Jennifer's Journal
Replies
-
@jcaldwell0331 Oh, I knew you were talking about things being crazy at your house, I was just trying to make a point that you may find you have to wait an additional month or two to see a doctor because they may already be booked which may not be a big deal depending on how much medicine you have left but was just something I wanted to mention because it's been my experience and wasn't something I had been expecting at the time.
hahaha that's funny. It's only slightly different here in that we usually manage to watch the ball drop and then we go to sleep but other than that, it's just a regular day. =D
Have you decided what your plan will be health and fitness wise for the new year?0 -
@WifiresGettingFit Exercise...not really a certain program or anything, but I’m looking into the DASH diet. So far from what I’ve read, it looks like I may actually be able to stick to it. Everyone in my family will benefit from a little less sodium in their diets. I’m excited to get started and hopefully start seeing my clothes getting loose. I’m so ready to get this weight off. How about you?1
-
The more I research into the DASH diet, the more I realize that its really just a common sense diet. lol More vegetables, more fruits, less sodium, and reduced sugary things. However, convincing my cravings of that is a whole other issue. So, this is my plan. I am going to start logging my food again and try to be very intentional about it. I've been drinking a little more water, but still not what I should be. So, more logging, more water, start incorporating more vegetables and fruits, and low sodium meals. Between that and staying under my daily calories, will cause me to lose weight. Now, the question is.... how fast will I falter when it gets hard and my cravings for salt and sugar go crazy? I'm hoping that I will be able to control those cravings when they arise. I'll be charging up my fitbit tonight and I'll start wearing it again tomorrow. I have to get this weight off. I have fallen in love with leggings and would look so much better in them if my thighs and waist were smaller. I cried a little last night just from being tired of looking so....bleh. I want to look in the mirror and see a beautiful woman... right now all I see is rolls....and not the delicious kind. I have lost weight before and know I can do it again but it will be much harder this time around. I was 10 years younger, hadn't had a baby, and had a lot less to lose than I do now. So, I guess as the saying goes "New Year, New Me". I'm hoping that will come true. A new me all around. My husband and I made it through a very hard trial earlier this year. I am hoping to make 2019, the year I wow both of us with my drive and determination. I can do this! I must stay strong through the hard times and cravings!
Now, as far as goals....
Goals for January:
Daily calories - 1800
Daily steps - 5000
Daily sodium - 2300 mg or less
Increased consumption of fruits and veggies
Reduced sweets and sugar
Do workout video at least 3x per week
Increased water
I'm going to measure myself tomorrow and I'm hoping that by the end of January, I will have lost at least half an inch. I will not be weighing myself at all. Its such a discourager for me...especially when I either don't lose weight or my weight fluctuates back up...even if I know its from water or hormones. I will be less focused on the scale and more focused on just being healthy.0 -
1 -
It doesn't matter how many times you falter as long as you get back up and keep going. You've got this!
0 -
Well, the first day of the year isn’t turning out quite as I planned. We had waffles for breakfast (requested by both my husband and daughter) and now we’re having pizza rolls for lunch. lol I did buy fruits and veggies yesterday so at least my snacking will be healthy. Nice thing is is that I have probably worked off my breakfast since we’ve been working outside still trying to get things unpacked.0
-
I’m going to have to restructure a new diet plan. There’s too much recipe searching and sodium counting that it makes it so monotonous and irritating. I have so much other stuff going on (ie keeping a house clean, keeping a little girl educated, laundry, etc..) that it makes it easy to jump off the wagon. Once I figure out exactly what my plan and goals are, I’ll add them to my journal.1
-
You could do a modified elimination diet! Or just stick to calorie counting. The calories in-calories out method does work. If you can work more fresh foods in, do it. If you can reduce the amount of sugar and salt you add to your meals, do it. But in the end you don't need a fancy diet to reach your goals! That's what MFP is all about.1
-
You said you wanted to do DASH, but maybe start small...like 3 meals a week or something until you start to get the hang of what is actually in that plan and how to cook for it??? I struggle with big changes, but if I can do small changes every week or so, then eventually I get somewhere.1
-
@megbeveridge93 @tcunbeliever Thanks ladies for your replies and ideas/suggestions! I love the support in this community! I’m leaning more toward just counting calories for now and trying to eat more veggies and fruit for snacks and with meals. I’ll probably do some low sodium meals once or twice a week, just depending on how much time I have to sit down and search recipes that sound delicious and that my whole family will eat. I haven’t sat down yet to formulate a plan because I’ve just been so busy trying to get things caught up on the house and still unpacking boxes.0
-
@jcaldwell0331 I think just counting calories is the way to go especially if you have a lot going on. I think you and I both get caught up in making a plan (and over-complicating things or at least I do) and waiting for the perfect/easier time to implement the plan and the thing is we don't need a plan, we just need to eat less and there isn't ever going to be an ideal time to start or stick to it because life is always going to find a way to get in the way so to speak. Let's change motivation (that doesn't last) to determination because it's something we want and let's make our plan to be making this year different, sound good? (no pressure, just support!) Besides, we aren't striving for perfection, we're striving for change, lasting change. We've (all) got this!1
-
Goals
Steps: 5K per day (I’ve been exceeding this but I’m going to continue to keep my steps low for now)
Diet: Counting calories and trying to stay around 1700 cal per day. Try to limit the Christmas chocolate. Haha
Logging: I forget to log so my goal is to log at least 2x a week and try to work up from there.
Exercise: My goal is to workout (cardio workout video) 3x a week.
Sleep: Try to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep at night. Last night I tossed and turned and read my book off and on trying to get myself to sleep. Ended up with 4.5 hours of sleep.
Water: Try to increase my water intake.
Today is officially day 1. I have done well so far with eating, exercising, and logging.0 -
Day 1 and you're doing great! Something that helps me sleep is having a wind down routine. Once I go up to my bedroom there's no phone or other devices. I fill out my planner (I have a planner/bullet journal thing going on) to process the day's thoughts and tomorrow's to-dos. Then I get ready for bed, maybe read for a bit with just a reading light, and go to sleep. It doesn't always work, but it definitely helps! And with the water thing, do you have a reusable bottle? My trick is to take it with me everywhere I go. When ever I'm bored or thirsty I drink some water. I end up filling it 3-5 times a day, which is 60-100oz of water. Good luck!0
-
Jennifer, Hi I'm Kerri! Your goals sound great. They are manageable goals and props to you for not trying to up something to begin with! Good luck and you got this 💪👊. I also journal too like Megan except I do it first thing in the morning and sometimes during the day and then definitely again at night. It helps me stay focused and positive. When I do it in the middle of the day it kinds gives me a little boost to get me through the rest of the day.1
-
@megbeveridge93 Thanks! Yeah, I read books on my kindle and have it set on the lowest light setting I can use. The problem I run into most of the time is that I find myself wide awake. Sometimes I have a lot on my mind and sometimes I’m just staring into the darkness listening to my husband sleep. lol I usually pretty good at leaving my phone alone once we turn the lights off. As far as the water goes..... I have numerous water bottles. Haha My issue with water is that I forget to drink altogether. I can go an entire day without drinking and not think anything of it. I’ve filled up water bottles and carried them around with me.... still finding myself wish the same amount of water several hours later. It takes a very conscientious effort for me to remember to drink anything. I’m trying to do better at remembering. I just get busy and next thing I know, the bottle of water I filled up, is still full.0
-
Wow, Jennifer I used to be the same way. I've never been one to drink much even as a kid I could go all day on like one 12oz drink and I can go without a drink for meals too. Maybe set a reminder or something on your phone to go off every hour or so to remind you to drink? I dunno I've tried it before and just ignored it haha but hey maybe it could work for you!1
-
@knorris84 Thanks! I used to set my goals based on pounds to lose each week and it just wasn’t working. The scale would determine my mood for that day and discouragement was always at the forefront of my mind. I tossed the scale (husband retrieved it but it still has no battery) and I won’t be weighing myself. I refuse to let the number on that scale to determine who I am. I was going to measure myself but can’t find my measuring tape. I’ll know I’m losing weight when my clothes start fitting differently. Anywho....I am not able to keep journals. I’ve tried and fail each time. I’ll start writing in it and then life gets busy and I forget. Several days or week will go by when I realize I haven’t picked up my journal. So, I just keep this one here. As far as water goes...I’ve tried setting alarms (I ignore them), carrying water bottles around (I forget about them), and then right at bedtime is when I realize that I’ve drank little to no water that day. I’ve learned that I have to be intentional about it. I was a little better at drinking more water when my daughter was in public school but now that I homeschool her, my mind is pulled in 100 different directions and I just forget. It’s definitely not a struggle that I am unfamiliar with.
0 -
Day 1 was a success!
Total steps: 7490
Cardio: 25 minutes
Calories: 1705 (I did have a deficit due to my activity calories)
Logging: I logged everything and completed my journal for today
Sleep: TBD
Water: 1 bottle... Still a work in progress.1 -
That sounds like a fantastic day! Great job! I too stuggle with the scale. I either lose and binge bc hey I lost or gain and binge or get depressed. All in all it's not a good thing for me to do everyday. I do try to weigh monthly for now to see how that goes. Hope today is another successful one for you!0
-
Congrats on day 1! Glad you at least got one bottle of water in
Good luck with the sleep, you're going to need it after cardio 0 -
@jcaldwell0331 Does your kindle have the blue-shade option? It gets rid of the blue light which may make it easier to fall asleep. What about making a point to drink water before and after your meals/snacks?0
-
Day 2 was a success in my opinion
Total steps: 5344
Cardio: None - - homeschooling took longer than usual today.
Calories: 1541
Logging: i did log, but most of it I logged right before I came over here. Lol
Sleep: Last night I got 5.5 hours of sleep
Water: 2 bottles today! Yay!0 -
@WifiresGettingFit my kindle doesn’t have the blue light at all which is nice. I also keep it on the lowest setting possible where the words are just visible enough to read. My biggest issue is that I get into bed and I’m not tired. Now about that stinkin water. Haha I have tried everything to try and remember. Right now my latest trick is adding lemon juice for flavoring. I got 2 bottles down today. I’m going to try for more tomorrow.1
-
@jcaldwell0331 Have you tried reading a physical book instead? It works better for me than my kindle. Other than that, I'm out of suggestions (for now). I hope tomorrow goes better for you.0
-
That sounds like a successful day! The water will come. Just keep trying to push it when you can and next thing you know you will be craving it...so I've heard 😉.0
-
Day 3 was great! When the husband is a way, the girls will play. haha
My husband went up to his dad's house yesterday after work and stayed the night there so he could get up real early and go buy some goats. Well, while he was at work, my daughter and I decided to go shopping and see a movie.
Total steps was 7990
Total calories was 1990 and that's not too bad considering we ate out for lunch and dinner. However, it helped that I only got to eat about a third of my dinner since we had to pack up and leave early. My daughter lost a tooth and its sometimes a trigger for her to pass out. She started to freak out cause she was getting dizzy so I asked the waitress to go ahead and bring us some boxes and the check. I'm just thankful I decided to watch the movie before dinner.
Water: 1 bottle....I should have had water with my meals, but I'm southern and its hard getting away from that sweet tea.
Sleep: 9 hours and 19 minutes of blessed sleep!!
I guess when you go through several nights of subpar sleep, sleep finally finds you.
Cardio: just the walking around the mall and other stores
All in all, I'd say it was a successful day.
0 -
It sounds like you and your daughter had a great time! Wow, passes out that must be super scary. I couldn't imagine. Great job on your steps and calories! I used to be the same way about some sweet tea. I live in Alabama so we're pretty darn southern.0
-
@knorris84 I'm originally from East Texas and we've recently moved to Northeastern Tennessee. The first time she passed out I freaked out, but its not as scary now. I can usually keep her from going down by suggestions made by the dr. When she was in public school, she passed out in Kindergarten and 1st grade...both from losing teeth. Its called vasovagal syncope. She gets it from her daddy so when she was passing out the first time (I was on the phone with him) he told me step by step what to do cause I was all ready to call 911.0
-
Wow! I'm so glad you have a husband that knew what to do. I would have called 911 and then had a panic attack myself!0
-
I did real well today.....until my husband asked me to make blackberry cobbler. So, I ended up way over on calories but did ok otherwise. Only got 1 bottle of water down but ended up with 5967 steps and got exercise today in the form of, running in circles with a rope around my husband before we tied the goats up. Lol Had to make the ropes long enough that they could graze but just short enough that they wouldn’t get caught on anything. Once we get one more strand of wire on our fences, we’ll be able to let them graze without being tied up. Our small farm is finally coming together. We have a cat, dog, 6 chickens and 2 goats.. so far. 0
