womandisciple

The tricks I learned here, on Buddy Slim, to drink more water morning and evening became part of my life change first.  I still have hot water and lemon every morning, then brush my teeth.

THEN wow, finally found what works– a friend actually told me this a year ago:  cut out the sugar and don’t eat after 7:00 p.m.

Then, I started exercising, most every morning, a little Pilates, or a quick run/walk (can’t just run, not that fit yet).  Really try to get to bed before11 p.m. because I know not getting enough rest definitely causes me to pile on the pounds.

These changes became part of my life over the past few months and voila!

I don’t exercise every day, but almost. Life happens. I’ve found the trick is to forgive yourself & just get back on the wagon.

I haven’t gained anything back & continue to lose a pound or two each month, slow and steady.

Praise God, it’s working and I feel better, and healthier.

No drastic changes, just little ones, one step at a time.

Heck with waiting til New Year’s. I’m starting back up today.  Did a lot of traveling in December & got off my exercise routine for a couple of weeks.  Back to it, with a vengeance. I’m determined to get down to this goal weight by summer.

First, I need to share/give away all the chocolate my well-meaning chlidren gave me for Christmas.  They’re all slim, beautiful twentysomethings and teens. Better on your hips than mine kids, help yourselves.

Happy New Year to all my friends and buddies-to-be on BuddySlim. Let’s go for it!

That’s been my downfall, munching on a handful of cookies late at night.

Now, I fill up a couple of water bottles and down that instead. If I have to have something sweet, I can get by with a spoonful of creamy blueberry honey. It’s just enough. Then I go drink some more water, that really fills me up.

The other day, I realized, I had gone a whole month without eating cookies. Okay, last week when we were called back to work there was a plate of oatmeal cookies & I ate three. But that was it; I didn’t come home & make any more & haven’t had any since.

So, praise God, I think I’m getting this cookie craving under control.

I like what others have said; it’s not just about losing weight. It’s about changing my lifestyle, to be more active and eat healthy. My skin is clearer, that’s a bonus!

This was my first “mini-goal,” just to get to 150. I did it by drinking all that water in the evening when I used to grab some cookies. I did it by not baking cookies in the first place.  I did it by walking away from the kitchen after dinner. If there were dishes I did them fast, filled up my water bottles & high-tailed it out of there.  I actually said “no thanks,” to chocolate and ate some fruit instead!

That, plus Pilates every day & some running here & there. I’m focusing on real lifestyle changes, something I can stick with. I can’t count calories — too much work. I can’t spend hours, or even minutes, at a gym, not with 4 kids at home during summer vacation. I can keep making little changes that suit me.  I think I can do this, with a lot of help from my buddies! That’s really the key that keeps me going.

Thanks! On to step 2; I want to hit 145 or even 140 by Columbus Day!

Two or three pounds, nothing to write home about…but I can see a change in the shape of my legs, muscles forming in my thighs. My posture is better & I’ve got a bit more stamina.  All I’m really doing at this point is Pilates almost every day & drinking 60+ oz. of water every day.  It really helps to drink some in the evening, when I’d normally be tempted to start noshing on something sweet.  

I’m impressed by so many buddies using Weight Watchers and South Beach & all kinds of programs. Being unemployed, I literally haven’t a dime to spend on anything like that. I’m just cutting out sweets, chocolate, limiting bread to 2 slices a day, amping up the veggies. 

Now,  I have my special needs child home for 2 weeks & he needs round-the-clock scheduling, which is a real challenge when I’m also trying to find a job and work from home on projects that may pay something down the line.

Help! Any suggestions? 

I was just looking at the scale this morning and thinking it hasn’t budged. 

I mean, I started this on the 12th, did well the first 3 days, then skipped the next 3 because my schedule got away from me (I do lights for a local opera company and that was a busy weekend.) But I did get back on the wagon. So why only 2 lbs? Running every day would help; I’ve got to jump on the treadmill earlier, before the heat gets to me. 

Our local high school does have a nice weight room, but I hate the loud music they blast constantly. Everything else is 20-30 miles away, so home workouts are the way to go.

Where I’m failing is not getting enough sleep. I know that makes a big difference for me. And not asking the Lord for His help. Why do I keep trying to do things without Him?  Being unemployed is a good time to take care of myself, and get on a better schedule, and get to know Him better too.

How is everyone else doing? God bless! 

Okay, now the hot weather hits, and my energy goes down the drain.  I have to get up earlier to exercise, before it gets too muggy.  Had to skip two whole days of exercise because my schedule got a little busy this weekend, but it’s Monday & time to get back in the saddle (er, treadmill).  At least my diet didn’t go haywire, still hovering around 1500 per day and up to 60 oz. water. 

How are the rest of you doing? Hope it’s cooler where you are!

I’ve been laid off for the past month, got really good and re-scheduling and reconfiguring bills, so credit is okay & used some of that time to get started on diet and exercise.

Now, I’ve just heard we’re being called back later this month & I’m one of the first ones to come back, as the company’s facing an audit on my dept (oddly comforting to hear that NYS Quality Management is calling up my non-profit & saying “where is she? Get her back!”) 

But, I gained 15 pounds when I started working this job, as I neglected to take time to exercise, heck, just really neglected taking care of myself period. The trick will be, can I keep this going once I go back to work? Maybe if they hire me an assistant? Will have to push for that; it’s tough being the only one in my field.

I think I can, but only with your help. People on this site are just amazingly supportive!

Okay, I’m up to 56 oz. on the water, definitely takes some getting used to, but it does help me fill up. It’s staying up too late that does the damage, because then I start getting hungry, but I’m really just tired  and should go to bed, but I think I need to eat something to keep my energy up…vicious cycle of bad habits. Grr.

The worst is when I work a 12+ hour day, then go grocery shopping. Must eat chocolate as soon as I leave the store, to keep me awake until I get home & put away all these groceries. That’s what happens when you live in the country & have to do the major shopping after work, while you’re still in town, to save on gas $$$.

I keep reading that I need a buddy system. Our church just started Weight Watchers but  I really hate counting calories and didn’t want to buy their food, not sure it’s really healthy. So, went online & found this! Looking for buddies, honesty, accountability, constructive help. Will provide same.

Trying to see what I’m doing right, for starters:

1)I have got started on Pilates again, always found that helped in re-shaping all the right parts.

2)I do drink 2-4 cups of water a day, more than that I feel water-logged. 

3) I know I really have to exercise first thing in the morning, before the day gets away from me.  Even now that the kids are older, they still need my attention & I want to be involved in their lives. Just need to have my own as well.