I think one of the hardest thing as a mom is balancing everything. Sometimes we feel like a chicken running around with our heads cut-off. We were many "hats". We are definitely the cornerstone of the home. Somedays I feel like I am being pulled in so many directions. I usually end up being my last priority. Between taking care of the house and the kids I am sometimes too tired to take care of me. I know part of this lifestyle change will be finding the balance with everything.
Balancing time management...
I forced myself to step on the scale this morning and found I had lost another pound. Which is good but I know I could have done better. I was worried b/c I haven't been exercising everyday like I should be. It seems so hard to get to the gym lately. I tell myself excuses why I can't go instead of just going. To be perfectly honest, I have the time to go. Sean's has been home in time for me to go. I just can't seem to find the motivation to get up and go. Seems like everything else gets in the way of me going. It is too hot to walk outside during the middle of the day. I really just need to force myself into going!! I need to manage my time better.
Balancing what I eat...
I must confess...I haven't been eating the way I am supposed to. I haven't really had cravings but just want things I am not supposed to eat. I am "allowed" one cheat food a week. I find ways to justify what I want to eat at the time. Right now money is VERY tight for us. More so then it has ever been. Healthy food is more expensive so I justified buying the junk instead. I can't wait till my garden really starts going. We have alot of stuff budding but haven't had a whole lot yet. This will help save some money. I need to find a site that will help me make meals that are cheap but healthy. If anyone has any suggestions please post them. I still haven't had soda. It's been over 4 months. I miss it sometimes but know that I will be better off without it. As I have thought about this whole diet thing, I came to the conclusion that I need to find balance in food. I can't deny myself everything and then when I get to my goal weight eat all the things I have missed. I will just ended up back being overweight. I have to accept that this is a LIFESTYLE change. I can't go back to eating the way I was. Almost every morning I would drop my girls off at school and then go through a drive-thru for breakfast. Then again for lunch. I can't go back to eating that way ever again. Not to say I can never have fast food again b/c I have had it off and on since I started this. I just have to make different choices. I eat grilled chicken instead of fried or a hamburger. I eat a salad or soup instead of fries. I think one of the myths about overweight people is they gorge themselves with food. This maybe true for some of them but for me it has always been my food choices. When I have watched what thin people eat, I haven't noticed that I eat anymore than they do. It is the food I am eating. I choose fast food b/c that is what we ate when I was growing up. This brings me to one of the things I am having the hardest time mentally trying to balance...
Balancing what is good for my kids to eat without feeling guilty...
This is the hardest for me. I want my kids to have a "normal" childhood...as normal as it can be for us. I have this tremendous guilt b/c things in our household are so not the norm. How many other children include a feeding pump in their imaginary play? I want them to have normal foods like other children have. Lauren has food limitations so she will never have some of the things normal kids do. This has been hard on her lately which breaks my heart. I want them to make healthy food choices in life. I don't want them to ever experience being overweight. Sean and I both have struggled with our weight and we don't want that for them. All three of them are within normal weight ranges but I was the same way till I went through puberty. Everytime Kadian asks for 2nds of something I worry. I don't wanna tell her no if she is still hungry. I'm not sure how to balance all of this. They are aware mommy is on a diet and trying to lose weight. I worry also that they will have issues with body image. I don't want them to worry about their weight at such a young age but I also don't want them to be overweight when they get older. I've tried to talk to them about eating healthy instead of saying the word "diet" . I want to make sure I keep things balanced for them. I want them to eat healthy but I also want them to be able to have treats every now and then. I am not sure if this is my emotional attachment to food that is talking though.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
UGH!!
So I was watching Rachael Ray earlier today. The show was about picking clothes that are sexy for plus size women. There's not a whole lot choices out there for people that are overweight. Most of the places have clothes that look like they're for older women or they're way over priced. It can be rather frustrating.
She had 3 overweight women(I didn't catch what size all 3 were but 1 was a 22 and was a 24..so none of them were anywhere close to being a healthy weight) they were dressing. Here is what got me. One of the women said she had 3 kids and "earned her curves". Are you kidding me?? Please tell me you are!! How exactly do you "earn curves"? Sorry you didn't "earn" them. By using the word earn that means you worked towards this. I don't know why anyone would have worked to being unhealthy. Using pregnancy is just an excuse that we really need to do away with if we want to move forward. You WERE pregnant. Your supposed to gain SOME weight during pregnancy but once you are no longer pregnant it is just an excuse. My youngest children are 5 now. I am not fat now b/c I was pregnant 5 years ago.
Let me say this...I am in no way saying that being skin and bones is healthy either. I'm not trying to say that everyone should be a size 0 b/c even someone that skinny CAN be unhealthy. What I am saying is that we need to be honest as to what is really going on. We need to stop sugar coating everything. We need to stop lying to ourselves and others. We need to step back and look at things honestly.
She had 3 overweight women(I didn't catch what size all 3 were but 1 was a 22 and was a 24..so none of them were anywhere close to being a healthy weight) they were dressing. Here is what got me. One of the women said she had 3 kids and "earned her curves". Are you kidding me?? Please tell me you are!! How exactly do you "earn curves"? Sorry you didn't "earn" them. By using the word earn that means you worked towards this. I don't know why anyone would have worked to being unhealthy. Using pregnancy is just an excuse that we really need to do away with if we want to move forward. You WERE pregnant. Your supposed to gain SOME weight during pregnancy but once you are no longer pregnant it is just an excuse. My youngest children are 5 now. I am not fat now b/c I was pregnant 5 years ago.
Let me say this...I am in no way saying that being skin and bones is healthy either. I'm not trying to say that everyone should be a size 0 b/c even someone that skinny CAN be unhealthy. What I am saying is that we need to be honest as to what is really going on. We need to stop sugar coating everything. We need to stop lying to ourselves and others. We need to step back and look at things honestly.
Why the blog...
I decided to create this blog to share MY journey as I try to lose weight. These are my own raw and honest feelings why I and so many other people are overweight. I have also included the excuses(one's we tell ourselves and one's we tell society), the myths, and has WORKED for me. *My disclaimer*-these are my opinions and beliefs...always check with a DR before starting a diet.
We are what we eat...
How many times has that statement been said? Did it make you stop and think? Probably not b/c we let so many excuses stand in our way of being happy and healthy. I think we need to stop and think about we are eating. I am overweight b/c I put high fat,high carb(simple carbs), red meat, high sugar garbage in my body. I nor any other overweight person is fat b/c they ate whole grains, complex carbs, vegetables, fruits, and lean protein. I have also heard it's the food producers fault...after all they put high fructose corn syrup in everything. YES they do put corn(HFCS) in EVERYTHING but YOU ultimately decide what you put in your body. They also put large amounts of salt and fats in most things we eat..especially when it comes to processed foods. Losing weight requires that we turn the package over and read the nutritional information.
Emotional eating...
Some of us are what's eating us..maybe more so than what we are eating. Emotional eating plagues most overweight people. I think most of us have at some point realized why EXACTLY we are overweight. We know what moment changed everything for us. There's a reason why I choose to be overweight(and yes I said "I choose"). There's a reason why I eat to the point I feel sick. There's a reason why I let the excuses get in the way of TRULY being happy. Most overweight people say "I am happy"..."I love myself"..."it's society's fault because they view thin as being beautiful". I wasn't happy and after losing 40 pounds(I need to lose 110lbs total)I am still not where I want to be.
But I am happy...
Being unhealthy, having trouble walking up a single flight of stairs, having to sit down constantly is not happiness. Finding comfort and acceptance in food, is not happiness. Happiness is not having blood pressure that is so high you need to be on medication(s). Happiness is not being on insulin or pills to lower your blood sugar b/c you have type 2 Diabetes. Happiness isn't worrying whether or not you can fit on an amusement ride or an airplane seat. Happiness isn't being upset b/c your so overweight you cannot find a dress to wear for the office Christmas party(or any other time you have to buy clothes.UGH!!). As a society we have just accepted when overweight people say they are happy. We say things like "that if society would just accept us as we are we would be happy"..."that curves are beautiful". We have convinced people that we are happy and feel good about ourselves. Sorry there is a difference between curves and rolls. I'm not saying this to hurt people's feelings(I also have rolls) but b/c we need to stop accepting that being overweight is okay. Heart disease is the #1 KILLER of women not cancer!! Something that we can prevent!!! A person that is overweight is putting a HUGE strain on their heart and other organs. Yes at 18 or 25 years old you may not have symptoms of heart disease but unless you loss weight you will. A large percentage of people don't know they have heart disease till after they have dropped dead from a heart attack. Sorry but that moment is just a little too late for me. I don't wanna realize that I should have changed what I ate the moment I am passing from this life into Heaven. YES I said change what I ate..cause the only diet that works is eating healthy and EXERCISING....even if you have gastric bypass,banding,stomach stapling,or the sleeve you will have to watch what you eat and exercise. There is no way around it. You will have to eat healthy and exercise.
I have trouble staying motivated...
I personally feel like finding out what will truly make you happy will help keep you motivated b/c losing weight is hard...it is very hard. My number one motivator is my health. I have 3 children. One of them has a metabolic disorder. I have been the one that has taken her to the hospital every time(except once when I was in the hospital myself and my dad had to take her). I know ALL her medical history and what she needs in an emergency. I have protect her from anything happening to her. So I need to be in the best condition I can be in. You need to find what motivates you and be reminded of that daily.
You will need a support system. This is huge. You need to be encouraged but you also need someone to answer to. You NEED someone who will kick your butt till you get back on the bandwagon. The scale is your friend...I know you don't wanna hear that. We don't want the honest of what we have actually became. But a scale will help keep you honest. If you don't have a scale,a tape measure will also keep you honest.
Wake up America...
America is one of the fattest countries! I wish America would wake up and realize how unhealthy we are and also our children. We have accepted that it is okay to be overweight b/c no one wants to be responsible for what they eat. It is sad to see kids that are so overweight. I don't think they have bad parents...just parents who have confused food with happiness. Parent's need to STOP feeding their kids convenience foods(fast food,microwave foods,frozen chicken nuggets,frozen pizzas,french fries..I think you get the point). These foods are KILLING our kids. We also need to stand up and tell schools that they need to STOP feeding our kids these foods also. Public school lunches are horrible for kids. Parent's need to stand up and say no more!!! It is cheaper for my child to eat at school but the food is horrible for her. This needs to be changed!!
The purpose of food...
Food is meant to fuel your body. The sole purpose of food is to give your body the energy it needs to do the things you require of it. I personally think if I can disassociate my emotional connection to food, and view it as a catalyst to get what I need from it I will be that much better off.
We are what we eat...
How many times has that statement been said? Did it make you stop and think? Probably not b/c we let so many excuses stand in our way of being happy and healthy. I think we need to stop and think about we are eating. I am overweight b/c I put high fat,high carb(simple carbs), red meat, high sugar garbage in my body. I nor any other overweight person is fat b/c they ate whole grains, complex carbs, vegetables, fruits, and lean protein. I have also heard it's the food producers fault...after all they put high fructose corn syrup in everything. YES they do put corn(HFCS) in EVERYTHING but YOU ultimately decide what you put in your body. They also put large amounts of salt and fats in most things we eat..especially when it comes to processed foods. Losing weight requires that we turn the package over and read the nutritional information.
Emotional eating...
Some of us are what's eating us..maybe more so than what we are eating. Emotional eating plagues most overweight people. I think most of us have at some point realized why EXACTLY we are overweight. We know what moment changed everything for us. There's a reason why I choose to be overweight(and yes I said "I choose"). There's a reason why I eat to the point I feel sick. There's a reason why I let the excuses get in the way of TRULY being happy. Most overweight people say "I am happy"..."I love myself"..."it's society's fault because they view thin as being beautiful". I wasn't happy and after losing 40 pounds(I need to lose 110lbs total)I am still not where I want to be.
But I am happy...
Being unhealthy, having trouble walking up a single flight of stairs, having to sit down constantly is not happiness. Finding comfort and acceptance in food, is not happiness. Happiness is not having blood pressure that is so high you need to be on medication(s). Happiness is not being on insulin or pills to lower your blood sugar b/c you have type 2 Diabetes. Happiness isn't worrying whether or not you can fit on an amusement ride or an airplane seat. Happiness isn't being upset b/c your so overweight you cannot find a dress to wear for the office Christmas party(or any other time you have to buy clothes.UGH!!). As a society we have just accepted when overweight people say they are happy. We say things like "that if society would just accept us as we are we would be happy"..."that curves are beautiful". We have convinced people that we are happy and feel good about ourselves. Sorry there is a difference between curves and rolls. I'm not saying this to hurt people's feelings(I also have rolls) but b/c we need to stop accepting that being overweight is okay. Heart disease is the #1 KILLER of women not cancer!! Something that we can prevent!!! A person that is overweight is putting a HUGE strain on their heart and other organs. Yes at 18 or 25 years old you may not have symptoms of heart disease but unless you loss weight you will. A large percentage of people don't know they have heart disease till after they have dropped dead from a heart attack. Sorry but that moment is just a little too late for me. I don't wanna realize that I should have changed what I ate the moment I am passing from this life into Heaven. YES I said change what I ate..cause the only diet that works is eating healthy and EXERCISING....even if you have gastric bypass,banding,stomach stapling,or the sleeve you will have to watch what you eat and exercise. There is no way around it. You will have to eat healthy and exercise.
I have trouble staying motivated...
I personally feel like finding out what will truly make you happy will help keep you motivated b/c losing weight is hard...it is very hard. My number one motivator is my health. I have 3 children. One of them has a metabolic disorder. I have been the one that has taken her to the hospital every time(except once when I was in the hospital myself and my dad had to take her). I know ALL her medical history and what she needs in an emergency. I have protect her from anything happening to her. So I need to be in the best condition I can be in. You need to find what motivates you and be reminded of that daily.
You will need a support system. This is huge. You need to be encouraged but you also need someone to answer to. You NEED someone who will kick your butt till you get back on the bandwagon. The scale is your friend...I know you don't wanna hear that. We don't want the honest of what we have actually became. But a scale will help keep you honest. If you don't have a scale,a tape measure will also keep you honest.
Wake up America...
America is one of the fattest countries! I wish America would wake up and realize how unhealthy we are and also our children. We have accepted that it is okay to be overweight b/c no one wants to be responsible for what they eat. It is sad to see kids that are so overweight. I don't think they have bad parents...just parents who have confused food with happiness. Parent's need to STOP feeding their kids convenience foods(fast food,microwave foods,frozen chicken nuggets,frozen pizzas,french fries..I think you get the point). These foods are KILLING our kids. We also need to stand up and tell schools that they need to STOP feeding our kids these foods also. Public school lunches are horrible for kids. Parent's need to stand up and say no more!!! It is cheaper for my child to eat at school but the food is horrible for her. This needs to be changed!!
The purpose of food...
Food is meant to fuel your body. The sole purpose of food is to give your body the energy it needs to do the things you require of it. I personally think if I can disassociate my emotional connection to food, and view it as a catalyst to get what I need from it I will be that much better off.
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