April 22, 2010
Oh man. This is a tough one. I am not a medical doctor and I don’t claim to understand this damn fatigue thing but I sure know what it is like to live with it. And I know that it makes weight loss almost impossible. At last right now it feels impossible. I don’t know what advice I can give as I am searching for some advice myself. Right now I am having trouble with the fatigue I understand….if I do too much I will pay the price and not be able to do much for a few days. Travel can mean three or four days of rest. A night on the town could make for a tough couple of days. Things like snowmobiling or shopping and walking can mean an early night and a few days of rest. Exercise is out of the question. The thing I am having trouble with today is fatigue from nowhere. I don’t know why I am so tired but even taking a shower was a chore. My brain is fine and actually a little bored but my body doesn’t want to do anything! UGH! So, all I can say for right now is to rest, do what you can and wait for it to pass. It will pass and your energy will come back and you can then get back on an exercise routine. Do the best you can with each day and exercise when you can. The fatigue is real and you need to listen to your body. I am typing this as much to convince myself and remind myself to be patient and listen to my body. I am very tough on myself and this will not help any of us. Fatigue is not an excuse it is real and needs to be taken seriously. So get your rest and when you feel better…get your exercise done!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Do It Your Way!
February 27, 2010
So here is the most difficult bit of wisdom to accept and follow. At least it is for me. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE! You are an individual and you are unique and you need different things than other people! Believe it Own it! I am pretty sure I have made it clear all along to do what works for you with everything…food, exercise, therapy, etc. I know how difficult this is with all the weight loss media. It is a HUGE industry and everyone has the SPECIAL secret. If something sounds reasonable check it out and see if it will work for you but don’t believe everything you hear and see. As I have said before the basics still work. Eat less food (less calorie), exercise more, find out why you are eating extra food (therapy). So there is a new book? Is it reasonable? Will it fit into your lifestyle LONG TERM (forever)???? How about that new class at the gym? Same questions?? Same for the latest trends pilates, NIA, yoga. I guess this is a short BLOG because there is not much else to say??? Any specific questions? Just be careful about listening to everyone out there. Take the advice, say thank you and if it sounds good see if it fits in your plan.
Oh, maybe there is one more thing to talk about. Weight loss and body shape. These are yours and only yours too. You will lose at you own pace and your own way. Do it your way! Stick to your guns!
So here is the most difficult bit of wisdom to accept and follow. At least it is for me. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE! You are an individual and you are unique and you need different things than other people! Believe it Own it! I am pretty sure I have made it clear all along to do what works for you with everything…food, exercise, therapy, etc. I know how difficult this is with all the weight loss media. It is a HUGE industry and everyone has the SPECIAL secret. If something sounds reasonable check it out and see if it will work for you but don’t believe everything you hear and see. As I have said before the basics still work. Eat less food (less calorie), exercise more, find out why you are eating extra food (therapy). So there is a new book? Is it reasonable? Will it fit into your lifestyle LONG TERM (forever)???? How about that new class at the gym? Same questions?? Same for the latest trends pilates, NIA, yoga. I guess this is a short BLOG because there is not much else to say??? Any specific questions? Just be careful about listening to everyone out there. Take the advice, say thank you and if it sounds good see if it fits in your plan.
Oh, maybe there is one more thing to talk about. Weight loss and body shape. These are yours and only yours too. You will lose at you own pace and your own way. Do it your way! Stick to your guns!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Moral Support??? What the Heck???
February 18, 2010
Let’s talk about moral support! Kellie, you would be so beautiful if you lost weight. Kellie you will be so much happier if you just lost weight. Kellie, you eat too much. Kellie, I made this dessert special for you.
Yes, as they say it is great to have a workout buddy. It may help you get to the workout if you have someone relying on you. It makes the workout more fun. It is easier to eat healthy if everyone is eating the same thing. Moral support is amazing and can really help with a short term weight loss plan! BUT I am here to ask: What the hell is support for you??? and What happens when that person poops out? Long term weight loss needs to be IN YOU!
First of all what the hell is support? What does that mean TO YOU? Having someone to meet you for exercising is support. Someone who encourages you to do your best and makes the workout fun! Wooo Hoo. This is good! But some also say that we workout harder when we workout alone. So find what works for you and DO IT! If you can’t get to the gym by yourself then find a friend or pay a trainer and get to the gym…if you can get to the gym and do your workout but need your iPod then do that. But don’t stop at your first failure…find what support helps you get to the gym on a regular basis. Friend, iPod, TV, outdoors, group class, Yoga peace…what works for you???
On the food front…this has to be one of the most difficult obstacles to losing weight. There is no consistent answer. As I have said before, for the full plan go to Structure House for a visit or read Dr. Musante’s book but one of the seminars at Structure House has to do with The Food Police and The Food Pusher. This is an amazing class and I will not do it justice here but let me give an overview. The Food Police say: is that food on your diet??? Should you be eating that??? Can you have this food???? UGH! We have all heard them or actually been that person. Here is my opinion…Yes, everything is on your diet! Remember to me diet is a noun not a verb. So anything you eat is in or on your diet! Of course there are things that you will want to avoid that don’t meet your health and weight loss goals. For instance dessert is really not a good idea. Empty calories and usually no nutritional value. BUT if you make the choice and you eat dessert…then it is on your diet. Maybe you worked it into your calories for the day or you just REALLY want cake on your birthday. It Happens!!! Do it, get over it and move on to your next healthy meal! So, what do we do with these people? Be firm in your decisions and your choices and do what is best for you! Yes, they will annoy you and yes they are trying to help but let them know you have things under control and move on. Here I must say that there are some of you out there that like to be warned and questioned about food choices. For those people you must ask for what you need from others…for instance if you are going into a certain restaurant and you don’t want to order your favorite appetizer...tell everyone with you that you don’t want that temptation and to help you avoid that food product!
The Food Pusher…this is a tough one. If I must admit it, I am a food pusher. I love to have peoples favorite food available. Even though I have trouble with this myself I still love to make sure your special occasion is perfect and the perfect food is there. UGH! I come from a food family….most of us do. Holidays and celebrations are all about food and food brings happiness, right??? Let’s try to focus on the family and living and fun and not make the food the central focus on a successful party! I know, I know this is SOOOO easy to say and SOOOOOO hard to do. I still give Randy his favorite candy at Christmas even though I know that it doesn’t meet any nutritional needs. So, keep practicing and make sure people know that the way to your heart is through love, understanding and listening…NOT FOOD! You don’t need your favorite dessert to have a successful, happy, fulfilling birthday or Thanksgiving!
Bottom Line – go out there and stick to your plan and what works for you and ignore those people “trying” to help you. Yes, it comes with love and they are trying to support you but you need to stick to your needs and not let others derail you! Practice TELLING or ASKING these people what you need for support and what works for you.
Let’s talk about moral support! Kellie, you would be so beautiful if you lost weight. Kellie you will be so much happier if you just lost weight. Kellie, you eat too much. Kellie, I made this dessert special for you.
Yes, as they say it is great to have a workout buddy. It may help you get to the workout if you have someone relying on you. It makes the workout more fun. It is easier to eat healthy if everyone is eating the same thing. Moral support is amazing and can really help with a short term weight loss plan! BUT I am here to ask: What the hell is support for you??? and What happens when that person poops out? Long term weight loss needs to be IN YOU!
First of all what the hell is support? What does that mean TO YOU? Having someone to meet you for exercising is support. Someone who encourages you to do your best and makes the workout fun! Wooo Hoo. This is good! But some also say that we workout harder when we workout alone. So find what works for you and DO IT! If you can’t get to the gym by yourself then find a friend or pay a trainer and get to the gym…if you can get to the gym and do your workout but need your iPod then do that. But don’t stop at your first failure…find what support helps you get to the gym on a regular basis. Friend, iPod, TV, outdoors, group class, Yoga peace…what works for you???
On the food front…this has to be one of the most difficult obstacles to losing weight. There is no consistent answer. As I have said before, for the full plan go to Structure House for a visit or read Dr. Musante’s book but one of the seminars at Structure House has to do with The Food Police and The Food Pusher. This is an amazing class and I will not do it justice here but let me give an overview. The Food Police say: is that food on your diet??? Should you be eating that??? Can you have this food???? UGH! We have all heard them or actually been that person. Here is my opinion…Yes, everything is on your diet! Remember to me diet is a noun not a verb. So anything you eat is in or on your diet! Of course there are things that you will want to avoid that don’t meet your health and weight loss goals. For instance dessert is really not a good idea. Empty calories and usually no nutritional value. BUT if you make the choice and you eat dessert…then it is on your diet. Maybe you worked it into your calories for the day or you just REALLY want cake on your birthday. It Happens!!! Do it, get over it and move on to your next healthy meal! So, what do we do with these people? Be firm in your decisions and your choices and do what is best for you! Yes, they will annoy you and yes they are trying to help but let them know you have things under control and move on. Here I must say that there are some of you out there that like to be warned and questioned about food choices. For those people you must ask for what you need from others…for instance if you are going into a certain restaurant and you don’t want to order your favorite appetizer...tell everyone with you that you don’t want that temptation and to help you avoid that food product!
The Food Pusher…this is a tough one. If I must admit it, I am a food pusher. I love to have peoples favorite food available. Even though I have trouble with this myself I still love to make sure your special occasion is perfect and the perfect food is there. UGH! I come from a food family….most of us do. Holidays and celebrations are all about food and food brings happiness, right??? Let’s try to focus on the family and living and fun and not make the food the central focus on a successful party! I know, I know this is SOOOO easy to say and SOOOOOO hard to do. I still give Randy his favorite candy at Christmas even though I know that it doesn’t meet any nutritional needs. So, keep practicing and make sure people know that the way to your heart is through love, understanding and listening…NOT FOOD! You don’t need your favorite dessert to have a successful, happy, fulfilling birthday or Thanksgiving!
Bottom Line – go out there and stick to your plan and what works for you and ignore those people “trying” to help you. Yes, it comes with love and they are trying to support you but you need to stick to your needs and not let others derail you! Practice TELLING or ASKING these people what you need for support and what works for you.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Crisis!
February 10, 2010
Hello! Let’s talk about what I am calling a crisis today. Even though I am using the term it seems drastic to me. But that is how it feels to a perfectionist: drastic and nearly impossible to overcome. I am talking about when that scale starts heading in the wrong direction and slowly creeping up. One of my intentions with my weight loss this time around was to do things differently and not make the same choices again. First, I must review the past. In the past I could easily gain 30, 40, 100 lbs without even noticing what is happening. I am sure this seems completely crazy to someone who has not battled weight issues. But I am here to tell you that it is VERY easy to avoid mirrors and avoid reality. I am an expert! So, I am doing something different this time. Yes, I am stressed and yes food still calms me but I am more aware of each decision I make and I am keeping an eye on it and me! Let’s talk about that calming or numbing feeling. I don’t know any of the medical info but I do know very personally how it feels in my body. When there is family stress or life stress or bad news, my body thinks it is hungry even though I might have just eaten. I know it is not real hunger but I still want to feed it. So there I am emotionally hurting, with MS I am often not feeling well physically and then there is this false hunger. Well, the other “pains” (emotion, physical) are very difficult to overcome and/or tolerate…BUT that hungry feeling is easy to FEED! I can and often do immediately make that discomfort go away. Even though I am a perfectionist and I wish I was perfect…I am not! I have my setbacks and I am doing the best to change my behavior and forgive myself my digressions and move on! So, I caved into the chocolate covered graham crackers at Starbucks…but that was yesterday and today is a new day. That is all I can do is move on and take each day one at a time. Cheers!
Hello! Let’s talk about what I am calling a crisis today. Even though I am using the term it seems drastic to me. But that is how it feels to a perfectionist: drastic and nearly impossible to overcome. I am talking about when that scale starts heading in the wrong direction and slowly creeping up. One of my intentions with my weight loss this time around was to do things differently and not make the same choices again. First, I must review the past. In the past I could easily gain 30, 40, 100 lbs without even noticing what is happening. I am sure this seems completely crazy to someone who has not battled weight issues. But I am here to tell you that it is VERY easy to avoid mirrors and avoid reality. I am an expert! So, I am doing something different this time. Yes, I am stressed and yes food still calms me but I am more aware of each decision I make and I am keeping an eye on it and me! Let’s talk about that calming or numbing feeling. I don’t know any of the medical info but I do know very personally how it feels in my body. When there is family stress or life stress or bad news, my body thinks it is hungry even though I might have just eaten. I know it is not real hunger but I still want to feed it. So there I am emotionally hurting, with MS I am often not feeling well physically and then there is this false hunger. Well, the other “pains” (emotion, physical) are very difficult to overcome and/or tolerate…BUT that hungry feeling is easy to FEED! I can and often do immediately make that discomfort go away. Even though I am a perfectionist and I wish I was perfect…I am not! I have my setbacks and I am doing the best to change my behavior and forgive myself my digressions and move on! So, I caved into the chocolate covered graham crackers at Starbucks…but that was yesterday and today is a new day. That is all I can do is move on and take each day one at a time. Cheers!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Thanks for the Advice but I don't Understand???
February 1, 2010
Today I want to talk about something I think is kinda of a touchy subject. Remember this is all my opinion based on my experience. Also, I need to make it clear that I LOVE all the support I get from my family and friends. I am not undermining that support at all. Just trying to explain what I hear after years of battling weight issues. SO, here goes. My experience has always been with someone (me) who needs to lose 100 lbs or more. My food and eating and coping issues are SOOOOO deep and ingrained in my brain. I don’t even know if it is possible to explain to someone who is not familiar with these issues. What I have done and my recommendations are geared toward people like me. I am not dismissing those that were a healthy weight in the past and have gained weight or those that constantly battle 10-20 lbs. Recommendations for these people are different. What I know about is those of us that have tried every diet in the book over most of our lives and are usually classified as morbidly obese. Then throw in a chronic disease and you have my exact experience. I am really struggling to explain this but the mental issues around food are very intense and from my point of view nearly impossible to battle. I look forward to the day I can tell you I have conquered this. I can’t tell you why that full feeling calms me. I don’t know why I feel like I NEED ice cream when something stresses me out. But I do know that I am working very hard on recognizing these feelings and working on changing my response. The reason I bring all this up is I can’t tell you how many times a day I hear from “normal weight” people that all they do is “Blah, Blah, Blah”. I appreciate the love and support but I also can’t even begin to understand the advice. My brain just doesn’t work like that regarding food and emotions. If it was that easy I would have done it A LONG TIME AGO! The example I have used is for me to tell one of my brothers to just get pregnant…just do it, it is easy. Well, they don’t have the biology to just get pregnant. I can’t just change these food responses over night. Some of you that don’t need to lose much weight or don’t have these food responses so ingrained in every brain cell may not like or understand my recommendations. But someone who is considered morbidly obese may relate to every BLOG entry. Still, bring on the love and support because it means a lot to me and it helps to know that you are trying to understand me. Just try not to get too frustrated when I have a blank look or don’t follow your recommendations. I know what is working for me and I love the suggestions but most of them I have already tried or don’t even comprehend. I have a path and I am following it…It may not be very straight and I may stray from time to time but I do have a path! Thanks for listening/reading!
Today I want to talk about something I think is kinda of a touchy subject. Remember this is all my opinion based on my experience. Also, I need to make it clear that I LOVE all the support I get from my family and friends. I am not undermining that support at all. Just trying to explain what I hear after years of battling weight issues. SO, here goes. My experience has always been with someone (me) who needs to lose 100 lbs or more. My food and eating and coping issues are SOOOOO deep and ingrained in my brain. I don’t even know if it is possible to explain to someone who is not familiar with these issues. What I have done and my recommendations are geared toward people like me. I am not dismissing those that were a healthy weight in the past and have gained weight or those that constantly battle 10-20 lbs. Recommendations for these people are different. What I know about is those of us that have tried every diet in the book over most of our lives and are usually classified as morbidly obese. Then throw in a chronic disease and you have my exact experience. I am really struggling to explain this but the mental issues around food are very intense and from my point of view nearly impossible to battle. I look forward to the day I can tell you I have conquered this. I can’t tell you why that full feeling calms me. I don’t know why I feel like I NEED ice cream when something stresses me out. But I do know that I am working very hard on recognizing these feelings and working on changing my response. The reason I bring all this up is I can’t tell you how many times a day I hear from “normal weight” people that all they do is “Blah, Blah, Blah”. I appreciate the love and support but I also can’t even begin to understand the advice. My brain just doesn’t work like that regarding food and emotions. If it was that easy I would have done it A LONG TIME AGO! The example I have used is for me to tell one of my brothers to just get pregnant…just do it, it is easy. Well, they don’t have the biology to just get pregnant. I can’t just change these food responses over night. Some of you that don’t need to lose much weight or don’t have these food responses so ingrained in every brain cell may not like or understand my recommendations. But someone who is considered morbidly obese may relate to every BLOG entry. Still, bring on the love and support because it means a lot to me and it helps to know that you are trying to understand me. Just try not to get too frustrated when I have a blank look or don’t follow your recommendations. I know what is working for me and I love the suggestions but most of them I have already tried or don’t even comprehend. I have a path and I am following it…It may not be very straight and I may stray from time to time but I do have a path! Thanks for listening/reading!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Motivation
January 27, 2010
Let’s talk about motivation. I know I talk a lot about what to do, what to do…and even though I understand all this stuff and I know the how to make healthy choices it doesn’t mean I do it all, all the time. What motivated me to lose 100 lbs? My original motivation was to do things a different way and keep it off this time. This keeps me motivated all the time but I also need smaller reasons along the way. I have read a couple of books that suggest lists and I love lists . So I started with making business cards on my computer, of course 3X5 written cards would work just as well. I like my little business cards because I can print out a couple sets of them and keep them with me in different places. One set is in my diary and I highly recommend that!!!! So I wrote things like: lower blood sugar, buying cooler clothes, fitting in airplane seats, etc. Find what bothers you and what you want to change and write down the positive change! Things like a wedding or other event are great motivators but they are temporary. So if you want long term success, be sure to add motivators that are after the actual event. The other important part is to keep updating and reviewing your motivators. I need to review things right now and set some new motivators. I am seeing some alarming trends in my eating and I know I need to catch things before I get carried away. So I am off to review my motivators and update my lists. Every day is a new beginning on this journey…here we go again!
Let’s talk about motivation. I know I talk a lot about what to do, what to do…and even though I understand all this stuff and I know the how to make healthy choices it doesn’t mean I do it all, all the time. What motivated me to lose 100 lbs? My original motivation was to do things a different way and keep it off this time. This keeps me motivated all the time but I also need smaller reasons along the way. I have read a couple of books that suggest lists and I love lists . So I started with making business cards on my computer, of course 3X5 written cards would work just as well. I like my little business cards because I can print out a couple sets of them and keep them with me in different places. One set is in my diary and I highly recommend that!!!! So I wrote things like: lower blood sugar, buying cooler clothes, fitting in airplane seats, etc. Find what bothers you and what you want to change and write down the positive change! Things like a wedding or other event are great motivators but they are temporary. So if you want long term success, be sure to add motivators that are after the actual event. The other important part is to keep updating and reviewing your motivators. I need to review things right now and set some new motivators. I am seeing some alarming trends in my eating and I know I need to catch things before I get carried away. So I am off to review my motivators and update my lists. Every day is a new beginning on this journey…here we go again!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Pink, Blue, Yellow or Green????
January 24, 2010
OK, so maybe I was a little pushy on the whole water thing. But come on??? Water??? As my sweatshirt says…Just Do It! It is good for you and pretty easy to get. Enjoy! I have seen people who add that Crystal Light stuff to their water…if that is what it takes then I am not going to judge. I have my opinion but I won’t judge you. Maybe try to add a little less each time so you just need a little flavor in your water to drink it and then eventually maybe you just need a fresh lemon or something. I don’t know who I am to say but as I stated at the beginning of this BLOG these are just my opinions from years of trying to lose weight. I have actually been asked many times about my opinion on artificial sweeteners. From a VERY young age I have been drinking sodas with artificial sweetener in it. Tab was my friend! And as far as weight loss goes “diet” sodas were encouraged. It is no big surprise that I came to love my Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr. Pepper. As time has gone on I learned about the health risks of the pink packets, the blue packets, the yellow packets…Many of these cautions seem to be associated with the brain. So when I go a brain disease I decided to go cold turkey and cut out all artificial sweeteners. It didn’t seem smart to take a risk or add more brain problems. After a couple of years I wanted to sweeten my plain yogurt. I just wanted a change. So currently I am using Stevia…the latest, greatest new green packets. I use Truvia and this has artificial flavors in it and we don’t get to know what that is but I like it way better than the pure Stevia, which has a better flavor to me and I don’t like it. Yes, I will admit that I have an occasional diet drink and I may add a blue packet to my coffee if I have coffee. But the key word for me is MODERATION. I don’t go overboard on any sweetener and I am aware of what I consume. I can have a diet soda occasionally and it is not a problem…some people need many a day and maybe that can be a problem. Would we all be better without them…probably…but I am happy with my current choices in this matter. Once again I do the best I can and this is good enough for me! For now I think I will go enjoy a large glass of cold water!
OK, so maybe I was a little pushy on the whole water thing. But come on??? Water??? As my sweatshirt says…Just Do It! It is good for you and pretty easy to get. Enjoy! I have seen people who add that Crystal Light stuff to their water…if that is what it takes then I am not going to judge. I have my opinion but I won’t judge you. Maybe try to add a little less each time so you just need a little flavor in your water to drink it and then eventually maybe you just need a fresh lemon or something. I don’t know who I am to say but as I stated at the beginning of this BLOG these are just my opinions from years of trying to lose weight. I have actually been asked many times about my opinion on artificial sweeteners. From a VERY young age I have been drinking sodas with artificial sweetener in it. Tab was my friend! And as far as weight loss goes “diet” sodas were encouraged. It is no big surprise that I came to love my Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr. Pepper. As time has gone on I learned about the health risks of the pink packets, the blue packets, the yellow packets…Many of these cautions seem to be associated with the brain. So when I go a brain disease I decided to go cold turkey and cut out all artificial sweeteners. It didn’t seem smart to take a risk or add more brain problems. After a couple of years I wanted to sweeten my plain yogurt. I just wanted a change. So currently I am using Stevia…the latest, greatest new green packets. I use Truvia and this has artificial flavors in it and we don’t get to know what that is but I like it way better than the pure Stevia, which has a better flavor to me and I don’t like it. Yes, I will admit that I have an occasional diet drink and I may add a blue packet to my coffee if I have coffee. But the key word for me is MODERATION. I don’t go overboard on any sweetener and I am aware of what I consume. I can have a diet soda occasionally and it is not a problem…some people need many a day and maybe that can be a problem. Would we all be better without them…probably…but I am happy with my current choices in this matter. Once again I do the best I can and this is good enough for me! For now I think I will go enjoy a large glass of cold water!
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