I dabbled in a Feeling Good Monday towards the end of the year and seems a good day to restart positive efforts. This year I must get healthier. I'm thankful I got my blood pressure back to a normal range and despite the massive change and stress, I only gained 3 pounds, knowing it could have been so much worse. With double 5's in the birthday rear window though, I will need to be much more intentional about what I eat, how I move, how I take care of myself in general if I want the next 35-45 years to be positive ones. I have so many life events ahead of me to be at my best for.
Monday's I'll recap positive and health choices I made, divulge blips and track my journey. I decided to be brave and will share my 1/1/2021 photos. I'm not doing so to shame myself to lose weight, but to get some support from all of you, as you have been so often breaths of positive fresh air. Don't mind my grump look and my pulled back hair and unmade up face. I am so awkward when I know a picture is being taken, even at my request and these show it. I've got motivation for hair, make-up, and wardrobe as well, but I'll tackle later-future Monday posts. So without further ado, here's my photo's I've put n a folder called "Healthier Sam".
I have a telehealth appointment, and they'll take the weight off my Prevent Scale, which they said is pretty accurate. I believe they'll assume height has not changed without sharing my weight, I will share I am on the high end of overweight-bordering on the BMI range for Obese. I am looking into both NOOM and the new branded Weight Watchers, WW, but I know as one reader has pointed out, what the issue is. I eat too much high and absent calorie foods and do not move enough. I'll concentrate on these two things in January while researching what type of support might be best suited to my life style. It also feels like too much pressure to do a lot of logging and counting calories or points right now, but easing into this with breaking bad habits seems doable. Please send positive thoughts my way!
Healthy Choices Last Week (well since January 1)
- Turkey meatloaf instead of using ground beef
- Double portion of vegetables, cut mashed potatoes by 1/2 of what I might otherwise have eaten
- Boiled 6 eggs for quick high protein snacks
- Long walk, bundled up
- Measured portion of oatmeal for breakfast on Sunday
- Found a series of 10 minuteish videos for yoga and strength-will be doing one on my lunch break as many days as I can fit in
- Froze 1/2 my flatbread pizza DD2 and I made on Saturday, when normally I might have eaten the whole thing without even still being hungry-these are the bad habits I need to break. I do well for a while, then let my bad habits creep back.
Good for you and you still look great. I'm short and overweight and definitely an apple. I have always had a big waist- pants bag in the rear and thighs- and yes, that's the worse body type. My sisters like my deceased mom are both pear shaped. I know my main problem too- I eat too big of serving and I'm a good cook LOL. So I'm working on that. It's nice here and I walked this AM for 20 minutes so a good start to a Monday!
ReplyDeleteThis week I'm aiming for portion control and increasing veggies. I'll move to lesser calorie versions. Not reaching for seconds will be a hard habit to break but so necessary.
DeleteThanks for encouraging me to be healthier this year. We are all on this journey together. I don't want health problems to plague my future, and diabetes runs in my family so I would like to avoid that if at all possible.
ReplyDeleteI have a fridge full of fruits and veggies from my misfit box on friday. I'm going to eat some fruit and cottage cheese for lunch. I'll fix a big salad for supper, and I'll put a beef roast in the crockpot more for the rest of the family.
Maybe my girl and I can squeeze in a river walk today before the weather turns yucky.
Thanks for the motivation. We can do it!
I wish I had a misfit option-I'd be forced to prep most and then ue it. Lat night we loaded beg n the curry.
DeleteWay to kick off 2021 with healthier choices! Here are a few things I've enjoyed & find useful for fitness purposes:
ReplyDelete-An indoor workout option. We bought an elliptical a few months back. I can watch a show or read a book on those days when the weather is bad, but I need 45 minutes. Depending on a work call (e.g. just listening, no speaking required), you could also make that an option as well. They aren't terribly expensive, but can have a long wait given COVID.
-I set a goal for myself early on in the pandemic to get in 3 mini walks during the day (think, walks around the block). They helped to jump start the transition from working in an office to having more flex in being able to quickly move between calls
-I really, really like the 21 Day Fix workouts (I have the DVDs) for 30 minute workouts that give you a variety of choices. I like the countdown of the 30 minute clock, reminding you of how much time you have
-I'm really dedicated on the working out side, and it helps me with my lupus, so it's a top priority. Food is still a work in progress.
-On the non frugal front, I buy bagged salads (I've tried to break this habit, and maybe someday) & have them for lunch each day with a protein. I keep a variety of protein options in the freezer, and /or have leftovers on top. It's a good way to guarantee I'm getting in enough protein.
-I avoid buying treats I enjoy. Sometimes I make things the kids want, but I try my best not to have anything in the house. It's a work in progress, with two hungry teens :-)
I'll be cheering you on (and, comiserating!)
I need to be mnindful of the type of activity. I did something that caused a major knee flareup yesterday. It might have been nothing because all I did was walking and a bit of light weights.
DeleteOf course I'm right with you on this health and fitness journey. Looks like you are off to a good start. We can do this Sam! I have a weird shape that only looks normal when I'm really thin. I only gain weight in the belly, which of course is very unhealthy. I seriously look like a pregnant old lady right now! In these first few days of the challenge I'm also seeing just how much I've lost strength and flexibility too, it's bad! I'm doing random 30 minutes of any kind of exercise this month but I'm pretty sure my February challenge will be adding a lot more in the workout area. Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteIT's ice to have so many other bloggers doing similar actions with healthy 2021 motivation.
DeleteI am so proud of you for sharing! I’ve felt really sluggish and just gross the past couple days. I wonder why....sure we went downtown Saturday and took a nice walk in the city but also stopped at the bakery and the pizza place. I worked yesterday and didn’t plan a dinner so hubby got Burger King. And then I pigged out on ranch pretzels while watching 90 Day Fiancé. I know exactly what my problem is but it’s So. Much. Work. to lose weight. Like it’s a full time job, and I already have one of those plus a house and family to manage! And here I am, making excuses to justify my laziness. Good luck to you. I will start by not eating when I come home from work tonight, another bad habit I have. I’m usually not hungry, just eat to relax. Baby steps? JoAnn
ReplyDeleteAbsent minded eating and treats out and about is a downfall of mine. I can justify stopping for a beer and pretzel when walking by the river as a good trade off instead of saving the calories.
DeleteGood for you on such a positive start! I know you're not looking for recommendations but I have found Myfitnesspal wonderful. It's free and for counting calories it's great. I decided the other day to start skipping breakfast because I'm not really hungry, but my usual clementines and Greek yoghurt come in at around 300 calories and Myfitnesspal helped me to work that out. They also have a blog where you can see inspirational stories. Looks like we're all in this together then. And why not?
ReplyDeleteI've got a few things, Greek yogurt as one, to add to my diet for a more filling option. I'll look at the My Fitness Pal.
DeleteBrilliant post, thanks for sharing your photos and plans, I'm behind you all the way. xxx
ReplyDeleteYou give me good motivation, while knowing we all are made differently. You have such good healthy living practices.
DeleteMy health is my main focus. And, that includes losing weight and exercise. I am thinking about getting a cubii type thing since standing or walking for over two minutes is impossible. I see you got my share of the boobs!
ReplyDeleteI love my cubi! I have lost 160 pounds in about 30 months and still have 40-50 to go! Had 2 bad knees so really could not walk to exercise, it had one knee replaced 4 months ago and next will be in 2 weeks. Amazing how much better I get around even with just one good knee. Hopefully I will not have to use a cane and be able to walk and get my life back. I put off surgery due to work and caring for I’ll family members. Now it is my time at 65 years old! I do best on a Mediterranean type diet.....avoiding a lot of breads, potatoes, rice.....now I do t feel very good when I eat those. I had no pressure on myself to lose a certain amount of weight....needed to get healthy and live a good life.hope to improve balance as I really depend on cane for the “ third leg”. Losing weight is a mind game.....it took me about 69 pounds to feel any difference. I should have had surgery 20 years ago as deformity is significant. Hopefully legs will be eve in 2 weeks as new knee is straight with about a 2 inch difference in height. Can’t wait.
DeleteI will have to see what this cubi thing is. I've never heard of it. Karen, wow! I'm so happy for you.
DeleteI think you are perfectly lovely. I want to start running again, but I am afraid my injury will make me stick to walking. I do much better with keeping at it if I make my run (or walk) the first thing I do in the morning. I *think* I look o.k., and I am well within the suggested weight/BMI, but I don't like the lack of definition in my arms/abs.
ReplyDeleteRunning will be out of the question for me, but more walks, fast walking is doable. I'd like ot look better, but health and feeling good is my man motivation. I don't want to feel tired anymore.
DeleteI am also looking at 2021 as a year to concentrate on my health and overall wellbeing. I've got 3 years left in my 50s. Diets don't work for me but making better choices for my health will hopefully keep me motivated. I enjoy food and I feel like I'm truly a very hungry person a lot of the time! :) I am a pretty big walker and I enjoy it and it comes easily to me but I'm terrible about strength training and my arms really need it. I did give myself a small goal of 650 miles walking this year (2 miles day/5 times per week) but I should increase that as I know I will do at least that but I just feel like I will fail if I give myself a big goal even if it's a realistic one. I tend to rebel even against myself! Anyway, I think it's great you are putting it all out there and I'll follow along and get my inspiration from you! ColoradoGirl
ReplyDeleteI hear you on being a hungry person! My husband eats very poorly-like the equivalent of two meals at once, but then will not eat hardly anything a day. I tend to eat more when he is in an eating mood, but still eat my servings on other days. Too many calories.
DeleteI also should say my 650 miles yearly walking goal is actually increased a bit from my 2 mile/5 day a week goal which would only equal 520 but I know I can do 650 miles this year rather easily but I should still be increasing that goal. ColoradoGirl.
ReplyDeleteI won't set a mile total, but will strive to walk just a bit longer each time.
DeleteI have done Noom and Weight watchers for Hubby. Decided to take Daddy's advice and just cut back the amount I was cooking and then serving. Hubby actually cut his plate by 1/4th the first week, 1/3rd the second and then 1/2 the 3rd week. Then he gave up snacking after dinner. I quit downing the soda (still drink about 10 oz a day) and added more water and increased my walking to 3 miles a day .... but not at one time.
ReplyDeleteHand strength is why you drop things, not necessarily arm.
https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/ss/slideshow-hand-finger-exercises and you can buy a hand grip exerciser.
My coordination I believe might be both. My arms get heavy. I am going to look at both. I wish your husband good health.
DeleteCongratulations on starting this new year with a healthy lifestyle. I've been on a similar quest since finally getting the correct diagnosis after years and years of gastric distress (Chrones D.) this past summer. Eating right and exercise will do wonders for you too. My arms are the same, also carry weight there and are weak. You look lovely by the way! Best wishes! Celie
ReplyDeleteIt will be little changes. If I could lose 1-2 pounds a week, I'll be in such a better place by summer when I can swim more, and food just seems to be naturally lighter with more salads and veg.
DeleteI worked for Weight Watchers/WW for 9 years - like Noom, they work on behaviour modification, and understanding WHY we make the choices we do, what's going on in our brains when we follow that poorer choice patch, etc. The points system is pretty easy - the better the food is for you, the lower the points, and nothing is off limits. I did quit working for them in late 2019 when I felt they'd lost track of their customers and the magic that happens in the meetings vs. the technology (and due to the pandemic, they are looking smarter than me!).
ReplyDeleteI no longer track my food, but there are many apps out there that can help you. It was an eye-opener for me once I started finding out how many points my favourite foods (like mac & cheese) were, and what a portion actually looked like. I realized I didn't know very much!
I think you look beautiful, Sam - and kudos to you for being brave and putting yourself out there! You look like an hourglass to me - that's a tiny waist you have!
My favourite strength tip is to do "pee push-ups". Every time you go to the bathroom, before you wash your hands after, do 10 push-ups off the counter. You can also do these while you're in the kitchen. The countertops are easier to do push-ups on and you can focus on your form and doing them slowly. It's really good for your upper body, chest, shoulders and back, as well as your core. And they are easy to do! I do about 40-60 push-ups a day just from the incidental pee push-ups!
I know you can do whatever you set your mind too! Way to go, Sam!
OK-you almost had me laugh peeing (another strengthening area BTW that I need) reading pee push-ups! I might do better wihtout the meetings-I don't' like talking about weight and food and things in public, so maybe the techno version would be a good fit.
DeleteI hope to always send positive vibes your way especially in the new 2021.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Spo. /you re always positive light.
DeleteI am apple shaped also. I am like a wood tick with skinny arms and leg and a big body. Boy do I love to eat.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have massive calves and fat thighs, so no wood tick here=I'm basically large now all over. I think as Shelia said my waist looks smaller because my chest is so large.
DeleteThanks for sharing. I really like the idea that you'll spend this month focusing on food and movement while researching the best method of support for you, rather than rushing into something.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your health goals! I need to do the same. I was very sedentary over the Christmas break and put on 2 more pounds in addition to my Covid weight gain since March. I've never been this heavy in my life and I hate it so much! I have a wellness check coming up next week and I'm hoping I pass. Trying to eat right at least up until then. lol
ReplyDeleteFeeling tired and not feeling like our best selves is hard. I don't want miracles, just a good healthy life.
Delete