CrAzY Working Mom: dieting

Showing posts with label dieting. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

One Week In - My Adventures With Fitbit

Watching the sunrise on a morning walk. Breathtaking!

I posted last week about being discontent in my own skin. I decided to make some changes. One of the major changes included a minor purchase. I began with a Fitbit Charge HR. If you are unfamiliar with the Fitbit and it's benefits, I'll give you a quick run down. This is how Fitbit is described via their website: "When it comes to reaching your fitness goals, steps are just the beginning. Fitbit tracks every part of your day—including activity, exercise, food, weight and sleep—to help you find your fit, stay motivated, and see how small steps make a big impact. Track activity, exercise, food, weight, sleep and more, for real-time information about your day and night. Sync stats wirelessly and automatically from your Fitbit device to your phone or computer" Everything is literally at the touch of your fingers. I can track caloric intake (and it keeps up with how many I'm burning according to my heart rate and steps). I can put in how much water I'm drinking. Oh, and my favorite part is that my Fitbit tells me how well I slept each night. I love that part.

Okay, I realize I'm starting to sound like a commercial and that is clearly NOT why I'm writing this post! I have not been paid a single thing by Fitbit or any affiliates. It's just a product that I have purchased and come to love. I like to share the love. <3

So, today marks a week of my new journey. I have been trying to avoid sugars and carbohydrates. I have averaged 11K steps a day which totals out to 5 miles!!! I am stoked about that. I have been motivated to get up early each day (before sunrise) and get at least half of my 10K goal under my belt. I enjoy the quiet time to listen to music and get my Jesus time in. Since I homeschool my kiddos, time to myself is rare. I do enjoy it. In 7 days, I feel better, I am excited to be moving, and I have shed two pounds. I know that's not much, but if I can do two pounds a week for the next 6 months, I'll be a happy camper.

Friday, January 21, 2011

My Work Out: Jiggling Butt Cheeks And Burning Calves

"Mommy, I see your butt jiggling!" she said to me with a giggle as she placed her hand over her mouth to hide a smile. My two year old reminded me yesterday afternoon EXACTLY why I was doing those darned foot fires in the first place. EA Sports Active is most definitely "jiggling my butt"!! Foot fires, Sumo squats with pivots, and push ups...I loathe them but every time I do them, even when my legs or arms are so on fire they bring tears to my eyes I keep pushing! I am doing this for ME and no one else. I want to be successful in my endeavor to lose weight and I WILL!!! There are some exercises that I do enjoy such as the step-aerobics, boxing, and running. But, they can't all be fun and easy or we wouldn't lose weight, right!? No pain, no gain!

My total weight loss isn't as much as I would like for it to be, but I can see changes in my body and the way my clothes fit so I can "see" results. My preacher actually said to me on Sunday, "Have you lost weight?" With a big smile, I said, "Yes, a little" and he said he could tell in my face. He is a good man! ;)

My kids are a great motivation to me. My 5 year old son asked me the other day as I worked out with my EA Sports Personal Trainer 2 if exercising makes you die. I was a bit perplexed by the question, so I asked him to elaborate. He said, "Well, last time you worked out you said that it was going to kill you!" Hah! Yes, I guess I will actually have to choose my words wisely next time I am faced with foot fires, side planks, and push ups.

My 8 year old and I had a conversation as to why I worked out and went on diets. I explained to her that I not only wanted to lose weight, but also to be healthy. When I said that, she asked me why I wanted to be healthy. Of course my family is the number one reason why I want to be healthy!!! I want to not only set a good example for them, but also teach them to choose healthy when eating, stay active, and be healthy! They like to do their own "work outs" by playing the sports activities on the EAS game. You can customize your work outs, so I will usually just let them choose which activities they want to do.

You would think that a busy mom of three would just shed the pounds because she never sits down, right? In fact, I am writing this blog post with a cup of coffee in hand knowing that I need to get the family out of bed and start yet another busy day! When life hands you lemons, add it to some water and get on that treadmill!!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Before She Eats

In my previous post, I touched a little bit on healthy eating. It's a daily struggle for myself and my family to stay on the right track and eat healthy because we live such busy lives. It's difficult to buy healthy foods when you're on the go so much but we try. It's just easier to pack up some fruit snacks in the diaper bag than actual fresh fruit.

Weight loss (or lack thereof) is a constant struggle for me. I yo-yo so much on my weight and I know that is not healthy. But, it seems like I'm either dieting real hard or NONE at all. It's something I need to gain control of. I can sit around and talk about it all day, but actually setting goals and sticking to them is my downfall. I have to take the reins and get back to the healthy lifestyle. Not only can I feel it in the waistline but I also feel it emotionally and physically. Being fatigued is no fun and it makes it even worse when you're eating things that aren't good for your body or your energy level!

I came across this video today and it reminded me so much of myself I wanted to post it here for you to see. Anita Renfroe is so funny and if you haven't heard her comedy, you're in for a real treat when you do! Sit back, relax and have a laugh! Then go grab a carrot stick and a glass of water. ;)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Feeling Fit on Friday

I finally gave in and bought the new EA Sports Active - More Workouts for Wii. I have been debating for a couple of weeks now on whether or not I wanted to give it a try. I am SO glad I did. It has been an awesome addition to my diet and exercise plan. I am doing the six week challengeWii Fit Balance Board and so far I'm loving it. I totally dig the warm up and cool down sessions. You do not need to use the wii remote or nun-chuck to do these exercises so you can be more relaxed and at ease while you are cooling down. The only problem I seemed to discover while doing the floor exercises is that my 17 month old daughter wants to come sit on me while I am doing them so it makes accomplishing them a bit more difficult. You can also weight yourself using the so this will help you keep track of your weight in the game in addition to the extra activities you can add and the journal survey. The work outs are more intense and I feel like I am getting much more of a work out than before. I am really hoping that I can step up my weight loss with this new program. Instead of reading relacore reviews or looking for the next best diet pill, I am working out and dieting. Hopefully these lifestyle changes I am making will not only have good results for me, but in teaching my children the new healthy eating habits, it will help them make the right food choices in life as well! I have decided to change my weigh-in day to Friday. I think it will make things easier and less stressful for me to do it this way because I tend to stay on the wagon more during the week than on the weekends. My rest days for the six week challenge are Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday so I think things will just be easier for me to weigh in on Friday. My Friday results were good. I have lost 3.5 pounds this week. This brings my total weight loss to 13.5 pounds. I'm so stoked to be losing weight and feeling great!

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Time to Upgrade: Wii Fit Plus or EAS Active More Workouts

Last week was a good week for me. I stayed on the wagon in spite of being "snowed in" with the kids and hubby for three whole days and my wireless router playing out for a few days. Thankfully we did not have any tempting foods here, like chocolate to torment me. Since the first of the year we've traded in our greasy potato chips for baked ones, our candy bars for fiber and protein bars, our sugary sweet snack cakes for fruit, our white bread for whole wheat bread with extra fiber. Well, you get the point. The whole family is going through a transition. The kids have been a bit reluctant with a few things but for the most part, they seem to be adjusting pretty well and hardly notice the difference between 2% milk or low-fat cheese. This is great for me because it means I don't have to buy separate things or cook different meals. It has been fun experimenting with different low-fat recipes.

This week when I stepped on the scales, I was another 2lbs down! This brings my total to 9lbs lost since January 4th when we began our healthy eating lifestyle. I am super excited about the change that my body is going through. I have moved a notch in my belt (a bit tighter) and I have noticed that m pants hang a bit differently on me as well. THAT is the kind of changes I like to see! Numbers on a scale are good because you can see the progress, but to actually feel the progress, that's bliss!

I am still working out using the EAS Active for Wii but I am seriously considering purchasing a new program. I've looked at several message boards for the EAS Active More Workouts ($39.95) as well as the Wii Fit Plus ($19.99). Both seem like great additions to the original work out routine. As for the originals, I always prefer the EAS Active because it has a structured work out. The only downside to it was that I couldn't weigh myself like I did with the Wii Fit. Apparently that has changed with the extension. With the new Wii Fit Plus, you can do customized workout routines, which the previous game lacked. It also has a calorie counter as does the EAS Active. I think that eventually we will probably end up with both games since the kids really do love to play the original Wii Fit. But, for now I am torn between which one to purchase. So, chime in...what are your thoughts on weight loss? What fitness programs do you currently use?

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Diet Recipes - A Great Source

If you're in the market for some great recipes, I would like to suggest a website: Aimee's Adventures. I am doing Weight Watchers and this website is FULL of awesome recipes that also gives you the points to each recipe. Of course it is always a good idea to re-figure points as you cook because they can vary from recipe to recipe depending on the different ingredients you may use. If you do WW online like I do, you can use the recipe builder (which has been a life saver for me) to help you figure up the points on various recipes.

Aimee also has links to other sites full of recipes as well as dieting tips. Did you know that if you get a sweet tooth at night you can drink a glass of water and brush your teeth to subside it? It's true, the water will make you feel full and the sugar will trick your brain into thinking it's getting something sweet! Not only is this a great way to lose weight, but also keep your teeth nice and bright!

So, hop on over and check out this awesome site. It's a great resource for any diet, no matter what kind of diet you are doing. So, now I've helped you out in the dieting department, but if you need help with allergy bedding you may have to look elsewhere. ;)

Monday, January 18, 2010

Monday Morning Diet Update

This is the beginning of Week 3 on the Weight Watchers program for me! I have been very happy with this diet thus far. I am doing the online version as some of you might remember from a previous post since I cannot attend meetings in my area. It is working out well for me since I have a Blackberry I can look up foods there and use the points calculator when I am shopping to make sure I am buying foods that will fit into my daily points! Since there is only cream for easy stretch mark removal and not for easy fat removal I guess I'll stick it out. I got a three month subscription, so hopefully in this three months time I can get the pounds off and learn a new way of eating.

The great thing about this lifestyle change is that not only am I eating healthier but my family is also. My children are opting for more fruit in place of fruit roll ups or snack cakes! We no longer have a "candy bowl" on the bar with easy access, but it is filled with fruits now including apples, oranges, and bananas! We've changed to low-fat everything and 2% milk. The changes have happened slowly, and we're still adjusting. But, so far it's been easy for everyone! I've gotten some great recipes online and some tried and true recipes from my Facebook friends. If you've got a great WW recipe, please leave it in a comment, or use my e-mail in the sidebar and e-mail it to me! I'd love to try it!

After two full weeks of dieting, and after seeing a small rise in the scale last week, I am happy to report that I am 5 pounds lighter! The EAS Active challenge for the Wii is also going very well. I continue to work out daily. Saturday seems to be my "rest" day for the week. But, every other day I am coming home for lunch and having a healthy lunch which is usually either leftovers or a Weight Watchers, Smart Ones microwave dinner and a salad followed by a great work out!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Weight Watchers - Read the Fine Print!

Yesterday I learned a very important lesson: Always read the fine print. Yes, I am 32 years old. You think I would have learned this the hard way long before now. Here's my story:

Last night I was geared up for my very first local Weight Watchers meeting. The kiddos were spending the evening with hubby and I was going to meet my sister there who is also doing WW. I was excited to be there with her and for her. I joined Weight Watchers online last week due to the fact that the local meeting was canceled due to inclement weather. When I arrived at the meeting my sister informed me that I had to pay the joining fee. I was a bit perplexed by this fact, but thought maybe she had misunderstood them. As it turns out, this ordeal would teach me a very valuable lesson. In the state of Arkansas, and a hand full of other places, the online program and the local meetings are not affiliated. In other words, I have to pay two separate fees to be able to do both. To stay at the meeting I would have to pay another joining fee (which was waived when I joined online, for a limited time) as well as the weekly fee for each meeting. In essence, I'm paying twice. It's a rip off, right?! Sure, it was in the fine print. But, who reads fine print, right? Well, from now on you can bet this CrAzY Working Mom will!!

So, in the mean time I will keep on doing the WW online and get support from my sister who has promised me she would share the info she gets at the meetings. I will also keep on doing the EAS Active 30 day challenge for Wii. It's worked just as well as any treadmills you'll find at those gyms where you've got perfectly sculpted bodies all around ya! ;)

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

A Mother's Ramble...

As a mom, there's nothing better for me than spending time with my kids. Well, almost nothing...tonight the kiddos went to bed early and I took the opportunity to take a l-o-n-g, h-o-t bath. It was wonderful. I used my favorite Bath and Body Aromatherapy sugar scrub and bubble bath. Milk and Honey is so relaxing and it smells so good. While the kiddos were sleeping, mommy was enjoying some peace and quiet.

On the weight loss front, I am down 12 pounds in four weeks. I'm eating low-carbohydrate. In essence I'm eating a lot of meats and veggies. What I haven't enjoyed in over four weeks: anything breaded and deep fried, sweet stuff, bread, & pasta.

I have found some yummy sugar free chocolate pudding that I top with whipped cream. I try limit myself to one or two of those a week because they tend to make me crave sweet stuff. Russel Stover also make some sugar free candies that are pretty darned close to chocolate! I am still using my Wii Fit for work outs and I love it. Last week I worked out every single day. I've started the Yoga. I hadn't tried it before last week just because I didn't think I would be able to do it. Now that my balance and coordination is a bit better on the Fit Board, I am doing Yoga and I'm actually enjoying it. It's a great tool for a busy mom like me who can't make it to the gym.

This month we're taking the kiddos to Disney on Ice in Little Rock. They're super excited about it. I'll have more details about the show as it gets closer.

Next month is our annual Family Reunion on my dad's side of the family. Although I'm not very close with my dad. In fact I've only spoken to him a handful of times since last year's get together. I haven't seen him at all but I still enjoy going and visiting with the rest of the family. Usually it is far away and we get a hotel. The kiddos love to stay at a hotel. This year it is pretty close so we will not be staying over. I am sure the kids will be a bit disappointed, but I just don't see the point in spending the extra money for a room when it's only about a 30 minute drive back to our home.

Are you going to win one of the DVDs in my give away?!

CrAzY Working Mom

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