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Weight Loss Journal Writing

January 26, 2012 By 1 Comment
weight loss tracker week 10

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As many of you know I am on a quest… a quest to lose weight and be healthier.  This is not a New Years resolution but something I have been working on for 6 months now.  I feel like this time is different.  I am working hard at making real life changes.  The first thing that I am doing differently is journaling.  Weight Watchers suggests that you do it, nutritionists suggest that you do it, even many counselors are having people journal for weight loss.  I am now a huge fan.  Journal writing is working for me for many reasons.

  1. Getting it Out:  Let’s face it, none of us who are over weight are fat because we want to be.   Many times it is not even because of anything more than dealing with our demons.  We all have them.  We all have reasons for emotional eating.  It is not usually that we are so hungry we just cannot stop.  It is often that we are eating to feel better.  We then overeat and from that point we are filled with worse emotional baggage than we started with.  I have found that stopping myself in my tracks and writing in my journal has helped a lot.  I can look back and see what my triggers are and I can get whatever is “eating” me, out of my head.
  2. Planning:  Writing in a journal has offered me the opportunity to really plan.  I do not mean that I am planning meal by meal.  It is so much more than that.  I have been able to plan social eating.  I have been able to review in my head and on paper different techniques for avoiding picking, overeating and even plan for meals.  In my journal two days before Thanksgiving I did something I still find to be quite silly.  I drew a picture of a plate and put how much space each item at dinner should occupy on my plate.  I know that it seems quite silly but it worked and I continued to lose weight over Thanksgiving.  I also found that my weight loss slowed over Christmas week.  My journal was also not touched that week.  Since there was no plan, I was not able to be successful.
  3. Track Weight Loss:  In the front of my journal I have dates and weights.  It is a quick way to track how I am doing.  I am also able to go back and reference how I was feeling emotionally during peeks and valleys.  I even track my period in relation to weight loss.  This enables me to look at the whole picture and not get stressed.  In tracking my weight I have determined that I gain up to 7 pounds the week before my cycle begins.  This has enabled me to remain calm even though the scale is moving in the wrong direction.

All in all I believe in the power of the journal.  I have filled three one subject notebooks front to back over the past 6 months.  I have found this to be a positive way to assure that I stick to eating healthy and that I am emotionally happier.   If you do not journal I would very much suggest that you try it as part of your weight loss journey as well!

Becca

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Happy Thanksgiving

November 24, 2011 By 2 Comments

I wanted to take this opportunity to say Happy Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a day that we all share.  No matter or religious belief, no matter what we are all united as Americanson this day.  Many people have a tradition on Thanksgiving of saying what they are thankful for and this year I thought that I would share it with all of you.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Crowds watch the Than...

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  1. I am thankful for my family.  No matter what is going on they are always there.  While I know many people cannot spend time in a room with their families and in-laws I actually am lucky enough to enjoy their company.
  2. I am thankful for my babies.  I had been told when I was 20 that it would be near impossible to have children.  I remember feeling as if my life was over.  All I had ever wanted was to have a big family.  Having a Dr. tell you that your dreams could be shattered is never easy.  I showed them though.  I have 4 beautiful babies and the big family I had always wanted.
  3. I am thankful that god gives me the strength to deal with things such as bipolar and cerebral palsy on a regular basis.  I will admit that there have been days that I have been crippled by dealing with these illnesses.  I have resented god for giving my babies such challenges.  I have asked why me?  I have asked why them?  Now I accept it and we make the best of it all.  I would not trade them in for anything
  4. I am thankful for my husband who no matter what is always there by my side.  Again it is not always easy but love has shined in our lives and we give each other the boosts we need.
  5. I am thankful for my health.  In church there is a teen who has spent her life struggling with diabetes.  Recently it was discovered that she also has cancer.  As I pray for her each evening I also thank god that I am healthy, that my babies are healthy and that my husband is healthy.  There are so many things we take for granted.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to share what you are thankful for.  I know that some days it seems as if nothing goes right and that your life is terrible.  I think that what is important is that you put all of that into perspective.  Thanksgiving is a time to evaluate.  Thanksgiving is a time to truly look inward and discover your inner thanks.  What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Becca

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Weight Loss: The Power of Small Goals

October 26, 2011 By 3 Comments

Well now that I have had a baby I have been back on the wagon.  In 10 weeks I have lost a total of  17.4 pounds and I could not be happier.  As many of you know I

day 1 of 30 - 135 lbs

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have struggled with my weight my entire life.  Some of the struggle is emotional, some of the struggle is physical… all of it is hard.  This time I am having more success losing weight than ever before.  I feel like it is melting off of me.  There are some things that I am doing differently this time that I feel are contributing to my weight loss success.

  • Goals:  I know that this sounds simple and old school, but it is working.  I have set a large goal for myself that I will lose 32.8 pounds by December 31st.  Because I often find big goals to be overwhelming I decided to switch it up a bit.  I have established several small goals along the way.  One small weight loss goal was to lose 2 pounds by the time I was off to a wedding.  Another small goal is to lose 1 pound by the time I went away for the weekend.  I keep choosing small events in my life and set a small goal to achieve.  Some small goals I have achieved and some I have not been able to.  I just start fresh each couple days to couple weeks with a new small goal.  Eventually my small goals should add up to my big goal.  So far I am still on track to being able to achieve that goal.
  • Calorie Counting:  While this is an old technique I am finding that it is working.  I roughly count my calories each day.  I aim for 1200 calories.  Some days I am over and some days I am not.  It is a rough estimate.  I have been trying to reduce my carbs. based on my pre-diabetic status.  So far the 1200 calorie goal is going well.
  • Substituting:  In addition to counting calories I have been thinking of ways to enjoy foods without eating unhealthy choices.  I have been putting Humus on my chicken wraps for lunch instead of mayonnaise.  I also have been skipping salad dressing and tasting the natural flavor of veggies.  I have been putting artichokes, olives, apples and many new and different flavors into my salad and am really enjoying it.  In addition I have eliminated butter from my diet.  I do use butter spray and olive oil from time to time but I avoid too much of any of these.
  • Walking:  While I have not been great about exercise I am really trying to incorporate it more into my weight loss plan.  I have been trying to take the kids out for a walk at least twice a week in order get moving but I know there could be more.  I am sure that increasing this will be a goal in the next few weeks but for now walking 2 days a week is reasonable.  The best thing is that the kids enjoy it
  • Weight Loss Journal:  I know that Weight Watchers encourages using a journal.  For years I have resisted it but the truth is that I have found it to be quite helpful.  Please do not confuse journal writing with tracking calories. Every few days I sit in a quiet room, alone, and write in a journal.  I try to get a hold on my emotions, anxieties, failures and successes.  I have found that getting all of these things out of my head have been helpful.  I am an emotional eater and needed to figure out another way to channel my emotions.  I write until I have nothing else to say.

So far this is how I am finding success in this chapter of my weight loss journey.  If you are interested please join me.  You can visit me on facebook at Becca’s Belly Busters.  I would love the company!

Becca

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5 Anti-Aging Tips—that You’ve Never Heard Before!

August 2, 2011 By 1 Comment

You can find anti-aging tips everywhere on the web.  But how often do you hear tips like “include fermented foods?”  If you’ve tried every other home remedy and haven’t found the results you’re looking for, why not consider the following tips?

Tip # 1: Don’t Sleep…Alone

Studies have shown that making love three times a week in a stress free relationship can make you look up to 10 years younger.  So if you haven’t tried this fun anti-aging tip, we advise that you jump right in.  And don’t hold back on the number of times per week.  The more the happy you’ll both be.

 

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Weight Loss: Calorie Counting Application

April 7, 2011 By 5 Comments

The world is so full of apps these days.  There are apps for IPhones and apps for DROID phones. There are apps to say where you are, there are apps to play games, there are apps to tune your guitar.  This week I discovered an application on the DROID that could be helpful rather than time wasting!  There are phone applications that will help you with your diet!

We all know how hard it is to track calories in and calories out through out the day!  We get to work or out with the kids and forget about recording our food intake.  Now there is a solution to keeping track that involves no paper and no pencil and the best part is that it is a free app!  You just cannot beat free!

“Myfitnesspal” is a DROID application that does it all as far as weight loss.  Once you begin using this application you are asked to input your weight, height, how much weight you would like to lose, and how fast you would like to lose it.  They then advise you how many calories you should eat each day in order to reach your goal, in the amount of time you stated.  Each day you can input your current weight and see the pounds melt away.

The best part of the “Myfitnesspal” application for the DROID is that it scans the bar codes of the foods you are eating and inputs all of the caloric information for you.  You simply take a picture of the bar code with your phones camera and you are on your way.  The “Myfitnesspal” application does the rest!  It is like a free version of Weight Watchers all in the palm of your hand.  The only down side I can see is that this DROID application eliminated your excuses!

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What to Expect: Baby News

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Woman pregnancy month by month.
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As many of you may or may not know… We are expecting a new addition to our family.  It is funny how with the first baby you think of everything, you plan out the child’s entire life before it is born and you baby yourself while you are pregnant.  Well for us, this is number 4 and there is no time for any of it.  This baby WILL be our last baby which brings mixed feelings… On one hand it is hard to say goodbye to the beautiful and wonderful experience that having a baby brings…. on the other hand we are getting older and are ready to embark on the next chapter of life.

So now we beg the question… will it be a boy or a 4th girl?  Personally I say it is a girl.  Part of me is hoping that it will be a girl because it is what I know.  Part of me is thinking that a boy would be a nice change of pace after 3 girls.  I am certainly ready to know what I am having because either way… I have to re-buy everything… I did peak at the price of formula the other day and almost died!  This baby will take some careful preparation.

So after a bumpy first trimester I have moved onto my second trimester.  The feelings of sour stomach and fatigue are beginning to lift and I am starting to feel like I may live through all of this.  So wish me luck and please stay tuned… I am sure that the next 6 months will bring some great experiences.

Becca

Let me know what you think… Is it a girl or a boy?

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Weight Loss: Feeling Defeated

September 9, 2010 By 12 Comments
Weightloss pyramid.
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Well I know that I have not posted my progress in the weight loss area recently.  That is because there has not been progress.  I have actually had a summer of regression!  I hate to have to admit it but it is the truth.  I have GAINED 26 of my 36 lost pounds back.  I am back to feeling depressed, tired, and worst of all FAT!  So now is the time to do something!  I have been thinking about going back to weight watchers but have decided that I was doing well with my own program.  My own program also is free!   I have spent the past few weeks thinking of a way to keep my motivation up.  A way to assure that I stick to the journey of losing weight.  I know that there are a few things I need to do in order to be successful.

  • Rember why I began this weight loss journey:  I think that it is important for me to look back at my earlier posts and see why I decided to lose weight in the first place.
  • Evaluate my portions:  I think that examining how much I am eating will be a great first step in getting back into the weight loss groove.
  • Get active:  This is one thing that I know helps a great deal.  Getting out and getting moving is a vital component to any weight loss diet.
  • Stop drinking Soda:  I know that this sounds silly to those who know me.  I ONLY drink Diet Coke.  The trouble is the carbonation.  It expands your stomach which means you have to eat more to feel full.  The trouble is that I find it to be quite addicting.
  • Get family on board:  When I began my weight loss journey I somehow was able to get our extended family on board.  It was nice that Sunday dinners were always healthy and that we were there to support one another.  Getting everyone involved again is an important step for MY success.  I need people to talk to and to remind me that I am doing well.  It is just the type of person I am!
  • Make a Shopping List:  I know that I do better when I make a list of specific foods I need to buy at the grocery store.  This technique helps me to avoid things such as ice cream and other sweets as well.  I also need to remember not to go to the store hungry!  That always presents a problem.

In my head I know that there are the first steps to a healthier life.  I need to get my head into it before I will be a success.  I did go for a walk yesterday which was quite helpful!  I am thinking about a hike this weekend which should kick off eating healthier.  Who can exercise and then eat badly?

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Body Mind Awakening

July 14, 2010 By 4 Comments
meditation
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As I have discussed, I have been exploring the internet a lot these days.  The kids are now out of school and so far they have been entertaining themselves.  I have been in search of some self calming techniques for myself and Abigail.  Living with a bipolar child can certainly add a lot of stress to one’s life.   I can only imagine the amount of stress she deals with day in and day out.

On my journey, I found a site with some wonderful articles on the site body mind awakening.  I came across many articles that I found to be helpful.  The first article I was interested in is titled: Choosing to Be Different – Resisting the Powerful Pull of Negativity.  I know that I often fall into negative thoughts and am sucked in by negative energy.  The main suggestion in this article is to make a conscious choice to think differently.  This means that when negative thoughts begin to enter your mind you should change those thoughts into positive thoughts.  I believe that after doing this for a few months it will be a habit to think more positively.  I think that this could be worth a try.  Abigail and I made a pact to try it together.  We will be changing our “the glass is half empty” mentality to the glass being “half full”.

Another article on this site that I found to quite interesting is about meditation.  I strongly suggest that you check out the article: Is Meditation just a Waste of Time?  I found this article to be quite interesting.  I have been told by many people that meditation would help me a great deal.  I always think of it as a big waste of time.  With three kids who has the time to meditate?  Apparently meditation will bring clarity and who could not use more clarity in their life?   This article stressed that the only thing we can control in life is our thoughts.  For me this one statement brought clarity.  We tend to create our own drama from time to time.  I know that sometimes I am enveloped by it!  Meditation could be my key to a calmer, saner life.

I would have to say that I think you should check this site out.  We all have stresses.  We all have drama.  We all have things in our bodies and minds that could use some awakening.  It is vital to take care of you first in order to assure that you have the ability to deal with all life throws at you in a positive constructive way.

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Weight Loss: How To Be Successful

May 13, 2010 By 5 Comments
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I have been working on this weight loss journey for over 5 months now.  I have lost a total of 36 pounds!   With every pound I lose I feel a little bit more confident that I will continue to be successful.  Many people entering into a weight loss journey wonder how they can be successful.  I have just a few tips for those of you who wondering what the keys to success are.

  1. BELIEVE: I know it sounds simple but if you believe you can do it… you will.  I also think that you have to believe that you are worth it!  This is a tough step for many people who are trying to lose weight.  I wake up every morning and remind myself that I can do it.  I believe in myself.
  2. COUNT: This can mean a great number of things but for success it is important to discuss calorie counting.  Calorie counting is important.  It is vital in order lose weight that you burn more calories than you take in.  There are a few great sights with activity calculators that help to make this task easier.  Fitness Partner has a great activity calculator.  It is extremely easy to use.  All you need to do is enter your weight and the duration you plan to exercise into the calculator and a printable list of calories burned per activity will appear.  CaloriesPerHour.com also has an easy and wonderful calculator.
  3. MOVE: I know it stinks when you first start your weight loss journey but exercise is a vital part of success.  The more you move the more you lose.  In the beginning you may be able to lose without moving but the longer you are invested in losing weight the more necessary exercise becomes.  So get out there and walk if nothing else.  Do it alone, with friends or with the dog.  Just get out there and move.
  4. NEW: On this weight loss journey to a new you it is important to remember that you need to focus on new.  No I am not talking about clothing, although that is needed also.  The thing that needs to be new is your food.  It is important to switch it up some.  Studies have shown that people who eat the same breakfast every day become unmotivated.
  5. SUPPORT: It is important that you find some support.  This can be a family member, a friend, or even a stranger.  Yes I know that a stranger sounds unlikely but in situations such as Weight Watchers meetings many people find that there are people they relate to.  It is also nice to have someone removed from your life helping you with your journey.

I am still hoping to reach my first big goal… Lose  pounds by the time the kids are out of school.  I figure if the people on the biggest loser could lose 100 pounds in 17 weeks I can certainly lose another 14 pounds is 7 weeks.  It is an average of 2 pounds a week so I will have to work really hard.  I just have to believe, move, remember new, count my calories and most of all remember all of the wonderful support I have!

Becca

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Weight Loss: Week 5

February 8, 2010 By 6 Comments
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On Saturday I completed 5 weeks of my weight loss journey.  I am happy to report that I lost another 2.8 pounds.  That made a total loss of 20.2 pounds in 5 weeks.  I am so excited about my continued success.  Weight is something I have struggled with my ENTIRE life.  It is something I have never been able to let go of.

Many people who are successful say that you have to loose weight by letting go of your past.  I have thought about my head a lot this week.  Time and time again I thought about excuses.  I am full of excuses and have been for MANY years.  The thing that got me thinking about these excuses was watching The Biggest Loser last week.  A woman, Miggy, had her appendix removed and the very next day walked 14 miles!  All I was thinking while watching was that I would have used that surgery as an excuse.  I would have given up.  I guess that is what got me thinking.  In the past I have used so many things as excuses.

As a child and teenager I was a dancer.  I LOVED TO DANCE!  I took classes 6 days a week.  It made me so happy.  I was fit and truely enjoyed it.  I still miss it to this day.  When I was 14 I hurt my knee and never danced again.  My parents took a conservative approach in treating it.  I stopped dancing and did nothing physical for a year.  In that year betweem 14 and 15 I gained over 100 pounds.  My weight has been an issue for me ever since.  I also spent years using my knee as an excuse.

When I was pregnant with Abigail my pelvis separated.  I cannot begin to tell you the pain.  I spent about a month in the hospital and could not walk without crutches for about 6 months!  After a lot of time if healed but is arthritic.  For years I used my pelvis as an excuse.

Two years ago I shattered the first three metatarsals in my foot.  It still hurts to this day but has become another excuse.  I cannot walk right.  I am forever in pain.  It is swollen and ugly.  It is still just another excuse.

If this woman Miggy could walk 14 miles after surgery, why do I use excuses.  I am pretty sure that I am not alone in my excuse using.  I think that we all do it.  This week I am going to try and eliminate my excuses.  They have been holding me back.  They have made my body and mind unhealthy.  They have to go.  What excuses do you use?  How will you overcome them?

Becca

Please do not forget to join my facebook group Becca’s Belly Busters.

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