Monday, January 26, 2009

Healthy You check in

Well, due to the procedure last week, I have discovered that my colon can store several pounds of waste before elimination. Even with daily Miralax and tons of water. Sigh. SO TIRED OF THIS CRAP! (Pun intended.) :-P So my weigh ins will be done only after getting RID of waste.

Did cardio and weight lifting today. Will try to continue doing cardio 6 days and 3 days of weight lifting every week.

Have follow-up app't with GI doc on Feb 17th.

Safe weight-lifting

From Denise Austin
Fitness Flash
Hit the Weights the Right Way

Strength training — lifting weights — is important to building a strong, fit body. Lifting weights helps you tone your limbs and build muscle, and it's great for your bones and your metabolism. But when it comes to lifting weights, form is key! Using equipment incorrectly can cause pain and injury, and at the very least, your routine can lose some of its effectiveness.

To make sure you lift weights — whether in the weight room or at home — the right way, keep these simple tips in mind:

* Stand with your feet separated, one slightly in front of the other.
* Bring the weight as close to your body as possible before you lift.
* Bend at your knees to pick the weight up, and use your leg muscles to hoist it, not your back.
* As you lift and lower, keep your movements slow and smooth — don't jerk the weight to lift it!
* Stand tall — don't let the weight cause you to slump over.
* If a weight is too heavy, switch to a lighter weight and work your way up!

If you keep these tips in mind, your heavy lifting won't lead to a pain in the neck (or anywhere else!).

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Liquid diet weight loss

Weighed 196.2 this morning before going in for my procedure. I probably gained it all back with the breakfast at Rosie's Diner on the way home. ;-) All went well and I'm back home and very tired, so I'm going to go take a nap now.

I have a very long, twisty, tortured colon. The radiologist seemed to enjoy himself way too much and told me I might make the 'Hall of Fame" for twisty colons. Joy. I guess I won't know the full results until I talk with the GI doc who ordered the test. But the doc today didn't say anything about seeing a hernia, which is what the GI doc wanted to look for.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Healthy You Challenge

Back to 199.4 this morning. After some big jumps last week, I'm rather relieved to be back in Onderland! :-D Today I'm on a liquid diet for a medical procedure tomorrow. Ugh. Figured I would check in today since I'll be out of the house early in the morning. Will check in with others later!

Motivational Monday

From Denise Austin

Motivational Monday
Discover the Power of Positivity

Most of us respond better to encouragement than we do to criticism. No one likes to be reprimanded about what they're doing wrong, or told what they shouldn't do — but few people would pass up a kind word from others that reinforces a good choice they've made!

My online program is all about accentuating the positives in your life and building on them to become healthier, stronger, and happier for the rest of your life. It's about embracing the beauty of a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, the pure physical joy of activity, and the confidence that comes with taking control of the aspects of your life that you can control.

I hope you are feeling positive about yourself and your efforts so far to truly live well. Today, think about how you can share that positivity with others — how you can reinforce their good choices and inspire them to live well too!

Here are a few ideas:

* Help your children develop the good habits of healthy eating and physical activity at an early age by setting an example yourself.
* Show your kids how much you enjoy eating fruits and vegetables and how much fun preparing them can be. Explore the different colors, textures, and tastes with them and encourage them to come up with creative combinations, find their own favorites, and join you in preparing dishes.
* Invite a friend or family member to try a new exercise class with you or to go for a scenic walk someplace new.
* Instead of telling your husband that he "can't" watch sports on TV or play video games, suggest a fun, engaging physical activity that you can do together.
* If your best friend is overweight, listen to what she says about her self-image. Empathize with her, and tell her you love and accept her no matter what size she may be. And help her on her weight-loss journey.
* Cook a healthy treat to bring to work and share with colleagues — rather than the typical cookies, cake, or pie.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

9 Cold, Hard Weight Loss Truths

This is a great article! 9 Cold, Hard Weight Loss Truths

I'll put the title facts down, but be sure to go read the whole thing!

1. You have to exercise more than you think.

2. A half-hour walk doesn’t equal a brownie.

3. You do have time to exercise. (Oh, this is my favorite! Gotta post the whole thing.)
If you have time to check email, watch a sitcom or two, surf the Internet, have drinks, coffee and dinner with friends, go clothes shopping, and on and on, then you have time to exercise. Yes, sometimes you have to sacrifice social, TV, or leisure time to fit it in. Yes, sometimes you have to prioritize your exercise time over other things. But your health and the feeling you get after working out is well worth it.

4. Eating more of something won’t help you lose weight.

5. Calories in = calories out?

6. Your body is working against you.

7. Our cultural environment is also working against you.

8. Maybe you don’t need to lose weight.

9. This is not a diet; this is your life. (This one is good, too.)
The diet industry would have us all think that we can lose weight fast, and that’s that. But most people who maintain their weight understand that eating and exercising are not temporary conditions, to be dumped once a pair of jeans fit. Instead, they are lifestyle choices, and ones to be made for the long haul.

Healthy You Check in

I'm a day late. Yesterday my son had surgery and we came home the same day after everything went well. Yay!

My weight is up, but my period just started so I'm not going to fret over it. Next week will be better! :-D

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Drink Water!

From Denise Austin

Quick & Light
Drink Your Daily Water!
If you're not a water drinker, it's time to turn yourself into one! Drinking water every day is key to maintaining good health. Your body is made up mostly of water — doesn't it make sense to replenish the good old H2O instead of filling up on soda pop or sugary fruit juices? Plus, did you know that the brain often mistakes thirst for hunger? Before running to the nearest snack machine, try drinking a few glasses of water first and wait about 20 minutes — your craving just may have gone away.

So how much water do you really need? Well, a general rule of thumb is about eight ounces of water eight times a day, but there's no strong scientific evidence to support that recommendation. In fact, some experts actually recommend 13 glasses of H2O for men and nine for women! That may seem like a lot of water, but your body loses about ten glasses of water in the course of a day. And if you're exercising, pregnant, or breastfeeding, or you live in a hot or humid climate, your water loss is increased, so your intake should be upped!

Take my advice and drink up — it's H2Ohhhh so good for you! One tip: If you're having a hard time getting used to the taste of water, try adding a lemon wedge for a hint of sweetness!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Healthy You Challenge - 199.4

Well, it was a very weird week with the weight. After checking in last week at 200.2, the next day it was 202.2, the next day 204.2. WHAT THE HECK????? So NOT a happy camper. But today, 199.4. Down .8 for the week. WHEW!

I've been pretty active this past week and plan to continue the habit. Lifted weights today. Will do some good cardio tomorrow....on my daughter's 21st birthday! Hard to believe.