My husband loves me, and knows me well. Around my birthday last year he asked me if I wanted this little device called a FitBit. I didn't really know what it was, but I knew it cost more than was in our budget so I didn't really pay much attention to it. Then when Christmas rolled around, he insisted on getting it, especially since I was starting a new challenge with my dear friend Tamara. Oh my goodness! My husband loves me and knows me SO well! I LOVE this thing!! LOVE IT!
The best way for me to explain the FitBit is a pedometer on steroids. It is seriously amazing. It logs my steps, floors, distance, calories burned, exercise, food/calorie intake, and if I desire it will log my BP, HR and Glucose. It has an AWESOME mobile app that tells me when I'm close to my goal to help motivate me to push just a little harder. It also has a sleep tracker. It goes in a little wristband and monitors your sleep. It will tell me how long I was in bed, how much of that time was spent sleeping, and how long it took me to fall asleep. From that it gives me a sleep efficiency ratio. It also gives me a graph of when I was 'awakened' so I can correlate with say the neighbors taking their dog out at 4am! There's also an option for a silent alarm - when set it will gently awaken you by vibrating rather than a loud obtrusive sound that always gives me a headache. (Seriously, I can't handle alarm clocks - Matt has to wake me up). I have trouble keeping the wristband on (because I take it off in the middle of the night unknowingly) so I haven't really had much use out of it. However, once I figure out how to keep myself from taking it off I will get a lot of use out of it! It also syncs with MyFitnessPal (and other websites). You really could use just the FitBit site, but I've added MyFitnessPal for mainly 2 reasons 1) the support from the friends list & 2) the mobile app has a bar code scanner to track food so I don't have to go through the tedious process.
The FitBit also has a personal trainer option - where you get your own 'coach' to analyze what/how you are doing so they can suggest ways to increase premium weight loss. That part is part of the premium site, which is $60/year. Something not in our budget at the moment, but hopefully soon! So, if you are a gadget junkie (like me) and looking for a motivator - I would suggest looking into the FitBit!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Step 1
Step 1: Eat nutritious foods.
So, it's not that I am not good at eating nutritious foods, it's that I'm even better at eating garbage. I like white flour, sugar, and those perfect little crunchy snacks with the right amount of flavor - aka potato chips. I have learned that for now I'm not good at making the 'right' choice of what to eat when presented with a choice - so I need to eliminate the 'wrong' choices from my options. This is hard for a number of reasons, mostly reasons I can overcome without too much effort, with the exception of one. My husband. I can't control or limit what he eats - and until he decides to make this change, I can't eliminate all of the foods I'm not eating from our home. The problem is, if it's there, he will eat it - and offer it to me as well - and quite frankly, we aren't good for each other's physical state. Since we were married, just over 4 years ago, I have gained about 40lbs, and he has gained about 100lbs! Yikes! That's a person between the 2 of us! I'm sure a lot of people would be willing to offer their psycho-babble as to why that has happened, but quite frankly I don't even think it really matters - it just has to change. We both have to get on board and do it or it's pretty clear neither one of us will be successful.
So, that's where I'm at now. I am praying my husband will be ready sooner than later, so I will have a better chance of success. It sounds a little selfish now that I say it 'out loud', but I really don't think it is. My heart isn't coming from a selfish place. I have a strong desire to honor the gift my Father in Heaven has given me and I want that for him too. So, if you happen to pass over this post and feel up to it, would you please pray for me to have the strength necessary and for my husband too?
So, it's not that I am not good at eating nutritious foods, it's that I'm even better at eating garbage. I like white flour, sugar, and those perfect little crunchy snacks with the right amount of flavor - aka potato chips. I have learned that for now I'm not good at making the 'right' choice of what to eat when presented with a choice - so I need to eliminate the 'wrong' choices from my options. This is hard for a number of reasons, mostly reasons I can overcome without too much effort, with the exception of one. My husband. I can't control or limit what he eats - and until he decides to make this change, I can't eliminate all of the foods I'm not eating from our home. The problem is, if it's there, he will eat it - and offer it to me as well - and quite frankly, we aren't good for each other's physical state. Since we were married, just over 4 years ago, I have gained about 40lbs, and he has gained about 100lbs! Yikes! That's a person between the 2 of us! I'm sure a lot of people would be willing to offer their psycho-babble as to why that has happened, but quite frankly I don't even think it really matters - it just has to change. We both have to get on board and do it or it's pretty clear neither one of us will be successful.
So, that's where I'm at now. I am praying my husband will be ready sooner than later, so I will have a better chance of success. It sounds a little selfish now that I say it 'out loud', but I really don't think it is. My heart isn't coming from a selfish place. I have a strong desire to honor the gift my Father in Heaven has given me and I want that for him too. So, if you happen to pass over this post and feel up to it, would you please pray for me to have the strength necessary and for my husband too?
Let me introduce myself...
I'm Melissa. I'm 5'11", 175lbs - a size 10. I exercise 5 days a week, and enjoy eating healthy and making other choices that honor my body.
That's my future self. That's the me that will be "talking" to you in about a year. That me has worked at gaining a complete testimony of the following:
"Your body is a temple, a gift from God. You will be blessed as you care for your body. Choose to obey the Word of Wisdom. When you are obedient to this law, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. You will be prepared to serve the Lord." ~ For the Strength of Youth
Let me introduce myself again, my current self. My name is Melissa, I'm 5'11", and as of January 14th I weight 292lbs and am a size 22. Yikes, right? Clearly my current self is not anywhere near where she needs to be to become my future self. So, first thing is first, I need a plan. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father loves us and doesn't leave us alone to figure out how to follow Him. The scriptures give us an excellent plan for health - found in D&C 89. The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet summarizes this well and gives an excellent plan to follow:
1 - Eat nutritious food
2 - Exercise regularly
3 - Get enough sleep
4 - Practice balance and moderation in all aspects of your physical health
5 - Avoid extremes in diet that could lead to eating disorders
6 - Do not intentionally harm your body
7 - Avoid dangerous activities that put your body at the risk of serious injury
8 - Do not drink coffee or tea. Never use tobacco products or any form of alcohol
9 - Avoid any drink, drug, chemical, or dangerous practice
and my favorite
10 - "In all aspects of your life, seek healthy solutions to problems. Do all you can to safeguard your physcial and emotional health so that you can fulfill your divine potential as a daughter of God"
So, this is what I'm working towards. Eating nutritious food - I just need to get over myself and do it! I am increasing exercise as my body allows, but I have fibromyalgia so it is a very gradual process. I usually go to bed to allow myself the opportunity to get 'enough' sleep, however - I need to work on ways to sleep more effectively.
As part of my plan I'm using this blog to journal my thoughts and feelings during the process. I'll post at least a week, sometimes more often. It is mostly for me - but if you get something from it too, great!
That's my future self. That's the me that will be "talking" to you in about a year. That me has worked at gaining a complete testimony of the following:
"Your body is a temple, a gift from God. You will be blessed as you care for your body. Choose to obey the Word of Wisdom. When you are obedient to this law, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. You will be prepared to serve the Lord." ~ For the Strength of Youth
Let me introduce myself again, my current self. My name is Melissa, I'm 5'11", and as of January 14th I weight 292lbs and am a size 22. Yikes, right? Clearly my current self is not anywhere near where she needs to be to become my future self. So, first thing is first, I need a plan. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father loves us and doesn't leave us alone to figure out how to follow Him. The scriptures give us an excellent plan for health - found in D&C 89. The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet summarizes this well and gives an excellent plan to follow:
1 - Eat nutritious food
2 - Exercise regularly
3 - Get enough sleep
4 - Practice balance and moderation in all aspects of your physical health
5 - Avoid extremes in diet that could lead to eating disorders
6 - Do not intentionally harm your body
7 - Avoid dangerous activities that put your body at the risk of serious injury
8 - Do not drink coffee or tea. Never use tobacco products or any form of alcohol
9 - Avoid any drink, drug, chemical, or dangerous practice
and my favorite
10 - "In all aspects of your life, seek healthy solutions to problems. Do all you can to safeguard your physcial and emotional health so that you can fulfill your divine potential as a daughter of God"
So, this is what I'm working towards. Eating nutritious food - I just need to get over myself and do it! I am increasing exercise as my body allows, but I have fibromyalgia so it is a very gradual process. I usually go to bed to allow myself the opportunity to get 'enough' sleep, however - I need to work on ways to sleep more effectively.
As part of my plan I'm using this blog to journal my thoughts and feelings during the process. I'll post at least a week, sometimes more often. It is mostly for me - but if you get something from it too, great!
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