NOW

You know I don't do cardio!





but I will for you...Dang!!!!

Step Three- Exercise (ugh!)

Ok. So far we have added water (at least 64 ounces per day) and at least one piece of fresh fruit a day. For our next challenge we are adding walking; at least 5 miles per week.

I would like to add something extra to this challenge (and not add any more challenges until the first of this year). I found a walking challenge at the Weight Watchers' website. The ultimate goal being completing a HALF MARATHON (approximately 13 miles). I think that it is completely possible.....I KNOW that we can do it.

Well, what do you think? Yes?

I am attaching a link to the Weight Watchers' website so you can take a look at the training plan. (Or you can go to www.weightwatchers.com/startwalking)

Just say no to ........."NOG"

Today in the interest of being healthier I chose to purchase Silk brand "NOG". Since I love eggnog, it is easily the best part of this time of the year. Uhmmm.....so I took a sip directly from the carton (that is how excited I was). Gross. You can't even really tell that it is supposed to be eggnog. Disappointing. So, I will either suffer through the season using this poor excuse as a means of self control (since I have so little when it comes to "real" eggnog), or I will have to go for the "good stuff" (which will result in a 10 pound weight gain) or I will have to not have any at all. In closing, UGH!

Here is how I did......

I have decided that I really should not eat meat. So I am a vegetarian again. I made dinner for the kids (beef stroganoff) and it just grossed me out and I didn't feel right after eating it. (Which makes me also question feeding it to them.) So, while I do love a good hamburger, crab legs, fried chicken, etc. (Uh, why did I make this decision?) I have decided, at least for the time being, to cut these out of my diet. Also, with my latest illness I have seen a change in my recovery and how rapidly I heal when I don't eat meat. Which I think is very telling.

In the past two weeks I have done well with the water. Very rarely have I had anything but water to drink. But occassionaly I have had a juice squeeze when I need a change. A couple of times I did have a soda, because I needed that ceaffeine/sugar boost. But overall, I did very well, I think.

Now for the fruit. I think this will become increasingly harder as we enter winter and the fruit supplies become limited. But I hope to make it a habit.

Challenge #2- fruit

The second addition to our "diet"/lifestyle change is the addition of one piece of fruit a day. At this point we will have added at least 64 ounces of water a day (hopefully) and maybe, just maybe, we have occasionally reached the ultimate goal of an ounce of water per pound that we weigh.

The other change was that the "change period" has been changed from one week to two. Hopefully, this will allow each change to become a habit, to the point that we don't have to think about them anymore. They will simply happen, naturally.

Now for the new change, a piece of fruit a day. For the sake of clarity and because I know the way "some" of us may interpret this latest addition. Jamba Juice does not count as a fruit serving. Nor will any other juice. While we are able to get many vital nutrients from juice we are not able to get all the fiber. And the fiber will act as a filler, so it should help to cut down space for unhealthy food. Also, dried fruit doesn't count either. Pureed fruit, canned or jarred fruit doesn't count either.

Challenge: One whole piece of fresh fruit per day as the primary goal. The ultimate goal is to have 3 pieces of fruit a day. See you in two weeks.

I love it!

Ok....Let's support each other on this....since I've named my growing belly T-REX.....I would like it to shrink back to TBird. I think your approach is good. Question though, does the one drink a day thats not water include juice? Because you know I already have a Jamba OJ.

What are the rules? What is the point?

There aren't any rules as to what you can eat. Fried Chicken. Sure. Tacos. Why not? HOWEVER, every week we will add one good habit. Only one at a time, in the hopes that these actions will become habits and they will eventually take over the "bad" habits. So really, we shouldn't look at this as a diet, more of a way of life. There are two hard rules, stop eating once you realize you are full and only eat what tastes good (of the bad foods, this will not apply to and of the healthy changes).

The point of this change is for our overall health and to prevent chronic illness. (Hopefully, we will also see positive changes in our weight.)

The first week will start on Monday, October 15th. The first goal is to drink only water with an allowance of ONE (per day) UNSWEETENED beverage. These can include artificially sweetened drinks. However, these should be limited as the sweeteners have been found to damage the cardiovascular system.

Some other thoughts for the following weeks will be start taking multivitamins and necessary supplements. Walking at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week. 5 yoga poses when we wake up or before we go to bed (helps with balance and flexibility). Only eating meat once a day, at most. Suggestions are welcome and we get stuck on a troubling change we can extend the week as needed.

Please post a food diary (if you would like), any recipe ideas, thoughts about the changes, etc. Maybe we should try to visit at least every other day......?