Like Jym I have never enjoyed exercising. For a lot of my life I was able to eat what I wanted and not exercise and stay under 115 lbs. those days are gone. Most would not say I’m overweight. I am on the high end of my weight range. I happen to live in a part of the country where many women strive for a healthy weight or even being extremely thin. My major weakness and health concern is that I carry my weight in my middle. My BP, cholesterol,blood sugar are all low. My weakness is a weak core.
I also live in an area where eating healthy is a way of life. Lots of healthy vegetables and fruits. Dining options with plenty of smart choices on the menu. For the most part I eat very healthy. I don’t fry food or eat a lot of high sugar snacks. I actually am not naturally a snacker. You would be hard pressed to find anything sweet in my house to eat. I like crackers, potatoes, rice, bread etc but if I want to stay thinner around my middle those are the foods I need to avoid.
A healthy option I have been keeping in my fridge is the Kale salad mix from Costco. I throw out the poppy seed dressing packet and make my own vinegarette. It is great to have when I don’t have time or feel like chopping a lot of vegetables. I also like that even after being dressed it lasts in the fridge and makes a good lunch salad. I sometimes add feta cheese or roasted chicken to make it more of a meal. I like to use apple cider vinegar with kale. If you need your dressing a bit sweet you can add a pinch of Splenda or honey.
Jym- my D is allergic to carrots. I think that’s a rare allergy.
I’m also passing the article on altitude sickness to my D. She gets sick every time and has a trip to Patagonia planned and is worried.
I think my younger DD is allergic to carrots - first time I fed her them as a baby she spit them out and made quite a face.
I have to cook the carrots because since I had the stomach surgery from the hernia repair (and fundiplication, where they cut a hole in your stomach and wrap the stomach around to make it ‘fatter’ so it doesn’t pop through the diaphragm again). Cooked chicken I have to also eat slow. Some raw veggies, esp carrots. Eat too many too fast and it causes the stomach to ‘go wild’. There must be some kind of enzyme or something involved that causes too much gas to build up. As long as I can hiccup or burp. Sometimes sips of water help. I had the hernia surgery because I had reflux so bad it was causing me to have SOB and wheezing. Couldn’t have my respiratory system compromised. The UGI showed it to be a ‘small hernia’ but it had big consequences for me. For me surgery was a success, but it needs a highly skilled surgeon (mine used a surgical partner, because if the spleen or liver get nicked, they need the hands working quickly). My surgery was w/o complication, done with endoscopy and 6 or 7 small incisions.
Way to go with the weight loss @Minnymom .
Key is to believe, and to stick to it.
Both of my DDs are ‘normal’ weight, and both plan to stay that way. I will lose the weight to where I was 9 years ago. It will be slow and steady going…
H is finally understanding that the chips he eats with the salsa are pretty high in calories. He polished off a bag in a few days (12 servings for the bag, at 140 calories each) - of course certain engineers and certain H’s don’t listen to W who is more knowledgeable in weight loss and healthy eating.
He is looking forward to the dinner and soup I am making tonight. That is an achievement in itself.
Some nights he makes himself a peanut butter sandwich instead of eating what I had prepared…sigh. However he will hit his weight goal in probably 2 weeks. He jogged 3.5 miles this morning.
Minnymom, that is simply fantastic! Very inspiring.
I think I’ll do a weekly check-in to hold myself accountable. On Saturday or Sunday.
My goals are:
Food–eat a more plant based diet and track all food on my fitness pal. Aiming for 5-6 vegan days a week. Also reducing sugar significantly.
Exercise–increase
Bikram yoga–3 times a week
Cardio (treadmill at gym)–3 times a week
Weights (machines at gym)–3 times a week
Also want to add in Les Mills pump DVDs at some point.
So for my check in this week
Food: met goal. Sunday was my only non-vegan day and only day with known processed sugar. Tracked every day.
Exercise: not quite. 2 days each of yoga, cardio, and weight machines.
Weight loss: 2 lbs.
And go @minnymom!!
Great job, minimom!
We bought all sorts of healthy stuff for the ski condo, but did snack on some sweets that have been our tradition. It’s all good.
Good work, gcmom.
Just read a prevention magazine article about weight loss success And loved the term
" accountabilitybuddies". … It’s a good thing,
GcMom- I like the idea of setting goals for myself and checking in weekly.
SJCM- this thread is my “accountability buddy”
Minnymom I’m in awe.
Goals for this week-starting simple
Get out for at least a short walk daily.
Avoid the white carbs on weekdays. Don’t let myself get starved.
Do my PT exercises- work on increasing my core strength.
Short term goal is to get my weight slowly moving down. Long term goal is to lose 13 lbs.
I am having success with the ‘baby steps’ on dieting. When I get down another 5 lb, then I will get more serious about the exercise, as I had ‘plateaued’ at that weight before…
It helps that it is just H and me at home, and both dieting…
So I made the cabbage fat burning soup and H loved it. I did add two 14.5 oz fire roasted salsa style diced tomatoes (as the recipe seemed a bit bland). It makes A LOT of soup!
Everyone is doing such a good job!!
Its been a little harder to stick with careful eating while on vacation, especially when they are handing out warm chocolate chip cookies at the base of the lift lines!
My fitbit is a bit confused with skiing. It decided I did about 20,000 steps yesterday and 12,000 today which is peculiar. I assume it is estimating when it thinks I am making step motions. We have had mostly healthy snacks in the condo, but its harder to handle portion control, and the “kids” bought things like Staceys chips and triscuits to go with cheese and hummus and such. Today they were leaving after lunch so made mac and cheese (I had a little and then had fresh fruit salad). We did a lot of sharing of things at dinner last night.
The good news is, while my knees still tend to hurt at the end of the day, even with knee braces under my ski bibs, my stamina is good and my quads are in good shape and do not hurt at all. Yay for getting ready for the slopes in advance!
Older son and his wife arrive tonight. We will have to hit the market again. But getting lots of exercise!
Are we each other’s accountability buddies?
Another Zumba class done. It’s getting to be…dare I say it…easier. And fun.
I am not formally dieting so I’m not sure about “reporting” and being accountable. Everyday I avoid lots of things I wish I could have and eat healthy foods. Does that count? LOL.
Jym626- vacations are a challenge. Glad the preparation in advance paid off. Stacey’s pita chips and Triscuits beat French fries.
I tried something new tonight. I made burrito bowls. I simmer pinto beans with fire roasted tomatoes for several hours layered them with quinoa, sautéed onions,peppers and cauliflower rice. Topped with a bit of grilled chicken, avocado and plain Greek yogurt and tomatoes and cilantro. Made my H a cheese quesadilla.
Exercise done.
I feel good about my day.
Umm - that burrito bowl sounds good. My exercise (she hangs her head in shame) is still not on track, but the good news is the cough seems to have FINALLY subsided. I’m trying to clear up all work-related things so I can head off on vacation a week from Friday without having to worry about checking my email. You are all an inspiration to me and I appreciate the support.
Had a nice dinner last night - wild salmon quickly microwaved on top of a saffron infused tomato sauce. Good and easy. From a weight watchers book I’d checked out of the library. DH and I were going to take a was so cold - winter is finally here in the northeast - so we didn’t go. I’ll do a basement workout today.
So they keep handing out free stuff at the slopes. This morning it was hot chocolate with whipped cream and then chocolate covered strawberries this afternoon. I turned down a second one.
@jym626 You’re on vacation so it’s okay to have a little splurge. Once you get back home you can continue with your regular workout routine.
DD started classes today so now I can go back to a regular schedule for myself.