Portion control

This is an older article, but so worth the click...

Check it out here...


Talk soon!

I'm still hanging in there...

I know, I know.  Who does she thing she is, not posting on her weight loss blog since December.  She is, like many of you, feeling a bit sheepish because she has gained back about ten of the twenty-three pounds she lost last year.

OK, really, that third person thing just is too hard to keep up so here I am, in all my glory, weighing in at 187.  I am down 5 pounds since last week, due to my first week on The Dukan Diet.  I researched this plan for weeks before deciding that I really wanted to try it.  It is basically, a low fat version of Atkins.  I did really well doing a controlled carb plan about ten years ago.  Of course, that was pre-meno and if there are any chicks out there of a certain age, they KNOW what I'm talking about.  Nothing I have done in the last five years, other than literally exercising myself to exhaustion and counting calories, has made any difference.

When I had my cholesterol checked in January, my numbers were very, very good.  My blood pressure was a bit high, but I think that is a bit of "white coat syndrome" that always happens with me when I get it checked.  All this being said, I felt like a low fat, low carb eating plan would be completely safe for me.  My hubby isn't crazy about it, because he likes when we eat fruit together.  Sorry, honey, but I've got to try this plan.  Which means no fruit until I have reached my goal weight.  The plan is pretty much pure protein for five days then protein and non starchy veggies for five days with oat bran every day for fiber.  This is done until you either have lost your weight or you just dont want to do it any more.  At that point, you are guided into adding back in various foods (bread and fruit, etc) in a fashion that will help you maintain your weight loss.  You do this plan for five days for every pound that you have lost (i.e. 20 pound loss...this phase for 100 days) after you get to the suggested number of days, you go into the final phase that you will follow for life.  In other words, by this time you now have made a lifestyle change and are shown how to introduce the occasional treat into you life in a fashion that will prevent you from going back to your old ways.

I am only into phase two which is called Cruise, and it's working for me.  If you know anyone who has had success on this plan I'd love to know about it.

So short version is this...I have not given up and I wont.  I'll be 59 tomorrow and I workout at the gym 4-5 days every week and I'm no slouch about it.  I keep myself motivated, knowing that God gave me this life and this body because He knew he could trust me to take good care of it.

That's the way this old chick rolls.

By the way, if you want to see pictures from my recent Amtrak trip from California to Virginia, check out the link to my everyday blog  "A Walk In The Park".  I'd love for you to stop by.

Take care and stay motivated. We are going to lose weight this year. I just know it!!!!

Tasty Breakfast

I'm seriously making some changes this year. Paying closer attention to what I eat and not snacking mindlessly are my main short term goals. I really do want to try more recipes also. I have been experimenting with scrambled egg white omelets and am quite surprised at how easy it is to make them tasty. Since I am easing myself into the egg white routine, I used one whole egg (Egglands's Best), some All White liquid egg whites, one heaping teaspoon of Newman's Own mild salsa, several generous shakes of the powdered Parmesan cheese (is that even food?) and mixed it together thoroughly. I used my non stick cookware with just a touch of olive oil and made a omelet/frittata that I used as a filling for a Nature's Own Thin Sliced Bagel. I can honestly say it was almost as tasty as my usual whole egg and cheddar artery clogger. Guess you can teach an old(er) dog new tricks.

 What is your goal for the upcoming year? New healthier recipes or more exercise? I'm trying to do a combo.  I have finally figured out that I just don't do well lifting weights so I am doing exercises that are more of a resistance nature. The machines at the gym that you have to move, to make them move as well as wall push ups and a really easy, yet effective move called a "stick up".   Don't know about stick ups? Well, you can do them two ways. Simply hold your arms out to the side with your arms bent at the elbows and hands pointing upwards... then reach for the sky like you used to see in the old western movies (as in "it's a stick up"). If you add a calf raise as you reach for the sky, it gives you an extra workout. Return to the starting position and do nine more.  Easy and yes, even you can do it.

Hang in there everyone, this is going to be the year that we lose weight. I'm sure of it!

It's almost the new year!

It's almost the new year and I do feel rejuvenated.  I am ready to clean out the junk in my life and get back on the healthy train (not to be confused with Ozzy's Crazy Train).  I came across a two year old Ladies Home Journal at the spa last week and they allowed me to bring it home. (Really those gals need to replenish their magazines) In said mag, was a article with a seven day plan based on The Biggest Loser television show.  Since I already know what the exercise portion of this program is, I thought "what the what", so I am currently restructuring my menus according to The Ladies Home Journal seven day plan.

One of the things that I am never honest with myself about is bread and pasta.  On this plan, you will periodically see one slice of whole grain bread. NOT an entire loaf of bread in the form of oven baked cinnamon toast. I really needed to see seven days worth of meals printed out to remind myself of the extras that I have been eating.

I am a "nester", I like to get the house good and clean with dishes done and laundry fluffed and folded. This means I can snuggle in somewhere and read or do needlework and not have to worry about chores.  This also translates into snacking.  I don't eat because I'm bored or lonely, I eat because I love to eat. Period. Now, I'm certainly not saying that there aren't deep seated reasons for my love of the ritual of eating, there  are and I know it and I know how to deal with it. Sometimes I just fall back into old habits.

All that being said, I'm starting out this years' version of "Let's Lose Weight This Year" with a slightly different attitude.  I know that I'm in control and that my weight problems do NOT stem from any medical conditions.  I'm healthy and I'm ready (this week, anyway) to lose some more weight.

Of the twenty pounds that I lost last year, I gained back about six of it gradually. I know why and I know how to continue with losing in a healthy manner.  I hope, if there is still anyone that reads this little blog, I hope that you will join me in my continuing journey of losing weight and gaining confidence.

I will not give up

Even though I'm old, I will not give up. Even though I never get any comments here,I will not give up.  Even though I'm so tired of the rules of staying fit, I will not give up. Even though I ate six pieces of toast with jam for my breakfast this morning, I will not give up. 

Even though I want to, I will not give up.  Even though my back hurts, I will not give up.  Even though I have corns on my pinky toes, I will not give up.  Even though I really want to stop worrying about my weight, I will not give up.

Life is good.  I have food (obviously) and a sweet husband and two loving sisters.  I have a nice house and fun things to do with my free time.  I pretty much have it made.  Why would a gal in my situation feel defeated by the inability to lose weight?  I don't know.  It's the one thing that no matter what I do I can't control.  I really don't want to be consumed by numbers and grams and trans fats and words that end with "ose".  I don't want to be, but I am.  But you know what?  Even though... I will not give up.

I'm quitting the weight loss challenge at our gym

That doesn't mean that I've given up, it just means that I want to find a way to customize my workouts and not be at the mercy of a pre-determined generic workout.  I'm tired of dreading the sessions.  Everyone says working out is supposed to be fun.  Well, guess what...going out with your honey, that's what's fun.  Meeting up with friends where your hair looks good and you don't have to worry about passing gas in public because you are in a torturous position, that's what's fun. Meeting new people and not sweating on them when you shake their hand, that's what's fun.   Get my drift?

I tried to make the most of it, but truth be told, I don't give a rat's patooty if I never do another burpee or another mountain climber.  I'm ready to plan my own workout, doing the things that I like so the workout will be less aggravating (notice I didn't say fun). I think I can still be fit and feisty if I do it myself.  This is the second time I've tried the standard trainer driven workout plan of bosu balls and crab walks,  and this old gal is tired of people thinking I'm a miserable old coot, because I don't think military style calisthenics are fun.

So all that being said, I'll keep you posted on how it goes.  I'm not saying I'm smarter than the certified trainer, I'm saying she's not certified in motivating and training a Silver Fox like me.  I'll show them, you just wait and see!

The holidays are upon us

Well, the holidays are upon us and while we didn't overindulge too much for Thanksgiving, my delicate constitution isn't aware of that. Enough of that, I'm ready to get back on my regular plan of healthy eating. We had our  first weigh in last week (we're only weighing once a month) and I was down three pounds, but it really isn't indicative of anything.  I had eaten way too much the night of weigh in, in my mind it doesn't really count.

I am struggling with a team member that refuses to stop talking during our sessions and I feel like I'm being gypped out of some of the experience.  She is one of those gals that needs constant reassurance.  I really don't know if she has poor body image, or just needs attention.  She mentions the size of and burden of carrying her "butt" around all day.  How hard the exercises are because of her butt, how she doesn't want to lift weights because her arms are too big (what ever that means) and on and on.  The reason I join these weight loss programs is because I need the discipline of having a trainer.  I would not exercise as vigorously as I do if not for this program.  I'm beginning to wonder if it really is worth it. I am so tired of her constant chatter, that I'm wondering do I really need to balance on a ball and do push ups and such?  I really think that this will be my last round of this program.  I'm just not sure how I feel about things.  I know I am stronger than I was a year ago and that is actually my main goal. Strength and endurance comes from exercising.

I'm venting, I guess.  Why is it always so difficult to workout with a group? Is one out of every four people a jerk?  Last time we had  boy/girl teams with a team mate that was down right mean and was physically a bully to the other guy on the team.  Same trainer, nothing much was done, but that guy dropped out about halfway with an injury or something. Honestly, upon reflection, I think that the trainer is the problem.  I like her as a person and one-on-one she is a good trainer (I guess), but she really doesn't have much control of a team.

What are you thoughts on this?