Happy Holiday

Love and peace to all

Wednesday weigh-in

Weighing in at 166 pounds today.

I lost 3 pounds and I am happy with that.

I have not exercised, unless you count housework. I do think I can count housework because I have been doing more than I normally do.

I joined FlyLady again. I am a FlyBaby again. Several years ago a good friend of mine told me about FlyLady and I was hooked. FlyLady helps to get your house organized and clean. It worked for me for a few months, until I got sidetracked and went back to my old habits. I think I jumped in too fast and tried to do too much too fast. Well I am trying it again but doing it slowly. The first thing FlyLady has me do is make my kitchen sink shine and keep it shinning and clean. I have been struggling through this one because my kids do the dishes Monday through Friday. They do not completely have the concept of a shinning sink down. We are working on this. I just can't try to do everything all at once. I have to remember I did not get in this pile of clutter in one day or even one week. So, I'll be a FlyBaby for a while trying to get out of this clutter.

I have not been eating any crack (wheat). I did accidentally got some wheat when we went to a new local fast food joint. I ordered two large fries and was wolfing them down because I was soo hungry. I bit into a fist full of fries and notice they tasted slightly different but swallowed them down anyway (an unconscious move). After I inhaled the fries I noticed bits of chicken nugget on the bottom of the package and realized I had eaten crack (wheat). The coating on the nuggets are made with crack (wheat).

Oh snap!

Now I have had a sore throat for a few days.

You never know where you are going to find crack (wheat)!

Oh, how I digress...

I have lost three pounds. And I am happy.

Yeah Me!

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
-Jim Ryun

Love and Peace

One week without wheat

Hey, Happy Holidays to all.

I have not been eating wheat and its products and it has been hard.

I watched my kids make cookies for a contest they were in. I even got in and helped my youngest. I was tempted by the aroma of the sugar and chocolate chip cookies. I actually put a small piece of sugar cookie dough in my mouth, as I usually do, then seconds later I realized what I had done ans spit it into the garbage. That small taste was enough to make me sigh with glee. Ahhhhh...

If my kids had seen me put that dough into my mouth they would have yelled, "Mommy NO, don't eat that!"The taste was sweet like a buttery cream. Some people can not understand how good cookie dough tastes. Maybe they're not addicted to the ingredients. My mouth is now watering with the thought of eating cookie dough.

It have gotten so bad that my DH(dear husband) has begun to worry about me. He sees the effect the wheat has on me. I have such a wide range of symptoms I think it scares him. With this last relapse, my symptoms have been more like the flu. Then I thought... Hmm, maybe I really did have the flu. And again, maybe not 'cause I don't think your skin, throat, eyes and ears would be itching. I have had a headache for the last week or so. My ears and sinuses are kicking my arse. I feel run down and achy. I could go on and on about the symptoms but I will spare you before I start talking about my digestive issues. Your lucky to be saved by my DH's voice in the back of my head saying "Damn, you will talk about anything."

It was so easy the first time I went off wheat. I think it was because I was so sick. I wanted to know if the wheat was the problem. However, when I found out wheat is the problem steering clear of it became a problem.

I have not seriously looked for any "Food addicts" meetings. A good friend of mine reminded me that if I needed help I should get it. She said I should not carry the stigma passed on from generation to generation that, "I can do this on my own , I don't need any help." She is right because I just had a vision of myself next Holiday season talking about how hard it is to not eat the wheat.

"Hello my name is Kim and I am a wheat addict"

The first law of dietetics seems to be if it tastes good, its bad for you.

- Issac Asimov

Love and Peace

Wednesday weigh-in

169 Pounds

Please excuse the toenail polish, time for a pedicure. Ugh!

I did not have a major weight gain or loss, which is okay.

I am struggling with my "crack addiction" (food addiction to wheat). I may need to check out some food addiction meetings.

Next weigh in Wednesday December 17.

"Addictions-
A long-standing compulsive behavior pattern may be called an addiction, and an addiction lives inside you as a quasi-entity or sub-personality, an energy field that periodically takes you over completely. It even takes over your mind, the voice in your head, which then becomes the voice of the addiction. It may be saying, 'You've had a rough day. You deserve a treat. Why deny yourself the only pleasure that is left in your life?' ...Taking the cigarette out of the packet and lighting it, or pouring yourself a drink were actions performed in complete unconsciousness."
-Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

Love and Peace

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night!


PEACE AND LOVE

Wednesday weigh-in

I weighed in at 169 pounds

I'll take that because I lost inches

• Neck 13.5
• Chest 44
• Waist 38.5
• Hips 40
• Thighs 23.5
• Upper arms 14.5

10/10/08

• Neck 13.5
• Chest 43.25
• Waist 36.75
• Hips 39
• Thigh 23.25
  
• Calves 14.25
• Upper arms 13.5
  
• Forearms 11

11/19/08

I thought I was losing inches because my clothes were fitting better. I was able to get into a pair of jeans which had gotten too small. My bra even fits better, it is not strangling me.

I still crave food with wheat in to. I have been in prayer about that. And I have tapped with EFT on issues of food addiction and cravings. I had a small nagging headache creeping up for the lat week. It is a full blown headache today. I think it might be from tapping so much... now I need to tap on this headache.

I lost .5 pounds, I am fine with that since I lost 1.75 inches off my waist, 1 inch off my hips, and 1 inch off my upper arm.

Guess what? Next week is "turkey day". We usually over eat in my house. I am planning a small dinner for my family. Most of the meals we eat on "turkey day" are food with wheat in it. I am going to do a brave thing... fix my families favorites. Chocolate cake, dinner rolls and dressing will be on the menu. I am searching for a gluten-free or maybe raw foods dessert for me.

I don't think I will have any problem not eating wheat because the last couple of weeks have been miserable for me. I feel off the wagon and ate bread, hamburgers (buns), and other products that I knew had wheat in it. I just stopped itching and scratching within the last today or two. My stomach issues have subsided. I have gone from rocket propelled bathroom sessions to waiting, waiting and waiting to visit the throne. My joints have finally stopped revolting on me for my relapse.

That which I love makes me physically sick.

Wish me luck.

God give me strength...

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I have lost .5 pounds and a total 4 inches.

Yeah-ah-oh-ho!

Love and Peace

DRAMA

Some days you wake up in the morning and you just know it is going to be “one of those days.” You try with all that you know not to get into a back and forth with anyone, but you manage to open your mouth and BAM. You’re in the mist of a hornets nest and you’re trying to figure out how you got there?

Well I have been doing some reading, The Law of Attraction, A New Earth, a couple of books by Wayne Dryer and even Deepak Chopar. It’s funny to me because I read it and think I am having an AH-HA moment but then I can’t seem to implement any of the good advice when I should. The moment usually passes then I realize I should have, “been present,” “recognized that was the pain-body,” “picked another battle” and “recognized it’s not me who has the problem.” If I could only figure this out before I step into the hornets nest it would be good. Maybe the reason I don’t figure it out is because I have visions of toasted bread dancing in my head. You know like the old intermission at the movies, where they are trying to get you to buy something from the snack bar. That is my “crack” (wheat) addiction. My pain-body is probably pissed off too because I am not feeding this stupid “crack” addiction. Pain-body is a ego tripping Drama Queen! So the pain-body has taken over and it wants to argue, create drama, and stir up trouble, ‘cause that’s what it does. Of course I am blindsided by the smell and vision of the buttery toast dancing in my head singing “eat me, com’on you know you want some, eat me,” then BAM! What the… were did that hornets nest come from? Too late the hornets are stinging the schick-itty out of me!

Frack-a-lacking bull!

Now, not only do I have a weight loss goal, I have a no drama goal, and a kick the “crack” (wheat) addiction goal.

I keep hearing “Stay present”…

“It’s all good.”


Peace

Wheat Addicted

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

--Saint Francis of Assisi

Artwork by Kim

Up Stream

Plant in Tropic

Pink Plumeria

Bird of Paradise

Leap of Faith at Sunset

Leap of Faith at Daylight

Balance

Peace

Addicted to Wheat

OMG, I am addicted to wheat and wheat products.

I have been acting like a crack addict when it comes to wheat and wheat by products. I understand people being addicted to food much better. I have been trying to go completely off wheat and its by products and I have been miserable, angry, craving and crazy.

For the last three weeks I have been eating wheat here and there. Sneaking it like a crackhead. No offense to anyone who is a crack addict or recovering crack addict.

I have much sympathy and empathy for you.

I feel so much remorse after I eat the wheat, but while I eat it I am in heaven. I had convinced myself that I was not getting enough fiber. See after I would eat deli ham and tomatoes wrapped in lettuce, I would still be hungry one hour later. It was like eating Chinese food.

Oh I need to stop lying to you and myself, I did not need to convince myself I needed more fiber.

I am addicted to wheat and that's it!

I saw Dr. Mary Ann Block on Your Health Television with Dr. Richard Becker. She mentioned that most people who had food allergies would crave the addictive foods. Allergy causing foods
were the addictive food.

That would fit me perfectly.

I know my mother was addicted to carbohydrates. She loved cakes, pies, bread,and cookies. If it had flour and sugar in it she craved it. I am the same way. I have been craving that which has been making me ill and achy.

I am sitting here writing this post and itching like crazy because I ate wheat for several weeks. Now I am paying for it. I have also been more achy and had more allergy symptoms.

This is very hard for me. I feel sad when I think about not eating wheat.

I have to overcome this addiction because it is making me physically ill.

Maybe I need a 12 step program?

I can do this! Yes I can!

Love, Peace, and No More Wheat...

Artwork by Kim

Tropic

Marvin Gaye

Couple Dancing

Blue Plumeria

Peace

A shift...

...in the Atmosphere.

Peace

Wednesday weigh-in

169.5 Pounds

Okay, so I gained 3 pounds.

Whatever!

My DH has told me over and over that I should not weigh myself every week. I am now beginning to believe him. The up and down of the scale makes me a little obsessive. In a way it motivates me, however it makes me crazy also. So I will not be weighing in until November 19.

I thought doing yard work would be enough to at least maintain my weight from last week but it was not. Then again may be I gained muscle with all the work I was doing. I did a lot of yard work this week and last week.

weigh in @ 169.5

See ya in two... two weeks that is.

YES WE CAN!

Peace and blessings

Yes We Can

YES WE CAN!

Wednesday weigh-in

Weigh-in @ 166.5 (173.5) lbs

I weighed in on my old scale, I am having to much trouble with the digital scale. Since there is a 7 pound difference between the digital scale and this old scale, I actually lost 0 pounds. No pound loss this week.

I have to remember I am in the 160's on this scale and not the 170's as far as my weight goes.

I am okay with the weight for this week. I did not do a lot of exercise this week. I just did yard work this week and watched what I ate.

It was cold here and I think it made my joints ache. The aching made me not want to exercise. I am okay with that because today and this week are new days. Each day is a new day. Today I did yard work again and thanks to fall leaves I will be in the yard the rest of the week until the leaves are mulched and collected.

Well no weight loss this week but I have next week to look forward to.

See ya next week...

Peace

Wednesday weigh-in

Wednesday weigh-in @ 173.5...

I lost one pound!

I'll take that, because I didn't work out with P90X. I worked in my yard and I removed carpet from my family room. I am content with one pound.

Now I will get back to P90X and see what happens next week.

I am still having problems with my digital scale. Next week I think I will weigh in with my other Taylor scale. There is a 6 pound difference between the two scales but the manual one is more accurate. I can get on the digital scale and it will read 173.5. And step off get right back on and it will say I weigh 174.5. And it will keep giving me different numbers as long as I keep getting on. I have changed the batteries several times and the problem persists.

Yee Ha...

I weighed in this week at 173.5.

A 1 pound loss.

See ya next week

Peace

The spirit...

"...The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"

Matthew 26:41

Working out around the house

Last week Sunday through Thursday I worked around my house. I ripped out my carpet in my family room, piece by piece. It really needed to be removed years ago. My dog had been tagging it for years. It seemed like I could not get rid of the smell no matter what I tried. It had been shampooed so many times it was still damp when I rolled it up. My family had gotten used to the smell. I would walk in the front door and say "Do you small that?". I always got "No, I don't smell anything" as a response. It was frustrating because I thought I was the only one smelling it. I put all the old carpet and padding on the patio. Wednesday I went out on the patio to let the dog out and the smell of urine over powered me. I knew then that it was not in my head or my nose it was in my old carpet. Now when I walk in the front door dog urine does not greet me at the door.

Pulling that carpet up was a strenuous satisfying job. And I did it all by myself... no help from my DH. I did get a lot of help from my kids on Wednesday and Thursday. They watched me take most of the carpet up then asked if they could help because it "looked fun". So I put them to work. They helped pull the old carpet and padding to the curb for trash day.

What would I do with out my little helpers?

I felt the pain in my back, legs, and arms. Pulling this carpet up and cleaning the wood floors underneath was a workout. I also worked in the yard and got up leaves on Tuesday.

I am still sore today. However some of the soreness from today is because my MIL, my girls and I had to clean my house, which was not planned. Like I said, what would I do with out my little helpers?

Some times things happen unexpectedly and you have to be able to adapt and modify situations and circumstances in order to keep sane. I learned from Eckhart Tolle that you can not resist that which is not pleasant or you will cause it to persist. Remembering what Tolle said in "A New Earth" and listening to my MIL and my dad, I got through the situation and all is well.

I am glad this day is about to end and a fresh new day will start shortly.

I think it is time to read "A New Earth" again.

Peace to all

Weigh in wednesday

I am weighing in at 174.5 that is a 1.5 pound loss.

I will take that. I have been working my buttocks off with p90x. Today is the beginning of week two. I am still motivated. I enjoyed the yoga-x the most. It was intense and extreme.

I have been drinking more water because the workouts are so extreme.

Yesterday I worked in the yard getting up fall leaves. I have to get a jump on the leaves or I will be overwhelmed. I live in a forest... not really. But there are so many trees in my neighborhood you would think it was a forest. Two years ago I was not physically able to get the leaves up the way I wanted. That following spring it was a mess to get up all those old decomposing leaves. I said I would never get in that situation again, if I could help it.

Well I an happy with a 1.6 pound loss

Today's weigh in is 174.5

See ya next week...

Peace

Wednesday weigh-in

I lost .5 pounds LOL!

I don't feel bad because I started P90x today and I know next week will be a better week.

I am sore and at least I know why... Because I worked my arse off!

I will post the workout later.

Weigh in for today is 176 lbs.

Peace

Working it out...

Okay, lets start with yesterday. I mowed the yard to get up all the fall leaves. That was a 45 minute workout.

I eat lightly and drank a lot of green tea yesterday.

Today I worked out with power 90x. I could only do half of the work out for chest, shoulder, and triceps, but I did it. I also did a couple of 10 second planks, side planks, and bird dogs.

I am so glad tomorrow is my off day.

I am off to the shower.

Peace

I gained weight

176.5 pounds this week.

I gained 1.5 pounds from last week.

Here is my weight form July 23, 2008...

• 7/23 - 178
• 8/6 - 176.5
• 8/13 - 178
• 8/20 - 177
• 8/27 - 180.5
• 9/3 - 174**
• 9/10 - 176.5
• 9/17 - 174.5
• 9/24 - 175
• 10/1 - 176.5

Whoa, when I look at those numbers I want to sink into a depression. The numbers do speak for themselves.

**The week I worked the hardest is the week I lost the most.

Why can't I stay motivated? Why do I sabotage my weight loss with a big celebration that makes me gain back half if not all of what I lost the previous week?

Frack- a- lacking bull! Argh! $&*#!

See ya next week...

maybe...

Peace

Do or die poker

I play a little poker every now and then.

I play on all luck and intuition. My DH (dear husband) and I joke with each other all the time about players who play on all the statistics and odds vs. players who play on intuition and luck.

My DH is very analytical and cerebral and I am very intuitive and impulsive. I have to admit I do beat him most of the time when we play, but I have been playing longer than him too. I also bluff well. I introduced him to the game and he is now the expert.

I am not good at betting. I can't seem to figure out the pot odds and the odds of a certain card hitting the board. I don't have all the lingo down. So I am always self conscious. My DH keeps telling me that I would be a better player if I learned about the different odds and statistics of the game.

I have been checking out a blog... www.do-or-die-poker.com it has a lot of strategy, tips and information about poker.

I like the site and hope it will help me get back into some poker games with more confidence and skill.

Peace

New banner...

Look at my new banner.

My kids made it for me.

They are so creative.

My oldest created the banner and incorporated a drawing her sister created.

It turned out very well.

Koodles to my dynamic duo.

Peace

Friday's work out...

Friday's workout:

• Modified Crunches - Sets 4 - Reps 15
• Modified Crunches With Twist - Sets 4 -Reps 15
• Hamstring Flexion With Ball - Sets 4 - Reps 15
• Back Extension With Ball - Sets 2 -Reps 15
• Modified "perfect" Push Ups - Sets 2 - Reps 5

I did drink 16 ounces last night before I went to bed last night.

I am not necessarily motivated, but I am determined to lose more than 2.5 pounds in the next two months.

Peace

Working out...

Today's work out:

• Seated dumbbell triceps extension set 2 - reps 15
• Alternating dumbbell biceps curls set 5 - reps 5
• Dumbbell crunches set 4 - reps 15
  
• Plank set 2 - 20 seconds each
• Side plank set 2 - 15 seconds each
• Dumbbell weight is 8 pounds

I also worked in yard again trimming shrubs for 30 minutes. I worked up sweat today also.

I have only had 16 ounces of water so far today. Before bed I will try to get another 16 ounces of water.

Peace

Do you want to join me...

I started this weigh in Wednesday on July 24, two months ago.

I am a little disheartened to report that I have only lost a total 2.5 pounds.

I started out at 178 pounds and today I weigh 175.5.

Hmm

I want to challenge anyone reading this to join in with me.

Post your beginning weight and weigh in with me each Wednesday.

Let me know what you are doing to stay motivated?

Do you have a plan or are you like me? I am trying to get back into the swing of exercising.

Thanks for checking me out.

Next weeks goal is a 2 pound loss.

Peace

Staying motivated...

...wah, wah, wah.

1/2 pound increase from last week.

I did weigh in after I worked in the yard. I worked up a good sweat getting up leaves and mowing for about 45 minutes. I wanted to have some sort of loss. I was punishing myself for not working out more than one day this past week.

I never ripped any abs and I have been very complacent. I lack motivation.

I am a big time procrastinator.

You should have seen me last night after I realized it was Tuesday night and I had to weigh in today. If I wasn't so unmotivated, I would have worked out for 2 hours, just to see a loss today.

I'll gladly take the 1/2 pound because it could have been worse.

I need to focus on accountability, because I will never reach my goal weight of 156 by December 10 if I don't become accountable.

My work out for the day was a vigorous gardening of my yard for 45 minutes in 84 degree heat dressed in black. Talk about punishment, I thought I was going to melt away from all the sweat. Ugh!

Weigh in 175 today.

Peace

Step machine...

I worked out 15 minutes on my step machine yesterday.

My foot did not bother me, until I finished. It wasn't hurting enough to stop me from working out again.

It has been a little difficult getting back into the cardio side of working out. I have gotten used to skipping it because my foot was hurting for quite a while. Now that my foot is better I have to push myself to get back to walking and the step machine.

Today is my 100 crunches, ab ripper day. I am not as sore when I finish them. That makes me excited and motivated to do more. I don't think I am ready for ab ripper 200, maybe I can start in October.

Well thanks for checking me out...

I am off to rip some abs.

Peace

Weigh in issue...

... having problems with my scale. I have a Taylor Body Analyzer scale, which runs on a battery. I have to tap it with my toe and let it zero out before standing on it to get my weight. Well this morning it would not zero out, it kept reading 0.5, then 1.0. I stepped on the scale with out getting it to zero out and got a weight of 174 pounds, but did not snap the picture. I stepped off the scale, prepared my camera, tapped scale with toe, stepped on scale and got this weight...






...174.5 pounds.



I was happy because I have lost 2 pounds from last week.



However, I got the bright idea the see how much my other Taylor scale would say I weighed. This is what I got...


...167.5 pounds hmm even better.

What is up with my scales?

As much as I want to think I lost 9 pounds if the 167.5 weight is correct, I am going to say I lost 2 pounds. I will go with the 174.5 weight because it was taken on the same scale I have been using since the first weigh in.

Before next weigh in I will purchase another battery and see if that makes a difference.

So "it's all good", I did lose 2 pounds and I am sticking with that.

174.5 pounds this week! Wow good job!

I am going to get on my step machine to burn some calories and some stress.

Peace

100 crunches...

I have been quite lazy lately.

I got a jolt of energy and I just finished ab ripper 100. That's 10 different crunches with 10 reps each.

1. Standard crunch- 10
2. Right side crunch- 10
3. Left side crunch- 10
4. Elbows to knees-10
5. Superman crunch- 10
6. Leg lifts-10
7. In and out- 10
8. Ab hip rock- 10
9. Bicycles- 10
10. Full body crunch- 10

Okay this workout is from P90X. I am not doing the whole program. I am doing what I feel I can do for now. And the ab ripper 100 is a beginning for me.

I had to get off my butt today and do something!

I do feel good afterward, yeah me!

Thanks for checking me out...

Peace

Halloween candy...

...is not my friend!

Okay I need to get a grip on reality. Binging on caramel sour apple suckers and snack sized Reese's peanut butter cups is not going to help with my weight loss.

I gained 2.5 pounds from last week. UGH!

It's all good as my brother would say. Why is it all good? Well I find that if I am too strict with myself I fall completely off the wagon and struggle for months to get back on track. So I will not beat myself up. However, I will be more aware of what is going into my mouth and why. I have been telling myself that I can have a piece of candy a few days a week as long as I do the exercises and eat right. Oh yeah drink that water!

Weighed in at 176.5 today.

Gained 2.5 ponds.

It could have been worse!

Peace

Ab Ripper...

100 variations of crunches.

I did it before midnight!

I got several charlie horses in my upper abs, but I didn't stop. Well I stopped long enough for it to go away. There were even a couple of crunches I was too out of shape to do a total of ten. But I did as many as I could.

I feel so much better having completed that challenge.

I can do this!

Thanks for checking my blog out...

Peace

174...

WOW! 174 pounds... I weighted in at 174 pounds!

Oh yeah, I am celebrating.

I felt like I had lost weight because my clothes were fitting better.

I am going to definitely keep up the strength training and tomorrow I am going to do step machine for as long as my foot will let me.

I went from 180.5 to 174 pounds. That is wonderful. I think the increased water intake helped to flush out some waste.

This is very motivating for me. Everyone likes seeing results. I know I do!

I did not do the ab ripper 100 last night but now I am motivated to do them as soon as I finish this post.

Weigh in 174 that's a 6.5 pound loss.

I am happy...Peace

Strength training...

On August 29, I got up off my sore foot and did:

2 sets 5 reps Pull ups over handed
2 sets 5 reps Pull ups under handed
2 sets 15 reps Calf raises
3 sets 5 reps Modified pushup w/perfect pushup
5 sets 5 reps Crunches
5 sets 5 reps Crunches w/twist
4 sets 5 reps 8 lb weights Dumbbell reverse flys seated
3 sets 10 reps 8 lb weights Seated dumbbell triceps extensions

I felt the burn of the weights.

I really miss walking and stepping. I hope to get back to it by Thursday.

My challenge/goal for today is to do ab ripper 100. That is a variety of ab exercises totaling 100.

I can't believe I have even slacked off drinking my water.

The good thing is I don't feel like I have gained a lot of extra pounds we shall see Wednesday.

Got to stay motivated.

Thanks for stopping by to check me out

Peace

Weigh-in...

Okay so I am weighing in at 180.5 today. Last week I weighed in at 177. I have gained 3.5 pounds. Not happy about that weight gain.

I am not making any excuses. I did nothing all week long. My foot is hurt and I took the lazy road and did nothing. I probably would have gained more if I had eaten a lot of junk.

If I had any trust in doctors I would go to one to be sure I did not break any bones. I will give it another week then decide if a doctor is needed.

After seeing the 3 pound increase I am going to do strength train like I said I was going to do last week.

Well see you next week for my Wednesday weigh-in.

Peace

Wednesday weigh-in...

Sorry I'm late with my weigh-in update. I did weigh-in yesterday. I wasn't able to post it until now.

I lost one pound from last week's 178.

YES! I will take a one pound loss.

I hurt my foot so I will not be walking for a little while. But I will be doing more strength training. I can still work out with free weights and I have a "Total Body Works" machine. I will do mostly upper body until my foot heals.

Weight this week: 177

Keep drinking water, and strength training

Peace

Be present...

I just read an article on drweil.com titled Lose Weight by Examining How You Eat. The article states that you should practice “intuitive eating”. “Intuitive eating” asks you to pay attention to your body and adjust your intake of food accordingly. In other words eat only when you are hungry and stop eating when you are full.

So if you are an emotional eater eating when you are stressed, depressed and or bored, then you are not in touch with your body. You are eating to comfort and or soothe your emotions. You will pack on the pounds.

Listen to your body it will tell you when it is hungry, thirsty, and full.

Be conscious and present when you eat. Eat slowly and intentionally. Taste your food.

Some of us like me are in the present state because we love the taste of food. However since I have slowed down instead of wolfing my food down I realize I never tasted the food. This left me unsatisfied and wanting more. I missed the true flavor of the food.

I also had to stop eating until I was hurting, stuffed and even miserable. I was shoveling the food into my mouth so fast and I was not listening to my body. I never got the signal that I needed to stop. I then begin to think the stuffed feeling was saying “You’re full”... wrong. It was saying “You’re over stuffed and miserable”!

So I now try to remember to eat slowly, eat consciously, and savor the favor of my food. And listen to that still small voice that says, “You’re full”, not “Ugh, you’re stuffed”.

It is not easy, bad habits are some times hard to replace with good habits but it can be done.

I have to remember to stay in the present and don’t beat myself up if I revert back to a bad habit. Admit I slipped backwards, allow myself to feel the emotion of the slip up. Don’t get stuck in the moment (emotion) and keep moving forward.

Thanks for checking me out...

Peace

Dusted off stair step machine...

I worked out on the stair stepper instead of two mile walk.

15 minutes
level 2
1089 strokes/steps
54.4 calories

Thighs are burning!

Okay, I did not have enough so I worked out with WATP one mile.

16 minutes
3267 steps
132.2 calories

I like WATP (Walk Away The Pounds)!

Peace

Staying motivated...

Last week was a mixed bag of emotions.

Since my weigh in day is Wednesdays I sometimes confuse Wednesday with the first day of the week. And sometimes it is the last day of the week.

Well last Sunday I was pumped and excited to weigh in on Wednesday. I walked a mile on Sunday. Did 12 modified pushups with “perfect pushups” on Monday. I was still motivated on Tuesday so I walked two miles.

I just knew when Wednesday came I would show another great loss. Whah, whah, whah, it didn’t happen. I was bloated and not happy when Wednesday rolled in. I gained 1.5 pounds and a lot of disappointment.

I refused to beat myself up like I have done so many times in the past. So instead of beating myself up, I did 30 squats. I drank 48 ounces of water. Whoa, that is a lot of water for me. I usually only drink about 8 ounces a day.

On Thursday I was feeling a little encouraged and the squats had my thighs aching. So I took the day off. I am not trying to over do it to the point of pain. However, I was refreshed and ready to go on Friday. I walked 3 miles on Friday!

Saturday was my off day. I took time to reflect and try to keep things in prospective. I worked on my state of mind.

Today is Sunday and I will walk two miles.

I am not fully motivated but I will do what I need to do to get results.

I heard Dr. Phil say, "the meaning of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results", hmm.

So on that note I will mix it up and see if I get different results!

Water, cardio, and strength training.

Peace

Happiness...

SPARKPEOPLE TRANSLATION:

How many times have you thought, IF I do this or get this, THEN I will be happy? Many of us think about happiness as something that will eventually happen. We use our daily lives as a means to get there. We dream of retirement or vacation. We all have something we use to show us that happiness awaits us somewhere. What about NOW? Why not celebrate what you already have and use it to create a life of purpose? If you need to prove it to yourself, make a list of the things that you are thankful for and be genuinely happy.

Two pound bloat...

Oh no, I am so bloated. Even if I did lose any weight it would have to be a five pound or more loss for me to see any results.

I am not going to beat myself up. I know I worked hard this week. On Thursday, Friday and Sunday I walked a mile. On Tuesday I walked two miles. On Monday I did some push ups. I could only do a total of twelve but that is more than I have done in a long time.

I have not been drinking water like I should. This is another bad habit I have to change.

Okay, I weighed in at 178 lbs. That is a one and a half pound gain. I am bloated!

Next weigh in Wednesday, August 20.

Keep walking, drinking water, strength training, and lose that weight.

Peace

Keep it moving...

Yesterday I had a pedometer reading of 5,628 steps. That is good and it included a one mile walk. My goal is 10,000 steps a day.

Whoa, that's a lot of walking.

Today is my off day, however I think I will go buy the perfect push-up. Next week I am going to do some strength training. I plan on starting with some upper-body work on Tuesday and some squats on Wednesday.

I have to drink more water. I am not drinking enough water. Eight ounces a day is just not enough!

Keep it moving, walk, walk, and walk some more.

Peace

Motivation...

The 3 pound lost has motivated me.

Today I did WATP With High Calorie Burn, which is a 2 mile walk in 30 minutes. I had to push myself to finish. Now I feel great!

I plan on adding some strength training in on my Tuesday and Wednesday WATP off days. I'll keep Saturday as an off day.

My dear husband (DH) noticed I was losing inches, that is a plus by itself.

I wanted a candy bar when my family went to the store and my oldest child pushed me right pass the isle. She reminded me I was losing weight and I didn't need a candy bar.

I guess it will take a while for that sweet tooth to go away.

I am setting a goal to walk at 3.5 mph on treadmill by the end of August. Also stay on target for 2 pounds a week.

Drink more water. I am doing good if I get a 16 oz bottle down in one day.

Peace...

I Lost 3 pounds...

Okay...Wow, I lost 3 pounds in one week.

Last week I did not post my weight but it was 179.5.

This week I worked hard to lose the pounds. I walked 1 mile on July 31, August 1, August 3, and August 5.

I weighed-in at 176.5 pounds today. I lost 1 inch off my waist, 3/4 inch of my hips and neck.

My diet did not change. I actually ate an extra large piece of candy with caramel, pecans, and milk chocolate. I can tell I am no longer bloated since I stopped eating wheat. I need to drink more water!

Next weigh-in Wednesday August 13...

Peace

Walk it off

I walked a 19 minute mile on treadmill. It seemed harder than a 18 minute mile with "Walk Away The Pounds". I don't know why but the difference is so big that I may have to work up to doing the treadmill. Right now I think I will just do the treadmill once a week and "Walk Away The Pounds" the other three days.

I don't want to over do it and end up in so much pain that I have to stop. My DH always says, "you have to work through the pain, don't let that stop you," and "it will go away when you get use to it."

Hough!

Well if I had that Marine training like he did I guess I would feel the same. But I will stick with the things that keep me motivated... and that's not pain.

Oh yeah I dropped that goal of a 18 minute mile 6 days a week down to a 19 minute mile 4 days a week when my ankle started having pain.

I skipped weigh-in last Wednesday and will weigh-in this Wednesday... for sure.

Peace

Edit Blog Entry Delete Blog Entry

3 Mile walk

Last week I set a goal of one 18 minute mile for 6 days out of the week. Saturdays are my off days. I walked a 16 minute mile for 3 miles today. Last Friday and this Sunday I didn't walk so I felt like I owed myself 3 miles all together today.

I feel good. I thought I would be exhausted, but I am not.

I bought a new pedometer, 'cause I can't find the other 5 that are lost somewhere in my house.

I think I need to have 10,000 steps a day in order to lose weight? I went to the grocery store and I walked 3 miles but I haven't hit 5,000 steps yet. I only have a few more hours before bed to get those other 5,000 steps in...Hmm. Now I can see why I haven't been losing weight. I have to get up more, move more, and walk more!

Next weigh-in is Wednesday...ut oh

Today was a good day

Exercise is coming easier because my energy is coming back.

I made spaghetti for the family and wanted some myself. I didn’t have any gluten-free pasta and didn’t want to run to the store. So I searched the internet and found a simple recipe for gnocchi made with 3 cups of corn flour and a quart of boiling water. I used the masa harina I was using to make tortillas and substituted out ½ cup tapioca flour. It still turned out good. This can sustain me until I can find something better or different. I will be experimenting a lot.

I am off to walk my 19 minute mile. I was trying to walk with friends but that didn’t work out. Every one including myself had a dozen excuses for not walking. So I decided to use “Walk Away the Pounds” and SparkPeople.com.

I feel some motivation coming. Hey now!

My butt has gotten way too big to keep making excuses. Okay I am putting myself on blast. Today I weigh in at 178 lbs. Let’s see how motivated I really am?

Well thanks for checking me out.

"Nothing's wrong with you..."

Okay, I made it through an endoscopy and a colonoscopy only to find out that I still don’t know for sure if I have Celiac Disease.

After waking up from the sedative I asked the Doctor if I would have a follow up appointment to discuss the results of the two tests.

“No you are fine, there is nothing wrong with your colon or stomach”, he says.

“Oh I thought you had to get the results back from the biopsy of my stomach?”

“I didn’t do a biopsy, your stomach looks perfect, except a small infection,” he beams proudly.

I am still half asleep trying to think clearly and end up babbling something about the rash I had and what should I do if it comes back.

“Stay away from the wheat and if the rash comes back, go see an allergist and they can do a test,” he says as he sticks out his forearm and pokes it with his finger to demonstrate the test. “I’ll see you in 3 to 4 months to see how that diet is treating you, other wise I’ll see you in 10 to 15 years”, he says waving goodbye and walking away.

To be honest, right now I am wondering if all that went exactly as I just wrote it. Why do people talk to you when you are coming out of sedation, like you are going to remember what you said let alone what they said? Anyway I am sure I am pretty close to what was said.

Two days later I am going over all that has happened in the last 3 weeks. All of a sudden I start laughing out loud. This is a weird reaction to realizing that I had spoken a non-diagnosis into existence. I was laughing to keep from tearing something up and yelling at the top of my lungs. I am telling myself, I’m in control and I had two choices. I probably had more but I was cognoscente of only two. I could fall back into my old rant of how doctors are idiots who like treating people like guinea pigs. Or I could accept the fact that I had a healthy colon and did not have any ulcers, IBS, GERD, or any other digestive malfunction.

I talked to my dear husband and came to the conclusion that I would avoid wheat at all cost. If I happened to get a reaction in the future I would gather all the information I had from all the books I have read and take that information with me to an allergist and demand to be tested correctly for CD.

What Is Done In The Dark…

…will come to light

OMG! What is the deal with Rev. Jesse Jackson? First, it is released in the media that he wants to cut off Barack Obama’s testicles and now we find out that he is still using the “N” word. Is the world going to come to an end? Well, yes it is but not because of the good reverend. Jesse Jackson was publicly exposed for having a child outside of his marriage to Mrs. Jacqueline Jackson I just don’t understand how Jesse can want to mutilate Barack Obama for asking men who have fathered children to do more as a parent? Is it guilt?

This is a portion of the speech Obama gave on Father’s Day earlier this year:

“…Yes, we need more cops on the street. Yes, we need fewer guns in the hands of people who shouldn't have them. Yes, we need more money for our schools, and more outstanding teachers in the classroom, and more after school programs for our children. Yes, we need more jobs and more job training and more opportunity in our communities.

But we also need families to raise our children. We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child – it's the courage to raise one.

We need to help all the mothers out there who are raising these kids by themselves; the mothers who drop them off at school, go to work, pick up them up in the afternoon, work another shift, get dinner, make lunches, pay the bills, fix the house, and all the other things it takes both parents to do. So many of these women are doing a heroic job, but they need support. They need another parent. Their children need another parent. That's what keeps their foundation strong. It's what keeps the foundation of our country strong.” http://www.barackobama.com/2008/06/15/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_78.php

To me this is the old “kill the messenger” or cut off his testicles attitude. It reminds me of the child in school who doses not get enough attention at home. So when he gets to school he acts out in class. For this child any attention, even attention for bad behavior is good because it is attention.

November 27, 2006 Rev. Jackson asked that people stop using the “N” word. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/27/entertainment/main2211059.shtml Guess what word Jackson has been using lately? So much for practice what you preach. This almost makes me wonder what else we will find out about Rev. Jackson…Hmm. My mom used to say what is done in the dark will eventually come to the light.

Peace of God

I am living life to the fullest everyday and resting in the peace of God which passes all understanding. I am trying to live in the present. I refuse to be stuck in the past. I will not get carried away by the future. This quote is a favorite of mine from the book A New Earth, pages 56-58 Eckhart Tolle writes:

"There are many accounts of people who experienced the emerging new dimension of consciousness as a result of tragic loss at some point in their lives. Some lost all of their possessions, others their children or spouse, their social position, reputation, or physical abilities. In some cases, through disaster or war, they lost all of these simultaneously and found themselves with 'nothing'. We may call that a limit situation. Whatever they had identified with whatever gave them their sense of self had been taken away. Then suddenly and inexplicably, the anguish or intense fear they initially felt gave way to a sacred sense of Presence, a deep peace and serenity and complete freedom from fear. This phenomenon must have been familiar to St. Paul, who used the expression 'the peace of God which passeth all understanding.' It is indeed a peace that doesn’t seem to make sense, and the people who experience it asked themselves: In the face of this, how can I feel such peace? "
"…Whenever tragic loss occurs, you either resist or you yield. Some people become bitter or deeply resentful; others become compassionate, wise, and loving. Yielding means inner acceptance of what is. You are open to life. Resistance is an inner contraction, a hardening of the shell of the ego. You are closed. Whatever action you take in a state of inner resistance (which we could also call negativity) will create more outer resistance, and the universe will not be on your side; life will not be helpful. If the shutters are closed, the sunlight cannot come in. When you yield internally, when you surrender, a new dimension of consciousness opens up. If action is possible or necessary, your action will be in alignment with the whole and supported by creative intelligence, the unconditioned consciousness which in a state of inner openness you become one with. Circumstances and people then become helpful, cooperative. Coincidences happen. If no action is possible, you rest in the peace and inner stillness that come with surrender. You rest in God. "
-Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

From endoscopy to colonoscopy

I had the endoscopy and it was not bad at all. I had gotten myself all worked up and scared. They gave me an IV with a sedative. I don't even remember having it done. I just woke up to my husband telling joke and acting silly. The doctor said everything looked normal but my blood work showed I was anemic. So guess what, he wants me to have a colonoscopy. Okay so I haven't completely freaked out. I am doing a lot of praying and tapping. Tapping is EFT, emotional freedom technique, if you go to emofree.com you can read up on it.

Oh yeah I have this itch all over that started about two weeks ago. At first there were no bumps, rash or hives just itching. Well now there is a rash, pink and irritating. I know it has to do with wheat because I had been eating wheat. I had the bright idea that I would enjoy some homemade dinner rolls and a hamburger since I wouldn't be able to after I was told I had CD. And it was the holiday, so celebrate. Stupid move, now I am miserable taking Benadryl every 4 to 6 hours and putting calamine lotion on just so I can sleep at night. I would itch in the past when I would eat wheat but I never really put it all together until I started researching to figure out what was wrong with me. I started to make an appointment with a dermatologist or allergist but changed my mind, dealing with one doctor is enough for me.

I am now watching everything that goes into my mouth. I am reading the ingredients on all packages. I am looking at wheat as if it were poison.

Oh I did schedule the colonoscopy. Bite the bullet and get this done. uh...

Completed first step

I completed the first step and made an appointment with a doctor. It was scheduled for mid July. At first that did not seen far away until I had diarrhea for several days. I called and got an appointment that same day. I may be anxious about doctors but when I am sick I will bite the bullet and go. The doctor wanted blood tests and an endoscopy. At first just knowing I had to have the endoscopy set me on ten. I was ready to freak out with fear but then I took a deep breath and focused on the fact that GOD did not give me the spirit of fear. Well, I actually did freak out, then I focused on the moment and went to the lab for blood work the next day.

I seemed to be propelled forward with the need to overcome fear and to get this over with. So I set up the appointment for the endoscopy for a week later. In the days following that I have been up, down, sad, anxious and happy. I was elated because I felt like I had accomplished a great feat in just going to the doctor and the lab. It then hit me, if I am diagnosed with celiac disease I would have to give up all wheat products. My thoughts began to go over the extensive list of products with wheat in it. It overwhelmed and saddened me but I will not let that stop me from getting answers.

Instead of becoming paralyzed and doing nothing. I just keep telling myself to take one day at a time and I will have my answers shortly.

Anxiety over doctors

My husband has been telling me to go to the doctor and find out what has been wrong with me because my stomach ailments and my body aches have been getting progressively worse. But for me going to the doctor seems to be easier said than done.

Maybe that's because I have been misdiagnosed by at several doctors and treated like a research project by some others. I have been simply told nothing was wrong with me after multiple tests from many different doctors. When I was a child I loved my pediatrician, Dr. Seskin. I was always going in for colds and scrapes and bruises from falls. Every winter I would get a terrible cold just in time for Christmas and or my birthday it was like clock work. I also had some type of stomach problem back then because I remember having to use suppositories. I actually looked forward to getting those small lollipops with the string loop from the doctor. I remember being diagnosed with anemia which got worst during puberty. My hormones were all out of whack I would have cramps so bad that it hurt when people would walk across the floor. I remember a gynecologist gave me something called ponstal (I am not sure if I am spelling it right). When I continued to complain he told me he would have to do an internal scope. It was not what he told me but the way he told me. The tone of his voice was as if I had done something wrong or I was lying about having such pain. After that I suffered in silence month after month.
I have always been lactose intolerant even before we knew what it was. I only have memories of adding lots of ice to my milk before drinking it. I do not remember having stomach issues I just remember being asked all the time why I put ice in my milk and saying it made it taste better.
When my husband and I first got married we would got to his mothers for dinner almost every Sunday and by the time we left I would be bloated, have flatulence and have acid indigestion. I was sick! I started carrying Tums or Rolaids with me. I was the only one getting sick, it was quite strange to say the least.

Oh my goodness, looking back I realize I have had health issues for most of my life. I understand why my husband once told me he thought I was a hypochondriac. I have had so many health issues I could write a long book, but I wont. Just know that I have made an appointment with a gastroenterologist. I severely dislike going to doctors. But I am sick and tired of getting sicker and tired-er. I already know what the problem is but my husband and cousin want me to stop self diagnosing myself. They want a real diagnosis from a real doctor. The running joke between my husband and I is that I am not a doctor but I play one at home. I was very anxious about going to the doctor but after talking to my brother I feel less anxious. Plus there is no sense in worrying about the unknown. If I don't get answers from this doctor I can get a second opinion, right.

Oh well anxiety or not I am going to the doctor.