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Are you struggling to manage your weight? Read on to see if my knowledge, successes and failures can help you. Please comment and pass along to anyone who you think could benefit from this Blog. Be Healthy!



Thursday, February 19, 2015

Don't Count on Will Power

Will Power will fail you.  Internal thoughts and needs, hormones, stress, habit, peer pressure, all of it is more POWERUL than will power.  Obviously, the decision to change is important.  But without a plan and a belief in what you are doing to be healthy, well, you can only say no a certain amount of times.

Don't worry about saying no.  Say yes to a plan.  Say yes to being activity, Say yes to eating moderately.  And then say "YES" when you see your body and habits change.

227.0

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Healthy Body Image

I just read an article online under the Huffington Post umbrella.  The author was a women who describes the difference between her misery of thinness and the happiness of fatness.  It is about her journey and not science.  Certainly her perspective is valid, but not truth.  You don't have to be miserable while working to be thinner.

The focus whould be on health.
1. Research suggests that health motives have better adherence than apprearance motives.
2. Being "thin" or a certain size may not be in your genetics
3. Instead of a defined end point, the goal should be a continued journey.

There is a lot of pressure to be thin in the American society.  That pressure can build into unhealthy choices like an eating disorder or self loathing.  I would never support those mindsets.  But if you cannot rationally see the benefit of working towards health in a healthy way, then there is a pyschological problem.

You don't have to love the journey to appreciate the goal.  Don't just give up your health due to the rigors of trying.  If you cannot find a healthy road to health, ask for help!  It can be done. 

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Are Results Important?

There was a recent study released that suggested that exercise without the weight loss was still beneficial.  It makes sense, but it doesn't it make it less frustrating.

Really, health is my main goal.  Dieing is inevitable, but I don't want to be sick for years or have a disease that changes my independence.  That being said, I do want proof that what I am doing has a result.

The result can be easily found on the scale.  I found blood chemistry numbers from 2008 and compared them to a recent test in 2014.  All of the major factors related to heart disease were down.  LDL cholesterol, Blood pressure, Trigylcerides, Blood Sugar were all down.  And my HDL's were up (that's a good thing)!

I have changed my health damatically over the last 6 years.  But that is sometimes hard to remember when I look in the mirror or at the scale.  Large deposits of belly fat is still a concern.  But the point I wanted to make today is, changing your habits to be healthy have an enternal impact even if you cannot see an external change.

Lastly, don't get frustrated or down.  Your changes are benefitting you.  This past week I have fluctuated and not really lost.  But, I bet my blood chemistry hasn't gotten worse.  Keep fighting!  It is worth it! 229.6

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Results are there, But...

I have lost nearly 10 pounds in 3 weeks.  Results are good, but they will only be long term if I can truly change my habits.  Eating is going well, though today I did notice a "not again" thought while packing my lunch.

I do love the feeling of control.  I wake up every morning wanting to weigh in.  Can you imagine?  Not dread, but excitement.

That being said, I need to continue to find ways to be active in my life.  It is better, but I need to push for higher levels of fitness.

230.8

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Conscious Commitment - Means No Excuses

Two weeks into a new found focus has me 7.4 pounds down and being more active.  Being consciously aware, means no excuses.  It doesn't mean perfection, but it does mean that I need to consistently aware of my surroundings and schedule.

When can I eat?  Will there be a microwave or oven?  When can I go for a walk or stretch?  Did i prepare enough food?  I am going to Chili's, what's on their menu that I want to eat?

I am not worried about being perfect, but I do have to be mindful of what I am doing and where I am.  This past weekend was my son's 14th birthday.  He lives in another city unfortunately, so I had to travel to spend time with him and my daughter.  Challenges are everywhere on a trip away from home, especially for a party environment!

Result was Grilled Chicken and Shrimp with rice at a restaurant and portion control at a pizza buffet.  It also included time at the mall to simply walk and people watch.  All toll, I gained .6 pounds.  I feel that was a victory.  Sure I gained a little, but it was kinda part of the plan to relax my choices for the weekend whilst keeping the integrity of the bigger picture.

Monday was good enough to erase that gain and lose more. 232.6