State Fairs - Bad For Your Health (Maybe)

This cartoon makes a valid point about State Fairs. Don't kid yourself into beleive that just because you are walking, you can eat whatever you want. The true fact is, walking around during the course of the day does not burn enough calories for you to go on a diet free caloric splurge. There is more to State Fairs than just food to enjoy. Take in the shows, watch the animals or people watch. Find something to do that keeps you busy, and away from the food. But if you STILL feel the need to treat yourself, try doing a little research into how many calories you'll be consuming. Chances are, you'll be less likely to start a see-food diet.

What I learned at Weight Watchers - Week 1

It's a no-brainer we all need some type of support when we want to take control of our health. But how do you react when you face anti-support? Typically, this comes in the form of "Food Pushers". How can you deal with these situations? Ignoring a Food Pusher doesn't usually work. You literally have to deal with them. No, I'm not suggesting you punch them in the face, but there are a few things you can do.

Some Food Pushers are like ninjas. They celebrate a birthday or promotion by bringing in cupcakes for the entire office, leaving a little gift in their workmates cubicles. Unlike a real ninja, "Food Ninjas" are easy to deal with. Either you can give the treat away to someone who'll appreciate it, or simply throw it away. "GASP! You can't throw food away Jeffrey!" Why not? How much nutritional value is in a cupcake? Not much if any, you will not deprive anyone of nutrition. And the Food Ninja should be none-the-wiser.

Yet, that isn't always the case. A frontal approach is also used. When a "Food Striker" approaches, it's best to let them know you don't want the food. True, they may not understand your motive, so it'll be important to tell them something they will understand. Say you are allergic to whatever is in the food, tell them your Doctor instructed you to lose weight, or be brutally honest. Not every tactic will work with every Food Striker, so make sure you know who you're dealing with and what will work on them. Keep in mind, whatever they are sharing with you is special to them, so don't say you 'don't want their garbage'. Even if garbage it might be.

Lastly, some people will just never 'get it'. Try as hard as you might, they won't understand or be hurt when you decline. What can you do then? It's possible these "Foodies" enjoy food so much, they can't believe others don't want exactly what they want. You may have to employ a tactic used for Food Ninjas and Food Strikers. The other option is to take a page from Nancy Reagan when she stressed to "Just Say No".

“Be who you are and say what you feel
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind.” - Dr. Suess

12 Week Goal

Now that the Biggest Loser is beginning again, I've decided to get back to keeping my blog updated. There are a couple of things I'm going to be working on in the next 12 weeks to look forward to.

First I'm planning on playing along with Biggest Loser at home. This weekend I purchased a copy of the Biggest Loser Wii game and there is an option for a 12 week program so I will be using that as a template to follow. In conjunction, I'll restart my visits to Weight Watchers. It's been a bad summer for me and I put on a lot of weight. So much so, I'm actually ashamed of myself. For the most part I've been hiding from weight watcher meetings as well as friends and family.

The other project I'll be working on is a 26 part A-Z fitness series aimed at working on something new every week, and doing a bit of research on how to improve in that particular area. My primary goal is to print a new article each week, so I'll still be working on it by the time my 12 week Wii program concludes.

In both projects, reader support, encouragement and comments will be greatly appreciated. True, I've had a hard time with weight loss lately, but when I get working on a project, I tend to stick with it till the end. Not that watching weight, (or more to the point) fitness has an end.

Emotional Eating

I certainly have a love/hate relationship with eating well. When I'm eating well, I'm really doing it well. When I begin to slack, I really slack and emotional eating takes over. Initially I've lost over 100 pounds but since then I've put almost half of it back. I really want to get back to what I lost before and know it'll be a struggle. I know the reward is worth it and taking baby steps will lead to more and more inspiration. I'm going to continue to keep my own blog updated, because that always seems to help inspire myself, as well as finding inspiration from you (others dealing with the same thing I am).

Tomorrow is Today

Yes, I am still battling with procrastination vs motivation. As my motivation has ebbed away, it's filled more and more with procrastination and bad food choices. Sometimes the best way to tackle a problem is to look at it face on, acknowledge what the difficult bit is and work on it from there.

So what is my biggest obstacle? Where has all my motivation gone? I think it started after my sister stopped going to Weight Watcher meetings with me. From there it's been a slow and steady progression. Latest news is the team leader at the same Weight Watcher meeting has now moved on to other locations.

So I've toyed with the idea of moving on from Weight Watchers myself. I really only want to do that if I can make sure I have something else to fill the void. I wonder what sort of classes might be available at Bally's on that day? I'm paid at WW till June though so I've got some time to decide. In the meanwhile, perhaps I'll give the new team leader a try.

I also wonder how encouraged I might be to eat healthier if I try and do an online food tracker. Giving friends and family (and strangers) the opportunity to comment on how well I might be doing, tips on what I can do better, and possible suggestions for areas to improve in. I keep telling myself I don't want to wait till tomorrow anymore, I need to start doing things today. So I'm going to start the tracker and list what I've had so far today. I'll try to update as the day goes along.

Wednesday - May 26th
Morning - Banana, 2/3 cup cereal, fruit & yogurt parfait.
Lunch - Corned Beef on flat bread with Swiss - 100 Calorie Chips - one pear.
Snack - Pack of WW Fruities.
Dinner - Cheese sandwich (on flat bread again), 1/2 cup cottage cheese, bowl of cherries, a handful of chips and for dessert a few mini caramel waffles.

Feed Me Seymore!

I really have been trying to do better in all aspects of my fitness. Lately things have not been going so well and during the course of the Winter added more weight than I care to admit. Now things have been taking a slow, but steady turn around once more for the better. Some days I'm better at it than others, and other days I just want to eat. I've found the most critical thing for me is tracking. Once I get side-tracked (get it?) it's almost impossible for me to get back on target for the day. Phrases like "I'll do better tomorrow," really annoy me because during the Winter months that was my modus operandi. So last night I'm at the mall with my kids and they both opted for the Subway route. I've been doing my best to train them in what is good and what is bad. I'm proud they decided to bypass the McDonald's and the A&W for something far more better. I wish I would have been able to stay on the same course as them. I opted for the Chinese restaurant and an orange chicken and teriyaki chicken combo. Well, today I've done much better so far. Had a bit of oatmeal for breakfast and a 2-point weight watcher snack bar for mid-morning. However, I'm so hungry right now I could eat just about anything. Currently I've got a stick of gum in my mouth and hope that will last till lunch which will consist of a snack bar, a 2-point bag of weight watcher chips and an apple. Then I have a few more smaller snacks prepared, which should hold me over till dinner. Can I do it? I think I can, I think I can. I just wish I wasn't so hungry, I need to do better at shopping for filling foods. I need to do better at making decent dinners. I need to do better at preparing decent lunches and breakfasts. Maybe then I won't feel the need to eat whatever comes my way. Maybe then I won't feel the need to eat whatever tastes good, just because I'm hungry and perhaps a little lazy.

Finding My Motivation - Tomorrow?

What's the opposite of procrastination? Isn't it motivation? Even though I want to be thin and fit I find my motivation lately has been replaced with procrastination. How many times in the past few weeks have I told myself, "Tomorrow I work out" or "Tomorrow I start eating better". Yet, tomorrow never seems to arrive. Well things are going to change, I've reached my wits end for various reasons. Today I begin to change my procrastination back into motivation; here's what's going to help me.

Weather
As mentioned in a recent article, the lack of sun seems to drain all motivation from my system. At long last, the days are getting longer and soon to be followed with warmer days. As the days move along, tomorrow seems to be gradually approaching.

Clothes
There is nothing so motivating as trying to put a shirt or pair of pants on and realize they no longer fits. I can only blame the washer and dryer for so much. Currently I'm enraged it keeps eating one of my socks from every pair I own. Oh, how I long to once again put a shirt on and not have it ride up.

Food
Does this make sense, food as a motivation for me? I think it's more a reminder. For the past few years, I have been trained to not eat garbage/junk food. So lately as I've been doing so, I'm finding myself feel guilty for shoving that piece of pie into my pie-hole. I remember being satisfied as I ate my healthier dinners, and light snacks. So why have I been so bad with my eating lately? Probably because it's so easy to say you'll start eating healthier 'tomorrow', then find out the next day you are too depressed and turn once again to your favorite snacks. Suddenly you are locked in a never ending cycle. Funny how comfort food turns out to be anything but.

Health & Fitness
Believe it or not, I'm one of those persons who actually likes to go to the gym. The problem is actually getting to the gym. The short, cold Winter months make most people want to hibernate and I'm no exception. Still, I've been longing to make it back to the gym and do a few miles on the track at the very least. I've always rewarded myself with a trip to the hot tub or steam room. I've been feeling really bloated and miserable lately, so I'm longing for the time I will once again be fit and feel so much better. I'm tired of my back and legs hurting like they did back when I weighed over 300 pounds.

Travel
I think currently my biggest motivation is knowing my travel plans are coming closer and closer. This year I'm looking forward to a full week of vacation, something I haven't done in over 10 years. Being over-weight is not an option for me, I want to feel and look good in my travels.

Yes, I seriously want to be 20-30 pounds less in the next few months and I know if I don't get on the ball now, tomorrow won't be here till sometime next year. I refuse to accept that. I'm getting back to being serious with my fitness goals. I'm not going to start tomorrow. The time for excuses has past, the time for fitness is NOW!

Biggest Loser?

OH man, it's been a rough few months. This winter has me knocked for a loop and it's just starting. I've gained 15 pounds (over a stone) in this time. The biggest problem for me has been the motivation. I've got no motivation to do much of anything. Exercising has been non-existent and I've had no motivation for proper food shopping and tracking. Even my Weight Watcher meeting attendance was scattered for a few weeks. I'm trying to get back on the ball and get myself motivated. With the nights finally starting to get longer I'm hoping I'll get myself more and more motivated. It would also help if I could kick this cough I've had for two weeks.

Biggest Loser is always a motivation and I'm glad it's back on. Anyone else feel like motivating me, please feel free to include your comments. Maybe we can all motivate each other!

Meanwhile, enjoy the cartoon.

Carrot Sticks & Cottage Cheese

When you think of healthy food
are you limited with picks?
Do you think of something bland
like many carrot sticks?

With all the food within your home
you trash it all but peas.
Snacking foods you dare not have
except for cottage cheese.

But did you know you can have
food other than your veggies?
Even treats you thought taboo
like pizza or warm cookies?

The trick is moderation
just a little at a time.
Healthy food, then something sweet
you'll find it's not a crime.

J.A.Scott

Fight for It!

When I’m feeling tired,
I hate my working out.
Getting to the gym,
Is like the title bout.

All the things I’ve done,
knock me out every day.
Motivation waning,
such a sad display.

Punching through the wall,
Is such a nifty trick.
Start with something simple,
then harder I will pick.

As I continue on,
though sweating I may be.
The fight is so much better,
stress has been set free.

Equipped with strong willpower,
just like a boxing glove.
When I’m feeling tired,
Working out is what I love.

J.A.Scott

Round Of Shape

When I was two and twenty,
I couldn’t understand.
How people got so overweight,
and blamed it on a gland.

Do they have no self respect
or care how they are seen?
Certainly never eating well,
or any food that’s lean

When I was two and thirty,
I woke one day to find.
I weighed more than I ever was,
embarrassed in my mind.

How did I become this way,
I couldn’t understand.
Would I succumb to guilt and shame
or on fitness demand?

Now I am two and forty,
no longer have to hide.
Through hard work and perseverance,
I’m on the winning side.

The journey isn’t easy,
took everything I got.
With eating well and exercise,
and snacking, not a lot.

If you are two and twenty,
take this warning to heart.
Don’t criticize the ‘round of shape’,
lest you become a part.

And those of two and thirty,
awake with shock and shame.
Remember I have lost it all,
and you can do the same.

J.A.Scott

Weight Loss Video