Getting Motivated to Make a Difference - In Yourself

I've been called a commitment-phobe more than once in my life.  Once I set mind mind to something, I frequently fail to follow through.  In January, I made a commitment to myself to lose 30 pounds.  May came along and I had gained 5. 

While I was disappointed, I realize that the weight isn't just going to come off all by itself.  With renewed vigor, I committed to losing that extra 5 as well as the original 30.  So far, I have lost the extra 5, but the original 30 aren't budging.

I want so badly to make changes in myself that lead to a healthier lifestyle.  In turn, I know these changes will lead to weight loss.  If I want it so badly, why can't I break the old habits and make the change.  Daily, I look at the parts of me I consider flawed and think, "I really need to start working out again.  Tomorrow.  Tomorrow I will start working out again." Then tomorrow comes and I find an excuse to put my resolution off yet another day.

So what is my problem?  Where has my motivation gone?  I find excuses around every turn.  The drive to the gym is too long.  I can't wake up that early. I have too much housework to do (sadly, that doesn't get done either).  My routine is out of whack, it will get better when the kids go back to school. 

Do you find yourself in the same rutt?  How does one move past?  What can be done to put the healthy living train back on track?

What's on your playlist?

Exercise and music go together like peanut butter and jelly!

A banging beat helps you get a bangin' bod!

So, what is the one song you absolutely MUST have on your playlist while working out?

Getting The Most Out Of The New You

Welcome to week two! Zgirl’s idea has grown faster than my Oreo eating ass (that says a lot!). Congrats to making it to week two in your journey. We have excited and phenomenal new bloggers joining every day which means with the variety of tips, resources and weight loss approaches you are sure to find something that works for you!


We’ve already seen tips for getting back into the gym or on your treadmill, journaling your food journey and been given links for some really awesome support sites.

Your journey should be one of a lifestyle change if your ultimate goal is for the weight to truly be gone.

 One day at a time…one meal at a time…

Here are a few more tips and reminders to help get the most out of your healthy eating habits and new active life style.


1. When running errands park as far away from the door as you can (unless of course you are shopping in a really bad area of town. Then park close unless you pack heat or have studied with a Ninja lately)

2. Working exercise into your day even in 10 minute increments IS beneficial. So get up and walk around at least once every hour. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you have bad knees try taking the elevator for every other floor. Walk a flight…take the elevator…walk a flight…elevator until you build up to all stairs.


3. DO NOT skip meals. You’d think this would help reduce your calorie intake for the day thus drop the pounds. Not so…this will actually counteract your efforts in the long run. It messes with your metabolism by sending your body into survival mode. The goal is even blood sugars throughout the day to maintain your energy level and curb your hunger. BREAKFAST is your most important meal!

4. DRINK DRINK DRINK! Not Vodka but water (that was for me…not you…kind of a NOTE TO SELF thing…). If you’re thirsty, you’re dehydrated. Being dehydrated can trigger the hunger signal in the brain (or stomach or ass…wherever yours in located). Diet sodas and sugar free drinks don’t count. Sorry. Water is the key. If you hate water try adding Lemon or Orange peels to your pitcher and refrigerate. I love to infuse my water with mint flavored ice cubes. I’ll do a post on how to make these. SUPER EASY and you can add them to iced tea (unsweetened of course) or Lemonade (sugar free of course).

5. While on the water bandwagon, sometimes we misunderstand our body cues and think we are hungry when we are really bored or upset about something. Try drinking a full 8 oz of water before giving into the munchies desire. If you’re still hungry after the water, a healthy snack is fine. Remember…level blood sugars…it reduces the spikes and drops your body experiences which can also falsely signal HUNGER to your brain!

6. Don’t stand at the sink or kitchen counter to eat or snack. Take your portion/serving and put the rest away. It’s harder to keep track of how much you’ve actually eaten if you just ‘guess’ while dipping your hand in and out of the bag. This still rings true even if you’re munching on carrot sticks.

I’ll stop preaching there. These are things that work for me and have been drilled into me over the years from all the dietians that come and go in the life of a diabetic. I am always open to new tips and idea so feel free to share in the comments what changes in your everyday life work for you. There are TONS more than what I’ve listed here. This is interactive though so…have at it!



CHEERS! For week two! Keep moving ladies!  ~love~Duckalicious

The Dreaded E Word

Dual Mom here. Can I just say holy shit? Can I swear on this thing? Hello, does this thing work? The reason I say holy shit? Thirty-three followers in one day and so much enthusiam and support for everyone who has decided to join the crazy train. You guys are just full of the awesome.

One of the comments on the previous post asked how to get started exercising. I'm sure Daffy and any one of the other lovely ladies could answer this question better than me, but I have a big mouth and I'm jumping in on this one. Three years ago I could run 5k in under 30 minutes, I exercised at 5:30 in the morning at least five days a week. I ran outside, in rain, wind and snow. This morning, I found myself winded climbing one flight of stairs to my office. I tell you this because I know what it does to ones body and self esteem to be completely and totally out of shape. I also have a bit of experience in how to change all of that.

Let's talk about resting heart rates for a minute. Do you know what your resting heart rate is? Put your fingers to the pulse in your neck and count beats for 10 seconds then times that number by 6. I know math is hard....but give it a try. Your resting heart rate is important. The lower it is, the healther your heart is. American Heart Association indicates your heart rate should be between 60-80 bpm. It will generally increase with age. However, physically fit people have a lower resting heart rate. How does that work? Well, if you have a lower resting heart rate, it means your heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood through your body. This is important, the harder your heart has to work over a prolonged period of time, the quicker the ticker is going to wear out. A worn out heart is not a good thing people.

Exercise increases your heart rate, hence the gasping for oxygen. But it only increases it for short periods (while you're exercising). This is good for you. So how do you get started with exercising? It's easy, just move. Walking is one of the easiest, safest forms of exercise that you can do.

- Start small - you're not going to be able to go out and speed walk for an hour if you haven't exercised in awhile. Plus you'll end up hurting yourself which will totally defeat the purpose.

- Stretch out your legs, shin splints are a bitch.

- Try to do some sort of physical activity at least three days a week. This is important for a couple of reason. Anything less won't give you results. Also, it's important to get into a routine.

- Try to work hard enough to sweat. Sweat is good for you. Each of those droplets running down the side of your face contains toxins that are being expelled from your body.

- On the flip side of that, drink drink drink. Any bitch that has lost weight will tell you how IMPORTANT it is to drink water. Yeah, you'll piss 600 times a day for the first little while, but just think of all that fluid coming off your ass!!! It will even itself out and you'll be back to peeing like a normal person in no time.

- Music makes exercise easier. Yes it does, trust me on this. The louder the better.

I went to the gym this evening after work for the first time in almost three years. This morning while packing my gym bag I realized I had one pair of gym pants that fit me. Sigh. I did 50 minutes on the treadmill. I was slow, so slow. I started thinking about how far I've fallen and had to immediately shut those thoughts down. Halfway through when I realized I was going to actually finish the workout without dying I was filled with an incredible sense of accomplishment. Something I haven't felt in a long time. My muscles were burning and my calves were bawling but I did it. And you know what.........you can do it too. I know you can. So c'mon, how did you work it today?