It has been very hard on his mother, but it is comforting to know she is now no longer suffering. Thanks for the prayers and kind words during this difficult time.

It's Super Bowl time...blow it for one day, if you need to.

My advice for any time that feasting/gluttony is going to occur is to eat guilt free.
Now, that does not mean you should eat,
and eat,
and eat,
and eat.
It means if you want to have wings with blue cheese dressing--go ahead.
However, do not eat ALL the wings and blue cheese dressing.

Super Bowl time is mainly a snack food/poor food choice kind of day, so eat a little of the bad stuff and enjoy. Tomorrow, though...push yourself a little harder during your workout.

Your calorie guilt will disappear...most of it anyway!

Metabolism

Must reads for those
trying to change their
diet/exercise lifestyles:

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/make-most-your-metabolism

http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-metabolism-calculator

http://www.metabolism.com/

http://metabolism.org/

Metabolism is one of the most important factors when dieting, but surprisingly few people know much about it and what it does. The above are just quick articles to help you understand how your body works.

Nuts

I know nuts are good for you. I have read, they can decrease your cholesterol and are a Heart happy food.


That's great, but they are, also, high in calories!

Eating nuts are good...too many nuts are bad.

Just a reminder!

Workout Buddy

We are all busy, so find someone as busy as you are, and make them your workout buddy! Your workplace, school, neighborhood is full of people that want to get fit just like you! Now, find one that you can set a time with, once a week, to work out harder than you do on your own. Accountability is key component when trying to lose weight.

Calorie Burn

My goal each day is to burn off my breakfast and lunch and let my dinner calories fuel my body.

I watched Dr. Oz one day and he stated that the body needs to eat within an hour of waking and doesn't need to eat 3 hours before going to bed. The first of that I agree with and do, but the 2nd is a bit harder. I do try not to eat after 6 or 7, but sometimes it is a bit later. When I do eat late, I eat light!

So, what I want you to think about, when burning calories, is that the body burns plenty on it's own, but with a little push from you, it will burn even more and you will get results much quicker.

Think about it!

Words to live by!

My S-I-L said that she asked her father, a doctor, weight loss advice and this is what he told her: "I'll tell you the 5 words I used to tell all my patients: Eat Less Fat, Walk More". How simple is that?

The body needs about 2000 calories a day. Yes, 2000. However, this is for maintaining where you are, if you want or need, to be less...then you have to calculate what your caloric intake should be.

Here is a great site to check out and to help you find how many calories a day you can have:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calorie-calculator/NU00598

You can, also, try this one:

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Now, it is important to be honest...if you are inactive, please put that! Otherwise, it will calculate a number that is off by several hundred calories and that could be the difference in a pound lost!

Find a hobby...occupy your mind.

Most of you know I am a crafter. I like paper crafts, a bit of easy sewing, minor cooking, but I am always in for a DIY HOUSE challenge. I let this things take up the space in my mind usually reserved for banana cupcake recipes.


If I get to craving something, thanks to Karen's 2-minute advice about cravings, I go do something else for a few minutes and grab that water I can't stand to drink...LOL.

So occupy your mind. Start a new book to read, paint your bathroom, hang those pics you keep putting off, no matter the task, it is much better than picking up the ""utensils" that go into your mouth!

I ate cake, but it's OK!

I ate cake today, and it was OK. I didn't even feel guilty. (BTW, not the pirate cake over here, but I thought it was so cute!)

What I felt like was cake...and had I deprived myself of it...I would probably eat a WHOLE cake the next time one was offered. I just stayed on the elliptical an extra 20 minutes and felt good about both decisions.

If you want something...have it, but remember there are consequences...extra elliptical, another mile, another lap, etc, but remember also, you can do it!

Pick a fruit...any fruit!

I know it's hard to give things up, but don't look at it that way. Look at it, as if you are finding new things that you love.

Fruits have always been my fave foods and my fave one is bananas. (Yes, I know that is not the picture I have over there.) However, as much as I love bananas, they are pretty high in natural sugar, so I eat a few a week, but opt for yummy grapes as my go to fruit! They aren't the lowest calorie fruit, but I like them and I like to eat them...and it is much better than grabbing a honey bun!

So find you a fruit. A go-to when you have that craving for something sweet! I am including a link that has a list of fruits and their calories. Hope it helps. Enjoy!

http://www.positivehealthsteps.com/calories/fruits-calories.shtml

H2O

According to most diets and health magazines, water is a key component in weight loss. I am not a fan of drinking it, so I have to make an effort to do this...and to add lemon...and to drink it at room temp.

A good idea is to get a water bottle, I have a Sigg one, and refill it until you have consumed your target limit. I think 64 ounces is the daily amount recommended...my goal is 32...and no soda.

The key is to find what you are comfortable drinking and stick with that--you can always increase as you want to on your diet journey

However, if you work out...DRINK more H2O!

It's not an option at that point...it is a necessity.

HNY...Now, get off your A Double S!

Don't put it off...

JUST DO IT!