T.H.E (Trying Hard Everyday) Team! August 2011

Hey all.

I'm finally feeling like this cough is going. phew. Vicki..i have the same problem which is why i've barely left the house the last few weeks if it's to go somewhere indoors. My cough hasn't been as bad outdoors. Must be the humidity thing i never even thought about that. I don't think of my house as being dry but i guess it must be compared to outside.

The kids are on their school holidays right now so it's a bit challenging right now. They hate veg, pretty much all veg and the OH is very much similar. They are too young aswell to prepare there own foods and too young for me to chuck them out so i can do an exercise dvd either. Still only another 5 weeks to go *lol* We are going away the 19th to scotland for a few days. We will stay with vegitarians which you'd think would be healthy but as far as i can tell they only eat pizza and chips so i'm a bit concerned about that.

Just joined the forum and found this thread which looks great - I'd love to join THE!

I have actually posted a thread just a few minutes ago as I'm feeling like I'm not getting very far very fast. I'm hoping to drop from 142 to about 130lbs after putting on a lot of exam-related weight during my finals!

Vicky - I know what you mean, I always set goals for myself and they usually don't happen. It just makes me feel like giving up. So I've decided that instead of setting weight loss, or distance or strength goals, I'm setting timed goals. Like trying 3 new healthy recepies a week, or exerciseing (doesn't have to be intense) for at least thirty minutes everyday. I guess it is more like using goals to set up healthy habits. If I see that I can make time for the things I want to do, even while I'm working and my un scheduled time is more limited, then when I go back to school and have more time availability, it will be even easier to keep up with workouts and maybe step up their intensity. Plus its a pretty easy goal for me right now as I am house sitting and have to take her dog out twice a day. I'm finding I really love it and I can't wait to get back home and continue doing the same with my dogs.

Cyndi - I'm so sorry about your son. I can't imagine how awfult and stresful that must be for you. I hope that settling back into healthy habits will make you feel better, more positive.

hels_bells - finals week is brutal for weight gain, I totally feel you there. It also never helps me that exams are then usually followed by vacations, so it's like a month of exam and final paper stress and then a few weeks of "I deserve a break!" haha What are you studying? Are you working as well?

Welcome to the thread Laura, that's a great loss for a month.

Emma...right now everything is completely unscheduled. I am seriously trying to make sure i do something several days a week. I'll be at uni full time in september and the kids will be back at school so hoepfully then i can get a routine going. I just hope that my timetable isn't too crazy.

Cyndi...that must have been tough for you. I hope that your getting back on track will help you feel a bit better

Hi all!! Thanks for your welcome messages etc!!

My finals ended in July, so I've been having that " I deserve a break" feeling for about a month! It was a nightmare as I do comfort eat through the stress of it all and also I was often too tired to cook meals so hubby and I would eat far too many takeaways etc anyway that was the past this us the present!!

This week is going ok so far, tuesday was a gold star day as I walked the dog for 2 hours, gardened for at least two hours and rode my horse for a good two hours, plus was very good with my food! But yesterday was not so good ascearl start for a business trip to Scotland and we were on the road most of the day so no exercise and minimal opportunity for healthy eating also must food not labelled etc so diff to get it right in diary!

Oh well, going to try v hard today and also hopefully that plus Tuesday's efforts will cancel out Wednesday's effects!!

Vicky and Emma.. I know what you mean about goals i am always too scared to set them in case i fail and it demotivates me, but i learned from my studying to break things down into really small and easily achievable goals so that you simply cannot fail, then when you do complete them it gives you a big boost and helps you set a slightly more challenging goal for the next milestone!! If they arent realustic then i guess they won't work!!

So now I have gone and talked myself into setting some goals!!! The weeks goal us 2x2hiur dog walks as ve already do e one of them but hadn't planned to do two!!

Hope you all have really really positive days today!! Keep up the good work everyone!!

Cyndi - garden fresh zucchini? I'm so jealous! Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables. I think I've had it with dinner everyday this week! I planted some, but mine didn't really take this year, pity. Anyways, meal planning is awesome too. I've been trying to do it with my Mum all summer but it hasn't really worked out. I find it's just so much easier to control how I eat, when I know what I'm eating. I also LOVE cooking, so meal planning is a fun way to get excited about food. So good on ya! What kinds of meals did you plan? And do you plan all three meals? Or just dinner?

Hi Laura! Welcome to T.H.E. We hope you check back often and let us know about your struggles and successes!

hels_bells - I've been house sitting and I had to walk their dog twice a day, and I've found I really love it. I'm going to try and keep it up when I get back to my house and my own dogs. What kind of dog do you have?

Well things have acutally been okay for me. I've been eating alot more than usual and while I've been house sitting I've also developped a wicked ice cream habit (so not good) but I've also been walking for like an hour everday and swimming everyday too (the house has a pool, what up!). So I think I'm sort of breaking even. I doubt I'll lose much weight, but I'm also going away on vacation for a week starting saturday, so its probably best if I don't lose like 5 pounds and then just gain it back the next week. That is no good for my self esteem. It just sort of kills me.
Anyways, I'll enjoy my week, try not to get too out of hand and then buckle down alittle once I get back. My sister and I have been talking about signing up for a 5K. We both sort of start running programs and then lose our motivation. So I'm sort of getting excited about that. I realized a little while ago that I put so much focus on losing weight when I try to lose weight that I think I don't work enough on setting habits that will actually help me lose weight. I was so active when I was little (I danced 15-20 hours a week) that food and binge eating really was my program. But now that I don't dance, I feel like if I focus really hard on being as active as possible, then I can relax alittle bit on the obsessive calorie counting. I think maybe I'll be more successful that way. And more importantly, I'll be happier

I'm thinking of giving up my friday Zumba class. I'll do next friday then the center is closed for a month anyway so i'll get to see if i really miss it. Ever since i've started my knee has been a bit dodgy but it's a great calorie burn so i've kept up with it and sometimes it's fun The last few weeks though we are doing less and less, she starts late and then has to stop to faff with this and that we are lucky if we do 50 minutes of and hour class. I know it seems petty but i pay for 60 minutes, i want 60 minutes, bearing in mind after each number we all stop for a quick swig of water i'm including them little swig breaks int he 50 minutes. The week before last she seemed to forget all her routines and spent at least 10 minutes standing there scratching her head *lol* She also seems to be obbsessed with the twisty moves and last night pretty much every number had a twisty bit in and my knee is sore this morning.

It is the only class at the community center so if i stop it then i'm back to just dvd's in the living room.

Goal for the rest of the month to do intentional exercise at least 4 days a week every week for the rest of the month. Even with my going away i should still manage that.

2011 has NOT been a good year for me!!!
My grandmother (92) passed away on February 4th
I had surgery on June 24th & am unable to exercise the way I want to
My Father In Law passed away 30 minutes after I got home from my surgery on the 24th of June/
My other grandmother (94) passed away on July 21st. Her funeral was a week later & I rolled up (in my wheel chair) to the podium to reflect on my memories of her & cried the entire time.
A few days after my grandmother's funeral, I lost my great-uncle (80's) to a heart attack while he was exercising on his treadmill.
I hope to make the remainder of 2011 a better one, as soon as I am back on my feet again. :grumble: