I'm Back!

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!

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!

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! :)

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.

Motivation

Finding motivation has been a difficult thing.  There are more things around me that tend to derail my efforts rather than help them; tv commercials for Sonic, the tv shows on Food Network, and the convenience of a hospital cafeteria where I can scan my badge to pay for dinner.  Add in the mix a record snowfall that kept me in the house for two days straight and sub-zero temperatures that keep me off the running path, and you have the perfect storm of zero motivation.

With all that said, there are a few tried and true things I know I can do when I feel motivation slipping.  One of these is revamping the workout soundtrack.  Nothing fuels my motivation more than buying some new songs and applying them to my workout playlist.  Its kind of exciting to know that once I start my run, I'll get to hear a few new songs in the mix.  Plus, working on the playlist makes me envision my run.  I think to those times where I'm struggling to complete my run and try to listen for that music that I know will push to the end.  Something upbeat and with a good rhythm.  This makes it even more essential to me to get out and test the new and improved playlist, see if I got it right!

The one other motivational technique I use may seem leisurely, maybe even a little unconventional.  But when I'm sitting at work and trying to convince myself that my morning run is necessary, I have found that magazines are one of the most convincing tools to get me excited and ready for my morning run.  But not just any magazine.  Usually Runner's World and Women's Health are the two go-to magazines.  Women's Health is concerned with healthy eating and women's health issues, while also providing some exercise tips.  Runner's World is more concerned with the running aspect.  I open one of these and realize I need to be healthier and more active, and I'm out running the next morning.  (If you're a fan of the fashion magazines, you know Glamour or Cosmo, don't worry, these can also provide motivation.  That cute tank will look better if I tone my arms a little.  Its all about perspective!)

Ultimately one has to find their own motivation.  Luckily for me, mine are simple and easily attainable.

New Year's Resolutions

Yes...that time of year is upon us again.  The time of the year that we've been conditioned since we were kids to make pacts with ourselves to change something about our personalities or physical traits.  A sort of lent-equse promise if you will (although slightly less religious).  And its probably safe to say that most of these resolutions involve weight loss in some way; eating healthier, exercising more, stressing less, etc.

What does this mean for those of us who have made these resolutions year after year?  Well it could mean the final straw that cements the idea in our heads for good.  But if you're like me, it means another enormous goal that will take months to accomplish.  A goal that is really hard to see instant results (and we who live in a world of instant gratification tend to get frustrated).

So what do I plan to do about this?  Well...first I'll make the long ranging goal.  I want to lose "X" amount of weight and want to start eating healthier.  I think this part is very important because I know what I'm aiming for.  Second, I'll make weekly or monthly goals, depending on what I have going on that month or week.  Example...I have a long week coming up at work (on 7 days and off 4 days).  With this in mind, I'll probably make two goals.  The first will be to just generally choose better foods to eat this next week.  I'll go slow, making better choices little by little, meal by meal.  The exercise goal will be to go out and run more within the next month.

Why make little goals on the way to a larger one?  Simple.  It's easier to stay on track when you feel a sense of accomplishment.  With one big goal, you're not going to accomplish anything for several months.  That sets any goal seeker up for disaster.  Too many things and too much time go by and it can feel like you're making no progress.  Thus, little goals on the way to the bigger picture can help you feel like you're making progress and keep you on track.

So I guess the moral of the story is...make one large resolution with several smaller resolutions to build on.  This can be a successful plan, right?  Well I'm gonna see and hopefully I'll have a good report in a month or two!