This ain't easy folks

Struggling here. And still trying to figure out what's going to work for me. As you get older it's certainly harder to lose weight, so all you younguns out there, take care of yourselves early on, continue and maintain your healthy lifestyle. I hate to keep giving excuses, so I won't. We are moving next week, and there's a gym close by. I'll join because one thing I do know about me, I have to 'go' someplace to get the exercise. The free stuff just doesn't work, like walking, or doing it at home. Strange, but true. At least for me. Oh, fad diets don't work either. I have to keep telling myself, lifestyle change. So, if your struggling out there too, don't give up. Find what works for you, and we'll continue this journey together...

Did ya know? A through Z

a: apples~are more efficient than coffee at keeping people awake in the morning.
b: berries~the smaller the size of a berry, the sweeter its taste.
c: cancer~up to 50 percent of all cancers may be linked to diet. Reduce the amount of fat in your diet.
d: diet soda~has not been proven to aid in weight loss. In fact, it actually increases hunger.
e: enzymes~watermelon and cucumbers supply valuable enzymes to a dogs system, once introduced, they'll love it!
f: formaldehyde~this chemical is what the artificial sweetener, aspartame, breaks down into after being eaten.
g: bubble gum~the flavor of bubble gum comes from the fusion of vanilla, wintergreen and “cassia,” a form of cinnamon.
h: honey~there is evidence that honey is the only food that cannot spoil.
i: iceberg lettuce~is 90 percent water, and therefore, of negligible nutrient value.
j: jump rope~can burn up to 1000 calories per hour, making it one of the most efficient workouts possible.
k: kwashiorkor~disease linked to inadequate protein consumption (virtually no cases in the united states)
l: laxatives~for weight control is a myth.By the time laxatives act on the large intestine, most foods and calories have already been absorbed by the small intestine.
m: mushrooms~briefly exposing white mushrooms to sunlight greatly increases their vitamin D content.
n: nuts~the shell of cashew nuts are poisonous and contain urushiol.
o: oats~95 percentage of oats grown in United States are eaten by livestock.
p: popcorn~has been around for 6,000 years.
q: quince~a fruit resembling a pear low in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium, a sure way to weight loss.
r: rennet~a common substance used to curdle milk and make cheese, is taken from the inner lining of the fourth stomach of a calf.
s: sugar~refined,is the only food known that provides calories but no nutrition. About 100 pounds of sugar are eaten per person each year in America. .
t: tea~in order for green tea to have a therapeutic effect, you must consume 4-5 cups daily.
u: u.s trees~disappears every 8 seconds, 1 acre of trees are spared per year by each person who switches to a pure vegetarian diet.
v: vitamin c~most animals can produce their own vitamin C with the exception of fish, primates (including humans) and guinea pigs.
w: woodpecker~in ancient Rome it was considered a sin to eat the flesh of a woodpecker.
x: xanthareel~yellow eel formerly used in medicinal foods.
y: yams~are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps to control blood pressure.
z: zucchini~archaeologists have traced their origins to Mexico, and remember, most of the nutrients are in the skin.

...when pigs fly.

Okay, I shall not wait for that. After another long vacation I have now totally gained all of my (hard work) weight that I lost BACK. Arggh. Nobodies fault but my own. We ate out everyday and I loved it. I didn't exercise and hardly drank any water. Sheesh, I'm killing myself, literally. It wasn't until I saw the pictures today and I realized, oh my~I really did gain weight. Sooooo I decided to make a new weight loss ticker. Hopefully that will help me to get motivated once again. Like I said before, it's going to have to be a lifestyle change. I saw one of my sisters whilst I was away. We were probably about the same size tho she's a bit shorter. She lost so much weight I could hardly believe it. She said she didn't fast, have any operations nor did she exercise. Here is how she did it.
--ate the recommended servings listed on boxes/bags.
--no limits on vegetables.
--ate pretty much anything she wanted but cooked in smaller portions and only filled up a 'larger' saucer.
--didn't eat seconds.
That's it. And she looks great. I mean seriously she had to of lost over 100 pounds.
Her daughter lost a lot of weight too. I'm so proud of them.
I'm tired of huffing and puffing, I used to be in good shape! I'll feel better, oh how I remember, and I'll definately look better. Motivation, motivation. My steps may stumble, but I'm going to continue to go forward...

...what goes in must come out...

...well here I am, fat and sassy. Yes, I've gained a couple of pounds back and that's rather depressing. But, I walked 3 days last week for quite a few miles each day so at least I'm getting some exercise. Each of those days had me at the bottom of a gazillion stairs as you know San Francisco has plenty of those! So, I did get some cardio out of the deal! Plus our usually cold and foggy summer has turned out to be sunny and warm so the walks have been quite picturesque and beautiful. I also wanted to comment on something my doctor recommended...psyllium husk. It is pure natural fiber. I haven't tried it yet, it's been sitting on my counter for two weeks. After reading up on it, it kinda scares me, but I think I'm just being chicken (ahem)...it swells when taken so you have to drink ALOT of water before and after. But, it will cleanse the whole colon. The doctor said pointing to my pouch, 'that little puffy area there will go away completely after taking it'. Hmmmmm I certainly like that idea, and cleansing the ol colon. Some more good factors of taking this stuff are:
-aids in weight loss <--yippeee
-maintains healthy cholesterol & blood pressure levels
-treats yeast infections and hemorrhoids
-pushes out mucoid plaque <---totally gross..look it up.
Problem is, I'm afraid this stuff will get stuck in my throat. Sounds stupid, but someone reviewed it saying their husband poured it down the sink and it clogged.
I will take it, and I will review it for you, just not tonight. I'm not (ahem) ready.

ruh roh

Okay, okay...when I said I wanted to lose weight, I meant with diet and exercise!!!

SIKE!

Ok well, I haven't lost THAT much weight! I actually just lost my job. Hellsbells. There always seems to be something coming my way to thwart my battle with weight loss. But, I shall not give in! Nope! No way! Although I will not be using 'that' gym anymore, nor the lovely, lovely trainers there, I'll just have to do it on my own.
This is interesting tho. You kinda see what your made up of. Whether it be good or bad. Lifestyle change is more effective tho. I mean, you can be using all of the equipment in the world to get in shape, but, at the end of the day, if you haven't changed the way you live, it will be to no avail.
Wish me luck!

Blame it on the water...

...the water did it! That's my story and I'm stickin to it!
Ok, I lost 2 pounds this month and very very happy, believe you me!
You see, I broke my toe 3 weeks ago, it seems there's always something getting in the way. I didn't get too frustrated... just drank more water. I'm pretty sure that's what saved me. But seriously folks, I FEEL much better, and I'm starting to crave it. This, my friend is a good thing. We all know water is good for us, but it's so hard to drink a lot of it. See the benefits of drinking water below:

1. Get healthy skin. Drinking water moisturizes your skin from the inside out. Water is essential to maintaining elasticity and suppleness and helps prevent dryness.
2. Lose weight. Increased water consumption can help you control weight by preventing you from confusing hunger with thirst. Water will also keep your body systems working properly, including metabolism and digestion, and give you the energy (and hydration) necessary for exercise.
3. Flush toxins. By helping to flush toxins, appropriate water intake lessens the burden on your kidneys and liver.
4. Reduce your risk of a heart attack. Researchers at Loma Linda University in California studied more than 20,000 healthy men and women and found that people who drink more than five glasses of water a day were less likely to die from a heart attack or heart disease than those who drank fewer than two glasses a day.
5. Cushion and lube your joints and muscles. Water makes up a large part of the fluid that lubricates and cushions your joints and muscles. Drinking water before, during, and after exercise can also help reduce muscle cramping and premature fatigue.
6. Stay regular. Water helps prevent constipation by adding fluid to the colon and bulk to stools, making bowel movements softer and easier to pass.
7. Stay hydrated, get energized, and be alert. On average, most adults lose about 10 cups of fluid a day through sweating, exhaling, urinating, and bowel movements. Even minor dehydration can cause impaired concentration, headaches, irritability, and fatigue.
8. Regulate your body temperature. Perspiration is your body's natural mechanism to control body temperature. And to sweat, you need plenty of water.
9. Reduce your risk of disease and infection. Water can help prevent kidney stones and reduce your chances of getting bladder, kidney, and urinary tract infections. One study found that women who drank more than five glasses of water a day had a risk of colon cancer that was 45 percent less than those who drank two or fewer glasses a day.
10. Get well. The traditional prescription to "drink plenty of fluids" when you're sick still holds strong. Water can help control a fever, replace lost fluids, and thin out mucus.

WOO HOO!

Ok, I had to redo my weight loss ticker because I hadn't changed in so long they dumped me too!
I'm sad to report I have not lost my 5 pound goal as of yesterday, but I did lose 3. But, in all reality just 1 since I gained 2 pounds from previous months.
Wow, listen to me, we are really hard on ourselves, huh? I'm seriously just glad to be working out again and at least I lost weight instead of gaining. Looks like I'm about halfway to my goal mark according to the ticker at the bottom of my page.
I realized the stairmaster has to be the hardest machine in the gym. I used to trek along on the elliptical and see people struggling on it and used to think they weren't working out hard.
HAH!
I was beat in five minutes AND on manual!!! So because I hate that machine, I need to do it more often.
My fun time was the expresso bike. I found a cool game you can be in and forgot all about exercising, I was so engrossed on killing those dragons!
I still haven't eaten potato chips or doritos so I'm proud of myself for that. And drinking more water.
Lifestyle change. That's what it's all about.
Keep on keeping on.

Back at it......again.

Ok ok, here we go again. After another months hiatus, I started working out again. I was feeling really lousy, physically and emotionally.
1. I set a small goal to lose five pounds by March 5, I gained 2 but don't have the heart to change my slider.
2. I have stopped eating chips again through the end of March, maybe altogether?
3. Cut my bread intake by half.
4. If I don't buy the damn sweets I won't eat them.
5. Keep exercising at least 5 days a week.
6. Drink more water, lots more.
Wish me luck. Quitting smoking was easier. :S

In Hiding.

I've often noticed people who are doing things they shouldn't stay away. Maybe it's out of guilt, or fear of being judged.
I realized I hadn't posted for awhile cuz I'm so embarrassed that this month has been the pits for me, and nobodies fault but my own. I feel crappy and only working out 3 times a week after a two week hiatus. I haven't lost any weight, and this is the first month since I started. I'm too afraid to take my measurements. I know what I have to do, I just have to DO IT.
Although it was hard, I felt better and did better with stipulations. Like only eating bread or soda 2 times a week, or not eating chips for 6 weeks, etc. I need to get back on track. Seriously, although the junk food tastes great, it makes me feel worse, not as much mentally, but physically.
Tomorrow's another day. I think my next post I'll put up my 'before and after' pictures thus far. Maybe that will get me going. Goodgod! Am I really going to do that???? Arrrrghhhh!

New Expectations

New Year.
May I have the will power, the fun, the energy, the time, to go on.
Here's to 16 more pounds and a healthier lifestyle.
Here's to me.