Do it Anyway Day 3/100

Wow, if there could be any chapter in a book written totally about me, for me, this would be IT!

This chapter starts off with:

I don't feel like exercising today!

Do you push your self to exercise? Some days, yes, some days, no. What happens when we don't feel like eating healthy, cooking from scratch every night to make sure we get the ingredients that are healthiest for us? If you aren't careful how true is it to fall off(did she hit the nail on the head or what?!?)

You don't usually wait to go to work till you feel like it, do you? Nope, typically when I smell a dirty diaper it's time to change it. Because it's important, we do them however we feel at that moment.
You don't have to feel like working on your plan to stick with your program. Learn to focus your attention, not your feelings. If you aren't in the mood to exercise or eat healthy, tell your self to get up an DO it! If you are TRULY committed to your plan, you'll get up and MOVE. Take small steps each day when you don't feel like it.

Here are some examples of people who are interested in losing weight and those who are committed:

Interested:

• Stick with it till something better comes along.
• Take action only if they feel like doing it.
• Need to see results in order to stay motivated.
• Blame people or circumstances for their struggles.
• Easily give up when a challenge if faced.

Committed:

• Stick with plans no matter what.
• Take action when they feel like doing it or not.
• Assuse that if they stay motivated, results will follow
• Take responsibility for their own actions
• Keep going in spite of challenges and setbacks

So today assignment is:
1. In your diet or exercise plan, identify a task you don't feel like doing and do it anyway-Last night for dinner the husband was working super late, and I almost didn't cook dinner and was going to have something(didn't decide) takeout, but instead I cooked a home made healthy mac and cheese for dinner!
2. Notice how it feels to accomplish a goal by taking a "no matter what" approach-It felt good to cook something that I knew was healthy and was in my calorie count.
3.In your notebook make a list of actions you plan to stick with today, regardless of how you feel at the moment.-Make sure I drink ALL of the water I should be drinking everyday. We are traveling today, so my biggest action is to make sure I'm satisfied so I'm not snacking on snacks mindlessly.

Interested or Committed-Day2/100

If you tend to start and stop eating right and working out, you have to decide if you are just interested in becoming healthier or if you are truly committed to becoming healthier.

If you are interested; you tend to stay with your plans until something better comes along. You maybe eating right, but someone happens to bring doughnuts into your workplace and you quickly go off your diet by eating a few. You depend to see your self looking thinner. As long as that scale is going down, your content. But if you start to plateau, you may get tired of it and give up. You may blame it on your friend, because they ate something yummy in front of you.

When you are committed, you stick with your goals, no matter what. Instead of depending on seeing the scale go lower, you keep your motivation strong, knowing results will come. You don't blame others or life for not meeting you goal.

If you tend to easily fall away from your plan, decide if you are taking an interested approach. If so, strive to be committed.

Adopt a no matter what attitude.

Today's Task:

• Decide that you will always be committed to your weight-loss plan, not interested.
• In your notebook, describe how you will stick with your program, no matter what.
• Do at least one thing today that demonstrates you are truly committed. For example, take a walk or eat your vegetables, no matter what.

I'm going to stick with my program this time, no matter what. I'll keep track of my calories even if it does take more time to write them down, then not to write them down. I'll make sure I get some type of exercise in everyday even if it's as simple as going for a walk.

My one thing for today was having a glass of water, instead of a snack.

I Used To Be That Way-Day 1/100

Day 1 basically says that you are afraid to do this challenge, because you are afraid you will get off track once again. The most important line in this chapter was:

Your past does NOT determine your future!

Starting today, get rid of ALL your previous failures. When those past failures start to come back, say to your self:

" I used to be that way, but now I'm different"

So today's assignment:

• Make a list of any fears or negative behaviors that have hurt your weight-loss success in the past. Read each one out loud, and then say, "I used to be that way, but now I'm different."
• Then write new endings for them by completing this sentence: I used to _______(fill in your old behavior) but now I ___________(write in new ending).
• Read these new outcomes often, and then live in a way that makes them true.

My fears/negative behaviors:

1. Falling off track for a day and letting it continue for days or weeks.
2. Eating something that I know I shouldn't of eaten so much or at all.
3. Eating because I was bored.

New endings:

1. I used to fall off track for a day without exercising or eating right but now I know if I get off track one day it's easy to get one the next or the same day.
2. I used to eat more of something but now I will keep track of my calories so I'm aware of how much is going into my mouth.
3. I used to eat because I was bored, but now I drink a glass of water first before choosing a healthy snack.
   

Feel free to leave your fears or negative behaviors and your new endings in my comments!

100 Days of Weight Loss

My good friend Kim, from Berly's Thoughts, suggested to a message board I frequent that we start a group and read 100 Days of Weight Loss, The Secret To Being Sucessful On Any Diet Plan, by Linda Spangle. She also has a website you can find here.

It's so easy to start a diet/workout regimen and slip off. We've all done it, me personally about one, err 50,000 times. Life gets in the way is typically the excuse. The concept of this book is to read one page daily and complete the exercises that go with that day. It keeps you on track. Honestly it was so easy to read, I wanted to keep reading each page, but I didn't I only read Day 1.

It's pretty easy to use, first choice the best diet plan that works for you, for me it's counting my calories, but not limiting the choices in food, also create your workout plan. Second, follow your plan for 100 days.

So each day for the next 100 days, I'll be sharing what each day's task is and my response to it.

Snacks

I love snacks, who doesn't? Sometimes though when we snack, we aren't eating the best option for us, we just grab whatever we are craving and don't think about it.

Craving something salty, try some popcorn, it's high in fiber and low in calories

Craving something crunchy, try some roasted peanuts, more antioxidants when roasted.

Craving something cold, like a cold drink, try cherry juice.

Craving something filling, eat cereal and milk, a whole grain, no lucky charms =)

Ways to Think Slim

I'm a firm believer of that you do not need to cut foods out of your diet to lose weight. I know many people disagree and believe you should, but I totally feel if you eat in moderation you can still lose weight. For me, I just need to change the way I think about eating and what I am eating.

1. Food isn't a prize-You shouldn't reward your self with food. It's hard to do and I'm guilty. I will lose 5 pounds and my prize will be a yummy Oreo Peanut Butter Milkshake. Instead, I should put the money into buying a new pair of jeans!
2. Eat dessert on a full stomach-You won't eat as much. My husband loves to take his dessert home from restaurants, or even after eating dinner at home, he always waits to have desserts, so it's something I've adapted and do as well. You should eat dessert after eating your meal so you don't eat that whole piece of cake.
3. Diet foods aren't always a diet-Food makers try to trick us, by making "diet" food, by labeling something low fat, or cookies for 100 calories, are you really going to be satisfied after eating only two small cookies, doubt it. So eat a serving size of the regular, not diet food.
4. Free food-Foods that are "free" of ingredients always have something more. So they maybe fat free, but they have more sugar or salt to replace that free ingredient. So eat the real deal, just with in the serving size limits.
5. It's there, so I need to eat it-you know you've passed by something in your office or kitchen and said well it's there, I see it, I need to eat it. Think about it before you put that something in your mouth, "Do I really need this'? Make your self a deal, like only if it's dark chocolate, or one sweet a day.

Inspired by Self's Keep Shrinking.

Self's Healthy Food Awards

I love every year when Self comes out with their healthy food awards, it always makes me feel better when I see some things I eat quite often on their list! Here are just a few, you can check out the whole list here.

Bacon..mmm, who doesn't love bacon? Self recommends Trader Joe's Turkey Bacon, 30 calories per slice, 1.5 grams of fat per slice.







Bagel-Thomas' Heart Grain 100% Whole Wheat Bagels(240 calories, 2.5 grams of fat)















English Muffin-Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat(120 calories, 1 gram of fat)








Cottage Cheese-Friendship 1% Lowfat Cottage Cheese(90 calories, 1 gram of fat per 1/2 cup)








Light Beer-Yeungling Light Lager(90 calories, 0 grams of fat per 12 ounces)









Natural Soda-Izze Esque Sparkling Black Raspberry(50 calories, 0 grams of fat)










Deli Turkey-Boars Head Oven gold Roasted Breast of Turkey(60 calories, 1 gram of fat per 2 ounces)
American Cheese-Kraft 2% singles(45 calories, 2.5 grams of fat per 19 grams)
Swiss Cheese-Finlandia Light Swiss Deli Cheese(57 calories, 3 grams of fat per slice)
Tuna-Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light(50 calories, 0.5 grams of fat per 2 ounces)
Frozen Fries-Alexia Crinkles Salt and Pepper(120 calories, 4 grams of fat per 3 ounces)
Ice Cream-Edy's Slow Churned Double Fudge Brownies(120 calories, 4 grams of fat per 1/2 cup)
Ice Cream Sandwich-Skinny Cow Low Fat Ice Cream Sandwich in Vanilla(140 calories, 2 grams of fat per sandwich)
Fudge Pop-Skinny Cow Fudge Bar(100 calories, 1 grams fat per bar)

SITS Day 3-Promote a Blog Post

I'm all about promoting my blog. It brings you readers and you get to follow other bloggers, currently I use these following services to promote my blog:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Stumbled Upon
• Google Reader
• Commenting on others blogs.
  

Reasons I love to be a SAHM

I'm participating in the SITS 31 Days to a better blog challenge and Day #2 was to create a blog post in a list format.

Reasons Why Being a Stay At Home Mommy Rocks:

1. I don't miss a thing. I get to see everything happen first, I get to hear every word Kiley says first and every new discovery she makes.
   
2. I get to spend every minute of every day with my baby. I don't have to rush home from work and do all my chores at night before spending time with my baby.
   
3. We get to go out shopping, have fun lunch dates, go to The Little Gym.
4. I'm able to get all my household chores done while she's napping, that way at nights and weekends, I can spend with Kiley, the hubby and the pug.
5. I get to go to the grocery store during the week, when NO one is there!!
   

Reflecting Back

About a year ago exactly, I've made one of the best decisions of my life, well besides to marry my husband =). I made the decision a year ago to not go back to teaching in the fall after Kiley was born. We talked about this for awhile, and while it was pretty much clear I was going to stay home, but a year ago I made it definite by letting the school I was at know that I wouldn't be coming back in the fall.

It was a hard decision, and some days I miss teaching and everything that comes along with the job. It's one of the most rewarding positions to have, but I have to tell you that being a Mommy and being able to stay home is the most rewarding job ever.

I'm so grateful that one, we were financially ok, for me to be able to stay one, and secondly, I more grateful that I get to spend everyday with my daughter. I get to see everything new things she does, I get to hear every new sounds she makes, I get so see every new face she makes. I can't imagine not staying home with her at this point. At first I thought I was crazy, but that soon faded.

It may be the most challenging job I ever had, but right now I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Kiley is 10 Months!

Hard to believe that in two months my little baby will be a year old! This past month has been crazy with everything she has started to do. I almost don't have enough room in her baby book to write it all down!

This month Kiley, you've become an expert at crawling! You are super fast and get to where you want to get to with no problem. Your biggest milestone this year is that you have gotten your FIRST toothie! And then a few days later you second toothie came in! You look so silly with just two teeth, but it's super cute, just as cute as your gummy smile!


You love to stand, every chance you get to stand you stand! You love to walk around with your little walker, sometimes you think you can walk, but you really can't so you fall down, silly girl. You love to crawl over to Puggie's water dish and dump them, sometimes you dump them a few times a day. You love to go look out the doors and windows.

When Daddy gets home from work, Puggie and you greet him at the gate, waiting for him. You move stuff out of your way to get to him it's pretty cute. You are saying a whole bunch of stuff now, everything but MaMa! You love to say "De De De" and you look at Puggie when you say it, just yesterday you started saying "D" when you see her, so maybe you are trying to say dog. You love to say "bub", I'm not sure if you mean bubbles. You've learned how to click your tongue and you LOVE to blow raspberries. You are the queen at that. You love to imitate noises you hear.

You love to play peek-a-boo by your self. You'll pull whatever you have up over your face and wait for someone to say peek-a-boo and then you lower it. Just this week you've started to pick up your ball and throw it, crawl after it and repeat it over and over again. Today you pointed a picture at Daddy and said "Dada" so I think you know who Dada is now! You love swimming in your pool. You don't like bath tub anymore you just want to stand every chance you get! You actually stopped eating a lot while you were teething but you've started to finally get your appetite back! Speaking of teething, I've heard all these horror stories from teething babies and you were a GEM, I wouldn't even of known you were teething except you weren't eating and had small rash!

You are still sleeping like a champ, you sleep from 9-7-7:30 and take an hour and half nap in the morning and a 3 hour nap in the afternoon! You must get so tired from all the fun stuff we do together during the day!

Can't believe you will be a year old in just a short time! Love you!