Help Make Me Accountable!!!! Minmate's "BODY FOR LIFE" WISH Journal... Beg. 8/15/04

[minmate]

Well, here I am, on what could be considered Day 1 of the rest of my life! A few years ago I lost a lot of weight only to become pregnant with my 4th child and gain it all back. That child is now 2 and I have barely budged back down the scale. I've half-heartedly continued to exercise but I failed at the good eating part. Also, this whole past year, I was working 25 hours a week. Well, I finally convinced my dh that I needed to quit the job b/c, while there were many positives to it, it was ultimately tearing at the fabric of our family and my own personal goals (2 of which were to be healthy and have plenty of time to spend with our small children) -- so I feel the pressure is on here to step up to the plate. I have 4 kids, ages 5, 4, 3 and 2 (girls, except the 3 yo who is a very active boy!)...

So anyway, since the school year is only 2 weeks away, I am pretty much going to start now with the schedule I plan to have then.

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri:
wake up
hydrotherapy(where you drink 32 oz. of ice cold water first thing in the a.m. to rev up your metabolism) and head directly to GYM.

20 mins treadmill cardio (interval training to boost metabolism)
30-45 mins strength training & ab work (following Bill Phillip's Body for Life method)

Weds
30-45 mins cardio interval training
No strength training

Saturday
15-20 mins elevated level of activity (likely to be w/kids)

Sunday
REST

As for an eating plan, I really like Body For Life's philosophy of using the size of your fist to dole out portions and to balance six meals a day with a high-protein food, a carb food and plenty of vegetables. Basically, BFL labels a majority of foods as either a good source of protein or carbs and you pick and choose from the lists to make your meals... getting creative from there.

I think I may cut out carbs altogether though after 3 p.m. for now... as much as possible, since most carbs I eat by then are likely not to be burned off as the day draws to an end.


Once I make it through a whole month without cheating at all, I will reward myself with a FREE DAY, where I can eat whatever I want on that day...

So, anyway, wish me luck and help to keep me accountable to this!

 

[minmate]

Today's Food:
(didn't wake up until 10 a.m. today. Dh's turn to get up w/kids).
10:15 Hydrotherapy (32 oz. cold water)
12:00 Starkist Tuna to go --- Tuna w/lo fat mayo on six crackers.
5:15 Uno's Restaurant -- Salad w/Bleu cheese dressing, Baked Halibut w/ritz cracker crumb sprinkling. Mashed potatoes w/small amount of sour cream and cheese.

Total Water Intake (8oz = 1 glass): 9

I think I did okay on the water intake but my food intake could have been better. DD5 wanted to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken and I told her I couldn't go there b/c I don't eat foods like that anymore. She asked me what I like to eat now... I said, salads, chicken stuff like that. And she said, Uno's has that stuff. Then when the waitress came to take her order and I was delaying, deciding on what to get, dd piped in say, "She's having a hard time deciding because she's on a diet!" Yikes! I never told her I was on a diet! I told her that after the waitress left and told her that I just want to eat healthy foods because that's what makes me feel better. Later, I overheard her telling my dd4 that, "mommy's trying to get rid of eating sugars in her life!" My mom is diabetic and I'm sure that discussions of that is where she got that from... but how interesting!

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
2 10-minute walks w/kids on bike ride. (Pushed 2yo on one of those bikes with a handle that only comes up to just above my knees... actually kind of a good glute workout that way!)
TOTAL: 20 minutes moderate walking, broken up.

Also, took dd5 school clothes shopping -- not that it's really "exercise" but it sure seemed like a lot of effort to pick out all the clothes and help her try them on (we went to 3 different stores around town) and then come home and help her do a "fashion show" for the rest of the family -- which spurred a renewed desire in dd4, ds3, and dd2 to also participate in a fashion show with their own new school clothes. Well, actually dd2's clothes were her birthday clothes as she just had a b-day last week. So, does this count? lol.... I know I'm stretching it here!

Tomorrow, I plan to do:
30 mins on the treadmill and work on upper body strength training and abs.
Take kids for bike ride.

8 a.m: 32 oz. water
9-11 Gym and shower
11:30 Tuna w/crackers
2:30 PBJ sandwich on light bread
4:30 Atkins shake
4:30-5 bike ride with kids
6:30 Steak marinated w/Lawry's and vegetable
8:30 10 pieces of shrimp, carrots & celery

Tot water intake: 10 glasses (80 oz.)

Let's see if I can accomplish this! I know it seems obnoxious, but if I plan it out, I think I'm much better at sticking to it... at least in the beginning.

 

[DisneyEnthusiastic]

Way to go Minmate! I'm glad you made it over to the journals! It looks like you have a great plan and goals! You can do this!

Gail

 

[KLH 1973]

Welcome to wish your gonna love it. Sounds like you have a great plan of attack. Keep up the great work.

Kristin

 

[minmate]

Thanks! I just got back from the gym. Had a bit of a slow start today and didn't get there til 10 -- had to change my exercise plan a bit...

treadmills were all full so I did 25 minutes on the elliptical (was trying for 30 mins but I had to go to the bathroom too bad and couldn't hold out any longer!)

Also did some abs -- could've pushed it harder though.

and about 30 minutes of upper body strength training: chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders and 10 girlie girl push-ups (could've done more but I guess I just quit)




Haven't eaten anything yet today as I don't eat before I work out -- according to Body For Life, you shouldn't -- but I have drank 56 oz. of water (5 glasses).

Let's hope I do good with the nutrition part as it seems I do well with either exercise OR nutrition, but not always both.

 

[minmate]

Well, the buttered toast I made at dinner looked so good. I put that fat free butter spray on it for the kids... and made it thru without eating any! Then, while I was putting away dinner, the whip cream bottle in the fridge was calling out my name! I swear, when you try to stay away from something (like sugar/carbs) -- the cravings get so much stronger and more noticeable! Thank goodness there are no skittles or peanut m&m's in the house tonight! I may go to bed early just b/c I don't know how else to get through the night!

lunch -- I did eat the tuna fish w/crackers for lunch
snack -- missed eating at 2:30 so had the pbj sand at 4:30
dinner @ 6:30 steak tips w/bbq marinade on it (lo carb), salad w/cucumbers and lo-fat honey dijon dressing.

eve snack: may switch to lo-fat cottage cheese.

Didn't get the bike ride in -- it's drizzling/raining all day... but was somewhat active with 8 kids in the house all afternoon and playing games, doing housework.

 

[minmate]

Tomorrow's basic plan:

dd's playdate in a.m.
gym 2-4
20-30 mins cardio
lower body strength training
abs

8:30 b-fast: atkins shake
10:30 snack: plum, cottage cheese
12:30 lunch: 6" sub subway ham
5:00 snack: celery w/pb
6:30 dinner: ham sub/subway
8:30 snack: cukes & carrots

 

[minmate]

exercise today included:
30 minutes walk/jog combo on treadmill
30 minutes lower body weights
10 min abs

30+ mins of soccer playing, walking and bike riding w/kids

food:
atkins shake

ham+cheese wrap from subway
handful of mini pretzels

only ate about 700-750 calories today, but was very busy and don't want to eat now that it's so late.

will have to think about tomorrow's plan as I have very little food left in the house! Don't want to screw up now!

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Hi,
Just wanted to welcome you to WISH! I just joined about a month and a half ago, and I get alot of inspiration from looking through other people's journals. I've been away the past two weeks looking at colleges with my son and have not exercised or eaten very well, but rather than sit and feel depressed like I normally would, I just hop back on the WISH boards for a little while and I'm motivated to get back on track...I feel like all my cyber friends are rooting for me to succeed!!

I've definitely been where you are...I used to be a runner in my 20's and early 30's...I was in great shape and felt so healthy...then I let myself go for years! But I keep picking myself up, dusting myself off, and starting all over again! It's a lifelong journey, and I know there will be ups and downs, I won't always eat what I should, or exercise daily, but as long as the good days outnumber the bad days, I will make progress!! Also, some days will be more successful and some will only be a little successful. But every goal met counts!

I wish you the very best in your healthful journey!
Jean

 

[DoeWDW]

Minmate, welcome to the WISH Journal board!! Your planning seems to be helping you! I know that planning has been a key to staying on track for me.

I know it's tough when there's not much food in the house. Don't use it as an excuse though. You know what's healthy and what isn't. Just make the best choices you can with what's available.

Hope you have a great day!