Hey y'all, I'm back!
I have decided to reformat my blog. Writing about solely fitness goals was too focused for me and as we all can see, not very motivating to keep writing. I thought long and hard about changing the format of my blog, and have to decided to expand the scope and include more of my life.
So this blog will be about anything my mind fancies on the day I choose to write; fitness, witty observations, DIY crafts I create, scrapbooking, etc. I may even delve into some educational posts, stuff I learn along the way being a blood banker. I promise to keep those few and far between, or sequester them to their own page!
I hope you all enjoy the 'new' blog!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Junk Food Challenge
My daily ritual of Internet surfing (yes I have a ritual, don't judge!) includes going to Yahoo and flipping through the scrolling news stories on the front page. Well today I found an inspiring story, a family who went 100 days without eating junk food. It was the 100 days of real food challenge.
I thought it sounded pretty easy at first; avoid Twinkies and chocolate cake for 100 days. But as you dig further, you start to realize that its not just the pre-packaged, sugar filled 'treats' that are on the avoidance list for 100 days. It includes white flour, white rice, artificial sweeteners (Splenda, Sweet N’ Low, etc), deep fried foods, and nothing with more than 5 ingredients listed on packaged food. Wow…this just got a lot harder.
I got to thinking, though, this sounds like something that would fit in perfectly with the Weight Watchers plan. It calls for eating fruits and vegetables (which are virtually point free on Weight Watchers), and whole grains, which are more filling and worth less points as well. So why not take the challenge?
So that’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to take the 100-day challenge. Starting tomorrow (since I’ve already failed today), I will start avoiding “junk” food, including all those that are packaged, made with white flour, and those made with artificial sweeteners. And to hold myself accountable, there will be a new section on the blog that I will continuously update with my process. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can post day by day through the challenge, but hopefully every few days will be a new post about the process of completely cutting out junk food. Wish me luck…here I go!
Just a side note…you can find the challenge inspiring my challenge at www.100daysofrealfood.com. There you will find tips, others who have also taken the challenge, and mini challenges to get you started. I won’t post stuff directly from that website (i.e. recipes, tips, rules, mini challenges, etc) for copyright purposes. But please visit that website if you feel inspired to do this or are just curious about what I’m doing!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Time Off
Well hello all in blog land. I guess its been a while since I've last posted...February to be exact. I guess its only fair to fess up...I fell of the wagon.
I've figured out (although I probably knew this before but choose to live in blissful denial) that weight loss is hard. My focus has been to lose x amount of pounds, the amount to get me to my goal weight. I also decided that eating healthier would assist in this journey..............no matter how painful. Focusing on one giant goal hasn't been all that helpful. It had also been very hard to make myself eat healthy when there were so many delicious distractions.
I also learned, and it took me a while, that losing weight by yourself is very hard. I figured I was a strong willed individual and could do it on my own. As the weeks slipped into months, I realized that I may be in over my head...no matter how strong my will was. So I enlisted help. My mother had suggested Weight Watchers, and I finally broke down and joined Weight Watchers...yes Weight Watchers, and instantly noticed results. It also didn't hurt that I joined in the middle of summer fruit season!!
While it does costs some moolah to join Weight Watchers, the pay off is justifiable. They have quick, easy recipes and already made foods, and they all taste good. It teaches you how to make some of your favorite meals, but with less fat and carbs. Making something you love healthier without trading the taste. They also have tips that help you stay on track.
I also decided that since I've changed the diet thing up, I should get back on here and start chronicling my journey once more. So to all you who have been missing it, I'm terribly sorry. Hopefully this time I stay on track....with everything! :)
I've figured out (although I probably knew this before but choose to live in blissful denial) that weight loss is hard. My focus has been to lose x amount of pounds, the amount to get me to my goal weight. I also decided that eating healthier would assist in this journey..............no matter how painful. Focusing on one giant goal hasn't been all that helpful. It had also been very hard to make myself eat healthy when there were so many delicious distractions.
I also learned, and it took me a while, that losing weight by yourself is very hard. I figured I was a strong willed individual and could do it on my own. As the weeks slipped into months, I realized that I may be in over my head...no matter how strong my will was. So I enlisted help. My mother had suggested Weight Watchers, and I finally broke down and joined Weight Watchers...yes Weight Watchers, and instantly noticed results. It also didn't hurt that I joined in the middle of summer fruit season!!
While it does costs some moolah to join Weight Watchers, the pay off is justifiable. They have quick, easy recipes and already made foods, and they all taste good. It teaches you how to make some of your favorite meals, but with less fat and carbs. Making something you love healthier without trading the taste. They also have tips that help you stay on track.
I also decided that since I've changed the diet thing up, I should get back on here and start chronicling my journey once more. So to all you who have been missing it, I'm terribly sorry. Hopefully this time I stay on track....with everything! :)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Weighing In
The goal of weight loss...losing the weight. So when it comes to weighing yourself on scales, how often should you weigh? No matter where you look, someone has a different answer. Some say to measure once a week, that way you're not driving yourself crazy with the slight variations of weight on an day to day basis. There's once a month, that way you allow yourself the last amount of anxiety of weigh-ins. Then there is once a day, that way you know if something in your diet or exercise routine isn't working.
Lets start with probably the least likely option that a person would choose...once a month. That basically means you step on the scale the first of every month. I can't imagine this; I'm sure you can't imagine this...but I'm sure somewhere someone does this. And its not necessarily wrong. This is probably an option if you're trying to maintain weight, not lose it. If you're looking for the same number on the scale from month to month, and you see that same number from month to month...then the once a month weighing choice is perfect. You give yourself less anxiety and can easily rid your mind of the constant urge to step on the scale.
However, I will tell you that if you're trying to lose weight, this probably isn't the best option. You won't be able to notice the subtle differences in weight loss or gain because of changes to your diet or exercise. Step on the scale only once a month and you could have gained 5 lbs because of something you started eating, maybe something with more calories than you realized. If you weighed daily or weekly, then you would have noticed that weight gain and would have been able to cut that high-calorie snack out of your diet. This option isn't for everyone, but may work for some.
Second, we have the weigh-in weekly. That may be the best option for most who are trying to lose weight. You're not driving yourself crazy with miniscule weight changes by weighing daily and are still able to notice increases in weight due to a change in diet or exercise routine.
This is the one I personally like to do. I am the one that will drive myself crazy if I weigh everyday. I will panic if I've gained a pound in one day........and by the end of the week I've lost 3 lbs. So why drive myself crazy each day, when all I have to see is the 3 lbs I've lost at the end of the week.
The problem I find with this is that if I set my mind to weighing only once a week (basically meaning that I try my hardest not to step on a scale more than once a week) I sometimes forget to weigh. I know, sounds crazy right. But sometimes I am so successful at not getting on the scale during the week that I forget to weigh myself at the end of the week. Its a tiny problem that I can usually overcome. As for other negatives for weighing only weekly...I can't really think of many.
The final option is weighing daily. I've tried this. The trick is to weigh the same time every day under the same conditions. For example, every morning before you eat breakfast. If you weigh one morning before breakfast and then don't weigh until the next day at noon, you'll have a definite shift in weight.
I wasn't very successful at this; mainly because I would panic when I went up a pound. Thats the risk you take when you weigh daily. You see every variation in weight. However, the plus side is that you can notice subtle changes when you tweak diet and exercise patterns.
Ultimately you must choose what works best for you. If you're trying to maintain weight, once a month might be ideal. If you're so worried about what your eating and how much your exercising, one a day may be just right. I vary between once a week and once a day...usually it depends if I remember to weigh before I eat breakfast or if I'm curious as to how I'm progressing. Whatever works for you is the right decision.
Lets start with probably the least likely option that a person would choose...once a month. That basically means you step on the scale the first of every month. I can't imagine this; I'm sure you can't imagine this...but I'm sure somewhere someone does this. And its not necessarily wrong. This is probably an option if you're trying to maintain weight, not lose it. If you're looking for the same number on the scale from month to month, and you see that same number from month to month...then the once a month weighing choice is perfect. You give yourself less anxiety and can easily rid your mind of the constant urge to step on the scale.
However, I will tell you that if you're trying to lose weight, this probably isn't the best option. You won't be able to notice the subtle differences in weight loss or gain because of changes to your diet or exercise. Step on the scale only once a month and you could have gained 5 lbs because of something you started eating, maybe something with more calories than you realized. If you weighed daily or weekly, then you would have noticed that weight gain and would have been able to cut that high-calorie snack out of your diet. This option isn't for everyone, but may work for some.
Second, we have the weigh-in weekly. That may be the best option for most who are trying to lose weight. You're not driving yourself crazy with miniscule weight changes by weighing daily and are still able to notice increases in weight due to a change in diet or exercise routine.
This is the one I personally like to do. I am the one that will drive myself crazy if I weigh everyday. I will panic if I've gained a pound in one day........and by the end of the week I've lost 3 lbs. So why drive myself crazy each day, when all I have to see is the 3 lbs I've lost at the end of the week.
The problem I find with this is that if I set my mind to weighing only once a week (basically meaning that I try my hardest not to step on a scale more than once a week) I sometimes forget to weigh. I know, sounds crazy right. But sometimes I am so successful at not getting on the scale during the week that I forget to weigh myself at the end of the week. Its a tiny problem that I can usually overcome. As for other negatives for weighing only weekly...I can't really think of many.
The final option is weighing daily. I've tried this. The trick is to weigh the same time every day under the same conditions. For example, every morning before you eat breakfast. If you weigh one morning before breakfast and then don't weigh until the next day at noon, you'll have a definite shift in weight.
I wasn't very successful at this; mainly because I would panic when I went up a pound. Thats the risk you take when you weigh daily. You see every variation in weight. However, the plus side is that you can notice subtle changes when you tweak diet and exercise patterns.
Ultimately you must choose what works best for you. If you're trying to maintain weight, once a month might be ideal. If you're so worried about what your eating and how much your exercising, one a day may be just right. I vary between once a week and once a day...usually it depends if I remember to weigh before I eat breakfast or if I'm curious as to how I'm progressing. Whatever works for you is the right decision.
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