Well, we are now nearly three full months into 2008, and guess which one of the following I still have not done? Go on, circle one:
a) Licked an envelope and received a paper cut on my tongue.
b) Roasted Peeps over an open campfire.
c) Started my diet yet again.
d) Stood under a dripping eave to photograph the snow covering my newly-hatched crocuses, just like a photojournalist in a war zone.
e) Used my cat’s paw to kill a spider when he wouldn’t get around to killing it himself.
If you guessed c you are, unfortunately, correct. And I did so well last year, losing twenty pounds, developing a rather scary craving for veggies, and upping my exercise tolerance by a factor of ten. Turns out such habits take maintenance — unlike a habit of scarfing chocolate and lounging on the couch, which comes naturally.
Oh, no. I just realized where this post is going. See, now, this is the problem with blogging. I start out with an innocent little quiz about my ever-increasing girth, and suddenly I realize that I now must promise to improve, since there’s little point to baseless whining. (Okay, there is — it makes me feel better — but I do try not to subject you to it. Which means I need a point.)
Fine, then. Here’s my vow: By the middle of July I will lose those seven stubborn pounds that sneaked back over the winter. And since I’m announcing it to these here internets and, more specifically, to you, that means I’ve got some accountability. Okay. That’s fine. I can take it. You now have permission to ask me at any time how my healthful lifestyle goal is going, and I promise to try to answer nicely. In the meantime, I’m slinking back to Sparkpeople to begin my diet and exercise regime again. Here’s hoping they’ll take me back.
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About Me
I am the stay-at-home mother to a toddler nicknamed Sunshine. During nap times I write books, blog, and play around with the photos I've taken. I live in the southwestern U.S. with my husband, daughter, and two cats. My books are represented by Erzsi Deàk of Hen & Ink Literary Studio.
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Yes. I am there with you. I lost 30 lbs last fall, and I am expanding again (though not at the rate I have in the past…I must be eating better in SOME way). Good luck with it!
You did a great job with that, too, Katie! As for expanding more slowly, I’m seeing the same phenomenon, so I think that some of my more healthful habits must have stayed with me. I’m hoping that will make it easier.
don’t you wish reading burned calories? i sure do.
I was going to guess “e” because my cat(s) would never let me use their paws to do that. However, they will let the little one carry them around in a bucket. Go figure.
About the diet thing, I quit dieting. I figure if I can’t stay in shape with exercise alone, then it’s a lost cause. I’m losing the cause. I admit it.
When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.
It could be worse. I exercise like crazy and still can’t lose weight. Stupid thyroid!
Good luck and have fun!
I’m trying to start a less-than-regimented diet and exercise sort of thing too. Best of luck! And I LOVE that you did b, c, & e!!
a was bad luck I guess.
P.S. I just finished Earthly Pleasures and really liked it!
Would that writing burned more calories too!
Problem is that we have to make total lifestyle changes in order to get the extra pounds off and keep them off. That’s tough to do, especially when being bombarded by all the temptation out there.
And I wasn’t going to touch the diet answer on a quiz posted by a woman!
Good Luck!
Oh, Emily, me too! Of course, I do listen to audio books when I exercise. That helps.
Muse, in a bucket? That’s classic! As for dieting/exercise, they’re both helpful, but one’s better than none!
Bookmom, that’s terrible! It must be so frustrating.
Alyssa, I think the less-regimented kind is the way to go. It’s hard to keep up the motivation for a boot camp-type diet. As for the paper cut on my tongue, that is actually not the first time I’ve done it, either.
LOL, J.L.! And, yes, it’s a lifestyle thing. The problem was, I was so good about it last year. And then winter hit and I couldn’t exercise the way I was used to, and there were just so many good things around to eat. But I really shouldn’t have let it go this long. At least I’m hoping it will be easier to get back into that lifestyle. In fact I started recording my diet/exercise yesterday after I wrote this, and I was stunned to find that I had done quite well, and this on a day when I hadn’t planned to change my lifestyle at all. So maybe I’m not doing quite as badly as I had feared.
Can someone please take this muffin top away? And it is not just some regular old muffin top, but the extra giant muffins you get at the chic bakeries! I hear you! Gosh I need to lose some weight something fierce!
How’s your healthful lifestyle going? (I thought I’d ask now, as it’s only been one day and hopefully you like your answer.)
I’m addicted to sugar, that’s all there is to it. I have such a sweet tooth it’s not even funny. And bread. I love bread. Definitely not two things conducive to healthy eating. Oh, and I have no willpower. None. I can’t eat just one cookie. Luckily, I do exercise and always have, so my weight hasn’t fluctuated all that much over the past twenty years. I love good, healthy food, I’m just lazy about preparing it. It’s much easier to just grab something, you know?
Best of luck with your regimen! You can do it!
I foolishly signed up for a Biggest Loser variation contest at work. You don’t even win that much. But since I’m a “leader” I thought it would be good role modeling.
We weighted in yesterday at the halfway point. Yup, I gained two pounds. I must blame it on an extravagant birthday weekend followed by the Easter (candy poundage) holiday.
But, can we do it, we desk-sitters, we couch-hoarders-as-we-write? heck yes, in fact, I’m getting out of this chair right now to put on my tennis shoes, take the fastest dog (we have two) and put some miles on, while hopefully taking pounds off.
onward!
Oh, I hear you on this. With the onset of Spring (or at least, more daylight hours) I am beginning to actually crave fruit and veggies, as opposed to chocolate and cake, again – so the diet part is starting to shape up (if you don’t think about those truffles I just ate…) but soon, the exercise will need to kick back in, too…
I gave up coffee–that’s about all I’m good for this year! But I wish you all the best on your foray into vegetables and all things healthy!
Ello, that sounds delicious! No wonder it’s tempting you.
Ha! You know, Robin, I wondered if someone would ask. Smart aleck.
Ah, yes. Sugar. Especially chocolate. And bread. And *gasp!* cheese. Yum. But I have been trying to wean myself off of them. I’ve heard it’s actually possible to stop craving sugar if one gives it up long enough. I’m skeptical, though…
Oh, no! How frustrating that must have been. But I’ve heard that walking is one of the best ways to lose weight. Good luck with next week’s weigh-in.
Z, I’ve started to have that happen to me, too! I just wish more were available. As for the exercise, this winter was horrible so I couldn’t make myself get out and exercise the way I needed to. But now that it’s nice, I will be unstoppable. Really. Promise. Tomorrow.
Alyson, that sounds huge! I still remember when I gave up drinking Coke & Pepsi. I still crave them from time to time, but I felt much better afterward, dropped a few pounds without even trying, and found my restaurant bills going down since I wasn’t ordering those sugary drinks. I hope that giving up coffee is just as effective for you, although maybe not in the same areas.
Why or why can’t veggies taste like chocolate?
I’ve been in a healthy eating lifestyle since the beginning of the year and so far I’ve stayed with it. If it wasn’t for the heart problem and high blood pressure, I don’t think my eating habits would be as good as it it. Having a pedometer also helps too.
Good luck with your effort.
good luck with your mission!! don’t you agree that writing is the worse thing for one’s backside!! as you type (and shovel in the snacks) you can feel it spreading!!
I use anxiety and poverty to my advantage.
Worry + empty cupboard= a slimmer me.
For exercise, I pace.
the word ‘girth’ makes me giggle.
that’s what i hate about dieting/exercise…you have to maintain or it’s all for naught. which basically explains why i’d rather eat a box of cookies while watching dancing with the stars than exercise…
good luck on the renewed dieting endeavor!
Hey Caryn~ I’ve heard it’s possible to stop craving sugar if you give it up long enough too. Unfortunately, I can’t give it up long enough. Darn it! I think the magic number is 21 days.
So how’d the exercise and healthy eating go today? I hope good!
p.s. Sorry you won’t be at DD! It would have been great to meet you in person!
Ha! Funny thing about blogging, eh? I just made the same post re: writing this week. >.> although I probably could’ve made it re: diet, too. *sigh*
I’m on Sparkpeople! I don’t use the forums or anything (I, uh, can’t figure out how!) but I track my food. Or I did until a couple weeks ago when I forgot… >.> Um, yah. I had lost ~7lbs when I stopped, and now I’m hovering at the having lost 4-5lbs mark. Ugh. I need to work out.
Caryn best of luck with your diet!! I’m afraid I’m back on chocolate and takeaway lattes *sigh* but I’m keeping up with the exercise and definitely feel better for it!
Caryn–I’m a personal trainer and an exercise instructor and those Cadbury eggs are my downfall! Good for you for getting back on track with the healthy lifestyle. All the studies show that’s what works!
I need to restart my diet too. In a big way!
Wow. I’ve been away from the blogging world for a while. Sorry. This week was really difficult. A new post tomorrow. Until then…
Eileen, I’m so with you on this. At the very least, you would think we would evolve to like the taste of things that are good for us, right?
Dru, it’s fantastic that you’ve been able to change your lifestyle like that! I’m sorry about your health problems, though. I hope this helps.
Thanks, Joanne! And I do agree. And reading, which counts as research, doesn’t help much either.
Oh, Allan. I don’t know whether to laugh or give you a cyberhug. But since I’m not the touchy-feely type, I’m opting for sympathetic chuckles.
Thanks, Virginia! And if it were just a one-time thing, it would be SO much easier, wouldn’t it?
Robin, I’m planning an e-mail response. Swears! Tomorrow.
Jess, I used Sparkpeople last year and it worked SO well. I actually lost two more pounds than I had planned. Then things got really busy and I felt like I was doing well on my own so I somehow just…stopped.
Thanks, Christina! And it’s better to exercise and not eat well than to eat poorly and not exercise, right? So you’re doing something, at least.
Conda, you don’t know how good it is to read that. Not that I would wish such a thing on others, but it’s a relief to know that even exercise instructors are not godlike.
Good luck with it, Rachelle! I do recommend Sparkpeople if you need some motivation.
It’s 9:30pm and I just ate a yogurt. It really satisfied my sweets craving. Not.
I like the idea of roasting peeps much better than dieting. I suppose the sugar would throw off little showers of spark wouldn’t it?
I just love to eat. I excercise with no problem, but there is just something about food. Any kind of food. Bread. Bread with butter. Bread with peanut butter. Cookies. Any kind of cookie. A-n-y-t-h-i-n-g with cheese. Fries. Onion rings. Even vegies and fruit. It doesn’t really matter. Just food. Scent, texture. All of it. *sigh* So hard to lose weight no matter how much I enjoy exercise. It merely prevents the worst that should happen.