New YOU ~ June 26

Well, as some of you may know I am taking an exercise class on Tue/Thurs for one hour in the morning. It is called "step and sculpt" and the name fits. We work with 2 size balls, 2 size dumbbells, steps, a band and the mats. It is tough but I feel very good about myself afterwards. I know that I am doing something healthy for my tired ole body! It is a 6 or 8 week program.

Also, we have started a new healthier eating lifestyle. Manly has meant I am cutting out all the food colorings and artificial additives and the hydrogonated anythings! It has been pretty smooth so far. They boys are coming around and accepting that it is just not just a little one time try it things, we are changing our lifestyle!

Still need to add more water into my day and need to continue with my vitamins....seem to forget them more times than not but overall I have made some improvements!

Jana

I've been inspired recently, but haven't taken the few minutes I need to think about a plan. How strange is that--no chance to think!!??

Have been taking advantage of the fruit cravings lately, though. That's cool.

Julie
"We must have patience for love, born of an accidental look." --Me

just remember not to go overboard on the enthusiasm and end up packing it in because you tried to do too much at once. I warn you because that's exactly what I'd do!!

things are inevitably still chaotic for us so all I can really do is try to clear up some of the worst of the chaos and try to establish a bit of a routine here and there, for all of us, not just the kids. Everything's temporary so there's no danger of new habits forming at the moment, good or bad. I tried going without tea this morning, having drunk too much yesterday and spent all day in the bathroom, and it does seem to have helped! Might have to continue that one!

that's it... lots of catch-up for me, though I won't read everything, so if there was something important I missed, please tell me!

Kerri.

That about does it today. We worked our abs hard!

Off to swim!

Jana

I am about to leave for a 10 day vacation, so when I drop off the face of the earth, don't think I gave up.

OK. Big changes in this life lately.
Left my job.
Working for DH. My Hours; My Schedule.
No more excuses.

I no longer have to leave for work in a rush at 6:45am, and I have also lost the 90 minute commute each day (awww....)

So,
It is way past time that I really take control of my health. So far, I have started exercising again, and am trying very hard to make peace with the fact that after a year of no exercise I can not run a half-marathon; and after all of the stress of the past year these extra pounds are well earned.

My new attitude is built on babysteps. I just cannot change and undo 20 years of self-abuse overnight. If I miss a day of exercise, or eat crap, I have to get over it and not give up. It's not all-or-nothing. It a way of life I have to learn. So far I have:

Started exercising again. I walk for as long as it feels good, and have started to run again a bit at a time. So I can't run 10 miles at a time anymore, who cares?

Continued to eat as many veggies and fruits as I can stuff in me. I love them, and this is the best time of year, so why not?

GOALS:
get strong and healthy: keep walking/running and start using some hand weights at some point, or maybe go back to Tae Kwon Do, I loved that too.
run half-marathon again next May
lose 35 pounds in the next 8-10 months
Be a fit, happy, healthy, juicy woman by the time I turn 40 (July 2007)

There, I wrote it down!

That's when I'll be 40. Good for you, Jo! I'm with you all the way. And congrats on the job thing. Have a great trip.

Julie
"We must have patience for love, born of an accidental look." --Me

The boys really enjoyed having mom in the pool with them.

Today we are coasting. Day of rest and veggin' out!

Way to go Jo! Keep up posted on things.

Jana

Thanks for updating the thread Jana!

I'm still plugging away at the 8 Minutes in the Morning and the 3-Hour Diet, though Aunt Flo's recent visit, my mom's recent visit, and my current cold have really made things challenging. Still after 3 weeks I'm down about 4.5 pounds, so I'm happy!

I have noticed that eating a mid-morning snack about 3 hours after breakfast is making a HUGE difference in how I eat the rest of the day. Mainly I am not starving in the afternoon (when I also have a snack) and at dinner. I feel full after dinner and don't feel like snacking later. And after eating so many more fruits and veggies I am noticing that my appetite has changed a bit. Last night (when the water was shut off and we were going to go out) I insisted on no pizza or Joe's Crab Shack and we went to Big Bowl (a newfangled Asian place) where I could have soup and salad rolls, not because I wanted to be virtuous but because that is what I really wanted, and the idea of heavy food sounded so awful.

I have gotten much better at making salads (I like mixed baby greens with dried cranberries, a bit of feta, and a few chopped walnuts, with balsamic viniagrette). And I am have discovered a new favorite soup -- basically make a quasi-Asian broth by steeping ginger, garlic, and mirin in veggie broth, then add veggies and tofu or shrimp. Stir in a bit of miso and chili oil to finish. We're having it tonight with bok choy, shitakes, green beans, and shrimp -- yum!

I've been thinking about our shopping habits since you started writing about it Jana, and I realized that so much of our food now is perishable, which is a good thing. Packaged groceries make up a really small part of our budget compared to dairy, veggies, tofu, fish, etc.

Jo, I sometimes feel like you do -- I have been sooooooo much healthier in the past, but many events have taken their toll on me, especially since I kept putting myself last. But I feel like the changes I have made recently are manageable, and I have to stop myself from adding more and more goals or "habits" so that I don't burn out.

The closest one is 45 min away but I think DH and I may run up there. Our Krogers has a nice variety but I am looking for more selection right now.

Exercise class went well today. WOW, a workout she does promise and she does not disappoint!

Jana

that's probably about all I can admit to. I've eaten tons of pork, sausages, gammon, bacon... No danger of me turning Jewish or Muslim!! I've also had quite a few chips - that's proper fish shop chips (not 'fries' and not what us Brits call crisps), smothered in plenty of salt and vinegar. It's hard to remember this isn't a holiday, so we are still tending to stuff down everything we fancy!

this isn't really the place for it, but I'm too tired to resurrect any other threads or start something fresh, but we've bought a house. Yes already. Just need to get the mortgage agreed and then it's all go. Bearing in mind we've been in the country just barely a week...

small wonder I'm sleeping so well every night.

and tomorrow night I'm off to a Mozart concert with the only volunteer I could find, my dad... I think he decided he preferred Mozart's Requiem to babysitting, so he volunteered to go with me! Traditional instruments too... should be fun. I'm still kicking myself for not getting to The Eagles concert back in March, so I'm trying not to make the same mistake over and over again... at least I should try for new mistakes!

Jo, your plan sounds very sensible. You can't keep beating yourself up every time you have a bad day. My cousin just said that she was talked out of starting her diet just before she started major house renovations... It would have been stupid when, as her friend pointed out, what she really needed was a chocolate biscuit!! If you feel you're passed the worst of the stress, and this is basically as good as it gets, go for making the changes. Yes, you have to live life warts included, but obviously starting a lifestyle change or diet when you know you've got a period of great stress coming up is just asking for failure. It sounds like you've gotten things more on track Jo and are ready to tackle the next thing. That really is the most we can ask for, because there is NEVER a perfect time is there!

g'night all...

Kerri.

I poodled over here to say I had an email from Kerri, she has bought a house and she says hi....but I see she's beaten me to it

I've been absent a lot lately for various reasons - the work being done on the house, the clearing up I have had to do (unbelievable), and computer problems which are ongoing and getting worse. I'm off on holiday soon too

While I am here, I do have some New Me news to share (for once ) I have signed up to start a new diet when I get back from my holiday! It's more of a healthy eating plan really, and it's based on the Glycaemic Index. My parents are doing it too, so hopefully we'll be able to give each other moral support.

Watch this space!

Man you guys are moving right along. How exciting!

Jana