Saturday, November 27, 2010

Ugh!

Ugh! Its the best was to describe how I feel. Too much trypophan from the turkey! Too much of everything! But that is what makes Thanksgiving so great! Its the "too much" which makes it one of America's favorite holidays!

WE enjoyed it sooo much that we're doing it AGAIN today! There were people we missed on Thursday so we've decided to "do it all again!" So that's TWICE the calories! Twice the amount of exercise to work it off! But that's OK. Its the price we pay for enjoying and over indulging!

Hope you had fabulous Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Holiday motivation tips

1) Wake up 45 minutes early (or 30 or 60) and work out EARLY so your exercise routine doesn't get put on the "back burner" during the Turkey Season! (I'm now getting up 45 minutes earlier every day. I'm staying on the "old" time schedule, hence I didn't "FALL forward"!) I don't feel deprived of sleep! In fact, I'm sleeping more soundly and getting to bed earlier. "Early to bed early to rise. Makes a man(woman) HEATHLY, wealthy and wise!

2)Leave yourself "electronic reminders". You can use your Blackberry or IPhone to "remind" yourself to "eat healthy" or "just say no to candy" . I have a daily reminder that shows up mid morning which is the time of day I'm most at "risk" for making poor eating choices. The reminder states "eat healthy today". It just helps me to make it through the tough mid morning munchies!

3) Add an "additional" workout sometime during the week so if you skip one later in the week you won't feel so guilty! Or, if you over indulge at the Turkey Table you'll not want to "give up". I usually take Wednesdays off from my workout schedule. This week I'm going to work out AND I'm doing something NEW! This way not only am I working new muscles I'm trying a new exercise that I may just love! Or like today, I worked out in the morning in "addition" to the Spin class I normally do!

4)Start  a "calorie journal" or restart if you're stopped. It helps to keep track of the calories you're eating this time of year! You're less likely to overeat if you know exactly where you stand calorie wise!

5)Hang the "Christmas party dress" in a prominent place in your closet. Use the dress as a motivational weight goal. It can also serve as a reminder for not overeating during the holidays or it can be motivation to lose/maintain weight!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Start the day and week off right!

I love the "Fall back" time change...except for that total darkness at 5:00 in the evening!  Instead of sleeping in that extra hour, I get up at the same time it would have been!  I start my day (and my week) off less stressed and more exercised!  I've already walked 30 minutes on the treadmill!  Try mediation, preparing a nutritious breakfast...whatever!  You're got an extra hour to do the things YOU want or need to do!  Have a great day!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

That D%$# wagon!

Everyone does it.  It's bound to happen.  You expect it to occur.  Some people plan for it and have a strategy in place to make it less crippling.  But when IT does happens, its very disappointing.  In fact, it can be debilitating.   When you "fall off the wagon" its difficult to accept and it can be the start of a very painful self loathing downward spiral, if left unchecked.

You're not strong enough.  You don't have "will power".  You aren't good enough.  You can't do anything right.  You don't deserve "something".  You're, of course, the worst...a FAILURE!   These are just a few of the thoughts and self appraisals that occur when you've fallen off the "wagon".

What is your "wagon"?  Is it the exercise wagon?  Is it the diet wagon?  Is it the alcohol wagon?  Is it the drug wagon?  Is it a food wagon?  What is "IT" that is your personal "wagon"?  What are you "pulling" behind you to make yourself feel "less"?  What do you battle every day?  Is it only one wagon or are you so lucky as to have multiple wagons?  Wagons... watch out for them.  They're everywhere.  And, as you may or may not realize, everyone has one...or some.  Many will paint their wagons so they're less noticeable or less wagon-like.  But don't be fooled.  They're still a wagon!

Food is a tough "wagon".  Let's face it, you need food.  Your body needs it to thrive.  Your very life depends on it.  You can't just say, no food!  I'm done with it!  You can't go to "food AA" and expect to "win" over that particular "wagon".  The balance between nutrition, healthy calorie intake and unhealthy food deprivation is a fine line.  I watched a popular talk show about Portia De Rossi.  A seemingly happy beautiful movie star that had it "all".  She starved herself down to 82 pounds.  She's 5'6''.   Her organs started shutting down.  Obviously, NOT healthy!  In fact it seems ridiculous that a person would not be able to "see" that 82 pounds for an adult woman of average height was out of whack.  Its seems crazy that anyone would think starving oneself to such a dangerous weight would be "pretty" or "good" or "sought after."   But remember...that may not be your particular wagon!  Food was Portia's big wagon!


So, they say admitting you have a wagon is the first step in overcoming.  Well I, for one, think its not admitting you have a nice pretty red painted wagon but asking for help pulling that rusty over used beat up wagon.  Going anything alone is tough, so why do it?  As I have blogged before, if you don't ask you don't get.  So ask.  You never know, someone might just have a car to pull your wagon.