How's Your New Year's Resolution Going?

The ball dropped and 2010 ended.  We all made New Year's resolutions.  How's it going?  Are you keeping them?

I swore I wouldn't make one this year and I didn't, exactly.  I have the same one every year, a standing resolution.  It never changes whether I do or not.  What could it be you ask?  Probably the same as yours if you're reading this...to lose weight.

How am I doing you ask? Well, it depends on how you measure it.  If I got on a scale (horrible five letter word) I weight the same as January 1.  Have I been working on it you ask? Sure, but not the way you think.

I refuse to go on a fad diet, an overly strict diet - that leaves out things I know I will never live without - or one that costs a small fortune. So, what am I doing?  Well, for starters, I drink Shakeology everyday.  It has tons of vitamins and minerals and really great ingredients.  It gives me a ton of energy and, yes, makes me regular.  An important benefit to anyone's digestive system.

I've also been trying to eat healthier.  I'm not perfect but I'm trying.  I still have a weakness for pizza and Mexican food I just try not to have it too often.  I'm trying to incorporate more veggies and fruits.  Key word here - trying.  I try everyday.

I exercise too.  Oh, the plan is six days a week.  Do I make it?  Some weeks.  The other weeks you ask? Twice or three times.  Just depends.  I'm working on scheduling it in my day but some days I just don't feel like it.

So what keeps me trying?  Wanting to be better.  Better health, better with my schedule, a better body.  It'll happen.  I have faith I will accomplish my goals this year.  I just completed a 30 day challenge that helped me to see my goals and how to reach them.  Well worth the 5-10 minutes a day I spent.

If you're interested in taking the challenge too, free of charge, just ask me and I'll send you the link.

Cravings

Chocolate, cheesecake, potato chips, mac-n-cheese - yummy foods we are told should be off limits to us if we are trying to eat healthy and/or lose weight. How can we stay away from them? They're so tasty! And, of course, once you're told you can't have them that's when you want them the most.

Oh, I've gone without Mexican food, pizza and sweets to lose weight.  I've lost the weight only to gain it all back because I went and ate all the things I wasn't allowed.   You know, you reach that ideal weight and now you can eat anything you want. NOT! Oh, I learned that the hard way! It took regaining the weight multiple times before I figured it out.

Now I'm losing the weight slowly.  Very slowly.  But I feel ten times better than I have in years! I try to eat healthy most of the time but if I crave something I have it. I know I can't go hog wild and most of the time I share with someone to cut the calories but still get the rush!

I used to think a meal replacement shake was not worth the calories. In the past I had tried protein drinks and was starving in two hours.  I finally found one low in calories but high in nutrition, not just protein.  I feel satisfied for up to four hours and have tons of energy.  I have quite a few friends on it too.  They all feel the same way.

Its great to have found a way to eat and feel great without feeling sluggish or hungry.  As well as finding a great group of people that like to support each and help one another.  If you're looking for either of these, or both, let me know.

Hanging with Your Friends

I love to hang out with my friends...having dinner, shopping, going out for coffee, going on weekend trips.

Ever notice how many of those events center around food? I know most of mine do.  I love food; not just sweets but real meals.  There is nothing like getting together with a couple of loved ones and digging into a pizza or an ooey-gooey casserole on a cold evening.  I already know what you're thinking..."Isn't this supposed to be about getting fit?"  Sure it is but none of can ignore the way we were raised and the way we've been living.

For example, my mom asked every person who walked through our door if they were hungry and wanted something to eat.  It's what she did.  Unfortunately, you can tell I said yes more than once.  I love to have a large crowd at my house and feed them all the things I love to cook. Most of those things are cheesy.  Who doesn't love cheese?  And where has all this gotten me? Starting the new year with a new plan.

This year's plan is different than all the others.  First, I met a wonderful group of people who really want each other to succeed at their goals - personal and business.  I think that will be the most beneficial.  Not that my family and friends aren't supportive but we all have the same bad habits.  Who's going to be the strong one and say "no"?

Second, I am working on a 30 day accountability program to get more focus with the things that really make a difference; my health, exercising and working hard at the things I enjoy - fitness and writing.

I encourage you to thing about how you'd like this year to be different. Can I help you achieve any of your goals?  I'd love to try.

Christmas Parties

Christmas is only six days away.  Are you ready? Have you been to a Christmas Party or two?

I went to a party last night.  I ate before I went so I wouldn't over eat.  That worked out but I ended up having a few drinks that well made up for the calories I didn't eat. At least I didn't eat and drink.

I met a gal the other day that said she was going to wait to plan her 30 pound weight loss until the after New Year's because she knew she would be over-indulging over the next couple weeks.  Why do we do that?  Its not like we've never had this kind of food before or we've never had alcohol earlier in the year.  Traditions have made us feel we spend the year deprived of turkey, ham and all the trimmings.  Would it be less of a big deal if we made those holiday favorites a couple times throughout the year? If we made a plan to get together with friends and family more than once a year would that lessen the anxiety and the desire to over-indulge?

We had three parties at our house this year - Super Bowl, Memorial Day and Labor Day.  We invited just about the same people each time and varied our menu for the time of year. By the third party I barely ate.  The snacks were favorites, the alcohol flowed but it just didn't seem that important. In the past, even though I ate before my Christmas party, I would have snacked there anyway. I did have a lemon square, dessert, but the rest of it just wasn't that appealing.

For New Year's resolutions maybe we should vow to spend more time with the folks that mean the most to us and focus less on the food that's served.  Time goes by so fast and we are all so busy.  Sometimes its just nice to slow down and show your love to someone instead to something.

Holiday Struggles

New Year's will be here before we know it. What does that mean?  Resolutions? Do you make them every January? How long to you keep them?  One month? One week? One hour?

I quit making resolutions.  I'm tired of not keeping them.  Instead of waiting to make a promise to myself once a year, blowing it, hating myself, and then trying the next year, I tossed resolutions out the window.  The only resolution I ever made constantly is to lose weight.  Since I keep trying all year long, over and over again, what's the point in a resolution? And, since I keep failing, what's the point.

Well, no more! It's time to get healthy and quit beating up myself.  Stop the madness and get on a realistic program.  I'm not perfect and, no, I'm still not constant, but I'm working on it.  I joined the gym, but I could be mall walking or jogging outside. I do TurboJam and TurboFire, but I could be using my Wii Fit. There are options - no set rules - except one...you need to watch what you eat.  That is where I am weakest.

I love to cook  and I love to eat.  I just have to be careful what I cook and how much I am eating.  Sounds simple, huh? Could be.  I ask you to follow my blogs, make comments, and hold me accountable.  If you like, I will do the same for you.  We are all on the same journey...to live life to the fullest.  Who wants to do that with diabetes, high cholesterol, aching joints? Not me!