We are nearing the end of the contest, but there is still 14 days left and a lot can happen in two weeks. The final weigh-in is on May 20. Please come even if you have not made all of the weigh-ins because you can still win some nice door prizes and we would love to have you at the weigh-in for a lunch and a final photo.
I went to my doctor yesterday just to check in. She thinks I am ready to increase my activity level and I think she is correct. The best way for me to lose weight now is through good regular physical activity. Walking will probably be the best for me. I have been avoiding walking on a regular basis, but I know that I need to do it.
I feel I have my eating more in check, although on occasion I still do slip up and overeat. It is not so much that I eat the "wrong" things, but that I eat too much. That is one thing I still need to work on. I am getting better at managing my portions.
Another piece of advice I am offering you, is to keep up your water intake. I let that slip for about a week. I was only drinking 2-3 glasses of water a day and I could tell. I am back up to the 8 glasses a day and I feel better.
I wanted to blog a little more about my coffee drinking experience.
Last Friday, April 30, I drank coffee for the first time in a couple of months. Granted, I overdrank by downing about 8 cups of coffee, but I had done that before and figured it wouldn't hurt me.
I don't know if it "hurt" me or not, but I sure did get sick. I felt dizzy, disoriented and just generally ill-at-ease. My stomach reeled and rolled and I felt awful.
I thought back over some of these feelings, although not this intense, that I had experienced in the past years of life as a coffee drinker. It began to make sense to me that perhaps coffee was causing some of the problems I had been experiencing. I can't say for sure, but I have vowed to not drink coffee again.
Hope you are all having a good week and continuing to work on your goals of becoming healthier.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Day 61: An Apple A Day...
I try to eat an apple every day. Not only is an apple a good source of fiber, they also taste good. I am thinking of planting an apple tree so that in a few years I can have my own harvest of apples, but so far that is just a thought. I also started to eat prunes. I read on the package of prunes that "ounce for ounce" a prune has more fiber than an apple. Well, I like prunes, too, so... I eat both. I think I am getting good fiber.
One thing that is maybe lacking from my "diet" is protein. I should eat protein at every meal and sometimes I just don't do it. It helps keep me feeling full instead of hungry all the time. Since I have a salad for lunch almost every day, I have started to add some grilled chicken to the salad as a little bit of a flavor enhancer and as a source of that necessary protein.
Another thing I have been doing on a regular basis is NOT drinking coffee. Today was the exception. I drank coffee for the first time in over two months and I feel awful! I overdid it by consuming approximately 8 cups and it has left me with an "out of sorts" feeling. It is terrible. I don't know if I am coming or going. I am thinking if I ever do drink coffee again, it will be ONE cup, not ONE pot!
If you are following the blog, you may have seen that I am also attempting to be more consistent in writing it. It isn't always easy because I find it is a lot easier to put it off and then conveniently "forget" about it. But I want to be more accountable, so I am working on it.
I have continued to ride my exercise bike, although I must admit that I slacked off for one week. I began again yesterday with an 11 minute ride at an average of 15-16 miles per hour for the first 10 minutes and then around 13 MPH for the last minute. It felt good. I worked up a nice little sweat and burned off around 50 calories according to the monitor on the bike. According to Jillian Michaels (one of the trainers on Biggest Loser) if you ride an exercise bike for one hour at an average of 13 MPH you can burn 600 calories. WOW! I am not quite at the point where I think I should ride for an hour, but I will get there.
Thought for the day
You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where ... she is.
- Ellen DeGeneres
One thing that is maybe lacking from my "diet" is protein. I should eat protein at every meal and sometimes I just don't do it. It helps keep me feeling full instead of hungry all the time. Since I have a salad for lunch almost every day, I have started to add some grilled chicken to the salad as a little bit of a flavor enhancer and as a source of that necessary protein.
Another thing I have been doing on a regular basis is NOT drinking coffee. Today was the exception. I drank coffee for the first time in over two months and I feel awful! I overdid it by consuming approximately 8 cups and it has left me with an "out of sorts" feeling. It is terrible. I don't know if I am coming or going. I am thinking if I ever do drink coffee again, it will be ONE cup, not ONE pot!
If you are following the blog, you may have seen that I am also attempting to be more consistent in writing it. It isn't always easy because I find it is a lot easier to put it off and then conveniently "forget" about it. But I want to be more accountable, so I am working on it.
I have continued to ride my exercise bike, although I must admit that I slacked off for one week. I began again yesterday with an 11 minute ride at an average of 15-16 miles per hour for the first 10 minutes and then around 13 MPH for the last minute. It felt good. I worked up a nice little sweat and burned off around 50 calories according to the monitor on the bike. According to Jillian Michaels (one of the trainers on Biggest Loser) if you ride an exercise bike for one hour at an average of 13 MPH you can burn 600 calories. WOW! I am not quite at the point where I think I should ride for an hour, but I will get there.
Thought for the day
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Day 60: A Never-Ending Choice
Being healthy for a lifetime is a never-ending choice. We can't decide on one day to be healthy and on another to be unhealthy. We have to constantly make a conscious choice to be healthy daily.
It is not easy to make this choice daily. I struggle with my decision to live healthier. I know it shouldn't be a struggle, but it really is. Why would I want to live in an unhealthy way? Why would I want to put harmful chemicals in my body and call it food? Why would I deliberately run the increased risks of heart attack, cancer and other deadly ailments?
Those questions have a fairly simple answer: Because for the most part it is easier, cheaper and a lot of times the stuff that is "bad" for you simply tastes better.
Still, every time I think about food now I evaluate in my mind whether I should eat it or not. Should I eat that pickle? Should I eat that steak? Should I eat that carrot (yuck! NO!)?
If nothing else, this process of trying to be healthier has made me more conscious of the things I am putting into my body.
The biggest and perhaps hardest hurdle to overcome for me will be continuing on with this learning and being healthier after the Be A Loser Contest is over for this year. It is really easy to think about good health when it is something I have to write about at least weekly. It is another story altogether when I am not "forced" to think about it.
I want to believe that I will keep learning and that I will keep striving toward better health through better eating habits. I want to believe that I will forge on in the effort to lose weight. I want to.
Will I, though? That is the question on which I ponder the most. I think I will because I feel so much better than I did 8 weeks ago. I think I will because I actually like eating fruits and vegetables. I think I will because in spite of being lazy, I do enjoy riding my bike.
Thought for the Day:
It is not easy to make this choice daily. I struggle with my decision to live healthier. I know it shouldn't be a struggle, but it really is. Why would I want to live in an unhealthy way? Why would I want to put harmful chemicals in my body and call it food? Why would I deliberately run the increased risks of heart attack, cancer and other deadly ailments?
Those questions have a fairly simple answer: Because for the most part it is easier, cheaper and a lot of times the stuff that is "bad" for you simply tastes better.
Still, every time I think about food now I evaluate in my mind whether I should eat it or not. Should I eat that pickle? Should I eat that steak? Should I eat that carrot (yuck! NO!)?
If nothing else, this process of trying to be healthier has made me more conscious of the things I am putting into my body.
The biggest and perhaps hardest hurdle to overcome for me will be continuing on with this learning and being healthier after the Be A Loser Contest is over for this year. It is really easy to think about good health when it is something I have to write about at least weekly. It is another story altogether when I am not "forced" to think about it.
I want to believe that I will keep learning and that I will keep striving toward better health through better eating habits. I want to believe that I will forge on in the effort to lose weight. I want to.
Will I, though? That is the question on which I ponder the most. I think I will because I feel so much better than I did 8 weeks ago. I think I will because I actually like eating fruits and vegetables. I think I will because in spite of being lazy, I do enjoy riding my bike.
Thought for the Day:
“Walking your talk is a great way to motivate yourself. No one likes to live a lie. Be honest with yourself, and you will find the motivation to do what you advise others to do.” | |
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Day 59: Making it Happen
I was feeling a little down for the past couple of weeks. I didn't feel like I was starving or anything, but I just felt like all this "healthy" eating was more of a pain in the rear than a good way to be healthy.
I felt fatter and thought there was no way that I was losing weight.
In fact, I stepped on my scale at home and it told me in no uncertain terms that I had gained back nearly everything I had lost. Talk about a blow to the ego! I was about ready to throw in the proverbial towel when it occurred to me that even if I had gained everything back, I was still feeling much healthier and that had to count for something.
I don't know if it was water weight or what, but when I went to the weigh-in on Monday, April 26, I had, in fact, lost 2.5 pounds. I was thrilled because I was fully expecting the scale to register a gain.
Overall, everyone is still doing very well. Don't be discouraged and don't give up even when it feels like or actually is not going the way we hope it will. That is a hard thing to do, I know. It is hard to be enthusiastic when you want to eat a hamburger and fries and instead you are eating another salad, but I just keep reminding myself that one day I will be at a place in my life where I will either be able to eat a hamburger and fries on occasion or I will be at a place in my life where I won't want to. Either way, I have to view this as a positive step I am taking.
I have had some bread in the past two weeks, but only a couple of slices. I also refuse to give up going out for wings on Wednesday! A girl has to have some vice! I actually eat a plate of salad before the wings arrive and then I don't eat as many wings. Then I end the meal with another small salad.
I have learned a lot about eating and foods. Some of it has been a little frightening. When I think about processed foods now, I wonder how we survive when we eat all this garbage. I would like to tell everyone how unhealthy most of that food is.
When I shop now, I usually totally avoid the middle aisles in the grocery store. I stick with the outside aisles where the produce is and where the meats and frozen veggies are. I avoid the cereal aisle altogether. It has been fairly easy for me because I am not much of a shopper anyway, but this was a piece of advice that I found useful...stick with the outside aisles!
I will be updating the results from the April 26 weigh-in this afternoon, so watch for that. The race toward first place is tight so everyone is going to have to keep working.
I was going to say the end of the race is near, but really, it is only the end of the contest that is near. We should not give up on trying to eat healthy or healthier and continue toward our goal even if the incentive of a prize is not there. Like I have said from the beginning...the real prize is our better health! If we keep that in our minds, we are all winners!
Transformations Lifestyle System
I continue to follow the Transformation Lifestyle System. If you are interested in learning more about this, you can check my past blog entries or e-mail me and I will get you in contact with Tia.
T-Shirts
The new T-shirts are in and they are awesome! Even if you have not made it to all of the weigh-ins, stop by the news office and pick up your T-shirt.
Thought for the Day
Charles Dickens
"The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose."
I felt fatter and thought there was no way that I was losing weight.
In fact, I stepped on my scale at home and it told me in no uncertain terms that I had gained back nearly everything I had lost. Talk about a blow to the ego! I was about ready to throw in the proverbial towel when it occurred to me that even if I had gained everything back, I was still feeling much healthier and that had to count for something.
I don't know if it was water weight or what, but when I went to the weigh-in on Monday, April 26, I had, in fact, lost 2.5 pounds. I was thrilled because I was fully expecting the scale to register a gain.
Overall, everyone is still doing very well. Don't be discouraged and don't give up even when it feels like or actually is not going the way we hope it will. That is a hard thing to do, I know. It is hard to be enthusiastic when you want to eat a hamburger and fries and instead you are eating another salad, but I just keep reminding myself that one day I will be at a place in my life where I will either be able to eat a hamburger and fries on occasion or I will be at a place in my life where I won't want to. Either way, I have to view this as a positive step I am taking.
I have had some bread in the past two weeks, but only a couple of slices. I also refuse to give up going out for wings on Wednesday! A girl has to have some vice! I actually eat a plate of salad before the wings arrive and then I don't eat as many wings. Then I end the meal with another small salad.
I have learned a lot about eating and foods. Some of it has been a little frightening. When I think about processed foods now, I wonder how we survive when we eat all this garbage. I would like to tell everyone how unhealthy most of that food is.
When I shop now, I usually totally avoid the middle aisles in the grocery store. I stick with the outside aisles where the produce is and where the meats and frozen veggies are. I avoid the cereal aisle altogether. It has been fairly easy for me because I am not much of a shopper anyway, but this was a piece of advice that I found useful...stick with the outside aisles!
I will be updating the results from the April 26 weigh-in this afternoon, so watch for that. The race toward first place is tight so everyone is going to have to keep working.
I was going to say the end of the race is near, but really, it is only the end of the contest that is near. We should not give up on trying to eat healthy or healthier and continue toward our goal even if the incentive of a prize is not there. Like I have said from the beginning...the real prize is our better health! If we keep that in our minds, we are all winners!
Transformations Lifestyle System
I continue to follow the Transformation Lifestyle System. If you are interested in learning more about this, you can check my past blog entries or e-mail me and I will get you in contact with Tia.
T-Shirts
The new T-shirts are in and they are awesome! Even if you have not made it to all of the weigh-ins, stop by the news office and pick up your T-shirt.
Thought for the Day
Charles Dickens
"The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Day 45: Making it Happen
I have been lax in writing this blog and for that I apologize. Life and work have been busy and I have been forgetful. I used to take ginko biloba to help with my poor memory, but I kept forgetting to take it!
Weigh-in from April 12
I have not received the weigh-in results yet, but will post them probably later this afternoon when I receive them.
I stayed the same weight which for me was good because I was sure I had to have gained 5 pounds or more. I just felt so fat and bloated. I don't know what was causing the problem, but as of yesterday, I felt a lot better. I don't feel I have reached a plateau, I just think whatever was going on with my body was causing me to retain water or something... I don't feel as fat today...
Regardless of what the scale says, we are and can continue to be losers! Being a loser is not always a bad thing! Just keep that in mind and you will go far! I am not giving up hope or slacking off on my transition into a healthier lifestyle.
This week I have been making an attempt at better portion control. It is hard to do when I feel so hungry, but I have found that when I eat the healthier, low glycemic index foods that I stay full longer and am not as tempted to eat (graze) all the time.
I need to work on not eating so late at night as well. I have become accustomed to eating a snack of celery and peanut butter around 9:30 p.m. This is really too late to be eating even if it is something that may be healthy.
Transitions Lifestyle
I haven't been eating bread, rice, potatoes or pasta for the past five weeks. Some people ask me how long I won't be able to eat those things or how long I will be on that "diet?"
My response is that I can eat whatever I want, I am choosing not to eat those things because I know they are not good for me. If I could eat them in moderation, I could eat them, but they are huge stumbling blocks for me and therefore I can "not" eat them right now.
I have been finding so many other things that I like and that fill me that it is getting easier to not crave them all of the time.
When I first began this way of life it was difficult. I felt hungry all the time and I wanted my rice! But honestly, it is getting a lot easier. Today I even had one slice of toast and I was okay with that. Even though it was totally delicious, I didn't feel tempted to eat more.
If you are interested in learning more about the low glycemic index and the Transitions Lifestyle System, please contact me at karin@inhnews.com and I will get you the information that you want.
Parting Thoughts
Can you believe it is only a little over a month before the end of our contest? Don't give up hope now, work hard and you can be our winner. Even if you don't take first, second or third in our contest, just remember if you have been eating and living healthier, you are a winner!
Have a great day! Isn't this weather amazing? It has been awesome to see everything getting green! I love spring!
Weigh-in from April 12
I have not received the weigh-in results yet, but will post them probably later this afternoon when I receive them.
I stayed the same weight which for me was good because I was sure I had to have gained 5 pounds or more. I just felt so fat and bloated. I don't know what was causing the problem, but as of yesterday, I felt a lot better. I don't feel I have reached a plateau, I just think whatever was going on with my body was causing me to retain water or something... I don't feel as fat today...
Regardless of what the scale says, we are and can continue to be losers! Being a loser is not always a bad thing! Just keep that in mind and you will go far! I am not giving up hope or slacking off on my transition into a healthier lifestyle.
This week I have been making an attempt at better portion control. It is hard to do when I feel so hungry, but I have found that when I eat the healthier, low glycemic index foods that I stay full longer and am not as tempted to eat (graze) all the time.
I need to work on not eating so late at night as well. I have become accustomed to eating a snack of celery and peanut butter around 9:30 p.m. This is really too late to be eating even if it is something that may be healthy.
Transitions Lifestyle
I haven't been eating bread, rice, potatoes or pasta for the past five weeks. Some people ask me how long I won't be able to eat those things or how long I will be on that "diet?"
My response is that I can eat whatever I want, I am choosing not to eat those things because I know they are not good for me. If I could eat them in moderation, I could eat them, but they are huge stumbling blocks for me and therefore I can "not" eat them right now.
I have been finding so many other things that I like and that fill me that it is getting easier to not crave them all of the time.
When I first began this way of life it was difficult. I felt hungry all the time and I wanted my rice! But honestly, it is getting a lot easier. Today I even had one slice of toast and I was okay with that. Even though it was totally delicious, I didn't feel tempted to eat more.
If you are interested in learning more about the low glycemic index and the Transitions Lifestyle System, please contact me at karin@inhnews.com and I will get you the information that you want.
Parting Thoughts
Can you believe it is only a little over a month before the end of our contest? Don't give up hope now, work hard and you can be our winner. Even if you don't take first, second or third in our contest, just remember if you have been eating and living healthier, you are a winner!
Have a great day! Isn't this weather amazing? It has been awesome to see everything getting green! I love spring!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Day 40: Falling off the weight wagon: Or Weight is what broke the wagon
How have you been doing with your weight loss? Have you hit a plateau? Have you totally given up? Are
you still forging forward with determination that those extra pounds are not going to get the best of you?
Easter was a little difficult for me. While I managed to avoid eating any potatoes or corn, I think I overate when it came to the ham and pork roast. I stuck with my salad and didn't eat the rice that tempted me
with its tantalizing look and smell. I guess I will have to see after the weigh-in on Monday if I have been doing okay or not.
I did slack off on my water drinking for a couple of days and even though I CAN eat peanuts, I don't think I should have eaten 30 of them.
Transformations are difficult. The important thing is to not get so discouraged in our attempts at weight
loss that we give up and "fall off the wagon" so to speak.
When I was a child I used to tell people to "wait" all the time. That was when my mom told me that
"wait broke the wagon." I didn't get it until I was a little older and realized the meaning of the
"wait/weight" she was talking about.
Today I feel fat. I don't want to feel this way...it just is.
I have been working this week on portion control, although I must admit that it is extremely difficult for me to limit the amount I eat. It has been relatively easy to modify what I eat...although I really miss rice
and bread and potatoes. Once I can teach myself to limit my intake, I think I will slowly be able to add
some of those "forbidden" foods back into my diet. I just have to remember that eating too much of them was what got me into trouble in the first place.
This coming week in the Independent News Herald, I hope you will enjoy my article on Super Snacks that help boost your mood.
ALS 5k/10k run walk in memory of Dick Becker
If you are looking for an activity to do this month, why not consider joining an expected 300 people to the 4th annual Run 4 Research for ALS better known as Lou Gerig's Disease. The event will take place
at the Becker farm near Browerville. You can get more information at the following link or stop in at
Konetzko's in Browerville to register. The run/walk takes place on April 25. You can run or walk and
can follow a 5k course or a 10k course.
To receive additional information or to pre-register for this event, phone (888) 672-0484 or check out our website at http://www.alsmn.org (click on events/Third Party Community Schedule of Events).
Have a great weekend!!!
you still forging forward with determination that those extra pounds are not going to get the best of you?
Easter was a little difficult for me. While I managed to avoid eating any potatoes or corn, I think I overate when it came to the ham and pork roast. I stuck with my salad and didn't eat the rice that tempted me
with its tantalizing look and smell. I guess I will have to see after the weigh-in on Monday if I have been doing okay or not.
I did slack off on my water drinking for a couple of days and even though I CAN eat peanuts, I don't think I should have eaten 30 of them.
Transformations are difficult. The important thing is to not get so discouraged in our attempts at weight
loss that we give up and "fall off the wagon" so to speak.
When I was a child I used to tell people to "wait" all the time. That was when my mom told me that
"wait broke the wagon." I didn't get it until I was a little older and realized the meaning of the
"wait/weight" she was talking about.
Today I feel fat. I don't want to feel this way...it just is.
I have been working this week on portion control, although I must admit that it is extremely difficult for me to limit the amount I eat. It has been relatively easy to modify what I eat...although I really miss rice
and bread and potatoes. Once I can teach myself to limit my intake, I think I will slowly be able to add
some of those "forbidden" foods back into my diet. I just have to remember that eating too much of them was what got me into trouble in the first place.
This coming week in the Independent News Herald, I hope you will enjoy my article on Super Snacks that help boost your mood.
ALS 5k/10k run walk in memory of Dick Becker
If you are looking for an activity to do this month, why not consider joining an expected 300 people to the 4th annual Run 4 Research for ALS better known as Lou Gerig's Disease. The event will take place
at the Becker farm near Browerville. You can get more information at the following link or stop in at
Konetzko's in Browerville to register. The run/walk takes place on April 25. You can run or walk and
can follow a 5k course or a 10k course.
To receive additional information or to pre-register for this event, phone (888) 672-0484 or check out our website at http://www.alsmn.org (click on events/Third Party Community Schedule of Events).
Have a great weekend!!!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Day 33: Hanging In There
I have a confession to make...
I am an eater. I like eating. I like everything about it. I like the smell, the look, the texture and even the color of food. (Well, most of it anyway.)
Being an eater does not make me a bad person. Even the fact that I have been an over-eater does not make me a bad person. AND that is the thing that we have to keep telling ourselves...We are not BAD people. (Okay, some of us are, but that is another story for another time...LOL...Just kidding.)
When I start to think of myself as a BAD person because of my eating habits, there are several things that happen to me.
The first thing that happens to me is that I open that door for the internal critic to begin her dangerous work of degrading me. I am no longer just a BAD person because I am over-eating, I am a BAD person because of a whole plethora of reasons from not calling my mother to taking too long of a shower and wasting water.
The second thing that happens to me is that once I feel BAD enough about what a HORRIBLE person I am, I start to eat everything in sight. I justify it by thinking, "Well, I am just a fat cow anyway, so who cares if I just eat and eat?"
Wrong thinking!
For one, we all have to work on stifling that internal critic. The internal critic would like to make us think that we are HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE, NO GOOD, ROTTEN people, but we ARE NOT!
As you may notice, I have battled with the internal critic for a long time. She doesn't rear her ugly head very often anymore, because I simply do not have the time to listen to her. She mostly comes about when I am bored (which is another reason that I eat and over-eat).
Once you can tell yourself that you are a GOOD person and start believing it, you can shut that internal critic down pretty fast. This takes time, however. I mean, it is kind of like how we became overweight, it didn't come on all at one time, it took some time. Losing that weight will take some time, too.
It is the same way with the internal critic. They didn't start with the "you're a BAD person" right out of the box and it will take some time to shut her down.
As I am reading over this, I keep thinking, "Wow! I bet everyone is going to think I am hearing voices!" With hope, you all understand what I am talking about!
Exercise
I have been riding my exercise bike daily. Today I rode a little over two miles at an average speed of 15 miles per hour. I rode ten minutes at that speed and then as a cool down, I rode for a little over a minute at around 12 miles per hour.
With the wonderful, beautiful weather I am hoping to get my bicycle tuned up and ready to go for a "real" bike ride. It will be nice to be in a little better condition before I actually do that this year. Honestly, last year I did not ride my bicycle one time. I pretty much sat on my butt and did nothing.
Even if you do not have a bicycle or exercise bike, you can still get some really beneficial exercise by walking. Walking is free and it is really good for you! I have been slowly adding to my walking, but the last two days I have not walked much at all because my back hurts. I tried to walk a little the other day and it just seemed to make my back hurt worse. Having had a back surgery a few years ago, I know better than to push myself too far. I do not want to have to go through that again.
Transitions Lifestyle System
Eating healthy is not a natural thing for me. I am not accustomed to eating so many vegetables and low glycemic index foods. The glycemic index was originally designed as a guide for people with diabetes. It was found to be an important nutritional tool that now has many uses.
From the book "Easy to use Glycemic Index Food Guide": By indiciating how quickly a given food triggers a rise in blood sugar, it enables everyone—from diabetics, to individuals who want to lose weight, to people who simply want to remain healthy—to choose the foods that can help them meet their dietary and health goals...Here you'll get a crash course in carbohydrates, which is what the GI is all about..."
I have learned a lot from reading this book and learning about how different carbohydrates break down and what that means to me as a diabetic and what that means to me as a person longing to be free of a whole lot of excess pounds.
If you want to know more about the Transitions Lifestyle System, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at: karin@inhnews.com.
On a final note
Remember to hang in there. Grab a piece of cauliflower and eat it like an apple. Try new things that sound "yucky". I tried peanut butter on celery and it is delightful!
On a different final note
Have a blessed Easter. Think about the wonderous miracle that made this "holiday" special! He has risen! He has risen indeed!
I am an eater. I like eating. I like everything about it. I like the smell, the look, the texture and even the color of food. (Well, most of it anyway.)
Being an eater does not make me a bad person. Even the fact that I have been an over-eater does not make me a bad person. AND that is the thing that we have to keep telling ourselves...We are not BAD people. (Okay, some of us are, but that is another story for another time...LOL...Just kidding.)
When I start to think of myself as a BAD person because of my eating habits, there are several things that happen to me.
The first thing that happens to me is that I open that door for the internal critic to begin her dangerous work of degrading me. I am no longer just a BAD person because I am over-eating, I am a BAD person because of a whole plethora of reasons from not calling my mother to taking too long of a shower and wasting water.
The second thing that happens to me is that once I feel BAD enough about what a HORRIBLE person I am, I start to eat everything in sight. I justify it by thinking, "Well, I am just a fat cow anyway, so who cares if I just eat and eat?"
Wrong thinking!
For one, we all have to work on stifling that internal critic. The internal critic would like to make us think that we are HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE, NO GOOD, ROTTEN people, but we ARE NOT!
As you may notice, I have battled with the internal critic for a long time. She doesn't rear her ugly head very often anymore, because I simply do not have the time to listen to her. She mostly comes about when I am bored (which is another reason that I eat and over-eat).
Once you can tell yourself that you are a GOOD person and start believing it, you can shut that internal critic down pretty fast. This takes time, however. I mean, it is kind of like how we became overweight, it didn't come on all at one time, it took some time. Losing that weight will take some time, too.
It is the same way with the internal critic. They didn't start with the "you're a BAD person" right out of the box and it will take some time to shut her down.
As I am reading over this, I keep thinking, "Wow! I bet everyone is going to think I am hearing voices!" With hope, you all understand what I am talking about!
Exercise
I have been riding my exercise bike daily. Today I rode a little over two miles at an average speed of 15 miles per hour. I rode ten minutes at that speed and then as a cool down, I rode for a little over a minute at around 12 miles per hour.
With the wonderful, beautiful weather I am hoping to get my bicycle tuned up and ready to go for a "real" bike ride. It will be nice to be in a little better condition before I actually do that this year. Honestly, last year I did not ride my bicycle one time. I pretty much sat on my butt and did nothing.
Even if you do not have a bicycle or exercise bike, you can still get some really beneficial exercise by walking. Walking is free and it is really good for you! I have been slowly adding to my walking, but the last two days I have not walked much at all because my back hurts. I tried to walk a little the other day and it just seemed to make my back hurt worse. Having had a back surgery a few years ago, I know better than to push myself too far. I do not want to have to go through that again.
Transitions Lifestyle System
Eating healthy is not a natural thing for me. I am not accustomed to eating so many vegetables and low glycemic index foods. The glycemic index was originally designed as a guide for people with diabetes. It was found to be an important nutritional tool that now has many uses.
From the book "Easy to use Glycemic Index Food Guide": By indiciating how quickly a given food triggers a rise in blood sugar, it enables everyone—from diabetics, to individuals who want to lose weight, to people who simply want to remain healthy—to choose the foods that can help them meet their dietary and health goals...Here you'll get a crash course in carbohydrates, which is what the GI is all about..."
I have learned a lot from reading this book and learning about how different carbohydrates break down and what that means to me as a diabetic and what that means to me as a person longing to be free of a whole lot of excess pounds.
If you want to know more about the Transitions Lifestyle System, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at: karin@inhnews.com.
On a final note
Remember to hang in there. Grab a piece of cauliflower and eat it like an apple. Try new things that sound "yucky". I tried peanut butter on celery and it is delightful!
On a different final note
Have a blessed Easter. Think about the wonderous miracle that made this "holiday" special! He has risen! He has risen indeed!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Day 31: Another good weigh-in
Weigh-in Results
Congratulations to everyone who lost weight during our last mandatory weigh-in on Monday, March 29. Nearly everyone lost weight again this time. You should be proud of yourselves and the work you are doing to better your health.
I have to tell you I am very pleased with the 11.8 pounds I have lost in the past month. Although a friend of mine mentioned yesterday that she had found it! It hasn't been easy, but then again, it hasn't been too hard either. I have been changing the way I eat and that is never easy. I have added in a lot of vegetables and low glycemic index foods. I am also taking some vitamins.
Honestly, I feel better and I feel thinner. I still look in the mirror and see me, but inside (where the internal critic lives and works her evil deeds) I feel better and thinner. I can envision myself as a thinner person who can wear size 2x comfortably. I can envision myself as a thinner person who can comfortably fit into size 22 jeans. I say comfortably because I have been shoving my girth into those sizes for a while and it is not always comfortable.
I invested some money yesterday in a nice exercise bike and in a WII fit board and WII fit workout. I have used the bike twice now, but have not opened the WII fit yet.
About the bike
It was kind of funny. I rode the bike for five minutes and had pretty well worn myself out (that's not funny, that's sad). The funny part came a few minutes later when I was reading the instruction manual. It said that the bike should not be used by people who weigh over 250 pounds. I laughed and told my friend, "Well, after I lose another 12 pounds I can start using the exercise bike!"
I used the bike again this morning anyway and rode at a nice pace of about 13 miles per hour for 10 minutes. I rode approximately 2 miles according to the odometer. I thought that was nice. I was tired and my legs hurt a little, but I felt like I had accomplished something.
Transitions Lifestyle System
I have been following a low glycemic index approach to weight loss following the Transitions Lifestyle System. This is especially helpful because I suffer from diabetes and eating these types of food will help control my blood sugar levels because they don't cause a blood sugar spike from certain other foods. A food that is high in carbs does not necessarily have a high glycemic index which is important to note because you don't have to cut out everything you love to eat to eat healthier.
If you want to know more about low glycemic index foods and the Transitions Lifestyle System, please send me an e-mail and I will get you in contact with Tia. E-mail me at: karin@inhnews.com.
Check with your doctor
I am usually pretty lax in contacting my doctor about things, but I did talk to her about the diet I was on, about the cleanse before I did it and about the exercise bike. She encouraged me with the proper eating I was doing and encouraged me to go slowly with the exercise until I was more conditioned.
It is important to check with your physician to make sure what level of exercise you can take part in. If you are trying a diet of any sort, you should also check with your doctor to make sure you cover the pros and cons of your plan.
Parting Thoughts
Have a good day. Get out there and do something. It is hard to believe it is March what with the 70 degree weather. Take advantage of it.
Watch for my "Take a Walk With Karin" videos to start appearing online soon!
Congratulations to everyone who lost weight during our last mandatory weigh-in on Monday, March 29. Nearly everyone lost weight again this time. You should be proud of yourselves and the work you are doing to better your health.
I have to tell you I am very pleased with the 11.8 pounds I have lost in the past month. Although a friend of mine mentioned yesterday that she had found it! It hasn't been easy, but then again, it hasn't been too hard either. I have been changing the way I eat and that is never easy. I have added in a lot of vegetables and low glycemic index foods. I am also taking some vitamins.
Honestly, I feel better and I feel thinner. I still look in the mirror and see me, but inside (where the internal critic lives and works her evil deeds) I feel better and thinner. I can envision myself as a thinner person who can wear size 2x comfortably. I can envision myself as a thinner person who can comfortably fit into size 22 jeans. I say comfortably because I have been shoving my girth into those sizes for a while and it is not always comfortable.
I invested some money yesterday in a nice exercise bike and in a WII fit board and WII fit workout. I have used the bike twice now, but have not opened the WII fit yet.
About the bike
It was kind of funny. I rode the bike for five minutes and had pretty well worn myself out (that's not funny, that's sad). The funny part came a few minutes later when I was reading the instruction manual. It said that the bike should not be used by people who weigh over 250 pounds. I laughed and told my friend, "Well, after I lose another 12 pounds I can start using the exercise bike!"
I used the bike again this morning anyway and rode at a nice pace of about 13 miles per hour for 10 minutes. I rode approximately 2 miles according to the odometer. I thought that was nice. I was tired and my legs hurt a little, but I felt like I had accomplished something.
Transitions Lifestyle System
I have been following a low glycemic index approach to weight loss following the Transitions Lifestyle System. This is especially helpful because I suffer from diabetes and eating these types of food will help control my blood sugar levels because they don't cause a blood sugar spike from certain other foods. A food that is high in carbs does not necessarily have a high glycemic index which is important to note because you don't have to cut out everything you love to eat to eat healthier.
If you want to know more about low glycemic index foods and the Transitions Lifestyle System, please send me an e-mail and I will get you in contact with Tia. E-mail me at: karin@inhnews.com.
Check with your doctor
I am usually pretty lax in contacting my doctor about things, but I did talk to her about the diet I was on, about the cleanse before I did it and about the exercise bike. She encouraged me with the proper eating I was doing and encouraged me to go slowly with the exercise until I was more conditioned.
It is important to check with your physician to make sure what level of exercise you can take part in. If you are trying a diet of any sort, you should also check with your doctor to make sure you cover the pros and cons of your plan.
Parting Thoughts
Have a good day. Get out there and do something. It is hard to believe it is March what with the 70 degree weather. Take advantage of it.
Watch for my "Take a Walk With Karin" videos to start appearing online soon!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Day 26: Sticking with it when times get rough
I will be the first to admit that when times get tough, I get going—usually in the opposite direction.
Changing my lifestyle from one poor in unhealthy foods to one rich in healthy foods is not easy. Some days it is downright tough. Of course, I make it harder than it has to be, but I don't think I am alone in this one. I think so often of all the foods that I need to cut down on—potatoes, white rice, bread, pasta—my favorite food groups, you know. I think of five weeks out, six months from now, a year... and I get myself all worked up because I can't imagine what life will be like without those most favored foods in my daily diet.
That is when I defeat myself. I don't think of the good and healthy food I am eating today, I think of a lifetime of not eating the foods that I enjoyed so much in the past. I defeat myself because my brain says, "You can never eat those things again. Do you really think it is worth it?"
The fact is, I can eat those things again, just in moderation and with a little creative thinking.
For one, I can eat steamed brown rice and it is very low on the glycemic index. I can't eat a lot of it (portion control), but I CAN eat it occasionally.
I can eat whole grain breads in moderation. (Not the four slices slathered in butter like I used to.)
I can eat certain pastas in moderation.
The fact is, I can eat anything, as long as I do it carefully and thoughtfully keeping in mind the portion size and other things like the glycemic index.
I am learning a lot through the Transitions Lifestyle System. I can't say it is for everyone, but it is a good approach to not just weight loss, but learning how to eat and live healthier. If you want to learn more about the Transitions Lifestyle System, send me an e-mail and I will connect you with Tia. Send the e-mail to: karin@inhews.com.
I have been eating celery with some peanut butter on it for a snack in the evening. It is really tasty. I had never had it before because I thought it looked gross, but it really does taste good and gets you the protein you need to help fill you up.
Have a healthy weekend! Just because it is the weekend doesn't mean we get to take a vacation from eating healthy. We have to persevere in spite of distractions.
Changing my lifestyle from one poor in unhealthy foods to one rich in healthy foods is not easy. Some days it is downright tough. Of course, I make it harder than it has to be, but I don't think I am alone in this one. I think so often of all the foods that I need to cut down on—potatoes, white rice, bread, pasta—my favorite food groups, you know. I think of five weeks out, six months from now, a year... and I get myself all worked up because I can't imagine what life will be like without those most favored foods in my daily diet.
That is when I defeat myself. I don't think of the good and healthy food I am eating today, I think of a lifetime of not eating the foods that I enjoyed so much in the past. I defeat myself because my brain says, "You can never eat those things again. Do you really think it is worth it?"
The fact is, I can eat those things again, just in moderation and with a little creative thinking.
For one, I can eat steamed brown rice and it is very low on the glycemic index. I can't eat a lot of it (portion control), but I CAN eat it occasionally.
I can eat whole grain breads in moderation. (Not the four slices slathered in butter like I used to.)
I can eat certain pastas in moderation.
The fact is, I can eat anything, as long as I do it carefully and thoughtfully keeping in mind the portion size and other things like the glycemic index.
I am learning a lot through the Transitions Lifestyle System. I can't say it is for everyone, but it is a good approach to not just weight loss, but learning how to eat and live healthier. If you want to learn more about the Transitions Lifestyle System, send me an e-mail and I will connect you with Tia. Send the e-mail to: karin@inhews.com.
I have been eating celery with some peanut butter on it for a snack in the evening. It is really tasty. I had never had it before because I thought it looked gross, but it really does taste good and gets you the protein you need to help fill you up.
Have a healthy weekend! Just because it is the weekend doesn't mean we get to take a vacation from eating healthy. We have to persevere in spite of distractions.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Day 23: It is not too late
Sometimes I think that it is too late. It is too late for me to lose weight because I have been overweight for more than half of my life. That is a long time to be overweight.
I start thinking about the number of years that it took for me to accumulate this weight and then I think, "If it is going to take that long to get this weight back off, I will NEVER be at a healthy weight."
Do you ever start to feel that way?
I have read about people—as I am sure you have, too—that lose 100 pounds in less than a year and they look absolutely fabulous. They don't have any flabby hanging skin, they look like they just walked out of a glam magazine. Who are these people? I don't know them.
I think it would be hard work to lose 100 pounds in less than a year. I think it will be hard to lose 100 pounds in two years. But as a long-term goal, I am pursuing just that. I actually would like to lose 140 pounds, a little more than me doubled. Scary to think that I am carrying around the equivalent weight of another person. No wonder I get so tired! I am having to carry around 140 extra pounds everywhere I go. You would actually think for that workout I would be in better shape!
Unfortunately it does not work that way. In fact, quite the opposite, but it is not too late for me to change.
For the past nine days I have been following the menus and other aspects of the Transitions Lifestyle System and I feel better. I really do. I continue to learn so much and with hope, I am still continuing to lose weight. If you want to know more about Transitions, please send me an e-mail at: karin@inhnews.com and I will connect you with Tia and she can tell you more about it. It is not a diet, but an entire lifestyle (makeover) because, let's face it, being overweight is a lifestyle, too.
Have a wonderful, healthy day. Remember to get out there and do some exercising! It's a beautiful day! Enjoy it!
I start thinking about the number of years that it took for me to accumulate this weight and then I think, "If it is going to take that long to get this weight back off, I will NEVER be at a healthy weight."
Do you ever start to feel that way?
I have read about people—as I am sure you have, too—that lose 100 pounds in less than a year and they look absolutely fabulous. They don't have any flabby hanging skin, they look like they just walked out of a glam magazine. Who are these people? I don't know them.
I think it would be hard work to lose 100 pounds in less than a year. I think it will be hard to lose 100 pounds in two years. But as a long-term goal, I am pursuing just that. I actually would like to lose 140 pounds, a little more than me doubled. Scary to think that I am carrying around the equivalent weight of another person. No wonder I get so tired! I am having to carry around 140 extra pounds everywhere I go. You would actually think for that workout I would be in better shape!
Unfortunately it does not work that way. In fact, quite the opposite, but it is not too late for me to change.
For the past nine days I have been following the menus and other aspects of the Transitions Lifestyle System and I feel better. I really do. I continue to learn so much and with hope, I am still continuing to lose weight. If you want to know more about Transitions, please send me an e-mail at: karin@inhnews.com and I will connect you with Tia and she can tell you more about it. It is not a diet, but an entire lifestyle (makeover) because, let's face it, being overweight is a lifestyle, too.
Have a wonderful, healthy day. Remember to get out there and do some exercising! It's a beautiful day! Enjoy it!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Day 19-22: Boredom can cause problems
This weekend was hard on me and my attempts at healthy eating. I don't know if I was bored or what. All I know is that I wanted to eat. I wanted to eat everything in sight! I was HUNGRY! Nothing seemed to satisfy my hunger. I wanted food and a lot of it. I don't especially like pizza, but I wanted an ENTIRE PIZZA!
I was busy enough this weekend, so I am not sure if boredom was the culprit or not. All I know is that it was very difficult to not pig-out. I didn't do it, but I sure wanted to.
When I quit smoking I went through periods when I really wanted and was sure I NEEDED a cigarette. I would have even smoked a cigar I was feeling so desperate. I didn't fall to the desire to smoke and for that I am glad. I know that if I even snuck one drag I would start smoking again. Sometimes I do miss it. I don't miss how it made me feel as far as my breathing goes, but ...
Anyway, I didn't pig-out and I didn't make an unhealthy eating choice. I stuck with my vegetables and lean meat including fish for lunch, but I really wanted that pizza!
I continued to be hungry well into the the afternoon and evening on Sunday. I wanted something more!
I finally chose an apple and a couple of dill pickles. I wanted a huge buttery and salty bowl of popcorn!
My accountability partner has been really helping me. She sends me daily encouragement! I, on the other hand, am not so good at encouraging her in return. I am trying, but like Yoda said, "Do or do not. There is no try." (Rough quotation.)
Watch for my walking video to start soon. In the meantime, keep active and eat healthy!
I was busy enough this weekend, so I am not sure if boredom was the culprit or not. All I know is that it was very difficult to not pig-out. I didn't do it, but I sure wanted to.
When I quit smoking I went through periods when I really wanted and was sure I NEEDED a cigarette. I would have even smoked a cigar I was feeling so desperate. I didn't fall to the desire to smoke and for that I am glad. I know that if I even snuck one drag I would start smoking again. Sometimes I do miss it. I don't miss how it made me feel as far as my breathing goes, but ...
Anyway, I didn't pig-out and I didn't make an unhealthy eating choice. I stuck with my vegetables and lean meat including fish for lunch, but I really wanted that pizza!
I continued to be hungry well into the the afternoon and evening on Sunday. I wanted something more!
I finally chose an apple and a couple of dill pickles. I wanted a huge buttery and salty bowl of popcorn!
My accountability partner has been really helping me. She sends me daily encouragement! I, on the other hand, am not so good at encouraging her in return. I am trying, but like Yoda said, "Do or do not. There is no try." (Rough quotation.)
Watch for my walking video to start soon. In the meantime, keep active and eat healthy!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Day 18: It's not always easy
As I write this blog this evening I can tell you that today, or actually, this evening was difficult for me. I was hungry! Finally I broke down and had about 10 radishes!
Well, I guess at the very least I went for the better alternative!
It was a busy day today and tomorrow looks like it will be just as busy if not busier. It is on days that are busy that we have to especially watch how we eat. It would be so easy to just grab a bag of chips or something quick like that and chow down on that. Easier, but not healthier.
Our goal in becoming healthier always needs to be at the forefront of our thinking. It was having that in my mind that prevented me from sneaking a candy bar or other not so good for me thing and choosing the radishes and herbal tea instead.
Now I am having a snack of a cucumber. I am liking the cucumbers and other veggies, more than I did before anyway.
Looking at them as a way of not only getting my weight under control, but also my diabetes, I am more excited about them than I have been in the past. I know veggies alone won't take care of the problem with my weight, but they are a start.
Well, I guess at the very least I went for the better alternative!
It was a busy day today and tomorrow looks like it will be just as busy if not busier. It is on days that are busy that we have to especially watch how we eat. It would be so easy to just grab a bag of chips or something quick like that and chow down on that. Easier, but not healthier.
Our goal in becoming healthier always needs to be at the forefront of our thinking. It was having that in my mind that prevented me from sneaking a candy bar or other not so good for me thing and choosing the radishes and herbal tea instead.
Now I am having a snack of a cucumber. I am liking the cucumbers and other veggies, more than I did before anyway.
Looking at them as a way of not only getting my weight under control, but also my diabetes, I am more excited about them than I have been in the past. I know veggies alone won't take care of the problem with my weight, but they are a start.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Day 11-17: Weigh-In Results are online
Hi Everyone!
I still have not returned to regular blogging as you may have noticed if you are following my blog. I am trying to be more faithful to writing it. It isn't that I don't have anything to say, it is just that I am finding it hard to take the time to write it.
It is kind of like exercising. I can come up with a lot of excuses for why I can't exercise. Even if one little thing is wrong, I don't do any exercising. If my toe hurts (which is has for a week now), I don't go walking because of that. But a hurting toe shouldn't keep me from doing anything. I could ride my stationary bike. I could stretch out or do modified sit-ups. I could do a whole host of things, but instead I do nothing because... "my toe hurts."
Well, I could give a whole list of excuses as to why I am not writing this blog daily, but it would just boil down to... Well... laziness.
Writing this blog takes work. Even though I have something to say, it doesn't necessarily mean it is easy to come up with the right words to say it.
It is the same way with exercising. Just because I know it will do me good, doesn't mean I want to do it.
Last week I was on a fruit and vegetable cleanse diet. I didn't especially like it, but I did find that I could eat vegetables in abundance and not gain tons of weight. I also used a product called NutriClean from Market America. It did make me feel better—the cleanse, that is. I also cut out coffee (caffeine) and have not had a soda pop in two weeks.
This week I began the Transitions Lifestyle System, also through Market America. If you want to know more about these things you can send me an e-mail and I will connect you with Tia (she was at our first weigh-in) and she can tell you more about them.
What I know so far from doing these things is that I am learning a lot. So much of it makes perfect sense and I wish I had known it years ago.
One thing I have learned is that I can eat a meal and push away from the table feeling satisfied and full and not have eaten a bunch of junk that will pack pounds on my . . . body. LOL! This was a great thing to learn. I love food and since most "diets" tell you to cut this and don't eat that at all, I just could not envision another "diet." This is not a diet, it is a way of life that I am learning and I hope learning well.
I will share more with you as we go.
Weigh-in Results
I have posted the weigh-in results from the initial weigh-in and now after our first non-mandatory weigh-in. I was so happy to see that everyone who weighed-in either lost weight or maintained. It was encouraging to me to see that.
I was especially happy to see that I had lost 7.6 pounds. This is almost as much as I lost the first time we did Be A Loser With Karin. I believe that first year I lost 9 pounds. I know it is more than I lost last year because last year I actually gained weight. So I was very encouraged by my own personal weight loss.
As my goal is to lose 25 pounds by the end of the contest, I am excited that I have less than 20 pounds to go now!
Today, I want to encourage all of you to remember one thing...
We all get heavier as we get older,
because there's a lot more information in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I still have not returned to regular blogging as you may have noticed if you are following my blog. I am trying to be more faithful to writing it. It isn't that I don't have anything to say, it is just that I am finding it hard to take the time to write it.
It is kind of like exercising. I can come up with a lot of excuses for why I can't exercise. Even if one little thing is wrong, I don't do any exercising. If my toe hurts (which is has for a week now), I don't go walking because of that. But a hurting toe shouldn't keep me from doing anything. I could ride my stationary bike. I could stretch out or do modified sit-ups. I could do a whole host of things, but instead I do nothing because... "my toe hurts."
Well, I could give a whole list of excuses as to why I am not writing this blog daily, but it would just boil down to... Well... laziness.
Writing this blog takes work. Even though I have something to say, it doesn't necessarily mean it is easy to come up with the right words to say it.
It is the same way with exercising. Just because I know it will do me good, doesn't mean I want to do it.
Last week I was on a fruit and vegetable cleanse diet. I didn't especially like it, but I did find that I could eat vegetables in abundance and not gain tons of weight. I also used a product called NutriClean from Market America. It did make me feel better—the cleanse, that is. I also cut out coffee (caffeine) and have not had a soda pop in two weeks.
This week I began the Transitions Lifestyle System, also through Market America. If you want to know more about these things you can send me an e-mail and I will connect you with Tia (she was at our first weigh-in) and she can tell you more about them.
What I know so far from doing these things is that I am learning a lot. So much of it makes perfect sense and I wish I had known it years ago.
One thing I have learned is that I can eat a meal and push away from the table feeling satisfied and full and not have eaten a bunch of junk that will pack pounds on my . . . body. LOL! This was a great thing to learn. I love food and since most "diets" tell you to cut this and don't eat that at all, I just could not envision another "diet." This is not a diet, it is a way of life that I am learning and I hope learning well.
I will share more with you as we go.
Weigh-in Results
I have posted the weigh-in results from the initial weigh-in and now after our first non-mandatory weigh-in. I was so happy to see that everyone who weighed-in either lost weight or maintained. It was encouraging to me to see that.
I was especially happy to see that I had lost 7.6 pounds. This is almost as much as I lost the first time we did Be A Loser With Karin. I believe that first year I lost 9 pounds. I know it is more than I lost last year because last year I actually gained weight. So I was very encouraged by my own personal weight loss.
As my goal is to lose 25 pounds by the end of the contest, I am excited that I have less than 20 pounds to go now!
Today, I want to encourage all of you to remember one thing...
We all get heavier as we get older,
because there's a lot more information in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Be A Loser With Karin: Week Three—Starting a new lifestyle
From the Independent News Herald
by Karin L. Nauber
karin@inhnews.com
http://bealoserwithkarin2010.blogspot.com
Eating right isn’t always easy, especially if you have a history of unhealthy eating habits.
For the past week I have been eating a lot of vegetables. It has made me feel better, I have to admit, but I don’t plan on becoming a vegetarian anytime soon.
For me, vegetables and fruits can become a part of a healthier diet as they should. In the past, my version of vegetables was a bag of potato chips and French fries. Just the thought of them makes me hungry!
But I found out that I really like raw cauliflower and steamed broccoli. I have always liked asparagus. This week we steamed it instead of boiling it and it was great. We also made a vegetable soup that was very tasty. So vegetables aren’t all bad!
I also took on a new found affection for fruits which I hadn’t had since I was a child. Growing up my mom almost always served us a fruit of some sort for dessert. When people talk about dessert, I don’t usually think of cake or ice cream, I think of peaches or plums or fruit cocktail.
A lot of us have gone for the fast and easy foods which have lead, in part, to our overweight lifestyle.
It is a lifestyle, you know, being overweight. It changes who we are, how we think, how we dress and how we behave around others.
Fortunately, we have the power to change things.
Part of this contest is obviously to win the prizes, but another more important part is to hopefully teach you some lifestyle changes that will benefit you for the rest of your life.
Eating more fresh vegetables is part of a healthier lifestyle. This summer you might want to think about planting a garden to have a supply of fresh vegetables. It is also a great way to be physically active being out there weeding and tending your garden.
Have a healthy week. This week I am starting a low glycemic index diet, or as my accountability partner would call it—my transformation.
I am still working on getting into the hang of writing my blog daily. I do have some posts on there. You can check it out at: http://bealoserwithkarin2010.blogspot.com.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Be a Loser With Karin: Week Two—A New Approach
Be A Loser With Karin: Week Two
A new approach
from the Independent News Heraldby Karin L. Nauber
karin@inhnews.com
bealoserwithkarin2010.blogspot.com
Albert Einstein came up with the perfect answer to what does insanity mean? He said that “Insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
As a scientist, I would wager that Einstein did a lot of the same things over and over again expecting different results.
I think Einstein might agree (if he were still alive) that sometimes you have to stop doing the same thing over and over when you find out that it just does not produce different results.
My many tries at weight loss have all been largely unsuccessful because I have tried the same basic things each time. I may have added something different, but the basic premise was always the same.
So this year I am trying a new approach. In fact, I am trying several different approaches along with some things that have worked for me in previous years.
First off, I have teamed up with an accountability partner. I will tell you more about this as we develop our plans more fully on how we will support and hold each other accountable.
Secondly, I am working with someone on a lifestyle change that includes not only changing the way I eat, but changing the way I think about food and exercise.
I will be blogging about these changes, as well.
Also, I will be adding things to my routine that I know worked when I stuck with them.
The first is that I have cut out soda pop from my daily intake. That doesn’t mean I won’t ever drink pop again. It’s just that I know when I deleted the pop, I felt better and lost some weight.
The second is that I will be walking again. I fell into a lazy mode and haven’t walked at all for several months now.
I know that walking helped make me feel better, too. When I walked regularly, even if I didn’t carefully watch what I ate, I still managed to lose weight.
Now the most difficult part for me will be to stick with it when it gets tough and I get lazy.
Make sure to check out my daily (or almost daily) blog at: bealoserwithkarin2010.blogspot.com. I will have much of my day to day travel on this weight loss journey listed there along with what I hope will be valuable information and encouragement.
As promised, I am sharing my beginning measurements with you: bust: 54.5, waist: 53 and hips: 51.5.
Watch for my “Take a walk with Karin” videos beginning soon!
“Be A Loser” Prize Winners
Our “Be A Loser With Karin” contest kicked off on Monday, March 1 with 37 participants signing up. The following participants won door prizes: Jon’s Family Foods $25 gift certificate, Gwen Greenwaldt of Eagle Bend; potted plant from Mary’s Etc. Shop and Floral, Rhonda Leagjeld of Long Prairie; Everybody’s Market $10 gift certificate, Vicky Arvidson of Eagle Bend; first aid kit, Audrey Blashack of Bertha.
The next weigh-in is optional and it will be held on Tuesday, March 16 at the Eagle Valley Clinic in Eagle Bend.
We want this to be a fun program for everyone as well as making us all a little more aware of our eating and exercising habits and our health in general. Good luck to each of you!
Day 1-10: It is hard to write a daily blog
Friends,
As you can probably see from the lack of posts, it is hard to write a daily blog.
First, you have to think of something to write...every day. Not that I really have a problem doing that. I can come up with something several times a day if ... and this is key ... if I don't have to.
Second, you don't want to just have a bunch of blather that doesn't really help anyone accomplish anything. You want it to have at least a little substance.
Third, you have to make time to do it. This requires motivation of which I sorely lack.
Speaking of motivation, I could really use some to get me out there walking again. Now I have a good excuse, my toe hurts. It doesn't hurt just a little, it hurts a lot. Enough so that I am almost tempted to go to the doctor. Almost... Right now I am just using it as an excuse to not walk.
I have been talking with a new friend and accountability partner. She has come up with a different word for us to use instead of dieting and exercising. She calls it "transformation" because that is really what we are doing—transforming our lives through better eating habits and physical fitness.
I like the idea of transformation. It makes me think of a butterfly emerging from the cocoon. It starts out one way and becomes—transforms—into something else. I don't want to say into something "beautiful" because I think the caterpillar and even the cocoon have beauty—they just "transform" into something different.
I would like my transformation to be into something better, maybe not more beautiful, but certainly more healthy.
Let me know what you think.
And I will make this blog daily. I want to be accountable to all of you.
What I am doing this week:
This week I am doing a detox or cleanse. I have been eating a lot of vegetables and fruits. Herbal tea, lemon juice and water have become my friends—or if not friends, certainly constant companions.
I am not eating any grains or things like rice and potatoes or meat—three of my favorite food groups!—and I am HUNGRY! I will be doing this for a week.
I don't just recommend, but insist that if you choose to do a cleanse that you consult your doctor prior to starting especially if you are on medication or have a medical condition like diabetes.
Next week I will be starting the Transitions Lifestyle. I will tell you more about that later. For now, I am cleansing and getting to like a lot of different vegetables.
With that, I will leave you with this thought on walking.
I have to walk early in the morning,
before my brain figures out what I'm doing.
Have a great day and watch for more tomorrow.
Karin
As you can probably see from the lack of posts, it is hard to write a daily blog.
First, you have to think of something to write...every day. Not that I really have a problem doing that. I can come up with something several times a day if ... and this is key ... if I don't have to.
Second, you don't want to just have a bunch of blather that doesn't really help anyone accomplish anything. You want it to have at least a little substance.
Third, you have to make time to do it. This requires motivation of which I sorely lack.
Speaking of motivation, I could really use some to get me out there walking again. Now I have a good excuse, my toe hurts. It doesn't hurt just a little, it hurts a lot. Enough so that I am almost tempted to go to the doctor. Almost... Right now I am just using it as an excuse to not walk.
I have been talking with a new friend and accountability partner. She has come up with a different word for us to use instead of dieting and exercising. She calls it "transformation" because that is really what we are doing—transforming our lives through better eating habits and physical fitness.
I like the idea of transformation. It makes me think of a butterfly emerging from the cocoon. It starts out one way and becomes—transforms—into something else. I don't want to say into something "beautiful" because I think the caterpillar and even the cocoon have beauty—they just "transform" into something different.
I would like my transformation to be into something better, maybe not more beautiful, but certainly more healthy.
Let me know what you think.
And I will make this blog daily. I want to be accountable to all of you.
What I am doing this week:
This week I am doing a detox or cleanse. I have been eating a lot of vegetables and fruits. Herbal tea, lemon juice and water have become my friends—or if not friends, certainly constant companions.
I am not eating any grains or things like rice and potatoes or meat—three of my favorite food groups!—and I am HUNGRY! I will be doing this for a week.
I don't just recommend, but insist that if you choose to do a cleanse that you consult your doctor prior to starting especially if you are on medication or have a medical condition like diabetes.
Next week I will be starting the Transitions Lifestyle. I will tell you more about that later. For now, I am cleansing and getting to like a lot of different vegetables.
With that, I will leave you with this thought on walking.
I have to walk early in the morning,
before my brain figures out what I'm doing.
Have a great day and watch for more tomorrow.
Karin
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Week one: Starting strong (From the Independent News Herald)
by Karin L. Nauber
karin@inhnews.com
bealoserwithkarin2010.blogspot.com
By the time you read this we will already be underway with the 2010 Be A Loser With Karin weight loss challenge.
The initial weigh-in took place on Monday, March 1 with 38 signing up and getting weighed, measured and having their blood sugar and BMIs calculated.
As promised, my starting weight is 273.8. At the end of the 2009 loser contest I weighed 264.6. It seems I have gained a bit. Nah, let’s be realistic. I gained a lot.
As we begin the challenge this year, I think it would be a very true statement to say that no one can make me feel as bad about myself as I can.
The internal critic that resides inside of all of us, is typically our worst enemy.
This critic tells us we are not any good. It tells us we are unworthy. It tells us a lot of things that just are not true.
The worst part of this critic is that it never gives us ways to “fix” the “problems” as the critic sees them.
If my critic says I am “fat,” it might tell me to “lose weight,” but it offers no useful or practical ways on how to do that.
This year I made a promise to myself to start strong with my resolve to lose weight. Part of that resolve is silencing the internal critic or at least trying to change the negative things into positives.
That won’t be easy, but it is something we can all strive to do. Let’s turn being losers into something positive!
My goal during the next 12 weeks is to lose 25 pounds.
That is a “hefty” goal, but one that I think I can do.
My original goal was to lose 40 pounds, but I have some good friends who tell me that I need to be more realistic, so 25 it is.
I challenge you all to set a realistic goal with some good, healthy ways to achieve the goal.
I intend to again count my carbs. I am laying off the soda and will be attempting to eat portion sizes that are more suitable for one person than for three.
I am also planning to have an accountability partner. This is a person who is also involved in the challenge who will be relying on me to keep her accountable and vice versa. I have never tried anything like this before, so I am looking forward to it.
As you know, too, I am starting my daily (or just about daily) blog. I hope you will enjoy the insights, links and quotes that I put on there.
Let’s start strong and more importantly, let’s finish strong!
I leave you with this thought for the week: Most people are worried about what they eat between Thanksgiving and Christmas when they should be worried about what they eat between Christmas and Thanksgiving!
Have a productive, weight-losing week!
karin@inhnews.com
bealoserwithkarin2010.blogspot.com
By the time you read this we will already be underway with the 2010 Be A Loser With Karin weight loss challenge.
The initial weigh-in took place on Monday, March 1 with 38 signing up and getting weighed, measured and having their blood sugar and BMIs calculated.
As promised, my starting weight is 273.8. At the end of the 2009 loser contest I weighed 264.6. It seems I have gained a bit. Nah, let’s be realistic. I gained a lot.
As we begin the challenge this year, I think it would be a very true statement to say that no one can make me feel as bad about myself as I can.
The internal critic that resides inside of all of us, is typically our worst enemy.
This critic tells us we are not any good. It tells us we are unworthy. It tells us a lot of things that just are not true.
The worst part of this critic is that it never gives us ways to “fix” the “problems” as the critic sees them.
If my critic says I am “fat,” it might tell me to “lose weight,” but it offers no useful or practical ways on how to do that.
This year I made a promise to myself to start strong with my resolve to lose weight. Part of that resolve is silencing the internal critic or at least trying to change the negative things into positives.
That won’t be easy, but it is something we can all strive to do. Let’s turn being losers into something positive!
My goal during the next 12 weeks is to lose 25 pounds.
That is a “hefty” goal, but one that I think I can do.
My original goal was to lose 40 pounds, but I have some good friends who tell me that I need to be more realistic, so 25 it is.
I challenge you all to set a realistic goal with some good, healthy ways to achieve the goal.
I intend to again count my carbs. I am laying off the soda and will be attempting to eat portion sizes that are more suitable for one person than for three.
I am also planning to have an accountability partner. This is a person who is also involved in the challenge who will be relying on me to keep her accountable and vice versa. I have never tried anything like this before, so I am looking forward to it.
As you know, too, I am starting my daily (or just about daily) blog. I hope you will enjoy the insights, links and quotes that I put on there.
Let’s start strong and more importantly, let’s finish strong!
I leave you with this thought for the week: Most people are worried about what they eat between Thanksgiving and Christmas when they should be worried about what they eat between Christmas and Thanksgiving!
Have a productive, weight-losing week!
Friday, February 19, 2010
A New Year, Another Chance
I thought I would give you a brief history of the Be A Loser With Karin contest.
by Karin L. Nauber
Three years ago we started a weight loss contest called “Be A Loser With Karin.”
The contest was started because of the “growing” problem of being overweight or obese in this country and I personally wanted to put my best foot forward and try and lose a few pounds.
This is the third year we will be running the contest.
A lot of people ask me how it is going with my weight loss. I usually grimace, swallow my pride and tell them it isn’t going very well.
While I haven’t gained (very much anyway), I sure haven’t lost any weight. I have given up walking (unless it is to the fridge for something else to eat) and I have been consuming soda pop like it is “going out of style.”
But I am hopeful that this will be the year that I can finally say I am a “loser” and really mean it!
Isn’t that what new years are all about? New chances to do what we know we should?
One of the biggest things that I know I should do is lose weight.
This year we are starting Be A Loser With Karin a little earlier than we did in the two previous years. Our first weigh-in will be held on March 1.
The cost is still a low $25 for which you will receive not only the chance to win some great cash prizes, biweekly weigh-in prizes and receive a T-shirt, but you also have the chance to be a loser and isn’t that what we are really in this for?
There will be more information forthcoming so watch for it.
I will also be starting up my daily (or sort of daily) blog. In fact, I have already begun it. You can find it at: http://bealoserwithkarin2010.blogspot.com. Please note that this is a different blog location than my blog from last year.
I intend to add a video feature, too, called “Take A Walk With Karin.” Since it is really hard for us to get together to walk, you can walk with me in the “virtual” world, or at least in the online world.
Watch for more information in the newspaper and online.
How Be A Loser With Karin got started
The problem of being overweight or obese is a “growing” problem, no pun intended.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health the proportion of adults in Minnesota who are obese has grown from 10% in 1990 to 20% in 2001.
Since the problem is so prevalent and because I fit into those statistics, I thought it might be a good idea if I did something about it.
In talking about it, the idea was born for a community weight loss challenge called “Be a Loser With Karin,” which would be promoted by the newspaper.
You might ask yourself why I would want to be the center of such a challenge and submit myself to the embarrassment of people knowing how much I weigh.
Karin’s story
The main reason I took on this challenge was because I have seen my health gradually worsen over the last several years as I have slowly packed on pound after pound.
I had quit smoking about two months prior to the start of the first contest. So now I figured it was time to take on the next challenge, that of losing some of the weight I had gained since graduating from high school.
I maintained 160 pounds for almost ten years after graduating.
I was an active person during my high school years. I grew up on a farm and you just can’t help but be active on a farm. I was moderately involved in sports and I rode bike and walked for miles a day.
When I went to college, I continued to work physical labor jobs, was moderately active in sports and continued to walk several miles a day.
Around my third year of college, I started smoking. At that time, it didn’t bother me. I could still walk several miles a day and work my two physical labor jobs.
I continued to work a physical labor job after college graduation, but my walking routine had shriveled up to next to nothing.
Because I was very active in my job as a housekeeper for a 26 bed mental health facility, I managed to still eat like a pig and maintain my weight at 160.
Then it happened. Probably the worst thing that can happen to a person like me, I received a promotion.
I know, a promotion is a good thing, but in my case, the promotion meant that I was not very physically active anymore. I sat a lot doing paperwork.
That first year wasn’t too bad. I only gained 10 pounds.
I wasn’t happy about the weight gain, but I rationalized that it was only 10 pounds and that should be easy enough to lose.
It wasn’t. In fact, the harder I tried to lose the ten pounds, the more weight I gained.
It was like my own body was waging war against me.
By the time another three years had passed I was up to 237 pounds and it seemed as if there would be no end to the weight gain.
You may be asking yourself how I remember my weight from 1992. The reason is simple, I was very compulsive about my weight. I sometimes weighed myself several times a day just to see if I had lost any weight.
Suffering from low self esteem every time I weighed myself, I just made myself feel worse.
Up to the point when I reached 237, I was at the absolute heaviest weight I had ever been. When a person reaches a pinnacle, they remember it.
At that time, I was the program director of one of the group homes I worked for. I had a resident who wanted to lose weight also, so we became weight loss buddies. We encouraged each other when we failed to lose and bolstered each others self esteem when we did lose.
That time I actually was fairly successful in losing weight. I managed to get down to 190 and stayed at that weight for the next four years.
I’ve never been especially good at avoiding temptation, however. And soon enough, I was starting to sneak a few pounds on.
The last five years have probably been the worst for me. I had gained close to 75 pounds and was nearly topping the scales at close to 300 pounds.
I was the person that “fat” jokes are told about.
According to my home scale which I weighed with tonight, I am 276 pounds as I write this.
So as you can see, I have a “huge” reason for wanting to lose weight.
In the next few weeks, we will be telling you more about the “Be a Loser With Karin” weight loss competition. Watch for more stories and advertisements on how to become a participant.
In the meantime, I keep thinking about how nice it was to be an overweight 160 pounder. I know I won’t get back to that tomorrow, but maybe with several of you signed up beside me, we can battle the bulge together.
The Time is Coming
March 1 might seem like it is a long way off, but check your calendar and you will see (like I did) that it is closer than you think. In fact, counting today, it is 11 days away.
A lot can happen in 11 days, but I encourage you to make the commitment to Be a Loser with me this year. You can sign up early at the Independent News Herald or Verndale Sun office. You can also sign up that day.
You can check out more information, like the rules, weigh-in dates and more on our website at: www.inhnews.com.
Let's make this a great year of "being a loser!"
A lot can happen in 11 days, but I encourage you to make the commitment to Be a Loser with me this year. You can sign up early at the Independent News Herald or Verndale Sun office. You can also sign up that day.
You can check out more information, like the rules, weigh-in dates and more on our website at: www.inhnews.com.
Let's make this a great year of "being a loser!"
Friday, January 29, 2010
Join me!
Join me in being a loser! The first weigh in will be on March 1. The cost to join is still a low $25! Contact me at karin@inhnews.com or anyone at the newspaper for more information or to sign up. Sign up will begin in February!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Be a Loser With Karin Part One
This year's Be a Loser With Karin will begin on March 1. It should be an exciting time with a lot of opportunities for you to win money and prizes in our contest. I look forward to meeting you at weigh in and hope to have some fun features to share with you this year.
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