2009 Holiday Survival Challenge: Week 2 - Page 2

I am going to strap on my pedometer and make sure that I get my 10,000 steps in each day.  The holidays are actually a more active time for me!!  Many rehearsals and concerts to prepare for.  This includes lifting and hauling large instruments, chairs and music stands, decorating the stage and then breaking it all down.  This is in addition to all the shopping and decorating at home.  It seems like I never stop!!  With all the hustle an bustle, it is easy to fall into the trap of grabbing something quick for meals.  My biggest challenge will be planning meals and snacks so I have healthy and filling foods around that are easy to prepare.

  . 

I am going to focus on making exercise a priority and set appointments with myself to make sure I stick to my goal of 20 -30 minutes a day. I take walks at work during my morning and lunch breaks, which has been an awesome way to relieve stress, get some fresh air and get my body moving! I have an elliptical machine I am going to get back on, as well as a yoga practice I am starting.

I am determined not to let the holidays get in the way of me taking care of me! :D

Hi kids!  How was everyone's Thanksgiving.  I confess I went for the traditional non-sbd foods but you know what? I'm good for another year.  I don't have any cravings coming back (except for a mad desire for fresh veggies today). 

I've been thinking about this question all week and I know I've been making a conscious effort to incorporate exercise in a variety of ways.  I'm parking farther away instead praying for a parking space, I'm walking my groceries out to the car.  I do leg raises and stretches while waiting for something to boil or heat int he microwave and I'm just plain more active.  Instead of sitting I find something to do.  I have to say my house is getting clean and I have beend oing the scrubbing, sweeping etc. with extra energy to pump up the heartrate. I also concentrate on holding in my tummy at all times. 

The one thing I have not foregone is my daily stretches. I do a series of stretches either with the classical stretch or those I've been given for Physical therapy through the last few years.  Keeping flexibility has been my lifesaver.  I am loving the feeling of better balance and agility. 

I have just returned from a vacation in Hangzhou, China where I walked 5-7 miles a day (it is a walking city).  But have found it hard to get back into daily walking since I've been home, which is a surprise for me as I love to walk.  So I'm making it a holiday goal to walk daily with no excuces allowed.  I've already walked 2.5 miles today and feel great!!!! 

Happier Thin; I wish you strenght you as you take on the journey to help your Mother and sister.  I am impressed that you realize how important it is that you are healthy and are taking steps to take care of yourself!  Good luck with working towards your goals for SB and helping your family.  Happy Holiday!!!

I can't believe it--I actually lost a pound during this challenge.  I made the pumpkin pie on South Beach online and it was fantastic.  Other than that, I stuck to my diet.  This is the first time I haven't gained weight during Thanjksgiving.

How inspiring your message is for me and any who read it.  You do have a lot going on in your life but seem to have made the committment to take care of yourself also and that is a  big victory.  So often we seem so busy taking care of the needs of others that we shelve our own needs and concerns.  Last year I finally realized that I am better able to help others when I feel up to the task mentally and physically.  I now understand that part of that is eating right,losing unhealthy weight, and exercising more to keep myself fit durning the trying times.  You will have a successful holiday season for sure with your positive attitude.  

Remember that the support you receive here on the SB boards is not just about sharing the positive things that happen to you but also finding support through the tough times so that you don't fall back into old habits.  Even though I have my stress eating under control today, I always have to remain diligent of the fact that using comfort food was a habit from the past and is always lurking there as a downfall.  I do come to the boards to find that support, as well as using my family and friend support system at home, to get through the tough times without turning to food.  We are all here for each other and the nice thing about using the boards for support is that the people we chat with also face many of the same downfalls and concerns we each faceourselves, so the understanding piece is there also.

I am generally good about getting exercise while I am home- from going to the gym to walking around town to cleaning my house.  However, I am traveling to my parents' home for several weeks over the holidays and need to figure out a game plan.  

I hope to join my sister when she goes to yoga (about three times a week.)  I think I will follow other suggestions (from the board) to take the stairs and park far away from my destinations (be it the mall or the grocery store.)  I am also going to sunny California - I should take advantage of the beautiful weather and enjoy the outdoors!  

Hello, Hope everyone has enjoyed this Thanksgiving holiday as much as I have.  I have totally enjoyed time with family and just being able to hang out with hubby all week-end. I have gotten in lots of activity, but have been enjoying a lot of good food too.  Monday morning I must get back on track and do some damage control.  I was not so good at eating on the beach this week-end, but I am so ready to get back to my sunny beach now.  Hope everyone got in some activity this week-end and had a wonderful holiday.  That is the wonderful part of being on the SBD way of life, you can always pick up and start off where you left off.  The holidays are going to be tough, but I am attempting to keep myself on the beach for the next few weeks.  These next few weeks are going to be the real test after the big one this week-end.  Hang in there beach girls we can do this.  If you fell off this week-end just swim to shore like me and all will be well.  For those that made it through without falling off, great job. Wow!!!  Here we go to another day and we are moving on, no guilt. 

Hugs,
Tami
Hugs, Tami

I find that the hardest part of exercising is just getting started.  Once I start, I have no problem completing it.

So, my strategy is to make a deals with myself.  

On any giving day that I have a workout, I tell myself that I only have to do it for 7 minutes.  I mean, who can't walk for just seven minutes?  If at seven minutes I'm tired and want to quit, I can.  

If it's a trip to the gym, the deal is that I just have to drive to the gym.  If I get there and I want to turn around and go home, I can.  

This has motivated me so many times because it's such a small step.  And never once, have I ever not gone all the way, with the full workout.  Not that I couldn't.  I always can.  And that's why it works.

m.e.
 

I do have trouble getting exercise in when life gets very hectic.  At those times I try for 10 minutes at a time and also the tricks of parking farther away from stores, walking extra in Walmart, or getting on my gazelle.  The walking thread on E & F and Phase 2 help motivate me also.
I hope to get some walking in at the local high school in the mornings also since I don't have to stay with my DDs kids so early in the mornings now.  I found lots of good ideas here too.

Well, I am a week late on my week 2 challenge writing but here goes anyway:

I find the last few weeks I am becoming a bit more OCD about my calorie burning, which is a very good thing!  (I wear a heart rate monitor that my doctor says is pretty accurate - it takes in my gender, age, height, weight)  With that being said these are some of the things I do lately and when I'm usually trying to burn more calories:
   
    I teach at a public school so my schedule is pretty tight - stories of having to hold a pee for a 90 minute class because I can't get coverage is very true - I've even had to run down the hall and leave my kids for a minute or so and use the kids bathroom when no one can cover !  So.....   I am always always on my feet and moving around, I'm not a desk sitter - my kids ask why I never go and sit at my desk.  That HAS to burn some extra calories!!!

    I walk more at work -  if I have to go down the hall and have 5 extra minutes then I walk up the corner stairs, down the hall and down the stairs and I'm at my destination - sometimes I take this extra trip 5 times a day - just to go up the extra stairs a few more times! 

    On my lunch (a full 20 minutes!) I try to spend 10 walking the halls.  I do have two other short breaks so I try and graze through the day so I don't have to eat so much and so fast at lunch. 

    I exercise when I watch any TV - stretching, sit ups, leg lifts. 

    I have a few pieces of gym equipment and weights - so I set a timer and do 15 minutes of school work, 15 minutes of house work, 15 minutes of exercising.

    I SHOULD BE SO LITTLE!  (HA!)

RICHARD I AM SO SORRY I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY THAT I FORGOR TO POST.. I HAD PLANNEED ON POSTING MY NOTES ON SATURDAY BUT I HAD AN ACCIDENT AND COULD NOT GET HEREE. HERE ARE MY ANSWERS


TO GET MY EXECERISES IN I HAVE USED ALL THE THINGS I MUST DO AS CORE EXECERISES. LIKE DOING MY STRETCHING WHILE DOING THE LAUNDRY, I DO MY LOWER LEG LIFTING LYING IN THE BED OOR CHAIR EVERY TIME I TAKE A BREAK. SINCE I AM IN A WHEELCHAIR AND THE POOL IS MY ONLY WORKOUT I MUST REALLY GET INVENTIVE IN DOING ANYTHING TO BURN CALORIES. I USE MY CUTE LITTLE TIKI TO PLAY WITH AND THROW HHER TOYS FOR ARM MOVEMENTS.I WIL PUT ON MY MUSIC AND DANCE IN THE CHAIR WHILE CLEANING DISHES,THIS IS HOW I WILL GET MY WORKUT IN.IF I GET A CHANCE I MAYY GET A GAME OF TENNIS ON THE WII.

are you ok?