One thing I've had reinforced on this healthy journey with CTM is 'patience".
When I was younger the "10 lbs in 10 days" ads caught my eye. By the time I joined CTM I had advanced from this wishful thinking. I had realized that healthy eating is a lifestyle and accepted the slower but permanent weight loss that it brought. The added benefits of feeling much better and being healthier helped to reinforce this direction as the way to go. But with CTM and regular exercise came another frustration. Probably brought on by a combination of "the scale is the thing" and "muscle weighs more than fat". Keeping on tract is as much a 'head game' as a 'fitness game'.
I feel great. I get lots of compliments. I am about a 1/2 in. from going down another size, one I haven't been in as an adult. Things that used to jiggle are now tightening up. I see bones I haven't seen in years, and I sabatoge myself with sweets because the scale won't show me how well I'm doing.
I had a tough fight with myself but am back on track and that stupid scale finally showed some good results. I have to keep reminding myself that the scale moves on its own time frame and keep my sights on other signs of accomplishment. My saving grace was that I kept up my exercise schedule. CTM gave me a gift, the habit of exercise, and I am not going to break it. I did use it as a crutch at first saying to myself that I could afford to eat this chocolate because I would burn it off on the treadmill. This is true to some extent until you begin to add more chocolate than the treadmill can work off. Exercise can make us stronger in body for sure, but also in our resolve to continue on our journey.
Healthy weight loss with exercise can be very slow, sometimes nonexistant, but the other signs, the inches, the compliments, the decreasing sizes need to be enough to keep us going and dig us out of our slumps. Its a journey, one with lots of twists and turns and unfortunately backtracts, but one you need to undertake for you to live a healthy life. Robert Schuller said, "Better to do something imperfectly than nothing flawless".
Posts
At the end of any journey, it’s always nice to reflect on the experience and enjoy the exhilaration that comes with accomplishment. During the past 12 weeks, seven real women have opened their hearts and minds to women across the country. They’ve revealed struggles, shared empowering messages, offered valuable tips and served as genuine advocates for this program.
During the Choose To Move challenge, these women not only engaged in physical activity, they discovered a community of women who share a common goal – increase physical activity in order to develop a healthier lifestyle. Their success is a direct result of determination, commitment and the support they received from those in the Choose To Move community.
From a mom with three kids to a full-time college student to women in the workplace, our real women take on many important roles. And as women juggling multiple responsibilities, we want to be the best we can be - a common thread among women in America. However, in order to be the best for our families, we must do what’s best for ourselves. Our seven real women did exactly that! Each woman, in her own way, learned how to make time for physical activity and develop better eating habits!
For Ruann, Kara, Lisa, Melanie, Vernita, Kathleen and Zulema, the 12-week challenge has come to an end. However, the ultimate reality is that their life-long journey to maintain a healthy lifestyle has only begun. No matter where you are in this journey, I encourage you to rely on women in the Choose To Move community, as well as those around you. Take advantage of the Choose To Move program and turn this challenge into a way of life.
My total chol. is 184
HDL is 46
LDL is 106
Trig. is 184
I have been on a low fat, low carb diet since Sept (NutriSystem). Should I be concerm about my Trig?
Comment by on February 12, 2008 2:54 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PM
Comments
Nov 07 | kara said …
Awesome!!! Put so well!!! I was just thinking if nothing else over the holidays if I keep up the movement than I am way better than I was last year at this time. -Kara
Nov 08 | kathleen said …
You got that right Kara, we are so ahead of where we were last year at this time. Yeah exercise! The most hated thing I love to do. My goal is to maintain through the holidays but not stop the moving. This Thanksgiving I am thankful for CTM.
Nov 12 | Norma said …
I hope I can be as positive as you. I am however 75, still work part-time, in excellent health and would like continue feeling well. I have started a diet and I do a lot of outside yard work like raking and bagging leaves and getting my yard ready for winter. I do not walk much as I am always in the yard but I will make time for at least a 30 min. walk as I see it is very important. My main problem is overweight and I am trying to do something about it. My HDL is only 39 and would like to get this higher and walking and weight could be the anwer for me. Thanks for your inspiration.
Norma
Nov 13 | kathleen said …
Norma, You are ahead of the game with your yard work, I would suggest just adding something with more routine to it like a 30 min walk. Don't use that word 'diet'. Think, eat more healthy for life. You don't want a strict diet plan, you want to increase your metabolism. Eat more often during the day by adding healthy snacks in between meals and just cut out empty calorie foods you may be eating and replace with something healthy, get in a moderate amount of protein and of course calcium and vitamin rich foods. You don't want to make your weight loss plan to restrictive because, first, you won't stay with it and second, your body will think you are starving and go into a weight saving mode. Eat healthy, move more and you will be giving yourself the best gift. Hang in there, we are all behind you.
Dec 11 | Barb said …
Hi! I am so looking for support to do this. I have been doing the diet but need to start moving to get the weight off...I appreciate your info...
I do real well for about 3 weeks and always blow it. I need to keep patient. The older I get the harder it is to take it off..
Dec 11 | kathleen said …
Dear Barb, I was the same way until I committed to the 12 weeks, I was skeptical about it actually working but I have formed a good habit, that is not to say it does not take continued vigilence but it is easier than before the habit was formed. Tell yourself you will give it 12 weeks, I bet you are able to keep it up for a lifetime after that. Good luck.
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