Wake-up Call

So for the past few months I have thought I've been doing pretty good. Sure I had gained some weight back, but I'm losing it again so no big deal. WRONG! I was browsing a weight loss site I was using to calculate my BMI, track my goals, etc. The last time I had checked in with my weight and measurements was March 31st. Since that date I have gained 4 pounds, 1 inch around my waist, 2 inches around my hips and half an inch around my neck. So much for thinking I had improved.

This is so sad. I know my problem lies in my snacking, especially my late afternoon snacking. My lack of real exercise is a culprit I know as well. I'm getting out on Sundays and walking a good hour or two, but that's not nearly enough exercise. I think I need to sit down and get a little compulsive about my scheduling. I say I never have enough time, but I know for a fact that I waste a whole lot of it watching t.v. and surfing the net.

My heartburn is returning as well, a definate sign my body is not liking the foods I am putting into it. I always say I am going to do better, and I do. It just only lasts a few days, sometimes weeks if I really set my mind on it. I've been told it takes 6 weeks straight to make something a habit.....well here I go to try again.

I've noticed lately that I tend to just want to eat and eat when I get home from work. Mornings are fine, I eat a bowl of cereal, a nurtigrain bar, or make double of whatever I am making for my son, be it waffles, eggs, or toast. Lunch is usually good too. I try for a salad and a sandwich with some sort of fruit. After work I'm hungry, but not ready for dinner so I'll grab a bowl of cereal. I don't stop at just one bowl though, it turns into two and I'm not done there. I start to rummage through the cabinets looking for something else. Luckily I've learned not to buy these something elses so I end up getting frustrated with myself for even looking, grab a glass of water and plop myself on the couch. Really I should be out weeding my garden or flower beds, taking a walk or doing homework. Instead I am watching tv, usually the shows I have recorded from days before. My procrastination is horrible. I was excited that one of my teachers had need to extend the due date of an assignment that was due yesterday. I actually thought about not turning it in, even though I was only a paragraph from finishing it. I managed to talk myself into completing and turning it in, but boy was it tempting.

So you see this problem is in all aspects of my life, even work. I should be looking for something to do work related, but instead here I blog about my "issues". Perhaps this is a wakeup call that I should heed, or maybe my bosses just need to get me some more work.

Priorities

This weekend was our local festival, some family and friends competed in a 5K run/walk. I had Karl in his stroller and off we went. A 5K is just over 3 miles. The course was made of different terrains and different elevations. It was a challanging course with a large hill at the end. Our friend Mary, Karl and I took off walking at a brisk speed. It was nice conversation and a good speed. We didn't lack conversation and we finished shortly before the 60 minute mark. It felt great to do this and I wonder why I don't do this more often. I guess it all boils down to priorities. After working full-time, getting super made, can I fit in some exercise before going to bed? Sure I can, but I think I need some sort of commitment. Finding that commitment is the hard part.

Introduction

I just wanted to give a short introduction about myself. My name is Shannon. I am a 30 year old woman, married, working fulltime and mother to a 15 mo. old named Karl. In high school I swam and did track and field. My first year of college I swam. I made great strides in my times and was in great health. In the end my grades suffered, and I found my priorities didn't lie in the same place as my teammates (drinking and partying each weekend). I still found ways to keep active, but not nearly as much as swimming 15 hours per week. I meet my husband in July of 2000. It was a long distance relationship. I found myself commuting 2 hours each way to see him and spending lots of time eating out. We both loved (and still do) food. Slowly the weight crept on until I was over 200. During my pregnancy, I managed to keep my weight gain to 29 lbs. 6 weeks post partum and I was below my prepregnancy weight. My goal is to get down to 160 and a healthy BMI. I want to do this for myself, my husband and my son. I have had some ups and downs in this weight loss quest, but I am making some life changes.

I just have to shout out loud....I DID IT!!! I finally found my willpower, lets hope it stays around for awhile.
So a little back ground, I've mentioned before I work part-time at a convenience store. Yeah to convenient I say. The two nights I work a week I almost always miss dinner at home. I make it, I just don't have time to eat it. So tonight was another typical day, work at the office for 8 hours, pick up my son, have 10 minutes to myself, go to my other job. I managed for the first time to not eat anything (purchased) from the store, no bahama mamas, not cheetos, no nachos, nada. I had some huckleberries the girl from the shift before left me, but that was it, oh and coffee, got to have coffee.

So yes I did it, feels good to type that out.

10 Reasons You're Not Losing That Weight

10 Reasons You're Not Losing That Weight

By Nancy Gottesman, Women's Health
http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100213228&GT1=31036

If losing weight were simple, Spanx would be just a screen name in an S&M chat room. But dieting is complicated: There are even ways to screw up without realizing it. For instance, who would ever think that working out in the a.m. or cranking the AC might be the reason you're not slimming down? Luckily, once you've ID'd these flubs, fixing them is nowhere near as hard as pulling on a pair of control-top hose.

Roadblock No. 1: Always a go-getter, you work out at 6 a.m.

What's wrong with that? Morning workouts are great—if you go to bed at 10 p.m. In a recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, women who slept seven or more hours a night were less likely to put on weight than women who didn't. Those who slept only six hours a night were 12 percent more likely to gain substantial weight—33 pounds on average over the course of 16 years! (Women who slept a measly five hours had a 32 percent chance of gaining 30 or more pounds.) Other studies have linked lack of sleep to a higher BMI and have found that it negatively affects levels of the appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin and leptin.

Detour: Don't sacrifice your snooze time—not even for an extra-long run. And quality matters more than quantity, so taking a siesta later won't help. "In a 20-minute power nap you don't get into the deep-sleep stage," says Donna Taliaferro, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who conducts research on sleep and circadian rhythms. "You need to go through the cycles of sleep over a few hours to get the restorative rest that allows your body to work properly." Bottom line: You're better off sleeping through your workout every other day than stumbling to a sunrise Pilates class on too few z's.

Roadblock No. 2: You're a teetotaler (or a sot!).

What's wrong with that? Alcohol may not be the diet kryptonite you thought it was. Recent research showed that those who have a single drink a couple times a week have a lower risk of becoming obese than either teetotalers or heavy drinkers. Those who consume more than four drinks daily, on the other hand, boost their odds of obesity by 46 percent.

Detour:Go ahead and have a drink; just avoid belly-busters like a 245-calorie piña colada. Instead, raise a glass of heart-smart merlot (123 calories per 5 ounces), Bud Light (110 calories per 12 ounces), champagne (88 calories per 4 ounces), or sake (39 calories per ounce). Or mix a 100-calorie cocktail, like vodka and diet tonic or tequila and club soda. "Just make sure you drink it with some healthy food, such as raw veggies with low-fat dip or whole-wheat pita and hummus," advises Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Eating slows the rise of alcohol in your blood—and cuts the odds you'll drunk-order the deep-fried mozzarella sticks.

Roadblock No. 3: You crank the AC.

What's wrong with that? Al Gore wants you to lay off the thermostat to save the planet. Here's how it can save (the shape of) your own ass, too: In a study published in Physiology & Behavior, researchers found that exposure to temperatures above the "thermoneutral zone"—the artificial climate we create with clothes, heating, or air conditioning—decreases our appetite and food intake. "At a slightly uncomfortable 81 degrees, the women in the study experienced a 20 percent decrease in appetite and ate 10 percent less than at 72 degrees," says lead author Margriet S. Westerterp-Plantenga, Ph.D., a professor of food-intake regulation in the department of human biology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Detour: Instead of cranking the air conditioner every time you feel a little warm, learn to endure slightly steamier conditions. Hitting the "off" button is well worth a little discomfort if it helps you lose the saddlebags.

Roadblock No. 4: You log extra miles on the treadmill to make up for giant meals.

What's wrong with that? When it comes to dieting, success isn't 90 percent perspiration. You can't achieve lasting weight loss via exercise alone. But a new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that dieting can shrink your fat zones just as effectively as dieting plus exercise.

Detour: If you try the diet-only approach, you need a clear idea of how much you should be eating. Multiply your weight by 10, then add your weight again to that sum: That gives you the number of calories you need to maintain your current weight without activity. For example, 135 pounds x 10 = 1,350 + 135 = 1,485 calories. Eat more than that regularly, and your "loose-fit" pants won't anymore; eat less, and your muffin top will start melting away. But not so fast—before you burn your gym membership, read on about sarcopenia.

Roadblock No. 5: You ignore sarcopenia.

What's wrong with that? Sarcopenia, in case you weren't paying attention to your medical TV dramas, is age-related muscle loss—and it can start in your 30s. If you don't take action now, you could begin to lose as much as 1 to 2 percent of your muscle mass by the time you hit 50. Less muscle means you burn fewer calories and store more of them as fat.

Detour: The key to stopping muscle meltdown is to strengthen your back, shoulders, arms, and thighs. "When you increase lean muscle mass, you burn more calories, even when you're sitting down doing nothing," says Amy Campbell, M.S., R.D., education program manager for health care services at the Joslin Diabetes Center of the Harvard Medical School. Find a strength workout in "Secrets of the Nation's Top Trainers" and start sculpting at least twice a week. And keep it up after you reach your goal weight: Studies show that if you don't exercise regularly (60 minutes of moderate physical activity a day), the pounds can creep back on.

Roadblock No. 6: You're shooting for a realistic size 6 instead of a near-impossible 2.

What's wrong with that? We know size 2 jeans look like they were made for a 10-year-old, but, according to a study of 1,801 people published in the International Journal of Obesity, women who set unrealistically high weight-loss goals dropped more weight in 24 months than those who kept their expectations low.

Detour: The study authors concluded that having an optimistic goal motivated women to lose more weight. And the participants who failed to reach their magic number did not quit trying to drop the weight. Could aiming for Sienna Miller's figure really help you reach your goal weight healthfully? "If you're a driven person and a lofty goal motivates you," says Blatner, "it can work."

Roadblock No. 7: Ever since the recent headlines, you've been popping M&Ms like they're Advil.

What's wrong with that? You've heard the news: Cocoa can lower blood pressure; reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and dementia; and possibly even prevent cancer. But the research isn't as delicious as it seems. The cocoa-bean products used in the studies are a far cry from the highly processed chocolate candy you find on the shelves of your local store. "Milk chocolate contains about 150 calories and 10 grams of fat per ounce," says Campbell.

Detour: The key here is small doses. Dark chocolate, which retains more of the bean during processing, generally has slightly less fat and fewer calories than milk chocolate—plus, it's richer, so less goes a longer way. We like CocoaVia's Crispy Chocolate Bar (90 calories, 5 g fat) or Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Stick (60 calories, 3.5 g fat). If dark doesn't do it for you, opt for low-cal choices such as a half-cup of Breyers French Chocolate Double Churn Fat Free Ice Cream (90 calories, 0 fat).

Roadblock No. 8: You think "water-rich diet" means more trips to the cooler.

What's wrong with that? Water in your glass is good, but water in your food can have serious slimming power. In a new American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study, obese women ages 20 to 60 were told to either reduce their fat intake or increase their intake of water-rich foods, such as fruits and veggies. Although they ate more, women in the water-rich group chose foods that were more filling—yet had fewer calories—so they still lost 33 percent more weight in the first six months than the women in the reduced-fat group.

Detour: Fill up on food that's high in H2O. Some good choices in addition to fruits and veggies: broth-based, low-sodium soups; oatmeal and other whole grains; and beans. For other filling options, consult The Volumetrics Eating Plan: Techniques and Recipes for Feeling Full on Fewer Calories, by Barbara Rolls, Ph.D. (Harper Paperbacks, 2007).

Roadblock No. 9: You give up junk food today but put off joining a gym until January.

What's wrong with that? Tackling one goal at a time is supposed to help you succeed. But new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine bucks that conventional wisdom. In a study of more than 200 people who smoked, had high blood pressure, and weren't extremely active, one group was asked to quit the butts, cut back on dietary sodium, and increase physical activity all at once. Another group addressed one bad habit at a time. The group that tackled all their problems simultaneously had the higher success rate after 18 months.

Detour: Combining your goals may work for the same reason job negotiations do: When you ask for everything, you're more likely to get something. Put this thinking to the test by creating a healthy eating and exercise plan and throwing all your energy into following both.

Roadblock No. 10: You never think about potassium.

What's wrong with that? A recent Canadian study concluded that getting more potassium might help lower your weight and blood pressure. Levels measured in study participants were proportional to their diet and weight. "That makes sense," says Blatner. "The richest sources of potassium are beans, vegetables, and fruit, so the person with high potassium levels is consuming a lot of these foods, which are low in calories and are the most filling."

Detour: You should aim for 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day. Supplements may help you hit that target, but doctors don't recommend them for everyone. Try filling up on white beans (1 cup: 1,000 mg potassium), winter squash (1 cup: 494 mg), spinach (1 cup: 840 mg), baked potato with skin (926 mg), yogurt (1 cup: 600 mg), halibut (4 ounces: 566 mg), and orange juice (1 cup: 473 mg).

Well it's been a hectic two weeks for me. All this running around has resulted in a meer one pound loss, but I'll take it. I weighed in yesterday at 152.6! Still not my lowest since I started this challenge, but with the set backs I've had it's nice to see the scale falling once again. This training my body and mind to eat healthier is starting to finally work. My cravings for sweets is dwindling and I rarely go for seconds on anything. I'm beginning to be able to go longer on smaller portions before feeling hunger, though I am trying to avoid the hunger feeling by eating small healthy snacks throughout the day. My willpower is showing its face once again.

Here's a tip I have for eating out. If you don't feel like cooking....find someone else who does. If you are close with a neighbor or have family near by, suggest that you come to visit once a week for a meal and chat. My husband and I do this every week. We go to my in-laws for dinner and just catch up and they get to spend some time with their grandson. About once or twice a month they come to our house. It's a nice time to get together and helps with portion control and the costs of food, since going to a restraunt for even the 3 of us is more than picking up a few extra things at the grocery store to feed a couple extra mouths.

I'm reaching out for support. All you mommies out there that would like to include your weight loss success or not so successful stories....please drop me a line, I'd love to have you as an contributor. Contribute a little or contribute a lot it doesn't matter as long as you think someone will gain some knowledge for the better from what you post.

Is there such thing as "post - menstrual syndrome"? If there is I think I have it. I can't get enough of the sweet stuff, all I want to do it eat, and I am an emotional wreck. If I hadn't just gotten done with my period I would swear I was pregnant.

I'm suppose to be working right now, you know the kind of work you get paid for, and I just can't focus. It's taking my much more time than it should to complete a tax return. I'm hot and then I am cold. I have focus and then I have none. How in the world am I going to get my school work done this evening??

Hubby and I should go for a bike ride but that would just give me another excuse not to get my school work done and then I really will fail these classes. Today is the last assignment due date and they have to be done TODAY! I also have about 2 late assignments in each class.....here comes passing barely...again...that is if I get the damn things done.....were is my will-power when I need it. If anyone finds it please let me know, I miss it dearly.

Wow it's been nearly 3 weeks since I last posted....has it really been that long??

So for the quick version I've lost a few more pounds...mainly due to a food poisoning bout on the 28th that lasted through the 29th. I was not a happy camper. :( Unfortunately my husband also got it (he got it first) and since we couldn't figure out what was making him sick I unknowingly ate the same thing for lunch and 3 hours later it hit me hard.

So since last week I have been really watching what I eat, especially if it comes out of my fridge. I still need to get in there are clean as something is smelling and it's permeating into the freezer, yuck. Just makes your stomach churn, but it kinda acts like one of those oinking pig alarms, so that everytime I open the fridge and smell that smell I lose my appetite or forget why I opened the door in the first place and promptly shut the door again....think I need that for my cabinets too.


Oh yes, we were in the big box store the other day and found a nice bike trailer for my son. We had one given to us when I was pregnant and didn't find out until last month that we were missing the parts needed to attach the trailer to our bikes...more likely still on the old owners bike. So since then we have been either a) looking for the parts or b) looking for a new trailer which ever came up first. The trailer went together fast and my husband hooked it up to his bike last night and after airing up a few tires, buckling in my son, and a phone call to my mom to talk shop we were finally off. It was nice to be on my bike again...been over a year really since we had gone cycling. Good thing it's not one of those things you forget easily. We did a nice 20 minutes around town, as we went out close to dusk and didn't want to get caught out in the dark. This may become our new nightly routine...when we have time that is.