Happy Monday!
Well here it is another Monday morning, April seems to be flying by. Both my daughters are waking up in Jamaica, blue sky's and warm water...next time I'll go with them. Although it may be a little cloudy and the local weather report tells us that we can expect rain, we still can choose to have a wonderful day. I think that I'm going to have a great day...since I can walk without a lot of pain this morning I know I'm going to get around much better than I did the last few days. Life is, after all what we make of it and our lives are a reflection of our attitude and our choices...I'm choosing happy.
Tough week for exercise aside the scale reported in at 173 and once again the small changes have paid off. Now I know I could do a ton of different things to make my weight loss go a lot quicker, but I also know with everything I have going on in my life right now, the small changes are what seem to fit. The last thing I want to do is try to cram so much into my life that I get overwhelmed and quit making any progress at all. Actually what I hope happens is that these small steps keep moving me forward until I am ready to fly.
I have noticed a change in my face, legs and butt, not however in the spot that troubles me most...my belly. Maybe this week I can put in some time towards helping that move a little faster...no pressure, it would just be nice not to have this belly bulge now that some of my old clothes fit my lower half.
So last week was a win and I'll take it. This week I'm going to work towards having many wins in my life...I'll let you know how that goes.
Have a great week and I'll talk to you on Monday.
Smile Often
Barbara
LifeTude
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday April 19th
Good Morning!
It's Monday and I'm here, not for long though as I am not feeling well today.
It was a good week...a tough one, but good. It's hard enough struggling with your weight alone, but add all the other stuff you deal with on a daily basis and then the unexpected crap that always seems to creep in and you have just given yourself a boatload of excuses why eating anything and everything is a good idea...that is until after it's in your belly. I, for the most part was able to side step the over-doing it.
Things are moving in the right direction once again and I have a new loss to report, I think the scale is getting on board and this morning I checked in at 174! A two pound loss for any week is step in the right direction, but for such a stressful week it is an amazing accomplishment. I also have had to retire some of my pants and pull out some that I have not been able to wear in a very long time. The best part is that it really hasn't taken a ton of effort to accomplish this; the changes have been so small anyone can incorporate them into their lives.
All in all it was a great week and I am looking forward to having another...after I get over this bug.
Until Monday, Smile Often
Barbara
It's Monday and I'm here, not for long though as I am not feeling well today.
It was a good week...a tough one, but good. It's hard enough struggling with your weight alone, but add all the other stuff you deal with on a daily basis and then the unexpected crap that always seems to creep in and you have just given yourself a boatload of excuses why eating anything and everything is a good idea...that is until after it's in your belly. I, for the most part was able to side step the over-doing it.
Things are moving in the right direction once again and I have a new loss to report, I think the scale is getting on board and this morning I checked in at 174! A two pound loss for any week is step in the right direction, but for such a stressful week it is an amazing accomplishment. I also have had to retire some of my pants and pull out some that I have not been able to wear in a very long time. The best part is that it really hasn't taken a ton of effort to accomplish this; the changes have been so small anyone can incorporate them into their lives.
All in all it was a great week and I am looking forward to having another...after I get over this bug.
Until Monday, Smile Often
Barbara
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday April 15th
Hello!
Sorry for the delay in posting...I've had a bit more than usual on my mind and my plate the last week and I have had to get a little creative with coaching myself through all of it.
Still holding my own, no new weight loss to report from Monday but I have a feeling that this coming Monday will be a better day for the scale...although no weight gain isn't a bad day for the scale either. A couple of weeks ago Sally Humphries, a friend of mine who writes a news letter to help people discover healthy all natural ways to better take care of their health, reported that scales lie...I'm truly inclined to believe this. I know the scale has reported that my weight has stayed the same over the last two weeks; however my clothes tell me that things are shifting a bit. I am currently able to wear clothes that I haven't been close to wearing in a very long time. Having said that I must admit the one place where I would truly like to see inches disappear from is still causing me to struggle with what shirt I wear. Yes, it's my belly, and it still has a long way to go.
So although I may have had a couple of tough weeks with no loss to show for them, I have learned once again that by adopting small changes that fit within my lifestyle I was able to maintain my lower weight without much of an effort, this is good news.
Things haven't settled down much for me but I have been able to slide in another change and I think that it will help the scale on Monday. It feels pretty good knowing that once the scale starts moving down again it won't be starting over from square one. I don't know about you but what has happened with me over the years is I would start a diet, lose a little weight, give up and end up putting it all back on plus a couple pounds and then try something new. With my current focus on smaller changes it seems as though the "Yo Yo" string finally broke.
Well since it is Thursday and Monday is just a few days away we shall see how things go, I have a good feeling about this.
Have a great weekend, Smile Often and we will see you on Monday.
Barbara
Sorry for the delay in posting...I've had a bit more than usual on my mind and my plate the last week and I have had to get a little creative with coaching myself through all of it.
Still holding my own, no new weight loss to report from Monday but I have a feeling that this coming Monday will be a better day for the scale...although no weight gain isn't a bad day for the scale either. A couple of weeks ago Sally Humphries, a friend of mine who writes a news letter to help people discover healthy all natural ways to better take care of their health, reported that scales lie...I'm truly inclined to believe this. I know the scale has reported that my weight has stayed the same over the last two weeks; however my clothes tell me that things are shifting a bit. I am currently able to wear clothes that I haven't been close to wearing in a very long time. Having said that I must admit the one place where I would truly like to see inches disappear from is still causing me to struggle with what shirt I wear. Yes, it's my belly, and it still has a long way to go.
So although I may have had a couple of tough weeks with no loss to show for them, I have learned once again that by adopting small changes that fit within my lifestyle I was able to maintain my lower weight without much of an effort, this is good news.
Things haven't settled down much for me but I have been able to slide in another change and I think that it will help the scale on Monday. It feels pretty good knowing that once the scale starts moving down again it won't be starting over from square one. I don't know about you but what has happened with me over the years is I would start a diet, lose a little weight, give up and end up putting it all back on plus a couple pounds and then try something new. With my current focus on smaller changes it seems as though the "Yo Yo" string finally broke.
Well since it is Thursday and Monday is just a few days away we shall see how things go, I have a good feeling about this.
Have a great weekend, Smile Often and we will see you on Monday.
Barbara
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday March 29th 2010
Normally I look forward to Monday mornings. I don’t wake up in a bad mood because the weekend is over and I have to (as some may put it) “get back to reality”. Instead I view it as an amazing gift, another opportunity to create my own reality, one that I love no matter what day of the week it is. However after living in pain all week and just trying to “get through” each day, I found myself struggling with the thought of another Monday morning. I knew I hadn’t put any effort into my weight loss goals last week as well as this week and I just couldn’t bring myself to face the scale…and that’s why I missed last week’s report in.
It took me last week and most of this week to realize what I was beginning to do and put a stop to it. I was doing a little self sabotage. It is true I was sick and at times the pain was almost unbearable. However I could have easily stayed the course food wise and held off on the exercise. But I’m not going to dwell on it, instead I will focus on the fact that I recognized the behavior before it sent me spiraling backwards.
So here I am and although the last two weeks have been less than perfect, less than I would have hoped for I still managed to weigh in at 176! I have lost yet another pound. Still on track; still headed in the right direction, lucky I didn’t let my imagination push me too far off the path. One of the best things is I am beginning to feel a difference in the way my clothes fit…and I really, really like it.
My struggles are variety with healthy food options to work into my menus…there are so many things that I just don’t like and some that I am allergic to that I sometimes I feel like my options are limited. Also although I do notice the change in the way my clothes fit my belly still makes me look and feel huge so it’s going take a little more time and some creative imagination in the kitchen before I truly feel like my plan is a successful one…it’s working though, I’m headed in the right direction so I guess it is successful.
Have a great week and I’ll talk to you on Monday
Smile Often
Barbara
It took me last week and most of this week to realize what I was beginning to do and put a stop to it. I was doing a little self sabotage. It is true I was sick and at times the pain was almost unbearable. However I could have easily stayed the course food wise and held off on the exercise. But I’m not going to dwell on it, instead I will focus on the fact that I recognized the behavior before it sent me spiraling backwards.
So here I am and although the last two weeks have been less than perfect, less than I would have hoped for I still managed to weigh in at 176! I have lost yet another pound. Still on track; still headed in the right direction, lucky I didn’t let my imagination push me too far off the path. One of the best things is I am beginning to feel a difference in the way my clothes fit…and I really, really like it.
My struggles are variety with healthy food options to work into my menus…there are so many things that I just don’t like and some that I am allergic to that I sometimes I feel like my options are limited. Also although I do notice the change in the way my clothes fit my belly still makes me look and feel huge so it’s going take a little more time and some creative imagination in the kitchen before I truly feel like my plan is a successful one…it’s working though, I’m headed in the right direction so I guess it is successful.
Have a great week and I’ll talk to you on Monday
Smile Often
Barbara
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Monday March 15tht 2010, 2nd full week
Monday March 15tht 2010, 2nd full week
Ok so I didn’t add anything. However by focusing on the positive (what I was able to do this week) I was able to stay on course and not go backwards. I kept drinking my water, kept the pasta to one night only (multi grain), took a couple short walks during my work day, didn’t pig out on junk, made sure to eat breakfast, took my supplements, continued working on eating slow & consciously, and even made a few substitutions. Maybe for most people on a “diet” that wouldn’t seem like a whole lot of effort, but then again wasn’t that my point? I wanted to do this in a way that I could easily fit it into my life, without overwhelming myself or guilting myself to the point where I feel the need to come up with excuses so that I can make it easy for myself to…quit. That’s one thing that is unacceptable.
After realizing that I was still ok, that things weren’t as bad as I was starting to imagine they were, I was able to calm down and give myself permission to coast for a week. Doing that opened up my mind and although I may not have added any of the steps I had originally planned to I did discover a few small changes that I could make without much effort. One of the things I discovered is; not all turkey products taste like cardboard! Now I know there are many people out there that simply love ground turkey over ground beef, and they even love turkey bacon, but I’m not one of them. Cardboard is cardboard and although I don’t mind packing my “stuff” in it I certainly don’t like to eat it. That’s why I found it so surprising that I do like turkey kielbasa and turkey sausage. I know, I couldn’t believe it either, but it’s true. Butter Ball makes an awesome Turkey Kielbasa that made it difficult for me to notice the difference. I don’t think I will ever get to the point where I will choose ground turkey over ground beef, but this was a victory for me and it makes me hopeful that I may just find a few other healthy substitutions that I enjoy.
With all that said when I woke up Sunday I wasn’t expecting to see movement on the scale…but I did. Two more pounds! I am now down to 177! No extra effort, small steps…consistency is the key. I know it’s not as fast as many would like, but if you’ve done fast before and it hasn’t stuck then continuing to do the same thing and expecting “this time” to be different…well why don’t you let me know how that works out. If it works for you, great I will celebrate with you, if however you find yourself once again struggling to keep up the pace maybe it would be worth the effort to try the slow and steady way. The way I look at it is that steady loss with easy adopted changes is much better than the rollercoaster ride I was on.
So after my second full week I’m feeling pretty good. I’m happy with my progress and I’m going into week three with a positive attitude. I am looking forward to next week and being able to share my new measurements with you.
Have A Great Week & Smile Often!
Barbara
PS If you have any healthy substitutions that you have tried and liked please share them with me…not the cauliflower one, been there tried that and it’s almost as bad as the cardboard!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday March 8th 2010, first full week
What a great weekend!
So my first full week came to a close last night…I must admit I was a little concerned getting on the scale this morning, I didn’t accomplish all that I wanted to. I got in a couple of days of “exercise” not nearly as much as I had hoped to, but two days more than I had been getting in…progress is good. I did ok with the “slow” eating, but I know I can do better. I need to pay closer attention to my sugar/carb intake and keep it around 16grams sugar and 22grams carbs per day. All in all it was a good week below are this week’s wins;
1. Increased water intake
2. Continued with supplements
3. Meditated 3 days
4. Switched pasta to a multi grain (didn’t care for the whole wheat)
\5. No out of control cravings
6. Worked in two days of exercise
7. Worked in a couple of short walks, breaks from my work day
8. Left food on my plate, stopped eating when I was satisfied
9. Said no to late night snacking very easily
10. Lost inches!
11. Weighed in at 179!
Simple steps that fit into my life without a tone of extra effort…down a total of 5lbs! I think this is great! Imagine the results I could see if I step it up a bit (remember part of the goal is to make this as easy and as simple as possible, adopt habits and methods that fit into my life easily so that I once I reach my goal I will be able to continue my new lifestyle never feeling deprived of the things I love…YES, I love sweets, junk food, pasta, bread. I may not eat a tone of it but I do not want to cut it out of my life all together and when I eat it I don’t want to waste any time convincing myself that something taste just as good as the “real” thing. So good tasting substitutes are ok but if my taste buds say “Ya, right” I’m not going to force the issue, I would rather have a purely “sinful” indulgence ever so often than a nasty tasting copy more frequently. I may not be dropping a ton of weight but the diet isn’t consuming me either. That’s just me; being honest with me and making it work.
Now I bet you want to know if there were any changes in my measurements, well here they are;
Starting Current
Abs: Upper 41.5 Lower 45 40/44
Hips: 45 44
Arms: Left 13.5 Right 14 13/13
Thighs: Left 25.5 Right 26 24/25
Neck: 15 14
I’ve heard it said that “every journey begins with a single step”, it looks like even small steps pay off, and losing 5lbs and a total of 7 inches is pretty good. This week I’ll add in more exercise time, work to nail the “eating slow” thing, get the carbs & sugar grams down. I think that if I can add these steps to my plan I’ll have an even better week this week.
Last week ended on a high note and I’m getting closer to wearing some of the clothes I avoid because they make me look and feel like I’m seven months pregnant. It’s been kind of fun looking for the small things I can change to make this improvement, things so simple that anyone could adopt them into their lifestyle.
Have a great week, see you on Monday March 15th th
Smile Often,
Barbara
So my first full week came to a close last night…I must admit I was a little concerned getting on the scale this morning, I didn’t accomplish all that I wanted to. I got in a couple of days of “exercise” not nearly as much as I had hoped to, but two days more than I had been getting in…progress is good. I did ok with the “slow” eating, but I know I can do better. I need to pay closer attention to my sugar/carb intake and keep it around 16grams sugar and 22grams carbs per day. All in all it was a good week below are this week’s wins;
1. Increased water intake
2. Continued with supplements
3. Meditated 3 days
4. Switched pasta to a multi grain (didn’t care for the whole wheat)
\5. No out of control cravings
6. Worked in two days of exercise
7. Worked in a couple of short walks, breaks from my work day
8. Left food on my plate, stopped eating when I was satisfied
9. Said no to late night snacking very easily
10. Lost inches!
11. Weighed in at 179!
Simple steps that fit into my life without a tone of extra effort…down a total of 5lbs! I think this is great! Imagine the results I could see if I step it up a bit (remember part of the goal is to make this as easy and as simple as possible, adopt habits and methods that fit into my life easily so that I once I reach my goal I will be able to continue my new lifestyle never feeling deprived of the things I love…YES, I love sweets, junk food, pasta, bread. I may not eat a tone of it but I do not want to cut it out of my life all together and when I eat it I don’t want to waste any time convincing myself that something taste just as good as the “real” thing. So good tasting substitutes are ok but if my taste buds say “Ya, right” I’m not going to force the issue, I would rather have a purely “sinful” indulgence ever so often than a nasty tasting copy more frequently. I may not be dropping a ton of weight but the diet isn’t consuming me either. That’s just me; being honest with me and making it work.
Now I bet you want to know if there were any changes in my measurements, well here they are;
Starting Current
Abs: Upper 41.5 Lower 45 40/44
Hips: 45 44
Arms: Left 13.5 Right 14 13/13
Thighs: Left 25.5 Right 26 24/25
Neck: 15 14
I’ve heard it said that “every journey begins with a single step”, it looks like even small steps pay off, and losing 5lbs and a total of 7 inches is pretty good. This week I’ll add in more exercise time, work to nail the “eating slow” thing, get the carbs & sugar grams down. I think that if I can add these steps to my plan I’ll have an even better week this week.
Last week ended on a high note and I’m getting closer to wearing some of the clothes I avoid because they make me look and feel like I’m seven months pregnant. It’s been kind of fun looking for the small things I can change to make this improvement, things so simple that anyone could adopt them into their lifestyle.
Have a great week, see you on Monday March 15th th
Smile Often,
Barbara
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1st 2010
Good Morning!
Well today will be day four, since I started pulling my actual eating plan together so I think we can skip the measurements until next Monday. I did however get on the scale yesterday and my day three weigh was…183! One pound three days, I think I’ll take it, and if we want to get technical we could say 182.8 but I rounded up. Not bad for the first few day, not bad at all. I figure as long as I’m going in the right direction It’s all good.
I have to admit I didn’t hit the ground running. However I never thought I would, which is why I chose to combine the plans that I did…quality, I want it to last. If I do have a week where I lose big great I’ll take that too, but for now I’m happy with 1lb.
I made some small changes that wouldn’t take too much effort to work into eating and life style and that I can continue to build upon. Here is a list of the changes I made so far:
1. Increased my water intake and added lemon juice to it.
2. Started taking all the supplements that I had previously listed.
3. Eating slower put my fork down between every bite. Giving myself time to notice when I’m full.
4. Cut out almost all Splenda (I just can’t give it up in my morning tea…yet). Not sure if you are aware but Splenda, Equal, and Sweet-n-Low all cause stomach bloating and can cause you to hang onto belly fat.
That’s it, that’s really all of done the last few days. This week I will be adding in a few more steps and some exercise. It’s a busy week for me so I know I am going to need to push to get some exercise in. I also want to add in the meditation CD from I Can Make You Thin
. Those two things alone will be a challenging since I am always giving up what little time I put aside for myself…can’t do that now need to learn to put myself first once in a while and practice a little “extreme self care
”.
I have a couple of stressful weeks coming up so it’s going to be interesting for me to see how I manage, but I am excited…I’ve lost 1lb! So many of you are on the same journey and I would love to hear how you are doing. Maybe something you’re doing will help one of the other readers…or maybe it might help me.
See you on Monday March 8th, I will be down a few more pounds and have my new measurments.
Smile Often,
Barbara
LifeTude/testimonials
Life Lessons
Well today will be day four, since I started pulling my actual eating plan together so I think we can skip the measurements until next Monday. I did however get on the scale yesterday and my day three weigh was…183! One pound three days, I think I’ll take it, and if we want to get technical we could say 182.8 but I rounded up. Not bad for the first few day, not bad at all. I figure as long as I’m going in the right direction It’s all good.
I have to admit I didn’t hit the ground running. However I never thought I would, which is why I chose to combine the plans that I did…quality, I want it to last. If I do have a week where I lose big great I’ll take that too, but for now I’m happy with 1lb.
I made some small changes that wouldn’t take too much effort to work into eating and life style and that I can continue to build upon. Here is a list of the changes I made so far:
1. Increased my water intake and added lemon juice to it.
2. Started taking all the supplements that I had previously listed.
3. Eating slower put my fork down between every bite. Giving myself time to notice when I’m full.
4. Cut out almost all Splenda (I just can’t give it up in my morning tea…yet). Not sure if you are aware but Splenda, Equal, and Sweet-n-Low all cause stomach bloating and can cause you to hang onto belly fat.
That’s it, that’s really all of done the last few days. This week I will be adding in a few more steps and some exercise. It’s a busy week for me so I know I am going to need to push to get some exercise in. I also want to add in the meditation CD from I Can Make You Thin
. Those two things alone will be a challenging since I am always giving up what little time I put aside for myself…can’t do that now need to learn to put myself first once in a while and practice a little “extreme self care”.I have a couple of stressful weeks coming up so it’s going to be interesting for me to see how I manage, but I am excited…I’ve lost 1lb! So many of you are on the same journey and I would love to hear how you are doing. Maybe something you’re doing will help one of the other readers…or maybe it might help me.
See you on Monday March 8th, I will be down a few more pounds and have my new measurments.
Smile Often,
Barbara
LifeTude/testimonials
Life Lessons
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Day 3 The “How” of it all
Day 3 The “How” of it all
One thing that stands out for me is that everything is as hard or easy as we make it to be. I don’t know about you but for me making things hard on myself is getting a little old. One of the things I’ve learned over the past eighteen years is that many people (including myself) fail their diets due to overload. We start off great. Dive in head first counting calories, measuring portions, and eliminating so many of the things we love. From there with big smiles on our faces we plunge ourselves into a work out regime that doesn’t squeeze easily into our life. This works for many people. However it doesn’t work for everyone and it certainly wasn’t a great fit for me.
I think that one of my best qualities is the way I view challenges. I may not get there by following in your footsteps but I’ll meet you there and with a smile on my face. I firmly believe that there is always another way to do something, more than one answer.
Yesterday I reviewed my long list of “Diet” plans and although I at first thought I would be combining aspects from 2 of the plans, I have since change my mind and decided to add an aspect from a third plan.
The three plans I’m working with are;
1. Small Steps; This is a program that I have been trying to develop based on my experiences and a method known as the “Kaizen Method” which was a method originally developed to improve productivity. Adapting this method allowed me to keep of the last 12lbs that I lost without “Diet Overload”. With all the other goals I have and my everyday responsibilities this method was the easiest to adopt…and it worked, now it’s my turn to work it.
2. The Belly Fat Cure
; The easiest plan by far (for me) for dealing with what to eat and how much. A simple formula that I can incorporate easily with the above method and my life.3. I Can Make You Thin
; There are several things I liked about this one and all you need to do is follow 4 simple rules: Eat when you feel hungry!, Eat whatever you want!, Eat consciously!, Rule 4. Once you feel full stop eating! Sounds crazy I know, but when you follow these rules you will be amazed at how much less you eat.I also like the guided meditation CD that came along with this plan and plan to use that as well.
So that’s the plan, over the next few day I will be pulling these three diets together to create one that will work well with me and my life. The exercise part is where I feel truly challenged…lucky for me the way I view a challenge is one of my best qualities.
Have a great night and weekend, see you on Monday morning.
Barbara
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day 2 Excuses Stop Here
The outpouring of support I received from yesterday’s post was amazing. So many touching stories, heartfelt understanding, honesty, support, and encouragement, I was touched by each of them. Thank you. Thank you everyone. Please continue to send me your inspiring journeys and encouraging comments, every time I read one I am reminded why I do what I do and why I love it so much.
So here I go…
A New Beginning
As you know from yesterday’s post my starting weight was 196lbs, however I had lost 12lbs so my new starting point is 184lbs.
Measurements (I am only listing the ones most important to me):
Abs: Upper 41.5 Lower 45
Hips: 45
Arms: Left 13.5 Right 14
Thighs: Left 25.5 Right 26
Neck: 15
Photos (no bathing suit photos…Hey, don’t be too hard on me one step at a time)
Challenges:
Right Arm Tendonitis (Bowling)
Left Shoulder (Dog)
Left Knee (from car accident)
3 Damaged disks in neck (From car accident)
Fibroid Tumors
Headaches (mostly from neck)
Time
Here’s where I have to prepare myself. The above list of challenges, are very real issues for me. Having said that it is important to plan for them so that I do not allow myself to excuse my goal away, to once again become a victim and get stuck in made up no way out world (there’s always a way out, we always have a choice). After 18 years of trying to go it alone I am well aware that I don’t need to or have to, and my challenges are big enough (medically wise ) that having a team in place to call on as needed is not only smart, but a must for me. Below is my plan for addressing each of these issues.
1. Arm, Shoulder, Knee, Neck & Headaches
a. My Chiropractor- Since my car accident he has been the only one t hat has brought me relief from the constant pain and I know from experience that every chiropractor is not the same. If I could only choose one person to help me through this struggle it would have to be Dr. Terry Srokose of Advanced Injury Treatment.
b. My Message Therapist- Going hand in hand with Dr. Srokose in the prevention and treatment of injuries is Diane Rondeau from Therapy Designed for You. From muscle therapy via Deep Tissue Message to mind therapy via Hot Stone, Reiki or a Relaxation Message Diane is kind, caring, and an all around sweetheart who is very good at her craft.
c. My Trainer- Although I am not working with a trainer, there may be questions that come up during my journey that call for expert advice. For one I tend to build muscle very fast when I lift and I want definition not bulk so I need to be very careful. Also I know from past experience that there are times when my past injuries have prevented me from doing many of the exercises I find enjoyable; who better to help me find substitutes that can keep me moving forward. He can also help fine tune any nutrition issues I may have. My choice for a trainer is Mike Good of Good Personal Training.
2. Fibroid Tumors & Headaches
a. I have decided to take a natural approach for these issues and have added supplements to my “diet” to help with each of these issues.
i. Apple Cider Vinegar- Helps relieve the pain and reduce some of the havoc Fibroid Tumors can cause. In many cases it has even helped dissolved the tumors (I don’t know if it really works or not but I’m willing to believe in the possibility).
ii. Oil of Oregano- Is a natural anti biotic that boosts the immune system.
iii. Multi Vitamin- Even if you think you eat a balanced diet it is important to take a high quality multi vitamin (FYI-most varieties carried in super markets are not absorbed very well)
iv. Bupleurum- Will help remove some of the built up toxins in my body and supports the proper function of my liver allowing it to do its job.
v. Omega 3- I discovered through Dr. Srokose that high dosages of this help keep my neck pain down.
That’s all of them for now as I proceed I may find that I need to add or take away something from the plan and in that case I may call on a very special friend; Sally Humphries. Her business is called Foods for Life and she is my go to person for natural & organic supplements and information. Sally does not have a website however you can email her @ chally11@comcast.net; she provides an email newsletter filled with information aimed at keeping you naturally healthy. Sally also answers questions and trys to help you find suitable natural alternatives for your medicine cabinet
1. Time
a. You can’t invent more so I’m just going to have to take the time.
i. Schedule “me” time (I'm not talking couch time)
1. If something comes up reschedule the “me” time immediately, I’M THAT IMPORTANT.
2. Don’t overload, but push just a little harder than you think you can, remember small steps lead to big gains, and by not overloading burnout is less likely.
I would like to also mention that I do have a Life Coach, and between her and my remaining team members who read, follow, support, comment and even give me a kick in the butt if need be I'm in great shape and well on my way to achieving my goal. Accountability is huge and I will be using this blog and asking all of you to help hold me accountable. This is my time and I will succeed and I am happy to share it with you.
So I’ve covered starting weight, measurements, challenges/excuses, supplements, and my support team. The next step is to cover the “diet itself, which I will do tomorrow. Tomorrows post will be the last one this week. After tomorrow’s post I will post once a week, every Monday morning. Each post will include a progress report that details new weight and measurements, wins; activity progress, any challenges and how I dealt with them as well as additions to my support team and supplement regiment.
Again I thank you all for the support and encouraging word, but most of all for sharing a part of you and for taking the time to get to know me.
Until Tomorrow, Smile Often
Barbara
http://www.lifetude.com/
Life Lessons Blog
So here I go…
A New Beginning
As you know from yesterday’s post my starting weight was 196lbs, however I had lost 12lbs so my new starting point is 184lbs.
Measurements (I am only listing the ones most important to me):
Abs: Upper 41.5 Lower 45
Hips: 45
Arms: Left 13.5 Right 14
Thighs: Left 25.5 Right 26
Neck: 15
Photos (no bathing suit photos…Hey, don’t be too hard on me one step at a time)
Challenges:
Right Arm Tendonitis (Bowling)
Left Shoulder (Dog)
Left Knee (from car accident)
3 Damaged disks in neck (From car accident)
Fibroid Tumors
Headaches (mostly from neck)
Time
Here’s where I have to prepare myself. The above list of challenges, are very real issues for me. Having said that it is important to plan for them so that I do not allow myself to excuse my goal away, to once again become a victim and get stuck in made up no way out world (there’s always a way out, we always have a choice). After 18 years of trying to go it alone I am well aware that I don’t need to or have to, and my challenges are big enough (medically wise ) that having a team in place to call on as needed is not only smart, but a must for me. Below is my plan for addressing each of these issues.
1. Arm, Shoulder, Knee, Neck & Headaches
a. My Chiropractor- Since my car accident he has been the only one t hat has brought me relief from the constant pain and I know from experience that every chiropractor is not the same. If I could only choose one person to help me through this struggle it would have to be Dr. Terry Srokose of Advanced Injury Treatment.
b. My Message Therapist- Going hand in hand with Dr. Srokose in the prevention and treatment of injuries is Diane Rondeau from Therapy Designed for You. From muscle therapy via Deep Tissue Message to mind therapy via Hot Stone, Reiki or a Relaxation Message Diane is kind, caring, and an all around sweetheart who is very good at her craft.
c. My Trainer- Although I am not working with a trainer, there may be questions that come up during my journey that call for expert advice. For one I tend to build muscle very fast when I lift and I want definition not bulk so I need to be very careful. Also I know from past experience that there are times when my past injuries have prevented me from doing many of the exercises I find enjoyable; who better to help me find substitutes that can keep me moving forward. He can also help fine tune any nutrition issues I may have. My choice for a trainer is Mike Good of Good Personal Training.
2. Fibroid Tumors & Headaches
a. I have decided to take a natural approach for these issues and have added supplements to my “diet” to help with each of these issues.
i. Apple Cider Vinegar- Helps relieve the pain and reduce some of the havoc Fibroid Tumors can cause. In many cases it has even helped dissolved the tumors (I don’t know if it really works or not but I’m willing to believe in the possibility).
ii. Oil of Oregano- Is a natural anti biotic that boosts the immune system.
iii. Multi Vitamin- Even if you think you eat a balanced diet it is important to take a high quality multi vitamin (FYI-most varieties carried in super markets are not absorbed very well)
iv. Bupleurum- Will help remove some of the built up toxins in my body and supports the proper function of my liver allowing it to do its job.
v. Omega 3- I discovered through Dr. Srokose that high dosages of this help keep my neck pain down.
That’s all of them for now as I proceed I may find that I need to add or take away something from the plan and in that case I may call on a very special friend; Sally Humphries. Her business is called Foods for Life and she is my go to person for natural & organic supplements and information. Sally does not have a website however you can email her @ chally11@comcast.net; she provides an email newsletter filled with information aimed at keeping you naturally healthy. Sally also answers questions and trys to help you find suitable natural alternatives for your medicine cabinet
1. Time
a. You can’t invent more so I’m just going to have to take the time.
i. Schedule “me” time (I'm not talking couch time)
1. If something comes up reschedule the “me” time immediately, I’M THAT IMPORTANT.
2. Don’t overload, but push just a little harder than you think you can, remember small steps lead to big gains, and by not overloading burnout is less likely.
I would like to also mention that I do have a Life Coach, and between her and my remaining team members who read, follow, support, comment and even give me a kick in the butt if need be I'm in great shape and well on my way to achieving my goal. Accountability is huge and I will be using this blog and asking all of you to help hold me accountable. This is my time and I will succeed and I am happy to share it with you.
So I’ve covered starting weight, measurements, challenges/excuses, supplements, and my support team. The next step is to cover the “diet itself, which I will do tomorrow. Tomorrows post will be the last one this week. After tomorrow’s post I will post once a week, every Monday morning. Each post will include a progress report that details new weight and measurements, wins; activity progress, any challenges and how I dealt with them as well as additions to my support team and supplement regiment.
Again I thank you all for the support and encouraging word, but most of all for sharing a part of you and for taking the time to get to know me.
Until Tomorrow, Smile Often
Barbara
http://www.lifetude.com/
Life Lessons Blog
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Day 1 The Begining
Introduction
Last week I was so “busy” looking for inspiration, looking for answers. Trying to figure out what my next step should be was driving me a little nuts. I currently have several projects that I’ve been working on; however none of them seem to excite me to the point of progress. My “aha” moment came while I was working on one of my other blogs Life Lessons. The lesson I was working on had to do with inspired action, how it relates to the Law of Attraction and how you can recognize inspiration. One of the sugestions the lesson makes is taking a step back and quieting the mind in order to get in touch with your intuition. Remember you cannot force inspiration, it comes in it's own perfect time...but it will come.
At first nothing seemed to be happening. No inner voice. No inspired ideas. I wasn't really sure what to do so I just let go of all of it all, took the night off. Did nothing. That evening while chilling out I heard a little voice whisper “show yourself, share the challenge”. I didn’t need to ask the question, I knew which challenge it was referring to, my biggest...my weight. The thought of sharing this particular challenge was a bit frightening to say the least, but part of me could see the benefit of opening up and letting it go...the other part of me thought I was crazy.
Inspiration doesn’t always make sense at the moment you receive it. You may not understand how the inspiration fits in with what you want to achieve. However I know that when I tune in and listen to it, my intuition won’t steer me wrong. But knowing it didn’t seem to stop the gremlin from attempting to convince me that exposing myself in this manner isn’t a great idea. I must admit that this is not the first time I’ve had this idea. The difference is I’ve decided to tell my gremlin to shut up.
The next day I was updating my face book page and reading through some of my friends posts, when I came across a post that spoke to the Life Lesson on inspiration. It seemed I was not the only one struggling with inspired action. As I wrote my response my gremlin started to quiet down…a little. The following day the same friend wrote about “being human” and that was the moment I understood. That was the moment I thought “ok, so you’re scared big deal. I’ve been there before. It’s ok to be human. This could help someone. This could help you.”
After that realization I knew I needed to move on the idea before my feet got extremely cold. So after committing to the followers of my Life Lessons Blog that on Monday I would share my inspiration and what I did to move the idea forward. So I took a few days off to take action.
Before we begin let me just say that I am not a Doctor, Nutritionist, or Trainer and that if you choose to try any of the methods I mention you should consult your physician before you begin any diet or exercise program.
One of the biggest misconceptions about coaching is that a coach has to “be” where you want to “go” in order to help get you there. This is false. In coaching the answers come from you, not from the coach. The coach helps you see possibilities, identify opportunities, and leverage attitude and actions so that you can achieve “YOUR” goals. Coaches support, guide, and hold you accountable. You do the work, we help you stay on track and although sessions can be therapeutic we are NOT therapists.
So Welcome to my blog. My name is Barbara Brooke, I’m a Life & Business Coach. And I am human.
Background: (I’ll try to keep this short as possible while still giving you a strong foundation for understanding).
As you can see for yourself, I wasn’t always heavy. I was very active when I was young. Between school activities, helping around the house, cheerleading and work I didn’t have nor did I want a lot of time to just sit around and do nothing.
Even when I was seven months pregnant with my first child I was still fairly thin, so much so I received a lecture from my Doctor to start eating more bread and pasta…he was a little worried that I wasn’t gaining enough weight…who was I to argue, after all who doesn’t love pasta and fresh bread! But by the time I was into my eighth month the weight gain thing was no longer an issue and the Doctor told me to ease off the pasta…he give-ith, he take-ith away.
Still I was fairly thin, even after my second child. So when did it all start? I’m not really sure, my guess is little by little and by the time I was 28 I was carrying 50 extra lbs. When my first marriage ended I had so many issues to deal with. My husband was emotionally abusive; he had informed me that through-out our marriage he had eight mistresses, the last was with my brother’s wife. I was out of work, he had cleaned out our bank accounts (including my kids college funds), filed bankruptcy and listed my home and anything else he could to make life as tough as possible for me.
It was a lot for anyone to cope with, but cope I did. I found strength in my girls. I realized if I couldn't do it for me I would do it for them until I could. I got strong, lost 50lbs, and didn't allow his behavior to strip me of my values. I gave up soda, started walking every night from North Beach in Hampton to Seabrook and back. It didn’t take long, to drop the weight that is. Anyway over the next 18 years my weight has fluctuated up and down…more up than down. It has been a constant struggle, one I am ready to change.
In 2007 my weight was the highest it had ever been…196 lbs. I was in shock (but not really, let’s face it we know when we’re packing them on). I felt like crap. My clothes didn’t fit. I was depressed and enough was enough. I wanted answers, not just for me but for everyone who felt like me. We all know the simple formula; calorie reduction + calorie burn. Simple yes, easy…I guess it’s all in how you look at it. Have you heard the saying “Diets Don’t Work”? Well I have some bad news for you (or if you’re a positive person such as me, some good news)…They do. A particular diet may not be right for me or you, but most of the diets out there have worked for someone, so they work.
Prep Work
One of the things my deiting taught me was that before I would have any success at loosing this weight I would have to face myself and admit that it wasn’t the diets that didn’t work it was me who didn’t work them.
1. Face myself & take responsibility. (Taking responsibility put’s the power to change the situation in your hands). Done, and I do.
My next step was to define what I wanted and why I wanted it (what is the benefit, what do I get from losing the weight).
2. Define what I want (goal) and why (what is the benefit).
a. I want to lose 52 more pounds, because I want to feel better, improve my health, go into a store and be able to easily find something that fits, look good, and gain more confidence in my appearance.
Next was to review the long list of diets and exercise programs I tried and figure out which of them I worked best and why. I also needed to know what problems I had with some of the other’s and decide if they were an option for me or if I could check them off my list once and for all (some of the diets I have tried three and four times each).
3. Review the list of diets I’ve attempted. Identify which of them worked best for me and why.(in no particular order).
a. Weight Watches-(Points, counting weighing, time consuming)
b. NutriSystem ( too restrictive and costly)
c. Jenny Craig (costly and wanted you buy “extras)
d. Hypnosis Diet(Liked)
e. I Can Make You Thin (Liked)
f. Six Week Body Make Over (Liked)
g. Flat Belly Diet(A pain)
h. Atkins(couldn’t manage, my picky food habits made it difficult, also beginning tough)
i. South Beach (couldn’t manage, my picky food habits made it difficult)
j. Negative Calorie (Liked)
k. Skinny Switch Secret (expense)
l. Let’s Do Lunch( just didn’t get into it, never really gave it a real shot)
m. Small Steps (Liked)
n. Soup Diet(get sick of the food, had to leave a lot out because I don’t like it)
o. Grapefruit Diet (Have you tried this one)???
p. Carb Switch (ok)
q. Belly Fat Cure (Like)
r. 2 Week Total Body Turn around (Pain)
s. Supplements/Pills (too, too many to list)
t. And many more
Ok this list is just way too long, but I am sure you get the idea. Also note that just because some of them didn’t fit for me doesn’t mean they won’t fit you, some of the ones I did not like may make great plans for someone else).
4. Look at the diets that I did not like and ask why, and if they are not an option cast them aside and don’t waste any more time or money on them. (Done see above)
5. .Review the diets I liked and decide what I like about them.
This is a combined list, not all of the diets that I like have all of these qualities.
a. Tons of choices I can deal with
b. Easy
c. Easy to incorporate
d. Can work with family
e. Can eat out easily
f. Don’t feel deprived
g. Results
h. Lasting results (Best; Small Steps & Belly Fat Cure)
Once that was complete I listed exercises I enjoy enough to do on a regular basis.
6. Exercises I find enjoyable
a. Boxing
b. Tae Bo
c. WII. Fit, Fit Plus & Active
d. Walking
e. Lifting
At this point I can begin to see a plan taking form. I know what I want & why. I know and understand the simple formula (reduce calories in & increase calorie burn). However I also need to know what my challenges are; in some cases my challenges became my excuses so I need to identify them and plan ahead. I also need to honor my favorites and find a way to work them in, not as a reward but just because I love them, no deprivation, no guilt.
7. Challenges
a. Right Arm Tendonitis (Bowling)
b. Left Shoulder (Dog)
e. Fibroid Tumors
Last week I was so “busy” looking for inspiration, looking for answers. Trying to figure out what my next step should be was driving me a little nuts. I currently have several projects that I’ve been working on; however none of them seem to excite me to the point of progress. My “aha” moment came while I was working on one of my other blogs Life Lessons. The lesson I was working on had to do with inspired action, how it relates to the Law of Attraction and how you can recognize inspiration. One of the sugestions the lesson makes is taking a step back and quieting the mind in order to get in touch with your intuition. Remember you cannot force inspiration, it comes in it's own perfect time...but it will come.
At first nothing seemed to be happening. No inner voice. No inspired ideas. I wasn't really sure what to do so I just let go of all of it all, took the night off. Did nothing. That evening while chilling out I heard a little voice whisper “show yourself, share the challenge”. I didn’t need to ask the question, I knew which challenge it was referring to, my biggest...my weight. The thought of sharing this particular challenge was a bit frightening to say the least, but part of me could see the benefit of opening up and letting it go...the other part of me thought I was crazy.
Inspiration doesn’t always make sense at the moment you receive it. You may not understand how the inspiration fits in with what you want to achieve. However I know that when I tune in and listen to it, my intuition won’t steer me wrong. But knowing it didn’t seem to stop the gremlin from attempting to convince me that exposing myself in this manner isn’t a great idea. I must admit that this is not the first time I’ve had this idea. The difference is I’ve decided to tell my gremlin to shut up.
The next day I was updating my face book page and reading through some of my friends posts, when I came across a post that spoke to the Life Lesson on inspiration. It seemed I was not the only one struggling with inspired action. As I wrote my response my gremlin started to quiet down…a little. The following day the same friend wrote about “being human” and that was the moment I understood. That was the moment I thought “ok, so you’re scared big deal. I’ve been there before. It’s ok to be human. This could help someone. This could help you.”
After that realization I knew I needed to move on the idea before my feet got extremely cold. So after committing to the followers of my Life Lessons Blog that on Monday I would share my inspiration and what I did to move the idea forward. So I took a few days off to take action.
Before we begin let me just say that I am not a Doctor, Nutritionist, or Trainer and that if you choose to try any of the methods I mention you should consult your physician before you begin any diet or exercise program.
One of the biggest misconceptions about coaching is that a coach has to “be” where you want to “go” in order to help get you there. This is false. In coaching the answers come from you, not from the coach. The coach helps you see possibilities, identify opportunities, and leverage attitude and actions so that you can achieve “YOUR” goals. Coaches support, guide, and hold you accountable. You do the work, we help you stay on track and although sessions can be therapeutic we are NOT therapists.
So Welcome to my blog. My name is Barbara Brooke, I’m a Life & Business Coach. And I am human.
Background: (I’ll try to keep this short as possible while still giving you a strong foundation for understanding).
As you can see for yourself, I wasn’t always heavy. I was very active when I was young. Between school activities, helping around the house, cheerleading and work I didn’t have nor did I want a lot of time to just sit around and do nothing.
Even when I was seven months pregnant with my first child I was still fairly thin, so much so I received a lecture from my Doctor to start eating more bread and pasta…he was a little worried that I wasn’t gaining enough weight…who was I to argue, after all who doesn’t love pasta and fresh bread! But by the time I was into my eighth month the weight gain thing was no longer an issue and the Doctor told me to ease off the pasta…he give-ith, he take-ith away.
My Brother Phillip, Kelli and I
Myself, Jessica and Kelli
Still I was fairly thin, even after my second child. So when did it all start? I’m not really sure, my guess is little by little and by the time I was 28 I was carrying 50 extra lbs. When my first marriage ended I had so many issues to deal with. My husband was emotionally abusive; he had informed me that through-out our marriage he had eight mistresses, the last was with my brother’s wife. I was out of work, he had cleaned out our bank accounts (including my kids college funds), filed bankruptcy and listed my home and anything else he could to make life as tough as possible for me.
It was a lot for anyone to cope with, but cope I did. I found strength in my girls. I realized if I couldn't do it for me I would do it for them until I could. I got strong, lost 50lbs, and didn't allow his behavior to strip me of my values. I gave up soda, started walking every night from North Beach in Hampton to Seabrook and back. It didn’t take long, to drop the weight that is. Anyway over the next 18 years my weight has fluctuated up and down…more up than down. It has been a constant struggle, one I am ready to change.
In 2007 my weight was the highest it had ever been…196 lbs. I was in shock (but not really, let’s face it we know when we’re packing them on). I felt like crap. My clothes didn’t fit. I was depressed and enough was enough. I wanted answers, not just for me but for everyone who felt like me. We all know the simple formula; calorie reduction + calorie burn. Simple yes, easy…I guess it’s all in how you look at it. Have you heard the saying “Diets Don’t Work”? Well I have some bad news for you (or if you’re a positive person such as me, some good news)…They do. A particular diet may not be right for me or you, but most of the diets out there have worked for someone, so they work.
Prep Work
One of the things my deiting taught me was that before I would have any success at loosing this weight I would have to face myself and admit that it wasn’t the diets that didn’t work it was me who didn’t work them.
1. Face myself & take responsibility. (Taking responsibility put’s the power to change the situation in your hands). Done, and I do.
My next step was to define what I wanted and why I wanted it (what is the benefit, what do I get from losing the weight).
2. Define what I want (goal) and why (what is the benefit).
a. I want to lose 52 more pounds, because I want to feel better, improve my health, go into a store and be able to easily find something that fits, look good, and gain more confidence in my appearance.
Next was to review the long list of diets and exercise programs I tried and figure out which of them I worked best and why. I also needed to know what problems I had with some of the other’s and decide if they were an option for me or if I could check them off my list once and for all (some of the diets I have tried three and four times each).
3. Review the list of diets I’ve attempted. Identify which of them worked best for me and why.(in no particular order).
a. Weight Watches-(Points, counting weighing, time consuming)
b. NutriSystem ( too restrictive and costly)
c. Jenny Craig (costly and wanted you buy “extras)
d. Hypnosis Diet(Liked)
e. I Can Make You Thin (Liked)
f. Six Week Body Make Over (Liked)
g. Flat Belly Diet(A pain)
h. Atkins(couldn’t manage, my picky food habits made it difficult, also beginning tough)
i. South Beach (couldn’t manage, my picky food habits made it difficult)
j. Negative Calorie (Liked)
k. Skinny Switch Secret (expense)
l. Let’s Do Lunch( just didn’t get into it, never really gave it a real shot)
m. Small Steps (Liked)
n. Soup Diet(get sick of the food, had to leave a lot out because I don’t like it)
o. Grapefruit Diet (Have you tried this one)???
p. Carb Switch (ok)
q. Belly Fat Cure (Like)
r. 2 Week Total Body Turn around (Pain)
s. Supplements/Pills (too, too many to list)
t. And many more
Ok this list is just way too long, but I am sure you get the idea. Also note that just because some of them didn’t fit for me doesn’t mean they won’t fit you, some of the ones I did not like may make great plans for someone else).
4. Look at the diets that I did not like and ask why, and if they are not an option cast them aside and don’t waste any more time or money on them. (Done see above)
5. .Review the diets I liked and decide what I like about them.
This is a combined list, not all of the diets that I like have all of these qualities.
a. Tons of choices I can deal with
b. Easy
c. Easy to incorporate
d. Can work with family
e. Can eat out easily
f. Don’t feel deprived
g. Results
h. Lasting results (Best; Small Steps & Belly Fat Cure)
Once that was complete I listed exercises I enjoy enough to do on a regular basis.
6. Exercises I find enjoyable
a. Boxing
b. Tae Bo
c. WII. Fit, Fit Plus & Active
d. Walking
e. Lifting
At this point I can begin to see a plan taking form. I know what I want & why. I know and understand the simple formula (reduce calories in & increase calorie burn). However I also need to know what my challenges are; in some cases my challenges became my excuses so I need to identify them and plan ahead. I also need to honor my favorites and find a way to work them in, not as a reward but just because I love them, no deprivation, no guilt.
7. Challenges
a. Right Arm Tendonitis (Bowling)
b. Left Shoulder (Dog)
c. Left Knee (from car accident)
d. 3 Damaged disks in neck (From car accident)
f. Headaches (mostly from neck)
g. Time
8. Honor my favorites
a. Pasta & Sauce
b. Fresh Bread & Butter
c. Chocolate (milk, cake, frosting)
d. Dove ice cream bars
Well where are all the photos of me as I gained the weight. As I gained weight I hid from cameras. I was almost always the one taking the picture or hiding, but I will keep looking and will post one as soon as I find it.
About nine months ago I lost 23lbs and was down to 173…but I put it back on quickly. Since then I have combined a few aspects of some of the diets I like and have since lost 12lbs. My current weight is 184 lbs. The combination that I chose has allowed me to hold steady at 184lbs very easily.
The two Diets with aspects I combined are:
Small Steps & Belly Fat Cure
I will be using aspects from both of these diets and will be sharing those with you along with any and all supplements I am taking in upcoming posts.
So how is this going to work? Although I will not wait until next week to begin my new program it may take a few days to get all the start up work posted. Once I have posted all the aspects I will start posting weekly updates on Monday mornings (my week will run Monday through Sunday night). My updates will include weigh ins, challenges, wins, feelings, measurements, and activities. My starting weight 184lbs…I can’t believe I am sharing all of this, it’s not easy but I feel…free.
My next post will be Tuesday the 23rd. I will be going over my lifestyle plan as well as post the starting measurement that matter most to me.
Until then please share my blog with everyone. I also encourage anyone and everyone to post comments and questions as often as possible. The more accountability the better, and the feedback will help me not only stay on track but also know if what I am doing is helping anyone in any way.
Thank you for taking the time to read about me and my struggle. I hope that you will return and/or become a follower
Until Tuesday, Smile Often
Barbara
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