Still trying to be the best I can be

A few weeks ago I posted about my commitment to myself to get in the best shape I can be before I turn 50 in just over 1 and 1/2 years.

Well, let me tell you, after an entire adult life of hit or miss on diet and exercise, I have realized this journey is not an easy one for me. However, I have learned a few things over the last few weeks that I would like to share.

1. Even when I get home from work and feel dead tired and just want to eat and lay on the couch, I have to force myself to exercise FIRST!!! Once I do that I have the energy to get through the rest of the evening. This one is tough for me, because I truly do come home many nights just exhausted from work and exercise is the last thing I want to do.

2. Vegetarians can eat fish and fowl. I did not know this. I think I can do this!!!!
Two of my favorite veggie dishes right now: a bean tostada with Parmesan cheese, diced tomato and avocado. YUMMY!!! The tomato sandwich I wrote about last post will also be a new favorite!!
I must eat much MORE of this:
I must each much LESS of this! :) 3. Keep up the journal. It is good to look back and learn about your habits, your pitfalls and your strengths. It kind of keeps you honest somehow?? I have slacked off a little here.


I still need to work on portion control and my sweet cravings.

No excuses, but my old vcr finally broke down with my Leslie Sansone 3 mile ab walk stuck in it. So no Leslie for a couple of weeks. I did find a DVD replacement at Target. com. Yea! Should be here any day!!!!

Still loving my Lotte Berk Muscle Eats fat. I will admit that I don't do it everyday, but I still feel the results in my thighs.

So there it is, the good and the bad of my quest to be the best me I can be. I guess I will be a work in progress for the rest of my life. :)

The Diet and Excercise Adventure is underway

I promise that I am not changing my blog to a diet only page. I plan on getting to some Easter Crafts soon!!!!

I didn't post about my diet and exercise plan to fish for compliments. However I have to thank Julia over at Julialuvs2stamp for her kind words and encouragement. And thanks to Tammy over at T's Daily Treasures for her kinds words and for her encouraging story of diet and exercise success. If you go back 1 post, be sure to read her comments. Very encouraging!!! Way to take care of business Tammy!

I have managed to keep my exercise commitment this week. I did try the Lotte Berk Hip Hugger Abs and must tell you that I have weak abs! This DVD was tough for me. Maybe it will get better after a few more tries. I guess I do better with the Muscle Eats Fat because that focus is more on the legs, and I do have strong legs.

I do find that "social" life is going to be tough for me. There is always a lunch or dinner out for some occasion. There are always parties with lots of goodies!!! I really have to figure this one out. That will be my focus this week.

I am finding that the journal is a very handy tool. I look forward to looking back in a few months and re reading to see what I have learned.

I must admit that I did not make the Weight Watcher meeting as we ended up celebrating my parents anniversary that night. I will start that this Wednesday. Although, I didn't sign up, I have been tracking my calories in my journal. That is still a start! :)

I will come back with an update and hopefully some helpful hints in a week or so. In the meantime I have to get some crafting done so I can post on that!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Being the best me I can be

I normally don't write long blogs. So bear with me, this is a long one. Is is not about crafts or baking. :) It is about my life long battle with dieting and exercise.

I think well over a year ago I blogged about the Lotte Berk Muscle Eats Fat DVD. I had heard about it from Skinny little Kelly Rippa (no jealousy here) on Regis and Kelly . She said it really worked. So I ran right on over to my local Target and picked it up! While doing the workout I could feel the muscles in my thighs and abs working. After a few workouts I could feel the difference in my legs. Even with the results, I did not keep up with it consistently.

Time goes by, life happens and my weight goes up and down and I exercise "now and then". I just lacked the "stick with it" attitude that is necessary to reach goals!!!
Last Thursday I took out the DVD and I did it, then I took out my Leslie Sansone 3 mile ab walk with belt/bands and did that too! I felt so great that night!!!! I was off the next day, so I did the two workouts again the next morning. And let me tell you, I felt wonderful Friday!!! I thought, how could I ever let anything come between me and exercise?? So, I am continuing to exercise and added a jog/walk (weather permitting :) around the block with dog, to keep her in shape too. :)
I also did some research on Lotte Berk and found that she also has a Hip Hugger Ab workout DVD. I read some of the reviews and they were good! So I ordered it! Her DVDs are inexpensive and well worth the small investment. If you are interested check Lotte Berk method site.

All this being said, I have decided that I do want to hip hugger abs and I do want to be in the best shape of my life before I turn 50! Which will be on December 12, 2011. I don't know how that can be true, but it is! It is very scary how quickly my years on this earth have flown by.

How am I going to do this you ask? Well, I am going to share my entire plan with you! And I will come back with progress updates. I hope to see results for myself, and also to inspire others to get moving and get healthy. Maybe we can start a group, who knows where this will go.

OK, here is the plan:

1. Keep a journal where I will keep my food diary, my exercise diary, and any notes of encouragement, helpful hints and any useful tidbits.
2. I will walk/jog my dog around the block a minimum of 4 days a week. I will do the Leslie Sansone DVD a minimum of 4 days a week. Lastly, I will alternate the Lotte Berk DVDs a minimum of 4 days a week as well.
3. I am going to join Weight Watchers tomorrow with my co worker.

I have already started to become more conscious of the food I am eating and started having oatmeal for breakfast. Today is the first full day of my journal. So far I have written down everything I have eaten today.

OK, I think that is enough for a start! whew!!!

Have you been successful exercising and dieting? If so, please share!