Weigh-in Time

The work week is almost finished, as is April. I went backward a half pound. So its
2 down, 48 to go

Let's analyze. Too many desserts, I think. A weakness of mine are cookies - I love them. I got some wonderful cookies from Dorothy Lane Market last Saturday. Plus we had dessert another time too. No dessert until the weekend, unless it's yogurt and tea.

I was awake early this morning to hear the robins start in about 5:30 or so. Then the house wren joins in. It's a nice sound that I like. I had stuff in my throat and couldn't go back to sleep. Hey, share some sleep tips too. I think sleep is very important to losing weight and being healthy. I don't feel right unless I get at least 7 hours, 8 is better. I have friends who seem to get along great with less. Not me, though.

I hope this week goes better. I'd like to hear from you about your health tips. Join in!

Sue

Tough Day

What do you do when you have a tough day? What I like to do is to eat something. It makes me feel better. What are some of the other ways I could feel better besides take a pill? Call my sister or a friend. Take a walk. Plant something. Buy a plant (much to my husband's dismay). Like Janet says (my sister), focus on the good things, even if they're small. I know what to do. It's just doing it that's the issue.

Cheers,
Sue

Eat Often, Smaller Amounts - Weight Loss Tips

Ok, my title states one of the hints I have heard so often to be successful at healthy eating. My mother has always eaten this way. I remember her going to the kitchen often to have a little snack. Then at mealtime she did not eat very much. She was always the one jumping up to get this or that as we all sat there eating. She always cleaned up too. Probably we should have helped out more in that department, but she never asked us to.

I am home resting after having had a minor procedure done this morning. I have an ice pack on it to keep the swelling down. Bob and and I ate a meal at mid morning after not having had breakfast early like we usually do. This of course throws off lunch, as in I'm not hungry now. Should you eat when you're hungry or at strict times daily? It seems like thinner people eat only when they are hungry, but they don't seem to get as hungry as I do.

And while we're at it... let's talk about hunger and the different types of hunger. There is the hunger when your stomach is growling and you know you had better eat. There is the hunger when your body craves something. For instance, sometimes I crave something sweet or salty. Should you just eat the thing you crave, only a small bit of it then? Or should you just try to do something else? It seems like cravings build up if you don't give in a little.

How often should you weight yourself? I have always heard weigh in once a week. However, some have mentioned the value of getting on the scale every day. I'd prefer not to get on at all, but of course that doesn't work. Before you know it, you've gone up.

I have had to give up my Aleve for one week. Yikes, have my feet been hurting! I arthritis in my feet, unfortunately, and this is the pits for exercising. My nutritionist told me that the pain is a signal that I should listen to. She is the one who says to make small changes on a long term basis. She also told me that illness, like bronchitis I have repeatedly had, sends the body into a cycle of keeping what it has (as in fat). Your metabolism shuts down to take care of the illness first and after this is done, returns to a building up cycle and a releasing cycle.

How does one get over the joy of eating, or the nice feeling you have after you eat? Some people don't seem to notice this, or don't need this. It seems to me that if I liked eating less, loosing weight would be easier.

Anybody have anything to say about these issues?

It's raining, dreary, and dark. Here's to the difficult tasks we deal with every day - chin, chin!
Sue

Happy Sunday

Hello health nuts,
It finally rained last night, a nice long shower. We needed it. Today I have lots of gardening stuff planned. I also had a glorious sleep and actually slept through to 6 am. That hasn't happened in a long time. I have been waking in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Then I can't go back to sleep because I start thinking of all kinds of stuff. My brain just will not cooperate. But last night it did. Wow, do I feel good with a whole night's sleep.

I have to go feed the guys (my doggies). It's a beautiful morning,

Sue

Drive on by

3 lbs down, 47 to go
1 week down, 51 to go

Well, it’s been a week. I stepped on the scale and – low and behold – it was good news. The count is started. The battle continues.

I am tempted by Dairy Queens and United Dairy Farmers. My car just wants to swing in there and get a treat. I love ice cream or custard. I know that it’s ok once in a while, but not as a habit. Yesterday I was driving by a UDF and wanted to go in there and get a malted. But I said to myself, just drive on by. And I did. I just drove on by. I think my success will depend on how many times I can just drive on by and avoid the high calorie treats.

I did have a nice low calorie treat of a walk around the Cincinnati Flower Show. I saw a really nice window box I liked with lots of tuberous begonias, dark red coleus, and fushias stuffed in tightly. It was really pretty. The only thing missing was fragrance. I need to have something that smells good along with looking good.

I also saw a few clever people’s ideas they were trying to turn into a business. One guy had a native plants and seeds business. He lives in southeast Ohio in the Hocking Hills area. He had some heirloom tomato plants that I couldn’t resist. I was on strict orders NOT to buy any plants because I’ve already bought too many. What’s new? I can’t seem to resist plants. I pour over the plant catalogs and want to buy everything in there.

I also bought a pair of clippers to replace ones I lost last fall somewhere in the yard. They allow you to cut through branches by pumping the handle – very handy in light pruning. The fellow selling them was very entertaining too, a real snake oil salesman with a southern accent. He had his talk down to a science with the demos, etc. He was the kind you see at the fairs selling miracle mops for $9.99 or whatever. Well, the Florians he was selling really are great. I missed having mine. I walk around the yard with my Felco and Florian and I can clean up/prune up anything.

There is a bird banging the window this morning. I hate that. I will have to put something up there to discourage her. We usually have robin doing this, but this time it’s a female house finch. I think they see themselves in the window and think it’s another bird coming into their territory.

I have a procedure on Monday morning to suck a few cells out for testing. Ugh! They have you coming and going. I know it’s nothing, but have to do this in order to be sure.

A piano student is coming soon. Her mother is a good friend and we love to talk gardening. So, that’s all for now.

Sue

Rice is OK

We had rice and beans for dinner tonight. We have chosen several meatless days per week. This is good. There was breakfast for lunch today at school. I had that with a salad. It was an ok day of eating. I didn't get much exercise though. Another teacher came by for early release and we exchanged health reports. Got to get this extra weight off. It's like carrying a 50 pound block of salt around with me all day. No wonder I get tired.

Cheers until tomorrow,
Sue

Pity Party

Well, I'd really like to not turn this into a big pity party where I write about how hard it all is. But, yesh is it ever hard! There are many things that stand in my way. I like to use those things as excuses to eat, even if it's good food. Eating just makes me feel better right then. It's one of the few immediate reaction things there are. I'd like to figure out how to react or how to find other things that can make me feel as good as eating does RIGHT NOW.

I have done this dieting thing many times. A good friend said to me once that diets don't work. They don't work because after the diet's over, you go back to your old habits and gain the weight back. A wise person recently told me that having success in getting healthy is done by making small long-term changes. That is you make changes and you keep doing them, like forever. You don't go back to the old way.

I am worried about my mother and a procedure I'm having next week. I have a job that really drains me, in that it takes everything I have most days. I come home really exhausted (like yesterday). I flop on the sofa and my wonderful husband cooks me dinner. Today I had a few piano students which I do sometimes. After I'm finished teaching them, then it's time for dinner. And today it was good too. I have a glass of wine with dinner. I enjoy this, but know these calories are so called empty.

I have to lay off aspirin and Aleve and ibuprofen for a week. Oh, my poor aching feet. Yes, I have arthritis in them and they hurt like a son of a gun. But, there I go on the pity party again.

Hey, this time of year is difficult for teachers. The kids are done, and we have had it.

Something good I did today? Ah... I made it. The kids got good music classes, not superior, but good. When I see their smiles, this is a nice reward for hard work.

Here's to doing better tomorrow,
Sue

Exhausted

Hello

I know the number at the scale isn’t supposed to rule your life, but I don’t like that number- the number the scale says I weigh. I also care about organic, healthy living. I love to garden, and I love eating well. Hey, I love eating not so well too.

I had an epiphany the other morning. I got on the scale, looked at the number, and said to my myself - how in the world did I get here? I had a birthday this month and didn't like that number either. I have been noticing lately that it doesn’t look much like me when I look in the mirror.

Bob (my husband) and I had watched the movie “Julie and Julia” last night, and I was inspired by the character, Julie, who started a blog and changed her life. I thought to myself – why not me? Why not start a blog and send my thoughts out there on getting healthy? Surely there must be somebody out there – you? – who wants to loose weight and get healthy AND (and these are important words) live organically.

I’ve been a fanatical organic gardener for over 20 years, and a non organic gardener for more years than that. I have had a growing concern over what people (including me) put in their mouths for a long time. I have long made a pledge to myself to eat organically, garden organically, and live organically. Yet I am too heavy, and I am not healthy right now.

I have lost and gained weight many times. I’ve tried Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, any number of diet books, going to a nutritionist, and doing it alone. I’ve counted points, calories, and grapefruits. I have always gained the weight back and more. I’m sick of this. I don’t want to grow old being too heavy and not able to do what I want physically.

Do I still put not-so-healthy stuff in my mouth? Yes, I do. Too often. My extra weight is slowing me down now. I’m going to do something about it. So, here it goes. I’m pledging to go for 50 pounds off in one year. That’s one pound a week. I’m going to blog about it. I hope some people start reading and start commenting. We can help each other get healthy and better yet, stay healthy.

Yours in health,
Sue