I ordered 'You On a Diet' and it got here!

Do you remember the other day - my telling you about how badly that I wanted the book, You On a Diet? Well, I gave in and ordered it for myself! And it came in the mail yesterday! I am so excited! I really want to go lock myself up in my bedroom for a few days and just read, read, read it! But, we all know that is nothing more than a silly pipe dream. I just really love the way Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen explain things - all the time when I hear them talking, light bulbs are going off. "Oh! I get it!" "Now I see!" They just make everything make sense. I really just cannot wait to dig in!

You On a Diet

I'm sure pretty much everyone has heard of this book - it was written by Mehmet C. Oz and Michael F. Roizen. I've been wanting it for a while now. I saw them on Oprah and I was immediately taken with them. I don't know if I saw them before or after buying their other book, You: The Owner's Manual. I love that one, too, although I haven't finished it. There is a lot to take in there!

But I would really love to dive into You: On a Diet, as that is one of the primary focuses of my life right now - getting healthy by losing this weight! I know I don't need their book to lose weight, or to start losing weight, but, knowing more about what exactly you're doing to your body with the foods you ingest and the activity/non-activity you involve yourself in, has got to be helpful. And they have an online community that corresponds with this book, and it looks like it might even be free - I'm going to check it out and I'll let you know!

And I just love the way they talk/write. Just listening to them is inspiring to me. So if anyone is in need of some christmas gift ideas - that book would be a good place to start!

Should weight loss be motivated by gifts?

I don't know, I often think that just being thin and healthy again would be, and should be, enough of a prize. I think that maybe it would be enough motivation. But, as I'm still stuck in the same old place, maybe 'dangling the carrot' is not such a bad idea.

A couple of Decembers ago, I bought myself the most gorgeous purple suede dress, thinking it could serve this purpose. I actually found it at the Goodwill, but, it was in such amazingly good condition - for only $6 - that I had to snatch it up! I knew it was way too many sizes too small, but, with it being in such good condition, and being just the kind of dress that I love - I bought it, thinking I would motivate myself to get moving, knowing that it was in my closet waiting for me.

It is still waiting, though. Maybe the prize needs to get bigger - I like the thought of that. I would love to reward myself with a trip! It would be really great, and inspiring, to know that if I met my weight loss goals, I could go on a nice getaway! I'd love to go to New York City - one of my very favorite cities! My mom took me a few years back, and we are both itching to go again. Or I could go to Branson, Missouri - ever since I read about it in Reader's Digest years ago, I have wanted to go there! It's cool, because it is billed as "Family Friendly Las Vegas", and seeing as I no longer drink or party, that would fit me perfectly! (Well, except for my 'sailor's mouth' - we'll have to work on that, too, I guess!)

So - what do you think? Do you think offering up gifts or trips as the proverbial carrot is a good way to approach getting healthier?

I see 'Skinny Lisa' - don't you?

I see her, she's right there - right over there! Don't you see her? If you don't - then you're just not looking hard enough. See, I talked to a psychic recently, and I really liked her! She was so nice, and even though she refused to give me the winning lottery numbers, she did help me feel a lot better!

And the most important thing that I came away with, was to 'see myself thin'. My instructions were to look in the mirror several times a day and envision myself skinny again. There really is something to that. All kinds of life coaches will tell you the same thing. I think that is the main premise behind 'The Secret', too. I haven't watched the whole thing, yet, so I'm not sure. But I'm pretty sure it is.

So now you might be wanting to ask me, 'Well, Lisa, is it working? Huh, is it?' Well, I could answer that if I'd been good about doing it. I haven't. I think I did it for a few days after talking with her, and then life got busy and life got crazy, and the best laid plans...

You know how the story goes. Maybe I should add it to The Healthy Habits List.

Hmm...

So frustrated with my weight

I haven't been doing so well with taking care of my weight loss. And I just was outside with Sammie and her friend, and as I was coming inside - watching my reflection in the storm door really bummed me out. Some days I think of just using something like a diet patch, but, I know it's about so much more than that. If that would even make a difference. I need to work on what's inside, so that I become more willing to take care of what's outside. And life just gets so hectic, you know? Or perhaps, more like probably, that's another excuse. Ugh. This is so hard. It's so simple, but, it's so hard.

Get-Moving clothes

I had originally titled this, 'The clothing dilemma of a fat chick' - but, decided that was too negative. I am at an odd place with my weight issue, one of absolute honesty and bluntness. I have been there for a while now, and I am finding it quite interesting. It is basically like this - you know how when you're fat, you like a shirt that is a lot bigger than you, around and long, so that you can 'hide' underneath it. Well, recently, in my newfound bluntness, I am not caring if my shirt actually fits, you know, like it should. See - this is a twisted web we weave. Normally, I 'hide' under my clothes because I'm not willing to 'say' to you, "I'm fat." Funny thing, you knew I was fat. But in my not 'saying' it to you, I was hidden and safe. It's just about getting honest with myself, really, like being able to 'say' to you (in clothing or in words), "Hey, I'm fat." So that is why the original title came to mind, but, I am now swinging to the other end of the pendulum, as we all so often do when we are growing and changing. And I am wanting to be careful to be honest, but, not to be negative. So, anyway, that's that and that's why the title changed. Funny, this explanation will probably wind up being longer than the original topic I wanted to talk about!

So, anyway, on to that original topic, shall we? The dilemma we face as larger people is that we want lots of clothes to cover us up. Hide all of our insecurities and make us feel safe from the world outside. I don't, however, often feel motivated to 'get moving' in such clothing. Jeans, for instance, although they nicely 'hold me together' - they also 'hold me together', thereby prohibiting a lot of free-flowing movement.

I have bought myself several tank tops this summer and I've had some athletic shorts. And I've tried to make a habit of wearing them. And the really cool thing is, I don't feel too awful in them. Let me tell you what I do feel, though. I do feel LIKE MOVING! And moving is a VERY GOOD THING! Even if I don't actually 'exercise' on the day I'm wearing them, I dance around and stretch all throughout the day, because, it just feels so good to be wearing these clothes! I will take the stairs more - sometimes go up and down them twice just for the heck of it! I do have two staircases at my house, so there is lots of opportunity for that!

I actually wore jeans today, but, I've been meaning to post about this for a couple of days now. And I'm excited all over again about the 'freedom of movement' and 'freedom from fear' that I've found in wearing tank tops and shorts so I think I will definitely have to wear them tomorrow. I know, to some people, this might not sound like a very big deal. And then I know there are some people reading this and nodding with total understanding!

Mommy and Puppy better get moving!

Oh my goodness! I just can't believe it! Everyone has been telling me that Puppy is overweight, but, I just can't see it. I don't know what they're talking about.

Now I know exactly what they're talking about! Hubby took him to the vet the other day and when he came home and told me how much he weighed, I almost fell out of my chair! Anyone want to take a guess how much he weighs? Oooh, I might just have to use Blogger's new poll feature! Yeah, I think I will! I noticed it yesterday and wanted to try it out - now is my chance!

See, when we went to Dallas, it was so cool because my other brother, who lives in Pueblo, got to come, too. Which was totally awesome because I haven't seen them since Christmas 2004! And, you see, David is a veterinarian. And he told me that, yes, Puppy is definitely overweight. I told him that I just didn't see and I wanted him to show me where he sees it. So that way I would know what to watch for and once we trim him down, not let it happen again. We got distracted with all of our goings-on, though, and he and I both forgot about it. Hopefully I will notice it as he starts to lose weight.

I have cut back his daily dog food, and cut out almost all of his people food. Shhh! When he and I get up in the morning, we have bread together. It is our tradition. And sometimes at night when he is begging me for more dogfood (because he hates his cutback portions!) - I will give him a piece of sliced cheese. Hey! Rome wasn't built in a day, people! Puppy and I have to get used to this new 'plan for living', you know!

****Ok, I've added the poll - ya'll go vote!!

I am so ready to be skinny again!!!

I am so sick and tired of being fat!! Just completely sick to death of it. It is just so hard, being over 35, and having had three kids, and having had a hysterectomy - it's like I have all the cards stacked against me. It would be so cool to be part of a market research study for weight loss and get some free help with it! Who knows? I might even get paid for it! There used to signs on the side of the street in Dallas about some program like that. I would really love to find something like that right now, because I am just done. Done. I am so entirely sick of not feeling like I am even being 'me'. That part about it is not only very weird, but also, very uncomfortable. And I am ready to be Lisa again. Naturally.

+Benjamin Roethig Test, test, this is a test. Just came here to zap a spammer and saw this notice that this (mentioning G+ peeps) could be done. So you get to be the guinea pig. Yea!

Black coffee - no more sodas!

That's it! I'm puffy today and I cannot take it! I think I am going through full-fledged menopause now, because I keep getting puffy, just like my mother used to complain about. I had thought I was in menopause already, but, now I'm thinking that I just experienced hellatious peri-menopause - because so many different things are going on with me recently. One of those things is the fucking puffy attacks! I'll be going along just fine, exercising a bit, watching what I'm eating, jeans are fitting better, etc and then BLAMMO!!!! PUFF!!! Dammit!!!!

My freaking legs are sore EVERY DAY because I am making myself move around so much, walking with the dog, walking with the kids, and every single time I take Puppy outside, I make sure to go down the stairs to hook him up, instead of lazily hooking him up at the top of the stairs - basically, I am taking every opportunity to take the stairs - and we have two sets of stairs in the house, so that is not hard.

I was getting dressed this morning, though, and I could barely get my jeans on - and embarassment of all embarassments - I was pulling them on with the belt loops - and I broke a belt loop!!! With my unsupportive husband in the damn room! Shit! And a whole bunch of other ugly cusswords, too! It made a little hole in my jeans, too. I know I am having the 'puffy issue', though, because my ankles are puffy!

Once in a while, like once every two weeks, when the kids miss the bus, and I have to take them to school - I stop on the way back and get a vanilla yogurt with nuts. And then we had cake from Easter in the house, too. So hubby says, "it's too much yogurt and cake!" Uh yeah, thanks, but, I don't think yogurt and cake make your ankles swell! UGH!! I love supportive people! And then I was telling Puppy that he has ugly lips, and hubby goes, "Well, you have a weight problem!"

This is so hard because my body is against me, in terms of age, and early menopause brought on by a hysterectomy, and hubby, unknowingly - is against me - with his sucky ass attitude. Funny thing is, he is the one that is so 'against fatness' - but, sometimes I think he is the one keeping me fat! Well, that's a sick dynamic to allow myself to be dragged into, isn't it? Yep. If that is somehow what his subconscious is causing him to do, I certainly do NOT have to give into it. No way.

I have to separate myself and especially my weight loss - from him and his crap. Or I will be stuck overweight forever.

This sucks, I'm so disappointed today, and I just needed some support, not crap!

I have decided to switch from sugar in my coffee and Sprite - to black coffee and Crystal Light. I'm a little bit afraid that this is kind of a step backwards, since my big thing was getting off of the artificial sweeteners, but, I'm just going to try it for a while and see what happens.

This is so hard.

Weight loss can be hard to get started

Losing weight can be so hard, but, probably the most difficult part about it is just getting started. That is why I like to sometimes take diet pills, just to give myself a little kick start - and get my brain thinking in that direction. A lot of brands offer free diet pills as a way to get you to try their product, you just generally have to pay shipping and handling. A lot of the diet pills out there do make me nervous, however, and I don't really recommend them as a long-term solution. I do think they can make a perfect 'retrain your brain' helper, though.