Here it is almost New Year's Eve...

Yes, here it is almost New Year's Eve and it's been six months since I updated this blog.  I suppose it's because, even though I have titled my blog "Let's Lose Weight This Year", I never do.  I could give tons of excuses, like the holidays mess me up, or it's my body style, or even it must be my age but I know that isn't correct.  Of course, those things contribute to my plumpness (that's what I'm calling being 50 pounds too heavy today), but the bottom line is that I don't always monitor what I eat.  I keep and cook all sorts of healthy foods every day, but I then add in junk food.  I know that if there were not chips and cookies and ice cream in the house we would not eat it.

I do try to monitor my consumption some, but the thing about sugar and salt is that, for me, it's almost addictive.  Hubs and I had an all night movie watch-a-thon last night and when we finally went to bed at 5:00 a.m. I had consumed a bag of microwave popcorn, six cookies, and an ice cream bar.  There was certainly not much of a fast to break from this morning (actually noon) when I woke up.

While I slept, quite soundly I might add, I had a reoccurring dream.  I am in a city that I am familiar with, headed to a location that I know, but I can never get there.

There are always obstacles in my way.  I take it to mean that this is an indication that my subconscious is thinking about all the things I place in between being healthy and actually getting there.  In real life, I do know what my health goals are and I know how to get there, but for some reason I always go the long way, instead of just taking the shortest path.

For me, the shortest path is a series of "dont's" that I think I need to change to "do's".  Don't eat junk food, don't eat sugar treats, don't drink soda...well, you get my drift.  In an effort to put a positive spin on things, I am going to monitor my sodium and sugar intake.

I still go to the gym, but for over the past year, it has dropped from five days a week to four, to three.  The gym has had holiday music playing for over one month now and I just don't dig it.  I don't listen to it at home and it's not motivation for me at work.  They even got five new Muzak stations for this very purpose.

Well, tomorrow is New Year's Eve and the gym doesn't open until 8 a.m. bummer, I like going at 7. It's closed Tuesday for what I hope will be the last holiday for a while.  I'm ready to put my Brooks Pure Cadence plantar fasciitis shoes on and get on the elliptical.

I'll hit the weight machines, use my food journal at My Fitness Pal and hopefully, prayerfully I will begin to lose weight this year.  I hope you will join me.  Sign up for My Fitness Pal, it's free and "friend" me.

Maybe, just maybe, this will be the year we lose...together.

Yep, I'm still kickin'

I cannot believe I have been so lax in updating this blog.  I think part of the fact is, that once AGAIN, I haven't lost the weight I wanted to.  I am still ten pounds lower than my highest weight since I started, but I get so tired of never losing large amounts of weight.  I think the problem lies in the fact that for me weight loss is a long term exercise (pardon the pun) and sometimes I get so tired of "doing the right thing" that I don't do things right.

I still workout an hour each morning, 4-5 days each week.  Then for the most part I sit on my tush the rest of the day.  Being an artist/jewelry designer/blogger/reader lends itself to a day's worth of sitting.  I, of  course, get up and cook and do dishes and push the laundry into a more manageable pile.  At the end of the day, though, I have still moved very little.

Do NOT get me wrong, I love my life.  This Blessed Life that affords me the luxury to stay at home and do the above mentioned things.  I know that I have been blessed with this life for a reason and that I need to do my part to stay healthy in order to keep pushing toward the goals that I have in life.

With all that being said, I'm going to try to ramp up my routines just a bit.  I am going to incorporate more exercise into my day.  Today I'm going back to the gym to take part in a class called "Back in Shape" which concentrates on balance, stability and core work.  It's geared to the over 55 set, so I should be able to catch up with the class that has been in session since June.

If there is anyone out there that still reads this blog.  PLEASE stop by and say hi.  I sometimes feel that the blogging community has moved on to other things.  I miss you.  Let me know how you are. Let's have virtual tea and cookies...something.

Anyway, that's it for now.  Hope to be back soon, even if there is no one out there.  I have to stay accountable to myself.

TTFN.

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.