Ever wonder if you are making the right choice? I am not talking about which type of toilet paper to buy, or which company to choose for car insurance, but diving into that great unknown facing something bigger.
I see commercials about medications that are supposed to help a person with whatever ailment they have. The idea is nice, but taking a pill is something that sounds way too risky. Especially when you here what the potential side effects are possibly sometimes worse than the condition it treats. Disclaimers and warnings do demand attention. You never know if you are the one that can die from a simple, little pill.
We are a chemical enhanced generation. Simple things like the foods we eat are genetically altered. Either to be able to produce more for the masses, to speed up or slow down it's growth cycle, and even to enhance the taste. Everything we eat, breathe, drink and bathe in is all enhanced or altered. There are some things that are making the comeback to the tried and true and it is called organic. Taking pride that organic foods are the closest thing to as nature intended them to be. The cost is higher to buy organic, but the desire to be more natural is there.
The life expectancy of people is higher, but at a cost. Medications to treat and possibly cure. Medications that help people be the "healthiest" that they can be. It makes me wonder if these medications are the things that counteract what our enhanced foods do to us, or is it really the best way to fight the ailments that were the cause of the mortality rate being so low in the past.... Kind of like the ying-yang effect.... One balances out the other. Supplements and vitamins taking the place of actual nutrition because what we have been consuming in order to live has been lessened by chemical enhancements. Makes me wonder, how about you?
Well, then there is this other thing that has been on my mind lately. Will our dependency on chemicals ever go away? I am guessing not.
Not that long ago, I realized that stress can cause a load of things... It is different in each person. Stress can be from external events that become internalized. Our bodies are so complex, doctors and scientists are learning every day something new. New ailments, new tests, new treatments.
Some people find relief from stress without the need for pills. It is in an activity that can be the cathartic release. Might be exercising, might be blogging, might be just talking to another person.... no pills required. What if the stress a person is feeling is because of changes within themselves and not from an external force?
I have to admit that blogging has been my release. I can get my point across of what I am thinking. Blogging is like dental floss for the brain. Something to clear out those little tidbits of thoughts and feelings so a person can get it out and move forward. It is nice that something so simple with no side effects can do so much.
Here is where my thought process becomes torn. Blogging is a wonderful release for me, but there is something that is happening to me that is not under my control.... Getting older. We all get older' from the moment we are born until the time we die, we are getting older. It is not such a bad thing, it is what mortality and nature is all about. I am just scared of what lies ahead. Some call it "the change", for women, it is called menopause. I am no spring chicken and I never claimed that I was, but once you turn 40, the inevitable is getting closer. I noticed some changes this past couple of weeks that makes me wonder if I am one that is entering that phase in my life. I made an appointment to see the doctor to see where I am when it comes to the change. Something like this has been noted that there are stages a woman goes through and I am wondering if I am entering those stages. Knowing is half the battle, so I am taking that first step in knowing and getting the blood work done.
I just wonder, if I know and it is required to take a pill to make this stage in life easier, will I take it?
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Finding the inner AWESOME.....
Holy COW! Blogging twice in one day?!?!?! Yep! I just felt I needed to get this one out. If I sit and stew things over, it will lose it's meaning when I over think it.....
What is "inner awesome", you ask? Inner awesome is what sets you apart from the pack. The thing that makes you desirable or interesting to another person. Single people are always in their inner awesome mode. Married people tend to slip out of that mode and go to their comfort zone. Really, who do they need to impress? There are times that we tap into that awesomeness when we are applying for a job, but where I am going with this is totally different.
Ever wonder what others see in you?
Is it your looks?
Is it your personality?
Is it your sense of humor?
Or is it something so deep, that it is hard to describe?
I felt really curious what attracted people to me. I figured that I would go to the person that I married.
Did you know that asking someone a question about what they think of you causes a stammer in their words? You know, that "um... uh... well..." that we all know too well. It is kind of like that commercial for Twix candy bars... "Need a moment? Grab a Twix.". Well, life just does not have a candy bar there every time you are at a loss for words, so we get that "uh... um... well...".
Knowing that my husband is not the type to talk about feelings, especially mushy ones, I had a wonderful internal giggle watching him squirm ;)
Somewhere in my life, I either lost who I am, or never knew myself all that well. I became complacent in who I appear to be. I know what I like and what I don't, but I always wondered if there is more to the person I see in the mirror. I believe that there is way more about me than meets the eye, but I just never tap into it. I have no doubt that others feel the same. It is just a mystery I do not hear about being solved. People are complex. Maybe Shrek has it right when he told Donkey... "Ogres are like onions. We have layers". What is on top is what we see, but if you peel back a layer, you see something different. It is a matter of peeling back the layers and see what you have.
I guess that is why I am on the search to find my inner awesome. I feel the need to peel a layer and see what I find about myself; to see where I differ from the pack.
Needless to say, my husband stammered and stalled and then changed the conversation. I never got my answer. Oh well, I guess I need to keep trying.....
What is "inner awesome", you ask? Inner awesome is what sets you apart from the pack. The thing that makes you desirable or interesting to another person. Single people are always in their inner awesome mode. Married people tend to slip out of that mode and go to their comfort zone. Really, who do they need to impress? There are times that we tap into that awesomeness when we are applying for a job, but where I am going with this is totally different.
Ever wonder what others see in you?
Is it your looks?
Is it your personality?
Is it your sense of humor?
Or is it something so deep, that it is hard to describe?
I felt really curious what attracted people to me. I figured that I would go to the person that I married.
Did you know that asking someone a question about what they think of you causes a stammer in their words? You know, that "um... uh... well..." that we all know too well. It is kind of like that commercial for Twix candy bars... "Need a moment? Grab a Twix.". Well, life just does not have a candy bar there every time you are at a loss for words, so we get that "uh... um... well...".
Knowing that my husband is not the type to talk about feelings, especially mushy ones, I had a wonderful internal giggle watching him squirm ;)
Somewhere in my life, I either lost who I am, or never knew myself all that well. I became complacent in who I appear to be. I know what I like and what I don't, but I always wondered if there is more to the person I see in the mirror. I believe that there is way more about me than meets the eye, but I just never tap into it. I have no doubt that others feel the same. It is just a mystery I do not hear about being solved. People are complex. Maybe Shrek has it right when he told Donkey... "Ogres are like onions. We have layers". What is on top is what we see, but if you peel back a layer, you see something different. It is a matter of peeling back the layers and see what you have.
I guess that is why I am on the search to find my inner awesome. I feel the need to peel a layer and see what I find about myself; to see where I differ from the pack.
Needless to say, my husband stammered and stalled and then changed the conversation. I never got my answer. Oh well, I guess I need to keep trying.....
Walking the tightrope.....
Good morning folks! Yep! I changed my blog header from "Nancy's Thoughts", to "Mental Floss.... A collection of rants and discoveries in the journey of life.". Besides the name change, I changed the look. It was all just for fun, but I am happy with the end result. The reason I chose to change is because this blog is more than just what I think (which it has a lot of my thought in it), but it is my cathartic release of those pesky little tidbits of things that are trapped in my brain. Kind of like getting food stuck between your teeth. It is totally annoying and you need to use dental floss to get it out. I hope you enjoy the new format, the new look and what should become an interesting journey through my eyes.....
Well, yesterday the clouds parted and the angels sang when my ah-ha moment of something that has been so obvious for so long finally got it's recognition.... There are men, there are women, and there are the mutts (aka tomboys).
Wait! I just had a wonder moment..... If girls that relate more to boys and have tendencies to be less than what a girly-girl is are called tomboys... What do they call guys that relate more to girls and have fashion sense like girls? And scratch the thought that they are gay. They like girls, okay? I wonder what name they get? Are they Renaissance Men? Now, I am really curious to know...
Okay, getting back to the thought of the day and the next lesson to achieve..... Figuring what a person expects in a conversation. Do they really want to vent or do they want opinion? I am calling this bit of interest :the tightrope effect.
Think about it.... There is a really fine line that makes one thing into two. It is like choosing sides in a debate. The pros and cons of a conversation. Talking can be a breezy fun event or a down-right drag-down battle. It is all in how you participate. Well, the breezy fun thing is a bit far fetched, but you get my drift, right?
There are times I can spot-on when talking to a person and all goes really well, but there are times I get my wires crossed and make a complete disaster. Yesterday was a perfect example and I got to experience it twice and saw an actual result... How cool is that? Here are my results....
Conversation #1: Went into fix-it mode and got the level of misunderstanding that created a verbal smack down.... Bad move.
Conversation #2: Bit my tongue, waited to listen to everything, nodded in agreement, looked surprised or shocked when needed, took a full minute to assess the situation and realized that it was not a fix-it talk. The vent session went really well and it was over as fast as ripping off a band-aid..... Success!
Helping factor between the two? Laugh if you must, but it was selective hearing. Every guy has this talent and so do I. It is like being locked in on the football game and someone decided to talk about making plans for the day. You know you are going to be quizzed once the commercials are on, but you have enough information that makes it sound like you were listening. Actually, you were multi-tasking ;)
Now, selective hearing might have saved my butt this time, but I need to hone in on my balancing abilities. Walking that tightrope and getting the 4-1-1 if I need to be in "fix-it mode" or not. Find the inner chick and just listen... Not selectively listen, but really listen. Ask questions and let the ride begin.
Gotta fly, more things to experience today and maybe talk about tomorrow.
cya!
Well, yesterday the clouds parted and the angels sang when my ah-ha moment of something that has been so obvious for so long finally got it's recognition.... There are men, there are women, and there are the mutts (aka tomboys).
Wait! I just had a wonder moment..... If girls that relate more to boys and have tendencies to be less than what a girly-girl is are called tomboys... What do they call guys that relate more to girls and have fashion sense like girls? And scratch the thought that they are gay. They like girls, okay? I wonder what name they get? Are they Renaissance Men? Now, I am really curious to know...
Okay, getting back to the thought of the day and the next lesson to achieve..... Figuring what a person expects in a conversation. Do they really want to vent or do they want opinion? I am calling this bit of interest :the tightrope effect.
Think about it.... There is a really fine line that makes one thing into two. It is like choosing sides in a debate. The pros and cons of a conversation. Talking can be a breezy fun event or a down-right drag-down battle. It is all in how you participate. Well, the breezy fun thing is a bit far fetched, but you get my drift, right?
There are times I can spot-on when talking to a person and all goes really well, but there are times I get my wires crossed and make a complete disaster. Yesterday was a perfect example and I got to experience it twice and saw an actual result... How cool is that? Here are my results....
Conversation #1: Went into fix-it mode and got the level of misunderstanding that created a verbal smack down.... Bad move.
Conversation #2: Bit my tongue, waited to listen to everything, nodded in agreement, looked surprised or shocked when needed, took a full minute to assess the situation and realized that it was not a fix-it talk. The vent session went really well and it was over as fast as ripping off a band-aid..... Success!
Helping factor between the two? Laugh if you must, but it was selective hearing. Every guy has this talent and so do I. It is like being locked in on the football game and someone decided to talk about making plans for the day. You know you are going to be quizzed once the commercials are on, but you have enough information that makes it sound like you were listening. Actually, you were multi-tasking ;)
Now, selective hearing might have saved my butt this time, but I need to hone in on my balancing abilities. Walking that tightrope and getting the 4-1-1 if I need to be in "fix-it mode" or not. Find the inner chick and just listen... Not selectively listen, but really listen. Ask questions and let the ride begin.
Gotta fly, more things to experience today and maybe talk about tomorrow.
cya!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The tomboy in me.....
Growing up, I was not one for playing with dolls and dressing up like a princess. I would intentionally get my dresses dirty so I would not have to wear them. My choice of clothing was (and still is) jeans and a shirt with comfy shoes. Getting dirty while playing was just my way of really getting into the game. I played sports, I watch sports, I even scream at the TV when I watch sports (not as much as complete fanatics, but I sure do hold my own if I feel strong enough about it). I was (and still am) a quintessential definition of a tomboy, but there are days I do tend to lean a little more on being a girl. It is who I am and I have embraced that.
I just need to dial my "dude-'tude" back a little.
Yesterday, I was talking with my other half and did not realize (until it was too late) that I went into "fix-it mode".
Men and women think completely differently and that is just fine. It makes things interesting and also challenging. Seeing a different point of view is refreshing to me. I just seem to have the ability to understand a bit more than I need to. Men, when it comes to conversations with women, have only two things. They are either in "fix-it mode" or WTF mode. Let me elaborate just a bit.....
When a woman wants to talk to a man, chances are it is just talk. Women talk to communicate. It can be about their hopes and dreams, it can be about their feelings at that moment, it can be about really anything. Venting frustrations or talking about their feelings is the number one thing women talk about. We are great listeners, but admit it boys... we love to talk. When a man is on the receiving end of a conversation, he really is not interested in the story. He wants her to get to the point. Is he to fix the problem or is he to defend his actions.... Men are usually not that emotional and do not deal with emotions really well, so crying, getting clingy or being pissed all the time makes a man run. I am like that way too.
Don't get me wrong, there are some men that are exceptions to the rule. They tend to be more receptive to women and their idiosyncrasies. They are a rare breed, but they are out there. Men being really interested in what a woman has to say is commonplace in the start of a relationship. I call it their "bank account for romance". At the start of relationships, men (and women) transform themselves into wheat they think the other person wants in a relationship. Once the account has been spent, you become who you really are and either you deal and move forward or you don't and break up. In a perfect world, this should not happen, but it does.
Well, when it comes to women that are tomboys, like me, we have this strange ability to have the thought process of both a dude and a chick. We are easy to get along with, we are laid back, we understand more points of view and even can adjust to more circumstances. We can be your best bud and we can be your best gal pal in one package. Sadly, our thought process changes a lot. One minute, we can be a chick, a total girl with the thought and communication process. The next minute, we can have the dude-tude about it all... Go into fix-it mode and really want you to get to the point.
That is where I seem to have my wires crossed. I recently learned that men love to vent, too. They actually want to let their frustrations out and be done with it, no fixing needed. Yesterday, my other half decided to go into vent mode about work and I went into fix-it mode. Lets say, that conversation did not go well. Fortunately, I held onto my dude-tude and not let it get me bent and hold a grudge. Everything smoothed over on it's own. Crisis averted.
I guess what I wanted to share is that when it comes to talking to people, asking one simple question or starting your conversation with clear intent is the best medicine. If I would have asked my other half if his rant is just a vent or a plea for my help or opinion, communicating things can be that much easier. Then I would not get the new status of being called a ball breaker.
That's it for today.
Thanks for reading.
Have a great day!!
I just need to dial my "dude-'tude" back a little.
Yesterday, I was talking with my other half and did not realize (until it was too late) that I went into "fix-it mode".
Men and women think completely differently and that is just fine. It makes things interesting and also challenging. Seeing a different point of view is refreshing to me. I just seem to have the ability to understand a bit more than I need to. Men, when it comes to conversations with women, have only two things. They are either in "fix-it mode" or WTF mode. Let me elaborate just a bit.....
When a woman wants to talk to a man, chances are it is just talk. Women talk to communicate. It can be about their hopes and dreams, it can be about their feelings at that moment, it can be about really anything. Venting frustrations or talking about their feelings is the number one thing women talk about. We are great listeners, but admit it boys... we love to talk. When a man is on the receiving end of a conversation, he really is not interested in the story. He wants her to get to the point. Is he to fix the problem or is he to defend his actions.... Men are usually not that emotional and do not deal with emotions really well, so crying, getting clingy or being pissed all the time makes a man run. I am like that way too.
Don't get me wrong, there are some men that are exceptions to the rule. They tend to be more receptive to women and their idiosyncrasies. They are a rare breed, but they are out there. Men being really interested in what a woman has to say is commonplace in the start of a relationship. I call it their "bank account for romance". At the start of relationships, men (and women) transform themselves into wheat they think the other person wants in a relationship. Once the account has been spent, you become who you really are and either you deal and move forward or you don't and break up. In a perfect world, this should not happen, but it does.
Well, when it comes to women that are tomboys, like me, we have this strange ability to have the thought process of both a dude and a chick. We are easy to get along with, we are laid back, we understand more points of view and even can adjust to more circumstances. We can be your best bud and we can be your best gal pal in one package. Sadly, our thought process changes a lot. One minute, we can be a chick, a total girl with the thought and communication process. The next minute, we can have the dude-tude about it all... Go into fix-it mode and really want you to get to the point.
That is where I seem to have my wires crossed. I recently learned that men love to vent, too. They actually want to let their frustrations out and be done with it, no fixing needed. Yesterday, my other half decided to go into vent mode about work and I went into fix-it mode. Lets say, that conversation did not go well. Fortunately, I held onto my dude-tude and not let it get me bent and hold a grudge. Everything smoothed over on it's own. Crisis averted.
I guess what I wanted to share is that when it comes to talking to people, asking one simple question or starting your conversation with clear intent is the best medicine. If I would have asked my other half if his rant is just a vent or a plea for my help or opinion, communicating things can be that much easier. Then I would not get the new status of being called a ball breaker.
That's it for today.
Thanks for reading.
Have a great day!!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Emotional Hurdles......
Waking up this morning to the start of things getting back to normal should be a joyous event for me. My husband is back to work, my daughter is back to school and I get some peace and quiet. I decided to start mapping out my starting point for my commitment to a healthier weight. I know, I know.... I was not going to blog about every aspect of this journey I am taking. I am not... really. Just my thought process is what I am doing. I am not going to share when I went to the gym, what I ate (unless I found something absolutely wonderful about it), or anything about pounds lost or pounds gained.
Emotional hurdles; The thought process that makes what you thought was going to be easy into something that is impossible to face. It could be about anything that can make a person stop in their tracks, turn and run in the other direction. Fear of failure from fact.
Since it is the new year, people get that gung-ho feeling about achieving what they are set out to do. Some see it through, others lose the oomph and give up. It all comes down to the strong facing their emotional hurdles and being rational about it. I figured that if I was rational, I can face this with hope that I can do anything. I no longer want to be that weak person that quits when the challenge is too big.
Well, I decided that the start of any journey begins with a starting point. Mine was to step on the scale. I now know that was a poor choice to gauge my success. After seeing the number on the scale, my feelings became unreasonable. I think it is in every woman's DNA that we want to portray the models in the magazines and we have zero patience to really get there reasonably. We know that the pictures are touched up and nobody is really that perfect.... Well, unless you are a Victoria's Secret model. All I have to say about that is.... They have to be robots, cyborgs or some form of alien being to look that good. Maybe they are plastic surgery freaks and I just don't have the money to be surgically enhanced. Either way, it is not possible to be that perfect if you are me. I need to embrace the fact that I cannot be that perfect, but I can be better than what I am now. In the housing market, I am considered a fixer-upper, a handyman's special ;)
I guess the whole point of this blog is that I need to remain focused and stop being so hard on myself. After seeing the number on the scale, I became quite mad at myself and internally started screaming, "how in the hell did you let yourself go this bad?!?!" I sure do have a fire under my tush to lose the weight, but I know that this is the gung-ho, flash in the pan determination that will and up having me quit before this new year is up. I have a tendency to go overboard with the diet and exercise and not get any results. My body loves to hold onto fat when I go into diet mode because I am starving my metabolism. I know where I go wrong, but how to overcome the emotional hurdle that sets me up for failure is a challenge that no therapist, no group session, no pep talk can get me through it. I have those damn blinders on and nothing is going to get me to reason with myself.... or is this realization a first step in overcoming the first of many emotional hurdles that lay ahead? Maybe there is hope?
I am not perfect.... I am a work in progress :)
Work and effort is not meant to be easy.... Life is a challenge... Just do it ;)
Every day is a gift... That is why they call it "the present".
We do not live in a "one size fits all" kind of world.
Beauty comes from within...
Have a great day everyone :)
cya!
I am off to battle my emotional hurdle of the day!!!
Emotional hurdles; The thought process that makes what you thought was going to be easy into something that is impossible to face. It could be about anything that can make a person stop in their tracks, turn and run in the other direction. Fear of failure from fact.
Since it is the new year, people get that gung-ho feeling about achieving what they are set out to do. Some see it through, others lose the oomph and give up. It all comes down to the strong facing their emotional hurdles and being rational about it. I figured that if I was rational, I can face this with hope that I can do anything. I no longer want to be that weak person that quits when the challenge is too big.
Well, I decided that the start of any journey begins with a starting point. Mine was to step on the scale. I now know that was a poor choice to gauge my success. After seeing the number on the scale, my feelings became unreasonable. I think it is in every woman's DNA that we want to portray the models in the magazines and we have zero patience to really get there reasonably. We know that the pictures are touched up and nobody is really that perfect.... Well, unless you are a Victoria's Secret model. All I have to say about that is.... They have to be robots, cyborgs or some form of alien being to look that good. Maybe they are plastic surgery freaks and I just don't have the money to be surgically enhanced. Either way, it is not possible to be that perfect if you are me. I need to embrace the fact that I cannot be that perfect, but I can be better than what I am now. In the housing market, I am considered a fixer-upper, a handyman's special ;)
I guess the whole point of this blog is that I need to remain focused and stop being so hard on myself. After seeing the number on the scale, I became quite mad at myself and internally started screaming, "how in the hell did you let yourself go this bad?!?!" I sure do have a fire under my tush to lose the weight, but I know that this is the gung-ho, flash in the pan determination that will and up having me quit before this new year is up. I have a tendency to go overboard with the diet and exercise and not get any results. My body loves to hold onto fat when I go into diet mode because I am starving my metabolism. I know where I go wrong, but how to overcome the emotional hurdle that sets me up for failure is a challenge that no therapist, no group session, no pep talk can get me through it. I have those damn blinders on and nothing is going to get me to reason with myself.... or is this realization a first step in overcoming the first of many emotional hurdles that lay ahead? Maybe there is hope?
I am not perfect.... I am a work in progress :)
Work and effort is not meant to be easy.... Life is a challenge... Just do it ;)
Every day is a gift... That is why they call it "the present".
We do not live in a "one size fits all" kind of world.
Beauty comes from within...
Have a great day everyone :)
cya!
I am off to battle my emotional hurdle of the day!!!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Makes me wonder.....
Gee, where to start... This is the second day into the new year and I have an attitude already?
It is either I woke up on the wrong side of the bed or I have been living a lie for so long that I am about to go wacky on my family.
I realized that I should be called Cinderella because that is what I am in my house. I just do not have a fairy Godmother or help from those talented forest creatures, but the story sounds like mine. I do all the cooking, cleaning and maintenance of the family "castle". I do it all alone and I get no appreciation for it.
I made breakfast this morning, like I always do on Sundays. As I am feverishly working in the kitchen, my husband is in the recliner watching TV, my daughter is laying on the couch doing the same. Apparently, offering to make breakfast for me once in a while is totally out of the question. I brush off the bad vibes I am feeling about always doing the cooking and I continue making breakfast for everyone.
Then I start wondering..... Is my family actually able to survive long after I die? Really, I do everything for them. I am thankful that they can wipe their own butts, wash and dress themselves, but basically I do everything else. They can't cook, they don't clean, and they have zero clue how to grocery shop.
Maybe I think about them first too much. I mean, if I am willing to do this for them then why bother doing for themselves, right? There have been times that I just don't want to do anything. Does not matter if it is by choice or if I am really sick, but there are times I don't want to be the caterer to the masses. Maybe that is selfish on by part, but damn it I should be entitled. They still refuse to do for themselves or even do for me once in a while. I can be knocking on death's door with a nasty cold and I still get demanded to make them breakfast, lunch or dinner. I get attitude when I ask for help. I am Cinderella!!
I just wonder if I completely shut down and refuse to do anything for longer than a day (you know, being sick is no excuse to not keep cleaning and cooking in their book), would they figure it out that they are perfectly capable to do for themselves? Instead of whining that they are running out of socks as I lay in bed sick, that they actually do a load of laundry? Maybe, if I play my cards right, they might actually take life by the reigns and do something for me without being asked? Oh, what a wonderful life it would be if there was actual teamwork in my house.
I know that I am not the only wife/mother on the block that has a husband and child or children that thinks the same way as I do, but I needed to vent. I just never figured the secret to getting others to do your bidding without sounding like a nagging b i t c h. I missed that seminar somewhere in my life and have not found another class offered. Oh well, work with what I got and hope for the best.
Have a great day everyone :)
cya!!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Getting back into the swing of things.....
Well, we made it!! It is 2011 and what better way to get things rolling with removing the Christmas decoration and getting some housework done. I would have enjoyed partying like some of my friends, but a hangover makes me pretty useless for the day. Since there is no hangover, I am ready to kick my lazy tush into gear.
I just have to remember to take a little time for myself and take care of.... me.
I decided to make a plan to make some changes in how I do things. When I usually set a goal for myself, I have a tendency to expect achieving the goal in a matter of weeks. If I do not see results, I resort to quitting. When it comes to losing weight, I have probably tried it all with hopes of instant results. With a track record like I have, I need to make my main goal into smaller goals. Make it like a set of stairs. Take things one step at a time. Little changes that become habits.
The cards are definitely stacked against me, but if I take the time to find a reasonable substitution for my weaknesses, I think I can make this work. I know that diets don't work. Being denied things only makes me want them more. I need to understand my body and teach myself moderation with everything I eat and do. I can be a real freak when it comes to doing things. I tend to overdo.
Last year, I started going to the gym. I went from couch potato to free weight freak that went to the gym 5 times a week. After getting injured from overworking myself, I took a break to heal. Sadly, the break I took was 6 months with no real desire to go back. I decided that if I do that again, I will fail in my journey towards my goals. I need to dial back my ability to jump in with both feet like that. I need to build up the endurance and that takes time and achieving small steps first.
Step one in my journey is to start going to the gym again. For the next 4 weeks, I am going to the gym once a week. For the following 8 weeks, I am going to go to the gym twice a week. For the following 12 weeks, I am going to the gym three times a week. I believe that a slow build up to the basic requirement of exercise other than what I do every day will get me into the habit of a lifetime. Who knows, it might happen faster, but I need to make this something for the long haul. It is not about losing weight, but to feel better about myself and to strengthen my back sensibly.
Step one (part two) in my journey is to figure my bad food triggers and figure a sensible substitution. This one is way harder to figure out. I have a knack to crave chocolate and sweets all the time. I figured that yogurt can help curb the sweets craving since Yoplait has yogurt that tastes like the "bad stuff", but at a healthier level. I should know... before making this plan, I actually tried some of their flavors and was really impressed. Also, if you freeze yogurt, it tastes and has the texture of ice cream (another weakness of mine). I just seem to be having the issue with chocolate. There is not fruit, yogurt, or thing that I can think of to substitute my peanut butter cups. My only guess is to buy some mini size candies and freeze them. I can have one if I let it melt in my mouth and I can only hope that one will do. Other than that, I remember the Weight Watchers plan and the daily requirements, so the food choice part will be easy. Portion control and plenty of water will be the basis of what I can call a diet. I will allow myself the occasional bad food like pizza or burgers. I just don't have to eat the whole thing and all the time. I have room for error, but finding better options just might introduce me to something I never tried before and end up liking. I just have to keep reminding myself that.
I think that is a good start and today is the first day. Not sure which day I will hit the gym, but I will be there. I have my work out clothes in plain sight to remind me that I have to go.
Wish me luck. I am not making a daily announcement of what I ate or did when it comes to this journey. I am not stepping on the scale again after today for a month. I am not going to let myself fail my commitment and I am not asking for support from friends. This is my challenge and I will face it alone. If I falter and fall off that wagon, I will get myself back on. I will share my thoughts through blogging. Ready or not... here I go :)
Have a great day and may all your goals be achieved in 2011...
cya :)
I just have to remember to take a little time for myself and take care of.... me.
I decided to make a plan to make some changes in how I do things. When I usually set a goal for myself, I have a tendency to expect achieving the goal in a matter of weeks. If I do not see results, I resort to quitting. When it comes to losing weight, I have probably tried it all with hopes of instant results. With a track record like I have, I need to make my main goal into smaller goals. Make it like a set of stairs. Take things one step at a time. Little changes that become habits.
The cards are definitely stacked against me, but if I take the time to find a reasonable substitution for my weaknesses, I think I can make this work. I know that diets don't work. Being denied things only makes me want them more. I need to understand my body and teach myself moderation with everything I eat and do. I can be a real freak when it comes to doing things. I tend to overdo.
Last year, I started going to the gym. I went from couch potato to free weight freak that went to the gym 5 times a week. After getting injured from overworking myself, I took a break to heal. Sadly, the break I took was 6 months with no real desire to go back. I decided that if I do that again, I will fail in my journey towards my goals. I need to dial back my ability to jump in with both feet like that. I need to build up the endurance and that takes time and achieving small steps first.
Step one in my journey is to start going to the gym again. For the next 4 weeks, I am going to the gym once a week. For the following 8 weeks, I am going to go to the gym twice a week. For the following 12 weeks, I am going to the gym three times a week. I believe that a slow build up to the basic requirement of exercise other than what I do every day will get me into the habit of a lifetime. Who knows, it might happen faster, but I need to make this something for the long haul. It is not about losing weight, but to feel better about myself and to strengthen my back sensibly.
Step one (part two) in my journey is to figure my bad food triggers and figure a sensible substitution. This one is way harder to figure out. I have a knack to crave chocolate and sweets all the time. I figured that yogurt can help curb the sweets craving since Yoplait has yogurt that tastes like the "bad stuff", but at a healthier level. I should know... before making this plan, I actually tried some of their flavors and was really impressed. Also, if you freeze yogurt, it tastes and has the texture of ice cream (another weakness of mine). I just seem to be having the issue with chocolate. There is not fruit, yogurt, or thing that I can think of to substitute my peanut butter cups. My only guess is to buy some mini size candies and freeze them. I can have one if I let it melt in my mouth and I can only hope that one will do. Other than that, I remember the Weight Watchers plan and the daily requirements, so the food choice part will be easy. Portion control and plenty of water will be the basis of what I can call a diet. I will allow myself the occasional bad food like pizza or burgers. I just don't have to eat the whole thing and all the time. I have room for error, but finding better options just might introduce me to something I never tried before and end up liking. I just have to keep reminding myself that.
I think that is a good start and today is the first day. Not sure which day I will hit the gym, but I will be there. I have my work out clothes in plain sight to remind me that I have to go.
Wish me luck. I am not making a daily announcement of what I ate or did when it comes to this journey. I am not stepping on the scale again after today for a month. I am not going to let myself fail my commitment and I am not asking for support from friends. This is my challenge and I will face it alone. If I falter and fall off that wagon, I will get myself back on. I will share my thoughts through blogging. Ready or not... here I go :)
Have a great day and may all your goals be achieved in 2011...
cya :)
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