Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Get Healthy BlogHop




Today I'm taking part in the the Get Healthy Blog Hop, hosted by Michael Di Gesu, Stephen TrempSpunk on a Stick, and Alex J.

I have been struggling with my weight for years.  I have followed just about every diet out there.  I've had personal trainers and gym memberships.  I've read the books and I've taken the classes.  I am a health care professional.

Around Christmas time, I was searching my computer for pictures of my kiddo, and I began to notice a trend - I wasn't in many pictures, and if I was, I was hiding in the back trying to cover my spare tire - years of pictures and I could count how many I appeared in!  There were hundreds of photos of kiddo with family and friends and 10 of her and I together.  A lump formed in my throat, time to re-evaluate things.

I didn't think I ate that badly.  I had a physically demanding job.  I was walking to work most days and taking a weekly Zumba class.

In January I purchased a FitBit and set daily goal of 10,000 steps and 2,500 calories to burn - it became a mini challenge with myself.  But, temptation came knocking and I started to cheat on myself. (starting to sound familiar?)

In February I went to Ontario to visit friends from school, I was the heaviest I had ever been.  The 2 pictures I appeared in during that trip brought tears to my eyes.  I knew I needed to do something drastic.  Before the month of February was over I had signed onto a low carb, low sugar, no alcohol diet.  I talked a few friends into swimming with me, walking with me, zumba with me, and training for a 5K race with me.

I have lost 56 pounds since February.

My tips to you:

Water - drink LOTS of water, it is great for your muscles and will help you feel full longer (don't say you dislike the taste of water... add cucumber, mint leaves, lime, lemon, orange, crystal light or mio to flavor it, its much better for you than soda).

Move - stretch - bend - your body will thank you for it.  I tell all of my massage clients to stretch, it releases endorphins, prevents spasms, and feels good.  We are not made to sit behind a computer 8 hours a day.  Start small, be content running 1 minute today try for 2 tomorrow.

Eat - healthier, lower fat selections.  Instead of deep fried french fries try oven roasted turnip fries, skim milk instead of whole, fruit rather than a cookie.  Watch your portion sizes - just because its on your plate doesn't mean you have to finish it all.

Find a buddy!  Someone with similar goals, someone who will encourage you, motivate you, listen to you, share recipes with you, and old you accountable.  If you can't find someone in the 3D world, find someone online there are some great bloggers out here and very supporting discussion boards, if you can't find anyone email me! (seriously)

Don't get discouraged.  You didn't gain 10 pounds over night, you won't lose it over night.  Set mini goals and when you reach them don't celebrate with food!  :)

My net goal is to finish my first 5K on June 16th

39 comments:

  1. That is quite a change! It does help to have someone who is working with you. And yes, drink more water!
    Thanks for participating in our bloghop!

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    1. I need someone to make me feel accountable :)

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  2. Good luck with your goal! Those are some great tips :)

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  3. Wonderful post, I too count my steps and calories each day, as for losing weight the slower you lose it the longer it stays off. Plenty of water and walks for me.
    Yvonne.

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  4. Good for you!!!!! As for me, I already eat pretty healthy. Small portions, etc. I don't drink water but crystal lite which has no calories. Still, can't lose weight. But i have my guy on a real strict diet for health reasons and I'm doing as much of it as I can too.

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  5. Wow..congratulations on the big changes in your life.

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  6. I'm bad for remembering the water. I tend to remember it more in the summer.

    Congrats on the weight loss, and more importantly all the changes in your life that have led up to it. :D

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    1. water - good for the muscles and helps you feel full :)

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  7. Awesome post! Congrats on the results. And its important to to get discouraged. Stay around people who will encourage you to do better!

    And thanks for participating!

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    1. you really do need support to make big changes :)

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  8. Woohoo, 56 pounds is awesome. Congratulations, Baygirl. Your tips are great too.

    Sorry I haven't been around in ages. It's good to be back here and to see that you're well and healthy.

    xoRobyn

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  9. I remember a friend ditching soda, and he lost a lot of weight

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  10. Wow - 56 lbs! Awesome! :)

    And it's so true about how we didn't put the weight on overnight, we shouldn't expect to get it off overnight either. Thanks for the reminder!

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  11. High fives!! That is an incredible amount of weight loss. Keep up the great work. We are going to be so healthy. :) And I love those yips. I've used some myself.

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  12. Well done on all the weight that you've lost Bay Girl, that is actually undoubtedly awesome and you should be so proud of yourself, you're a prime example of the amazing stories to come out of this blog hop Bay Girl, such a good job, you can feel like you're hiding no more!

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  13. I always say everything in moderation... it's not only what you eat, but also the amounts you eat!
    I'm fortunate that I have never been one for soda or fizzy drinks.

    Writer In Transit

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  14. Great ideas! Nice to meet you :) I have a friend who swears by the FitBit!

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  15. Good for you! You've done a great job. I wish I had that kind of diligence to strive for good health. I think I'll go get a glass of water right now.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote

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  16. Well done so far, and good luck for your 5k!

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  17. Great job! Good luck with the 5k.. it should be fun ;)

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  18. That is awesome and way to go!! You're absolutely right, finding a partner is a great way to stay motivated and accountable.

    Keep it up!

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  19. Agree with Mark-- awesome and way to go! I hate that feeling of not liking what I see in pictures. It's awful. Here's to smiling happily in the next set of photos.

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  20. That is great! Lower-fat and smaller portions make a big difference.

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  21. I can so relate to your post. I felt like you were sharing parts of my story. CONGRATS on your weight loss! That is AWESOME!!

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  22. Healthier, lower fat portions - that is so true and very important.

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  23. Great post, been there and done that, and still doing that. But it is what it is. I've been looking for a buddy to help me stay on task. Hubby, flakes out after an hour, and then sabotages me. :) But I'm easy to sway!

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  24. Good luck with your goal! Great post.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  25. That is wonderful! You are so right with everything but I still hate water:) I do drink it but can't drink as much as they say-I feel physically ill after-tried more than once and even threw up. So I stick to water at work and then my orange juice mixed with sparkling water. I also want to lose weight and have been bad-I am hypoglycemic and am not supposed to have starch, sugar or caffeine. I am excellent with caffeine-never have coffee and only an herbal tea. I have whole wheat pasta but not too much but I start to eat french fries on occasion and those dreaded chips-but I have been good for 3 weeks and plan not to buy anymore. Chocolate-my downfall. I could bathe in it. I am going swimming and i am taking Tai Chi. I have Ehlers-danlos so I can not do any aerobics, weights and major fitness classes-gentle walking and swimming so hopefully I can lose a little weight too. I just felt like sharing that with you cos, I don't have anyone to share this with. My hubby can sit in a cream pot and won't gain weight

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  26. CONGRATS.... HOW AWESOME! You lost it in RECORD TIME... You should be so proud of yourself!

    ALL the best in your race and THANKS for hopping along with us to keep HEALTHY!!!!

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  27. I can relate to your post. I need to get off my butt. Congrats on the weight loss.

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  28. Getting rid of the soda/pop habit is a major step in the right direction. You have good solid tips that work, even though they may not be the latest exercise trend. (basic usually holds up better than trends) Drinking water frequently is another very good tip.

    Coming by late, via the Get Healthy blog hop.

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  29. what an inspiration you are! amazing!
    i preach these tips all the time, and you are proof i need to listen & do!!
    thanks!

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  30. First off, congratulations on what you have done! That is awesome. Your advice to others is perfect. It's been so long since I've had a regular soda that when I taste one, now it tastes like PURE sugar to me. Again, great job!

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  31. Hey BAYGIRL!!!! I loved this post! And I loved your suggestions! I have a fitbit too and am a complete nut about it. You go, Girl! Can't wait to hear about you crossing that finish line!

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