Who Hid the Peanut Butter?

 

Some of my favorite foods are dark chocolate and peanut butter.  My husband hid the chocolate about 2 weeks ago which was a good move.  At least I still had my spoonfuls of peanut butter to keep me going.  But I admit I probably would be able to zip up my goal jeans if peanut butter didn’t exist. 

So when I went to reach for my beloved peanut butter in the pantry, guess what happened?  The nice full jar of peanut butter was gone, and this measly jar of “hardly anything left” peanut butter was in its place.  With this love note:  “Eat more vegies” (yes, I know it should say “veggies”).

The culprit was my husband of course!  I laughed so hard when I opened up that jar of peanut butter.  He got me!  I am looking forward to incorporating peanut butter back into my life after I can wear my skinny jeans!

Less TV = More Weight Loss?

When my husband and I first married over 11 years ago, he posed a challenge to me:  Could I survive without a television?  He asked if we could try it for 3 months.  I reluctantly said yes.  What can I say…I was madly in love.   

Well, 11 years and 3 children later, we still don’t have a television.  We really love having a TV free home because we don’t spend hours vegging on the couch.  Our home is very peaceful and happy, and I truly believe the absence of a noisy television is an important part of the equation. 

Not having a television has also helped me lose weight.  There’s no staring at the tube and snacking into the night.  In this month’s issue of Fitness magazine, it says,

“You are a product of your environment.  People who lose weight and keep it off also have fewer TVs in their homes and own more pieces of exercise equipment than unsuccessful dieters, a new study reveals.”

My husband and I had to smile because as you can see, we don’t have a TV but we do have a spin bike smack dab in the middle of the family room.

Spend less time and money on televisions, and more time and money on exercise equipment.  It doesn’t have to be big. Fitness magazine says that a resistance band, dumbbells, and a stability ball can suffice.  You just have to make fitness a part of your environment.

He Won the Biggest Loser Contest

Well, my husband and I have been having a biggest loser contest, and I’m kind of disappointed to tell you…HE WON!

Now it’s not surprising, considering it is easier for men to lose weight than women.  Something about all the fat burning muscle men have – if you’re interested, read more about it in the Weight Watchers book, She Loses, He Loses: The Truth About Men, Women, and Weight Loss.

The contest was “who would lose 10 pounds first.”  He lost a lot fast but hovered with those last 2 pounds for awhile and I thought I had a chance of catching up.  But he emerged the victor and is enjoying the victor’s spoils:  3 massages in a one-week period. 

But I will press on!  I have about 2 pounds to lose to get to the “lose 10 pound” mark, and then another 4 pounds or so to get to my pre-pregnancy weight.  My husband may have won the battle, but I will win the war!

Controlling My Cheats

Well, I’ve been hovering between 147-150 lbs.  I must admit I have been allowing myself too many cheats.  Of course, when my husband points this out, I declare that I am not! 

Since I’m not gaining weight and losing a little (albeit a little), I’ve been allowing myself some treats.  For instance, I bought my grandmother a box of truffles, knowing full well that when I visited her, we would open the box and eat them together.  I think I must have had 5 truffles that day because I figured, “When else am I going to have the chance to eat truffles!” 

Then there’s the snacking with the kids.  If they sit down for graham crackers and milk, I have a few crackers too. 

Well, I know in my mind all these “little” things are stalling my weight loss.  I realized that most of my snacking was done in secret (foraging for anything sweet when my kids were napping and I was all alone in the kitchen).  Or when I saw a limited opportunity (like the truffles) and I jumped at it. 

So I decided this week to try something new – and it has totally worked!  I wrote down my allowances on little slips of paper:

• Coffee drink
• Dessert
• Sun chips
• 20 chocolate chips
• Wild card

This is what I am allowed to cheat on during one week.  Just giving myself permission to eat these foods has helped me to control my desire for them!  Since I’m frugal, I save up my cheats and then try not to use them.  But I know if I need them, they are there and I like that feeling.  So far, in my first week of doing this, I only used 2 cards:  the dessert card (I had chocolate cake at a church banquet) and the sun chips one afternoon.

What do you like to eat?  Make yourself some cheat cards to use during the week.  Use moderation of course!    See how many cards you can leave unused and of course, stop eating treats if you do end up using all your cards.

It’s Not too Late – Start Losing Weight January 1st!

Okay, you’ve eaten your Christmas dinner, maybe more pie than you should have, and your pants are feeling (super) tight. 

It’s time to get it together in January.  I’d love to help you for 31 days straight to get in the right frame of mind for losing weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle. 

After all, most Americans will make a New Years resolution to eat healthy and exercise in 2010, but how many will actually succeed? 

Do you want to be among the success stories?

If so, I know you’ll love my audio course Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You.  Just listen 5 minutes a day in the month of January to get the results you want.  Learn more now.

A Sale You Don’t Want to Miss!

Announcing a sale you won’t want to miss!

My audio course, Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You is now only $9.95 !  You’ll receive a month’s worth of daily motivation and guidance to get the results you want – all for less than 10 bucks! 

I wanted to make the audio course affordable in the New Year, so I hope you will be able to try it out.  So many moms who have tried the audio course have reached their weight loss goals, and I want you to also! 

When you sign up (for only $9.95), you’ll receive a daily email beginning January 1st.  Just listen for 5 minutes a day and you’ll learn how you can enjoy more energy and a slimmer body in the New Year. 

This is a sale you don’t want to miss!  Your health is more important than anything else you can choose from a catalog

Happy shopping! 

Christmas Grocery Shopping Tips

Today on my Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You program, I talk about “Shopping Light.”  If you can win the battle when shopping at the grocery store, you will win at home.  Whatever goes in your cart eventually makes it into your mouth. 

Especially during the Christmas season, it’s very tempting to put all sorts of goodies in your grocery cart, from panetone to chocolate truffles to sugar cookies.  Here are a few tips to help you navigate the grocery store aisles successfully:

1.  Shop with a list.  Keep to the list.  Don’t just throw something in your cart because it looks good.

2.  Don’t shop when hungry.  You probably already know this.  What if you have to stop by the store and you haven’t had time to eat?  Keep a protein bar or handful of nuts inside your car for times like this.

3.  Don’t buy Christmas treats unless you know exactly what they will be used for (to bring for a potluck, to serve at a party, to bring to the office, etc.).  Don’t trust yourself to exercise self-control if you bring home a tower of treats that aren’t already spoken for. 

4.  Skip the egg nog & candy canes. 

Happy Shopping!  Bring home fruit! 

The Little Voice In Your Head

In today’s audio message (Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You), I talk about what you say when you talk to yourself.

Huh?

You know.  You’re talking to yourself all day long. 

• “I can’t believe he did that!”
• “I am so tired.”
• “I look terrible in this shirt.”

Do any of these thoughts seem familiar?  It’s so important to “police” the things we say about our lives and ourselves.  If we are constantly negative, guess what?  That’s going to adversely effect our health and relationships.  Thankfully, on the flip side, if you are positive, that really boosts your health and relationships.

So today, try saying/thinking things like:

• “I am so thankful for my children.”
• “I am healthy and full of energy.”
• “I am excited about my present and future.” 
• “I can lose weight!”

Tell the little voice in your head to become your cheerleader!

You Cannot Lose Weight Alone

When my husband talked with my parents about surprising me with an elaborate proposal, my mom said, “In a plan like this, you need many allies.” 

Well, like that, when you want to lose weight, you need many allies.  The most important allies are the ones living under your roof.  How can your husband and kids help you lose weight?  Hinder you?  

Today in my 31 Day audio course, I talk about “You Cannot Lose Weight Alone.”  One of the questions at the end is:

If you miss exercising for a week, would anyone know or care?  Who is your accountability partner? 

How would you answer that question?  For me, the answer is:

1. My husband.  The exercise taskmaster.

Starting next month (January):

1. My spin instructor.  She makes you feel incredibly guilty if you miss a spin class without a VALID excuse.
2. My mom.  She’s my spin partner. 

Who’s got your back?  If someone doesn’t come to mind, figure out today who you want as your accountability partner and ask for their help.  Don’t delay because you cannot lose weight alone.

31 Days to a New Me!

It’s appropriate that my blogoversary is coming up.   After all, I’m starting out all over again with baby pounds to lose.  This process of losing weight after baby is what got me started blogging in the first place!

So I figure it is very appropriate to listen to my own stuff.  Starting today, I’m subscribing to my own audio course, Losing Weight After Baby: 31 Days to a New You.  Nothing like your own words to convict and convince you! 

One of the action steps today is to fill in the blanks:

I will be back to _________ pounds by ________ (date).   (I suggest putting your pre-pregnancy weight here)

Let’s work together moms & have a great December to help us get towards that goal!  I think if you can maintain your weight during a cookie crazed, sugar coated Christmas season, you’ve achieved success.  And if you can lose a pound or two, even better!