Just another typical Wednesday!

Yesterday - 3:45 pm - hectic and run run run was on the agenda. A very important package had to go out - would I make it in time? Thought I had another day, but nope - always last minute stuff happens at work - just the way it goes. I thought I had time to make the 5 pm drop off, but nope - had trouble with the address, the package has to be at its destination by 2 pm Thursday and well, my office is trying to cut back on costs, so forget the overnight delivery option - let's try the next cheapest way. 4:10 pm - will I make it in time - 4:22 pm - nope, you missed the truck by 2 minutes - try to catch him at his 4:45 "coffee break" stop. What - I don't have time for this - I have to do this and that.......the pursuit to find the UPS guy was on. I headed down the 3 mile stretch and hoped to see a truck or two - I might get lucky. Yep - caught him. Now to run to pick up my son - would I make it in time for my 5 pm Scout meeting? 30 minutes to go to one town and back again - no stress - I can do this - take a sip of water - you will be fine. The great part, I didn't feel stressed - life is so good right now.

5 pm- Made it - Scout meeting - tour of the library. This was nice - time for someone else to do the leading and a time for the boys to listen to someone else. Stuck around too long making sure parents were ready for the next meeting, answered questions, dealt with Day Camp issues....oh, my son did get a new book he wanted to check out, he read it all the way home - I love when kids like to read.....

But wait - what's this....what do you mean your Mission report is due on Monday - it can't be? I thought we had until April 15th. OMG - how are we going to get it done in time?? We worked for two hours - got most of it done and so glad that he had his outline worked out for it - looking good - pictures were ordered online, gotta love the internet....pick those up today - will try to leave work early - can we get it done? Yes, have to get it done tonight because, well, he goes to his father's this weekend, and well, been there, done that and it never works (believe me I have tried). Again, I don't feel stressed - its all good. My son worked really hard last night and is proud of what he has accomplished so far. Thank goodness I remembered the date of when the actual building is due - I have three weeks left on that.....

OK - back to the rest of my day and my latest challenge with food......

6:30 pm - home for dinner and homework. What's that - what do you want for dinner?
Hamburger Helper??!!                         OH NO - This is my all time favorite meal. I know, it isn't any good for you and it is high in calories. But, it is just so yummy. Many have never had it - can't even contemplate why you need some noodles (or rice) with a pre-packaged flavored bag to help spice up hamburger - but I love it. What about chicken - nope - and forget the Tuna Helper - that is just wrong. Ground Turkey - that saves on calories and is wcheaper right now. This would be the first time in over 3 months (maybe even 4) that I have even had this box in my house. I had a weakness the other day while grocery shopping and allowed my son to pick out a few things for himself. Two boxes of Hamburger Helped ended up coming home. Let me just tell you this - I have been known to eat almost all of it in one night. Yes, another bit of secret shhhhhhh information don't tell anyone kind of secret that I am letting go. I love the cheesy enchilada rice oh so high in calories Hamburger Helper. I always love to wrap the mixture into a flour tortilla and then I wrap a second one - way too much food. Oh, don't forget the vegetable - it will seem like a balanced meal, right. This is where my weakness comes into play. After the dishes are clean, the light goes off in the kitchen, the little one is in bed, then there is this sound that comes into my head. I really do believe it is coming directly from the refrigerator, but Mer has told me that food doesn't talk. Just about 9 pm I will find myself sitting watching TV or working on a project at my desk into the late hours - the food is talking to me - it is cool now, maybe I can heat it up, just a little treat - it will be ok - I ate a few hours ago, one little bite won't do any harm. Right? Nope - one bite becomes two, then three, then it is all gone - where are my left overs for lunch the next day - its all gone- you blew it - what the heck ?!!

Well - not this time. Not ever again!!!!! I was going to meet this challenge head on. I am going to fight off the brain waves, the urge to have it, this little bit of heavenly treat for me will have to go by the wayside. If I can beat this challenge, then I am ready for anything. My meal - left over fish from our BBQ the other night, added a salad, some rice and a bit more of vegetables. Rounded out the meal with a nice glass of milk. Yum. And you know what - I did it. I successfully did not take one bite of that Helper. I cleaned the pot, put it away and was glad that it made it into the refrigerator without a spoon to mouth for me.

But, wait - what's this - I have to work late tonight on stuff at my desk. Oh, no - the computer is moving slow. 10 pm - 10:30 pm - then 11 pm - all of the sudden - oh, yeah - that's right - you don't eat late anymore.  Another hour of work to do - so I reached for a low fat yogurt treat and it did just the trick. That Helper is still in the refrigerator this morning - untouched by me - ready for the little one to have for tonight (if he will have it) and if he leaves for the weekend with it still in the refrig, then - oh - no - gasp - it will hit the trash - because I will not allow this to control me. Food is power, but food does not have power over me!!!!

Just another typical Wednesday - keeping fingers crossed that my UPS package makes it to its destination today and that I don't have to travel to the Bay Area with a copy.....and what about that Mission report - oh, no - another Scout meeting......just another typical Thursday.....have a GREAT DAY!!!!!


Staying MOtivated

I hit the plateau & I want to get off!

I have been sitting steady at a 15 pound loss so far and I have been here for the past month! I am tired of it! So I did a little bit of research and found that in order for me to continue losing I will have to increase activity and decrease calories. 
This information came directly from the Mayo Clinic-

How can you overcome a weight-loss plateau?

If you're at a plateau, you may have lost all of the weight you will given the number of calories you're eating each day and the time you spend exercising. At this point, you need to ask yourself if you're satisfied with your current weight or if you want to lose more, in which case you'll need to adjust your weight-loss program. If you're committed to losing more weight, try these tips for getting past the plateau:

• Reassess your habits. Look back at your food and activity records. Make sure you haven't loosened the rules, letting yourself get by with larger portions or less exercise.
• Cut more calories. Reduce your daily calorie intake by 200 calories — provided this doesn't put you below 1,200 calories. Fewer than 1,200 calories a day may not be enough to keep you from feeling hungry all of the time, which increases your risk of overeating.
• Rev up your workout. Increase the amount of time you exercise by an additional 15 to 30 minutes. You might also try increasing the intensity of your exercise, if you feel that's possible. Additional exercise will cause you to burn more calories.
• Pack more activity into your day. Think outside the gym. Increase your general physical activity throughout the day by walking more and using your car less, or try doing more yardwork or vigorous spring cleaning.

So, time to portion it down to the right size and keep on moving! I will need to go back to the planning board to make some changes and I will need to carry my crosstrainers in the car so that I can take an extra walk at the end of my day is my plan right now. I will change in the office and go for a run-walk for an extra 20 minutes. Then, hop in the car to get my son at daycare. 

I can do this! 

I know I can! 

You can too!

Always,

Mer

Helpful Rules...

Good Housekeeping has Dr. Oz on the front cover and of course touts that you can lose 10 pounds in 4 weeks.
He has a good plan and flavorful eating Mediterrean style.
Here are the rules that I found most helpful-
Rule #1- Renew your vows daily- I do it once a week and needed to step it up by doing it daily.
"I am going to follow my plan for the next 24 hours."
Rule #2- Do something completely Different Everyday- it helps shake up your old habits and patterns of emotional eating.  Being mindful is the key.
Rule #3- Set your kitchen on automatic- arrange your kitchen and pantry so the only choices are the good ones!
Rule #4- Keep your belly full- eat smaller meals throughout the day to boost your metabolism and keep you from binging because you waited too long to eat.
Rule #5- Extend the Burn- drink water at every meal since a German study has shown that 17 oz will increase the calorie blasting 24%. Drinking green tea will also get rid of the body fat.
Rule #6- Check out your portions- I have to do this all the time.  I am getting better, but better to check then not to.
Rule#7- Chill out- deal with the stress in your life! Take care of you!
Rule#8- Get enough sleep- 7-8 hours is what you need. Studies show that obesity and diabetes are associated with long term sleep deprivation.
Rule #9- When you blow it, start again- immediately start again. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.
Have a great week!
STAY STRONG!
YOU CAN DO IT!
JUST KEEP AT IT!
NEVER GIVE UP!
Always,
Mer

A new day - the journey continues.......

Well, Spring Break is over - the rain has finally stopped - the sun is shinning - heck, it is supposed to be 80 degrees here by Friday - guess the weather lady was right - skip right from Winter, over Spring and Summer here we come. I knew that Spring Break was over when I finally got a chance to look at my sons backpack for the first time two days ago (it had been with his father for the last 14 days). Well, in that backpack was a stack of Must Do work and Extra Credit work pages. We spent time on Sunday just trying to get a few pages done - family birthday celebration took up most of our Sunday, and well, it is hard to get a 10 year old to do all that work in such a short period of time. We will spend the next two nights trying to get the rest of it done. Yep - a new day - the journey continues.......

Not only is Spring Break over for the kids, but Spring Break is over for this Lady!!! I am glad to get back to the school routine. I missed it. I goofed off for the last 2 weeks. I slipped a few times, didn't really stay on track as well as I wanted. The scale showed me that, but I am not discouraged. I am not getting down on myself, but it would have been nice to have made some progress. What - what am I saying - I did make some progress. I am working out!! I have been getting up on a consistent basis and getting in my workouts. That is progress for me!! I am trying new workouts, still avoiding the soda, the fast food, the seconds and thirds at meal time and so much more. Yes, I had a second piece of birthday cake last night and the scale showed that this morning, but I am still motivated, I am getting healthy!! Even if I didn't like the number that flashed at me this morning I do feel good in my clothes and looking foward to what awaits me just around the corner!!

Yes, Spring Break is over  - lunches got made, both of us had a great nourished and balanced breakfast - I didn't feel rushed - I even read my paper from cover to cover (not a very big city paper, just enough news to catch up with the world)....

Oh - and for those of you that have been keeping up with my Lasik Surgery updates - I got good news last week. My eyes are healing nicely. The dry eye issue is getting better. It has been recommended that I do go in for a little "touch up" lasik soon. My doctor even called to set me up for a 30 day regiment on eye drops, but Day Camp duties are going to keep me busy, so hoping that June 24th will be the day. Keeping fingers crossed on that home front.

Things are going well. I feel empowered by getting "me" back !!! It has been a long journey, more of it to come and I look forward to how I am changing in such a good way!!! Can't believe that I waited so long, glad that my mind, soul and body are finally on the same path (together)!! Glad that I have tons of support!!! Glad that I am sharing, learning, taking this blog and so much more journey!!! 2011 is going to be a year of successes in more ways then I can count!!! Wishing everyone a wonderful week!!!!!!!!!!!

Staying MOtivated

Day 60- Create a Stop Sign

From 100 days of Weight Loss by Linda Spangle

To use the "instead" list from head and heart hunger an instant reaction plan is needed. Spangle explains that it is the emergency countdown  plan for emotional hunger that you do before I do my list of "insteads." Her suggestions include- grabbing a piece of gum, taking a short walk, writing in your magic notebook. I think all of these are great suggestions and I would have them on my own list.
I would also add-

• grabbing a sugar-free mint since I leave a pack on my desk already
• having a cup of tea since that is easy for me to get 
• get up and walk away
• do relaxation breathing for a count of 10

I like that I already have these in place for myself. I find that I need it at work since that is where I tend to stress eat.
Spangle also suggest that when you are tempted to reach for food that you should pull out on of your stop signs and then, do the 3 things on your "instead" lists.  I have memorized my "instead" lists and now I can use them anywhere I am.
It is nice to see the day 60, but I have gotten to the point that the day really doesn't matter because even after the 100 days I will not quit on myself ever. Even though I struggled with my eating this week, I keep moving forward. I forgive myself more easily since I know I am not perfect. I am going to have moments of weakness. It was just one day this week where I was tired, frustrated and filled with anxiety so I ate cookies, but not as much as I use to. I use to stress eating a whole sleeve of Girl Scout cookies, but this time it was only 5 cookies before I stopped myself and did something on my "instead" list. Now, with the big red emergency stop sign I feel that I will be able to stop myself even before it starts.
What will be on your "emergency emotional stop sign"?
STAY STRONG!
JUST ONE MORE DAY!
JUST KEEP AT IT!
YOU CAN DO IT!
Always,
Mer

A Stop at the Grocery Store

It has been a busy week for this Single Gal!! Still Spring Break for my son and I don't get him back until tonight (woo hoo). Can't wait for Spring Break to be over with - and what is with all this rain. Drove into a small Hail Storm yesterday and now it is raining again. The ever trustworthy weatherman is saying we might get Sun and the 70's next week, but I will believe it when I see is. When they say that March Come In Like A Lion they are not kidding - hoping that April will Come In Like A Lamb...or how does that saying really go?? Did I get it right.........

Ok - Ok - so I am getting off track here...........

You see, there have been times in the past when I have had a FREE Mom Week or FREE Mom Weekend (sometimes it is a perk to have an ex) that I get the chance to enjoy a night out. I love to go out with the girls, but there were times that I just needed to have a night out with the grocery store. (Maybe I would find a nice looking guy in the milk section - yeah, right.........)

Friday afternoon - the work clock is about to hit 5 pm and this single girl has planned her evening and is excited about heading home, but wait - what am I doing for dinner? Let's stop for some "treats". A movie, maybe even a good magazine, but the grocery store was my escape. A good place to get a cheap and LARGE meal of take-out Chinese food, then proceed down the Frozen Food Aisle - you know the one - the Ice Cream. I have always been thrifty, so sometimes I would go back and forth as to what was cheaper - the 2 for $6.00 offer or should I just get the Ben & Jerry's pint?? And of course I had to make my way down the soda aisle - a large thing of Coke. Sometimes other things would fall into that basket too....chips, dip, another sweet treat for Saturday or Sunday, and what the heck, how about a pizza or other not really good for list of foods that I was going to eat before the sun came up on Monday morning. I was a "closet" eater. I would "hide" these food from my son. I don't force him to eat healthy, but I used to make sure that if there was a "treat" in the house that it was limited. I would endulge in the treats and not let him know that was the reason why I was not losing weight. I didn't want him to get into the same habits as I did. Oh, what was I doing. Wow - the memories are coming back.

Well, Wednesday night I had that moment, that memory. I had that Single Gal kind of Free Mom moment. I had a late night with my Parents Without Partners meeting and I was so proud of myself for not being tempted to get Pizza, as the meeting was at Round Table Pizza. Someone offered me a slice and another offered me Chicken Wings....I just drank my water with every intention to eat dinner at home. But, the meeting went so long and I was tired and I didn't want to cook - how about fast food - oh, it was so tempting - Sonic, Jack In the Box, Moo Moo's Hamburger Joint.....but, no, not that - how about the grocery store. Yep - that's the ticket - something good. A roasted chicken for the rest of the week, a thing of soup (because it was raining again)...the list went into my head. As I was crossing the parking lot it occured to me - "Remember when you used to do these evening trips to the grocery store and get the ice cream??" I so laughed out-loud. I wasn't tempted. I wasn't going to cave. I have been doing great. I am loving this new life for me. I am feeling charged, energized and just around the corner to feeling sexy again - I can do this!!!

I left the store with a bunch of bananas and two frozen healthy (actually pretty yummy) meals (one for lunch the next day). I was smart with my purchase and proud that I had a very successful shopping trip without a list and without the temptations all around me. This Gal is doing it - fully charged and ready to tackle that next memory, that next moment!!!

Keep it up - you can do it - I can do it!!!!

Staying MOtivated

A SMILE



A SMILE costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it.

A SMILE creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a SMILE. Give them yours, as none needs a SMILE so much as he who has no more to give.                       

                                            

Scribe - Richard Withers