Weight Loss: How Mentally Tough Are You?

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Embracing the suck! I need to stop whining and restart my outdoor 5k training, regardless of the temperature. Adversity in any form makes me stronger! Image courtesy of Freedigitalphoto.net and papaija2008.

Embracing the suck! I need to stop whining and restart my outdoor 5k training, regardless of the temperature. Adversity in any form makes me stronger! Image courtesy of Freedigitalphoto.net and papaija2008.

Lately I’ve whined to the hubby a lot about the weather. You see, it’s just too cold to go outside to train for my 5k. Sure, I could go to the gym and run on the treadmill, but I hate running on a machine. My solution? No running.

Ugh!

During yesterday’s snowstorm, I sat down and listened to a great new podcast — Spartan Up. Produced by the creator of the Spartan Race, the podcast focuses on success and “everything required to create it.” Featuring interviews with successful people from all walks of life (authors, athletes, CEOs, explorers, etc.), one particular episode really hit me hard. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: Fat Loss Continues; Down 1.4 Lbs.

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I ended February on a high note, losing 1.4 pounds. For the first time this year I feel like I'm mentally in the weight loss game.

I ended February on a high note, losing 1.4 pounds. For the first time this year I feel like I’m mentally in the weight loss game.

I end February strong. Not only did I lose 1.4 lbs. this week, but my intermittent fast is going great. As of January I’m down 5.8 lbs. which brings my total weight loss to 133 pounds. My weight loss may be off to a slower start than expected this year, but I finally feel as if I’m once again firing on all cylinders.

I’m tracking and measuring everything. My daily activity is high. I just need to remember to wear that blasted Fitbit to track my steps.

Each Saturday, I refrain from eating and drinking anything until after my Weight Watchers weigh-in and meeting. This week I worried a little, because water and coffee are the only things I can consume until noon, due to the semi-fast I’m now doing. Despite the lack of liquids, my stomach didn’t make a peep during the meeting. No hunger pains after, and no growling. Just a general feeling of awesomeness. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: UGH! Up 3; My Big, Bad Habit Is Back With Abandon

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Bad habits started creeping back in since mid-January. I'm looking to the Spartan Up podcast to give me the much needed motivation to make better food choices.

Bad habits started creeping back into my life. Time for some tried and true motivational tools.

I overdid it during the Super Bowl (surprisingly, not with alcohol) and didn’t track my food for 4 of the last 5 days. End result? I’m up about 3 pounds. Thankfully I’m still in Onederland, but hanging on by a thread.

I’m not happy – I do know better – but I didn’t beat myself up. Instead, I took stock of where I was at mentally. I’m working out like crazy, but on the food front I’ve been very lax.

I’ve signed up for a few 5Ks and other cool fitness events (more on that tomorrow). I’m so excited about those, I can’t wait to get to the gym or put on my running shoes. Yet when it comes to eating right, I don’t feel the same motivation.

Constant vigilance went out the window sometime in mid-January.

Remember the reward system I put in place last month? I ended up earning 75 Dots and 25 Blots (yikes) for a grand total of 50 Dots for January. Not only did I miss out on that Pandora charm I had my eye on, a lot of bad food behaviors crept back into my life. UGH!

Clearly, my head’s not in the game. I can string together a few great days food-wise, but then it all goes to hell.

When Bad Habits Bite You On The Butt
A few weeks ago my hubby suggested I find some motivational podcasts to push me out of my slump. After all, that’s what he uses for fighting bouts of writer’s block.

(Shameless Plug  Alert: The hubby’s second book, Fool’s Ride is now available. Shameless plug over. Now back to regular scheduled blogging.)

I wasn’t really sure if that would help me. Of course, I listen to podcasts and audio books during my walks and workouts. Some podcasts and books I’m hooked on, and can’t wait to get back to the gym just so I can listen to what happens next.

Some people shout "Eureka" in the bathtub. I yell "D'oh" when i discover big things about myself.

Some people shout “Eureka” in the bathtub. I yell “D’oh” when i discover big things about myself.

Yet for some reason, I procrastinated at my husband’s suggestion. Despite my success in using these wonderful audio tools for workouts, I had a lot of self-doubts on the eating front.  Then I experienced a D’oh moment worthy of Homer J. Simpson.

You see, during my weight loss journey, I turned to wellness blogs and podcasts to help me stay focused. Heck I was even interviewed for the Lifestyle Accountability Show because the hosts thought my story would motivate others.

But for the last 5 months, I completely stopped turning to them for help. Why? I  told myself I was “too busy” and “something had to give.”

Now for that D’oh moment: That logic is how I ballooned to 325 lbs. at my former job. I was just too busy to eat healthy. Work was too important. My health paid a big price for that reasoning.  Yet here I am doing the same thing over again. The price this time: stalled weight loss.

Saturday’s weigh-in was the jump-start I needed. Time to check out iTunes and revisit those inspiration blogs and podcasts.

 

 

 

Start My Day With A Nice, Hot Cuppa…Broth!?!

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One cup of broth each morning gives me the little salt boost I need for my more intense morning workouts. After 3 days, my energy levels are back to normal.

One cup of broth each morning gives me the little salt boost I need for my more intense morning workouts. After 3 days, my energy levels are back to normal.

Since I upped my daily workout routine two weeks ago, my energy level took a big hit. I’m struggling through my workouts and there are days I don’t have the energy for a walk or run. I started looking at my daily caloric intake as well as my macronutrient (fat/protein/carbs) breakdown. Did I need to change things up to keep pace with my more intense workouts?

Thankfully the solution is pretty simple.

My hubby suggested I take a look at a book I gave him for Christmas – The Art And Science Of Low Carbohydrate Living. Within 15 minutes I had a simple, plausible answer. With my increase workouts I’m sweating up a storm, drinking more water and losing salt…a lot of salt. Read More

Running With Zombies? Beating Mental Roadblocks

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I'm getting stronger, running my longest distance yet (3.28 miles). Now its time to work on those negative thoughts with a fun, new app that combines storytelling and 5K training. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhoto.net and Sura Nualpradid.

I’m getting stronger, running my longest distance yet (3.28 miles). Now its time to work on those negative thoughts with a fun, new app that combines storytelling and 5K training. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhoto.net and Sura Nualpradid.

Maybe I felt guilty about eating that ice cream this weekend. Or there was some residual stress from my husband’s hospital stay. Whatever the reason, after a short warm up walk, I ran 3.28 miles Monday. That’s more than a 5k baby!

During the run, my greatest challenge was mental not physical. As I hit the 1.5-mile mark, I started telling myself “I need to stop.” I felt physically great and my legs were strong. For some reason “I need to stop” became a mantra on endless loop in my head. Ugh! Read More

10 Healthy Menu Plans

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Check out the Tone & Tighten site. You'll find cool exercise challenges, fitness tips and recipes.

Check out the Tone & Tighten site. You’ll find cool exercise challenges, fitness tips and recipes.

Hey gang! I had a mighty adventure this weekend that I’ll post about tomorrow. But for now, I want to share with you a list optional meal plans from other sites. The blog Tone & Tighten searched the web for healthy meal plans and posted 10 weeks worth of plans.

Yours truly made the list. The other menus look interesting, as well as Weight Watchers and low carb friendly (with minor tweaking).

Be sure to check out Tone & Tighten. There are lots of workouts, recipes and tips on the site.

 

 

Shaking Up My Weekly Menu With New Low Carb Recipes

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My weekly menu for January 11 is now up. I'm shaking things up with 7 new recipes this week. Hopefully a few will become part of my regular rotation.

My weekly menu for January 11 is now up. I’m shaking things up with 7 new recipes this week. Hopefully a few will become part of my regular rotation.

My January 11 menu is now posted.  This week’s menu features 7 new recipes I’m trying out. Since all but one recipe come from my cookbook stash, recipes will feature prominently in this week’s posts.

Maybe it’s the new year or a full moon, but this week I’ve got the urge to try something new. Clearly I’m in the mood to cook. Its funny, but I go through periods where I have to cook something new and interesting. It makes my time in the kitchen more fun. I’m also much more focused on measuring and weighing everything. And I’m more mindful of what I eat. Read More

Staying Motivated To Lose Weight Through Rewards

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Will I earn Dots or Blots this week? Here's my new reward system to help me make healthier choices and keep me motivated on the march to my goal weight. Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhoto.net and Stuart Miles.

Will I earn Dots or Blots next week? Here’s my new reward system to help me make healthier choices and keep me motivated on the march to my goal weight. Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

All weight loss plans have a honeymoon phase — fast weight loss, loose-fitting clothes, compliments, tons of energy, feeling great about ones’ self. The honeymoon phase can last days to months. The constant barrage of wonderful feedback keeps you going.

But nearly 3 years into my healthy lifestyle, the honeymoon is long over. The steady stream of positive feedback is down to a trickle. And my weight loss battle has become (at times) one long, tiring, slog. Read More

Taking Small Desserts A Little Too Far

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Under 6" in diameter, these pie pans are a great way to make smaller, pre-portioned pies.

Under 6″ in diameter, these pie pans are a great way to make smaller, pre-portioned pies.

Since it was just me and the hubby for Christmas dinner, I didn’t want to make a large dessert with leftovers. With all the holiday cookies, treats and snacks that arrived from friends and family, the last thing I needed to add was a tempting 10″ pumpkin pie. I really hate wasting food, but I knew I’d just toss it out after Christmas.  Then I saw the solution to my problem in William Sonoma — small pie pans.

My home pie pans are all 10 inches — that’s a lot of pie. But I spotted these lovely dishes (under 6″ in diameter). Sweet! While my husband views these as a single serving (heck, he thinks a 10″ pie is a single serving too), I view it as a double serving, or two days, of low carb dessert. Not too shabby. Read More

2 Holidays Down, 2 To Go

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If I want to secure my place in Onederland, I'll need to avoid all those little holiday treats at upcoming parties and celebrations. Image courtesy of joephotostudio and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

If I want to secure my place in Onederland, I’ll need to avoid all those little holiday treats at upcoming parties and celebrations. Image courtesy of joephotostudio and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

It’s December 2nd and I’ve successfully got through Halloween (no candy!) and Thanksgiving (no weight gain!).  As we head towards Christmas and New Year’s, I need a plan to navigate not just the holidays, but those little parties and get-togethers with friends and family.

My goal is to keep my momentum going and drop another 5 lbs. by January. A very tall order, I know. But I want to secure my lease in Onederland. I’m hanging on by a thread. I need to put some serious distance between me and 200 lbs.

Part of that is a plan for dealing with upcoming parties where the old me would consume lots of wine, scarf down copious amounts of finger foods, and delight in sampling all the sugary treats.

So What’s The Plan? Read More