A Baby Crib

Once in a while, I try to remind myself of how far I have actually come. Today, I decided to Google my weight loss once again. 80.8 pounds. What did I come up with? A Simplicity Baby Crib! It puts things into perspective when you can actually see something that weighs as much as you have lost.

Last night, at one of the many WW meetings I've been working, a member lost .6 pounds. She was ecstatic saying that .6 pounds is over 2 sticks of butter. The next member to weigh in lost the same amount and was totally bummed. Why are we so hard on ourselves when in fact we have had success? I too, would have been the second member being bummed instead of rejoicing over the small loss that adds up sooner or later to a BABY CRIB!

Do you rejoice over the small victories or only have your eyes on the overall goal?

Squats vs. Push-ups

While watching the Biggest Loser last night, they had a quiz about health from Prevention Magazine. One of the questions was: which exercise will help you most in the long run...squats or push-ups?

I have to say that I was mildly surprised by the answer, but after I thought about it for a while, it makes total sense. Squats work on your lower body creating better balance and a stronger stance lessing the chance for falls later in life which result in broken hips. I am happy to report that I will never do another push-up in my life!! From now it's only squats for me.

Well now that's probably not the best answer either. I'm thinking that both exercises are very important to an exercise routine even though I would dread both.

Last week, I started working out with weights. My boys are enjoying watching me grunt and moan while lifting measly amounts with dumbbells. I'll keep working on it.

...and That's Why I Don't Use Coupons!!

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping with the boys. This is a weekly chore that I actually enjoy as my 3 yr. old is a great help and my 8 month old usually sleeps right through it. Before going shopping, I decided to clip a few coupons since I've seen so my news reports about how much you can save by clipping them. I did my best to only take the ones for things that we normally use, but I had three coupons for FREE items. Not sure about you, but when I hear the word FREE, I'm right there!! As a WW employee, I receive occasional coupons for items to try. Yesterday, I had a free coupon for Weight Watcher baked goods, Kettle Potato Chips, and Jolly Time popcorn. Of course, I took those coupons and tried to use them. Unfortunately, the popcorn was no where to be found, but believe me, I found the WW muffins and potato chips...and today they are out of the house!! The reason: I ATE THEM!!

Three muffins and a bag of potato chips!!

Although I saved over $50 on my grocery bill, I ate food that I have avoided just because I don't care for them all that much. I may continue to clip the coupons for items I regularly use, but I have a feeling there is a reason I have been avoiding those free coupons in the past.

Have a great Fat Tuesday! I'll eat a Paczki for ya ;)

I Just Wasn't Hungry

Last night, I worked two WW meetings and got home about 8:15. When working these meetings in the past, I've always come home and eaten the leftovers from whatever I made before leaving. Last night, I cooked a pizza before leaving and didn't expect any to be left when I got home. I was right. They are great pizzas and I would know since I helped make over 2500 last Saturday!

When I got home, I had a cup of yogurt and some popcorn. That was my supper. I ended up with lots of points left for the day (12 points under). I have never left points on my plate before. I always feel that if I get the points, I gotta eat the points. I did get all my good healthy guidelines in as I feasted on veggies and fruit for breakfast and lunch and added some to my yogurt in the evening. Added oil to the popcorn and that's usually the other tough one for me to get in.

WW is stressing in their journals this year to track your hunger. This has gotten me to realize on the normal days that I usually eat out of habit. If it's about noon, I eat lunch. If it's about 3:00, I have a snack. If it's about 5:00, it's suppertime. I am starting to realize that I eat out of habit, not hunger.

Today, I will once again try to focus on my hunger and not worry about the points so much. But I still hate to leave points on my plate!

A Point of Reference

Inspired once again from "Ron" on the Biggest Loser who was struggling this week over who to vote out. He stated that Shannon had "No point of reference" meaning she never knew what it was like to be thin. Is it necessary to have something to look back at as a point of reference? Many of us have struggled with our weight our whole entire life. I was a chunky kid who thinned out somewhat in high school after becoming more active. This week, I pulled out my extensive scrapbook from that time. It's a wonder my house looks the way it does since I have every Valentine, birthday card, graduation card, along with pictures from each grade, clippings from newspapers, programs, ticket stubs, and so much more.

While looking through my treasures, I found my old football programs from high school. I was a monster in comparison to others on my team. I weighed in at 165 while most of the rest of the team was in the 140's. I'm wondering what I would look like if I was 165 today?

I'm glad that I have something to compare myself to, but is it really realistic? I am now almost 20 years older and my body has definitely taken on a different look...I used to have a lot of hair!! It's amazing to me that people can change so fast.

This past weekend, I was working a WW meeting and introduced myself to one of the lifetime members that I knew 10 years ago at the first nursing home that I worked at as a MT. Her father had been a longtime resident and she visited daily during mealtimes to get him to eat. I knew she didn't recognize me and I wanted to let her know that her father made a mark in my life. It was great to reconnect with this family member as I loved having her father teach me Polish, dirty jokes, and sheepshead. I remember all the jokes he taught me and already knew how to play sheepshead, but his presence at the sheepshead table made me play differently; he was a seasoned pro.

The years fly by and even though I may have changed physically, I really believe that I am still the same person I was when I was biggest guy on the football team. I'm still the same person I was when I learned how to count to ten in Polish. I'm still the same person that I was before I lost 80 plus pounds and no picture will change that. I may feel stronger and have more energy, but I'm still that darn sensitive guy with listening ear who cares about everyone else more than himself.

Do You Really Need a Gym?

Well, I'm still trying to stay healthy and it's been difficult to do so this week as the little one has got what my girls had last week. An 8 month old is no fun to have around when he's got a fever and needs to be cuddled all day. So, that's what I've been doing, cuddling...

Last night on the Biggest Loser, two teams had access to the gym while the rest of the teams had to workout on their own. They still had the benefit of the trainers though. I started thinking if it was really necessary to have a gym? At the end of the show, one of the teams that was able to use the gym was under the yellow line. It would seem to me that it doesn't matter what kind of exercise you get, as long as you get exercise. In fact, many of the contestants were complaining more this week about being sore and sweating than when they work out in the gym.

I haven't been in a gym for over 15 years! Do I plan on going back to the gym? I'm not sure yet. I'm still satisfied with my maintenance plan, but someday soon have thought about adding weight training. One thing that I am worried about is gaining weight if I do so. I am always close to my goal weight each month and if I gain weight by gaining muscle that would put me over the top.

What would a gym do for me? I would love to have a trainer pushing me, but right now I just don't have the motivation to work out more than I already do. May change in the future, only time will tell.

Stay healthy!!

The Best Medicine

Yesterday, was a long day listening to my two girls grumble about not being able to go to school. When I was a kid, I would have longed for the day I could stay home from school and watch movies on a big screen TV all day. But alas, yesterday was the day for the Valentine's Day parties. Today, there was no school scheduled since we had parent/student/teacher conferences last night. Unfortunately, ours turned into a one parent/one teacher conference.

I knew the only reason the girls were looking forward to school was because of all the treats they were expecting to receive. Fortunately, we have the best neighbor in the world. She called us early yesterday and asked if we needed anything. Our 4 yr. old had taken a ride with her the day before and planned on going again yesterday, till we actually took her temperature and she was well over 100. So...the day of complaining began, not before our neighbor brought us an unopened package of Children's Tylenol.

Little did we know that our neighbor was not done with her acts of kindness. She stopped in both classrooms after school and brought both our girls the best medicine of the day. Valentines!! My girls suddenly went from sickbed, to celebrating.

Not the best day in my books, but I tracked everything.

Trying to Stay Healthy

What's the key to staying healthy while everyone around you is sick? Today, the gang's all home as my 7 yr. old is on her second day with a fever above 100, and now it's the 4 yr. olds turn as well. We'll be calling the doc when he opens, but I've heard this is a strain of the flu that's hitting right now.

What is the key to staying healthy? I can't tell you the last time that I have been "sick!" Exercise and eating mostly healthy foods have given me the needed energy to remain on track, but also healthy. My kids definitely eat would I eat and just happened to be around people that infected them. I am trying my hardest to stay strong; taking my vitamins, exercising and really trying to stay away from the kids. That last one hasn't been hard since they feel rotten and are resting.

What do you think the key is? Should I be doing something more?

Check my guest post out at Mizfit. Just a few thoughts about music ;)

"Can I Have Another Candy Bar?"

This morning, my 3 yr. old was set on having another candybar for breakfast. Now, before you yell at me for giving him a candy bar in the first place, he never had one!! I thought, "another candy bar, where'd you find the first one and why didn't you share with me!!"

After having him lead me to the kitchen, he started pointing at a high cabinet. Well, we are keeping the candy bars up high, but not in the cabinet he was pointing at. Seems that he was watching me make his sisters lunch and saw me put a granola bar into the lunch box. Without me watching, he had taken the granola bar out of the lunch and snuck into the living room corner (where he always sneaks to eat things without asking), left the wrapper and came back to the kitchen to ask for another.

Seeing that my little guy is no more than 25 pounds soaking wet and my 8 month old already out-weighs him, I gladly would have given him a "real" candy bar.

It is amazing to me how his little mind works. He knew it was something good and knew that it was the shape of a candy bar and just called it one. Next time I've in the mood for something sweet, I will try to take the advise of my 3 yr. old and head for the "cereal" cabinet with the granola bars instead of the "snack" cabinet with the candy bars...it'd save me over 200 calories and loads of fat!

A Spring-like Day

Today, I took the boys to the zoo for the first time since probably October. It was packed. The temperatures today are near 60 and the stroller patrol was in full force. We enjoyed our walk around the zoo and returned home in time for lunch. Tonight, we'll be grilling out. Haven't had a brat since summer and it's about time!

Our snow is almost gone, just in time for another round of winter tomorrow. It was definitely nice to get the double-stroller out for a spin and we are longing for the days we can use it daily.

It's amazing how the weekdays go so much smoother eating-wise compared to the weekends. I have really no explanation other than having family gatherings on the weekends and more food in eyesight. My exercise usually doesn't change, in fact, I usually do more cardio on the weekend just because my wife is around to watch the kids in the morning. One day of tracking down and I stayed honest to myself. Hoping today goes just as well.

Hello, My Name is TB and I'm a Mindless Eater

This weekend, "Finding Nemo" was on the Disney channel at bedtime and of course the girls HAD to watch it even though we have it on DVD and can watch it anytime we want. We watched till the first two commercial breaks and then went to bed. I really do like the movie and one of my favorite parts is the "Shark Intervention." Bruce and his buddies are sharks that are trying not to eat mindlessly, ie. eating little fish just for fun. During the weekly shark meeting, one of the little fish gets a bloody fin and Bruce smells the blood.

It seems to me that I've been smelling a lot of blood lately. Another birthday party this past weekend, my birthday last week, candybars glalour in the house and just an overall feeling of "I don't care!"

It's difficult to stay focused all the time and it's difficult to say no all the time, but this week I will use my 3 month journal as I know I do so much better when I use it. I looked at it this morning and noticed that I haven't writen anything down since Thursday. That's four days of eating wrecklessly. I know I try to make the better choices, but when I'm not writting things down, I also know that I tend to eat too many points.

So here's to a week of tracking and not eating just because I smell the blood.

We All Have a Story

Last night, at our WW meeting we had two best friends join. These two members have tried several weight loss plans in the past, but have never been very successful. On a recent trip to the doctor, Weight Watchers was recommended. The two of them together have a large amount of weight to lose as both of them weighed in over 350 each. The leader did a great job listening to their concerns and guiding them through WW program after all the other members had left. Tears were shed, and doubts were spoken, but they are committed to doing something for themselves.

How do you respond to someone who asks, "How can I lose over 100 pounds?" The easy response: One pound at a time. The more important response is to listen to their story. Don't dismiss anyone's struggles as being less important than your own. I can tell them what I focused on; I never looked at the overall numbers, I always focused on the next 5 pounds, or my next 10%, or milestones like 25, 50, and 75. There are plenty of little successes along the way that will definitely add up to a major success.

I look forward to seeing these two best friends again and watching their story be told.

The Number on the Scale

Last night on the Biggest Loser, the number on the scale was discussed a few times. One contestant had only lost 2 pounds at home during her 30 days and she made the excuse that she felt stronger and lost inches. The trainers were not buying that excuse. The numbers don't lie, they said. Later in the show when another contestant lost 0 for the week, they again stated: the numbers don't lie. This contestants excuse was working out harder and with more intensity.

During the losing mode, the numbers definitely are important. You work hard, you eat right, you lose weight. Don't exercise, eat mindlessly, eat don't lose weight!

Now, that I'm into the maintaining mode, the numbers are still somewhat important, but it is all the extra intangibles such as gaining muscle, losing inches, etc. that need to enter the equation.

The numbers don't lie...another reason I dug that scale out and will continue to monitor myself daily.

I Could Be President!!

I really got nothing today. Feeling too old to think ;)
Today, is the last age milestone I can think of before retirement, which will probably be 80 by the time I get there. I am officially old enough to become president...too bad we just held an election.

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Do you ever feel like you're eating the same food everyday? How do you get yourself out of the "boredom" phase?

I have to be honest, while I was losing my weight, I never felt bored. I always made the better choices, not always the best, but I never felt deprived and I was always eating something different. It is now that I am at home everyday that I am starting to feel I eat the same thing everyday.

This is not particularly a bad thing because I tend to eat lots of fruits and veggies, but it's always the same ones over and over again. I have eaten the same breakfast for well over a year, and have eaten the same snacks too.

I still don't feel bored, but have just observed my "Groundhog" habits lately. Probably won't change my ways, but I will become more aware of more eating habits and try to put a little variety in place so I don't become bored.

And I'll glad everyday is not Groundhog Day or I would never be able to celebrate my birthday!!