I am going to attempt something big. This will require the support of my friends and family. I would like to weigh 150 pounds by my 32nd birthday. If I start seriously on February 1st that will give me 213 days to reach my target weight.
I need to lose roughly 25 pounds. That is doable... right?
25 pounds in 213 days.
That is a one pound loss every 8 1/2 days. I will just say one pound a week to make it easier. If I really lost one pound a week, that would be about 30 pounds! I will say a pound a week to give myself a little room to play with a pound or two.
I have not been 150 pounds since I was in high school, so it will be HUGE for me! I have not really been under 160 pounds since having children. This CAN happen and this WILL happen! I cannot do it on my own though and I know it. I need support. Can you help with that???
Starting this Monday, I am going to begin exercising. Hopefully this will jump start my loss. I NEED to MOVE more!
I have NOT been very diligent about staying active. The running thing did not work out. I always found excuses. This time WILL be different. I am ready to feel better and LIVE better.
Wish me luck!
January 28, 2012
December 12, 2011
I Know... I'm a Dork!
Ever heard of e-mealz? We signed up for it! I am SO excited. We went grocery shopping and saved a TON of $$$ too! The fact that my meals are planned out for me and they are simple (and cost effective!) is so exciting! It is official... I know... I am a dork. Hopefully this will help us in many ways. Eating at home not only saves $$$, but also saves CALORIES! Hooray for e-mealz!
My school schedule is changing in the spring. Hopefully this will give me more time to take care of myself and my family! One more final exam and then I can relax. I can already breathe a little easier. Ahhh...
This morning, as I was driving across the lake from taking C to school I thought about how beautiful it was.
I did NOTHING to deserve this beautiful view. God is such an amazing artist!
Seeing this sunrise motivated me. It made me want to RUN.
As soon as I got home, I changed clothes, grabbed the leash, and headed out with Darcy, my eleven month old miniature dachshund. That little dog made it 2.3 miles! She's tougher than I thought. Of course, it was NOT all running. We did walk some too. She's now passed out on the couch. I guess I wore her out!
Here is another picture I took of the sky when Darcy and I were out. Sorry about the shabby photography. The pictures were taken with my phone.
What a great start to a great week!
Thank you, GOD, for the beautiful sunrise!
December 5, 2011
TIPS!
Recently I have had a few friends ask for some information by email or Facebook. I decided to copy/paste it to my blog for future reference. Hope it's helpful!
I really am not crazy about expensive fad diets. From what I've observed, they typically are WAY over priced and they do not last. Who can really live their entire life drinking shakes or taking supplements. That's just not how God created us to live. It's not natural!
Okay, you may already know most of these, but here are a few things that work for me:
1)PRAY.
Don't rely solely on yourself, others, or self-help books. All these can be VERY helpful, but I think you know WHO we should ultimately depend on!
2)ACCOUNTABILITY.
Find a few friends that you feel you can completely trust and share EVERYTHING (I would be happy to be one of those!). True accountability is really difficult at first, but you will find that it will ultimately make things so much better for you. Share your struggles, temptations, likes, dislikes, weight (this is the toughest!), exercise, EVERYTHING. I promise it WILL make a difference! I have a close friend who shares the same struggles I do and in the past, we have texted each other our weight weekly. I'm at 177 (was down to 159, then back up to 186), and HAVE to get back on track before I am right back where I started. I have even gone so far as texting her everything I ate as I ate it. Whatever it takes, right?!
3)MEASURE YOUR FOOD.
This is easy, but also easy to forget to do! Get some measuring cups/spoons that are simple and easy to use. I have a set that actually look like spoons. I LOVE them! They are 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 cups. Get whatever works for you though. I like the spoon shape of mine b/c I can easily serve my food with them.
It helps to SEE how much food you are putting on your plate. Don't starve yourself. Look at the serving size, and get that amount. If when you finish, you still feel hungy, go back and MEASURE your second helping.
Once I got used to doing this, I actually started measuring out 1/2 of the serving size of the one thing on my plate that was the most unhealthy (I usually did what had the most carbs). That way when I got seconds, it was only one complete serving and I wasn't going overboard on it!
Another easy measuring tool is to imagine a divided styrofoam plate. The biggest section should be your green veggie, the two smallest your meat and carb. You can do that when you don't have a way of measuring.
4)MEASURE YOURSELF.
Get a friend to measure an area of your body that you struggle with. You can look up measuring charts online if you want to measure what is recommended by the experts. Sometimes you may not shrink in weight, but you are losing inches (especially if you're working out). I would honestly rather lose inches than pounds!
Cut a ribbon or string the length of your beginning measurements and each time you measure (I like to do once monthly), cut a new one. It's kind of fun to see if/how it changes!
5)REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!
No matter what we look like, we are beautiful! I tell my precious nine year old daughter all the time that "God doesn't make ugly people." to remind her that we are all "precious in His sight". Find a few inspiring scriptures and memorize them as a reminder of this!!!
6) Always use a smaller plate and smaller utensils.
We tend to want to fill our plate with food and you can fill a small plate and it actually ends up being enough food. Plus if you want to go back for seconds, it's not quite as bad as if you had a normal dinner plate. Don't forget to measure those second helpings!
7) Read some inspiring books. Here are a few of my favorites.
-First Place For Health
-Made to Crave (I also have this audiobook in my car.)
-The Weigh Down Diet (I don't totally agree with everything this author says, but the book is full of helpful tips.)
-Thin Within
You can probably find some of these in your local or church library.
8) Find some graphs or charts where you can see your loss (pounds or inches).
It motivates you to keep trying and not give up. I found one that was a line graph and it was cool to see the line going down as I was losing. It did it in very small increments so it went down every time I would lose .5 of a pound.
9) I did Weight Watchers, so I try to remember what my zero points foods are and eat them as often as possible. If you aren't familiar with this I would be happy to share. There are lots of websites that you can use to find this stuff out too.
http://www.laaloosh.com/
This site has lots of resources, charts, and information that is great!
http://www.dwlz.com/
This has mostly WW info, but has restaurant info too.
10)TAKE YOUR TIME!!!
This didn't happen overnight. It's not going to come off overnight... and that is OKAY! Don't listen to advertisements and others who say "lose 50 pounds by..." some crazy, unrealistic date. If you lose slowly, you're teaching your body to keep it off. I did gain weight after losing, but it wasn't all of it and I refused to let myself get frustrated. I know that I can just do what I know I need to do and get it off again. This is a lifelong struggle for me and I know it is probably something I will always deal with. I just have to be sure to be aware of that. It's okay. I'm not sad about it. I will just take my time and make changes to stay on the right path. Slow loss over a long period of time is better than crash dieting and being on a never-ending weight loss roller coaster.
You're doing great, don't give up!!!
Do you know of any other helpful tips or resources? Please share if you do!
November 15, 2011
When? What?
I think I have come up with my target weight for my BIG goal. It is BIG... like REALLY BIG. Actually, I will be REALLY small by the time this is all over with! I KNOW I can with HIS help, and I AM EXCITED!!!
Before I share my target weight, I would like to get all my specifics nailed down. I need a date. Deciding WHEN I want to reach my target weight will determine LOTS of issues. This includes the method I choose to use to accomplish this goal.
I have mentioned before that I am NOT a fan of crazy fad diets. This is something I still feel strongly about. I need to make a total lifestyle change. This is the most realistic option for me. I need to do something that I can stick with after I reach my target weight. I do not just want to lose, I want to MAINTAIN.
When thinking about my method, I have to think about foods that I tend to go overboard with... foods that tend to make me want to just jump totally off the wagon. What are they?
I know I have to slow down and eat more healthy foods. Maybe I should try fasting a few of these things for a while. In the book Made to Crave, the author talks about fasting. Is this something I should try? WHAT food or foods should I abstain from? Have YOU ever fasted? How wonderful would it be to learn to turn to God each time a craving hit? Is that not the whole purpose in all this? Do I not need to learn to turn to God in my time of weakness?
Before I share my target weight, I would like to get all my specifics nailed down. I need a date. Deciding WHEN I want to reach my target weight will determine LOTS of issues. This includes the method I choose to use to accomplish this goal.
I have mentioned before that I am NOT a fan of crazy fad diets. This is something I still feel strongly about. I need to make a total lifestyle change. This is the most realistic option for me. I need to do something that I can stick with after I reach my target weight. I do not just want to lose, I want to MAINTAIN.
When thinking about my method, I have to think about foods that I tend to go overboard with... foods that tend to make me want to just jump totally off the wagon. What are they?
- Chocolate
- Fast Food
- Candy
- Bacon
- Cookie Dough
- French Fries
- Bread With Butter and Garlic
- Popcorn With LOTS of Butter
- Chips
I know I have to slow down and eat more healthy foods. Maybe I should try fasting a few of these things for a while. In the book Made to Crave, the author talks about fasting. Is this something I should try? WHAT food or foods should I abstain from? Have YOU ever fasted? How wonderful would it be to learn to turn to God each time a craving hit? Is that not the whole purpose in all this? Do I not need to learn to turn to God in my time of weakness?
November 9, 2011
I Don't Think, I KNOW I Can!
Some days I feel like the Little Engine That Could. "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." Well, no more thinking! I KNOW I CAN! I mentioned before that I want to do something big. I want to do something REALLY big.
I have done some research. If there is one thing I know, it is that ideal weight charts are silly. None of them are the same. Some say I have a medium build. Some say I have a large build. Some say I should weigh around 120 pounds. Some say I should weigh around 140 pounds. There are experts who say you should go by weight. There are others who say you should go by BMI.
According to the charts and calculators my BMI is 32.7. This is considered obese. Gross.
Here are the BMI stats:
Looks like I have a long road ahead of me. If I were to weigh 150, my BMI would still be 27.4. This is still considered overweight. 140 pounds is a BMI of 25.6... STILL overweight.
In order to reach the normal weight range, I need to weigh a whopping 136 pounds. Keep in mind this is at the very TOP of the range. My BMI would still be 24.9, and would not leave me any room to play. In order to be right in the middle of the Normal weight range, I need to weigh 119 pounds. WOW. That is 60 pounds less than what I weigh right now. WOW. There are no words for this!
What do you think I should shoot for?
I have done some research. If there is one thing I know, it is that ideal weight charts are silly. None of them are the same. Some say I have a medium build. Some say I have a large build. Some say I should weigh around 120 pounds. Some say I should weigh around 140 pounds. There are experts who say you should go by weight. There are others who say you should go by BMI.
According to the charts and calculators my BMI is 32.7. This is considered obese. Gross.
Here are the BMI stats:
BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
In order to reach the normal weight range, I need to weigh a whopping 136 pounds. Keep in mind this is at the very TOP of the range. My BMI would still be 24.9, and would not leave me any room to play. In order to be right in the middle of the Normal weight range, I need to weigh 119 pounds. WOW. That is 60 pounds less than what I weigh right now. WOW. There are no words for this!
What do you think I should shoot for?
SICK of This
Okay, I am typically a pretty upbeat girl. I feel that negativity gets us nowhere. Anytime I post a blog, update a status, text, leave a message, etc., I try to keep it as positive as possible. Why not? I am not lying or sugar coating. I simply try to find good in everything, in spite of the bad. It makes me feel better, and I truly believe it helps those around me.
The following are some pretty negative thoughts I have been having lately. I know I should not post them, and I know I may regret this later, but I have GOT to get it out.
Want to know my positive answer to all of this? I am going to DO something. I do not know exactly what yet, but I know it HAS to happen. Surely my creator and AWESOME GOD did not create me to live a life of fatness and unhealthy living.
I WILL make changes. BIG changes. No more five pound goals. Well... I will make five pound goals, but I will also set a BIG goal that I WILL reach! I will use the five pound goals along the way.
Here is the part where I need your help. I need to set good goals for myself. Not just physical, but mental, and (most importantly) spiritual goals. Keep in mind that I am a busy mother of two busy children. We are on the go lots of the time. I am also a full time student. I am about 5'2" tall and (as of this morning) I weigh 178 lbs. I wear a size 14, or XL. My goals and rewards need to be inexpensive.
I am totally open to tips or suggestions. I need BIG ideas! Feel free to post in a comment or email me at healthybeth@gmail.com.
Tonight or tomorrow I will try to post some of the ideas I have in mind and some that I get from you. Here goes!
The following are some pretty negative thoughts I have been having lately. I know I should not post them, and I know I may regret this later, but I have GOT to get it out.
I am so sick of being the fat girl in a room full of skinnies. I am tired of being the fat one in all the pictures. I have actually untagged myself in pictures so that others might not notice how fat I look. My clothes are tight. My body is gross. Even if I were to lose a ton of weight, I still have this post two c-sections grossness! My skin (which has always been amazing) is beginning to look older. I can tell I have definitely hit my peak and am slowly going back down the hill. Not only do I think I LOOK bad, I FEEL bad. My legs ache, my back and knees hurt. I know if I were to lose some major poundage, this would most likely change. But that would mean I would have to put forth some effort. UGHHH...
Want to know my positive answer to all of this? I am going to DO something. I do not know exactly what yet, but I know it HAS to happen. Surely my creator and AWESOME GOD did not create me to live a life of fatness and unhealthy living.
I WILL make changes. BIG changes. No more five pound goals. Well... I will make five pound goals, but I will also set a BIG goal that I WILL reach! I will use the five pound goals along the way.
Here is the part where I need your help. I need to set good goals for myself. Not just physical, but mental, and (most importantly) spiritual goals. Keep in mind that I am a busy mother of two busy children. We are on the go lots of the time. I am also a full time student. I am about 5'2" tall and (as of this morning) I weigh 178 lbs. I wear a size 14, or XL. My goals and rewards need to be inexpensive.
I am totally open to tips or suggestions. I need BIG ideas! Feel free to post in a comment or email me at healthybeth@gmail.com.
Tonight or tomorrow I will try to post some of the ideas I have in mind and some that I get from you. Here goes!
November 2, 2011
The Doctor's Scale
Well, I did it. I broke down and bought a set of scales. Yuck. I have not owned a decent set of scales in at least two years. I bought a set a little over a year ago, but they were really cheap and I knew there was NO WAY they were accurate. Plus they had the little dial on the bottom, so I could conveniently adjust them to meet my standards. Admit it, you have done the same thing AT LEAST once in your life.
I have been using the board for the Wii Fit to weigh myself. I really like doing that because it tracks your weight and even graphs your progress (or lack of) to help you stay motivated. SEEING what happens makes a difference! My favorite time to check my weight is first thing in the morning, when I wake up. Am I the only one who tends to be a few pounds lighter in the mornings?
Our household is usually pretty hectic at that time of day. The problem with using only the Wii is that you have to take the time to turn everything on, take out whatever game Mike or the kids last played and put in the Wii Fit Plus disk, get out the board, blah, blah, blah... Surely you get the picture. I basically use all that as an excuse to not weigh myself. So, I decided it was time to give in and buy a set of scales.
Really? "The Doctor's Scale" is what the box says. I am not even sure I want a "Doctor's Scale". They always lie and tell me I am like 4 pounds heavier (more like 20) than I know I actually am. Another thing I find funny is that the name of it is Healthometer. HEALTHOMETER?! Could they just be honest and call it a YOU COULD STAND TO LOSE A FEWOMETER?
Notice that the scales are still in the box. I bought them a few days ago and just cannot bring myself to open them up. Ugh... DREAD. I have to admit that I have NOT done too hot the past few weeks. Life is cRaZy bUsY and I have used this as an excuse to live a very unhealthy life.
I figured if I was going to go to the trouble of opening it up and getting the battery all situated I should just go ahead and get it over with.
Just to be certain I get an accurate reading, I carry my new purchase into my kitchen where I know the floor is nice and level. Sitting the scales on the floor, I step on. GUESS WHAT???
Keep in mind this was done at like 6pm. I cannot WAIT to see what my new friend says to me in the morning! Talk about some motivation! I expected MUCH more. Like maybe 185???
The only thing I can think of that I have done differently is that I have been eating really good breakfasts. This has kept me from eating as much during the day. I have also been drinking LOTS of coffee. This has been instead of snacking. I have not done this intentionally, it has just worked out because of the fact that my family has been so busy lately.
I am a happy girl! One thing I know, is that I have NOT been doing this on my own. My AWESOME GOD has gotten me through the past few weeks of craziness. I am amazed at how calm I have been with all the chaos going on around me. I will have to say that God IS good ALL the time.
I have been using the board for the Wii Fit to weigh myself. I really like doing that because it tracks your weight and even graphs your progress (or lack of) to help you stay motivated. SEEING what happens makes a difference! My favorite time to check my weight is first thing in the morning, when I wake up. Am I the only one who tends to be a few pounds lighter in the mornings?
Our household is usually pretty hectic at that time of day. The problem with using only the Wii is that you have to take the time to turn everything on, take out whatever game Mike or the kids last played and put in the Wii Fit Plus disk, get out the board, blah, blah, blah... Surely you get the picture. I basically use all that as an excuse to not weigh myself. So, I decided it was time to give in and buy a set of scales.
Really? "The Doctor's Scale" is what the box says. I am not even sure I want a "Doctor's Scale". They always lie and tell me I am like 4 pounds heavier (more like 20) than I know I actually am. Another thing I find funny is that the name of it is Healthometer. HEALTHOMETER?! Could they just be honest and call it a YOU COULD STAND TO LOSE A FEWOMETER?
Notice that the scales are still in the box. I bought them a few days ago and just cannot bring myself to open them up. Ugh... DREAD. I have to admit that I have NOT done too hot the past few weeks. Life is cRaZy bUsY and I have used this as an excuse to live a very unhealthy life.
Here are a few more pics of my new Healthometer. I opened it!
Is it not just lovely?
 |
| I love how it says 135.2 in the display, and below that says "up to 350 lbs.". |
 |
| SEE... "The Doctor's Scale"! |
 |
| The back of the box. |
 |
| Are they not just beautiful? |
 | ||||||
| Healthometer |
I figured if I was going to go to the trouble of opening it up and getting the battery all situated I should just go ahead and get it over with.
Just to be certain I get an accurate reading, I carry my new purchase into my kitchen where I know the floor is nice and level. Sitting the scales on the floor, I step on. GUESS WHAT???
 | |
| WOO HOO!!!!! |
Keep in mind this was done at like 6pm. I cannot WAIT to see what my new friend says to me in the morning! Talk about some motivation! I expected MUCH more. Like maybe 185???
The only thing I can think of that I have done differently is that I have been eating really good breakfasts. This has kept me from eating as much during the day. I have also been drinking LOTS of coffee. This has been instead of snacking. I have not done this intentionally, it has just worked out because of the fact that my family has been so busy lately.
I am a happy girl! One thing I know, is that I have NOT been doing this on my own. My AWESOME GOD has gotten me through the past few weeks of craziness. I am amazed at how calm I have been with all the chaos going on around me. I will have to say that God IS good ALL the time.
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