Kathy's Blog

Finally--A New Post

2010-10-26T11:44:45Z

Well, I have really been slacking on keeping my blog up-to-date. Partly it is because I have been really busy and partly it is because I am trying to not sit for too long at any one time which really limits my time on the computer!

For the most part I have been doing well. My downfall, as many of you can relate to, is munching in the evenings. It is really annoying to find myself mindlessly munching and undoing all the work I did that day.

Last night I realized that I was tired! What a revelation! (I already knew I tended to snack when tired.) The only reason I was still up was to watch an election-related program. It was very informative but I also found out that the series is online. From now on I will watch it during the day and go the bed when I am tired. I can walk in place, etc. while watching it so I can stick to my 'not sitting too long' plan.

Food has been good (except for the snacking!) and I have been trying all the season's bounty that, for some reason, I've never tried before. All kinds of squashes have gone into my meals as well as vegetables that I never tried before.

I am also shaking up my exercise routine by following the Slim Down in 8 Weeks challenge at everydayhealth.com. Very challenging but also doable (with some adjustments to some of the high-impact moves!). It is also fun as I am getting to know many of the exercisetv trainers this way. (Doesn't hurt that I won a Jillian Michaels Fitness Package there, either!)

I hope to keep up with this a bit better. I am no longer working (I work at a seasonal job) so I think I will have more time. I do need to work on my jewelry, though, which uses up a lot of 'sitting' time--maybe I will just have to schedule everything! We will see how it goes.

Doing Well

2010-09-26T11:45:13Z

I've been doing pretty good this week--making good choices, drinking lots of water and working out every day. I did lose a pound or so and plan on losing another next week!

Sometimes, though, I wonder, when I work SO hard at this, why won't the weight come off just a LITTLE faster? Some people seem to have the weight just melting off while I struggle for every pound!

I never was a yo-yo dieter. I actually never really tried to lose weight before I started on this journey a few years ago.

This losing weight thing kind of started by accident--I got a job with set break and lunch hours and was on my feet the entire time I was working. Even now, at a different job, I am always moving and lifting, pulling, pushing, etc. things--plants and trees.

So, really, I started losing simply because I was eating less and moving more! What a concept!

Anyway, I am glad I am sticking with it--even though it has been a long, slow process! AND I am about 100 pounds lighter than when I started!

If I hadn't changed jobs and had just kept on the way I was going I wonder what I would weigh. A hundred pounds MORE? Slow is fine with me!

Another New Week

2010-09-20T08:46:10Z

Well. it's a new week, thank goodness! I am so tired of LIFE derailing my efforts--or rather, of me allowing life to derail my efforts!

Food choices were not good for at least 4 days due to not having a working refrigerator. We HAD to use up what was in there--it's just that a lot of it was not stuff I had bought and was not foods I would normally eat. Lots of processed foods that the others buy. I did go shopping yesterday after getting the 'new' fridge cleaned and running so things should improve now.

I have also slacked on the exercise--didn't work out on Friday OR on Sunday. One day a week I can take off for rest but this was too many days too close together!

I have my foods for the next few days all planned and my workouts all planned out, too.

Here's to a fresh start!

Update

2010-09-10T15:17:43Z

So, here are my goals for September:

1. Stick to about 1800 calories a day. With my lifestyle that should give me a steady 1/2 pound loss every week. Not a lot but better than I've been doing lately!

I've been doing well with my food choices so far. Staying within my calories and eating mostly unprocessed foods.

2. Exercise at least 60 minutes a day. It can be broken up but it needs to be 60 minutes TOTAL. This should add a bit to my weight loss every week, too.

Keeping to this, too, though I have decided that I will take one day off each week if I feel I need to.

3. Stop letting other people's problems get in the way of what I need to do for ME! If I don't feel good I'm not much help, anyway.

I'm working on this one. I am doing better.

4. Post in my blog every week and keep a weekly update on how I'm doing with my goals.

Well, I almost forgot this one but here I am!

It's actually been a pretty good week. Got some things done that needed doing and have started on the design for a piece of jewelry I am making for a charity auction in November.

New Plan

2010-09-01T10:50:59Z

I haven't written in my blog for a LONG time! I admit, I am not the blogging type. I try but there's just so much time to do all I need to do. I want to try to post something at least once a week.

So, here are my goals for September:

1. Stick to about 1800 calories a day. With my lifestyle that should give me a steady 1/2 pound loss every week. Not a lot but better than I've been doing lately!

2. Exercise at least 60 minutes a day. It can be broken up but it needs to be 60 minutes TOTAL. This should add a bit to my weight loss every week, too.

3. Stop letting other people's problems get in the way of what I need to do for ME! If I don't feel good I'm not much help, anyway.

4. Post in my blog every week and keep a weekly update on how I'm doing with my goals.

Now, to change the subject, but not really:

I've been wanting, and looking for, a walking partner for a long time now. I finally posted a message at meetup.com. Two days ago I heard from a woman who is looking for a new walking partner (her's moved, I think). She leaves on vacation this weekend for 10 days but when she gets back we are going to get together and see how we 'mesh'. She is 65 and averages 6 miles a day at 4 mph! I think I this will be just the motivation I need to stay on track!

Let Go and Let God

2010-05-14T10:24:38Z

I am so tired of my youngest daughter's attitude! My stress level has been so high I can't sleep through the night. I wish she would just come home but I think she is going to leave for Texas without even coming back home first! She is SO mixed up right now and there isn't anything I can do about it!

I feel like crap and even though I've been eating right and exercising my weight is up again. I know it is the stress, too.

It doesn't help that my other kids just say things like, "Let her do what she wants. She'll learn!" That does not help me feel better. I can see her messing up her life and she won't listen--not even to her friends!

Let go and let God"--I try but it is so hard!

May

2010-05-06T20:34:31Z

Wow, It has been a while since I've posted in my blog!

I have quit smoking]and am doing quite well. I gained a couple of pounds but they are coming off and I am confident that I will be under 200 for the first time in FOREVER soon!

I have also started drinking lots more and mostly eating right.

Things have been a bit frustrating at work. I have a coworker who seems to think she's in charge but we are taking care of that. Unfortunately I had to call our supervisor because she just won't follow direction and just does what she wants.

The weather has gotten nicer for a couple of days--I hope. We've had other nice weather reports that turned out to be totally wrong so i'm going to wait and see.

All-in-all I am feeling good and doing well. I sure hope everyone else is, too!

It's been a rough week

2010-04-21T00:36:57Z

but I know it will get better! I am adjusting to not smoking and am working on getting rid of the Snack Monster that has moved in. I have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables in but they just don't seem to satisfy me right now so I am expecting another gain this week. I know I'll get it off again but I really don't want to backslide too much!

I have added more cardio to most of my workouts but i also don't have as much time to workout in the mornings right now. My bike is still out of commission so I've been walking to work. The problem is that I am on my feet ALL the time I'm working so I take the bus home. That means I have to be at work earlier because the bus doesn't run very often at the time I get off work. I don't want to have to wait an hour for a bus home!

Hopefully the last of the parts we need for the bike will arrive soon and then I'll get back to my regular schedule.

Snacking isn't the only problem. For some reason I have been HUNGRY lately! I don't mean "I'm bored (or stressed) and want to eat", I mean "My stomach is growling and I feel HUNGRY!" I need to pack a more substantial snack for my break at work. That will have to wait until payday, though.

I kknow all these things will eventually pass but right now I am struggling.

I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

Found a quote on another site that I am trying to remember:

"If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution!"

Losing Weight

2010-04-03T14:11:38Z

It makes me sad to see so many people trying to lose weight rapidly--and trying to lose weight when they really don't need to. If these 'fads' worked there would be no use for sites like WeightLoss Buddy! None of us would have a weight problem.

Trying to lose weight too fast can seriously harm your body. Unless you are under a doctor's (a REAL doctor--not one from a 'clinic') supervision, you can damage your metabolism and stop losing--and even gain! Your body will hang on to every little bit it can because it thinks you are starving!

We didn't put this weight on overnight and shouldn't expect to lose it overnight, either. It takes dedication and hard work but it CAN be done. I know because I am doing it!

One thing I do now that I NEVER did before is to keep a journal of my foods and the calories in them. I use an online site for this because it's a lot easier than looking everything up myself!

I also keep track of my exercise every day. I workout every morning for about 40-60 minutes. It's not a huge amount of time but I have a very physically demanding job and get quite a workout just working every day.

Based on my height, weight, age and activity level I have a base calorie goal of 1620 calories a day which allows for a loss of 1 pound a week. I "earn" more calories with my exercise and usually eat 1800-2000 (average) a day. That seems like a lot but its working! I have weeks when I don't lose but then I'll drop a couple of pounds the next week. (I only weigh once a week)

I feel great and have more energy than I did 20 years ago! This a healthy way to lose weight!

Hang in there! The only failure is to stop trying!

Kathy (80 pounds GONE forever! 30 to go.)

'Fat' Theology

2010-03-23T23:45:25Z

I found tis at another website and thought I'd share:

'Fat' Theology

In the beginning, God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow vegetable of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

And Satan created McDonald's. And McDonald's brought forth the double-cheeseburger. And Satan said to Man, "You want fries with that?"

And Man said, "Super size them." And Man gained pounds.

And God created the healthful yogurt, that woman might keep her figure that man found so fair.

And Satan brought forth chocolate. And woman gained pounds.

And God said, "Try my crispy fresh salad."

And Satan brought forth ice cream. And woman gained pounds.

And God said, "I have sent your heart healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them."

And Satan brought forth chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained pounds and his bad cholesterol went through the roof.

And God brought forth running shoes and Man resolved to lose those extra pounds.

And Satan brought forth cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil to change channels.
And Man gained pounds.

And God said, "You're running up the score, Devil."

And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.

And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy centre into chips and deep-fat fried them. And he created sour cream dip also.And Man clutched his remote control and ate the chips swaddled in cholesterol.

And Satan saw and said, "It is good."

And Man went into cardiac arrest.

And God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.