"It looks like 2 honey baked hams in a walmart sack..."

Let me clue you in, before you start "moving", make sure you have the right kind of clothing.  Unfortunately, no one shared this gem of info with me.  The first time I went out "running" with my friend Terra, was a wardrobe disaster. 
I didn't own workout clothes. 
I didn't have a pair of shorts.
I didn't own a sports bra.
I had worn out shoes.
So besides being 273 lbs and completely out of shape, I was not dressed for the task at hand.  However, I was determined to get ready to run the dirty dash, and I wanted to honor my dreams that had been screaming at me to run, so here I was, excited to get going, but so unprepared.

We met in the evening, just Terra and I.  I wore a pair of my husbands shorts, that were a bit to big for me, a regular bra, and my worn out shoes.  We began with a walk, then ran super short distances (like the length of a block), with me huffing and puffing along.  As soon as we started running, my shorts started to fall off, my boobs were bouncing out of my bra, but  I continued on with one hand holding my shorts up and the other holding my boobs down.  I WAS A SIGHT!  I giggle about it now, but it is a bit humiliating to think that people saw me looking like that.  We did close to 2 miles that first day.  Terra kept telling me not to "bounce" so much.  It had been so long since I had run, I didn't know how to do it! 

This horrific experience didn't stop me.  I went right out and got me a new, super duty strength sports bra (at least the best that Walmart sold).  They weren't sold in the size I needed, but I got the biggest I could, did a couple of test bounces in the dressing room, and deemed it better than what I had and good enough for now, besides, I was going to lose weight and then it would fit better.....  I also invested in a new pair of cheap athletic shoes, and a to small but better than nothing pair of tight yoga pants.  I was so excited (and a lot delusional), but more appropriately prepared for my newest hobby.  I was so excited, that I put on my new sports bra and nacho Libra stretchy yoga pants and modeled for my sweet husband.  I pranced down the stairs, all excited and exclaim "What do you think?"  feeling in my delusional state that I was the bom digity.......  There was a long pause, as he searched for the right words.  "Uh....well"  he said with a smile on his face, "It looks like two honey baked hams, stuffed in a Walmart sack, and I'm not sure it's going to hold."  Really?  Ok, that was funny, and I laughed, and the truth, that was a pretty accurate statement.

So ask yourself, where ever you are on your journey, could it be any worse than that?  I hope you got a giggle out of this post, and can see that it only gets better.   Happy "moving", what ever form you choose....
Lori

Choose to get moving

I was sitting on the side lines....of my life.
I was sitting on the side lines .....
-watching others do fun things I wish I could do.
-watching others play with their kids.
-feeling sorry for myself.
-hating what I had become.

And nothing changed, until I chose to get up and move.  I decided that I was done watching my life pass me by.  I was done being a spectator and chose to become a participant.  I wasn't sure how to start, I just know I HAD to.  Although I had never run before, I decided I wanted to run the Dirty Dash.  I had to get ready and that meant I needed to get moving.  Little by little, I choose to move, day after day.  I was slow, but I WAS moving and I was making choices about what I ate, and slowly the weight began to drop off.

Here are a couple of thinking points on exercise...

-Do you make excuses about not having enough time to exercise?

This is a valid issue that most of us have to deal with.  We all live busy lives and wear many hats.  I found myself in the same situation, but I felt it was a priority to make time every day to exercise.  More than once, I found myself out running at 11pm, because I didn't want to end my day without exercising.  Once I even went out about 11:30pm, in the dark and rain.  It was one of the most memorable runs.  Are you serious about losing weight?  Then you must find the time and must make yourself a priority.

-Do you feel like your weight keeps you from joining a gym?

 I did.  There was no way that a year ago I would have stepped foot the gym.  Even today after loosing 74 pounds, I am very self conscious when ever I am at the gym.  The good news is that you don't have to be a gym member to lose weight.  There are so many ways that you can get moving without requiring you to step in a gym.  I had lost over 40 pounds on my own before I joined a gym.  So what can you do?  I ran, walked, lifted weights with a neighbor, followed workout videos, played the Wii.  Other options include riding a bike, jump rope, skip, dance, or run stairs at a local high school.  It doesn't matter what it is, just start moving.

-Do you wonder where to begin?

I wasn't sure where to start either.  Look for someone who is close to you and ask to workout with them.  Luckily, I had a friend who loved to run and she was willing to work with me.  It was painfully slow in the beginning, but she stuck with me.  We live in a world full of workout resources.  Find a video and get started.  For sure, the weight won't come off if you don't move your body.

I used to drive around and around until I could get the closest parking spot at the store.  At one store in particular, I had a favorite parking spot right up front.  Now, I park as far out as I can. As often as I can, I leave my cart in the store when I am done shopping and carry the bags out to the car.  It may not be a huge workout, but is defiantly a starting place. This is an easy way to get moving.  Remember, it is about making choices to move every chance you get.

You can do it!  Make a promise to yourself that even if it is something small, you will make the choice to move your body a little more.

Lori

Losing weight, it's a simple equation

Losing weight is a simple equation.  Burn more calories than you take in.  Simple, right?

Wrong, if weight loss were a simple thing we would not be living in a world where there are so many fad diets, numerous weight loss pills and products, and a society filled with unhappy over weight people.

There is a secret, I found it, and I'll share it with you.  One word......CHOICE!

When you take that simple equation and add choice to it, it becomes a very powerful tool to fight your fat, to take control, to free yourself.  In our society, food is not something we thnk about much, with all the things we juggle today, who has time.  We need to make time and be much more conscious of our choices.  When you take the power back into your own hands and start to make wise choices along with your calories in and out, you have to power to make change.  There are 2 part to using Choice with weight loss, they are Food Choice and the Choice to Move.....  I am going to talk about food choice today and the choice to move tomorrow.

Food Choice-
For years my relationship with food was unhealthy, to say the least. Now I realize that every day we have many opportunities to chose what we put in our body.  I hope this can give you a starting point to beginning to understand what your relationship with food is.  Here are some thinking points.  Many things I never thought before I began my journey.

- Do you choose food that fuels your body or do you simple eat as therapy, mindlessly stuffing what ever you can in your mouth? 

I used to stuff my face.  I never thought about my food choice.  Today I try to make the best food choices.  I understand that food is fuel, not therapy.  By feeding my body the best foods available, I am keeping my systems running smooth and healthy.  Having said that, I have not given up an occasional treat.  Once in a while, if I want to have a cookie, or candy bar, I do, but with an understanding.  I asked myself this question, "If I eat this, am I willing to work it off?"  Sometimes they answer is YES!!!,  often, if is nope, just not worth it.  Begin today to become accountable to your self for the food choices you are making.  At the very least, take a second and think before you put something in your mouth.  Remember, you have a choice!

-Do you choose food that is less expensive, pre packaged, and full of preservatives or do you choose food that is natural, fresh and healthy. 

Eating healthy is a bit more expensive.  However, if you look at the health benefits over time, how much is living a healthy life worth?  Is it worth it to eat crappy food with little nutrition value just to save pennies?  Isn't being healthy so you can be around for your family for a long time, a much better and priceless option?  I try to always have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand so make a healthy choice is easy.

-Do you look at the food labels when you grocery shop?
 
I never did before, but I do now.  I may not have a perfect understanding of the label, but things I look for are whole grains, that sugar is NOT the first or second ingredient, words that I can't pronounce (not gonna put that in my body), Calories, fat, protein, and sugar, etc.  Based on what I learn from the food label, I make an informed decision if it is an item I want to buy.  I encourage you to start to become familiar with the items you are bringing into your home to fuel you and your family.

-Do you use the excuse that you have no time to cook, and instead go though the drive thru? 

I'm not going to lie, I have always love fast food.  I still do, but I feel that difference between than and now, is I am able to make better choices.  Some of my favorite fast food choices today are Wendy's salads, 6 in. Subway sandwich with lots of spinach and veggies, no cheese or mayo on whole wheat bread, and Arctic Circle's Turkey Burger.  I have  not given up the fast food, I just try to be wise about my choices when I go that route.  Most restaurants have nutrition information available upon request.  I have stood in line looking over the nutrition information, while people are behind me waiting.  It is my body, I want to be informed about what I am putting in it.  Sorry if you have to wait for a bit while I educate myself. 

The benefit to cooking at home, you know exactly what is in your meal.  Having a meal at home with your family gives you a chance to sit together.  This is simply a priceless benefit.

-Are you tracking the food you eat through the day?

I was resistant to tracking my food, but finally gave in.  Today I track what, how much and what time, I eat and drink.  If you have never tracked your food, I would suggest you give it a try.  You might be surprised by how many calories you are putting in your body every day.  Also I want to know how many calories I am putting in my body so I know how many I need to be burning.  Remember weight loss is burn more calories that you take in.
Some of my favorite food tracking sites are myfitnesspal.com, fitbit.com and spark people.

-Are you a soda drinker and can't give it up?

I was.  I would drink two 44oz Pepsi's a day.  I knew that diet soda had less calories and sugar, but to me it was plain NASTY.  I always said, "If I have to give up soda, I refuse to drink diet, I would rather just drink water."  When I started to make the choice NOT to drink soda, and to drink more water, my weight changed too.  I have not had soda for months.  I was a die hard addict, and I can say honestly now, that I don't miss it, and when I have tried it, I don't like the way it tastes.  For so long soda controlled me.  I used to believe that I needed the caffeine to function.  The truth is, I am now in control, I make the choice to hydrate my body (only water can do that), the only thing controlling me, is me.  I have the power to choose to change and over come a bad habit.  If you aren't there yet, begin to think about changing.  You will be able to make the choices to change only when YOU are ready.  Today I like to drink between 100-120oz of water a day.

-How are your portions when you eat?

Do you pay attention to serving sizes on labels and your portion sizes?  Companies like to trick you on the food label to make a food look not as bad, but putting an infant sized portion as the serving size.   This is also why it is important to read the labels on the foods you eat.  Don't be afraid to have a measuring cup at the dinner table with you.  Don't guess, be in control.


Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope that this has sparked you to be a little bit more conscious of the power your choices have.  Tomorrow, I will share a post about your choice to move.  But for today, did I miss any key questions or points with the food choice?  I would love to know what you think.

Lori-