Back on track

I'm kicking myself for letting my blog sit here and collect dust. I have started a new post several times in the last month but my heart just wasn't in it. I had really been struggling the last few weeks with what I think is depression set on but the cold weather and stress. Things seem to be getting better though. I don't have the desire to stay in bed all day and spring is just around the corner! Can I just say that I LOVE living in Minneapolis. You would guess it's because of the awesome city life and all the things to do around here (yes, it's that too) but I absolutely love the "mild" weather. Yes, it still gets below zero every once in awhile but it is nothing like the frigid weather of Fargo, ND. I check the weather forecast everyday for Fargo and on average it's 10-20 degrees colder than it is in balmy Minneapolis :) So I'm believing that spring will be here sooner than I know it because I NEED to get out of this apartment and get some activity back in my life. Anyways...with the slight depression that hit me I totally got off track with my weight loss. Now I only gained about 4 of the 10 lbs that I have lost this year but it still was disheartening to me since I have tried so hard for the last year to get the extra weight off. My greatest discovery in this last month has been www.thedailyplate.com. Who ever invented this ingenious weight loss tool needs a big wet one laid on them! Dare I say it...I think it's better than Weight Watchers! All you do is set up an account with your height and weight, set you weight loss goals and then it will give you the amount of calories you should eat in a day. You then can start tracking everything you eat. You don't need to calculate points and the most amazing thing is that they have almost every brand and food in their database. It's just a simple search to find what you ate that day and then save it to "my plate". I like this site because it tracks all of the nutrional facts in food items (calories, fat, sodium, fiber, carbs, protein). Not until I started using this site was I aware of how much fat I was consuming even though I was staying within my points. It keeps my diet much more well-rounded. And one more little thing to mention. I absolutely hate the phrase "I'm on a diet" because I know this isn't a diet but a lifestyle change. Can anyone come up with a word that can describe lifestyle change without it sounding so long and arduous? Here's the challenge...fill in the blank. I'm on a ____________.

Do you know how many "points" are in that???

Today was my first day back to counting points. I have been on and off of Weight Watchers for about 6 years now. Although I've always lost some weight on it, I've usually gained it all back and then some. Last year, it finally clicked with my brain though. It has become a lifestyle for me. When I'm not "counting my points" I have become aware of how my body reacts to certain types of food and how easy it is to gain weight. I mentioned in my last post that I read the book Never Say Diet. Chantel Hobbs is pretty anti-diet plans because they often aren't changes that you can make the rest of your life. I totally agree with this but for me and my anal personality I cannot just start "eating right" and working out. I have to have a plan to keep me in check. Weight Watchers is the only thing that has done this for me. My advice for anyone that does start some sort of diet-plan this year is to read a lot! I have become addicted to reading articles on what certain foods can do for your body, how and when to exercise, etc. Do not follow the diet-plan blindly. Be informed because it's your body that you are trying to take care of. A tool that has helped me with this is Spark People (www.sparkpeople.com). On a daily basis they send out new articles on weight-loss and exercise, as well as, healthy recipes. The website has tools to track weight loss, exercise, and other goals you might make for yourself. Happy counting to all you weight-watcher fanatics out there!!!

Let's get this party started!

2009. I believe this has to be the first year that I haven't made a dozen New Year's resolutions. In fact this is the first year in a loooooonnnng time that I didn't even stay up 'til midnight. Am I really getting old? Well the one thing that I did want to do this year is to start a blog. I feel that 2008 brought so many great changes and I wanted to share God's ongoing blessings in Josh and I's life. So after several months of thinking up the perfect title to this page I decided to title it with the three constants in my life...God, diets, and dirty dishes. Since Josh and I got married it has been a struggle to keep our place clean. It's frustrating because I am a very organized person but I hate to clean. I tend to let things go until there are dishes flowing out of the sink, clothes all over our bedroom, and the living room in a disastrous state before I go on a cleaning rampage. My poor husband usually hides at times like this because I tend to get angry that we can't keep anything clean for longer than a few days. I predict I will have several stories to share of spilled coffee, unswept floors, and over flowing laundry baskets in 2009. For as long as I can remember I have been trying some sort of diet. Last year I had made a resolution to lose weight (particularly before going to Hawaii) and I believe it was the first time I stuck to it. I actually lost 35 lbs! Now, since moving to Minneapolis, Josh and I have both gained a bit of weight but I'm happy to say that I still am 20 lbs down since last year at this time. Now I don't resolve to go on a hardcore diet again this year but I do plan to continue to eat right and exercise. I have fallen in love with swimming and I was excited when I found out our new apartment had an indoor pool. I recently read a book by Chantel Hobbs entitled Never Say Diet. This is the book I have been looking for my entire life! It has given me a new motivation to get healthy. I recommend that you check it out, and please let me know what you think. Also, if there is anyone that needs a workout buddy, I'm in! And God. God will forever remain the center of my life. Although I may not always get to my devotions or pray for hours a day, I want to draw closer to Him every day. I feel I have become more aware of the small blessing that the Lord has for me every day. I pray that you see the blessings in your life every day of this New Year! Have a good one!