Monday, June 2, 2008

Accountability

Okay my friends.  Today is the day.  The day we start treating ourselves a little bit nicer. Mkay? I plan on getting my old self back without a whole lot of deprivation.  Wanna play along?

Here's my deal.  I am fairly tall (5'9"), and have rarely had to watch my weight.  Now there was that minor detour of a twin pregnancy where I may or may not have gained 90 pounds.  But that is all behind us now, and it was well worth it.   
 I think.
Anyway, year 40 was okay, not a big change, but when I quit smoking for good at 42, all bets were off.  I had smoked off and on for 20 years, with about ten years off during that span, but I  really decided that I wanted to stick around.  So I quit.  And if you smoke, you should think about making a serious effort to do the same.  It is bad for you, in case you didn't know.  But I digress.  So when I quit smoking, I started the South Beach Diet the next day.  It was great because my biggest smoking trigger was cocktail hour, and on the first few weeks of South Beach, you don't have cocktail hour.  Well you do have a five o'clock hour, but it is a seltzer, with a lime if you want to jazz it up.

I actually lost several pounds right after I quit smoking on this regime, but at about the age of 45, my metabolism just stopped.  Dead in its tracks.  I am 48 now, and do not want to enter the next phase of my life with sugar, blood pressure or heart issues.  All of which can happen even if you are just 20 pounds heavier than you should be (that would be moi).  At least that's what Dr. Oz tells us, and I think he is just the smartest guy out there.  And he's cute, too! That motivates me.

So, here's what I offer up this week:  No deprivation...unless you want to cut out one vice.  For me, that will be my wine (it's my sugar).  Whine.  I may have a toast for Annie's birthday on Wednesday, but not overindulge.  I sometimes do that.  Overindulge.  So the wine is out for a while.  What I want to focus on is adding more good things.

Here's what I'm adding this week:
  • More water (double the intake every day)
  • More exercise (at least an hour a day--and you don't have to do it all at once)
  • More food in its natural state and nothing prepared (no Triscuits, Wheat Thins...)
  • Take my calcium every day (I don't always)
I am purposely not setting too many goals because I want to end this week feeling like I did what I said I was going to do.  You know: Walk The Walk.

I am going to post some of my activities on my Twitter, and you can see it on the right side of this post.  Better yet, get yourself a Twitter account (Free!) and do your own twittering.  It is fun, and slightly addictive at times.  Any way, I think I will update my progress here on Mondays, and hope you will all try to add something good to your day.  I really enjoy your company, and I look forward to growing old and wise with you all!  What will you do?

xoxo, Mental Mama


28 comments:

Debbie said...

I am so with you. I HAVE to start walking. I've got 30 lbs. to lose. I'm thinking of having a Monday Meter Reader post for gals who want to post how many steps they took the previous week. What do you think?

Congrats on the quitting smoking! I wish....my weight has come from menopause and sitting on my ass!

abb said...

I will come to your house this afternoon at 5:30pm and WILL NOT eat any chips and dip. I will also bring my Lean Cuisine with me.

Oh, and I will win the pot from our bridge game!

Liz said...

I am 2 months shy of 53 and the 20 I gained in my late 40's has become 30 and it is not so much the number but how I feel.

A Florida winter with no walking and lots of eating and drinking - the last 10.

I like the idea of small changes - keep adding on. My plan for this week - no wine this week...I'll add back a little but I need a week off. Reduce portions by 1/3 - I also use very little in the way of processed stuff - my salty snack is nuts - I make my own mix from the health food bin: pistachio, almond, cashew - almonds with the tamari soy have a flavor I like.

Exercise - I'm walking a lot but I want to add back more regular strength training - 3x per week this week.

krysta said...

I like this concept. Okay I'm in...

Anonymous said...

Going to get serious about exercise (and it looks like I'm going to have to do it on my own...on account of farting in front of my hot trainer and all ;)

Bear Naked said...

My metabolism also stopped a few years ago. I used to be able to eat anything but now have gained 25pounds over the last three years.
I am going to try walking more and also get off this chair more during the day.
And no more croissants.--sob--

WORKING MOM said...

Okay, I can't cut out the wine, but I will return to my exercise regimen. I'll be checking in with you to see your progress.

Daryl said...

I think its amazing you lost any weight after you stopped smoking. When I stopped I gained 25 lbs .. and then I did WW ... lost the 25 w/o any of it coming back.. I lost 1 pound a week for 25 weeks ... because I refused to do the smaller portions which I was sure would leave me wanting snacks and other crap. Of course when I did WW there was none of this counting and substituting .. it was simple and straightforward ... and easy .. 3 oz of protein 2X a day .. 3 veggies, 3 fruits, 1 slice of low cal bread ... unlimited greens/salad w/1 tablespoon of dressing ...

ANYWAY .. I think a support group is the way to go .. my stepdaughter set up a blog for exactly this purpose .. each week her cousins and her sister 'pledge' or commit to what they plan to do for the week .. and then they use the comment section to encourage one another ... it works for them... I am sure this will work for you.

Me? I had a stomach bug this weekend and lost 4 lbs .. now the trick is to keep them off ..

:-Daryl

Treasia Stepp said...

I think to start out with I will increase the amount of time I walk daily. Cut back to only one Mt. Dew a day (instead of the 2 or I usually drink), cut back to 1 cup of coffee daily as well. Increase the amount of good things I eat and for sure more water.

Anonymous said...

You go girl! Me? Well, I'd have a really hard time giving up icy cold beer in the summertime...

I do need to exercise more and eat better though! Way.

Anonymous said...

I'm in... as much as I can. I see the surgeon Wednesday for my leg. It's impossible to do cardio right now. I have given up cookies (sob) and I'm working on giving up peanut butter. Then adding fruit.
I can be supportive though, until my leg heals. Then I'll participate fully!

Lisa said...

Oh the 40's have been hard on me as well. Of course the age of high speed internet and loving to play on the computer has contributed to the excessive weight gain. So I want to get healthy too. I also want to learn to love myself with the body I have as well. I watched Oprah the other day about two women who were not thin and learning to love their body. It was inspiring. We DON'T have to be model beautiful to be real! So healthy, yes, skinny....don't have to.
Today: drink water (I hate water)
and make grocery list to eat better this week. After baby goes home, I will walk in morning or evening. Ok, that is my start.
ps, I am not sure the squirrel songs sounds like rain, but if you say so, then I am ok with that. But I also have a rain song on there and wonder if that was what you heard??? I am givng you an out here.

Anonymous said...

Great advice Mental P. I turned 40 in April, and I swear, within just a few months my metabolism has completely shut down.

I am Gut Woman. Hear me roar.

Anonymous said...

I have been thinking along the same lines...slowly cutting back on things. Hubby and I agreed to cut way back on meat and try to go vegetarian. I cut out dairy and that really helped. I use agave syrup for my sweetner and don't eat white bread. Getting my puppy has helped as I have to walk him 3x's a day!
I think it is easier to go one step at a time in cutting back, plus we gotta have things to enjoy!

Snooty Primadona said...

Oh. Yeah. I guess I do the overindulging thing too much as well. I need to start walking but it's too damn hot. If I walk at the mall I'm subject to buying items I don't need or want, lol.

Can you get exercise in a hammock?

I am still fighting the quitting & starting again... but KK @ MidlifeGals gave me a book called The Easy Way To Stop Smoking by Allen Carr and she swears it works. I just received it, so we'll see. I've wanted to quit for years & am tired of being a third class citizen because of smoking. We'll see...

Magpie said...

I think this is a great post. I need to do all of these things too.

Meg said...

Very good MPM...very simple and very inviting! Good for you!!!!!

Jules said...

You go girl! I think we started on Sat. with the gourmet spa menu;) Have a great bridge night!!

Mary said...

You have already inspired me to get that hour of exercise every day. I actually used to teach fitness classes, and quit three years ago because I was burned out, and seeing some added fat even WHILE I was exercising. Yuk -- I hate 51! So I am with you all the way -- thanks for the inspiration!
xoxo,
Mary

My man in the moon said...

I too am in my 40’s. To be exact I am 46yrs young. The number thing doesn’t bother me much like it gets to some others. I have smoked on and off for maybe the same length of time. I did quit for 5 yrs straight cold turkey. But a bad marriage and some other things like ovarian cancer which they found very early and was taken care of. And some other things I will not get into right at this time.
Lets just say I went from a 186lbs down to 98lbs in 1 month. Well that was 8yrs ago and I haven’t had any other problems with that but there are still some other health issues. I have maintained my weight at 124 lbs at 5’5” which took me about 3yrs to bring my weight back up. But now I am at 146lbs and I too have noticed that the weight is getting harder to get off. Now I am very active I go to the gym I swim and dance. But it’s still not going away. I too watch what I eat. So I will be more than happy to join in and be apart of this with you. I think the support will be a lot better through here with wonderful people as you all are. I too would like to be around a long time to read you guys wonderful post.
And let me say the menopause thing well that’s a different thing. I feel like a deep fryer inside sometime. Makes you wonder about spontaneous combustion …LOL…
But getting better thanks to my new little patches I have got. It had to be a women who came up with the wonder patch. Have a great day guys.

Anonymous said...

I'm shaking and shivering...I mean I couldn't, I just coiuldn't...not the beloved wine. Okay, okay, I'll support you...oh geez the shakes again...wine in moderation is good for you ya know.

What is your favorite diet dinner..tell me...

Mental P Mama said...

Oh you all are so great...it's just about recognizing what you can and cannot do to stay fit. I am not trying to get back in my size 4's, but I would like to get rid of this menopot--which is unhealthy and unsightly.

Noble Pig--I do know that wine in moderation is good for you, and I will partake, but to jumpstart this, the 300 or so extra calories is not worth it right now. Ten years ago it really didn't matter. I was in my late 30's and could still do anything I want. I wish I'd appreciated it more! My favorite low calorie dinner is grilled fish and broccolini.

Snooty--Great on that book. I went to a man in Boston they call The Mad Russian to quit smoking for good. Let me know if you want to know more. People come to him from all over for his magic.

AG--I am sending you good thoughts so you can be back in the mountains and back on your bike in no time flat.

For me, exercise is the key to moving the scale. So everybody who want to join me, just get up and get going! xoxo, Lauren

dlyn said...

I am right there with you - so long as I don't have to tell you how much I weigh. I have gotten completely off track the last few months, after losing 50 lbs last year. To be successful, I do a lower carb form of WW - track my points and get more exercise. I promist to walk Riley every day and stop eating after dinner, except for maybe a 1 point thing. I won't go into the ridiculous self recrimination I am feeling these days - move on and get it right...

holly said...

i totally support this.

but *i* put on 6 pounds last week that i had previously taken off and HAVE to get them back off. so i will be back on to deprivation.

Anonymous said...

Here's the one and only motivation which does anything for me: I am 46 and still have a kindergartner. That means the other moms at school are in their 20's. I so do not want one of my 4 young kids to look at me one day and realize I'm the old mom. Well, it will probably happen anyway, but this added weight and my low-rider chest aren't helping. So I will give up ice cream for the week (God help me!) There. You heard it first.

Miss Awesome said...

His cuteness really motivates me too.

Anonymous said...

I so need to join you in this! I've been trying to lose the last 50 pounds since the pregnancy before this last one! And I'm not getting any younger! LOL

Amongst The Oaks said...

I tell myself everyday that I need to drink more water, but that's easy. It's the whole "not snacking with my wine" thing that I have trouble with. And I should walk more - I try to do 40 minutes three times a week, but I should be doing it everyday. OK, we can do this! I'm in...
Hugs, Laura