The Weight Loss Success Blog

Hello, Im in the Challenge too!

2007-04-12T16:16:00.000-04:00

Hi from Minnesota!!!
Hi, Im very happy to begin this Weight loss Challenge for a better health, I have 3 kids 8,6,3 years old, and I gain some weight after my pregnancies, like 30lbs , I lose 10 lbs on my own, but even I try to eat health, I m not very good at snacks, and like Mery sugest I will try the trail Mix, somebody have a recepie to share?.

I enjoy the outdoor, gardening, love to read , cooking and music, my native language is spanish, Im Peruvian, I married a North American farmer who love to travel like me, and thats how we met and I end up here in Minnesota, my family its all around the globe, Spain, Brazil, and United
States, travel its a must for me, I do it once a year minimum, one of my goals is to take right decisions when I eat and prepare myself for the unexpected when I travel or Im in home or wherever, I want to look great in a swiming suit again!!!:) , If someone can help me with recepies, I will love your info , specially for healthy snacks!.

Glad to be in this group, Talk to you later !

2007-04-12T03:47:00.000-04:00

Hi Marla,

I am also 38 years old with 2 children. I am looking forward to the 90 day challenge. I think checking in will keep me motivated and on course. I have lots of support from my husband, family and friends as well.

Here's my story so far...

Up to 3 years ago I was always able to maintain a healthy weight and had never been through the process of weight loss. After my second child life got kind of crazy. I went from working full time to staying at home. Which in itself was a lot bigger transition then I expected. We went through some stressful times with moving, remodeling and running a family business. During this time I lost balance in my life. I spent time taking care of every one and every thing else. Putting my own health on hold. During 2005 I put on about 25 to 30 pounds (and I tend to gain the unhealthy abdominal fat). I spent 2006 preparing my self for the process of weight loss. Although at the time I didn't realize that I would have to prepare for this process. Initially, I thought I would just start working out again and my body would naturally correct back to it's starting weight. I was wrong. Poor planning for the process easily distracted me and I would allow the every day stresses to set in and then I was off track. I was so concerned with the extra weight that I didn't take enough time to see how and why I had gained weight. I started off 2006 by going to a Naturopathic Doctor. Her interventions did help me feel like I gained back control of my life and slowly the feeling of chaos disappeared. I focused on getting more sleep, decreasing my caffeine intake, making small dietary changes, getting back to a regular exercise schedule, and finding ways to relax. When I finally realized that the weight wasn't going to fall off, I turned my focus to my diet. After taking a long (year long) honest look at my eating habits, I realized I was sabotaging my self with poor planning. That resulted in larger portions, between meal grazing, and night time snacking. When I had a heart to heart with the calorie count I realized that I was probably eating about 500 -800 calories a day in mindless snacking. The other good news is that I got the weight gain under control and stopped gaining in 2006.

Now in 2007 I feel ready for the next step. I took a while to mentally get there but I feel like I just want to do this. I have been logging my daily intake and tracking my diet and after about 4 weeks I am down about 5 pounds. The two main things I have done is cut out grazing and night time snacking. I've also been committed to at least 5 days a week of exercise. I feel like I'm off to a good start. I haven't had to make huge changes to see results. I'm not looking for instant results. A pound a week would be great but it won't always happen. I just want to get control over some of these bad habits and slowly move toward a healthier weight. The bonus will also be reducing my risks for Diabetes which runs in my family.

Marla's Intro

2007-04-11T21:43:00.000-04:00

Hi,

My name is Marla and I am really looking forward to this journey. I am 38 years old, married to a wonderfully supportive husband and have twin 13 year old girls. I live in Spokane, Washinton and am really looking forward to Spring walking weather.

I have been struggling with a yo-yo weight issue since college. I have had a challenge staying at a comfortable weight. Lately, just even getting there is very difficult...I might say almost impossible. I also have a cholesterol problem that I need to keep in check.

I have successfully reduced my cholesterol and have kept it down to a good level. However, I am pushing to get it a little lower!

My challenges have been eating when I am bored or upset or simply needing an outlet of danger!!! I quit drinking alcohol 5 1/2 years ago and just recently have seen an interesting connection in my weight gain and the time that I quit. I had issues with controlling the amount of alcohol and now I believe that I have replaced that with Nilla wafers. My husband has the same issues and we are abusing the cookies together. It seems that is date night. Sounds pathetic, but don't underestimate the power of the cookie binge!

I have a 20 year reunion coming up and would love to be in my old size for the occasion. My family is very active and we love the outdoors. I gave myself a big challenge of gettting in shape to take a very difficult backpacking trip and we just never got around to it in the Fall. I would love to get myself in the condition to take this on this summer and having the extra 15 pounds off would make a huge difference on my joints.

So in short, I am looking and have been for a while to make a big life change. I believe that I have made some great progression, but some of my hangups have prevented me from really getting to the place that I would like to be.

I have a very supportive family and I am looking forward to leading them to a healthy lifestyle by example. I can't wait to get started and I am really excited about doing this with a group for support!

90 Day Challenge III

2007-04-11T09:21:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 90 Day Challenge! Real Living Nutrition provides this challenge a couple times a year for 2-3 individuals who want to work on their health and weight goals. Each person has their own invidividual goals they are working on but in a supportive team environment. They will share their stories along the way in our blog.

Welcome to Veronica, Marla, and Payton! I am looking forward to a great challenge!

Meri Raffetto

http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

2006-11-05T20:14:00.000-05:00

Hello Alison, Diane & Susan,

I've finally worked through some technical glitches on my end, and am happy to join all of you on our blog! Thanks for your patience and for the encouraging postings I've been reading from you during the past few weeks.

I decided to take this journey after several weeks of focusing on my workout routines, without much focus on the nutritional side of the program. My progress has been slow because of it, realizing now the importance of a 360 approach - strength training, cardio and nutrition - and commiting to a program with other people.

I've also learned that I'm much more successful when I attempt to make these kinds of changes in a group or community environment.

I've always struggled with bad eating habits, mostly stress and emotion-based eating. Sweets and caffeine are my big downfall, coupled with a dislike for a lot of vegetables. This of course leads to big swings in energy levels throughout the day.

Thank you Meri for this opportunity, and the new resources and information you been providing to us. And thank you Susan for introducing me to Meri, Alison and Diane. I'll look forward to talking with all of you during our next teleclass.

Pam

2006-11-01T06:20:00.000-05:00

Hi again,

It's been a while since I've checked in with everyone. I do love reading the posts from all in the group - reminds me that I'm not in this balanced program alone!

I've been struggling a bit with my self-control. I attribute it mostly to lifestyle right now. I am very harried with my little ones and all their activities they are involved in. I find I have so much less time to concentrate on the discipline I need to keep me on track. I've realized just how many bad habits I've assumed through the years! But...I do love all the information I've been receiving in the program. There is so much to absorb! And that's what I'm particularly excited about - I will have this information for many years to come. I am committed to this program - I like the fact that this covers so many facets of one's life - exercise, food choices, psychological responses to eating, etc.

I will keep plugging along and hope my partners do the same. Small steps are better than none. My vision is still intact - I will walk away with so much more knowledge to continue to make the changes I desire for a healthier body.

Thanks Meri for your continued patience and guidance! Diane, Pam and Sue - hope you're all doing well!

2006-10-24T16:46:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
What a shame that I can't find my original post. In a nutshell I decided to do the 90 day challenge because I wanted a healthy foundation nutritionally to take me into my 50's and above. Figuring it'll take about 5 years to become comfortable with all the information I would receive during the challenge I thought I'd better start now.

OK it was mainly because I've put on a bit of weight this last year or so and I've been very uncomfortable with myself. I know I should be exercising more but I don't. I know I should be staying away from my beloved carbs but I don't always. I know I shouldn't snack at night but if my husband is eating (and he is) I eat too.

And then there really is the question of "just exactly what is healthy eating, anyway?" Should I eat this? Would that be better? Is there another option? I don't know! I have a lot to learn and am looking forward to it.

We all make choices. We choose to sit on the couch or go for a walk, to eat what we want and when we want to. Sometimes we don't even realize that we have other choices. I want to make good choices and am happy to have the opportunity to get the information I will need to make the good choices in my (and my family's) future.

Diane

Stress, PMS and those darn cravings

2006-10-20T16:31:00.000-04:00

It seems that as a team we have gotten off to a slow start. Thank you Meri for being patient with us! I plan to use this weekend to review my goals and reconnect with my vision. I do believe in this program-- even more than ever now that a week has passed and I have experienced first hand the pain of change.

My recent two weeks have included some life stress and that cyclical friend of ours PMS which have both sent me back to old habits of emotional eating and inconsistent food preparation (which I need for a good outcome to the day). I did not grocery shop last weekend so the food selections at home became increasingly inhospitable to the healthy eater. In fact, if a healthetarin were a species, she go extinct in the environs of my home in about 5 days.

I had mixed success with some of my promises to myself - for example drinking water and going for a short walk before eating in the evening. Two days it worked and three days it did not. I felt that PAIN of change and gave in to the comfort of old habits.

So, looking forward, I'm planning to do some healthy grocery shopping for next week, prepare some healthy foods to have for packing my lunch and continuing with my exercise regime.

I encourage you to post your blog -- this has been helpful in itself - just getting my mind back into the program. Good luck!

Intro

2006-10-05T13:47:00.000-04:00

Hello my new friends! This is Susan E and I'm pleased to begin this journey with you. My reasons for participating in this program are threefold:
1. I have committed to a more active lifestyle and would like to balance my fitness and exercise with an equally healthy approach to nutrition.
2. For most of my life I have engaged in emotional/stress related eating habits. Now that I am in my forties, it is affecting me more significantly and I would like to finally move beyond a mindset of always worrying about food or using it for reasons other than nutrition/enjoyment.
3. I am joined by a dear friend on this 90 day challenge and we have promised each other that we will shop for, buy and enjoy a fabulous New Year's Eve dress to help celebrate both our success on this program and 2007.

I look forward to learning and sharing with all of you in the coming weeks!

My Introduction to the 90 Day Challenge

2006-10-04T19:53:00.000-04:00

My name is Alison and I am very excited to start - and finish - this 90 Day Challenge. I wanted to do for a number of reasons. I have been feeling weight come on quickly as I've entered my 40's. I can see how my metabolism has changed. I want to eat smarter and lose weight. And I want to have someone with knowledge guide me through to make better food choices. This will then (hopefully) allow me to incorporate new and lasting food choices into my life. In a nutshell, I want to look and feel better than I do presently!

Fall 90-Day Lifestyle Challenge Kick Off

2006-09-27T09:28:00.000-04:00

We had so much fun with our last 90 Day Lifestyle Challengers that we are doing it again for the Fall season. We have four participants for this challenge. Two sisters and two friends. We will officially kick off the challenge on October 2nd. Stay tuned into the blog and read our new participants introductions and why they want to go through this challenge.

Thank you!

2006-09-06T14:52:00.000-04:00

Thank you Meri for this amazing opportunity to challenge myself to change some of my habits! I really can't believe 12 weeks have gone by already - it went so fast! I think the biggest changes for me have been "letting go" of my "obsession" with food... and the guilt I used to feel when I ate something that was not too healthy. Now I find that it is becoming more of a habit to make healthy choices most of the time and enjoy the food that I am eating. I also have become much more creative with my menus - using what I like in interesting combinations.

Thank you Bridget and Terry for going through this challenge with me - I wish you both continued health and happiness!!

Grand Finale

2006-09-05T09:53:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how quickly this last 12 weeks went by. This was our first 90-Day Lifestyle Challenge and it really was fun! I really enjoyed working with Terry, Bridget, and Stefanie and watching you guys make such great changes towards your individual goals. I loved that you guys all had different things you were working on and yet had common ground to help each other. This was a pilot program and I definitely want to see it continue. Thank you guys for putting yourselves out there and for your great attitudes even when times were challenging! You are all remarkable women!

Keep an eye in your email inbox...you'll be receiving a little present shortly! :)

It has been such a pleasure working with you!

For all of you following along. We will put together another 90-Day Lifestyle Challenge for January. This will be the best way to make that resolution and stick to it! If you think you'll be interested you can email me now and we can put you on the list! You don't have to commit now just let us know if you are interested since we only take 2-3 people to go through the challenge.

Send an email to: meri@reallivingnutrition.com

Thanks guys!!

2006-09-04T18:40:00.000-04:00

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 12 weeks!!! What a great journey it’s been! It’s really cool to look back at how the small changes added up to big improvements in diet, health and fitness. I truly feel the healthiest that I’ve ever been! Thank you Stefanie and Terry your support these past few months! And most of all THANK YOU MERI for your amazing guidance, support and this awesome program! You are so gifted at helping people overcome their challenges and realize their goals. Your guidance has made a big impact on my life. Thank you for everything!

I wish you guys all the best.... Here’s to continuing the challenge for the long haul! :)

Final Week...

2006-08-29T00:43:00.000-04:00

I’m excited to be entering the final week of the program and to see the progress I’ve made! I’m feeling more positive and confident about my body, health and wellness than I ever have before. I think my favorite part has been learning to be less of a perfectionist, and sticking to an overall healthy lifestyle even though I sometimes make less than ideal choices. I’m more able to enjoy occasional over-indulging instead of feeling guilty about it, knowing that I can still stay on track. It’s very liberating to stop being “all or nothing” about eating right and exercise. Looking forward to my final week of the program! :)

Fitness Goals...

2006-08-21T00:18:00.000-04:00

I’m with you Stefanie... I’m definitely feeling jump-started with exercise again these past two weeks. I used to aim for an exercise plan that was pretty rigorous and regimented... but the problem was that I usually didn’t stick to it, and ended up not exercising at all for weeks at a time! I’ve since scaled it back to a plan that’s much more “do-able” for me and fits with my lifestyle. If I do more in a given week, then it’s “extra”... as opposed to before where I set myself up to feel like a failure for not meeting a my more rigorous goals. I am learning (slowly) to let go of some of my perfectionism, and live more in balance. Yay!! :)

Exercise

2006-08-14T20:45:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow challengers,

Today I felt great, I worked out with weights this morning - paying much more attention to my muscles and form - later in the day I also went for a power walk for 30 minutes - also focusing on my form and attention - I walked in silence instead of multitasking and talking on the phone. What a difference in how I feel when I am fully present with the exercise instead of trying to distract myself from it!

Thank you Ann for your great presentation last week - it helped jump start me again!!

Motivation and Progress...

2006-08-09T03:00:00.000-04:00

What helps keep me motivated is recognizing the progress I've made so far... There are some goals that I've had a lot more success with than others (I've had more success with diet changes and awareness/mindfulness than I have with exercise), but I recognize that it's all an ongoing growth process. What makes me happy is seeing that a lot of the changes I've made have become “part of my routine” now and I don't really have to think about them anymore. That motivates me to stick with working on my “tougher” goals... I'd love for them to become second-nature too! I'm inspired to make progress on them in these final few weeks of the program.

More on Motivation

2006-08-01T15:51:00.000-04:00

For me, what keeps me motivated is accountability, reminders, and the way my body feels.

By "accountability", I mean someone that I have shared my goals with who will ask me how I am doing (like Meri has done for me, and us, during this 90 day challenge). When I have to tell someone what has been going on for me, it keeps it in my mind and focus.

By "reminders", I mean, constantly reviewing what I have learned about a subject, in this case, healthy eating, to commit it to memory, then habit. Something I realized today is that I need to go back and review several weeks of the Balance Program information (it's wonderful that it is all still accessible) to get a refresher and see what I may be still missing - where I may be veering off course.

By "The way my body feels" I mean really paying attention to my energy levels. For example, when I was really going strong eating very healthy, I had lots of energy - today I feel very sleepy and when thinking about what I ate today, I know why.

So, for me, staying healthy is my goal, but it still takes work to make it happen. I all too easily fall back into old habits and need to refocus to stay motivated!

What keeps you motivated?

2006-08-01T14:37:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone! This is now week 9 for our 90-Day Challengers. I was thinking this morning about motivation. There are so many different strategies for staying motivated. For me it is always keeping my end goal in mind and instead of feeling like it is way off in a distance, I always think that every action I take is creating the outcome I want to achieve. I love the quote from Gandhi, "become the change you wish to see". To me this is a powerful message and helps me to accomplish what I set out to do. My question to the 90-Day Challengers and readers is what motivates you? Let us know!

Do you feel like you've let yourself go and want to make changes to lose weight and improve your health? Take our tour at: http://www.reallivingnutrition.com/balancetourlanding.aspx to find out how we can help.

Feeling Great

2006-07-26T17:31:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow 90-day challengers, I can't believe 8 weeks have gone by already! This experience has been just what I needed... and through it I realized a lot about myself: the most important was letting go of the number on the scale!! Before the Balance Program, every day, when I weighed myself I would feel discouraged that the numbers were going up instead of down. Now, while the numbers did go down some, they stopped at a weight that I now realize is wonderful for me. It is healthy, I FEEL healthy, I look great, and fit into all my clothes the way I want - not swimming, but very comfortable! I realize that less (weight) is not necessarily better - and finding a weight that I can maintain while eating wonderful healthy food is incredibly freeing for me!!

My favorite times in the last 8 weeks have been experimenting with new foods - and in using those foods in creative ways (like my new favorite breakfast - see previous post). Also rewarding was finding new exercises that fit my lifestyle (and my schedule) for I know that the best way to maintain my weight and shape is to keep moving - as often as I can. Just yesterday I wanted to go for a walk, I was all ready, then it started thundering so I came inside and walked up and down the stairs 20 times then walked around the whole house a few times too!! It might have looked funny but it felt great! In fact, I think I'll go for a walk right now (outside this time!)!

Stefanie

Getting Unstuck...

2006-07-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

I have had a rough week. I ended up dropping a lot of the goals I had been working on. But looking back today at my weekly goals over the past 8 weeks I've realized that although I had abandoned some of them this past week and a half, there were others that I had stuck to without thinking about it. Maybe they've become habits? I hope so! I am trying to not be discouraged by being off-track lately... I am motivated to continue with the small changes and visualize my healthiest, most balanced self that I am continually becoming... :)

Have you pampered yourself lately?

2006-07-24T11:16:00.000-04:00

This is a topic I have posted in the past on this blog but thought it would be a good time for our 90-Day Challengers to revisit this idea. So, I'll ask again, have you pampered yourself lately? The reason this is such an important concept in weight management is that it can help decrease that strong urge to emotionally eat.

Food becomes such a strong coping mechanism for emotional and stress eaters because it is fast, convenient and wonderful. Who doesn't feel better when eating a hot fudge sundae or some wonderful salty potato chips? We get an immediate feel good endorphan release followed up by some calming serotonin. The problem is when this is the only feel good thing that you do for yourself. Your subconscious only registers eating with feeling better.

When you take care of your emotions and stress in another way that is equally pleasing and calming, then your subconscious recognizes there are choices other than food, and this can help to lessen that urge to eat.

So, my challenge to the 90-Day Challengers and anyone else following along, is to do something wonderful for yourself this week. Maybe a massage or facial, perhaps curling up with a trashy novel, or taking a nice hot bath with no kids allowed near the bathroom :)

Whatever makes you feel great! What will you do to pamper yourself this week?

Keep us posted! We would love to hear what makes you feel great and pampered!

Healthy choices while traveling...

2006-07-11T02:11:00.000-04:00

My challenge this week will be to maintain healthy choices, portion sizes, exercise, etc... while I'm traveling for 4 days for work. I think it will take a concerted effort to make time for at least a daily walk, and mindfulness to make healthy food choices. I usually just blow off my typical routine and health choices while I travel, so this will be a challenge...
Hope you guys are having a good week!

Frozen Grapes?

2006-07-05T21:31:00.000-04:00

I didn't think I'd like them, but they are a refreshing snack!

Very juicy and they last longer than eating them normally....

It's been good trying new snacks in an effort to balance my diet during this 90 day challenge!

Yum -dark chocolate!

2006-07-05T16:39:00.000-04:00

I learned that if I want to do chocolate...dark chocolate would be healthier....got some today....pretty good stuff!

Dear John Letter...

2006-07-03T15:12:00.000-04:00

I wrote a Dear John Letter to my favorite snack - chocolate ice cream with sliced almonds on top. :) It was very interesting! I actually gained a lot of insight as to why I eat this several evenings per week even when I’m not hungry (and often several servings of it). I realized that I almost exclusively eat it in the evenings when I’m surfing the web or doing email. It is like a comforting “companion food” to my computer time. The time I spend surfing the web in the evenings, and the accompanying snacks, both feel like they are not really in balance... Now I’m working on limiting my computer time to 1 hour per day at home (and spending the freed up time doing other things I enjoy) and drinking tea instead of eating while I'm on the computer. Here goes! :)

Great Breakfast

2006-07-03T12:54:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, just wanted to share a wonderful, healthy breakfast I have created. It starts with a Kashi waffle, toasted. Top that with plain, nonfat yogurt, add sliced bananas and blueberries, 2 T of Flax seed (ground up), almonds, and honey! Enjoy!!

Stefanie

Keeping up when not feeling well

2006-06-27T17:06:00.000-04:00

The challenge for me this week is keeping up with my new healthy habits since I have not been feeling well. My usually (past) tendency would be to eat anything that was convenient since I do not feel up to cooking, reach for comfort food thinking it will make me feel better, or worse, not eat much at all. This time I am forcing myself to eat healthy, since I know that this is really what my body needs!

Are you moving forward or standing in place?

2006-06-27T12:05:00.000-04:00

Wow! I can't believe we are already on week 4. This is a good time to go back and reflect on your vision and long term goals. Are you staying in forward movement and taking actions towards your goals? Have you found areas where you feel you are standing in place? There is no doubt about it, some of your goals will be more challenging than others.

This week challengers (and anyone else reading along), I challenge you to write a Dear John letter to those habits that aren't serving you anymore. Make sure to thank the habits for the needs they fulfilled but also let them know you have found someone (something) new and it is time to say good bye! This is a fun exercise but also helps you to really see how you can make new choices in your life and you don't have to hold on to the old habits. Good luck this week!

“I no longer remember the day when I first realized that meditation, diet, and exercise were not self-inflicted punishments for stress and overeating, but rather ways of experiencing more love, peace, and joy in my body and my life.”

-Michael Neill

Inspired

2006-06-26T01:42:00.000-04:00

I feel inspired starting into week 4... some things have been more challenging than others, and a few things I haven't stuck with, but I feel healthier already for the small changes that I've been making. I hope I can continue them in these next several weeks so they become new habits. I hope the other challengers are doing well! :)

Rough Day

2006-06-21T23:02:00.000-04:00

I had kind of a rough day today... reverted to stress-induced junk snacking at work... It was interesting because I was AWARE of the fact that I wasn't hungry, and that I wasn't even really enjoying the food; I just felt compelled to eat anyway. I'm resisting beating myself up about it... trying to just take it as a learning experience. Had yoga again tonight... that helped!

Welcome to Week Three!!!

2006-06-19T09:04:00.000-04:00

"How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."
- Trina Paulus

Losing weight and improving health requires changes in habits. Some of these changes are easy and some are more challenging. Keeping your eye on the end result (your vision). This will help you to overcome any obstacles along the way and keep you focused in taking targeted action each week. Good luck this week Challengers!

Portion control...

2006-06-18T01:08:00.000-04:00

Since starting this program, I have been working on being mindful of when I’m feeling full and not eating beyond that. This has resulted in me eating less in each meal. (I’m also having more frequent healthy-snacks between meals.) What I’m now noticing is that it’s taking less food to make me feel full. The smaller meals have resulted in me needing/wanting less food each time I eat. That really helps with slimming down a little and makes the portion control easier. Cool! :)

2006-06-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

This week has been tough! I find that eating a healthy breakfast is very easy, lunch is often OK, but dinners and snacks are a challenge! For example, getting in my veggies for dinner is hard and yesterday I ate more FF ice cream than I think I should have. I know this is a process and new habits have to be learned - it does help knowing what my challenges are so I can focus on overcoming them...I will have patience!

Yay for Yoga...

2006-06-15T00:07:00.000-04:00

I started my yoga class back up tonight after several months off... it felt so good! Especially after a tough day at work. What a great way to de-stress....

Week 2 - Chicken can be tasty...

2006-06-13T13:13:00.000-04:00

Looking forward to this week and trying some new recipes...especially those that will make chicken tasty (not one of my favorite foods). In fact, I notice that I usually crave sweet things and ignore the savory. That is something to work on...

week 2

2006-06-13T03:04:00.000-04:00

the teleclass last week was great because it reminded me that changing is a process...there are little things i can do to make differences.

doing this 90 day challenge is helping me to keep focused on my goals....

it's so easy for me to get off track...

this weekend we went out of town and it's taking me a day to take the time to read your emails, meri, but i'm thankful to have done it and go through my goals.

looking forward to learning and changing more this coming week!

90-Day Lifestyle Challenge- Week 2

2006-06-12T08:59:00.000-04:00

Week one reports from our three 90-Day Lifestyle Challenge participants:
Go Team!
*************
It was great meeting you guys on the teleclass on Friday! I am really inspired that we are doing this together... My week one had it's ups and downs... but the good thing is that I'm a little further along then I was one week ago! Just imagine how we'll feel in 11 more weeks! :)
How are you guys doing with overcoming obstacles? Snacking even when I'm not hungry brings me comfort, so I started a list of other things that bring me comfort... Instead of ice cream at night, I'm planning to try going for a cup of tea, stretching/doing yoga, curling up with a book or magazine or taking bath. Not sure what I'll do as a snack-substitute at work... somehow I don't think the bath or curling up with a book would go over that well!
:)
By the way, you guys suggested mocha or chocolate mint Teecino to me on the phone as something I can drink after lunch when I'm craving something sweet.
I just bought mocha and chai teecino this weekend – tried them both and liked them! Yay! :) I'm bringing them with me to work tomorrow so we'll see how that goes...
Since we all enjoy quotes, here's another nice one from Ghandi...
"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory." Ghandi
Good luck this week!!!
~Bridget

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My first week was fantastic! Learning what I was doing right and what I had to change was very eye-opening for me - especially since this program makes it so personal - it was like I had my own dietitian in my home with me. I had fun going through my kitchen reviewing what I had and eliminating certain foods that we just not healthy! Most enjoyable was my shopping trip to buy new "good stuff"! My favorite new finds: natural peanut butter, ground flax seed and experimenting with interesting rices and grains. My energy level was way up after eating so healthy for this first week. It was also fun to find interesting new ways to use fruit as my dessert instead of the usual ice cream and chocolate. It has been great getting to know Terry and Bridget and hearing what they are experiencing as well - nice to know that I have such amazing support from this program!

Stef
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Want to learn how you can lose weight and become the healthiest you? See which program is the best fit for you! Go to: http://www.reallivingnutrition.com/products.aspx

90-Day Lifestyle Challenge Kicks Off Today!

2006-06-05T08:41:00.000-04:00

And their off! The 90-Day Lifestyle Challenge starts today. Each of our participants has their own unique fitness and health goals that they want to work on, but they will be working together to achieve them. Meet the participants!
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Meet Stefanie -
I decided to start the Balance Program Challenge for several reasons. One, as a life coach, I believe it is so important to be challenging myself to be the best I can be, to do more than I think I am capable of – just as I do with my clients – to really walk the talk. Secondly, when going through my closet for a recent event, I realized that most of my clothes either did not fit any longer or were very uncomfortable to wear! It is time to take action and do what I keep telling myself I want to – get healthy again!

My energy is very low. I find myself getting very sleepy mid morning and especially late afternoon.

I often find myself with a stomach ache after eating – usually eating too large a portion or something very greasy and heavy. I also get heartburn or an acidy stomach – not a pleasant experience. Sure the food tasted wonderful going down – but I don’t have so much fun an hour or so later. I remember several times going out to dinner and not even being able to breathe afterward!!

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Meet Terry -

"I won't grow up"....That's what came to mind when I read the first day's food journal that I sent to Meri. Bubble gum, soda, ...it looked like stuff a little kid with no self control would eat!
So that's my goal with this 90 challenge; to grow up a little bit in my
eating habits. I've never had much success in setting a goal and reaching
it when it comes to my appetite. Somehow with other areas in my life I've done well....I'd like to transfer some of that success to my appetite finally.

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Meet Bridget -

Hello fellow lifestyle challengers! :) My name is Bridget and I'm from Santa Barbara, CA. I'm 31 years old and married. (No kids - just 2 cats.) I don't have major health problems, but I would really like to improve on my diet, exercise, energy level and stress management.
My main problem with food is overeating. I really like food, and often eat beyond feeling full. I'd like to learn to practice portion control better, and I'd like to be more in tune with my body regarding when I'm hungry and when I'm full. I would also like to tackle emotional eating (when I'm upset or sad) and snacking at work in response to stress. I am noticing that my metabolism may be starting to slow down, and I want to adopt better habits now before the scale catches up with me.

I have had periods in my life where I exercised 3 to 4 times per week, but often I'll go through long ruts where I don't exercise at all. I'm in one right now! I tend to be kind of "all or nothing" when it comes to sticking to exercise, which is not so good. I would like to get back on a feasible exercise plan that I enjoy and can stick to. I hope that being "held accountable" by reporting back to the others in this program will help me stay on track! :)

I am generally a fairly happy and content person, but my moods and energy level are definitely affected by the frequency that I exercise. I am more prone to feeling depressed, anxious and moody when I haven't been exercising. My energy level has been low for the past few months, since I haven't been exercising regularly. One a scale of 1 to 10, I'm about a 4 today.
I would also like to integrate more stress management techniques into my life. I could really benefit from doing some kind of stress management each day, like going for a walk, or doing yoga or meditating before bed, etc. But I just can't seem to stick to it.

I'm looking forward to working together on our goals! :)
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Want to learn how you can lose weight and become the healthiest you? See which program is the best fit for you! Go to: http://www.reallivingnutrition.com/products.aspx

90-Day Lifestyle Challenge

2006-06-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

Real Living Nutrition is taking 3 participants to go through our 90-Day Challenge. Their goals are to lose weight and get healthy and they are generous enough to share their life experiences in this blog over the next 12 weeks.

Our participants are getting a whole health makeover and you can tune in to watch their progress right here! They will reveive the 8-week Balance Program plus 4 extra e-counseling sessions with their dietitian, teleclasses, special reports, healthy living ecookbook and restaurant guide, built in support team, and more!

Stay tuned in to our blog to follow their journey!

Want to Lose Weight? Then Pamper Yourself More!

2006-02-13T15:19:00.000-05:00

Pamper yourself regularly?

Who wants to argue with that?! The reality is many people eat for emotional reasons. Food makes us feel good on many levels. The problem occurs when eating becomes the only coping mechanism your subconscious knows of. This is why that pesky urge to emotionally eat is so strong. It is hard to reason your way out of it. For many people food is the only thing they know that makes them feel better. When you start to do other things that make you feel good on a regular basis such as taking a hot bath, going for a walk, having a hot cup of tea; then your subconscious starts to register these activities as coping mechanisms as well. Over time this will decrease the constant urge to use food. You can’t expect to have a bad day, go take a bath and not have an urge to eat. It is something you need to do regularly and something you truly enjoy so the subconscious starts to recognize it as a new choice.

Pampering suggestions:
- massage
- pedicure/manicure
- take a walk somewhere beautful
- get a great book or your favorite magazines and lock yourself in a room with no disturbances allowed!
- hot bubble bath by candlelight
- weekend get-away somewhere lovely and relaxing
- enjoy a hot cup of tea and some quiet time- again...no disturbanced allowed!
- enjoy time with a friend
- go to an afternoon matinee

There are many other ways and it needs to be something you truly enjoy. When you start to do these things regularly your subconscious will say, "well I could eat or I could take a hot bath, or going to the movies sounds kind of nice". Retrain your brain to help you let go of the urgency to eat.

Sick of the Same Old Tired Side Dishes? Want to Add More Whole Grains?

2006-01-27T13:04:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest hurdles in changing your eating habits is getting creative with grains. Most people are stuck in a rut with rice and pasta and fear the thought of cooking other grains that are foreign such as millet, barley, or even bulgur wheat. The truth is that these grains cook just as easily as rice and are even more flavorful.

Near East has some of my favorite mixes for quick whole grain side dishes that cook as easily as rice. You can find these products in nearly all popular grocery stores and they come in all kinds of flavors. I particularly like the one pictured in this post. The Roasted Pecan and Garlic whole grain blends rice, bulgar wheat, and other grains for a truly wonderful flavor and high in fiber! For those watching your sodium just put in about a 1/3 less of the flavor packet.

Do you have creative ways of incorporating whole grains in your diet? Post a comment and share!

Body Image- One Size Does Not Fit All

2006-01-20T11:04:00.000-05:00

I recently ran across these startling statistics from the "Mind on Media" website:

1. Eighty percent of 10-year-old American girls diet. The number one magic wish for young girls age 11-17 is to be thinner.

2. Between elementary and high school, the percentage of girls in the U.S. who are "happy with the way I am" drops from 60% to 29%. (All the above statistics from The Body Image Project at www.justthink.org)

Since my business is part of the weight loss industry I think it's important to get the message out that one-size does not fit all and the important reason for losing weight is to improve health, energy and spirit. It shouldn't become what validates you as a person. We all come in different shapes and sizes and it is important to be happy in the body that we have. Anyone who is familiar with my work knows I am not an advocate of weight loss diets and it saddens me that girls at such a young age are starting on the diet roller coaster and feeling badly about their image.

Yes, losing weight can help to improve your self-esteem but anyone who's lost weight knows you have to start with a healthy self worth. Your image will never equal who you are as a person. So, it's a good time to ask, why do you want to lose weight? Feel free to comment back! It is great to hear why others want to lose weight other than the image part of the equation.

Here are some helpful websites:
http://www.tbio.org/
http://iambeautiful.com/resources.htm

Help! New Year's Resolutions Are Here!

2006-01-18T10:41:00.000-05:00

So you got ramped up and made your New Year's Resolution to get healthy and fit. Now that it is January 18th how are you doing? Don't feel bad if you haven't jumped in as much as you'd planned. This is typical for most people setting goals for the New Year, including me! If you want to get serious about your health and weight loss goals Real Living Nutrition has teamed up with wellness and fitness coaches to help you reach your New Year's Goals. How? We are having a contest. All you have to do is enter your name and you may win one of 11 prizes including free training and weight loss programs run by professionals. Not only do you get a chance to win these amazing prizes but you also get free gifts just for signing up. We do want to help you to reach your goals. It always helps to have a support system when embarking on a new health journey. Good Luck! There are only 7 days left to sign up. Click here to get your name in the drawing to win some great prizes! - www.reallivingnutrition.com

Humor

2005-08-23T14:43:00.000-04:00

I just clipped 2 articles from a current magazine. One is a diet guaranteed to drop 5 pounds off my body in a weekend. The other is a recipe for a 6 minute pecan pie.
Erma Bombeck

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.
Erma Bombeck

2005-08-09T16:40:00.000-04:00

Favorite Healthy Convenience Foods

2005-08-03T19:33:00.000-04:00

Hello all! This is my first post on my new blog! This is the place I will share weight loss tips, product reviews and information on creating real changes that won't appear on the real living website. I thought I would start it out with some product reviews.

Although I do love to cook, sometimes we all need some quick convenience foods that are healthy.

Amys, Amys, Amys: I love all of Amy's frozen products especially the frozen burritos. This is often a quick meal for me that I'll have with cottage cheese (yes...I love cottage cheese with burritos...call me crazy) or a salad. Also great soups!

Trader Joes frozen vegetarian meatballs: try these (if you have trader joes). I actually think they are better than the turkey ones.

Trader Joes Orange Glazed Chicken (frozen): This is wonderful although you do still have to stir fry it, but at least it's already to go!

Applegate Farm Turkey Bacon: The absolute best turkey bacon I've ever tried! And the best part is there are no nitrates. I have found this product at Whole Foods Markets.

Morning Star Farms Sausage patties: I use these a lot! Usually as a quick breakfast with a toasted English muffin and slice of cheese... basically my own version of the sausage mcmuffin. My husband likes to add an egg.

Share your favorite healthy convenience foods. I'm always on the look out for myself and my clients!