Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Welcome 2015
A brand new year...365 days...it's like looking at crisp, blank pages in a book, waiting for me to write the story of my journey. There will be wrinkles, smudges, and coffee stains marring those pages by the end of the year, but I hope to look back and see a well-worn, beloved story of God's grace shining thru. Happy New Year!
Friday, December 26, 2014
Setting Goals Along The Way
Well, It's time to look at the calendar for 2015 and set some reasonable goals to achieve along the way, rather than just looking at "I want to lose 70 lbs this year". Notice what occasions and events are coming up along the way and try to plan accordingly. Even I know that losing a stagnant 1.35 pounds per week, every week, just isn't realistic. I'm guessing, if history is a good measure, that I'll lose 5-7 lbs the first 2 weeks, then I'll get comfortable with that little bit of success and either stay put or even gain a pound or two in weeks 3-4. Then will come the decision point.... get back on track or just throw in the towel and give up. Well, this year, I'm promising myself that I'm not giving up, which leaves room only for one thing.... get on track and keep moving.
So, today I'm looking at my calendar and charting my course; setting out a plan, a daily schedule, along with deciding on rewards for milestones reached, and devising a plan for when I fall behind and need to get back on track. I'm also setting weekly and/or monthly challenges that will build upon one another. Focusing on one thing at a time means I'm less likely to get frustrated and overwhelmed and then quit. It occurred to me today that working toward my weight and health goals has a wonderful umbrella benefit for my family.... they'll be eating better as well since I'll be cooking more at home and relying on drive-thru less.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Christmas 2014
What a blessed day, spent surrounded by those I love, celebrating the birth of our Savior. We had an enjoyable day, relaxing once all the gifts were opened, the squeals of delight died down, the wrapping paper and boxes were picked up, and our meal was underway. We also went to visit my Mamo's gravesite.... missing her greatly yet thrilled that she is celebrating the birth of Jesus with the Birthday Boy Himself :) Yes, it was a day of indulgence all the way around, but that's part of life and meant to be enjoyed and celebrated.
Tomorrow however, marks my final week of preparation and introspection for the journey that awaits me in 2015. The forecast is a cold one and there looks to be a bit of travel mixed in, but I'm looking forward to truly seeking out God and His direction for the New Year.
Merry Christmas!
Tomorrow however, marks my final week of preparation and introspection for the journey that awaits me in 2015. The forecast is a cold one and there looks to be a bit of travel mixed in, but I'm looking forward to truly seeking out God and His direction for the New Year.
Merry Christmas!
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| Merry Christmas from the Schroeder Clan! |
Monday, December 22, 2014
Paying Attention
It occurred to me this evening, that I've fallen back into a lifelong habit of not paying attention to what and when I eat. This particular habit might lead people to think that I wouldn't have a weight issue as food really isn't important to me. Don't get me wrong.... I enjoy a good meal or brownies or warm chocolate chip cookies as much as the next person; but food to me isn't my great joy, it's really nothing more than a way to stop my tummy from growling. You wouldn't think I'd have a weight problem, would you? :)
The big problem with this is that when I do get hungry, I just grab the most convenient thing to eat and fill that void. Usually, it's not the most nutritionally sound choice and it's something that will give me a quick boost of energy..... i.e. SUGAR. Case in point, I was running errands today when I realized that I was starving and starting to not feel so good. It took a bit longer before I'd realized everything I'd eaten today ~ it consisted of some homemade caramel corn and a Dr. Pepper this morning while visiting with my mom. Yup, that's it; and I'm not talking 2 lbs of caramel corn either, it was more like a cup of the yummy stuff along with about 32 ounces of soda. It was enough to fill me up and give me the energy I needed to carry me thru till about 5 pm. So, what did I choose at that point when I was truly hungry and my tummy was growling? A jalepeno cheeseburger, small fries, and a cup of water at McDonalds. So, there you have my fabulous choices in nutrition for today.... UGH! Was there a single veggie or fruit in any of it? How about some healthy grains? Any dairy choices with staying power to stabilize my blood sugar thru the day? NOPE.
As you can see, I have a lot of work to do to make the changes I need to make. And, now you can also see how someone who doesn't eat much in the sense of volume, can still have a weight problem because of the nutritional deficit in her choices.
Weight Watchers will help me immensely as I will naturally make better choices to use my points in the most effective way possible. I'm already starting on some menu plans and grocery lists so that I can get off to a great start. I will have my office completely cleaned and organized this week so that I have a pleasant and calm place to get in my daily exercise, plan my healthy days, spend time with God, and enjoy prayer time... all without the distractions surrounding me of housework that needs to be done. And.... my little mason jars to track my progress are ready and looking pretty cute too, if I may say so myself :)
The big problem with this is that when I do get hungry, I just grab the most convenient thing to eat and fill that void. Usually, it's not the most nutritionally sound choice and it's something that will give me a quick boost of energy..... i.e. SUGAR. Case in point, I was running errands today when I realized that I was starving and starting to not feel so good. It took a bit longer before I'd realized everything I'd eaten today ~ it consisted of some homemade caramel corn and a Dr. Pepper this morning while visiting with my mom. Yup, that's it; and I'm not talking 2 lbs of caramel corn either, it was more like a cup of the yummy stuff along with about 32 ounces of soda. It was enough to fill me up and give me the energy I needed to carry me thru till about 5 pm. So, what did I choose at that point when I was truly hungry and my tummy was growling? A jalepeno cheeseburger, small fries, and a cup of water at McDonalds. So, there you have my fabulous choices in nutrition for today.... UGH! Was there a single veggie or fruit in any of it? How about some healthy grains? Any dairy choices with staying power to stabilize my blood sugar thru the day? NOPE.
As you can see, I have a lot of work to do to make the changes I need to make. And, now you can also see how someone who doesn't eat much in the sense of volume, can still have a weight problem because of the nutritional deficit in her choices.
Weight Watchers will help me immensely as I will naturally make better choices to use my points in the most effective way possible. I'm already starting on some menu plans and grocery lists so that I can get off to a great start. I will have my office completely cleaned and organized this week so that I have a pleasant and calm place to get in my daily exercise, plan my healthy days, spend time with God, and enjoy prayer time... all without the distractions surrounding me of housework that needs to be done. And.... my little mason jars to track my progress are ready and looking pretty cute too, if I may say so myself :)
Inspiration/encouragement Jars
For about $5.00 I bought the supplies to keep a visual of my journey. Gotta love Hobby Lobby :)
Jars were half price in the craft department (pint size), glass marbles were $2.99 in the bridal department and I used a 40% off coupon, and the chalkboard stickers were half price in the paper crafting department. Now, I can't wait to see the "pounds lost" jar fill up 😊
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Encouragement for the journey
I ran across a fun website tonight. It can give you a visual of what you will look like at your goal weight... giving you something to focus on as you walk this journey to better health. http://modelmydiet.com Check it out :)
Also, I've decided that I need a visual to help see how I'm doing; especially during those times that I may be losing slowly or even at a plateau. It would be nice to have a way of remembering just how far I've come and get less discouraged when things aren't going as well as I'd like. I'm going to keep two mason jars: one with 70 glass marbles to represent the 70 pounds I want to lose, the other empty. As I lose weight, I will move a marble from the first jar into the second for each pound that I lose. It will be a huge milestone when the second jar is more full than the first:)
I haven't decided yet, as to what my smaller milestones will be, or the rewards I will get when I achieve them.... but, I am giving it a lot of thought.
Still waiting and hoping that Weight Watchers runs a special soon. Fingers crossed ;)
Also, I've decided that I need a visual to help see how I'm doing; especially during those times that I may be losing slowly or even at a plateau. It would be nice to have a way of remembering just how far I've come and get less discouraged when things aren't going as well as I'd like. I'm going to keep two mason jars: one with 70 glass marbles to represent the 70 pounds I want to lose, the other empty. As I lose weight, I will move a marble from the first jar into the second for each pound that I lose. It will be a huge milestone when the second jar is more full than the first:)
I haven't decided yet, as to what my smaller milestones will be, or the rewards I will get when I achieve them.... but, I am giving it a lot of thought.
Still waiting and hoping that Weight Watchers runs a special soon. Fingers crossed ;)
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
I should be close to the finish line by now, but.........
I'll be honest, I'm tired. I'm tired of being tired. Tired of being overweight. Tired of not being as healthy as I should be. Tired of not having any endurance. Etc. Etc. Etc.....
I've learned that my issues aren't just middle age, nor is it just long-term effects of a life struggle with severe asthma and all the medicines and steroids that I've lived my life on, nor is it life as a mom of a child with chronic health problems that cause me to live sleep deprived. It's the combination of all these things that work against me and my health goals, along with potentially a thyroid issue to top it all off. Does this mean I just give up and no longer strive to get healthier and stronger, no longer try to lose weight, no longer work at making better choices when it comes to food and exercise? Of course not. It does mean, however that I need to pick myself up by the boot straps and start all over again.
In my usual fashion, I'm spending a bit of time really evaluating what I need to do, the best way for me to do it, looking at my options, and writing out my plan. GOALS and the action I need to take to achieve them. I'm really feeling strongly that I should probably go back to Weight Watchers. It's a simple, straight forward program that works, WHEN I FOLLOW IT ;) It takes work on my part; planning, preparing, and executing healthy meals, snacks, and exercise routines. It takes dedication and for me not to lose sight of my goal.
So, what is my goal? In 2015 I want to be on a solid road to health and I want reach my goal weight by New Year's Eve, so that I can head into 2016 without this still hanging over my head. Yes, this is a very lofty goal.... but broken down into small steps and small milestones, it's very achievable.
What are some of the steps I need to take?
1- Get my office cleaned out and organized before the end of this year. I have exactly 2 weeks to accomplish this. Having my space organized will give me a calming environment to erase some of the stress I face each day. I will actually enjoy getting daily exercise in this space, if it's kept clean and cheerful. Keeping the clutter out of there will also allow me to not only plan things like weekly menus and the girls lesson plans, but it will also help me to have the time to execute those plans without having the distractions of clearing this old clutter out of the way any longer.
2- Sign up for Weight Watchers once again. I'm hoping they run a "Free Registration" sale before the first of the year, so I'm kind of holding off on this particular step for a bit and waiting patiently :) I plan on doing the program online rather than meetings right now. Winter in the midwest along with children at home, can combine to make it difficult to commit to weekly meetings. If I begin to fail at attending meetings, I find it easy to just give up on the entire program. Online doesn't have the same exact accountability as a public-private weigh in, but I'm less likely to get discouraged because of missing meetings and actually stick to the program for the long haul.
3- Get a new ActiveLink right away and begin from day one tracking all my sleep and activity. It's a great way to challenge myself and to also keep me on track.
4- PLAN! Plan weekly menus. Plan my exercise routine along with a regular time to workout on a daily basis. Plan housework. Plan lessons for the girls for the next semester. Plan my Bible Study, Prayer, and Devotion time daily. Plan family time. Plan time with friends.
5- Set goals and milestones. Small milestones. Reward myself (non-food of course) for reaching each one. Take selfies to record any loses that may not be showing on the scale, so that I can see the small achievements and be encouraged to continue on.
6- Determine myself to stick with my plans :) Keep my sight set on my goal. Remind myself that God is in control and my number one priority is to bring Him glory through all of this. And, have faith that He will be right alongside of me each step of the way, encouraging me to the finishing line.
Jeremiah 29:11
I've learned that my issues aren't just middle age, nor is it just long-term effects of a life struggle with severe asthma and all the medicines and steroids that I've lived my life on, nor is it life as a mom of a child with chronic health problems that cause me to live sleep deprived. It's the combination of all these things that work against me and my health goals, along with potentially a thyroid issue to top it all off. Does this mean I just give up and no longer strive to get healthier and stronger, no longer try to lose weight, no longer work at making better choices when it comes to food and exercise? Of course not. It does mean, however that I need to pick myself up by the boot straps and start all over again.
In my usual fashion, I'm spending a bit of time really evaluating what I need to do, the best way for me to do it, looking at my options, and writing out my plan. GOALS and the action I need to take to achieve them. I'm really feeling strongly that I should probably go back to Weight Watchers. It's a simple, straight forward program that works, WHEN I FOLLOW IT ;) It takes work on my part; planning, preparing, and executing healthy meals, snacks, and exercise routines. It takes dedication and for me not to lose sight of my goal.
So, what is my goal? In 2015 I want to be on a solid road to health and I want reach my goal weight by New Year's Eve, so that I can head into 2016 without this still hanging over my head. Yes, this is a very lofty goal.... but broken down into small steps and small milestones, it's very achievable.
What are some of the steps I need to take?
1- Get my office cleaned out and organized before the end of this year. I have exactly 2 weeks to accomplish this. Having my space organized will give me a calming environment to erase some of the stress I face each day. I will actually enjoy getting daily exercise in this space, if it's kept clean and cheerful. Keeping the clutter out of there will also allow me to not only plan things like weekly menus and the girls lesson plans, but it will also help me to have the time to execute those plans without having the distractions of clearing this old clutter out of the way any longer.
2- Sign up for Weight Watchers once again. I'm hoping they run a "Free Registration" sale before the first of the year, so I'm kind of holding off on this particular step for a bit and waiting patiently :) I plan on doing the program online rather than meetings right now. Winter in the midwest along with children at home, can combine to make it difficult to commit to weekly meetings. If I begin to fail at attending meetings, I find it easy to just give up on the entire program. Online doesn't have the same exact accountability as a public-private weigh in, but I'm less likely to get discouraged because of missing meetings and actually stick to the program for the long haul.
3- Get a new ActiveLink right away and begin from day one tracking all my sleep and activity. It's a great way to challenge myself and to also keep me on track.
4- PLAN! Plan weekly menus. Plan my exercise routine along with a regular time to workout on a daily basis. Plan housework. Plan lessons for the girls for the next semester. Plan my Bible Study, Prayer, and Devotion time daily. Plan family time. Plan time with friends.
5- Set goals and milestones. Small milestones. Reward myself (non-food of course) for reaching each one. Take selfies to record any loses that may not be showing on the scale, so that I can see the small achievements and be encouraged to continue on.
6- Determine myself to stick with my plans :) Keep my sight set on my goal. Remind myself that God is in control and my number one priority is to bring Him glory through all of this. And, have faith that He will be right alongside of me each step of the way, encouraging me to the finishing line.
Jeremiah 29:11
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