healthy habits week of March 9 - YouLookFab Forum

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healthy habits week of March 9

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Joined up at a gym after a free week's trial on Thursday. Been going roughly twice a week to lift weights so far. Still running, training for a 10K in 5 weeks. Feeling pretty good about my routine, after being sidelined last weekend by a terrible stomach bug. Back in action! And the weather is back to mid 70's which helps the running immensely.
My biggest challenge is eating fresh whole foods and limiting the wine intake. Not having a car to grocery shop is the biggest factor in this. I have a discount grocery in walking distance, but it has just enough to get by, not a great selection of healthy items. I default to salads topped with grilled chicken half the time. Anyway . . .
This week I plan to continue with 3 runs, 2 weight workouts, maybe a walk or bike ride on off days. Yoga if I'm really feeling motivated.

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16 replies

Latest reply was from Jeanie

Janet

(website)

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Glad you're feeling better! Sounds like you're gearing up really nicely.

My trip was quite a mixed bag, HH wise. Hard to run on a ship in the Antarctic, ya know? Lots of hiking in Torres de Paine, but I was also eating to make up for it. The Chileans love their bread and cheese. And wine. And anything dulce de leche. A weakness of mine.

But since I got home a couple of days ago, I've been for a 3-mile run and a 20-mile bike ride. My eating has been, well, my usual. I'm trying to cut down on sugar, which is hard. I have such a sweet tooth.

It's not going to get easier, either, since I'm going to go to TX again soon. Again, I end up doing lots of walking there, but it's hard to eat healthy in the land of meat and potatoes and beer.

Linda

I have been pretty good about making a green smoothie in the mornings. DH really isn't a breakfast man unless it is a donut or muffin (argh!). But he'll drink a green smoothie!

I haven't been keeping up with fitness at all. I did try a low-carb diet, and decided I would hate that. I took from the experience that I need to get more protein into my diet earlier in the day, to try and decrease the snacking late at night. I am trying to eat cheeses and nuts instead of cookies and candy!

Lately I've read a couple of "diet guru" plans that start out sound good -- talking about the impact of hormonal imbalances on (esp. women's) weight and health. But it goes downhill from there - either you're supposed to drink a proprietary cranberry drink all day, or you need to manage stress around your period (neither will work for me since I'm not a big soda-or-other-drinker and I'm past menopause). What seems to help me a bit is to do small frequent meals/snacks, but then, I begin to feel as though I am planning the day around eating!

I am gonna do some yoga later on today. Wish I could talk my DH into coming back to do serious weight training along with me - I find it hard to do that by myself.

Kristin L

Veteran

I'm glad you're feeling better Mo! Good luck with your training.

It sounds like you had a fun trip Janet. Trying to limit sugar has been a challenge for me, so I wish you the best of luck.

Linda, have you heard of "Let's Do Lunch"? IMO, the guy doesn't really understand certain parts of nutirtion, but I liked how his stuff was set up so that lunch was the biggest meal.

This week was not one of my better ones. I didn't not get a much exercise as I would have liked because I internalized a lot of unnecessary stress. I'm about to leave my current position for a new one (yay benefits) and there seems to be a lot f drama about who's going to take over my current job. Right now, I need to focus on getting me in order and learning that while I can listen to the problems of others, I don't have to worry about it. I need to let it go. My goals this week are to do my daily workouts and to drink more water than hot tea.

Linda

K, no, I hadn't heard about that, but to Google I shall go! I agree, I like making the midday meal biggest! I'm also enjoying eating more apples -- I forget how delicious apples taste, until I've bitten into one. They're a real healthy food.

How much others can influence us, eh? DH has been in a funk a lot lately -- honestly I'm fearful that it is testosterone-related. And since he's down, it's hard for me to be as focussed as is good for me. Yep, we need to be able to own our own stuff and let others own theirs, too!

LACeleste

Veteran

HI everyone,

Go Mo! Glad you are felling better! Your default meal is very healthy.

Janet-Maybe Sunny wrangling will add to Ranch fitness? Sugar is my greatest temptation.

Good luck Linda with the healthy choices. It's hard to focus when the DHs need (extra) tending.

K-Congrats on new position and good luck with your goals. Listen to "Let it Go" song from kid movie "Frozen".

I am injured but trying not to get to down about it. It's hard. Very pitiful when it hurts to lift a coffee cup or type. What I took as weakness and muscle/joint pain is both arms (> 3 weeks ago) is actually nerve pain/damage most likely from spinal disc compression. Four months of kettle bells exacerbated an underlying problem. I am hopeful I will not have to deal w/ chronic limiting situation in my 40s. I welcome your positive thoughts please.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh ouch, Celeste! Take it easy -- I hope the problem is temporary and you can get back to full activity soon.

MsMaven

Veteran

Just got back from a 5-day trip--what a challenge. First, other than a few stretches I did not exercise except for a bit of walking through a new mall. I came home with an aching back/hip and all I can figure out is that the bed was not right for me.

We ate in lots of restaurants, but I usually ordered fish and seafood. Even though not fried it sometimes came soaked in oil or fat and with too much salt. I do wish chefs wouldn't coat scallops in salty stuff. Let me salt my own food. We also drank more wine than I would have at home.

I managed to avoid most sugar and was frugal with eating bread. The hotel had a sweet shop and one day I tried the salted caramel gelato. So getting a gelato became the daily routine, but I did get the small size and that was it.

Our room had a scale in it and each day I watched the number move upward. (I know--why did I torture myself?) However when I weighed in this morning I was only up a half pound for the trip. Now I'll get back to the exercise routine.

Travel is a big challenge for me as far as weight gain. I think being frugal with bread and sugar will be the key to maintaining in the long run.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Just not drinking wine for the past couple of weeks has made a big difference for me. I imagine if I give it up for a couple of months I would see several pounds lost with no other changes. Herbal tea has been a good "replacement" so I don't feel deprived of something special. Red wine has about 100 - 150 calories per glass and is hard on the liver in excess -- in spite of some health benefits. Balance. And I think I was out of balance, drinking more each night than I should. If I had 2 glasses a night (maybe 300 calories) that would really add up!

For those with a "sweet" addiction, read up on how badly sugar really damages your health. Use natural organic honey or stevia and give up as much other sugar as you possibly can. An occasional sweet treat is one thing but sugar every day is going to compound into health trouble down the road.

I'm moving back towards a mostly vegetarian and more raw food diet. I have not been doing weights recently but plan to get back to that this week - took a break for health reasons. And I'm still trying to get walking in, but also took a short break on that.

Alassë

Veteran

Still eating well, but not moving enough (no weight lost either, though I haven't gained).

elpgal

Veteran

Tex, Can you share some info about sugars. I am very confused about this. First it was, sugars in moderation, then it was all about avoiding processed sugars and later how all sugars are bad. I could make progress on my sugar habit if I could use honey or agave in smaller amounts. Being totally sugar-free seems dreadful.

MsMary

Veteran

I could have sworn I posted on this thread, but anyway...

Got back from the week at the beach with weight stable, if still a bit higher than I'd prefer. Worked out with Trainer Dave yesterday and am going back for another round today.

Food has been pretty awful, honestly. Too much eating out and drinking. But DS is here and he's a veggie so at least I've been all-veggie, which helps.

We will be spending five days in San Francisco starting Thursday, so I anticipate lots of walking, at least!

anne

Veteran

Interesting recommendations came out about sugar in the last few days
http://time.com/#12905/who-sugar-reccommendations/ (but is being reported everywhere)
I have to admit I found it a bit tough! I am not overweight, and don't think I go over 5-6 teaspoons most days ( in fact often less), I do wonder if a few more is that harmful if other risk factors aren't there, though I understand its import on a societal level.

I have been down with a head cold since last friday, so nothing happening on the exercise front apart from most days walking from 20-60 minutes as part of my commute.
I am having a bone densiometry soon, and think I will feel better about going back to running if things are ok on that front.

Weight wise I am the lowest I have been for awhile (despite a pig out on gluten free goods on Sat when I went to a conference where they actually catered for me) partly because the head cold has been depressing my appetite.

Jeanie

Veteran

After an indulgent winter, I got a Fit Bit cheap off of ebay and I am tracking my steps and trying to make it to 10,000 a day. I found out my dad is getting well over 10K a day! Dad told me about logging his food into My Fitness Pal so now I am doing My Fitness Pal with him. It links to your Fit Bit and gives you targets for calorie intake which are adjusted by the number of steps you've taken. It sounded like a lot of technology to me but it's so easy and it just takes minutes. It has been really helpful to have goals and to be able to easily see where my calorie intake is for the day.

I struggle with my sugar intake and not eating all the goodie DH brings in the house.

Mo, good luck with your training for the 10K. Sounds like you are doing well!

Celeste, be kind to yourself. Sending healing vibrations your way.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Jeanie, welcome to the Fitbit obsession, lol! I use the food log on Fitbit and keep it all in one place, but I know a lot of folks use the My Fitness Pal and link up the two. You can friend me if you like http://www.fitbit.com/user/229T63
Anne, I hope the transition to your new foods is fairly painless.

anne

Veteran

Thanks Mo, it's been about a month since I was diagnosed and for the most part, changing food is all going well. By default I am eating a lot less fast food!

Jeanie

Veteran

Thanks Mo! I didn't even know Fitbit had a food tracker too....that's what a newbie I am!