Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Spring Break – Resolutions Anyone?

You know, I shouldn’t be surprised that Spring Break is looming, that the official first day of spring was just a few days ago, and we are expecting a winter storm. I am looking past that though and looking forward to warmer days.
I love spring. So much so, I think everyone should make their resolutions this time of year, when the birds are chirping and you can see the ground. We could call in Spring Resolutions. To be honest, I think the ones made on the New Year are destined to fail; especially those of the healthy eating and exercising variety. And I never understood the logic of promising to eat well the night before the Bowl Game season starts.
For me, as the days start getting longer and warmer, I prefer crisp foods like vegetables and fruit. I prefer a tossed salad to a burger. I prefer chicken grilled as opposed to KFC’d. I prefer a bowl of cereal or a breakfast bar to eggs, bacon and toast.
Also, to me, nothing is more inviting for walking than the visual of not seeing wall to wall white and having to wear ice cleats. Even going into a gym is more pleasant. It isn’t too cold to get out of the car; you don’t have to drag slop in, sit on potentially cold equipment. Spring is, in my opinion, a win/win situation.
It’s also a time for Spring Cleaning. What better time to work on the whole self. I have been attempting to tackle the house – you know I read somewhere that if you can minimize your clutter, you will be physically and mentally healthier – and I plan on going in earnest coming up. They say to purge your house of things you haven’t used in 6 months to a year and I am going to do just that.
I stand by my thoughts – Spring Resolutions – who’s with me?

weirlosingit@gmail.com

Friday, March 11, 2011

Are You Kidding Me?!

Which is what I said to the scale when it reported a whopping 5 pound weight loss last week. I went up the week before. But I know everyone everyone goes up and down.
And as far as the quest for a size 22? Almost. I can get them up and on. Just not snapped and zipped. Few more weeks!! YAY!!!
Sorry. I usually don't give way to self congratulatory outbursts. And, I have lost before. Many times. But, as a friend of mine noted the other day, this time is different.
"I can hear it in your voice," she said. I knew what she meant. Because in the past, I always said I was dieting, but that was because I felt it was expected of me. It's what fat people do, I thought. We diet. It's our hobby.
But now, I am reading and studying. I have learned that even though I had all the right ideas, I needed to know how to use them. How to apply them to me. I know now that losing weight is more than trading this for that. It's about dealing with what makes you eat. Because hunger does not do this...add this large amount of weight to a body.
Depending on the person, boredom can. Sadness can. Divorce can. Celebration can. Grief can. Anxiety can. A broken heart can. The same things that cause some people to drink can cause in others, the need for food. For comfort.
Hunger, if I eat to un-hungry, does not do this. I think I just made that word up. Unhungry. I have learned you do not eat to full. You stop when hunger is satisfied.
I have to tell you, I couldn't remember what hunger felt like. So, this is what I do. If I think I'm hungry I ask myself what I want. If anything will do, an apple, a salad, soup, then I am probably hungry. If I am want a specific item - pizza for example, and nothing will work but pizza, then I am probably not too hungry. I probably have something else going on. So, I will try to sort through what is going on.
Try. I am not always successful.
I also have added more exercise to the regime. I balance my Wii and walking with weights. I found out I could get a monthly pass at the health club near where I work for 25.00 a month if I go between 5 am and 2 pm. So, lunchtime I am lifting light weights. I am feeling better inside. Though, I still have to remind myself there will be a pound for pound trade and I may gain a pound or so of muscle and not see a noticeable weight loss. At that point I will have to concentrate on the looseness of clothing to guide me.
I am thrilled. I am really thrilled. And dare I say, happy?
YAY ME!

weirlosingit@gmail.com