Making choices
 

I am telling you...I just realized that I made a choice this morning...to NOT work out. I was up in plenty of time, could have easily got in my 2 miles, but instead I CHOSE to sit and drink a cup of coffee and watch a show I taped! WHY? I am asking this not only to myself but to all of you. I don't really know the answer because the whole time I was feeling guilty for not working out but continued to sit and drink my coffee and watch my show. When I finally realized I had made this choice, I ran out of time and so here I am!

Some days I just don't care. I don't know what affects me this way. I want to get the weight off, but some days I don't want to put for the effort that other days I have!

Anyway...I need to go get in the shower, before I start running late this morning! Just wanted to share that thought with you. Perhaps it will help me to realize that I AM in control and I DO make the choices in my life which will help me to become a healthier me!!! I CAN DO THIS!!!!

Thanks for listening and for being here!

Everything's a choice. I decided to get up at 8 this morning instead of sleeping in like I wanted to, because I'm going to have to get used to getting up earlier. As for exercise, it's not time for today's choice on that topic quite yet. :)

So I'm at 205.0 this morning. I'll take it. I've been so bad the past two days I exected 207, or worse. But I found out the reason for my being ravenous yesterday--ToM showed up this morning. It's good though, I was kind of getting worried about it.

I don't know how today is going to turn out. I need to go have a drug screening for my new job, there's some laundry, and this evening Steve and I are going to look at a house. My head feels like crap--sinus pressure, bleck. I have to go help out a friend for a little while. Maybe I will crawl back in bed for a bit. I'm still tired, and not ready to face the day.

On the plus side, I don't even remotely feel like eating. I don't feel like exercising either. At least one or the other will come later in the day.

I'll be back to check in this afternoon. Have a great day.
~Elisha

hello all !:)

Is it really Wednesday already? This past week or two have been a little crazy, so I am really looking forward to a new month and a new challenge! :D

Julie.....Sounds like you are really eating on plan! And that raspberry sherbet w/fresh fruit sounded sooooo good. :hun:

Mary.....Sounds like your sister is a good exercise motivator! :yes: Good for both of you!

Andrea.....You are just incredible for sticking to the challenge this month! :balloons: You are inspirational!

Elisha.....An exercise challenge is a great idea! :dancer: I don't have a pedometer, but I do the WATP, so that will give me my miles. And wasn't there some conversion factor for minutes of brisk walking?

Lisa.....ty for the hug.....I sure needed it! As for the binging.....I understand completely! I can do great for just so long and then I self-destruct:rollpin: in the cooky jar!

Mud....You lost 2-1/2"? and lost weight too? You get a gold star! :bravo:

I haven't weighed myself in a couple of weeks......so this Saturday has got to be the official day! I don't imagine it is anything great..:rolleyes:..I am probably right where I started at the beginning of the month *sigh*

Well, I have all my paperwork done tonight and my putering......gotta go take a walk with Leslie!

Well, today was a complete bust. 2380 steps, or 1.12 miles, for 9.75 total. I'm going to have to get moving!

I did get the laundry done, but not the drug screening (didn't get the info in the mail yet). And the house was awesome! It needs a lot of work, but nothing major, just little things that I would probably re-do anyway, like walls and lights and such.

Anyway, I've already been up way too long, so it's bedtime for me. Have a good night, chicks!
~Elisha

Hi Everybody,

I haven't felt very motivated (hence the MIA). I don't know what's up with that either. Maybe its a transition of not going to WW and not having to be so accountable? I have been getting up at 4am and doing an hour of Tai Chi, but I'm not convinced it's "aerobic enough" for me to lose weight. Feels great tho.... and that makes it worth it, but I need to do something else too. My weight has stayed the same for about a month now.... running/walking Tai Chi and all.

Julie -- I think their just some rebellion in us sometimes, I know I tend to think... poor me... why should I have to do this all the time etc. etc. when I'm in that kind of mood... but the best part is that you can also turn it around and use that rebellion in a positive way and tell yourself you want to fight "temptation" and you're worth being kind to yourself and your body. Tell yourself how you want to set a good example for your DD, how you want to be healthy and active with her as she grows. Remember tomorrow is another day and you can do it tomorrow... don't beat yourself up. :hug:

I know I can use a new start with the new month. How's the exercise challenge going to work Elisha? BTW congratulations on the new job.

Lisa, thanks for asking where I was... I have been lurking but not feeling too positive ... so laying low.

Anyways... AI is on in 6 minutes ... gotta go cheer for Constantine... or Vonzell.... haven't quite made up my mind.

:grouphug:
Joy

Thursday Morning
 

UGH! I'm so sorry for feeling like this! I really want to be motivational and inspirational and get my butt up and move, but somehow it's just not happening...not right now. I know that stress plays a huge factor in my motivational level...and this month has been a lot of stress...mostly work related! But then it somehow spills into my personal life because I run out of time...time for housework, time for family, time for ME!!!

So last night I had a little problem with motivation, but I also was having some physical pain in my hip. Not sure what it was all about...I sat in a really "bad" chair for an hour for an inservice yesterday, which may have added to it, but I haven't had pain like that for years..not there, anyway! Every time I put weight through it, it hurt like heck. So I took some Alleve when I went to bed, positioned my leg so it was comfy with a pillow and this morning it is fine! Tells me that it must have been some nerve stuff going on! Kind of scares me though with this hiking I have coming up in August!

On a positive note, I found the pedometer and walked almost 11,000 steps yesterday! It was a busy day and today is not going to be any slower!

I also, like some of you, am looking forward to a new challenge and a new month! It was nice to hear from Joy and MsRD. Glad you are still checking in! I've missed you both! Elisha...the house sounds really nice. Have a good day today! I gotta run and get ready for work! UGH!

Hugs!

Morning chicks!

I just could *not* get to sleep last night--it was after 4am that I finally closed my eyes! And then I got up at 6:30! Eesh! I'm going to be dragging all day. I laid awake thinking of all the stuff I could do to the house. I'm obsessed now. It's very exciting. I've never had space where I could do exactly what I wanted. And I'm such a colorful person, I want to put bold color everywhere. My house is going to look like Mickey Mouse lives there! :lol:

Today is my mom's birthday, so we're going out to dinner to celebrate. Breakfast and lunch are going to be light, and hopefully I can make myself eat something healthy at dinner as well, grilled chicken or something. I guess we'll see what happens.

Anyway, I've gotta get moving. Today is going to be a long day.
Have a great one, chicks.
~Elisha

evening all! :wave:

Just came from visiting Mom......so that kinda drags the day down *sigh*. I am seriously considering not bringing her home for Mothers Day......she is having great difficulty with her walking.....doesn't know what day it is......sometimes doesn't know who I am.....and gets really really confused when taken out of her own little environment. I guess I just have to verify in my own mind that it would be for her own good..... not just for my convenience. (I was raised with a lot of guilt, can you tell?) Guess I will just have to sleep on it.......:?:

Elisha.....Did you put an offer in on the house? This can be so exciting! A place of your own....where you can paint the colors you want.....hang pictureswhere you want.....make it your own space! :crossed:

Julie. .....Sorry you are feeling so unmotivated....the motivation is waning here too! But a new month is coming up.....a new challenge. Start thinking about your goals and how to achieve them.....or maybe what is keeping you from achieving them?

Joy.....Being MIA due to lack of motivation is no excuse! You get in here and grouse with the rest of us! :lol3: Seriously now, it is time to start planning for May. For myself, it helps to write down the plan......what I plan to cook/eat.....adding up those calories.....type of exercise .....and a scheduled time for exercise. (I didn't do that in April and have had virtually no success this month!)

The dog and I had a good run/walk when I got home tonight......amazing how a little exercise puts the world back in perspective! :) I know it is late, but I think I can still get in the 1-mile WATP if I start now!

Help! Could somebody give me a hand?? Send me a lifeline?? Say a prayer?? Be my friend??

I have had such a bad day..just stuff happening all day...nothing major..just majorly stressful. And I ate so badly..just binged like I had no sense..huge, huge quantities of stuff. I've done this overeating thing for the past few days now, and I am so puzzled. I am so hungry I feel like my food is going into a big hole..nothing fills me up.

I've done so good.......and worked out so hard (not too hard though). I am so discouraged I could just cry. I need a hug bad!! Please, girls, help me out here :(.


**Oh, MsRD, I am so sorry about the situation with your Mom. Let me give YOU a big hug (((((((((MsRD)))))))))). Maybe things will look brighter in the morning. I'll say a prayer for you sweetie.

**Joy - So good to see you!! Yay! Let's get going with the WW again. I need you!!! We can help each other through this rough patch.

**Elisha - Hope you had fun at the dinner!!

I am so so sorry my post is such a downer. You know me..I usually am not like this at all. Some days I just can't pretend nothing is wrong. Thanks for being here girls.

Hi Chickadees

Got this email today from another group.... kinda hit home so I thought I'd share.

Here's my Thought for the day:
(taken from the book, "Make the Connection" by Oprah Winfrey and Bob Greene

Knowing What you Want

....." If we don't know what we want, we become like a floating balloon. Our
direction in life is at the mercy of external forces.
Yet it's not enough to know what we want, we have to be sure we know WHY we want
it. It is important to know exactly why you wish to lose weight or get fit.
The most common reason people give is that they believe it will radically change
their life. But, losing weight itself will NOT radically change your life.
I repeat, IT WILL NOT! You see, what happens to most people who lose weight is
that they imagine their life will suddenly be blissful and problem
free once they reach a certain weight or certain size, or gain a certain fitness
level. By the time they reach this weight, or are close to it, they realize
they are still unhappy and life is not blissful and this unhappiness triggers
their old coping mechanisms. This, in turn, leads them to put weight back on.
Sadly this is a typical weight loss cycle.

I'll say it again: YOUR EXCESS WEIGHT IS A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING ELSE, maybe many
things in your life. You must come to understand what your weight represents.
It may represent a void in your life or not wishing to let people down, it may
represent unhappiness with yourself, it may represent unhappiness with your
life. It can represent a variety of different things. But, ultimately it is
about NOT receiving enough love. And usually when this is the case, you are
constantly in search of love from external sources. The secret is, it must
first come from yourself."

So, how do you go about doing this? How do you get discipline? Discipline
comes from doing. How do you learn to set boundaries? By learning to put
yourself first on your list. This is a tough step I know. I was the world's
biggest people pleaser and door mat. One choice at a time. I came to realize
as long as I was beating myself up over poor choices and regrets from my
childhood I was never going to move forward. The cycle of self destruction
would continue. So, one choice at a time and here I am!

LIFE IS MADE UP OF DAILY CHOICES! EMPOWER YOURSELF with one healthy choice for
today!!!

Believe in Yourselves!

NO MORE EXCUSES!
Hugs
Joy

TGIF~May Challenge Idea!
 

Morning Chickies...
Joy...thanks for those words of inspiration. I for one, needed to read that this morning. I woke up at 5:30 (without alarm) and was wide awake. Did I get up and work out??? I thought about it...and then laid there for another hour. Don't know if I actually went back to sleep, but I once again, felt guilty about not getting up and working out! It was a choice. I'm not sure what all of this means and WHY I am doing it. I have been searching to find what it is that I am NOT getting enough of in my life to sabbotage myself like this. And from what I have been reading these days, I am not the only one who feels this way! So.....

Here we are. WE have each other. We have this great venue where we can write how we feel and support one another. Seems like it would be enough, doesn't it? But it isn't! We have to find what is INSIDE of us...maybe dig deep...and bring it to the surface. I know for me, that my goals next month are going to be goals about my personal self. I know I have to eat right and exercise...we all know that's the way we lose weight, right? I'd like to see next month's challenge something that would help all of us with personal growth. And since MOther's Day is next month (I know not all of us are MOther's, but we are all WOMEN who nurture others) let's do a challenge for not only weight loss, but for personal growth!!! Any takers? Any ideas for a title? I want this to be the BEST challenge we have ever had...even if none of us lose a pound, I want us to have a month where the work we have done was difficult but rewarding!!!

OK, I have said enough. Let me know what y'all think and this weekend I will work on a challenge, if that's ok with everyone.

Hope you all have a wonderful Friday.

Lisa...Sorry you are having a bad day. Hugs to you...Hugs to all of you! Let's get back on track, chickies! We owe that much to ourselves!!!!

Morning chicks!

Yes, I'd say we're all in the same boat. I get motivated for about 2 days, then there's just crap. Yesterday's eating was nowhere close to being good. I did manager 4.11 miles, or 8706 steps, for a total of 13.86. Doesn't look like I'm going to make the 25 miles this week. But this evening I'm going to buy a new suit, maybe get my hair done, and go walk around Lowe's looking at stuff for my house. Steve's dad is coming to look at it on Sunday, and we can't make an offer before he approves it (since he's making the down payment for us), so I guess I'll know in a couple of days if I'm getting a house. At least that house. For now, it doesn't hurt to look.

Julie, I'm with you on the personal growth challenge. My personal challenge for the month is to get back below 200 for my birthday on the 29th. I have every intention of working my butt off to get there, because that's what it's going to take. This month is going to be hard for me with the change of jobs, lots of stress, and not a lot of movement at work. I'm going to need all the support I can get. What do you say I start a series of questions again? I'm sure I've got some good ones somewhere. Some of them might be repeats, but I'll try to find the ones that really hit home. Sound good?

Ok, I've gotta get ready for work. Have a great day, chicks.
~Elisha

Evening all! :wave:

I almost didn't come in here tonight.....just stuff going on.....but I am glad I did! Your posts really woke me up. Thanks for being therre for me.

Lisa.....Believe me, I know the stress-triggered bad day hungries. sometimes I can even see them coming.....but can't work around them.....and can't stop them. My theory.....and this is just off the top of my head.....is that your body tells you to eat....because it needs nourishment to run. So, what is your body asking for? Chocolate? not likely......ice cream? chips? nope. It is asking for the nutritious foods it needs. When you eat junk, it still doesn't have the fuel it needs, so it keeps telling you that you are hungry....probably hoping your brain will kick in and you will choose your next meal wisely.

Joy....your essay couldn't have been more timely. I think each of us took something away to think about. One choice at a time.....daily choices......maybe if I take this seemingly insurmountable challenge of weight loss and break it down to one choice at a time......maybe, just maybe......

Julie.....A personal growth challenge sounds perfect. We deserve to be kind to ourselves....put ourselves first for a change.....and be the best women that we can be. There is more to life than weight loss....and certainly more areas in my life that need improvement!

Elisha.....I always loved your questions....they made me think about what was important in my life and why I was doing things the way I do (or don't)!

I didn't make the whole 3 miles WATP tonight......pooped out around 2 miles. But that was after I had tilled up the back flower garden and the strawberry bed.....so maybe that made up for it!

Have a great weekend, chickies!

Morning chicks! And happy weekend!

This is the last full weekend I'm ever going to have to work. *hehe*

Well, food is still less than stellar, but weight is holding steady at 205.2, so it could be worse. Water was decent yesterday, and even though there was no exercise I managed to walk 12570 steps, or 5.93 miles, for a total of 19.79. I got my hair cut and had a friend highlight it for me. I'm still deciding what I think of it. The highlights are fabulous, but the cut--I'm not so sure. Well, it looks fine if I spend time on it, but I've never been one to spend a lot of time on my hair.

Anyway, someone asked how the miles challenge works (forgive me for not remembering whom). It's a little different for each of us, because we each set our own goals. For example, if your goal is to walk a grand total of 5 miles per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks, that's 100 miles. Wear your pedometer all day long, and record your total at the end of the day. If you don't have a pedometer, you can get one for about $4 at WalMart. If you choose to exercise aerobically, or don't have a pedometer, a steady pace will equal about 1 mile = 15 minutes. If your workout is light, or you're walking at a more leisurely pace, 1 mile = 20 minutes. Base the minutes on how challenged you feel. The best thing to do would be to find a measured course and time yourself.

As far as how many steps are in a mile, that one's a little trickier, since it's based on stride length. For me, it's about 2070, but I'm pretty tall (5'10) and I take long strides. If your shorter, you'll need to take more steps to make a mile. A lot of pedometers will do the conversion for you (including the $4 WalMart version, which is the one I have), if you measure and set your stride length when you first get it.

Ok, I need to go, so I can find something cute to wear to my first day of my new job. Have a great day, chicks!
~Elisha

I'm here! I was up 2.5 lbs yesterday, and today - one of those is gone. Just some fluid retention on one of the pounds. I was being hard on myself the other day. I realize that I have maintained my exercise and weights/toning, even in the midst of the eating crisis I have been having. Yesterday was much better. We went to IHOP last night with DH's family after a baseball game. It was around 9 pm, and none of us had had any dinner, and we were beyond starved. You would NOT BELIEVE the oozing pancakes and yummy delights everyone else was having...that and also country fried steak and the like. I ate very very well. Had water, 1/2 piece of grilled chicken, and some of a baked potato with nothing on it. I also had some broccoli. So..that was good. I only had 4 points left for the day, and I didn't want to mess up.

I am very motivated today. Gotta pick myself back up...because that's what it is all about..new days and new opportunities to succeed. Every set back is just a set up for a COMEBACK. I am thinking about this new challenge as a RENEWAL challenge for me..to renew my motivation, my plan of action, and my attitudes concerning my body and my health. Elisha, I really want you to do the daily questions again, and I will help you if you want me too. I also am going to bump the feelings check forum up so I can journal there some. I want us to succeed!!! We can all do this.

HAVE A FABULOUS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!