BulgingButtons

Not bad for a fat girl

Category Archives: Exercise


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Going Down

Not that kind of going down, sheesh!

Nope, this is the kind of going down that’s the result of making some positive behavior changes, and oh yeah, taking a little bit of medicine too.

You see, I got some unhappy news back in June when I went to the doctor, so I had to make some changes. More veggies, lean protein, and most important of all, a lot fewer sweets have passed my lips since that day. I’ve also upped my exercise game. Well, I move a lot more, anyway.

A couple of weeks ago I had my physical, and today was the day I went in to review the results with my health care provider (he’s a PA, and I’m a big fan of his). Well, the results were good. Really, really good. We did a happy dance in the office, and my visit ended with a hug (seriously, he was as thrilled as I was). I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that happy leaving the doctor’s office.b1c8b3bc34b4496bebcaf5db58cd502d.jpg

Weight is down.

Cholesterol is down.

Blood sugar is down.

Risk factor for a cardiac “event” is down.

I’ve never felt so up about being down.

So yes, I can do this, and yes, it’s worth it. I feel better, I look better, and I have more energy. I’m also doing myself a big favor by making these choices. Some days it’s easier than others, and yes, I still mess up, but overall I’m doing pretty well. I hope you are too.

The things that have helped the most are:

  1. doling out my medicine into one of those pill sorter thingies… I used to think they were for doddering old fools, until I needed one
  2. jogging in my pool… this is still the only exercise that I truly enjoy and I plan to keep doing it as long as the water stays warm
  3. mostly switching from Starbucks frappucinos to the coffee at work (with some delicious flavored creamer, but hey, it’s still way better than a frappucino).
  4. cooking at home more…this way I have control over the ingredients
  5. weekly fitbit challenges with my friend… he regularly kills me, but it does keep me moving

What keeps you on the right track? I’d love to know.


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Walking in Figure Eights

Since school let out, I have some time at home. This free time is both a pleasure and a problem. The pleasure is that I have time to relax, clean up, read, rest, and work on both my summer writing project work and my school work for next year (it comes so quickly).

The problem is that my house is where I keep food (don’t you?) and it’s not exactly a gym (thank goodness). At this point in my life, I need to eat better and eat less, and I need to move more. Being home seems to be at odds with both of those goals. How to cope? Well, here’s what I’m trying:

  1. Get rid of the crap. This isn’t difficult in and of itself, it’s the fact that I live with other people who are healthy and normal and don’t sabotage themselves by overeating particular foods. So far, though, having certain foods in the house hasn’t been a big deal. I just don’t have the foods that I crave, like ice cream, for example. My sweetheart’s chips aren’t that big a draw for me, at least not yet.
  2. 51PoQ8xw5IL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpgPlan meals. Picking out meals ahead of time, and shopping for those specific ingredients has been helping. I’m not even too stressed about the specific recipes at this point, as long as I know they’re made with real ingredients (as opposed to heavily processed foods) I’m okay with them. My go-to cookbook is Saving Dinner by Leanne Ely. She’s a certified nutritionist and the recipes are simple and delicious. Her website, SavingDinner.com has tons of free recipes.
  3. Buy good food. What works for me might not work for you, but having stuff I like that’s also good for me helps. I have more fruit in my house, more vegetables, more cottage cheese and yogurt, more oatmeal and cereal, more hard-boiled eggs, and more nuts than I have at other times. These foods fuel me in a way that doesn’t include tons of empty calories.
  4. water-bottle-png-1Drink that water. I get thirsty. I drink. I get hungry. I drink. I take meds. I drink. I want something in my hand. I drink. Drinking water moves me through the day (and down the hall to the restroom…more steps!).
  5. Pay attention to my Fitbit. When it says I better get moving I listen (usually). Every hour we should be moving our bodies, and if I don’t have a certain number of steps with ten minutes left in the hour the Fitbit gives me a reminder to get to it. Sometimes I march in place, and sometimes I walk figure eights around my kitchen island and couch. Why not just go outside? Because we’re already over a hundred degrees here, but the pool is still cold (well, by my picky standards). Soon, though, I’ll be walking laps in there.

I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, and hopefully that little switch in my brain will click into the spot that helps me rather than sabotages me. I’m so thankful to all the wonderful positive people who have stepped forward to offer encouragement. This is a never-ending battle, but one I can’t afford to lose.