I found this cartoon, and now that I am computer savvy, wanted to post it. I thought it was funny. 

I am always impressed with the blog’s that have photo’s or clip’s or music. Mine has been very bland to date, and I wanted to add a photo for tomorrow so I am practicing today. I was able to load a gorgeous pic of a sunflower( my fave) on my early entry. I am so excited to have figured it out on my own. See, you can teach an old dog new tricks! I probably should think about adding a photo, now that I know how. YIKES!I just went thru all my photo’s, and found a handful of me. None of which show the size of me. I guess I have been avoiding the camera for quite a while. So, I will have to be brave, and get some taken. I think it will be a good thing to have one day. For comparisons, maybe, maybe not.  To compare healthy, vs not healthy.  It starts now by loving and accepting my body today.  Having that ongoing fight with my image had to stop. We have unrealistic role models in the public eye, and we put way to much emphasis on size and not health. 

How perfect to have my weigh in day of Feb 1st- I had set a mini goal to be under 200 lbs by Feb.1st, so we’ll see tomorrow.  My % yesterday were a lot different than the rest. My carbs were higher at 55% and my fats were really much lower at 16%. My protein stays consistent at 28%. I will post my averages on Sunday, but it was something I noticed this morning, and wanted to mention.  I am looking forward to tomorrow’s  weigh in, as I am quite certain I will have met my mini goal. I am going to plan on losing 10 LBS a month. That’s 2.5 a week, and I think it’s doable.  I will set my goals and “reward” tomorrow after weigh in. I really dont need anything right now. I have jean’s with stretch( regular waist band), so they are a little loose, but no need to replace them yet.  Maybe a piece of jewelry? My ring( I only wear one) is loose. I am noticing my hands are cold a lot more-  Not sure if that has anything to do with weight loss. Nice earrings. I think that will be my reward tomorrow.  I will have to think about a reward for Feb goals. What do you guys have in place for your next rewards?Have a great Day!  

Today has been a slow day for me. It started out waking to rain. There goes my walk. Well, maybe not. By early afternoon the rain had gone and it was bright and sunny. But, along with the sun came some crazy wind.  No walk today. Instead I did some stretches, and took a nap this afternoon.  Food-wise, I’m doing fine today. Just had a banana for my afternoon snack. Had soup and crackers for lunch.  Just an overall relaxing, go nowhere day. My body is a little tight from yesterdays walk. No worries- I will be out there again tomorrow morning. Cant wait. On my emotional state of mind- I am concerned about getting a job. It’s important monetarily as well as for my peace of mind. I am not patient in most area’s of my life. I interviewed last week, and this “hurry up and wait” is killing me. I am hoping to hear by Friday, but it may not be til next week. Ahhh…….. I’m glad I have somewhere where I can express myself. I just needed to vent.Hope all of you are well. Have a great day!  

As soon as I wrote the words, I was off the computer, socks and Ryka sneakers on.  Hat, scarf, gloves, and warm sweatshirt. Put on the pedometer and grabbed my Ipod and out the door. Turned on the Ipod, but no sound. I was bumming out, cause I love my music. Came back into the house to realize, I hadnt even put the ear buds in. After the DUH moment passed , I was back on track…… lolThis new pedometer does it all. So I was anxious to get the walk started- just to see the results at the end. The weather was sunny and comfortable, probably high 30’s, no wind. I took off, enjoying my music. We live on a fairly quiet country road, so not a lot of traffic. Passed a friendly dog, then the horse farm, all at a decent pace. Made it down to the stop sign, after a killer incline, and then back home, passing another neighbors german shepherd. So I walked for 40 minutes. I took 4961 steps, burned 224 calories,  covered 2.32 miles. I was very pleased, as I kept a nice pace. The software is for a PC and I have a Mac, so I can only rely on the pedometer and document as I go for now. It was a time to let myself enjoy my music, and not think. It was awesome, and I am so glad I went.The epiphany of the day was this…… A month ago, I was doing all the wrong things, eating poorly, not moving, and today I am making a conscious effort to improve. Today started with the angst of weigh in- what if I didnt lose? A stress that I really dont need. I thought, what are my options?? I could quit and go back to the old ways or I can continue and learn. A month ago, I would have quit. I have a history of quitting, when it doesnt happen fast enough. I NOW know I am on this for the lifestyle change it is, because I dont want to quit. I want to find the answers to helping and healing my body.  If something doesnt work but can be improved on, then I want to try it. Exercise, even if I dont like it or want to do it, is a very important part of this. Our bodies are meant to move. It doesnt mean I have to hate every minute of it. I have to find the things that get me moving that I enjoy. This mornings walk, alone, was one of them. My quest to find more excites me. My food choices are in need of some changes- I am eager to try new foods, and food combinations.  My son, 9, told me this morning, how he was looking forward to a big salad at lunch. SMILE! Thats all I could do. I am learning homemade( not frozen) foods are the way to go, and I need to find ways to make this more appealing for me to do.  I do read a lot about health and I own a library of books- If I can take one thing from each book, then maybe two things. It is a trial and error process. And TODAY, as I sit hear typing, realize, I am going to make some mistakes along the way, and thats OK. This lifestyle change isn’t going to be perfect, I must learn from my past , and proceed forward.  And that’s exactly what I am doing. We all have good days and bad. In our food choices, in our relationships, in our work . Dont carry around the baggage- It’s like our weight, it’s too heavy and takes a strain on our lives. Live each day with intention.  Make sure to take care of yourself first. Know the journey we are all on, is for a lifetime, and we are all worth it!HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!!!!!!! 

I have decided to change my weigh in day to Fridays. It was a last minute decision, but has taken a lot of the pressure off of me today. I was really stressing this morning, and realize this just isnt healthy to feel like this. A few more days, will give me the opportunity to reach my goal. And isnt flexibility important in life anyway? I ended yesterday approx. 200 cal’s under. I am not trying to do this, and I am not hungry, so I am not too concerned. If this were a daily occurrence, I would have to re-evaluate.  I am realizing that I must move daily- whether it is a short walk, a hike in the woods, a spin on the recumbent bike, or my Yoga dvd. I have to do it. It really isn’t optional.  There are many aspects of weight loss, and cutting calories may help, but it’s not the sole answer. I think I am lazy by nature. Maybe not, maybe just at this size. I don’t know, I just know I don’t enjoy exercising. So, how do I change that mindset? Baby steps! I have read that once exercise is done regularly, if you skip a day, you really miss it. That seems crazy to me today, but I would love to eat my words in a month. I have been counting calories now for 3 weeks. It has gotten easier since I started. I want to hold the thought that this too will happen with exercise. I am going to get on my walking shoes, my pedometer and my Ipod and head outside. I wont go out with a distance, I wont set a goal. My goal today is to just get outside. So I will be back later to update this post.  

I averaged 1311 calories per day from Sun, 1-20-08 thru Sat, 1-26-08. My ratio for Carbs 40%, Protein 33%, and Fat, 26%.  I have no idea if this is a good ratio to maintain or not.  Feedback welcome!!!Body fat %- 45% 

I believe there is some truth to habits being formed in this time period. I am making many of my food decisions automatically. I still think conscious thinking is the way to go, but the old habits of grazing or eating out of boredom are gone… gone forever.  I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow’s weigh in-  and will not sneak a peek until then.  Getting out of the 200’s is really a motivation that will keep me fueled to continue.  I will continue to incorporate some sort of movement daily. I agree w/ Botzz, that keeping a variety of activities available, helps to keep us from being bored with the same ole thing.  I’m going to keep this short for now, but am sure I will add more as the day progresses. 

Spent a couple hours at the Whole Health Expo.  It was smaller than I was expecting, but many interesting booths. I came home with a bag FULL of things to read. I did buy myself a gorgeous necklace, I had a hand treatment,  and bought a hula hoop. Yup….. I really enjoyed chatting with the woman who makes them. Then I tried one. I had sooo much fun, couldnt leave without one. It’s funny, I loved it as a child and was actually very good. Well, those are days to strive for again, cause was I any good??? Not so much.   Oh, I also bought a salt stone lamp. I have been looking for one- and for $22.00-  Scooped it up!Food wise today has been minimal. I am figuring out, if I stay busy, I am less likely to feel hungry. It’s more likely, being busy takes my mind off food, as this seemed tough last week. I hoola’d a little when I got home, and started to flip thru some of the literature I got from the expo. Will be doing my yoga dvd tomorrow, and I am aiming for Mon/Wed/Fri for my yoga days for now. I found with this extra weight, I am very unbalanced.  I definitely feel my range of motion increasing. OH, and my DH made a comment yesterday after a big hug, that I felt smaller. YEAH! Back to the hula hoop- if you have children, this is a great activity to share with them. There is something very relaxing- maybe the rhythmic movement-  It’s exercise, and it’s fun.  Ladies, I dont know about you, but my hips dont move like they use to.  lol  I think I am going to attempt to make my children their own.  I found a website that gives detailed instructions on how.   http://www.jasonunbound.com/hoops.htmlHave a great day!   

Well, finished the day 100 cal’s under, so I feel good. I still struggled today with feeling full. I have to go review my previous days and see what I’ve changed. Need to keep the hungry feeling away.  I ended up not going on a hike, but instead spent an hour out in the yard. We have a couple of very large pine tree’s that are really over-grown. We attacked one today, so between cutting branches, and dragging them to the side of the yard, I got quite a workout.  Thats all for now. My plans tomorrow… I am going to a Whole Health Expo, in Cromwell, CT. Looking forward to seeing all the exhibit’s. Maybe get a chair massage, see what’s new in the whole health world.