Forty and finding fabulous

[Ladybug]

Hey, I'm on vacation, so will write more later, but I have the tone-it-up pdfs. I'm not a member, so I don't get all the other benefits. But happy to share the PDFs if you want to check them out before buying.

I was trying to message you my email address and deleted the thread. Sorry!

[spaz]

I'm proud of you. Maybe I should start a 50 and fabulous thread. ( Not quite there but much closer than 40)

[Ladybug]

Ugh. I've been hung up on the Day 4 for The Lean for two days. Here's the D4 rule: "For just for today say no to your poison." Clean out your cupboards because if it's not physically in your house it's easier to forego it. Makes sense. I'm working on that. My mother left yesterday and it takes me a couple of days to feel in-charge of myself again when she leaves. Recovering from a parental visit feels a bit like waking from a walking comma.

Day 4 is too hard. I've ultimatey decided to pretend I never read it.

Ok Day 5 is go a little nutty. Eat a serving of raw nuts each day for a morning snack. A daily helping of nuts speeds up your metabolism and neurological functioning (help!). My mother told me that you should eat 10 almonds a day. Love them. No problem. I measured out 10 nuts and it's no where near a full serving. It's about only 55 calories total! I've been eating my nuts with my mini empire apple.

Speaking of apples, I have a lot of them. A crazy lot. We're going with DS's PK class to apple pick on Monday, DD5 is going with her class next week, and we have an apple picking birthday party at our favorite orchard next week. Apples are coming out of our ears. I need to find a way to put them away. I've been doing overnight applesauce in the crockpot for pancakes or oatmeal in the morning. See the batch of flawed apples my mom set in the crockpot to be cooked. I'm thinking about running day and a night crockpot batches to can for breakfast or baking subs throughout the year. Has anyone successfully done this?

I've found putting the exercise points into my app at the beginning of the day really motivates me to follow through. I don't want to erase them.

I did but a scale today too. I always had one in my nurse's office, so I've never bought one. I'm where I expected to be. I haven't gained weight since I worked in mid August. Yay!

[BonBon]

I love this!! Totally cheering you on and looking forward to following your journey. You've really grown as a photographer over the years too.

[Ladybug]

Today: replace dairy products. The book said that casein (dairy) proteins are digested into caseomorphine products. Dairy = heroin. I did some research and it's pseudoscience. Yes and no. The metabolic process does change casein into caseomorphine peptides, but they are too large to be absorbed through the intestinal mucosa, and waaaaaay too large to crossover the blood-brain barrier and bind to morphine receptors.

Cheese is good but it's not physically addictive. Dairy is calorie and fat dense, but not crack. Obviously it's better to eat carrots or some kind of green leaves, it just doesn't taste nearly as good.

That said, I'm replacing sour cream with plain greek yogurt. Less(ish) calories, more protein and probiotics..

I added flax seed today. I finally found a coffee grinder at a new grocery store. Grinding was the most fun. You need to grind the seeds, break the shells, for the combined soluable and insoluble fiber benefits. I'm sprinkling it over my oatmeal with apples. It's actually really good. Surprisingly good.


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In other facets of health, my kids are having a hard time with the school transition. The honeymoon is over. Fridays are hard. Everyone is tired and fragile. Both older girls were crying at differently times. They miss their friends, want to go back to the old school, etc. They're struggling with the changes. I contacted their school counselors to set up weekly meetings to help them successfully adjust. Some old and dear friends are coming by this weekend to cheer them up. I hope it helps and doesn't make things harder next week for them.

[Ladybug]

Eep! I'm down a pound! I've been steadily going down each morning on target with being in down a 1.1 per week! Tracking my calories on the app has been huge. I registered for the hot barre class today. Gotta create a calorie bank for this evening. Another family is coming over for a build-your-own-pizza night. She's bringing dessert and she makes yummy desserts.

I'm not making any diet modifications today. Holding steady with hydration, oatmeal, flax seed, apple a day, and a small serving of nuts. I'll make a veggie pizza with reduced cheese.

[PrincessFiona]

Congrats on the pound!

[Ladybug]

The weekends are officially up for grabs. Too busy, too much good food. Counting the calories has made me more mindful and willing to cut out things like dinner after an afternoon of grazing and nibbles.

Day Next was to dive deep for five minutes. Stop the external inputs, listen to your feelings, become mindful of what feelings are driving you to "trance eat." I made some significant interior process years ago, but given the intensity I backed off and have been happy to float along the river of life. I have fallen away from quiet, introspective time. Life has crowded it out. For the past two days I've made a concerted effort to shut everything off and spend some time journaling. My journals have basically been detailed to-do lists, but that's where I am. It has reduced my stress level just knowing which way everything was flying. I still feel stressed by the speed of life and things to be done. I'm not sure that will ever go away unless I run away to a tropical place.

Celebrating small victories: I've stuck with this plan so far. Here's pic of my DD doing exactly what I *didn't* do for the first time ever…shoving a cider apple donut in her pie hole. I've declined apple cider donuts...twice! That's huge for me.



Good gravy I miss having the metabolism of a 5 year old!!!

[Ladybug]

Small update: I'm down two pounds! I should be down further, but I slacked off this past week. I'm finding it makes a huge difference when log my calories. It keeps physically returning me to focusing on my daily goal. When I don't log I just get busy, keep it reasonable, but I don't make as much progress and experience more "whatever" moments. I'm recommitting this morning to daily food logs. I walked twice last week and have been rocking out during my treadmill time. Music has a huge impact on my attitude and stamina. So my two realizations: I need to log throughout the day, and lots of pumped up tunes. My goal is to lose another pound this week and get back into a daily routine.

I'm still working on the "dark side of light chasers" book. I'm almost done and still process a lot of it. I feel like a sabatoge myself, and some of my goals. I'm trying to figure that out. I always say there just isn't enough time. It feels true, but I'm harboring some doubts, and seeing some life long patterns. I do wish there were more hours in the days though too...

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Keep it up! You're doing great

[Pollyanna]

Yay you!!!!

[alison]

Slow metabolism, my ass. You're doing so great!

FWIW, and this is going to sound SO cheesy, but whenever I see pictures of female celebrities close to or in their 40s, I think they look so much more beautiful than the ones in their 20s. There's so much more poise and confidence.

GO, LADYBUG!

[MarissaNicole]

Go you! I love this thread and your pics!

Wife of a PGY-5

[bokelley]

Keep up the good work!

[Ladybug]

Not the best week. I did not return to logging my calories and tried to eyeball things. No progress there. Yesterday I was suppose to start my new job, but the RN to train me had a family illness emergency so I was canceled for training. However, I still had a sitter that was relying on a days pay so I went shopping. I have two parties today and not much to wear. I bought these shirts from banana republic that I'm laying just like the mannequin did.

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/productImages.do

The button down that I'm wearing underneath is an army green, fine herringbone pattern. It makes the cream lace pop a little more. I have a pearl bib necklace to layer with it, and dark jeans/riding boots.

I went to a barre tabata class and finally got a pedicure and manicure! I was holding out for a weight goal but decided to go ahead and get it while I had the sitter.

So next week I need to log for real. I'm working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Early mornings so I need to get to bed earlier or I'll be propping myself up with sugary food all day. I remember teaching my health class that on average a sleep deprived persons eats an extra 550 calories per day! I plan to do a better job at packing healthy snacks and lunches although I head the cafeteria food is even better than the last school I worked at.

My exercise goals are to work out Monday and Friday. Normally I'll only work Tuesday and Thursday so I can exercise on MWF and hit the 3/wk recommendation.