P90 Day 4: Bands vs. Weights

  Today's workout is another circuit training session.  In other words, strength training.  As such, the program calls for a choice of either hand weights or resistance bands.  Both are great tools for building muscle and burning fat.  The decision to use one over the other depends on your own preferences and needs.
   Personally, I like hand weights.  You get a range of motion with hand weights that is not possible with resistance bands.  The weight is also consistent throughout each motion unlike resistance bands which add more resistance the farther they are stretched.  If I had to choose, I would prefer hand weights over resistance bands any day.

   With that said, I actually use is resistance bands.  Why?  Because they really do give nearly as good a workout as free weights.  Most importantly they are much cheaper.  With hand weights you must buy each size as you grow stronger and that money adds up.  However,  Go Fit has a set of bands you can buy at once.  I can progress to a higher weight without spending more money.  Finally, resistance bands are very compact.  I live in a modest apartment without room to store various sized weights, but my resistance bands fit neatly in a small bag in the closet.
   Maybe someday money won't be an issue and I'll have a house big enough to store the extra weights but for now I will stick to my bands.  The important thing is that I am still getting the exercise I need.

   Do you prefer weights or bands?  Why?

P90 Day 2: Adapting to Challenges

   Despite a day of working two jobs and dealing with several unexpected twist and turns I managed to squeeze in my P90 workout.  Today was a cardio abs day and that offered a little challenge in my apartment.  You see I live on the second floor of an older apartment complex.  The result is that sound (including footsteps) pass easily down to the apartment below.  Out of respect for my neighbors I have retired my Dance Dance Revolution game and generally attempt to keep the noise down.  But how can I do that while doing a video that includes jumping jacks and run lunges?
   The answer is, I adapt them.  These exercises also work well for beginners who cannot yet do everything on the video.  Live Strong has an excellent article on alternatives to jumping jacks.  The one I've been doing is a combination of the standard low-impact jack and the squat jack.  The running lunge I convert into regular lunges.  There is also a segment in which you are supposed to jump from side to side.  On the video, Tony Horton offers an alternative of doing a step touch instead.  I did the step touch instead today, but I may be googling different exercises to make it more of a challenge.

  Do you know any exercises that would be a good substitution for jumping?

P90 Day 1- What I'm Doing Different

   I started my P90 challenge this morning and I feel great.  Today was a circuit training day and I put my resistance bands to good use (more on resistance bands later).  I am looking forward to doing cardio abs tomorrow.
   For this 90 day round I am focusing on the workout.  The P90 program also includes a nutritional plan and supplements.  I am ignoring these for the moment because I like what I am already doing in these areas.  In a previous article I wrote about 'Forks Over Knives' a documentary which has greatly influenced how I eat.  For the past eight months I have followed a plant based diet and have no intention of changing.  The P90 nutrition program may be worth a try for any omnivores out there.  The recipes I skimmed looked good and I do occasionally use their recipe for homemade fries, but what little I've seen is not catered to us herbivores.   As for supplements, I  take a multivitamin every day and my plant based diet is rich in vitamins and minerals.

   For anyone interested in P90.  I tried to find a clip of the video on you tube.  The only one I found that had the video itself is a short infomercial.   I do not have all of the extra materials they advertise since I got it second hand, but so far I haven't missed them.

Do you have a favorite workout?  If so what is it?

The P90 Project

  Some time ago a family member gave me a used copy of the P90 workout (not to be confused P90X).  For those who have never heard of it, P90 is a carefully planned workout consisting of two alternating workouts; cardio/abs and strength training designed to give a total body workout.  There are even extra videos as you advance to a higher level.
  According to their website, P90 is supposed to transform my body in 90 days.  I have decided to put them to the test.  Starting tomorrow I plan to commit myself to the workouts for 90 days and see what happens.  I will let you know how I am doing along the way.  Hopefully I will end up with a leaner, stronger body at the end.  Wish me luck.
    What workout programs have you tried, and what were the results?

Count Down to Shiny Pants

   My progress so far- When I joined a gym two years ago, I did something I was avoiding for years.  I stepped on a scale.  The word that best describes that moment is 'horrifying'.  I knew I was overweight, even obese, but I had no idea how far I had let myself go.  Now two years later, I am 54 pounds lighter and counting.  I still have a long way to go.  It took me 32 years to reach my heaviest weight, it will take me a while to take it off.

   So what does this have to do with shiny pants?  I am glad you asked.  In a previous post, I wrote about my purple dress that I hope to wear again one day.  I am still far from that goal, but I find that to reach my large goals I must set a series of smaller goals.  One of these goals is my shiny pants.
   My shiny pants are a pair of jean in my drawer that I have not been able to wear for a few years.  They are my favorite jeans, because if they catch the light they shine.  It is not a tacky shine, but  a subtle shine; just enough to be interesting.  They are very cute and two years ago, I could scarcely pull them up, let alone zip them closed.  Today I can almost wear them.  A few more pounds and I should be able to wear them in public again.  My goal is to debut them on my birthday in a few weeks.  Wish me luck.

            What is the one item in your closet you wish you could wear again?

Review: Forks Over Knives

    In our efforts to save money,  my husband and I discovered that Netflix is much cheaper than cable.  Therefore I have enjoyed surfing the site and finding new and interesting thing to watch.  Some time ago I found several documentaries about health that I deserve sharing.  In this first review, I will discuss 'Forks Over Knives'.
    Released in 2011, 'Forks Over Knives' focuses on the research of two doctors; Dr. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.  These two doctors independently came to the same conclusion regarding health.  The best way to avoid or even treat deadly diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer is through a whole foods plant based diet.
    Dr. Campbell came to this conclusion through his research.  While working in the Philippines in the late 1960's, he noticed that there was a high rate of liver cancer among the children of affluent families but not poor families.  (Liver cancer is typically found in adults.)  Genetically they were the same, but the affluent families ate a lot of meat which the poor families could not afford.  He hypothesized that there could be a connection.  Then he found an article from a little known Indian medical journal about a study done on mice.  Researchers took two groups of mice.  They fed one group a diet of 20% animal protein and the second group a diet of 5% animal protein.  The group with 20% animal protein began developing tumors while the group with 5% animal protein did not.  Dr. Campbell was intrigued by this and replicated the experiment with the same results.  He also discovered that by switching the diet from 20% protein back to 5% protein he could halt the growth of the tumors.  When he tried the experiment with plant based protein he did not get the same result.  Later, in the 1980's Dr. Campbell along with Dr. Junshi Chen started the famous China Study, a comprehensive study of why some populations in China have a higher rate of cancer deaths than others.  After many years of work, they discovered that the areas which ate more meat developed more cancer.  He concluded from all this research that a whole foods plant based diet could prevent or perhaps even halt cancer.
    Dr. Esselstyn began his medical career as a surgeon specializing in breast cancer.  He eventually became head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the Cleveland Clinic.  He became frustrated that while they treated the disease, they did little to prevent people from getting it in the first place.  He started researching breast cancer around the world and found some startling facts.  He found that in 1958 the number of prostate cancer deaths in the entire nation of Japan was 18 but 14,000 in the US.  And in Norway in 1939, the number of  deaths from heart attacks plummeted when the Nazis came and confiscated the live stock.  But when they left in 1945, and the Norwegians returned to a diet with more animal protein heart attacks rose again.  Dr Esselstyn wanted to study his theory.  Unable to do the study on breast cancer victims, he decided to focus on patients with heart disease.  He requested and was given 24 patients with coronary artery disease, however the patients he was given were even sicker than he imagined.  One woman was told by her doctor to basically go home and wait for death.  Many had failed their bypass operations.  Dr. Esselstyn had his patients eat a whole foods plant based diet.   Of the patients that stayed with the program, none had any further progression of heart disease and most showed evidence of reversal.
   This is a small sample of the information in this documentary.  After viewing it, my husband and I decided to give a whole foods plant based diet a try.  I will write more on that in the future.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
        Do you think you would try a whole foods plant based (vegan) diet a try?

Why I Stopped Couponing

     For those of us who live in the South East, today begins a very important week: Super Double Coupon Week at Harris Teeter stores.  If you are unfamiliar with Harris Teeter's coupon policy, Harris Teeter grocery stores will double coupons up to $.98 but on Super Double Coupon week they will double coupons up to $2.  This usually results in a frenzy to get the best deals before they are gone.  I know, I've been there.  You can get some items for very little money or sometimes even free.  For example if an item costs $4 and you have a $1.50 off coupon, you can purchase that item for $1.  If the item happens to be on sale that week it is even better.  Imagine the same $4 item is on sale for $3 that week.  After you double your coupon, you will get it for free.  I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of free.  So why with all these savings available, am I not scouring sales papers in an effort to get free groceries?
     In my efforts to be more frugal, I started couponing about a year and a half ago.  And continued for several months.  In that time I came to several conclusions.
                    1. Couponing saves a lot of money
      Couponing is not for everyone, but many people find that it's a great way to feed their families for a reasonable price.  In fact, I recommend trying it for a while and seeing if it is for you.  The true savings is not in the coupon itself (often only a few cents off the price), but in pairing that coupon with sales and specials (such as double or triple coupon deals).  You could search the local advertisements yourself, or you could find one of numerous sites that match them for you.  For those in the South East I recommend Southern Savers, but there are other sites for different regions.  These sites often have excellent tutorials on how to get started.
                    2.  Most of the food coupons are for processed food and cleaning products
      If you didn't already know, I am on a quest to loose weight and keep it off (30 lbs so far).  I put a lot of research into the best way to accomplish this and one thing I've learned is to avoid processed foods whenever possible.  Most contain high fructose corn syrup and/or large amounts of salt.  They also often contain harmful chemicals.  I have decided to eat few if any of these foods and therefore many of my coupons are rendered obsolete.  As for cleaning products, they can indeed be useful, but I am trying to reduce the amount of chemicals in my home.  Most cleaning products are full of harmful chemicals.  Plus you can save nearly as much money by making your own.
                  3. Couponing takes time
     There are several methods of couponing.  Some cut out all the coupons and file them in a coupon filer or a binder.  Other's file the coupon flyers, use their favorite website to match the coupons for them and then cut out only the ones they plan on using.  I have tried both methods and they both take a significant amount of time.  Whether or not you can spend the time on this is up to your own schedule and priorities.

     Couponing is a great tool for saving money.  But for myself, the scarcity of coupons for healthy products, added with the significant amount of time involved led me to stop.  I may eventually go back, but for right now, I find other ways to save.  But that doesn't mean I won't check out coupons.com on occasion.  It is Super Double Coupon week after all.

Do you use coupons?

The Dangers of Sugar

  Sugar is everywhere.   It is in our juice and bacon in the morning, the bread we make our sandwiches with, and even the can of tomatoes we add to our dinner.  Is it any wonder we gain weight?  The producers of our food are now putting sugar in its various forms in many products that we would never even think of as having sugar.
  There is so much conflicting information out there about the best way to loose weight.  In the 1980's, the American Heart Association told everyone that the way to loose weight is to reduce fat.  They wanted the American people to reduce their fat consumption from 40% to 30%.  Well congratulations America we did it.  But what happened?  We weigh more than ever.  I believe there is more than one reason for this, but one of the primary reasons is sugar.
  I love sugar.  I confess to being a chocoholic.  I would eat ice cream everyday if I let myself.  Fried foods have never been a big weakness for me, but sugar is.  Therefore it is with a heavy heart that I have reduced the sugar in my life.
  I always knew that sugar was bad for me, but I never realized how bad it was or how prevalent a problem it had become until I saw a lecture on youtube.com.  The video is a lecture by Dr. Robert Lustig called sugar the bitter truth.  It is an hour and a half long, and contains a lot of biochemistry that is way over my head.  The information it contains has the potential to change the way you look at food.  I highly recommend you take the time to watch it.  If an hour and a half is too long, someone has made an eleven minute summary called sugar the bitter truth (the short version).
  I do not believe that I need to give up all sugar.  But now that I am aware of just how big a problem it can be I will take steps to limit the amount of sugar I eat.  I now read labels before I purchase a product.  I watch out for sugar synonyms such as: sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, and syrup to name a few.  Instead of sweets, I am filling my home with fruit.   Surprisingly, this seems to satisfy my sweet tooth.  However, I will allow myself a slice of cake on birthdays.

After you watch the videos, please share your thoughts.

Recipe: Berry Delicious Green Smoothie

   I don't know about you, but I have trouble making myself eat enough vegetables.  It's not that I hate them per se.  I just prefer to eat other things.  In the past, I have enjoyed V8 Splash which it turns out is full of high fructose corn syrup, and V8 Fusion which is healthier but still expensive.  Recently I've learned of this recipe.  Like V8 Splash and V8 Fusion it uses fruit to mask the taste of vegetables resulting in a sweet drink that's actually good for you.  It really helps me increase my servings of veggies and adds a nice little snack to my afternoons.

• 1 cup apple juice or water (I use water, it's cheaper and has no sugar)
• Handful of spinach OR collard OR kale leaves (In my experience, spinach is the best)
• 1 frozen banana (previously peeled and frozen) (you can use a room temperature banana if you don't mind your drink a little less cold)
• 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries
• optional: 1/2 cup frozen raspberries (actually any frozen berries will do)

 In your blender puree the juice/water and greens first.  Then add the frozen fruit and blend together with greens until creamy.  If a thinner smoothie is desired, add more water until desired consistency.  Can also add ice for a thicker, colder smoothie.  For a sweeter smoothie add more berries.

 Note: I have no children, but I have heard that this can be a good way to sneak some veggies to picky kids.

New Years Resolutions 2012

   In a blog about changing your life, I would be remiss if I did not write about new years resolutions.  Tomorrow is New Years Day. It is the time when people everywhere promise to make changes in the coming year, but few of them last until February.  Does this mean we should give up on the whole resolution business? No.  We should instead examine our previous attempts and fix whatever we did wrong.
   One common error is that we often make our resolutions vague.  Without a clear plan of action, we almost never achieve what we set out to do.  For example, we may say we want to loose weight, but if we do not plan how we are going to bring this about, we will probably to loose anything.
   Another common error is to set unrealistic goals.  In our weight loss example, if I say I want to loose 75 pounds by the summer, I am setting myself up for failure.  Instead I could try to loose a more reasonable one to three pounds a week.  As long as you are taking steps towards your goal it is okay if it takes a while.

 
  Finally, don't be discouraged by your mistakes.  One of my goals for last year, was to learn how to keep a container garden for vegetables and herbs.  I have always had a bit of a black thumb and for years I gave up on growing plants.  But last year I decided to give it a go.  Well needless to say it did not go well.  After I planted we had a freak rain storm that completely swamped my pots and killed my little plants.  I was very discouraged, but now I know not to put the pots where they get all the runoff from the roof.  I don't know if I will succeed this year, but even if I fail, I will learn from it.
  So what are my resolutions this year.  I am not going to count my three goals as resolutions, because I am already doing them.  Instead, I am making smaller goals to help bring about the larger ones.

Resolution 1: Once again I am going to attempt to grow my own herbs and vegetables.  Do the upside down tomatoes really work?
Resolution 2: Pay off my car.  I'm not sure if I can actually do this in a year, but I can at least pay off most of it.
Resolution 3: Finish my novel. Okay I confess I've made this resolution every year since 2006, but with all the time management skills I'm learning I can pull this off.
Resolution 4: Remember to send people birthday cards this year.

What is your New Years Resolution?

Recipe: Texas Chili

  A couple of months ago my gym hosted a talk from a nutritionist.  In addition to all the helpful information she provided, she also gave us several recipes.  This is one of my favorites.  It is different from most other chili recipes I've tried, but I love it.  It's not spicy but very flavorful.  I added a couple of notes of my own to the recipe below.  It has quickly become a favorite in our house.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

1/2 lb ground turkey (omit for vegetarian)
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic
1 can of diced fire roasted tomatoes (I use 1 cup fresh diced tomato)
1 can sauce
1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)  (If you cook your own 1 1/2 cup = 1can)
1/2-1 cup water
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 green bell pepper (chopped or chunks)
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder

In a large soup pot cook meat, onions, and garlic together.  If not using meat, add some olive oil to cook the onion and garlic.  Cook until onions are tender, add the rest of ingredients, stir and bring to a boil on medium heat.   Turn down to simmer for 30 min.

1/2 cup serving w/ meat and beans is 19g protein, without is 9g protein.
1/2 cup serving w/ meat 225 calories, without meat is 125 calories.

Happy Healthy Halloween

    Halloween is less than a week away.  It gestures in a new holiday season with all of the temptations that entails.  If you are not prepared yet, now is the time to get ready.  As a kid I always loved Halloween. I really loved to dress up in a costume (still do) and pretend to be something I'm not for a night.  Most of all I loved the candy.  We would always go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood and usually had a fall festival at church.  We would come home with those little orange pumpkins stuffed with candy.  One year my sister my sister won a cake walk, so we also carried home an enormous caramel cake (yum!).  Now I am older and finally have to grow up and worry about things like weight and "will this give me diabetes?"  I look at children today and the things they eat and I worry about the next generation.  The question I ask myself is:  Can I in good conscience distribute a food to children that is so profoundly unhealthy?  I have no answer to this.  I do love to answer the door and see all the cute little kids dressed in their little costumes.  I love watching their faces light up when I give them the candy.  Plus it is only once a year.  However, Christmas is once a year as well, so is Thanksgiving, and birthdays, and many other events all of which involve food.  The candy we distribute hopefully will not be eaten in one night, but over a period of days, weeks, or even months.  There is no way to know exactly how many kids will come to your door, so  you may very well have leftover candy, lying around begging to be eaten.
   So what can be done?  I have been trying to think of alternatives to sugary candy, but I don't want to be the woman who hands out toothbrushes.  I want kids to like what I give them.  I remember as a child that some people would give out boxes of raisins.  This is ok, but there are many kids who don't like raisins.  Even if they do, it's a bit of a let down to receive raisins when you were expecting candy.  Another possibility is to buy sugar-free candy.  This is slightly better, but falls short of being called healthy.  Companies such as Oriental Trading Company, offer small toys in bulk.  This way the kids can have something fun to play with, and I would avoid giving them the candy.  One final option comes from something I received in my little pumpkin as a kid.  I seem to remember someone handing out roles of pennies.  I liked this one, because I could do anything I wanted with it.
   Whether or not I hand out healthy alternatives, the kids will still get plenty of sugary snacks from others. And, when I have children, I am sure I will dress them in little costumes and take them trick-or-treating.  But, I do believe that I can make a difference no matter how small it is.

Why I Joined a Gym

A couple of months ago, I mentioned in a post that I was considering joining a gym.  The problem is that I am not only trying to get healthy I am also trying to get out of debt.  I am cutting back on any extra expenses in order to use the money I save to pay down on my debt.  So why did I join a gym?  Why didn't I just start jogging in the mornings or use my workout videos?
  Everyone has there own set of challenges.  I have tried and failed to loose weight many, many times.  Before I started this time, I first thought back on all of my previous attempts to figure out what went wrong.  The answer I decided was accountability.  When I work out on my own, I tend to get caught up in other things and never get started.  It's not that I don't like to work out, I do, but I get caught up in a TV show or a book or realize I need to do the dishes.  The next thing I know it is time for bed and I still haven't worked out.  The times in my life when I have worked out the most consistently where when I had someone to work out with.  I couldn't put it off if I had someone waiting for me.  In grad school, I went to the gym with my friend Vanessa.  When I live overseas, my roommates and I took karate.
   So what does this have to do with the gym?   Well, I needed someone to work out with.  Most of my friends live too far away to work with.  As for the friends who live nearby, I have a crazy schedule and so do most of them.  I might be able to do one or two days a week with them, but that is not enough.  So I thought of the gym.
   The gym I go to is called Omni and it is right across the road from my apartment.  I have actually been a member in the past so I was already familiar with the facilities.  The deciding factor were the classes.  Classes meet at the same time every week.  Unlike working on my own, I can't put them off.  As I keep going to the same classes, I get to know people and they will know if I do not show up.  I have picked three classes I can attend on a regular basis and I try not to miss.  So far it's working.  I am working out 3-4 days a week for the first time in years.  My clothes are fitting better, and I feel stronger.
   The gym may cost a little extra per month, but I believe that the benefits to my health far out way the price. It's not for everyone, but it works for me.   How do you workout?

TIP:  If you do decide to join a gym, it may be possible to talk their price down.  I paid no joining fees and my monthly payments are less than they quoted, because I talked them down.

Saving On Groceries with Angel Food

   Has anyone seen the prices at the grocery store?  I'm looking at the Harris Teeter sales for this week and what strikes me is how high the sale prices are.  So when I try to shop on a budget, I often find myself buying a lot of carbs and not a lot of protein.  One way I combat this is through Angel Food Ministries.

About 90% of this is from Angel Food

   Angel Food Ministries was founded in 1994 by Joe and Linda Wingo of Monroe, GA.  It is a ministry to provide affordable food to people across the United States.  The concept is simple.  Every month Angel Food publishes a menu on it's website.  http://www.angelfoodministries.com/  This menu has several options or boxes. This month the boxes range from $17 (Just 4 Me- After School Fruit and Veggie Box) to $55 (Pastor Joe's Premium Box).  You can buy one box or a combination of boxes.  This is open to everyone.  They do not check family size, income level, or background.  There is a deadline for order's each month.  To find out what it is you must first find a host site.  The host sites are primarily churches (for my non-christian friends you don't have to be a christian for this I've never had anyone preach at me) you simply type in your address and chose the location most convenient for you.  This site will have list it's deadline and pickup time.  In my area there are about three host site's nearby.  The good thing about that is I can choose the one with the best pickup time for me.  For example, this month my online order deadline is August 21 and my pickup time is August 27 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.  It is extremely important to pick up on time.  They will not save the food.  Any boxes leftover will be donated to a food kitchen.

  So is it worth the trouble?  Well that depends.  Usually the answer is yes.  I look at the menu every month an d decide.  But as a comparison,  let's look at this month's menu and compare it to Harris Teeter sales.  I tried to pick Harris Teeter sales that were similar to what Angel Food was serving.  This month:

 Angel Food's Bread of Life                                   Harris Teeter

1 deli sliced ham                                                    Deli sliced meat: $3.50

Roger Wood Sausage Dogs                                   Beef Franks $4.50

Ground Beef                                                          Ground Beef $7.99

Boneless Chicken Breast 1.5lbs                              Boneless Chicken breast $2.47lb (1.5lbs=$3.71)

Chicken leg quarters 4lbs                                       Chicken Drumsticks $1.27lb (4lbs=$5.08)

Ground Turkey 1lb                                                 Frozen Turkey Breast $1.37lb (1lb=$1.37)

 Steak Burgers 1.5lb                                               Boneless Chuck Steak $3.97lb (1.5lbs=5.96)

Mac and Beef                                                         Quick Sides $3.99

10 other items                                                       

Total: 18 items                                                        Total: 8 items

Cost: $35                                                                Cost: $36.11

I hope this helps.  How do you save money on groceries?

UPDATE:  Sadly, since writing this post Angel Food Ministries has gone out of business.  They will be greatly missed.  I will write again if I can find another similar program.

My Purple Dress

I love my purple dress.  It's color suits me, It has a jacket for when it's cold, but when it's warm it transforms into a lovely sleeveless.  When it fits, it flatters me perfectly.  The only problem is that it hasn't fit in a long time.  It's probably out of fashion now, but I don't care.  I keep my dress because I know that some day I will wear it again.  That is my goal.  Some people have a weight goal, but mine is a dress goal.  I read recently in that I should get rid of the clothes that no longer fit me.  The author maintained that these clothes are reminders of our failure to loose weight.  I disagree.  Only clothes that are too big should go.  After all, there is no going back on this journey.  I keep a box of my old clothes, so that someday when my current size is too big I can wear them again.  This time next year I plan to wear my dress again.

Is HAES a good idea?

While surfing the web the other day, I found an article about Healthy at Every Size (HAES).  I had never heard of this and it peaked my interest, so I followed the link to it's web site.  The Health At Every Size movement is based on three ideas:

1. Self-Acceptance
2. Physical Activity
3. Normalized Eating

The idea is that normal diets do not work and can in fact cause more harm than good.  Studies show us that yo-yo dieters are in worse shape in the long run than those who do not diet at all.  HAES focuses instead of accepting yourself no mater what  size you are.  Put away the scale it's not important anyway.  What is important is health.  But how can we become healthy if traditional diets can not keep us healthy in the long run?  First, we need to add physical activity.  This does not mean we have to hire a personal trainer.  We should find something we enjoy doing even if it's just dancing around the house.  As for dieting, HAES argues that restrictive diets are impossible to keep up in the long run.  It encourages people to pay attention to their own bodies and eat only when they "eat in response to physiological hunger and fullness cues."  HAES seeks to dispel myths and prejudices about being overweight by sifting the focus of peoples sizes.

   In general, I applaud the HAES movement.  It recognizes that people come in all shapes and sizes and takes the attention off appearance and on to health.  I recognize some of the things I am trying to do in this movement (i.e. not dieting but maintaining a healthy lifestyle).  There is one thing that concerns me:  "We’ve lost the war on obesity. Fighting fat hasn’t made the fat go away. And being thinner, even if we knew how to successfully accomplish it, will not necessarily make us healthier or happier." (http://www.haescommunity.org/index.php)  I'm not ready to wave a white flag and just accept the way I am. I still think my size is very unhealthy and I wish to change it.  I have what I believe are reasonable goals I wish to reach.  I may not be putting an emphasis on the scale, but by restructuring my life along more healthy lines, I believe the weight will naturally improve.  What do you think about this?  Is this a more realistic way to achieve long term results?  Or is this just a way of saying we give up?

For more information:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/mar06/health0306.htm

http://www.lindabacon.org/HAESbook/

http://www.haescommunity.org/index.php

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36922036/ns/health-womens_health/t/can-you-be-healthy-any-size/

Goal 2: Get Healthy

   Out of my three goals, this is the hardest one for me.  I have been trying to loose weight since I was a kid, but have not been able to stick to any plan long term.  This has got to change.  I am not going to try any fad diets, nor do I plan to count every calorie.  The only way to achieve long term success is to eat healthier and exercise.  I am going to try to limit my shopping to healthier foods.  If the unhealthy food is not in the house, hopefully I won't be tempted to eat it.  Exercise is the main thing I need to work on.  It is not that I don't enjoy exercise.  Once I get started I have a great time.  I just get so distracted by other things that I usually get to the end of the day and realize that I never made the time.  I do best when I am held accountable by someone else.  Here's a question I am struggling with.  I am trying to save money, but if I join a gym and attend classes that might help keep me accountable.  I am trying to decide if I should save money and workout on my own, or if I should spare $39 per month and join the gym across the street.  What do you think?
Update:  I joined the gym after all.

The Three Goals

God, Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to Change the things I cannot accept,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Serenity Prayer

Change is possible. There are three general areas of my life I have wished to improve upon for a long time. I have worked on each of these three goals for many years,  

focusing on one or another for periods of time. Although I have experienced limited 

success, for the most part I have not been able to obtain my goals. I believe that this is because in focusing on one area I neglect the others. Ultimately I plan to achieve all 

three goals and therefore must change my behavior in all areas to succeed.

So what are my three goals?

Goal 1: Get financially stable
Goal 2: Get healthy
Goal 3: Get organized

I will be posting once a week (probably on Wednesdays) about achieving these goals. In doing so, I hope to keep myself accountable to you, the reader, and to encourage any of you who may share my struggles. The change starts now.