In the News

Today I watched a program on Fox News that talked about obesity, http://video.foxnews.com/#/v/4350860/fatter-future-for-america/?playlist_id=86892



This makes me think yet again about this thing that I am doing. I guess over the past few weeks I have mentally checked out. I have thought to myself, I have gotten to my goal I can take a break....

Well, I have realized that I can't. I am not where I should be. I am still part of those overweight numbers they talked about in the video. I also don't want my kids to be that way. Since, I buy the food, prepare the food and encourage everyone to eat the food, I better do a good job, because it will be my fault if they are unhealthy as kids.

Lastly, I think that even though I made it to my goal, if I don't watch out what I eat, I will be right back up to where I was before....

So now.... IT'S ON!

Patience: A Virtue

I have not written this past week or so..... and I think that is mainly because I have not been doing what I am supposed to be doing. Of course by not writing I am negating the purpose of this blog, but after coming back from vacation I just got knocked off course.

This past week or so has been filled with Andes mints, Cookies and Cream Kisses, and Hot Tamales. Now of course, this is only counting the candy... much less everything else I ate.... In my head, I wasn't really thinking about it; I just let it happen. I also tried to convince myself that the light walking, and occasional sit up counted for my exercise. Then, tonight I listened to a talk given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and now I have learned a little more about what it takes to really do this. I am going to quote from his talk given at Priesthood Session of this past General Conference below. Maybe you will also see how this relates to how you balance your life with food and exercise.

Waiting can be hard. Children know it, and so do adults. We live in a world offering fast food, instant messaging, on-demand movies, and immediate answers to the most trivial or profound questions. We don’t like to wait. Some even feel their blood pressure rise when their line at the grocery store moves slower than those around them.

Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter.

Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace.

As parents, we know how unwise it would be to indulge our children’s every desire. But children are not the only ones who spoil when showered with immediate gratification. Our Heavenly Father knows what good parents come to understand over time: if children are ever going to mature and reach their potential, they must learn to wait.

Because of this section, I understand how much learning to balance my food, learning to withstand a bag of candy, or just learning to have only one piece is so much bigger than just losing weight. It is about control and maturity. This isn't something that will only last till I am 150 lbs, but it needs to be a deepening process of my self-control.

I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort.

There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!

Impatience, on the other hand, is a symptom of selfishness. It is a trait of the self-absorbed. It arises from the all-too-prevalent condition called “center of the universe” syndrome, which leads people to believe that the world revolves around them and that all others are just supporting cast in the grand theater of mortality in which only they have the starring role.

From this, I learned that this past week was silly. I just need to work hard and keep working hard. I have to be patient, and keep plugging along.

Patience means staying with something until the end. It means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings.

You can see how the gospel goes hand in hand with being fit and making wise decisions on how we treat our body. When something is true, it is true in every aspect of your life.

I am now renewed to give up my bags of candy and my lazy mornings because as he says "delaying immediate gratification for future blessings". I want those future blessings.

Women's Health

I found myself at the library yesterday looking for a calorie catalog (a book that lists the nutritional value for food, e.g. black beans, banana, peach, etc) and I happened to find a book on women's health, The Active Woman's health and Fitness Handbook by Nayda Swedan MD



I would like to quote a bit from it....

"Body image is a term used to describe how you see your body. It is a state of mind that can affect confidence, not only in regard to how you look, but also how you feel about yourself, which can affect your physical and mental health.

Unfortunately, many women have poor body image; even those who are beautiful, thin, fit bodies can look in a mirror and criticize themselves for their imperfections (that are often out of proportion to how they look) rather than their strengths. In contrast, women who have positive body image are confident in knowing that, no matter what the weight on the scale, they are fit, strong, healthy, and beautiful.

....

The best way to have a positive body image is to feel positive about yourself as a person. Stay active, exercise regularly, and feel strong and fit. Nurture your muscles, feed them healthy food, and maintain goals for your life and achievements. Wear clothes that flatter you; have friends who flatter you also."

She goes on to talk about other women's issues with weight and fitness, but I felt that is section was very nice. I generally have a positive body image, but as I go through this process I have to remember that it isn't just being skinny that is important (if it were my body image would be really bad right now :) but it is to be healthy and active. With that in mind any step closer, every workout, every veggie I eat.. helps me be a fit, strong, healthy, and beautiful wife and mother.

I am getting really interested in learning more about women's health, and the specific needs women have physically. If anyone knows of some good books... pass them along. I would love to read them.

Soon, I will hopefully meet with a dietitian just to make sure I am eating the right stuff. I believe that I am, but it is always nice to hear it from someone else too.

p.s. Right now I am eating a delicious slice of garlic & herb Laughing Cow light cheese with (instead of crackers or pretzel thins) slices of cucumber. It is tasty. Total calorie count... 50 kcal YAY!

p.s.s. My calves are looking spectacular :)

Remembering Reasons

There are just those days that seem like this quest is just so silly.... Why would I want to lose weight when I know I am going to get pregnant right after... It doesn't seem to make any sense, at least it didn't today.

Luckily, I have a telephone. I called up a few of my friendly support club members (aka friends) that might also understand this "family way" difficulty. And they reminded me that this journey is so much more than just being thin. They reminded me of all the other reasons I am doing this.
- to be a good mom, who helps her children be active and healthy
- to have healthy future pregnancies
- to be a spectacularly beautiful wife
- to live the commandments and abide by the teachings of the prophets
- to be the best me I can be

Plus, I have heard that it is doubly hard to lose the weight of the first baby after you have had a second.... Well I am 10 pounds away from where I was when I got pregnant with Ginger, so that is almost accomplished.

Downside of today:
Overeating on cantaloupe and cheese with crackers.

Upside of today:
I realized what good supportive friends I have. Thanks you guys for listening.

The First Step

I have decided to start my journey of weight-loss. I am starting on June 27, 2010 at 191 lbs, or a size 16. On October 1, 2010, I will be 150 lbs and/or a size 10.

As I was calling around to tell some people of my new goals, my sister thought of the idea of this blog. It is an easier way to stay accountable for my progress, and it doesn't matter if people actually care this way :) I am at least accountable for posting.

I have set a few goals which you can watch me fulfill as the days go by.

Big Goals:
August 21, 2010 - The A.V. Fair 5k
October 1, 2010 - I will weigh 150 lbs or fit into a size 10.

Small Goals:
- Cardio workout (running, swimming, dancing, etc.) at least 3x a week.
- Strength workout (20 sets of 6-12 reps = 45mins) at least 2x a week.
- Only 1 serving of dessert per day (1/2 cup)
- Eat a low-fat, low carb healthy diet

I have been put-zing around this weight loss thing since a few months after Ginger was born. I got really intrigued with the Biggest Loser and a few other things I had seen, but really what was the kicker was seeing a woman sweat from walking down the hallway. I just decided that I can't continue to putz around. So Starting at 191 pounds and a size 16 I am on my way to a healthier me.