Lulu201's Healthy Living Journal--Just trying my best to walk the walk! Come on by!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning Erin,

Stopping by to WISH you a wonderful day today! Take care!

 

[lulu201]

Good morning! How ya doin', Tracy? Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Labor Day!

OK, I've read Tracy's journal and I'm inspired to labor. Here are my work plans for today:

1. Get all of the laundry washed, folded, and PUT AWAY.
2. Clean out the car.
3. Sit in the sunshine and cross stitch. ( How'd that get in there?)
4. Straighten up around the house.
5. Catch up on some letter writing.
6. Go over lesson plans for the upcoming week.

Here are my plans for healthy living:

1. Devotions
Daily Thoughts:
A Time to Think:
There is time for everything. - Thomas Edison
To Act:
Be sensitive to the messages of hope that greet you.
To Pray:
Dear Lord, thank You for the opportunity to turn my failure into success.
2. Vitamins--next
3. Water--will drink lots today
4. Exercise--1.25 w/Mick and then a half hour on the treadie. I'd like to do some bike riding today, too.
5. Food--hey, I'm not stressing here. Breakfast was coffee w/milk, whole wheat mini-bagel w/pb. The rest of the day will be sugar free and reasonable. I'll jot down whatever I eat in my food log.
6. Scale--forgot about it this morning. Tomorrow for sure.

I thought about heading over to Kohls to check out their end of season clearance racks and my first reaction was--"oh, I shouldn't buy anything until I get my weight down." Boy, is that a thought I'm trying to banish. I am what I am! Right now I'm a size 14, an average American woman. I embrace that! No more feeling down about not being a size 10! Instead of even thinking more about shopping, I'm going to get Mickey and take my walk in the park--I don't have $ to shop anyway--I'm saving my money for WDW!
24 days 'til we go!

Time to on through the day--
Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

We sound like we're in a similar place with our approach to food. I looked for the other two books we spoke about but they are no longer in print. I was going to ask if I could borrow your copies, but you've already written that you'll mail them to me. You are such a sweetie!

Life IS good, especially with a WISH sis like you in it!

Now I'm off to start MY laundry!

 

[Cruise04]

You know sometimes we eat things just because others are eating them. Or because they are just there. But you actually did very well it sounds like with the brownies and other food. Loading up on the veggies was a great thing to do. And maybe taking that break from counting points is a good thing - but if you feel like it's not working and you are overeating, get right back to counting the points. Eventually you are going to want to be able to try and do it without counting - nows a good time to give it a whirl, why not!!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[lillygator]

Hope you had a great weekend!! Only 24 days til your trip? Wow - almost here!!

 

[lulu201]

Hey, Doreen. Hey, Chris. Thanks for stopping by!

Yesterday was a good healthy living day! I avoided sugar and binge eating, took my vitamins, drank lots of water, and exercised. Like Doreen said in her journal, I feel "lighter" without keeping track of those dang points. I KNOW what an appropriate portion size is (heck, I've been dieting since I was 17!), and I know what foods are healthy and which aren't, so I figure if I can just make the right decisions throughout the day, I'm moving in the right direction!

Like Doreen, I've read "Potatoes, Not Prozac." I'm trying to incorporate healthy suggestions from the book into my life. I'm trying to eat only three meals a day (of balanced "good" carb and protein) with a before bed-time complex carb snack. Exercise is in there, as well as the whole "no sugar" and (soon to be) "no caffeine" thing.

At this point, I really feel like I'm striving for a healthy, balanced lifestyle and not the number on the scale. I know that I feel better when it's lower, so that's all my goal is right now. I figure I don't have to really stress about what that number should be--I know my BMI, all the recommended weights for all the different age groups , and I figure my body will just kinda "even out" when I'm where I should be.

I think what I'm really learning is how to nurture myself: how to say "no" to demands or requests that aren't realistic, how to push myself into healthy decisions even if I "don't wanna" do it. . .how to look after me. What I'm finding is that the more I look after me, the more energy I have to look after others!

The next 10 days will be a challenge. My work schedule is going to consistently build. I'll be back to working Friday and Saturdays this week. DD's after school schedule is picking up. There are parent meetings late at night, candy sales. Lots of changes and lots of demands. The days are long. I've got to recognize this and seek to care for myself and the others who are sharing this crazy life with me! And while Doreen's on the "upswing," I'm on the down. I'm going to have to be vigilant in watching what I eat and maintaining my exercise routine. At the same time, I'm hoping to be forgiving of myself if I mess up, and to learn from that mistake, should it happen.

So what do I say? "Bring it!" as Beth would say. Phil. 4:13!

Here's the plan for today:

1. Devotions
God's promises outlast our troubles. (from the Upperroom devotional) Boy, I know this one is true from firsthand experience!
2. Vitamins
3. Water--am enjoying a delicious glass right now.
4. Exercise--had a wonderful 1.25 stroll with Mick, and a fun 35 minute bike ride. Back on the treadie tomorrow.
5. Food--Breakfast was early (mini wheat bagel w/pb, cup of milk, small serving of fresh fruit salad), lunch will be around 11-11:30--some kind of sandwich on rye bread and veggie sticks. Dinner will be at Taco Bell. I think late night complex carb snack will be an apple.
6. Scale--182.

Well that's my lengthy story for today.

to all,
Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

Whatever you're doing seems to be agreeing with you! You sound sunny and focused, ready to take on whatever challenges may arise. The scale also seems to be happy with what you're doing - always nice!!

Your bike ride sounds like fun! I haven't been on a bike in YEARS!!

The plan for today sounds perfect! You've got God on your side, a loving and supportive family, WISH friends to cheer you on, beautiful sunny weather to brighten your day. Life is good!

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Erin! Your plan sounds awesome! How freeing it must be to have made some decisions and a plan that doesn't require your attention every single minute I know this is the time of year when so many of us are overcome with commitments and challenges -- it sounds like you are so prepared for all of it. How great that you got in a walk and a bike ride all in one day! You GO! Just think about how much better you will be feeling by the time you stroll the World Showcase! With that in mind, I bet you can get through any challenge!

Keep up the great work!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Erin!

Hope you had a wonderful day today!

 

[lulu201]

Hey, everybody! Thanks for stopping by!

Here's the plan for today:

1. Devotions
Daily Thoughts:
A Time to Think:
God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails. --Saint Augustine
To Act:
Have a desire to improve things.
To Pray:
Lord, peace is knowing that Your comfort is just a prayer away.
2. Vitamins
3. Water--am working on it.
4. Exercise--took Mickey for our 1.25 miler in the . I'll get on the treadie and walk my half hour before noon.
5. Stuck to the plan yesterday. Had lots of salty stuff for dinner, though. I've got to go write it all down in my little logbook.
6. Scale--183.

Intentionally balancing out protein and carbs during the day has helped my energy level, I think. I don't seem to be having the "crash" I often feel in the afternoon. Reducing caffeine could be a part of that, too. I haven't had my afternoon "pick me up" cup of coffee for awhile.

I have to get this laundry put away--when did I do it? Monday????

I'm looking Upward and moving forward,
Erin

 

[toystoryduo]

I have to get this laundry put away--when did I do it? Monday????

Erin,

You have me this morning! I completely understand where you are coming from! Just last week, I washed clothes, folded them, and put them all away..... the same day! For me, that doesn't happen often. Usually, laundry is a 3-4 day process and sometimes it's a process where DH is looking through laundry baskets instead of dresser drawers for clean clothes.

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

[lillygator]

What is it about afternoons? I get that around 3pm....maybe I will have to try your suggestion.
Hope you have a great day!

 

[lulu201]

Hey, everyone! Thanks for stopping by.

THE LAUNDRY IS DONE! I told DH today that I'm almost 44 years old and my greatest ambition in life is to do the laundry and put it away on the same day. Ahhhh, I guess I can dream, can't it?

All right, truth time here. I'm not going to get on the treadie today. I've exercised every day since last Thursday, and I think my body's just asking for a rest today. So, I'm going to grab a book and curl up in my chair for a little while before I go to work. I'm bagging the exercise plan for today without a flicker of guilt.

Breakfast was shredded wheat w/strawberries, coffee w/milk. Lunch was a chicken strip salad. Dinner will be 1/2 a pb sandwich on wheat bread, an apple and a cheesestick (these will be eaten gradually between students today, 3-8 p.m.). After dinner snack, when I get home, will be a baked potato! Seriously! I don't know, but for some reason that makes me laugh!

That's all for now--
E.

 

[keenercam]

Erin -- Enjoy your day off from exercise! BTW, you have me craving shredded wheat with strawberries! That is one breakfast option I have not considered in a while, and it sounds YUMMY!

 

[DoeWDW]

You sound strong and centered and if you've heard your body calling for some rest, then you should definitely honor that! Bravo!

Just knowing that a couple books are winging their way toward my house has boosted my spirits! Thank you for generously loaning them to me.

You're doing a great job!! Walk on, dear Erin!

 

[Strings]

Hi Erin,

I hope you enjoyd your reading time. You absolutely did the right thing in listening to your body. Rest is important. (Yes, I do realize I rarely take my own advice.) Your shredded wheat sounds yummy. I may have to pick up a box.

Take care,
Beth

 

[lulu201]

Good morning! It's ANOTHER beautiful day in Pennsylvania.

The plan for today is like this:

1. Devotions
2. Vitamins
3. Water--have had about 14 oz. so far
4. Exercise--walked Mickey in the morning and did 1/2 an hour on the treadie, sweating up a storm.
5. Food--mini whole wheat bagel w/pb, a banana, and coffee w/milk. I'm meeting a friend for coffee this a.m.--mine will be decaf w/skim. Lunch will be a McDonald's salad or, if I have time to make it before I go, a tuna sandwich. Dinner will be like yesterday--1/2 a sandwich, a cheesestick, and some fruit squeezed between students. Dessert will be a baked potato. Sorry, I can't help it.
6. Scale--182

I'm at day #21 on the roller coaster ride called my TOM cycle. I'm beginning to feel a little tired and headachey, but it's nothing that I can't accept and through. My plan gives me a sense of empowerment--not of control, that's for sure --but rather of knowledge that I'm doing the best that I can for myself and that I've just got to ride the little wave.

Three weeks until we're in WDW, people! Can I stand it??? I'm just gonna step off that plane at MCO and surrender myself to the Disney magic!

to all,
Erin

 

[toystoryduo]

Three weeks until WDW?!?!?! Please, take me with you! I bet you are so excited!!! I know that I am really looking forward to our trip in December and I know that it's right around the corner, but it still seems so far away.

I hope you have a great day today! Enjoy your "dessert".

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Erin, I will be at WDW SEpt 26-29!!!! Can't wait.

 

[Strings]

Hi Erin,

How was coffee with your friend. I hope you had a good chat. 3 weeks until WDW!?! You will have such a great time. Can I confess that I am jealous?

Friday is on it's way,
Take care,
Beth