Posted on a billboard...

I had a funny thought today. I was getting ready for my day this morning after my walk and started to think about how happy I am that I started this diet on January 4th.

I am happy because I have lost 35 pounds. Yup, thirty-five fine 'ol pounds. Then it kind of reminded me of something....

Did you ever travel on a highway and see one of those billboards that say "If you bought a home in XYZ Community, you would be home by now!"? That is what I started to think about. My billboard says "If you started this lifestyle January 4th, you could be 35 lbs lighter!" I wish I had see that LAST January 4th!


I guess what I am trying to say is that I am thankful that I am on the road (ohhh -- pun intended) to better health and a slimmer self. YOU can be "reading" your own billboard three months from now by starting TODAY! I hope my analogy here isn't confusing...my mind works in strange ways sometimes!

On a final note today, I want to send my heartfelt thank you to all of you who continue to send me emails, motivational notes, inspirational stories, and picture. You inspire me. Really. I love having you look over my shoulder! Let's hear from you!!!

What does your soundtrack say to YOU?

Do you think you are hard on yourself? I think most women are. Why can't we just celebrate the "here and now" instead of beating ourselves up for the "shoulda-woulda-coulda"?

An example of this is my weight loss. This morning was weigh-in, and I lost another three pounds, for a total of 32 lbs. I am over the moon with ecstasy!

But...The moment I stepped off the scale I started beating myself up. I have been plateauing for the last few weeks -- I had only lost one pound in the past three previous weeks. So, of course, the negative sound track started to play in my head...

"Three pounds...it's about time."

"You slacker, you should have lost this three weeks ago."

"If you did better while on vacation, you would have lost more by now"

I could go on with this, but you get the point. I did something different, though -- I stopped myself, grinned into the mirror, and congratulated myself. I have been watching my weight for 4 months and have lost 32 lbs. I am into a new "set-of-ten" on the scale. I feel great, I look so much better...I am going to celebrate ME!

So, let's switch our soundtrack to positive, shall we? Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go speed walk for an hour -- maybe my iPod has some uplifting, congratulatory music on it that I can listen to while I burn off more calories : )

Have a great week!

What keeps you going?

Bear with me for a minute while I give you some background. There is a point to this story!

I mentioned in an earlier post that my Father-in-law (Budge) was training me. He is 69 years old, bikes competitively, and was a phys ed teacher (he has a masters for it, too). The man knows what he is doing. I have a great deal of respect for him.

Several days a week I drive the 22 minutes from our house, walk on his treadmill for an hour, and drive the 22 minutes back. I walk locally on the other days (I take Fridays off). Budge has a plan for me each and every day, mixing distance, endurance and interval training. Each day is different and I have a plan every day to follow. The Hour and 45 minutes is a big hole in my day, but I do it, because I am worth it.

He rides his bike next to me every day. He has a contraption where he rides but the bike stands upright and doesn't move (obviously). Every day we watch a different bike race. I mean a Tour de France type of race. Long races -- each of the days of the race are over 100 miles of biking.

I have been going there for 6 weeks -- I am now conversant in bike lingo, races, gear -- you name it. My FIL is a walking cycling/racing encyclopedia, and he shares with me all the time. And you know what? I actually enjoy this!

Okay, this is where we get to the meat of what I have been thinking about today...

Yesterday, my task was to warm up, then walk three miles at the pace he set, then cool down, for a total walk of 3.5 miles. One hour of walking or less, depending on my heart rate and pace. Really, a cakewalk, considering that it is what I have been doing lately. The only problem is that I got into the walk, and after 1/2 mile of walking at pace, I just felt like I couldn't walk another step. My head was screaming at me to STOP!!!

So I made a deal with myself. Just walk another 1/2 mile. Just work through it. And I did. I made another deal. Just walk another half mile...and when I got to that point, I had an epiphany.

Here I am, just on a treadmill, just walking, watching these bikers. They are cycling 100 miles a day! What is wrong with me that I can't force myself to walk just 3 stinkin' miles?

You know what? That motivated me. I walked those three miles.

And today, when I was walking outside and had another of those "Maybe-I-will-just-walk-only-two-miles-instead-of-the-whole-enchilada" moments, I thought of those racers. And I walked the whole enchilada, plus an extra quarter mile just for good measure.

From now on, I think I will use the racers to keep me going. I am going to visualize them every time I hit that wall. If they can bike 100 miles, then I can certainly do my walk and get through it!

My question to you is this: What keeps you going? What do you use when you hit the wall? Please share it with me!

Okay, now for the quick update. Last week I lost two pounds, and this week, 1 pound -- for a total weight loss of 28 pounds. I just can't wait to get to 30!

Spring:Time for renewal, Time for change....

Oh my! It has been almost two weeks since I posted -- I am so sorry! Rest assured, though, I am sticking to it -- whole-heartedly! I have been walking between 3 and 3.5 miles every day, and walking faster as time goes on, too. I feel great!

I have lost 25 lbs total (actually, a bit more, but since I don't "officially" weigh in again until next Tuesday, we will leave it at 25). Hoorah for me! the best part is that I dropped a size. That is probably really the best thing...

We went to Virginia for Easter to see my sister. I had nothing to wear, so I "forced" my sister to go shopping with me (She is the BEST shopping partner in the entire universe!). I tried on a size smaller than usual, and you know what? The VERY FIRST dress I tried on fit -- and it happens to be the one I have on, above. Don't you just LOVE it when that happens?

Now, the renewal thing. I got my haircut this week. I thought that since I was shedding pounds, a little hair could go, too. I think a good haircut renews the soul, don't you? First, here is a picture of my family taken on Easter:

Now, this is my new haircut....oh, don't you just love self-portraits? LOL -- This is hard to do!

Note to self when taking a self-portrait in the bathroom mirror (um, I kind of struggled with this!!!):

• Don't chew gum and snap the shot.
• Look at the lens.
• Don't take pictures of the bathroom lights.
• Shut the closet door behind you so that no-one can see your mess!
• Look at the lens...
• Untangle the dog from your legs.
• Look at the lens (sigh)

Not the best shot, but you get the idea. Hey! I feel lighter!

I just want to say thank you again to those of you who send me emails...really, I am more motivated every day by your emails and kind words. Thank you for looking over my shoulder and encouraging me, friends!

Now, how are you doing this week?

What's for dinner?

I have two teenage boys who are always hungry. They eat constantly when they are home. The worst time is when they come home from school -- they "snack-out." I find wrappers and pieces and parts all over the house (I swear, they just drop the non-edible debris wherever they happen to be at the time). Luckily for them, they are both into sports, and hence, both are thin. My oldest has to watch it -- he has my genetic propensity for weight, so he is always putting a check on himself if things get out of control.

I remember being like that after school. The word RAVENOUS comes to mind. I remember my mother telling me to "eat an apple" -- uh, right, like that will even come close to topping off the tank! Of course, I have made that same suggestion to my kids. Luckily, they like apples!

Afternoons can be treacherous for me. I was falling into the trap of eating when my kids got home from school, too. That seemed like as good as an excuse as any for eating, right? I've broken that habit now. I find something else to do during this feeding time for my voracious animals. I stay out of the kitchen, and it seems to work.

Alas, just as I think the feeding frenzy is over do I hear that age-old question: "What's for dinner?". As the primary meal-maker and a consumption-conscious person who is perpetually short on time, it is imperative to prepare ONE meal for the whole gang rather than multiple meals. The challenge is finding things that are healthy, on plan, and appetizing to the whole family. I have to say that Weight Watchers has been brilliant with their recipes -- they are generally flavorful, full of color, and full of variety. My kids and DH just eat more (okay, 2 or 3 times as much) as I do. It works for us.

I thought I would share one of these recipes with you; this is a favorite of ours now.

Barbecued Turkey Joes

POINTS® Value: 6

Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 15 min

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Use extra-lean ground turkey to help keep the fat down in this zesty, quick-cooking sandwich. Opt for a tangy barbecue sauce for extra flavor.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground turkey
1/2 medium bell pepper(s), chopped
1/2 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped
1/2 medium onion(s), chopped
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup barbecue sauce
4 medium mixed-grain hamburger roll(s), sliced in half
Instructions
Brown turkey in a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain off liquid. Add peppers and onion and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
Add barbecue sauce and cayenne pepper; heat thoroughly, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
Top bottom half of buns with turkey mixture; cover with top half of bun and serve.

(I add extra Cayenne powder -- my family enjoys scorched tongues.)

Um, can it get much easier? Methinks not : )

Okay, now for an update:

I walked 15 miles this week

I lost 2.2 pounds this week -- total: 22.2 lbs!

I hope your week is going well, too...

A quick little update...

I just wanted to leave a quick little update on my progress...

I have lost another 3.4 lbs for a total of 20 lbs. I am amazed, but not surprised!

My Father-in-law is a healthy man. In his sixties, he can run circles around most of us in this world. He rides bikes competitively, runs, and has been a coach and phys ed teacher. He has had several high-level jobs, and has conquered almost every sport you can think of, from running to golf to bowling. He is totally physically fit. Truthfully, he is the most successful person I know.

And he just retired from his corporate job.

So now he has time. And two weeks ago, I asked him if he would train me. He agreed...and he has been working with me since. I drive to his house a few mornings a week, and walk on his treadmill while he watches my heartbeat and stats; he is working on building my endurance and measuring where I am so that eventually I can run. (he rides his racing bike in a stationary stand along side me -- it is very amicable!)

I am in a good place! I am excising, eating right...it's all good. I feel terrific right now and hope to keep incorporating this into my lifestyle as a life-long habit of living.

How are YOU doing?

Don't give up!

It's a sad statistic.

Most people who resolve to lose weight at the beginning of the new year give up their diet this week. OUCH.

I invite you to take the challenge to NOT be a statistic. Stay the course. Weight loss and healthy living should be looked at as a life-long journey. If you can keep the course and steer yourself in the right direction, the results will make the journey worthwhile.

I had a friend recently ask me why I started this journey this year and why I am so resolved to lose weight. Other than the picture I showed you in a previous post, I realized one other thing.

NOT losing weight has dire consequences. Yes, Dire. I am 47, and I have two paths in front of me. One is health and well-being; the other is sickness and gloom.

I have Lupus and arthritis. Being overweight causes me to feel even worse than I might otherwise. If I stayed the course of an overweight person, how long would it be before my ticker decided to take a hiatus? Heart issues run in my family -- that is a pretty dire consequence.

Not only that, but from an aesthetic standpoint, DH is within 10lbs of the weight he was when we married. He has kept his end of the bargain to remain attractive for me...now it is my turn to get back to the girl he married (well, at least within spittin' distance of that weight).

I lost another 1/2 lb this week. Not alot. But I lost, right? This is a journey, not a race. The direction is down, and that is where I want to be.

I am starting something new, exercise-wise. I will be able to share more next week, but I CAN share a short-term goal with you -- I want to be able to run 2 miles without stopping. By the end of April. Today starts that journey! I have help with this one, but that is a story for next week.

Have a healthy week!