Back to School
Well it's that time again, time for school buses, hectic mornings searching for the homework, lunch money or unsigned field trip form. The cooler air that inspires us to get out there and WALK! We can no longer blame the heat and humidity for our lazy ways... (I am talking to myself here!) I have decided that with this nice weather I will too change my ways. It's time to get back on track with my health and wellness. I have a few pounds to lose before the crazy food fest begins in a couple months. (Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cream corn, etc) So I am starting a new walking route. With the help and assistance of my daughters we have worked up a 3.32 mile walk that we will do every other day. Of course that's one start... I gotta plan out my meals as well. Time to get some more of the Quick Start from Herbalife. I hate to admit that I stepped away from it during the summer but I know from the last time I used it that I lost 25# so maybe I should use the advanced program so I can loose more quicker... I'll keep you posted, on another note if you want to join me, I'd love to have the support and companionship!
Posted by Heather Ryan on Tuesday 21 August 2012
just keep swimming...
Well that just made my day! My dad, who I love dearly, made my day a few days ago. We had gone over to my parents for Memorial Day dinner. I was sitting on the couch, not feeling very proud of myself (i'll explain that later) when he walks up and says, "you are getting skinny!" and gives me the biggest hug. Ok, up until this point I had started having the pitiful me's... I have been at this weight loss thing since early March and even though I've seen major improvements, I wasn't feeling them at this time. I had just spent the prior day in bed due to a hurt back, my husband said it was too much zumba (um, not a possibility, at least not for me).. but he had a point. My friend and I had done an hour of zumba on Thursday, an hour and a half on Friday night at a Zumbathon and another hour on Saturday. Ok, I admit, a little overboard. My back definitely let me know who was in charge the following day. The thing was that even though we had done sooo much, my weight didn't reflect it. I was going down that dark path that only ends in self ridicule and self loathing. I was not feeling "skinny" in the least bit. But my Dad saw it completely different. It had been about a week since I had seen him last so I guess he could tell. That's the funny thing about "dieting", we loose perspective because we are constanlty getting on that scale, begging it for mercy only to see it only change by small bits and pieces. But the big picture that I had to step back from and appreciate was that yes, I have lost a little weight since the last time I had seen him and I should feel good about that, not torment myself because it wasn't "enough"... As hard as it is sometimes, the only thing we can do is "just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Posted by Heather Ryan on Tuesday 29 May 2012
My challenge with Weight
I have been overweight all my life. I can even remember when I was about 10 my (step) grandfather picking on me because of it. Luckily I had my aunt Tiny who was anything but, who always put him back in his place. In high school I dated a guy for about a year and half... I put on some weight and he dumped me. My motivation to lose the weight was to get him back. Stupid, I know. Once again, lucky for me I met my (now) husband and the ex never had another chance to break my heart.
Weight is one subject that everyone has a story for, and many are the same. We all have the same struggle with the scales... they never lie. But one thing I've learned: It's actually not the number itself that is the issue, it's how we FEEL mentally, spiritually, and physically. I have been a size 6 and a size 24, that's a broad range there... I would love to get back to that size 6 but I'm feeling pretty good at this stage (ok, ok, size 10, almost into an 8). I have energy and look forward to exercising. I have never felt this way, not even when I was a 6. I remember when I was smaller all I did was stress over gaining weight. After a while that stress helped me gain the weight (that and the 3 kids I had)... I am an emotional eater. When I am bored, I eat, when I am happy, I eat, when I am sad, I eat... you get the point? What I have to do is learn how to engage in other things during those times. Any suggestions? :0)
I do try to use prayer as a distraction. ( I hope that didn't sound awful). I read in a bible study once that "if the very downfall of humanity was caused when Eve surrendered to a temptation to eat something she wasn't supposed to eat, I do think our struggles with food are important to God." (thank you Lisa Terkeurst, Made to Crave.) Another excerpt from her book says and I agree: "Honestly, I am made for more than a vicious cycle of eating, gaining, stressing, ... eating, gaining, stressing. I am made to rise up, do battle with my issues and, using the Lord's strength in me, defeat them - spiritually, physically, and mentally - to the glory of God". Yep, that's what I'm doing, battling those issues... my mantra, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"... right Nemo?
Weight is one subject that everyone has a story for, and many are the same. We all have the same struggle with the scales... they never lie. But one thing I've learned: It's actually not the number itself that is the issue, it's how we FEEL mentally, spiritually, and physically. I have been a size 6 and a size 24, that's a broad range there... I would love to get back to that size 6 but I'm feeling pretty good at this stage (ok, ok, size 10, almost into an 8). I have energy and look forward to exercising. I have never felt this way, not even when I was a 6. I remember when I was smaller all I did was stress over gaining weight. After a while that stress helped me gain the weight (that and the 3 kids I had)... I am an emotional eater. When I am bored, I eat, when I am happy, I eat, when I am sad, I eat... you get the point? What I have to do is learn how to engage in other things during those times. Any suggestions? :0)
I do try to use prayer as a distraction. ( I hope that didn't sound awful). I read in a bible study once that "if the very downfall of humanity was caused when Eve surrendered to a temptation to eat something she wasn't supposed to eat, I do think our struggles with food are important to God." (thank you Lisa Terkeurst, Made to Crave.) Another excerpt from her book says and I agree: "Honestly, I am made for more than a vicious cycle of eating, gaining, stressing, ... eating, gaining, stressing. I am made to rise up, do battle with my issues and, using the Lord's strength in me, defeat them - spiritually, physically, and mentally - to the glory of God". Yep, that's what I'm doing, battling those issues... my mantra, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"... right Nemo?
Posted by Heather Ryan on Monday 14 May 2012
