Ten hut! As you may know, the number one enemy when it comes to changing your lifestyle is BOREDOM! This is a insidious problem that strikes in two ways.

The first is boredom as a reason to eat. Hopefully this is changing, but it is still a danger to be aware of.

And the second, and more problematic for most of us at this stage, is boredom with your food and exercise routines.

You have probably all said "I can't face eggs for breakfast again!" which is a sure indication that boredom is getting to you. Or you might have uttered the words "I am sick of the treadmill!"

Let's talk about some ways you can beat the boredom and rev up your new healthy habits!

Switch it up! Tired of eggs for breakfast? Try them for dinner! Somehow changing the context of a meal makes a world of difference.

Or, eat dinner at breakfast time! No rule says you have to eat dinner in the evening, right? Leftovers make a quick, no fuss breakfast.

Try a new spice. Be creative and stretch your culinary horizons! Always use lemon pepper on your chicken? Give rosemary a try!

Bring on the heat! Try stronger flavors that you are used to...salsa on eggs, chili powder in chicken soup, banana peppers on a salad...your taste buds will get a wake up call!

Scour the produce department for new veggies you have never tried, or old favorites you had forgotten. Fennel, artichokes, Bok Choy anyone?

Exercise your right to not be bored! If you can't stand the treadmill today, get outside! If you are tired of walking, go for a bike ride!

Introduce intervals. Try walking for 2 minutes then jogging for 1 minute...that will get your blood pumping AND kill the boredom!

Try some new active pursuit! Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates....there is so much to choose from!

Find the fun! Rollerblade, frisbee, hoola hoop, even a rousing game of tag at the park are great ways to have some fun...and get moving!

Group Activity for the Week of 9//28-18 minutes

What are your strategies for booting boredom? What routine are you sick to death of? Share time!

Have a great day...I'm off to work out...took the weekend off so time to get it in gear!

Have to share...I hit the 50 pounds lost mark! It kind of snuck up on me...a nice surprise, to be sure!

Franny... 50 pounds! That's wonderful!

Well, as for banishing boredom, you know I had chili for breakfast this morning.

I just had a great, one hour workout at the Y.
Oh! And yoga this evening! That'll be another hour and a half.

Banishing boredom... well, I DO like looking through my recipe file. Funny... I can sit down with a cup of coffee and my file and have a great time perusing the recipes I've clipped, and I'm not the least bit hungry!
It's just when I get tired that I'm weak for food. Which is about half the damned day.

How about using your timer? I set mine (when I remember) for 15 minutes... I spend time on the computer, then set it for another 15 and wiz around the house doing quick pick-ups and clean-ups.

For those of you who are REALLY bored, I have some serious renovating going on here... come on over and I'll have you burning calories like crazy.

The Girls and I have changed our walking routes to avoid boredom. This afternoon we may do the nature trail over at the Park. We need to do it before the hunting season starts because my two furry black babies look like bear cubs! I guess they need orange coats!
Food is never boring around here! I get tired of eggs but have lots of other options.

Hi! This is so true! Since my life is so bad these days, I have found that in the land of Denial, where everything is simply FINE, I get bored because I don't want to face all the stuff I need to do.

Today, instead of hanging out, undecided, in front of my 'fridge, I will beat the boredom and get something accomplished! I am in the midst of trying to change a lot in my life, including my career.

Today I will continue with the first few steps I've been avoiding for a while! First, I'm gonna clean off all the clothes that live on my step machine -- I wonder if I can remember how to use it! I'll report back later! Then, I'll make some (obscene) phone calls regarding my job search...then salad with chicken breast for lunch and...

to keep my face out of the 'fridge...

I'll summon my super-human powers and...

FIGHT boredom today!!!

OK ladies, work with me, I'm feeling inspired!

We often have breakfast stuff for dinner and dinner stuff for breakfast. I not bored, just hanging in there. Had a busy day today not much computer time but I did squeeze in a 30 minute walk this am.

Hugs to you all!

Reporting for duty, Sarge Franny

I don't know exactly why, but this colder weather has made
me hungrier, less thirsty for my H2o, and lazier! Go
figure!!!!! I'm fighting it like crazy, however! The devil is after me, but I'm outrunning him!

Anyway, I took a brisk walk this morning for 45 minutes, and then did weights for 15. Last week, I decided I would really get organized with my thoughts and start a Food/Feelings/Exercise Journal. It really helps me to look back and see what I did each day. I'm sure it will benefit even more as time goes by. Who recommended that? Was it sweet Marcie???? Thanks to whomever! This helps to combat boredom for me. Just one change at a time!

Franny.......Congrats on the 50 lb. weight loss! What an accomplishment!

Ellis......I really like your idea of 15 minutes intervals. I might try that one!

Ruth.......I'll bet you have some beautiful scenery on your walks! Watch out for those silly hunters!

J&L.......Good luck in finding your step machine!.....and in finding a new job!

Sflake.....hugs to you, too!

Have a good one all you Beach Chickies!
~Sharon

Oh, Sharon... that's me right now, too!

Wow Franny, 50 lbs ... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I've been so busy lately I've been tending to eat the same things over and over ... hopefully life will slow a bit so I can try some new recipes. I try to make my lunches and dinners and freeze them on Sundays but for the last few weeks I haven't had any time to do it, so I end up eating an egg white omelet for dinner (after having the same thing for breakfast) and making something on plan but quick for lunch.

I made chili and froze it last week ... maybe I'll have that for breakfast in the morning (thanks ellis) ...

Exercise time for today ... 45 minutes on the treadmill before work, 60 minutes stationary bike and 30 minutes weights at the gym tonight ... (I may not make time for creative meals but I ALWAYS exercise ... do I get points for that??)

Have a good night ladies!!!

Hi girls, I can only report a 10 min walk and 1 hour of housework at breakneck speed. I would not turn on my computer till it was done. So I did the whole house in 60 minutes. Not sure if that counts. Have a great night.

Oops... I posted my workout stuff for today on yesterday's thread. I'm kind of ditzy sometimes. :-D

Too rainy all day for walking, so I'll have to make it up tomorrow.
Sgt. Frannie. 50lbs is a great accomplishment.

We got into Phase 2 just in time for me to shift gears, because I must admit that I was getting tired of eggs. Now with the other changes that come with Phase 2, eggs will be welcome again.

See you tomorrow. Lizzie

Good evening troops! I hope you all had a great day at Boot Camp!

Group Activity for Week of 9/28-453 Minutes!

Ellis-Where do you think I got the idea for this post? Chili for breakfast, silly! I am used to eating meals at whatever time I want to. Working nights will do that to you. I do try and avoid anything too heavy or spicy in the morning just because I worry about getting heartburn or an upset stomach while I sleep.

Ruth-I just can't help but smile at the image of your furry babies wearing safety orange!

Robin-I am sorry things are so tough your way! It sounds like you have a plan, which is a very good think. Sometimes the inertia is so hard to overcome. Just take a couple baby steps....it might be enough to get you moving in the direction you want to take!

Sflake-Glad to see you are already mixing it up!

Sharon-I'm with you when it comes to increased hunger, decreased thirst and way increased laziness. I suspect it has something to do with the weather and our prehistoric imperative to put on weight for the coming winter! I also know that a decrease in body temp will often bring about an increase in appetite. Cold weather also decreases thirst! I think I will do a bit of research and see if I can find some facts! Thanks for the idea!

Kathy-Yes ma'am, you get lots of credit for exercising! It sounds like you have been awfully busy lately, which makes it understandable why you haven't been stretching your culinary horizons! When you are just too busy to try new things you are usually too busy to eat bad stuff, too!

Little Chick-Hey there, recruit!

Lizzie-Yuck, rain! I have had enough for several summers! And Autumns, too!

Harmony, I got your minutes for Monday, so don't fret! I had to laugh when I read your list of fridge contents! The stuff that is obviously your DH's stuck out like a sore thumb!

I hope you all had a great weekend! Report back here tomorrow for day 34! At least I think it is day 34? Anyway, see you tomorrow!