Believing

I read an article about how you have to believe in yourself to lose the weight and it really hit me. How many times do we say "I'm going to lose weight!" and then give up half way through the process?! I don't know how many times I've done it, but I know it's too many. I've been really surprised at how this blog has really helped me keep going and to believe in myself. It's hard to put out there what my measurements are and how I'm struggling to keep up with running and calorie counting, but it really has helped me. Whenever I see Malea's posts, I think, "Crap, look how good she is!" and that gets me a little more motivated to not eat all the Christmas junk on my kitchen counter. I need to believe in myself and believe that I can get thin again. I hope you all believe in yourselves and that this blog may help motivate you to keep going!!

Potato Chips are Too Expensive!

That is right. Not only monetarily for a thriving college family, but in the calorie department. I have tried to prove the slogan "Bet you can't just eat one." This is a goal I have been working on for years. I eat one, two, three, and then have a hard time stopping myself. I literally have to close the bag and walk away.

I have now requested my husband to not ask me if I want any, to hide any remaining chips in the bag, and to cheer me on to work out even harder if I indulge. Gulp. Potato chips are too expensive! Especially the sour cream and onion flavored. . .

Holiday Pounds

I feel the urge to eat and make treats. I cannot justify the calories, even if they are brownies with spinach masked inside of them. That actually works quite well. Not that I am, okay, maybe I am asking you to try it. Gees! I say no then yes. . . isn't it the season for such thoughts? I am coaxing my hubby into telling me not to make a dessert whenever I want to make a delectable treat, since it is basically every night that I want to make or eat something sweet.

I believe that I have been trained throughout my life to feel as if I 'deserve' a dessert after eating something healthy. Think about it, at public school you almost always get a treat with your lunch. It is expected after dinner. It is a 'given' in most instances. Especially during the holidays. My hubby has helped me out immensely. We are not making cinnamon rolls, chocolates, cookies, cakes, and bars like I anticipate making each holiday season. Phew! What a relief to my caloric intake.

Running Safety Tips

I decided to look into safety tips while running since my last post. I thought these were interesting, some that I need to start following! Safe Running!!

1 - DON'T WEAR HEADSETS. Use your ears to be aware of your surroundings. Using headphones, you lose the use of an important sense: your hearing.
2 - Always stay alert and aware of what's going on around you.
3 - Carry a cell phone or change for a phone call.
4 - Trust your intuition about a person or an area.
5 - Alter or vary your running route pattern;
6 - Run with a partner.
7 - Write down or leave word of the direction of your run.
8 - Avoid unpopulated areas, deserted streets, and overgrown trails.
9 - Carry identification or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe.
10 - Ignore verbal harassment.
11 - Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles.
12 - Wear reflective material if you must run before dawn or after dark.
13 - Practice memorizing license tags or identifying characteristics of strangers.
14 - Carry a noisemaker and/or OC (pepper) spray.
15 - CALL POLICE IMMEDIATELY

I got this from this website:
http://www.syracusechargers.org/info/safety.html if something happens to you or someone else, or you notice anyone out of the ordinary. It is important to report incidents immediately. Get training in self-defense and the use of pepper spray. Use discretion in acknowledging strangers. Look directly at others and be observant, but keep your distance and keep moving.Include any medical information. Don't wear jewelry.Especially avoid unlit areas, especially at night. Run clear of parked cars or bushes.Tell friends and family of your favorite running routes. Run with a dog. run in familiar areas if possible. In unfamiliar areas, such as while traveling, contact a local RRCA club or running store. Know where open businesses or stores are located. React on your intuition and avoid a person or situation if you're unsure. If something tells you a situation is not "right", it isn't.Know the locations of call boxes and telephones along your regular route. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are.

The Chase and safety

As I was being chased by two dogs, at different times, while on my morning run this morning. The thought came into my head. What do I do if I get bit? I'm a bit dramatic when it comes to scenarios in my head. But my thought was. Safety. What ifs kept popping into my head. Do you carry any protection?
 One of my friends suggested running with a stick, another, a can of mace. Do you think about what can happen while you are out running? I know there are a lot of assaults that happen to women running alone. Do you run with someone?
 I run alone, but my husband knows where I'm going to run, and I only run on well lit roads. I am FREAKED of getting raped, so I'm very cautious when it comes to where I run. I don't run with any weapons, I'm afraid, but what is okay to carry? I would like to know what you do for safety?

Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

I was listening to this audio book and I found this information from the National Weight Control Registry to be interesting.

• We have also started to learn about how the weight loss was accomplished: 45% of registry participants lost the weight on their own and the other 55% lost weight with the help of some type of program.

• 98% of Registry participants report that they modified their food intake in some way to lose weight.

• 94% increased their physical activity, with the most frequently reported form of activity being walking.

• There is variety in how NWCR members keep the weight off. Most report continuing to maintain a low calorie, low fat diet and doing high levels of activity.

 

• 78% eat breakfast every day.
• 75% weigh themselves at least once a week.
• 62% watch less than 10 hours of TV per week.
• 90% exercise, on average, about 1 hour per day.

http://www.nwcr.ws/Research/default.htm

Could you place yourself in these same percentages? Which of these methods are you currently involved in undertaking?

Feeling better about myself.

 I have been struggling to feel better about myself. Even with as many inches as I've lost, I still compare myself to how I used to be and how others look. It's hard to feel pretty and attractive, especially to my husband. I am trying to focus on one thing I do like about my body. There are so many times that I stand in front of the mirror and just cut myself down. It's such an easy thing to do, at any age. I always envy those women that lose their weight and never seem to have any problems with being heavy. It's hard to be the heavy one in the crowd.

 So my challenge for this week: Pick one thing you that you like about yourself each day. Try to focus on what's good about you, instead of what needs to be changed. Good luck!!

Cold Weather Slump...

I have been in a cold weather working out slump!! I can't get myself to run outside when it hurts to breath because it's so cold. My only problem is, I don't have a treadmill or anything like that. I need to do my Windsor Pilate's DVDs, but I get bored with the repetition.

What do you like to do for working out when it's cold outside? I need some ideas, majorly!!!

Thanks!

Beautiful

That is the hardest part about feeling fat, I do not feel beautiful.
This picture made me laugh. I love it.

Now, I have a picture of a unicorn taped by my stationary bike to remind me that I am working hard, like this rhino, to be as beautiful as a unicorn. 

Tummy Time

I have made a decision without consulting Jocee (sorry). As my measurements are not accurate and merely guesswork each month; I have decided to only focus on my tummy region. I will take special care to make sure my measurements are accurate since the tummy is my focal point for weight loss. If I lose there, I will be losing in all of the other regions of my body. Win, win!

Here is my count.
October - 40
November - 39.5
December - 38

:) Still a tummy, but with more time, no more tummy, right?

New Month = New Measurements!!

I gave myself an extra week to lose some weight. Not sure if it was a good idea or not. Well, I haven't been as diligent this month, I've been sick and it's been hard for me to have the energy to work out.

	12/7/10	11/1/10	10/4/10	Total
Neck	12.75	13	13.25	.5
Chest	39.5	40	40	.5
Right Arm	13	12.5	13	0
Left Arm	12.75	12.5	13	.25
Waist	45.5	45.24	46	.5
Hips	44	43	43.5	-.5
Right Thigh	22.25	22.75	24	2.75
Left Thigh	22	22.75	24	2
Right Calf	14.5	14.75	15	.5
Left Calf	14.5	14.75	15	.5

So Total I've lost is 6 inches. Which isn't too bad, but I was hoping for better results. I'd better get my butt back in gear and running!! I was pretty sad to see that I'd gained in some places. I know I'm fitting into things better, but it still is frustrating to see it coming back. Well, that's why I keep track. Here's to this week!!!