Here I am, Day 9 and am starting to get the feel for this. I have 5 days left for Phase 1 of the SBD. I've learned a couple things recently. I'm starting with Saturday. We had friends over for games that afternoon. Great fun! Joel and I decided that it would be just a game afternoon with no food or beverages (other then the ice-tea I made). This is quite different then I normally do. I love planning on special appies and fun cocktails along with what ever we are doing with friends. It turned out really well not having that and made the planning much simpler. Friends were over about 4 hours and by the time they went home. I came in to put dinner together. I was so hungry and so very tired that I had nothing left in me to go through the effort. I got Joel to take us to Applebee's as that was the closest and the most likely to have the food we are use to eating now. It was so busy, that the only place available to eat was at the bar. So we figured sitting at the bar we'd be expected to order a drink. We thought about it and both order the house red wine. Also chose the best meals we thought would be close to what we can eat. We did relatively good. We pushed aside the rice, potatoes and croutons. The next morning however I was feeling like I really let myself down. I didn't make the entire 14 days without being 100% on Phase 1. I'm so glad I have a helpful partner in Joel as he just said let it go, we did the best we could do and it does not mean we're bad people. Today I'm fine. However, what I've learned from this? Be prepared. Next time, fix ahead what we'll have for a meal so that when guests leave, with a push of a button, dinner will be ready.
Next, there have been very few exercises that I like or do not hurt when I do them. I've continued over all these years to keep moving. I've biked, swam, walked, kayaked, hiked, skied, water skied, tai chee, yoga and working out at the gym. Some of these have been fun, other's have been pure work. In my 50's, it became increasingly difficult to exercise do to the fibromyalgia. Sometimes it hurt, other times I was just too tired. However I do not want to loose what little strength I have and know I must keep it moving. In a previous posts, I mentioned that one of my goals is to be able to walk up one flight of stairs with out panting. That's why this is the year. I keep trying things until I find what works. In my quest, I've found that if I can spend about 10 - 15 minutes in a Jacuzzi to warm up my joints and body, I then can go into the pool and keep moving my body for over an hour. It's gently exercise and I plan to keep doing this until I've lost more weight to take pressure off my knees and start climbing stairs. Moving in the pool is so enjoyable and I have a friend that met me at that pool today that I hope will continue while we are here in Yuma.
Something I read in the paper this morning I was encouraged by . Don't ever stop trying!
"A flock of ducks were flying south for the winter. They flew over a farmyard where chickens were being raised. One of the ducks dropped out of the familiar "V pattern" to share the lunch being enjoyed by the chickens. He really liked the meal. Significantly pleasant to him was the provision being brought to him by the farmer. The situation was so inviting that the duck... decided to spend the winter with the well-fed groundlings. Flying and finding food did not seem at all attractive to his lifestyle!
It was not too long until spring came. The well-fed duck saw the V-shaped formation of ducks flying north toward home for the summer. It was time for him to join his family the return. He stretched his wings for flight. Lift-off did not occur! Unused ability and continual satisfaction of appetite became evident. Flabby muscles and excessive dining had a restrictive effect. He was grounded! He had forgotten his basic origin and high potential. Never quit trying and flying."
This story was told by a respected teacher of religion in the early 1900's. You can see how it also could apply to those of us working towards the best health we can be. 2 thoughts here, if you don't use it you loose it and if you live the easier lifestyle, it's only easy for awhile.
So, what's on my mind this morning and how am I going to deal with it? This morning I'm struggling with patience and seeing results. I began Day 5 today on the SBD, and 5 days of yoga or workout with Dean & Chanel. I am not weighing myself until March 4 as that will be 14 days on the Phase 1 portion. My thought in doing that is to concentrate on living and eating healthy regardless of what the scales say. But I found myself this morning feeling disappointed that my clothes were still fitting the same as they were 5 days ago. The only area skinnier is my lower legs and ankles. I have 9 days left on the first phase and I need to remember why I'm doing this.
So, how am I going to handle this? First, by remembering like I said, why am I doing this. Although there is no denying it, I want so badly to loose this excess weight. I'm tired of being the fat one in my family. That's my truth...however what has brought me to this place is my health. I can't take long walks, hikes, climb stairs and do complete cardios. My cholesterol is high and I'm taking meds for it. I'm pre-diabetic and my dr. recently said I'm pre-renal with the kidneys. The kidney issue is primarily because I have taken pain pills for years for Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. Now I'm off pain pills and attempting to work with Yoga for pain management. When I get discouraged about the slowness of the "new look" for me, I am going to say; "Stay the course Janice and the rest will follow."
I am here to simplify my life and choose what matters most and I have to believe that health is on the top of this list. I now have an affirmation list that will keep my mindful of what matters.
10 Healing Affirmations
- I nourish myself with healing foods every day that satisfy and totally heal my mind and body.
- I deserve and accept vibrant health and wellness into my life right now.
- I love myself completely and take excellent care of my mind and body.
- I am totally safe and surrounded by love, light, peace, and joy.
- I am completely relaxed and my mind and body is peaceful and calm. All is wonderful in my life.
- I let go of all that I no longer need. My body is healing quickly and easily.
- My past is done and I release it. I live in the present with happiness, love, and joy.
- I live my life with radiant good health totally knowing that all is well and I feel fantastic.
- I rest peacefully every night knowing that my body is healing and rejuvenating while I sleep.
- I have abundant energy and a strong healthy immune system.
We are now into our 4th day and noticing some mental challenges hitting us. I'm so glad I have this to do with my hubby. Where he is weak, I seem to be strong. When I'm weak, he seems to be strong.
The 2 areas I'm struggling is my afternoon happy hour and closet eating when Joel leaves the house. So it appears obvious to me that it's habits that has a hold of me. Every afternoon for several years, Joel and I have enjoyed wine/beer. The last year or two I've served tapas with it. We really enjoy this time together and it's a good experience we have. Also, I'm a closet eater. Joel takes off and I go to the cupboards and refrigerator to see what I can snack on. And if I'm doing this, most likely it's not the best food choices. 2 things of notice here. The first one is, Joel has always been supportive of me and has never said anything derogatory. So anything I feel, is something I put on myself out of guilt. This too has become a habit. I consciously need to make new healthy habits.
The next thing of note is that I get bored easily of foods and really like an array of options. For instance, we had eggs 3 mornings in a row. I wanted something different this morning. So I served us cottage cheese with veggie strips and Canadian bacon, V-8 juice and coffee. I was glad for the change. Another thing I noticed is I'm getting tired of salads. So this has got me thinking, why am I bored of foods when it is food that sustains me. I've been looking at food in all the wrong ways. Saying this doesn't mean I know what to do, I'm just acknowledging to myself that I have a problem. I have been saying the mantra "I eat to live; I do not live to eat. But the truth is, I've lived to eat all my life. 65 years. So how do I change this mind set? I don't know, but I'm going to research this.
Live as if I have a life worth living!
Be more with less!
My coach on Living Young asked us to take some time and work on this acronym. I've taken a couple days to think about it, so here I go.
S. S is for specific. Be as specific as I can with what I am planning on accomplishing. I will wake up each morning giving myself affirmations for the previous day and for the day to come and before I go to sleep I will review my day and give myself kudos for the job well done. I will look at each days meal plan and prepare accordingly. I will do some form of exercise daily, whether it is Yoga, Cardio, Walking or Pool. I will drink plenty of water to keep my body well hydrated.
M. M is for measurable. How am I going to measure what my specific plan is? I will make a chart with Affirmations, Meal Preparations, Exercising & Water.
A. A is for achievable. How will I achieve this plan? I will check off everything done before I go to bed. I will keep this list where both my husband and I can see it, and ask him also to help me accomplish this by keeping me accountable.
R. R is for realistic. How realistic is this plan? I have been careful on this plan to keep it at a level I can achieve. I am not allowing myself to be set up for failure.
T. T is for time specific. This plan will take 2 weeks and end on March 4. Why 2 weeks?
Because I am on Phase I with the South Beach Diet for 2 weeks and I'm going to take this a step at a time. I will then add my next S.M.A.R.T. for a period of time.
DIET - I hate this word. To me diet means failure. Why? Because of the bazillion "diets" I've been on for the past 30 years. Any every diet has lead to failure. So....I'm in search of a new word to replace diet. Something has occurred to me. With birthdays, people get tripped up with a number that they've turned. Like; I'm 65. Oh, 65. That is so old. Wow, 65, yikes! It's just a number right? Same with diet. It's just a word. It's neither bad nor good. It just is. This "diet" will be what I make of it.
So...
Why did I choose the South Beach Diet? It's been around a long time and put together by a doctor. It is intended for people who have heart or diabetes issues. I have in the past been diagnosed as pre-diabetic and carrying around all the extra weight cannot be healthy on my heart. It is considered to be a low carb diet. I've been on something similar years ago and if I remember well, I did well on it. The premise is to omit everything that has sugar, all packaged foods, breads, rice, potatoes, etc. I will be eating mostly vegetables, lean meats, limited fruits (more on this later) and other low fat proteins.
Phase 1 is for 2 weeks only and is fairly limited. Veggies, lean meats, and other low fat proteins. No fruit or wine. Pretty much that's it. Very limited, but I will continue to remind myself, it's only for 2 weeks. Like most diets and as a way of life, always remember to drink lots of water. After 2 weeks, I then start Phase 2. I will be on this phase as long as it takes to shed the weight until I'm at a healthy number. I don't have a number yet in my mind. I'm hoping it will show by my blood tests results and how I'm feeling.
I notice 2 things so far in this first day. As soon as Joel walked out the door to go swimming, I wanted to go and find some snacks. I didn't. Yeah! Then about 1/2 hour ago my clock said it was time to have wine and cheese. Hard to break some habits. More water and started to write todays blog.
Distractions are good.
Eat to live!
I've chosen two main ways that I will achieve my goals. The first one is through an online program for seniors called Grow Young Fitness and they will primarily be my coach for exercise through stretching, cardio and yoga. I am also following (as of today) the planned diet of the South Beach Diet. This is eliminating all bad carbs and reducing even a few of the good carbs to being more manageable. This was designed for heart and diabetes patients.
Slowly but surely I've been letting people know that I am changing my ways of eating and exercising. I don't know quite why I choose to tell some people. However, once I do that, then I know people will be watching to see how I do. I really don't like that part of it. I'd rather just have them see the results of what I'm doing. Since my main goal is for the end result, I believe that I will keep what I'm doing to myself for now.
I'm feeling positive about my choice to follow these two programs and am committed to put this at the beginning of my days.
Keeping it moving!
"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to get there. The time will pass either way." I just read this today from my fitness coach. I've asked this of myself many times. When I think of my dream, is it to loose weight because of a number, look better in clothes, because I can't walk 1 flight of stairs without getting out of breath or is it because I want to be healthy all around? I can honestly say I've never given up on this dream and I may fool myself but the dream is to look thin. Something has occurred to me though. I could be thin and still out of breath when I get to the top of the first flight of stairs. So, I'm a thin unhealthy woman. Is this what I want my dream to be? Next, this dream. Over 30 + years, how many times have I started my way to being thin? I have no idea how many times I started but didn't stick to the dream because of I'd just give up. Why? Because it would take so very long. Well guess what, the time still passed and I am now even heavier.
Insanity!
I've done the same thing over and over through out the years and
have had the same results. So, I think I may have this finally
figured out. It's my focus. Rather then on weight, focus on moving
every day and focus on eating the food that will work for me, not
against me turning what I eat into more fat going through my body.
I have found two separate places where I am getting the help I need to keep moving daily and eating the foods that works for me. I found them within the same week I begun to figure this all out. The first one is Grow Young Fitness aimed at Seniors of any age. The other one has been from a heart doctor named Arthur Agatston M.D. He is the dr. that wrote the book and has brought to me the health plan for daily eating. The name of the book is the South Beach Diet. As I write my daily blog, I will report on my successes following these two programs.
Keep Moving for Life!
