Posts Tagged ‘quit smoking’
152 by 52
Posted on: June 1, 2013
EXCUSES…EXCUSES…EXCUSES….
2008 – caregiver to my grandmother
2009 – grandmother passed away
2010 – kicked a 35 year addiction to nicotine
2011 – pre-menopause
2012 – menopause
2013 – no more excuses
The time has come to get serious about this excess weight gain before it gets out of control – no more excuses! I want to be 152 by the time I am 52 on September 20th!
FRIDAY’s FOODIE FEATURE (a day late)
NUTRISYSTEM
Nutrisytem is a convenient way to lose weight, it’s a program that I’ve used before to successfully lose over 20 lbs, however, didn’t keep it off with all the anxieties plaguing me at the time. Now that I am living a somewhat stress-free lifestyle, I know I’ll be able to keep the weight off this time. Nutrisystem teaches portion control and the importance of “good carbs”. Keeping a daily tracker of food intake, water consumption and exercise also helps me with my weight loss goal. The Nutrisystem plan may be a little pricey but I was able to get a slight discount through my employee benefits program at work.
I had the option to chose menu items al-la-carte style but decided on the standard 28-day fare, which includes dinner items such as spinach ravioli, veggie lasagna pizza, chicken pot pies; lunch items such as tuna salad, red beans and rice, Kung Pao Noodles, fudge bars; and breakfast items such as cinnamon streusel muffins, oatmeal, banana nut muffins, and whole wheat bagels.
These foods in combination with grocery items are designed to keep me full and satisfied long after each meal. Snacks and desserts are also included with items like, popcorn, peppermint cookie patty, chocolate chip pudding, and almond bars. I also ordered the protein shake mix in Vanilla, Chocolate, Coffee and Strawberry which are great morning starters.
On Sunday I’ll shop for the supplemental “Smart Carbs” which take longer to digest, foods like fruit, whole wheat bread, beans, hummus and brown rice. And “Power Fuels” like eggs, lean meat, fish, cheese, yogurt and nut butters, ie. peanut and almond butter. So with all the variety of foods, the right portions and combinations this should put me back on the right track!
WISH ME LUCK!
*This is not a paid endorsement nor a sponsored post for Nutrisystem – all opinions are 100% my own*
The Freshman 15 is nothing compared to the Menopause 20! In college I could skip a meal and lose 5 pounds, now if I look at a piece of bread I gain 5 pounds.
The Personal Summers were handled with portable fans and cotton clothing;
The absence of menses was happily welcomed and handled;
The dryness was handled with personal lubricants like KY, Poise and a patient hubby;
The mood swings were handled with red wine and an understanding family
The weight gain is NOT BEING HANDLED WELL
A woman’s body is constantly going through changes, some of them good, others not so much. I’m in the 4th year of menopause and was handling it well until the extra pounds began to increase my body mass index (BMI). Initially I blamed it on the stress of caring for my grandmother before her death in 2009; then I blamed it on kicking a 30-year smoking habit; then on the snow storm of 2010, and the chips I ate while watching the flakes fall. Next it was the long commute, 3 hours a day back and forth to work. I would walk in the afternoons and on the elliptical in the evenings but it wasn’t enough to burn the necessary calories or speed up my metabolism. Zumba is fun but I haven’t lost a single pound, I did however, twist my knee and realize that I’ve lost all of my rhythm!
I used Sensa, lost 10 lbs, put it back on, joined NutriSystem, lost 20 lbs, put it back on, cleansed with lemonade laced with cayenne pepper, went carb and sugar free – I hate the bathroom scale! I’ve gone to the doctor, had my thyroid checked, drink shots of ACV with water after each meal but the pounds refuse to leave. I’ve tried eDiets, me diets, ABC diets with no success. To say it’s frustrating would be an understatement and I’m getting desperate to lose the “Menopause 20”, and refuse to give up the challenge!
Medical reports state that weight gain during menopause is not uncommon or even my fault, that it’s hormonal and I need to increase the intensity of exercise, (where is Richard Simmons when you need him), and decrease the intake of certain foods and beverages. So no more Sriracha flavored chips and beer, Triscuits and Cabot cheese or Mexican and Chinese takeout, a sacrifice that I am willing to make. Tomorrow I fill the grocery cart with lots of fresh fruits, veggies and fish in an attempt to rid myself of the Menopause 20 – wish me luck.
Is weight loss a challenge for you, if so, what is your strategy?
3 Year Quit Anniversary
Posted on: August 17, 2012
NICOTINE FREE Anniversary
My Quit Date was: Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 7:00:00 AM
Fashion and Fun after Fifty 