| Author | |
Mary Chris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2175
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 7:26am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Will you please share your story. I really need some inspiration. I am trying not to obsess with the whole weight thing but after trying on clothes at the mall this past weekend I am just bummed  . I really do need to shed a few  of these extra pounds.
I need to learn to eat like a healthy person again. There are times when at the end of the day I realize I have eaten junk all day. I have to stop self medicating with food, I have had such a hard morning I better eat these Oreos  , type of thinking.
__________________
Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 7:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
hi marychris, i sympathize. i was 90 lbs. when i came to the US (i'm short, 4'11"). i weighed 128 lbs. at the end of '04, which was my 9-months pregnant weight with our first child. my brother's getting married in oct. so i thought i'd lose a bit of weight -- my goal was 2 lbs. loss a month. i now weigh 116. two simple things are making it work for me: less food, more activity. i started karate in january, we go twice a week. i've tried to exercise at home but it just isn't happening. (it also helped that i got the kids' stomach flu in february:)). off and on i go on a "diet", which consists of me looking at a healthy cookbook or mag, vegetarian ones or Cooking Light magazines, etc, picking a few dishes and eating them for a few days. then i go back to whatever i eat regularly (i'm quirky that way, can't stay on any one thing too long; probably my ADD tendencies), but with decreased proportions. i had to pay attention to how much white rice i was consuming -- too much! so i limited myself to 1/2 cup or 1 cup per meal and/or used brown rice instead. didn't completely eliminate carbs because i just can't do that, i love carbs. i also allow myself indulgences almost daily, like a little piece of chocolate (thumb-sized or so), a spoonful of ice cream, etc. mostly i increased my veggie and fruit intake; made sure i had fresh veggies and fruit in the fridge ALL the time so if i was feeling hungry i at least had a healthy alternative; sometimes i picked healthy, sometimes no, but at least the choice is there. drank LOTS AND LOTS of water. AND gardening most days -- digging, digging, digging. so far so good.
perhaps have an oreo a day but cut down on everything else? good luck, hope this helps,
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
tovlo4801
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 28 2005
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 386
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 9:36am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary Chris,
I can sympathize so much with you. About three years ago I lost 50 lbs. I had always weighed about 145 lbs (I'm 5'6"). Then after I hit my 20's I very slowly gained a few pounds every year and never really noticed. By the time I realized something needed to be done I was almost 200 lbs. I lost my weight by overhauling my diet and beginning regular exercise.
I am a food self medicater as well! My family teases me when they see me standing in a particular corner of the kitchen because they know I'm eating junk to make my stress go away. I can't say that I've completely overcome this, but I do it much less frequently and when I do it's not quite so bad. Here's some things that made a big difference for me. I plan my meals ahead of time. I eat small frequent meals of good quality and balanced between fat, carb, and protein. I've found that if I'm craving something junky it's usually because I've waited too long to eat. I try to make sure that when I'm craving junk, I eat my planned healthy meal first. If I'm still hungry 15-20 minutes after I eat the planned meal then I give myself permission to eat the junk I was craving. I never do. I'm always satisfied after I eat the good food. I try to eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, supper, and evening snack. This works best for me because I'm especially bad at food self-medicating in the evening. So planning a healthy snack in the evening is important for me. But most people eat a mid-morning snack instead and don't eat after supper. Another thing that keeps me from eating junk is not having it around. Just go through your kitchen and throw out all the junk food (or give it away). If it's in the house it's like a magnet that I'm constantly drawn to. When it's not in the house and I'm craving a self-medicating snack I tend to go for the raisins or the pretzels. (btw both of these can still cause problems if you eat too much of them  ) Our family has a pretty rich collection of healthy recipes and snacks now. I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I have a tendency to try the weight control websites on their free trial month or for their introductry price, gather good, healthy recipes from the site and then cancel. But truthfully, some of the sites can be helpful. The recipes are usually for a single or smaller family, but you could easily convert them. That's what I do. When we had Medica health insurance we got a free membership to www.myephit.com. You can join there for a fee (I think it's $20/mo) as well. This was probably my favorite site. There was a wonderful recipe section, a place to log your food and track by calories and by food categories, and an exercise planning area and log. They give you access by e-mail to specialists (nutrition, exercise, life management...) for any questions you might have. My dh and I both used that resource and it was wonderful to have. They also had a section for kids too, but we never used it. I like this site the best because it was more health focused than beauty or "gotta be thin!" focused. One more really important point about the eating side. I think it's really important to log your food. Losing weight is at it's essence eating less than you're burning up. Most people have NO IDEA how many calories they consume in a day. Just having to write down the 2000 calories from the 20 oreo cookies you are thinking about eating can truly be a deterent from eating them! At any rate seeing that you're consuming 3000-4000 calories a day over a period of time can kick you into gear too. (I know it certainly had an effect on me! ) I have tons more that I've learned about eating while losing and maintaining my weight, but this is already waaaay too long...
OK. Exercise. I did hire a personal trainer for a period of time. Their job is not to stand there and shout at you while you do cardio. The most value this experience provided me with was a solid understanding of the mechanics of how my body works and how to keep it physically healthy. I learned how to do a variety of resistance exercises safely. I learned how important balance and flexibility is to being healthy and I learned ways to achieve this. It's certainly not necessary to use a personal trainer, but I really believe that a couple sessions can be a really good investment. When you know how to do do the exercises properly and why they are important to the health of your body it can be very motivating. (They don't have to be expensive either. Check out www.acefitness.org for people in your local area. Many are as inexpensive as $20 a session. Mother's Day is coming....) The best advice on the exercise front is just to keep doing it. Again I'm not perfect on this, but when I miss a couple of workouts I'm still getting in 3-4 a week. I have a set time of the day that I commit to working out. For me it's in the morning before anyone is up and my husband is still home with the kids if they need anything. I leave the house to workout. If I workout at home I'm much too likely to put it off or find something else that needs to be done. I either go to a local community center (we get our membership there for free with a refund from our health insurance company) or jogging/walking around the neighborhood. I always just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes it helps to not stress yourself out about the actual workout. Just think about getting done whatever step you're taking to get there. When it's time to get out of bed, focus on that and don't even think about the workout yet. If you do you might just talk yourself out of even getting out of bed.  If you're really dreading the workout, give yourself permission to take it easy or quit early. You'll probably find that once you get going you won't want to. I know that I usually don't want to when I start out slow promising myself I can quit early.
I hope that some of this helps out. I think losing weight can be a hard thing to tackle on your own and there are some pretty inexpensive resources out there to help out. Remember that it's not a vanity issue. This is a serious health issue. My motivation to begin losing weight was when my mother was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and I realized that my eating and lifestyle was exactly like hers. I truly feel better when I'm exercising and feeding my body properly. My kids are much healthier too. They have a sense of what good food and bad food does to your body. They understand how important exercising your body is to keeping it healthy. Please e-mail me if there's anything else I can help with. Natalia's exercise post has really helped to keep me accountable to my workouts, too.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
oxymom2002
Forum Rookie
Joined: April 06 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 11:49am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I too am struggling with this. I have lost 30 pounds and recently put 10 of them back on. I don't like how I feel (or how it looks...) and am trying to get back on track.
One thing that really struck me today was the importance of portion control. I came downstairs and my son had a huge bowl of cereal. We got the box out and actually counted out how much was in the bowl - 3 servings! I portioned out one serving in a smaller bowl, shared some with his sister and threw the rest away (something I rarly do.) It led to a very interesting discussion of portions. The bagel he wanted equaled 3 pieces of bread. He was in tears, saying he needed more food. I said he could have one serving of cereal or half a bagel and a piece of fruit. In the end he understood, that the point was to get enough food in a healthy manner. He ended up eating one serving of cereal and an orange.
So back to me. If I am willing to watch my children's diet and help ensure that they eat health meals (which I am and do regularly,) then I also need to care for myself in that same manner. My children eat much better than I do. They eat less junk, more fruits, vegetables, and healthier snacks and they are also much more active. I don't want them to watch my poor habits and follow them. I would freak if they sat in front of the televison each night eating junk like I do...
My goal is to focus on what I want for myself and for them. And to use that to make a good decision when they are in bed tonight and I am tempted to go the pantry...
Blessings,
Theresa
__________________
Mom to Melissa (11, Fragile X, Stroke, etc...), Anthony (10, accelerated learner), Katherine (safe in Our Lady's arms)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LittlefarmMom
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 25 2005
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 1:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
marychris wrote:
| Will you please share your story. I really need some inspiration. I am trying not to obsess with the whole weight thing but after trying on clothes at the mall this past weekend I am just bummed . |
|
|
Marychris, I know what you mean. I don't call them Dressing Rooms, I call them Disillusionment Rooms.
Anyway, I'm FINALLY starting to get this weight and eating thing figured out, and there's a very Charlotte Mason answer to the question! It's about the RELATIONSHIP! No kidding! This discovery has me down a dress size.
I read the book _French Women Don't Get Fat_ after I read the book _Fit From Within_. Neither one of these books will tell you what to eat -- instead, they're about the relationships we have with food. Learning to re-establish (or, perhaps, establish in the first place) a right relationship of genuine gratitude and pure pleasure when it comes to food has been a miracle in my life.
God gave us taste buds because food is SUPPOSED to be yummy! But if we eat faux food (chemical versions of it) instead of real food, we will get fat. If we eat as if we are ruminants (like cows), all day eating, eating, eating, we will get fat. If we eat portions that would sustain a person three times our size, we will get fat. If we don't learn to take pleasure in physical movement and thereby get enough walking into our days, we will get fat. And if we don't learn to deal with our lives and emotions ... yep, we will get fat.
Having a houseful of kids is a little distracting (ha! - that's an understatement!), but teaching them the right relationships to ALL of God's good gifts ... isn't that what education is all about?
With empathy ... and more energy that I used to have,
Stephanie
__________________
Stephanie in Stevenson, WA
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amiefriedl
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 15 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 323
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 4:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary Chris,
We just recently started studying nutrition and different types of diets as a unit instead of pushing huge amounts of phonics and math. Plus it has been a hobby of mine since I got married to learn about food. So I'm full of information and lots of bad habits anyway!
My mom has been an inspiration lately, which is a true miracle. She has been very large since shortly after I was born and comes from a 'larger' family. At the age of 60 with 30 years of obesity, type 2 diabetes, stomach stapling, tons of medications and illnesses behind her, she finally did more than just 'diet'. **She joined Curves and started exercising for the first time in her life.** She also does the Weight Watchers diet to a 'T' now too. With that combination, a year and a half later she is almost a size 12, is OFF ALL her medications including heart medicine, has no diabetes problems and tons of happiness and energy! 
I know this doesn't apply directly to you, but I'm just so proud of her I had to share.
Anyway, another friend of mine cannot speak highly enough of the LightWeigh program. It is a scriptural/Catholic program designed to help you understand overeating/eating-in-general in terms of virtues and vices. I understand it is a gentle program that may give you more than just 'food for thought'.
If you consider, overeating is a temptation from the devil. (Hope that doesn't sound too heavy.) From my own growing up perspective I can certainly say that life would have been much more fun if my mother could have enjoyed life more with us like she does now. When we over indulge in goodies it is similar to looking for happiness in the world where Heaven would do more for us.
Ahh, but I'm getting in too deep.
Btw, I've had 3 oreos today, just prior to finding this thread and pontificating like I am. I'll juice some carrots tomorrow! Just like what Theresa said, my kids do eat lots more good things than I do. I make sure that they do. We owe it to our families, ourselves and of course God to take better care of these bodies we've been given. And like all other little sins that we try always to avoid...this too is a constant battle! Keep up the good fight Mary Chris! I'm in the trenches with ya! 
__________________
In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 4:54pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Mary Chris,
I have had some success losing weight and keeping it off in the past year and a half. It's actually the first longer term dieting success of my life. The first ten pounds were taken off in one month with simply cutting out sweets and soda (a former addiction, really). I then kept those ten pounds off without doing anything special.
But about six months after that, a group of 4-5 homeschooling friends were all doing Weight Watchers together. I lamented that I'd like to try it but couldn't find the money in our budget. One of the friends offered me the Weight Watchers materials from when she had joined a few years earlier. With those hand-me-down materials and the support of my friends who were actually doing the regular program, I lost another 20 pounds between last May and last August. I then maintained that new weight all through the fall and winter. The Easter candy was my undoing. I saw my weight creep up 3 pounds and started praying for the motivation to begin the Weight Watchers program again. It really must be the grace of God, because I started again a week ago and am doing fine with it. And that is after 7 months of absolutely no desire to diet.
I think the Weight Watchers Winning Points system is great! I could never succeed on a low carb diet. I love breads and sweets TOO MUCH! With the point system, I figure out the points for everything I eat, based on a combination of calories, fat, and fiber. It's really easy to implement and very easy to eat what the whole family is eating in general. I can save up the bonus points to allow for treats too. My favorite treat is 30 M&Ms and a glass of fat free milk. (2 pts. each for a total of 4 pts. And boy do I savor those M&Ms!)
Just call me if you'd like more info, Mary Chris.
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
tovlo4801
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 28 2005
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 386
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 6:09pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
amiefriedl wrote:
If you consider, overeating is a temptation from the devil. (Hope that doesn't sound too heavy.) From my own growing up perspective I can certainly say that life would have been much more fun if my mother could have enjoyed life more with us like she does now. When we over indulge in goodies it is similar to looking for happiness in the world where Heaven would do more for us.
Ahh, but I'm getting in too deep. |
|
|
OK. I'm going to jump in deep with you here.
I just have to share a conversation I was part of at our homeschooling co-op. Several of the families in our co-op deal with food allergies of some sort. One mom had just gone through a health issue with one of her children and was explaining to a group of us what had happened. Someone asked her about the different food allergies that her family member's had. She began to list everything and when she got to herself shared that she didn't have any allergies, but that she has an intolerance to caffeine and chocolate. There was a deafening round of sympanthies after this. But then the mom standing next to me who has quite a few food issues quietly said that actually not being able to eat many things can be a blessing. We were all a little stunned and curious how she was going to make sense of that comment. She went on to share pretty much what you said above. That we all too often get our satisfaction from our food and when the diet she was able to tolerate became so limited, it forced her to recognize how she was looking to food to meet the need that should really only be met by God.
I have to admit that I still look way too often for food to make me feel better, but I do find myself quite often reflecting on what she said.
I'm curious about Lightweigh. I'd looked into it at one point, but it seemed like you had to buy a $300 tape set and organize your own group if there wasn't anything near you. Has that changed does anyone know?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bridget
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2198
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 7:03pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Stephanie mentioned the book, FRENCH WOMEN DONT GET FAT. I would be interested to read it but I found this summary of the book in an interview with the author. here is the link
__________________
God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Willa
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3881
|
| Posted: May 03 2005 at 7:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just love this board
I'm in your shoes Mary Chris, so I don't have much to share. My weight is technically OK according to the charts for my age range etc. But I can't seem to lose those last baby pounds (my baby is now well over two), and I know I self-medicate with food --- hmm, where are those Oreos anyway?? and make pretty much every food mistake that Stephanie listed. I hate the way junky food, too much food, too little exercise etc make me feel. And it's not a good example for my kids and makes me too dependent on things besides God, as Amie and Richelle mentioned.
So I'm happy that you are having this conversation. Please keep it up
__________________
AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Molly Smith
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 669
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 6:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
oxymom2002 wrote:
| One thing that really struck me today was the importance of portion control. |
|
|
This was exactly what I was going to say! Our portions have gotten so out of control! If you actually measure out cold cereal you may just stop eating it. If I really want to watch what I eat, I start the day with one serving of oatmeal with 1/4 raisins mixed in. That really sticks to my ribs and I'm not looking for anything else to eat the rest of the day.
I've really been paying attention to portion sizes in all of my eating. Notice I didn't say I abide by them, I just notice them . Anyway, some things I just have to not eat at all. I'm sorry, but I cannot eat 2 oreos, 3/4 cup cold cereal or 1/2 ice cream. I have to just give it up. I lost 8 lbs over lent by giving up desserts. I've gained some of it back because I've tried to be moderate and failed. St. Augustine said something to the effect of "complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation". That is so true for me!
Oh, I will share the "diet" that worked wonders for my dad. It's called the Waffle Cone Diet (he made it up, by the way). He ate beautifully all week long. He watched his portions and ate healthy food. His "reward" was to go to Baskin Robbins on Sunday for a waffle cone sundae. He probably lost 30 lbs! This was years ago. Now he just generally eats very heathily and moderately. Although, he and I both swear by baby carrots for hunger busters!
It's fun hearing everyone's tips!
__________________
Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cindy
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 01 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 235
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 10:34am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Mary Chris-
This is an excellent topic. I have always stuggled with my weight, and at times have had it well under control and been athletic. That is a great feeling and gives a sense of well-being.
Though you can be thin and not healthy mentally. After eing a chubby high schooler I lost weight in college and got down to 114 on my 5'7" frame.. I think I was border anorexic and my motives were all vanity. 
I have come to the conclusion that for some of us, this may be a cross- if it takes up so much time and energy that it pulls us away from our vocation and loving God. I had a friend tell me this... that Paul had an unknown affliction he dealt with for life.. maybe this was mine? I scoffed... ! But then thought.. yes. Anything that absorbs so much of our time and thought, and causes us to live uncharitbbly and self-absorbed is an affliction. I am speaking of me, here, not anyone else.
When we are thin, are we proud? When we are heavy are we ashamed and ugly to those around us? Humm.. that could be an affliction. :)
For some that need to lose weight I don't think it goes that far, but it did for me.
After being at a good weight, I have creeped up 30 pounds in the last 5 years. I could no longer do the sports they way I wanted. I have two boys and it is important to me to be active.
Other factors have contributed to me finally decided to get serious. I had to think and pray about my motives. I am not beautiful, but I realized vanity played a large part.
I realized the motives that were true were:
My health (seeing aging parents and seeing the death of a friend's mother at 68 who was NOT healthy makes me want to take the very best care of myself I can)
Ability to serve- I don't want to sound pious and hope I don't. But, when I can't find clothes to wear in the morning that fit, or don't want to travel b/c it is a hassle finding clothes, I can't serve others. I have aging parents and an mil. I need to be able to go on a dime. I also have a family to serve. If I can't find clothes to wear, feel tired, am worried about my weight, I can't give myself fully. So, to serve fully, I need to be a real size so I can run and get appropriate clothes for any occasion God throws me with minimal hassle.
Lookin' good for dh- He never complains, but I try to substitue this for my own vanity.
I put myself on 'project' status about 6 weeks ago. I have lost 10 pounds. It was not easy, but I had to priortize things.
I agree that it is a lot about relationships, and habit. I *know* all the data about calories, exercise, etc. But, doing it is another thing. I, too, eat for comfort. It works great to reduce stress~ Well, short term anywyay.. like 5 seconds.
Here is what I have done and I hope it helps in a small way.
I looked at my life. Why was I eating too much? What was preventing me from exercise. I knew these were the two critical factors to getting back to a good weight.
Your answers will be different from mine, as will be your lifestyle and what you can do given your children and schedule.
I am in the kitchen all day. I snack. I make something for the boys and eat while I do. I will be so full from snacking while making dinner, that I could not share the dinner with my family. But then I would eat while cleaning up! So- my biggest problem was snacking and on high fat food- Potato Chips were my god..
Exercise-
I had been walking the neighborhood while listening to books on tape. Good, fun, but it was not working. I needed a more strenous workout. Walking works great for some, but not for me.. to get the results. I joined the Y. BORING. I was not going.
I knew I needed structure for eating, to learn new habits. This is very Cm. Habits. I checked out a weight watchers class and joined. It is fabulous. I had joined it years ago and didn't care too much for it as it seemed artifical. It is not, now. It is teaching me portion control, I am eating normal food and I ENJOY my food more because I know I can eat anything if I keep track. I don't feel guilty eating those chips, but enjoy them knowing I'm keeping them in control.
I love the meetings. They are highly motivational and give me a weekly books I look forward to them.
Also, I joined Jazzercise. It is fun, close to my house and I look forward to it. I am going 5 times a week.
These two things have added fun and health to my life. 20 pounds to go.
NOw, I have 2 older sons and I can leave them to do this. That is one of the perks of older kids.. I would not have been able to do this 5 years ago!
But, there are things you can do if you have little ones at home. WW is still an option if that is something that interests you. Also, I had a jogger I used to lose the baby weight with the first one, back when I could jog still. There are wonderful video tapes that you can find at the library or garage sales. I think the key is to find something you look forward to enough that you will do it at least 3 times and hopefully more per week.
I hope this helped. I am trying to look at why I want to lose weight from the right perspective and then trying to honetly look at my life, what works and use all the crutches I need to fashion something that will make a healthy lifestyle doable and fun.
Take anything that helps.. and ignore the rest.
Thanks for bringing this up.
__________________
Cindy in Texas
It Is About The Journey
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Molly Smith
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 08 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 669
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 10:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
>>one serving of oatmeal with 1/4 raisins mixed in. That really sticks to my ribs and I'm not looking for anything else to eat the rest of the day.<<
Oooh, I must've been really distracted when I wrote this! I meant 1/4 cup of raisins (not 1/4 of one raisin--now that would be a diet!), and that I wouldn't be looking for anything else the rest of the morning not the rest of the day!
I just wanted to add that I do put out fresh fruit every day for my kiddos to snack on. I inevitably end up snacking on it as well, but I'm better off with fruit than crackers or their other snack items. I've noticed that when I increase my fruit consumption, I usually drop a few pounds--could just be water, but even so! I will snack one way or another, it's just the way I am, so I try to be careful to have the good stuff out.
__________________
Molly Smith in VA
Mom to seven beautiful children, ages 1-14
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erica Sanchez
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 05 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1538
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 11:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just wanted to second the Light Weigh. I haven't used it, but my sister and several friends had great success with it. For my sister, it was a conversion experience because it was so Catholic, used lives of the saints and such to help with the whole 'why we eat' struggle.
Mary Chris, I don't have much other advice except maybe to eat lots and lots of fruits and vegetables and other whole foods. I read once to try to eat food as close to it's natural state as possible - use honey, molasses, etc. vs. refined white sugar, avoid all processed food, eat small amounts of ful-fat dairy instead of non-fat versions (something about the way it is processed isn't supposed to be good,)stuff like that. (I don't mean the raw diet, I don't know much about that). And then to exercise, exercise, exercise!! Any kind that you like and can keep up is great!
Now, how to get our tummies firm and flat?!?! Is that impossible after having children?!?!? I'd settle for even somewhat firmer and flatter!
We can do this!!! Let's keep thinking about the kind of mothers and grandmothers we would like to be. So much of our future health depends on what we do with our bodies today - maybe this can be our prayer and motivation!
__________________
Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 11:31am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Cindy wrote:
This is an excellent topic. I have always stuggled with my weight, and at times have had it well under control and been athletic. That is a great feeling and gives a sense of well-being.
I put myself on 'project' status about 6 weeks ago. I have lost 10 pounds. It was not easy, but I had to priortize things.
|
|
|
Cindy,
Good for you--this is really inspiring!
Did you know that back in Jan. I started a Catholic women's fitness and health group called Fit and Healthy Catholic Moms? I am sure you, like most of us, need another Yahoo group like you need a hole in your head , but the list has been really quiet lately and I know some of the women there could really use some inspiration. Any chance you could come over and share what you just wrote?
And all the rest of you are welcome to join us as well!
Blessings!
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cindy
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 01 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 235
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 11:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ok.. BION, I felt my post was incomplete.. after I wrote it -- something was missing as long as it was... 
When struggling with weight, vanity and what God wants for my life, I often thought about holy, wonderful, giving people I have known who are heavy. They are not focused on their weight, or if they are it is something they have used to incorporate into finding holiness, perhaps.
I think of people who throw vanity aside, such as Mother Angelica or Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa is not heavy, of course (and probably did not eat for comfort) but these people who are 'unlovely' by the world's standards are some of God's most beautiful creatures.
I thought, maybe I should accept myself, my weight and all and not worry. This was/is the part that takes soul searching. Our God is not 'one size fits all' (ooh.. there is a pun) in what he wants for us or for what we are to focus on. It is so individual and only we know if we are losing weight for the right reason- us and God.
I hope this makes sense. Maybe I will never lose the other 20 and God will make me holier through it. If I can accpet his will, but also try when he wants me to try I will be on the right track. Still looking for that track....
__________________
Cindy in Texas
It Is About The Journey
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 1:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Cindy wrote:
I realized the motives that were true were:
My health (seeing aging parents and seeing the death of a friend's mother at 68 who was NOT healthy makes me want to take the very best care of myself I can)
|
|
|
This definitely rings true for me. My husband's family has a history of heart attacks. I've always worried about his health more than mine, with a view to avoiding becoming an early widow from heart attack. In the past few years, however, I've heard of a handful of women (who were not much older than I am) suffering from heart attacks. Frankly, after hearing of the 3rd or 4th case of it, I started to think it could actually happen to me too someday, if I didn't do something about my health. Add to that the fact that I am much more aware of the difficulties of diabetes since two young friends of ours have it. Carrying around an extra 40 pounds and living a sedentary lifestyle definitely causes health risks for heart disease and diabetes. I want to enjoy my grandchildren someday! So I need to do something about that now.
Cindy wrote:
Exercise-
I had been walking the neighborhood while listening to books on tape. . . . Also, I joined Jazzercise. It is fun, close to my house and I look forward to it. I am going 5 times a week. . . .
NOw, I have 2 older sons and I can leave them to do this. That is one of the perks of older kids.. I would not have been able to do this 5 years ago! . . .
I think the key is to find something you look forward to enough that you will do it at least 3 times and hopefully more per week. |
|
|
This has been my dilemma. Back before I was married, I had a successful exercise routine going for a year or so there. It included a Christian aerobics class twice each week and a long swim at the local recreation center one other day each week. With the children and our schedule (including a very long commute for dh), I just can't make it work unless it includes the family or can be done here at home.
Last night I tried something new that I think might work, at least until the weather turns cold again. I took the girls up to the elementary school to play on the playground. While they played, I walked the track that circles near the playground. The great thing about this is that my girls will get time on a real playground, something that just doesn't happen around here regularly due to homeschooling. (I have felt guilty for awhile about the lack of trips to a playground, for my 2yo and 5yo in particular. We have a backyard swingset, but it's just not the same.) Dh couldn't be with us last night, but he said he is definitely interested in joining us from now on and getting some exercise too.
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MicheleQ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2193
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 1:26pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Erica Sanchez wrote:
| Now, how to get our tummies firm and flat?!?! Is that impossible after having children?!?!? I'd settle for even somewhat firmer and flatter! |
|
|
Erica,
It is possible. Have you heard of the Tupler method? You might want to check out this website http://www.maternalfitness.com/ and/or the bookLose Your Mummy Tummy.
God bless!
__________________
Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
tovlo4801
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 28 2005
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 386
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 3:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Cindy wrote:
I thought, maybe I should accept myself, my weight and all and not worry. This was/is the part that takes soul searching. Our God is not 'one size fits all' (ooh.. there is a pun) in what he wants for us or for what we are to focus on. It is so individual and only we know if we are losing weight for the right reason- us and God.
|
|
|
This is a tough question, but I really believe it is a very important one. You really do need to look closely at your motivation. I worry deeply about the motivation of appearance. It can be a very effective motivator, but I believe it is a terribly sinister one as well. It can either subtly or dramatically lead you down a road where you find yourself viewing yourself and those around you by their appearance. I also worry that it is a temporary motivator. So many people who try to lose weight for appearance either don't succeed or only succeed for a short-term period.
If a person is at a healthy weight (even if you feel like you'd look better 5-10 lbs less), I'd strongly caution against approaching diet and exercise as a weight loss tool. I rather suggest the person focus on learning about how quality food and exercise improves the way their body functions. If you look at healthy older people, they are generally people who have moderate and healthy eating and exercise habits. They don't perpetually diet and they don't go to extremes in exercise. I believe these are people who have truly tried to understand their bodies and how to properly take care of them.
There are many people who are very healthy who are a little overweight. These are people who care more about eating good food and exercising than people who care about being a certain weight. And there are very unhealthy people who are the "perfect" weight. They care more about being a certain weight than taking care of their body.
I am not perfect at keeping the perspective straight. I'm quite likely to find myself worrying when my hips seem a little bigger.
You should be pleased with whatever size you are if you are sincerely making efforts to learn about what is healthy for your body and to incorporate new habits. You are in a much better place if you are doing this even if you are 30 lbs overweight than if you are ideal weight and eating junk and not exercising. (though if you are eating well and exercising I think it's unlikely you'll actually stay 30 lbs overweight. 5-10 maybe, but then maybe your body needs those lbs anyway.)
I have to try and tackle one more thing. The time to do this. It's doable. It just needs to be a priority and you have to be willing to step back and take a long view instead of hoping for immediate results. It is really hard to completely overhaul your life and not upset the whole family. It is hard to know exactly what to do if you haven't had a healthy lifestyle before and it can all seem overwhelming. You probably don't have the extra time to make these changes just sitting there in your life waiting for something to fill it up. You're going to have to make choices. You're going to have to give up something to make some room for some of these things. So you have to commit to small changes. Let yourself and your family get used to one until it becomes somewhat natural and then add another change. If your going to eat more fruits and vegetables, change 1-2 meals a week at first until you find some things you and your family are comfortable with. Add a 30 minute walk each day sometime when your dh is home to watch the kids or have older kids in charge while you and dh go or take one of your kids and have one-on-one time with them while you walk. Get used to that in your schedule and then make another change. Obviously this is probably not going to result in 30lb weight loss in a few months, but it's probably much more likely to result in long term changes that will leave you a healthier person.
So that's my take on it.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erica Sanchez
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 05 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1538
|
| Posted: May 04 2005 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Michele! No excuse not to give it a try now!
__________________
Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: If you have lost weight
