Knowing Your Food Issues Helps to Lose Weight

We are back in Illinois again. These long trips wear me out. I can remember when I was younger, I could ride/drive for hours on end without it bothering me. Now we are stopping to stretch our legs every couple hours. It's hard for me to stay awake.

I've been off my blood pressure medicine for quite sometime now. The Dash Diet for Hypertension is a great book. It's easy to read and makes a lot of sense. We are all unique and I know what works for one, doesn't mean it will for everyone. I'm just glad to be off that medicine.

I haven't lost a lot of weight but I'm healthier. I've been making better food choices and staying very active. Here are a few food issues from the Dash diet.
1. not eating enough fruits, vegetables, or low-fat dairy products
2. eating too many fats and sugars
3. eating while watching TV
4. late-night eating
5. eating out at fast-food resturants too often
6. eating too much
7. eating too fast
8. eating too many processed foods


I found it helpful in reading various problems....this has helped me to incur change. I was guilty of every one listed. I'm improving on every one of these issues.

Time to make myself a bowl of oatmeal.

Burning Calories Up and Down the Basement stairs

Last night my husband decided to load some of the stuff in the basement into the trailer. I had so much fun looking in boxes. It was like Christmas. I found the old ornaments I use so many years ago. I also found my gold tassle I received when I graduated college. I came across the little toys we bought for the kids for halloween. Perfect timing!!! I made so many trips up and down the basement stairs with boxes and plastic containers. I should have used my pedometer to keep track of the steps. Hindsite...gotta love it!! I don't need a peodmeter to know I burned off calories last night. I was exhausted when I called it quits.

It looks like we are heading back south with another load tomorrow. He will be putting mom's bedroom set together as well as a couple of book cases. I'll be hanging the new curtains. Then...its all those boxes and containers....up in the attic they'll go. Geesh...more steps. (I've got to think of that in a positive manner. Weight Loss...Weight Loss!!!

I haven't made good choices in the food department the past few days. I haven't gained any weight...but then I haven't lost any either. Today is a new day and I'm feeling great. I've started my day with a glass of water and a cup of coffee.

I know, I know, I shouldn't skip breakfast. I plan on eating some oatmeal later. I bought some peaches and I'm going to spice up my oatmeal with one of them. It seems like I buy so much fruit and then instead of eating it, I have to throw it away when it begins to spoil. I'm trying to change that habit.

Taking the Bad Days with the Good Days on this Weight Loss Journey

Yesterday I was a total snack hound after dinner. Damage control...there was none. The thought of weight loss was out the window after about 6 pm. The cookie monster got a hold of me. Yikes...I ate them like someone was going to take them away from me. Geesh...I don't know what I was thinking.

Today hasn't started real good either. Since I've woke up, I've had one diet coke and some sour cream and cheddar potato chips. I haven't had any candy though. That's a good thing. I just started drinking my 50 ounce bottle of water I had sitting next to me. The bottle is so heavy when it's full.

It's cold and windy here today. I'm going to make some chili. I've already told myself...no cheese...no crackers. Every little bit helps when trying to cut calories. I've closed up the potato chip bag...that's all of them for today as well.

I'll be using some tomatoes out of the garden when I make the chili today. It is suppose to freeze so we are going to pick everything we can today. When I think about this past summer, I don't really remember eating that many tomatoes. It seems like we gave most of them away. I always like helping people.

I'm going to turn this bad dayb(poor eating choices) into a good one (healthy choices). It's never too late. Time to grab an orange!!

Losing Weight....Restarting my Diet...Day Two

I'm feeling pretty good this morning. My day has started with a bowl of Kellogg's Complete Wheat Bran Flakes. I threw a banana in it today. I've already started drinking water and I've had one cup of coffee.

I was a little dishearted when I wrote in my blog the other day. I had gotten on the scale and couldn't believe what it said. Yesterday when I weighed myself, there was a 7 pound difference. I know I didn't lose that much weight cutting grass. I just didn't realize water weight could vary so much.

I'm going to make this an eat healthy day. I went to the store last night and bought some apples, peaches, and bananas. I also bought some bagged lettuce. I've got some good choices for snacks. I'm back in the weight loss mode again.

I'll let you know how day two goes. Off to my volunteer work. I'm training someone to take my place.

Losing Weight....Restarting my Diet...Day One

Day one went well. I spent over 6 hours cutting lawns with a push mower. The weather was perfect and I really enjoyed myself. I finished just as it was getting dark. I forgot to take my pedometer with me. Needless to say, it was a great workout. My legs and feet feel fine.

I didn't have time for lunch today. I know missing meals isn't a good thing. I was so busy, I wasn't hungry. I ate a bowl of home made chili at 7:45 pm. I didn't have any crackers with it. My only snack this evening was a big glass of 2% milk.

Food:

Breakfast: bowl of Kellogg Wheat Bran Flakes
Lunch: none
Supper: Bowl of Homemade Chili

Drink: 32 ounces of water
6 cans of diet coke
12 ounce glass of 2% milk

Snacks: none except the glass of milk in the evening

If I can keep this up..I'll be back in my weight loss mode. Yippeee

Losing Weight by Eating Healthy One day at a time

I've decided to call this EAT HEALTHY DAY.I know if I could do this everyday, I'd lose weight. I'll stick to my plan today and wait and see how I feel tomorrow. I won't feel discouraged using this method of weight loss.

I know losing weight and keeping it off is all about changing habits. I am a total junk food snack hound. Like a vampire seeks victims in the night....I am far worse with my consumption of unhealthy snacks at night.

This past week, I have become more aware of all the junk I eat at night. I'm trying to figure out a good substitute. When we play parchesi at night, I don't think about eating. I'm too competitive and my mind is totally on the game. I'm going to have to come up with some other solutions. I know I can't get my mom and husband to play board games every night.

I'm starting my day with a bowl of Kellogg's Complete Wheat Bran Flakes and a cup of hot tea. I've already drank 16 ounces of water. I'm off to a good start.

Since my husband is down south, I've got to take care of the lawn business. I better get on the stick and get going, I have lots to do today.

Weight Loss Incentive

I realize the reason I am having such a hard time losing weight this time. I don't have an incentive to drive me. Sure...losing weight is better for my health. I am aware of that. BUT..... I feel fine most of the time, so isn't something that puts me into a weight lose mode. I don't even take my blood pressure medicine anymore. My retirement coupled with helping my husband with his lawn service, has put my blood pressure back in the healthy range.

I talked to my son yesterday and he has lost 20 pounds. He has cut back dramatically oh his calorie intake and is working out at the gym on a regular basis. I believe his incentive is....a girl. Oopss...I should say a woman. (He's 27 years old but he'll always be my baby.)He sounded so happy on the phone. I was glad to hear him in such an upbeat mood.

I've got to figure out an incentive that will drive me to stick with my weight loss. I think each person has their own "thing" that will keep them on track with their weight loss program.

What is Your incentive that keeps you on track with your successful weight loss program?

Not enough Hours in a Day

Tuesday morning we both woke up at 3:45 am. Since it is an 11 hour drive, we decided to get going. When we got back, we unhooked the moving trailer and hooked up our lawn equipment and mowed until it was too dark to see. We were both exhausted. There's just not enough hours in a day.

There was a storm here Monday night, and there was a lot of wind damage. One of our commercial customers had huge trees damaged. We spent half the day cutting up downed limbs and cleaning up the mess. My husband had to get up in a tree to get one of the limbs which was hanging by a thread. I held the ladder. I'm afraid of heights and it made me so nervous seeing him up there with the chain saw. The was the only lawn service we did for the day. I caught my foot between to logs he had cut up and fell. My left knee is bothering me today. I am such a clutz.

When we got home, my husband started loading more stuff into the moving trailer. On Friday, people are coming to pour the slab for our garage in Tennessee. He left this morning at 2 am. He has to get back there early to stub out the bathroom in the new garage before they set the forms for the garage.

I have a lot of work to do at one of my volunteer jobs. On the 10th, they want me to train someone to take my place. My patience isn't the greatest. I hope they learn quickly. I didn't have anyone train me. I developed the program I'm using to track our patients meds. It's pretty simple so I'm hoping she will catch on quickly. I'm keeping a positive attitude.