This just keeps getting better and better! Following week two, Michael has lost a total of 10 pounds and 6.5 inches!!! Michael felt like he hadn’t followed his diet and exercise plan as closely as he would have liked, but kept on top of the Dub Nutritional Supplements and as you can see he is still seeing great results. I did marginally well with the diet and exercise plan that was outlined for us and I can somewhat happily report that I’m still maintaining my weight and have lost another 1 ½ inches (from the weight lifting). I am still struggling with giving up soda and this week was a bad week for sugar cravings!! I’m pushing hard this week to eat better and make sure that I get to the gym, even when I’m tired and have a million things left on my to-do list. I definitely have to work a lot harder than Michael to see the results I want, but I’d like to push past this plateau and see at least another 2 lbs off me by the end of the week. Given the results of the past two weeks, that will be a cakewalk for Michael and he will likely double that number.
On the way into the office this morning, I kept noticing that Michael was repeatedly flicking his wrist to move his watch back into place. I pointed this out to him and asked if his watch was fitting too loosely. Sure enough, after just two weeks we already need to take a link out of his watch. His workout shirts that were fitted are hanging loosely off of him, his brand new jeans are extra baggy, and essentially everything in his wardrobe is fitting differently. Fortunately for my pocketbook, Michael likes his clothes loose (that Bronx upbringing I’m guessing) so I’ve got a few weeks I think before we have to go shopping. But this is money I’d happily spend because I know it’s an outward sign that… health is happening!
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Monday, October 5, 2009
Week One Results....
I have been itching to share the results of week one with Michael on the Dub Nutritional supplements. He has lost 7 lbs and 3.75 inches!! Yes, in one week!! Now, for me, I actually started on this journey about 5 months ago. Although in the first week of tracking our results as a family I was “only” able to maintain my weight and lose ½ an inch, during the past 5 months I have lost 16 lbs and 2.5 inches. For both comparative and monetary reasons, only Michael has been in the supplements, but after one week I’m already trying to figure out what I don’t need to be buying in order to do the supplements as well… we don’t really need to buy food right? Oh wait, yeah, food is fuel and therefore important (as long as it’s the right fuel).
The products I have been using over the past 5 months have been fabulous and I obviously have seen some great results. But, I’d also love to see the kinds of results Michael is seeing so I’ll probably add or replace something I’m already doing with the supplements; I will for sure write an update when that awesome day comes.
With the kids… well I spoke too soon in my last post about them not even asking for McDonald’s. Literally the day after I posted that, they begged for me to take them and given that it was the end of a hectic week, I gave in… I did get them the apple slices and made a compromise with chocolate milk. My giving in wasn’t necessarily born of laziness following a hectic week however; I did actually put thought into this decision and what I came up with is that I want them to know there is moderation in all things. They can have the unhealthy as long as it is only every once in a while and you balance it out. I’ve heard the stories of children who grow up to overindulge or go to their friends houses to eat crap and end up eating too much of it simply because they can’t get it at home. I want my children to grow up with a healthy relationship with food and activity. I want them to have as much fun with this as I am!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
A little about me...
I come from a large family; the 6th of 8 kids to be exact. I was the first girl following 5 boys which means I spent my formative years watching teenage boys eat and was pretty sure I needed to eat that much too (I know... that thought scares me now too). It only made matters worse that I didn’t have an “off” switch to signal when I was full. As a young girl, that was a seriously unfortunate set of circumstances.
The summer I got a bike was apparently the summer I worked off the “girly roundness" <insert heavy sarcasm> one gets when trying to eat like someone twice her age with a totally different metabolism. As I got older, I loved soccer and ballet and being active. What I didn’t love is that I never looked like my friends. I look back at pictures now and realize that I looked like a normal girl and I just had the unfortunate luck to have two exceptionally tiny friends. But, between being constantly reminded that “girls don’t eat like that”, “you’ve probably had enough” and constantly comparing myself to my two tiny best friends, I developed a serious complex that I have carried with me for as long as I can remember.
In high school, I started to gradually gain weight and considering how busy I was both academically and socially I would get up at 4:45 a.m. to work-out and was watching everything I ate; I also found my “off” switch or at the very least learned to read the signals that told me that I’d had enough. As any girl knows, image is already a big deal at that age. You want the boy to notice you, like you… date you and I was slowly gaining weight despite all my efforts. I was so discouraged! It was the Christmas of my freshman year in college that I found out why. I had Type II diabetes. I probably actually had insulin resistance to begin with, which would explain the unwanted weight gain during high school; but not only did I not know to watch for the signs; it wasn’t something that was diagnosed as prevalently as it is now.
I began studying nutrition and declared my major in Community Health Education with an emphasis on Health Promotion. My desire and motivation was that I wanted help others, specifically those that been through the struggle with weight. My career ended up in Human Resources with Corporate Wellness programs being one of many job functions.
In the years since college, I have become a wife and mother and have continued to grow professionally. Unfortunately, this also put me in the rut that many women find themselves in… my life became about other people. Although I have the knowledge and background, my health has taken a back seat for the past 10 years… that is, until now. It isn't easy for me to be so open about my past struggles and I venture to guess that there will be more ups and downs in my future, many of which I will probably struggle to want to share. That being said, I have learned the hard way that being open and honest is very freeing and even more importantly this blog isn't really about me. It's about you! Let my experiences be the ones to help and motivate you. Join me on my journey to Health Happening!
The summer I got a bike was apparently the summer I worked off the “girly roundness" <insert heavy sarcasm> one gets when trying to eat like someone twice her age with a totally different metabolism. As I got older, I loved soccer and ballet and being active. What I didn’t love is that I never looked like my friends. I look back at pictures now and realize that I looked like a normal girl and I just had the unfortunate luck to have two exceptionally tiny friends. But, between being constantly reminded that “girls don’t eat like that”, “you’ve probably had enough” and constantly comparing myself to my two tiny best friends, I developed a serious complex that I have carried with me for as long as I can remember.
In high school, I started to gradually gain weight and considering how busy I was both academically and socially I would get up at 4:45 a.m. to work-out and was watching everything I ate; I also found my “off” switch or at the very least learned to read the signals that told me that I’d had enough. As any girl knows, image is already a big deal at that age. You want the boy to notice you, like you… date you and I was slowly gaining weight despite all my efforts. I was so discouraged! It was the Christmas of my freshman year in college that I found out why. I had Type II diabetes. I probably actually had insulin resistance to begin with, which would explain the unwanted weight gain during high school; but not only did I not know to watch for the signs; it wasn’t something that was diagnosed as prevalently as it is now.
I began studying nutrition and declared my major in Community Health Education with an emphasis on Health Promotion. My desire and motivation was that I wanted help others, specifically those that been through the struggle with weight. My career ended up in Human Resources with Corporate Wellness programs being one of many job functions.
In the years since college, I have become a wife and mother and have continued to grow professionally. Unfortunately, this also put me in the rut that many women find themselves in… my life became about other people. Although I have the knowledge and background, my health has taken a back seat for the past 10 years… that is, until now. It isn't easy for me to be so open about my past struggles and I venture to guess that there will be more ups and downs in my future, many of which I will probably struggle to want to share. That being said, I have learned the hard way that being open and honest is very freeing and even more importantly this blog isn't really about me. It's about you! Let my experiences be the ones to help and motivate you. Join me on my journey to Health Happening!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
New Beginnings
You know the saying that "life is a journey, not a destination?" Well, the same can be said for health. It's all about the journey, the lifestyle changes, the commitment to enjoying the good things; it's not about making drastic changes just so you can look good for the next event (you know the crazy thought to stop eating altogether until you are your dream size has fleeting crossed your mind in a brief moment of desperation).
I can't tell you how many times I've thought that I was commited to turning my health around because of an upcoming hot date, wedding, class reunion, job interview... you name it. The problem always is, the date of the event would come and go and I'd either hit my goal (or wouldn't) and I'd go right back to my old habits. Someone once said that the definition of insanity is doing what you've always done expecting different results. Well, I'm pretty sure I'm not a crazy person, so I guess it's time to change what I do so that I can get the results I want.
Let me tell you about my defining moment...
Christmas was fast approaching and I was in charge of the company Christmas social. The social was a huge success and seeing as how much I love a good party, I was thrilled that everyone had a great time and I was feeling pretty darn good about the outcome (okay, there was a little pride involved). I had finished cleaning up and was heading down the stairs with a group of employees that had stayed behind to help and we were laughing and talking about our holiday plans. We were about halfway down the stairs when I glanced up into the mirror lined wall opposite the stairs and had to take a closer look because I didn't recognize one of the people coming down the stairs.
That woman was ME! And she didn't look anything like how I pictured myself. All the happiness that I had felt only moments before was instantly gone as the realization sunk in. Now, like you, I see my reflection in the mirror every day, but when I saw myself in relation to those around me, I was forced to see my true reality. And let me tell you, I didn't like it.
Way back in my college days I majored in Community Health Education so knowing what to do has never been the problem, but actually living it is. I joke around with my mother that I'm much better at helping other people do things and organize things than I am at doing it myself. Those that can't do, teach, right?! :) I have had many defining moments during the past few months, not only in relation to myself, but my family also, that has made me realize that if I want to have the type of life (and body image) that I envision, then I have some changes to make.
The purpose of this blog is to share my journey and the journey of my family. Perhaps you can relate to myself, my husband, or my whole family. Maybe some of the changes we have made and are making will be the same changes you need to make. Or maybe they will just inspire you to find your own path to health; after all, if you're doing the right things.... Health Happens!
I can't tell you how many times I've thought that I was commited to turning my health around because of an upcoming hot date, wedding, class reunion, job interview... you name it. The problem always is, the date of the event would come and go and I'd either hit my goal (or wouldn't) and I'd go right back to my old habits. Someone once said that the definition of insanity is doing what you've always done expecting different results. Well, I'm pretty sure I'm not a crazy person, so I guess it's time to change what I do so that I can get the results I want.
Let me tell you about my defining moment...
Christmas was fast approaching and I was in charge of the company Christmas social. The social was a huge success and seeing as how much I love a good party, I was thrilled that everyone had a great time and I was feeling pretty darn good about the outcome (okay, there was a little pride involved). I had finished cleaning up and was heading down the stairs with a group of employees that had stayed behind to help and we were laughing and talking about our holiday plans. We were about halfway down the stairs when I glanced up into the mirror lined wall opposite the stairs and had to take a closer look because I didn't recognize one of the people coming down the stairs.
That woman was ME! And she didn't look anything like how I pictured myself. All the happiness that I had felt only moments before was instantly gone as the realization sunk in. Now, like you, I see my reflection in the mirror every day, but when I saw myself in relation to those around me, I was forced to see my true reality. And let me tell you, I didn't like it.
Way back in my college days I majored in Community Health Education so knowing what to do has never been the problem, but actually living it is. I joke around with my mother that I'm much better at helping other people do things and organize things than I am at doing it myself. Those that can't do, teach, right?! :) I have had many defining moments during the past few months, not only in relation to myself, but my family also, that has made me realize that if I want to have the type of life (and body image) that I envision, then I have some changes to make.
The purpose of this blog is to share my journey and the journey of my family. Perhaps you can relate to myself, my husband, or my whole family. Maybe some of the changes we have made and are making will be the same changes you need to make. Or maybe they will just inspire you to find your own path to health; after all, if you're doing the right things.... Health Happens!
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