Author: Terri

Wife. Mom. Blogger.

Weekly Accountability- March 25th

On By TerriIn Inspiration, UncategorizedLeave a comment

No, I didn’t post last week.  And I am a day late this week.  But here I am, sharing for accountability. 

The last 2 weeks have been okay.  Not perfect.  Not a failure either.  Just okay.

When I stepped on the scale yesterday morning, the scale didn’t change.  I have maintained the past 2 weeks. 

Before I started writing these accountability posts, maintaining AFTER a gain would have sent me down the hole…. But this time it didn’t.  And it won’t.

I maintained.  This week there were really good days that had me making healthy choices and even getting out and walking.  And then there were days that were super stressful that had me making a few less healthy choices. 

That’s life, right?

It isn’t perfect.  Or easy.  Despite how much we wish it were.

So we learn and we continue, while making adjustments as we go.

Each of us are different.  And we each need to find what works for us.  Because, as I said so many times in the workshops I coached—”what works for one may not work for another, we each need to find what works for us.”

And that is what I have been working on since recommitting to myself, my journey, and my accountability.  Finding and doing what works for me.

How ironic, then, that the theme for WW Workshops this month has been “Do What Works”. 

This theme has hit home with me.  WW has asked us each week to find what works for us, because we all are individuals with different strengths, lives and needs. 

It is so important to find what works for ME.  To make this journey fit my life, my personality, my needs. 

Because really, will I continue on this journey if I HAVE to do it in a way that doesn’t work for me or in a way that doesn’t take into consideration my needs?  NO!  I would NOT do this if I had to do it another person’s way!!

So, what worked for me these last 2 weeks—many things!  And I learned much.

What didn’t—a few things.  And I learned much from those slips as well.

BUT there is one thing, ONE, that I now know, without any doubt, I need on this journey.  ONE thing that without a doubt helps me on this journey!  My workshop.  MY workshop.

So, this week what worked is- (there were many but I am going to focus on one)

               —MY workshop.  (finding the right workshop is important and keeps us attending)

I have been attending a virtual workshop every Thursday mornings.  It is really early for me as the workshop is in another time zone, across the country in another state.  This workshop is the workshop I attended in person from 2006-2009, where I lost my weight and achieved my lifetime goal.  My leader (cuz back then coaches were referred to as Leaders) has retired and no longer coaches, but I still attend.  My friend, the one I went to my first Leader Training with, is now the coach and she is very motivating! 

I started attending this virtual workshop regularly about a month ago.  At that time there was only a 2 hour time difference.  But now it is 3 hours.  I have to be up at 5 am to get ready to attend my workshop (I want to be on video so….)  It is NOT easy to get up and get ready that early every Thursday morning. I could make a lot of excuses NOT to attend.  But this is important.  Because attending a workshop works for me. 

I have not been regular in my workshop attendance since I left Virginia in 2009.  Lots of reasons why.   Lots of excuses NOT to attend. 

No more excuses! 

Workshops work for me.  Period! 

The Workshop is the ONE place where I KNOW I am not alone in my struggles!  Everyone else has been there at one time or another too.  THEY get it!  And there is NO judgement!  Only acceptance!  Workshops are that ONE safe place where I can share my struggles and my triumphs, my aha moments and ask questions and my celebrations. 

Workshops are where I find motivation!  As a coach, I was motivated by those who attended my workshops each week!   As a member, I am motivated by the others attending the workshop and by the Coach and Guide.  So much motivation!

Workshops work for me!  And since they work for me, I am going to keep attending.  (I am hoping WW will keep this virtual workshop going so I can continue to attend from across the country every week and one day I will also go back to in person workshops, when things are a little safer for my health).

What is working for you?  Do you have that ONE thing that you have found that works for you?  What steps are you taking to make sure you do that ONE thing?  How are you making that one thing and YOU a priority?

This journey is hard.  Excuses are easy.  Excuses hold us back and keep us from doing what works for us. 

Here is a quote that a member shared in the workshop I attended this week that really struck home for  me—“Be Stronger Than Your Excuses!”

This week don’t let your excuses get in the way of doing that ONE thing that works for YOU!  

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Weekly Accountability- March 11th

On By TerriIn Food, InspirationLeave a comment

Peanut Butter.  My kryptonite!  I should have know when the Peanut Butter cravings started.  And then I bought and brought home a jar of peanut butter. 

I don’t know what was behind it.  I am still trying to figure it out.  But Peanut Butter happened (my comfort food.  The food I turn to when my emotions are all over the place…. When I need comfort, peace, or…..)

So, when I stepped on the scale this morning, it was not a surprise.  I gained 1.6 lbs.

I know why.  And I know what I need to do. 

Looking back on my week, my imperfect week, I can see some things that did not work and some that did.  I had every intention of having an awesome week—I planned to track, to plan healthy meals, and to move more.  Then the Peanut butter showed up and all plans went right out the window!

So, what worked? 

–I planned healthy meals and made two of them.

–I tracked one day

–I realized what was happening and how out of control I was and that realization led me to update my vision board.  I needed and still need the motivation.

–I attended my virtual workshop this morning.

–I stepped on the scale despite knowing it would be up.

Even on the rough weeks things can still happen that go well.  Growth still happens!

What did I learn?

–When the peanut butter cravings start I need to ask myself what is going on, what is pushing the button to need that comfort.  I knew, but forgot, just how dangerous peanut butter is for me and what it signifies.  I only want it when I am worried or stressed or angry or hurting….. I have been reminded and now I know what to do to NOT eat those emotions!  NO peanut butter can come into the house!  Lesson learned.

–I can get right back on track when I understand and am aware of what is happening and why.  Awareness is one key to getting back on track.

–One week does NOT negate ALL my progress!

–I do NOT like Peanut Butter!  Huh?  You read that right.  I do NOT like Peanut Butter.  Unless, I need it for comfort and then it takes me back to my childhood and reminds me of my mom. 

–and once again, I see that a slip is NOT failure!  It is feedback.  An opportunity to learn what works and what doesn’t.  And it creates another stepping stone on my path to success.

It was one of THOSE weeks.  Peanut Butter happened.  But it is NOT the end of my journey.  I did NOT give up!  I found a way to motivate myself (you can read that here) and to acknowledge what was going on.  And then I got back on track, back to taking care of me, and back to putting me first.

How do you handle emotions?  What is your kryptonite?  How do you get back on track after one of THOSE weeks? 

Vision Board Anchor

On By TerriIn Inspiration, UncategorizedLeave a comment

This is one of THOSE weeks.  The imperfect in this journey.  I don’t know why.  I don’t know what set this off.  But it is just one of THOSE weeks.  And THOSE weeks happen (more about the week tomorrow in my weekly accountability post). 

Yesterday afternoon I had finally had it.  My stomach hurt.  I didn’t feel well, physically.  And I was angry with myself and embarrassed. 

Me?  How could I eat all that?  What happened to the valve that “turns off” eating?  Mine was definitely broken.

It was then, in the midst of beating myself up, that I remembered the photo collage I had created years ago, to motivate me to stay at my goal and to keep working on being the healthiest me I could be.  The photo used to hang on my refrigerator…. But hadn’t been there in over a year.  Where was it?

I searched through all my things until I found it- the photo collage of my before and after pics along with a question/statement that helps me to stay focused. One of my anchors.

As I sat at the table, putting the photo onto another paper to frame it, I remembered the vision board I had created years ago and realized it was in the back of the closet.  Well, if this photo will help motivate me then surely my vision board would too!

So, I found the board.  It needed updating.  (the last activity goal on there was for January 2020….. )  I sat at my kitchen table, with bright colored paper and my marker and created a board that would motivate me. 

–The collage photo with the question “Which YOU do you want to be?  Only YOU can choose!” prominently displayed on my vision board.

–Two strings tacked along the top with small clothespins, each representing one pound.  The top string for the pounds I had left to lose.  The bottom string for the pounds I had lost.  Visual motivation! 

–Quotes to motivate me!

–A list of the things that WORK for me!

–Twos questions I ended every workshop I coached with- “Can I?  Will I?”  Powerful questions to ask.  Yes, I CAN.  But the real question is always WILL I?  WILL I do what I need to do?  And if not, then what WILL I do to help move me forward? 

–My activity goal, updated to reflect my goal for January 2022—when I complete the She Power 5k.  My goal is for it to be my fastest 5k EVER. 

This vision board is motivating for me.  The board sits on my counter, where I see it multiple times a day.  An anchor, to ground me to my journey and remind me what I am doing. 

And the photo is back on my refrigerator and now also in my pantry, hanging from the shelf in front of the snacks.  Anchors to remind me to check with myself BEFORE I grab food to eat—which one am I choosing?  Anchors to remind me to choose ME!

Anchors keep us moving forward.  They remind us why we are doing what we are doing, why we want to keep going, and what we are working toward.  If you want to know a little more about anchors, I wrote about them on another blog in 2017 and you can read about them here and see what my anchors have been on my journey. 

How do you motivate yourself?  How do you keep going when you have had an imperfect day?  What are your anchors? 

This week (heck the past year) has truly shown me that this journey is an imperfect one, a perfectly imperfect journey!

Weekly Accountability- March 4th

On By TerriIn Mindset, Uncategorized3 Comments

Last week I committed to a weekly update post on my progress as another form of accountability for me on my journey.  Though I am posting this a day later than planned, I did weigh in yesterday (March 4th) and I did attend my virtual workshop yesterday morning. 

Accountability is important.  It helps to keep me in check.  It helps to keep me honest. 

Yesterday morning when I stepped on the scale, I was expecting to see a gain.  Yes, it was that kind of week as far as food went.  And a gain would not have surprised me.  I was, however, quite happy when I saw that the scale did not change.  I maintained!  THAT is a victory for me, after the week I had. 

Last week’s topic about Non-Scale Victories (NSV’s) had me focusing on those this week and less on what number I may or may not see on the scale.  I think that focusing on those things that tell me I am changing and that I am moving forward on this journey, helped my mindset this week. 

It was a rough week, but I did not fail.  Life happens.  Life will always happen.  There are going to be days and weeks that just do not go as planned.  Focusing on other means of seeing change and success is important if I am going to stay motivated and if I am going to keep moving forward!  VERY important! 

Afterall, mindset is a HUGE part of this journey and has the greatest impact on my choices! 

So this week, what worked for me?  What were my NSV’s, those moments I am proud of?

               –I tracked, even the days that I ate way over my daily points and even after those weekly extras were gone!  I tracked 6 out of 7 days this week!  Yay!! 

               –I meal planned and created my grocery list from that in preparation for this next week.  I was reminded this week that I really do need to have that meal plan, and the foods on hand to create those meals in order to not make a run for fast food or to not order the pizza.  I also need easy and quick meals that I can make on those very busy days and those were added to my grocery list.  Preparing for any situation. 

               –I was able to walk a little more than the previous week because the daily pain is getting better!  I NEVER thought I would be THAT person who WANTED to move more or exercise, until I couldn’t.  Now I am excited that I may be back to long walks soon!

               –I used my calm app 4 days this week.  Taking care of me is important, but it is the thing I let go of first when life gets crazy.  I am getting back to those things that give me a few minutes to just breathe.  Just. Breathe.  Taking care of me first means I can take care of everyone and everything else! 

My week may not have gone how I planned it to go and the scale may not have gone down.  But I am still moving forward.  I am still changing.  I am still learning. 

One-step-at-a-time!

One-day-at-a-time!

One-NSV-at-a-time!

What was your success this past week?  What did you learn?  How do you know you are moving forward when the scales doesn’t show that?  What are your NSV’s?

This imperfect journey is perfect for me!

Weekly Accountability- February 25th

On By TerriIn Inspiration, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It’s Thursday.  The day I choose as my weigh-in day.  The day I choose to restart my week. 

I thought for extra accountability, that I would share here, each Thursday, how the week went and how my weigh-in went.  I also will share what I have learned, what worked and what didn’t.

Here goes for this week-

I stepped on the scale this morning before attending a virtual workshop and I was down 1.4 lbs! 

Happy Dance!!  Woohoo!!

I have to admit that I do like seeing the scale go down, yet I know it won’t always go down.  The scale just doesn’t always match the whole picture.  But this week, I was down!!  I will take that!

So, what was different this week?  What did I do differently?  What did I learn? 

–This week I tracked!  Yes, I tracked!  EVERY DAY!  EVERYTHING I ate!  Last weeks workshop inspired me to track.  And that is what I did different this week!  7 days!  (and today is day 8 of my streak!  How long can I keep this going?)

–I learned that I do NOT have to be perfect in my food choices.  As long as I am aware and I am mindful, there is no deprivation.  If I track it, then I am aware.  This week was not a perfect week—but I did not feel deprived, and I made choices for myself (vs the Saboteur on my shoulder pushing my choices).  THAT is empowering.  I tracked the low point and 0 point items and I tracked the high point choices like the Apple Fritter (well worth the 23 points!), pizza night (2 slices and a bread stick) and Raising Canes (2 chicken fingers, ½ serving of fries and a piece of bread).  I got to choose!  I was in control! 

–I learned there is no guilt when I track the food and own the choice.  How empowering is that?

–Tracking keeps me aware and awareness keeps me on track.  It also makes me eat more mindfully.  Mindless eating is my downfall.

–The Saboteur on my shoulder whispers every day, multiple times and I don’t have to listen.  Much easier to make the choices I want to make for me when the Saboteur on my shoulder is not so loud.

My scale success this week encourages me and gives me a boost.  It feels good to be back in control!  Will I always be in control?  No.  (that is just the reality of things)  But that is okay, because I can get right back to it, with the support and inspiration I get through workshops, my friends, my tribe and my family.  I got this! 

But even if the scale had not gone down, I would still be proud of myself and proud of the week I had.  I tracked this week!  And that is something to be very proud of and to celebrate.  This journey isn’t just about the scale, it is also about establishing healthy habits that will be there for the rest of my life. It is about changing my mindset and my thoughts to more helpful and healthy ones.  It is about living my life my way and making this healthier lifestyle fit into my life, rather than me fitting into some program. 

I may not be perfect.  And that is okay.  A journey that is perfectly imperfect is the right one for me! 

What are you celebrating this week?  What are you proud of?  What did you learn? 

The Saboteur on My Shoulder

On By TerriIn Food, MindsetLeave a comment

You know that old adage about the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other?

Well, I have a Saboteur on one shoulder.  And that Saboteur (my negative self) has been loud and in control more than I would like to admit and far more than the Supporter (my positive self) on my other shoulder has been. 

How do I know? 

I start every day with the same conversation with myself—“Okay, today it is time to get back on track.  Today is the day! Time to get serious!” and sometimes that conversation has some not-so-nice things to say about me.  I chastise myself for the choices I made the day before, but I KNOW that this is a new day and I CAN change that….. until I don’t….

And the Saboteur becomes the louder once again. 

The conversations with myself continue all day.  “Come on, you can have this _____ (insert anything sugary, salty and high in calories, including an entire bag of chips!)”  “You have plenty of time to reach your goal.  One day won’t hurt!  You can start tomorrow!”  “You had a healthy breakfast so these chips (or donuts or cookies) won’t hurt!”  “You went for a long walk today, why not reward yourself?  You deserve this!” 

And the conversation then continues into the night, with me ending the day in the same way that it started—“Seriously?!  You have got to get a hold on this!  You have got to do something.”  “Okay, in the morning I will!  No more messing around!” and these things are followed by some not-so-kind things about me once again.

And then the next day is a repeat… the same conversations, the same behaviors….

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

The Saboteur is very good at her job…every day she entices me to make the choices that lead me away from becoming the very best and healthiest version of me and she makes me doubt myself along the way.  She does this by disguising her words in positives to trick my mind- “Tomorrow is a new day, you can start over.”  Or “You deserve this” or “You went for your walk and have eaten healthy, you deserve a treat.”  These and many other tricks of the mind are what the Saboteur uses to get me off track.

The Saboteur on my shoulder has been louder than my Supporter, who just shrinks away, thinking it is a losing battle at this point.  But is it?  Really?  Is there nothing I can do to quiet the Saboteur and increase the volume and power of the Supporter? 

Actually, there is!  And it is all up to me! 

How??

Awareness is the first step.

I have been reflecting on this for a few weeks now, really paying attention to the voices I hear and what is driving them.  And this is empowering ME!  I am more aware of what is happening and who is louder- The Saboteur or the Supporter. Awareness is necessary for change to occur. Awareness is THE key to quieting the Saboteur so that I can hear the Supporter!

You see, both the Saboteur and the Supporter are part of me.  They come from me.  They are born of my mind, my thoughts and my feelings.  They both affect my mindset and are affected by my mindset.  They both affect my emotions and are affected by my emotions.  They both affect my thoughts and are affected by my thoughts. 

These two are pretty powerful.  They are me.  I am the Saboteur and I am the Supporter!

I have learned that the Saboteur becomes more powerful when my emotions are at play—boredom, loneliness, worry, stress, and even joy….so many emotions at play. The less time I spend taking care of me allows the Saboteur to become louder.  The more mindless I become in my daily living, the more the Saboteur takes over.  And the Saboteur gains strength from my negative self-talk, my lack of belief in myself and from my stubborn self.

I have also discovered that there are some things that make the Saboteur quieter and allow the Supporter, who is naturally quieter, to become louder. 

What quiets the Saboteur so I can hear the Supporter?— Forgiveness!  Mindfulness—in my everyday living!  Self Worth—believing I am worth it!  Taking care of me!  Calm!  Positive self-talk!  Patience (a REALLY hard one for me)!  Time outdoors!  Family time!  Writing!  Walks!  And most importantly- Starting my day with these words “I am Worth It” BEFORE the Saboteur has a chance to say ANYTHING!  

The power is within me.  I get to choose which voice I listen to.  I get to choose how I react.  I get to choose to take care of me first, thus quieting the Saboteur.  I empower myself when I CHOOSE!    

I am in charge!!

THAT realization is so empowering!! 

Though the Saboteur has been loud the past few months and been in control far more than I would like, I am a NOT a failure!  I am still learning.   I am still growing. 

I am not perfect on this journey and I sometimes stumble. And then, awareness helps me find my way back! I may not silence the Saboteur forever, but I can make the Saboteur whisper (which is easier to ignore) and give power to the Supporter to be louder.  I can use the tools and techniques I have learned through the years and pull them out when I need them.  

This journey I am on, that we all are on, is not perfect!  Far from it!  Perfection is not important on this journey.  Perseverance is.  Progress is. Growth is.

I will keep on going, keep on learning, and keep on believing in me! 

(FYI- as I post this, the Saboteur is whispering in my ear that I should make brownies tonight, that that would be a real treat for my husband…. And I am NOT letting that voice get any louder than a whisper!) 

I Ate the Whole Cake and I Do Not Feel Guilty!

On By TerriIn Food, Mindset, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Yesterday was my birthday.

It was just one day.

And I wanted a homemade Lemon Cake with Lemon Curd in the middle and Swiss Meringue Frosting.  Yum!

So, I had it.  I did not try to lighten it up.  I did not find an alternative. 

I chose to enjoy what I really wanted on my birthday.

And I ate the entire cake!  WHAT??  That sounds terrible, right?  Well, it really wasn’t. 

You see, eating healthy and losing weight is NOT about DEPRIVATION.  And it is NOT about EXCESS either. 

Eating healthy and losing weight is about MODERATION.

And yesterday I practiced that moderation.

And today, there is no guilt.  Today I do not feel deprived.  Today I am NOT obsessing about what I missed out on.

My husband and I made the lemon cake, but instead of turning the batter into a 2-layer 8-inch cake, we made mini-cakes in my big muffin tins.  They were the perfect size. 

In the words of Goldilocks, they were “just right”!

We made 4 total mini cakes, (yes, I am having one more today!) and then we threw out the remaining batter!  WHAT?  Who does that?  Isn’t that wasteful?  As my mother and grandmother used to say, “You can’t waste that, there are starving children in the world!”

I threw it out anyway!

It was not hard.  It felt good.  Because I knew that I was not depriving myself of the treat I wanted.  And by tossing out the excess batter, I was not creating a temptation I knew I could not resist.

I have learned the past couple of months as I continue to traverse this journey, that deprivation sabotages my efforts.  It just does!  And for me deprivation doesn’t just mean NOT having the food I want, it means forcing myself to eat a less satisfying, less flavorful, lower calorie/lower point version of what I am wanting.  And that substitution often leads me to eat more of that substitution, not saving me calories or points, leaving me less satisfied and sabotaging my efforts.  (some substitutions, like spaghetti squash for pasta, work for me as they are still delicious, but for my treats, well….the real thing in a smaller portions is better!)

So, I had my lemon cake in moderation.  And that is what works for me.

I enjoyed my birthday.  I went for a long walk in the morning, I got a delicious breakfast sandwich from Panera after my walk and had a yummy dinner cooked by my husband, with my Lemon Cake for dessert.

And I ate the whole cake!  Saying that without feeling guilt really empowers me.  I CHOSE to have this treat.  I CHOSE to enjoy my day.  I CHOSE to toss out the unused batter.  And I CHOSE to eat the whole cake!  Mini cake that is!

What could be better?! 

This journey is far from perfect for me.  It is a journey of learning what really works and what doesn’t.  It is a journey of growth.  It is a journey of learning how my thoughts help and how they hinder my progress.  By choosing to have the treat, and choosing to have it in moderation, I put myself back in control, taking away the power that food and guilt have had and can still have over me. 

I am learning.  I am growing.

I can get health.  I can lose weight.   And I can have my cake too!

A Detour Can Lead To Success, Too

On By TerriIn Activity, Mindset2 Comments

Three years ago, today, I completed my first 10k EVER!  And it was at Disney World.  I wrote about that experience and what I learned on a blog here.  That 10k showed me that I could accomplish so much more than I ever thought I could, just by pushing myself to step outside my comfort zone.  And finishing that race made me proud of myself, REALLY proud of myself. 

Funny how that memory popped up in my Facebook newsfeed today.  A day when I am looking back on the goal I set for myself January 1st, 2020.  The goal to complete the Run the Year challenge and to complete all 2,020 miles in that year.  It was a lofty goal for me, to say the least.

I set that goal with the same determination that got me through the 10k and with the knowledge learned from that race that I was capable of so much more than I gave myself credit for.  I was pushing myself to step outside my comfort zone, once again.  And this time I was encouraged and inspired by a wonderful group of ladies—friends I walk with and participate in 5k’s with.  These ladies inspire me to keep moving, even when I don’t want to.

The thing about goals is that they need to be realistic.  Was the goal of completing 2020 miles in one year realistic?  For some yes.  But for me?  At the time I set the goal I believed it was.  I believed it would be challenging.  REALLY challenging.  And I knew I would have to push myself a little harder, that I would have to make myself get out and walk those miles.  But I also knew I was going to be doing a number of 5ks over the year and that would mean lots of long walks in training for those races.  Yes, I BELIEVED it was reasonable.  More importantly, I BELIEVED it was doable for me!  I BELIEVED I could do it! 

THAT, of course, was before the year 2020 showed its true colors. 

I started off the challenge strong.  The first week of January 2020, which was only 5 days, I managed to get 28.89 miles!  Ahead of the 5 miles I knew I would need on average each day.  I GOT this! 

The second week of January was even stronger, 36.7 miles!!  I was on my way to success. 

And then I got sick the middle of the third week, and my miles slowed.  I was able to still accomplish 22 miles for the week, thanks to not being sick the first few days. 

The fourth and fifth weeks of January found me still sick, but I pushed a little each day (mainly just walking in my house) and finished the month with 105 miles.  THAT was success for being so sick. 

I was sick for a full 4 weeks.   And that slowed me down.  I missed my favorite 5k.  I was falling behind on my goal.  But it was only February and I had the rest of the year to finish.  I still believed I would accomplish my goal. 

Once I was feeling better I was able to finish February with 98 miles total!  YES!  I could and would do this!  I had NOT stopped believing!

And then…..

A serious back injury sidelined me.  For a long time.  I finished March with a total of 3.5 miles. 

3.5 miles for an ENTIRE month! 

I wanted to quit.  I stopped wearing my fitbit.  I would NEVER reach my goal and I stopped believing I would.  Why bother?

But the thing about goals is that they CAN be adjusted. 

I realized that 2,020 miles was too lofty of a goal, given my health issues.  And then add in the pandemic and more health issues and that goal was no longer realistic or achievable.  To continue to push toward the goal, to continue to tell myself that I HAD to reach that goal would be to set myself up for failure.  And that was NOT acceptable.

Sometimes the road on our journey is filled with potholes and closed roads.  Sometimes we take a detour.

But taking the detour does not mean we will not eventually reach our destination.

A detour can still get us to where we were going, it just may take a little longer and it may look a little different.  And sometimes the detour sends us to a different destination, that ends up being the destination we were meant to arrive at, at that moment in our lives.

Detours are an opportunity to learn and to build on those lessons.  It is an opportunity to make adjustments based on what is working and what is not.

2020 sent me on a detour far from my original goal of 2,020 miles.  And I was frustrated, defeated and even began to feel like I failed.  I wanted to quit! 

But I was NOT failing.  Life happens.  And sometimes we need to make adjustments.  We need to consider the circumstances in our lives, control what we can and not stress about what we cannot control.  We then re-evaluate and set a new goal and we take that detour to success. 

Changing an unrealistic goal to one that is more realistic is NOT giving up or a sign of failure.  Instead, adjusting goals set us up for success.  Adjusting goals gives us motivation. And THAT helps us to continue our journey.

The detour took me quite a bit off course, but I did not fail.  I pushed on.  I persevered despite my challenges.  

I adjusted my goal and set a new one.  One that was more realistic for me at that time in my life–500 miles.

And I achieved my goal of 500 miles.  In fact, I surpassed my goal, achieving a total of 689 miles for the year. 

I am very proud of myself for achieving my new goal and for not giving up on me! 

I did not quit and THAT is what makes me a success!

Whatever your challenges, whatever the detour, as long as you do not give up on YOU, then YOU are a success! 

Adjust those goals when you need to and keep going!

Here’s to 2021

On By TerriIn Activity, Food, Inspiration, Mindset1 Comment

Happy New Year!  I don’t know about you, but I am so thrilled to have 2020 behind me and am looking forward to 2021 and a return to some normalcy. 

A new year offers an opportunity for change.  An opportunity to recommit to our goals. 

New Years day often finds us making resolutions…. Promises to lose the weight, get healthier, workout more, and so much more. 

Did you make your resolution yet? 

I stopped making resolutions years ago.  Why?  Because, frankly, I never keep them.  I always had grand ideas of what I was going to accomplish, but often lost motivation a few weeks, sometimes a few days into the new year.  So, I stopped making resolutions.   Instead, I decide a theme for the year, something that helps me to grow into a better version of me, something that challenges me to step outside my comfort zone and to make real change.  Something that encompasses ALL of me, not just my weight or health. 2021 is the year I continue to live mindfully, present in the moments of each day and it is the year I focus on kindness, toward others and myself as well as focusing on daily gratitude.   

But not setting a New Years Resolution does NOT mean I don’t set weight/health goals when the new year arrives.  I set them all year, but the new year allows me to refocus. and gives me an opportunity to look back and see what worked and what didn’t work the previous year.  Then I can set my course toward the goals I have in mind—long term goals and short-term goals.  I can learn from the past and use those lessons to help me achieve the goals I have for myself in the new year. 

2020 was rough.  REALLY rough.  I struggled. I started 2020 by getting a virus in mid-January that turned into pneumonia, keeping me from participating in my favorite 5k race…. The race I look forward to ALL year.  I was sick for over a month.  And then, a couple of weeks after getting better, I injured my back, seriously.  I couldn’t walk.  I couldn’t do anything for a few weeks.  Slowly I got better.  Slowly my back began to heal….. but by then, we were in the midst of a stay-at-home order and I wasn’t going anywhere.  Life just stopped.  For everyone.  Our routines were upended.  Life as we knew it was at a complete halt.  Being sick was stressful.  Being in pain was stressful.  BUT a pandemic, and all its effects, THAT was even more stressful. 

Stress became the daily staple of my life.  And my weight was showing it.  I found myself 34 lbs above my goal weight and very close to a point I said I would NEVER go back to again.  NEVER!  I had to do something.

But we were in a pandemic.  And what worked for me in the past, well, it wasn’t there now.  I couldn’t meet with my friends for weekend walks.  There were no in person 5ks to sign up for or train for.  And Weight Watcher workshops were all online…..which just isn’t the same.  I couldn’t talk to friends online before the workshop or visit after.  It was NOT the same.  The world was different, and I was going to have to figure out how to do this differently.

All of this added to the struggles of 2020.  I am an emotional eater, so the stress, the worry, and the fear were taking a toll. I REALLY struggled.  (Oh, how I long for the day I can meet with friends and hug people again!) 

More health struggles popped up for me…. the end of May found me excessively tired and dealing with a bad cough.  This lasted for months.  I thought I was losing my mind….it had to be all in head, right? And then more symptoms, more pain, this time in every joint of my body….severe enough to prevent me from walking at times or prevent me from using my hands to pick up something…… making any thought of exercise out of the question!  And bronchitis….. Finally, in early December, a diagnosis of Valley Fever and the beginning of treatment.  THIS was and still is testing my patience, but that is for another post.

Yes, 2020 was a struggle. 

Yet, I found, through the challenges that I have inside me, what I need to get to where I want to go.  I have what I need to reach my goals, right there inside of me. 

I just have to believe in myself. 

I have to make me a priority. 

I have to remember what is really important to me. 

I have to remember to not give up what I want most for what I want in the moment.  

And I have to remember just how far I have come!

I took the first steps to getting back on track the beginning of November.  I stepped on the scale and told my husband right away what it said.  He is my weight accountability now.

What other steps have I taken to get me back on the path that will lead me to my goal?  This–

—A little movement is better than NO movement!  I found that if I wait until later in the day, the pain is not quite so severe and I can go for a walk, sometimes just around the block and sometimes a mile or two.  Just depends on how I am feeling.  I also discovered that the more I sit, the more pain I am in, so moving helps me heal.

—Tracking and portions!  I found that tracking is not so difficult on a phone app.  I am not perfect in my tracking, but I am tracking.  That awareness is so very important.  How can I know what I need to adjust if I don’t know what and how much I am really eating?  And that means, weighing and measuring my food too. 

—Accountability and motivation—I still use my WW app and read the stories, but I don’t follow the points for now.  I track calories and I pay attention to calorie-density of foods.  I look for the foods that will keep me full longer and keep me satisfied.  I have an accountability coach that checks in with me every week to see how I am doing and helps me to set a new weekly goal.  And I find motivation online, reading stories of others and in my talks with and messages with my friends. 

—I am taking time for me.  Time for meditating, using the CALM app and time to just read or listen to music.  With all the stress of these days, I need to take a step back and just breathe sometimes. 

—And starting today, I am adding yoga to my days, to help with the pain and to give me those moments where I can just breathe. Another way to take care of me.

These are just the first steps in taking back the control of my health and my weight.  And they are working.  I am down 9 lbs now in 2 months.  Would have been more, but Christmas goodies happened…….

I am jumping into 2021 full speed.  I have my long-term goal to get to my goal weight and then below it.  And I have my short-term goal—just 5 lbs.  5lbs at a time.  I CAN do that! 

Add to that my 2021 theme of being kinder to others and to myself, practicing daily gratitude and living mindfully and the year should be a much better one!

This journey, though, is far from perfect!  But it is so worth it!  I am worth it!  And so are you! 

What are your goals for 2021?  What are you doing to get yourself on that road toward your goals? 

Let’s do this together! 

Here’s to 2021! 

What do I Get From Lemon Oreo Cookies?

On By TerriIn Food, Mindset, Uncategorized6 Comments

It has been a while since I have written. 

The last time I wrote I was struggling with defining what success looked like to me, for this pandemic.  And I set a goal—to track most days, to be mindful in my eating, to focus on things I could control rather than those I couldn’t….. well……

My focus has not been there.  Motivation is hard to find when the “routine” things I rely on are not routine any longer. 

Things are still not back to normal.  I am still staying home.  I am still doing online shopping.  I am not getting together for lunch with my friends.  I don’t get to go to my workshop.  I am not meeting with my friends to walk and talk.  I am not running errands.  I am staying home almost all of the time.

Life used to be chaotic.  Life used to be busy.  Life used to be routine.  My world was bigger than it is now.  My world now, is here, at home. 

I miss routine.  I miss hugs.  I miss meeting friends and visiting with them.  I miss having people over to my house.  I miss walking into a store.  I miss…… a lot. 

So, with these days still in the twilight zone, motivation is hard to find.

I am finding ways to deal with things.  Instead of in person gatherings, there are messages, emails, phone calls and video chats.  Not the same, but better than total isolation.  I am writing, maybe not here on my blog or on my other blog, but I am writing.  I am watching lots of movies and binge-watching Netflix.  I am scrapbooking, traveling the world through my memories and pictures.  And I am practicing mindfulness through meditation and walks in my pool. 

But…. I miss my life!

When routines are out the window, motivation is hard to find.  The world feels chaotic.  Stressful.  Uncertain.  And that is when old habits pop back up!

Emotional eating has always been my Achilles heel.  And right now, that habit has come roaring back.  It is familiar.  It is routine.  It is “normal” in a world that does not feel so normal.  Habits bring comfort.  Even habits that are not healthy.

Habits make it so that we do not have to think.  It just happens automatically.  Without thought.  Sometimes that is a really good thing.  Imagine if you had to think about it each time you brushed your teeth, took a shower, tied your shoes…. You get it, right?  I just do those things, no thinking about how to do it, the steps involved, nothing….just do it.  Those habits free my mind to think about other things. 

But some habits are not so helpful.  They are still automatic, and I don’t think about them, but in the long run they just don’t help.

In many WW workshops we have talked about habits.  And I am currently reading (for the 5th time) the book “Target 100”, written by Liz Josefsberg (a former WW Leader and now motivational speaker and weight loss coach) and I am listening to a masterclass on the CALM app called “Breaking Bad Habits”.  All three reinforce the same thing—a habit consists of a trigger, followed by a behavior, followed by a reward.  The trigger causes the behavior and the reward reinforces that behavior and then we repeat the habit.  We get something from the habit, or we would not keep repeating it.

But what do we get?  What is the reward?

Those are the questions I asked myself when this happened—Lemon Double Stuffed Oreos! and I ate most of them in less than 24 hours.  There were only 3 left when I asked my husband to PLEASE throw them away, in the big garbage can so I couldn’t get to them.  Only 3 left.  That is when I KNEW I was emotionally eating.  Until that moment, yesterday, I hadn’t really been paying attention.  The chips didn’t signal me to stop.  The cookies.  The crackers.  The bagels.  The brownies.  The cake.  No, none of those made me think that maybe, just maybe I was eating more from emotion than true physical hunger. 

I was tired.  So, I ate. 

I was stressed.  So, I ate.

I was lonely.  So, I ate.

I was sad.  So, I ate.

I was angry.  So, I ate.

I was bored.  So, I ate.

I was……. (fill in any emotion).  So, I ate.

Then those Lemon Oreos happened.  And this morning I listened to more of the masterclass on CALM.  Yes, you guessed it.  Todays lesson on breaking bad habits hit on eating—non-physical hunger eating.  And I heard the question— “What do I get from this?  Is there something better?”

What do I get from eating when I am not hungry?  What reward does food provide me? 

Comfort.  Relief.  Numbness.  Avoidance.  Distraction. 

Food provides those things for me.  But only temporarily.  For a moment.  Then the guilt steps in and I eat again.  It is a cycle.  A habit that is not helpful.  A habit that I know I can change, I have done it before…… but life is different now and going back to old habits brought about a comfort I need when the world is as uncertain as it is right now.

But awareness is the first step to changing a habit.  And now I am aware (again).  So, how to change it?  How do I stop eating when I am tired?  Bored?  Stressed?  Lonely?  Sad?  Etc.? 

I have to work with the habit loop.  The emotion is my trigger.  And instead of it triggering me to eat,  I need another action—call a friend, write, go for a walk, scrapbook, read, take a nap, swim, just sit outside, listen to music, dance…. There are so many things I could do instead.  So many things that would give me what I need, reward me in ways that won’t make me feel guilty.    So many things that will provide me a reward that is the same or better than what food provided me… and the reward from a non-food behavior will be much more long-term instead of temporary.

But there are a lot of emotions that drive me to eat and changing them all at one time, will be too overwhelming.  So, this week, I am going to focus on one.  And I am going to be specific about the new behavior.  Being specific means, it will be doable.  And I am going to be accountable, right here, because accountability means I am more likely to do it.

So here is my plan, my habit change and how I am going to do it this week–

Stress is the hardest emotion for me to not eat.  Instead of eating, when I am stressed, I am going to go outside—in the pool, in the hammock or walk.  How will I remind myself to do that instead of eating?  My sandals will be by the door and on my fridge and pantry will be a picture of my backyard with the words– Feeling stressed?  Go outside!  You won’t feel guilty after! 

And my reward will be the calm I will feel. 

Stress (trigger)— Go outside (behavior/action)— Calm (reward)

What’s your plan to battle the emotional eating habit?  What are you going to do instead and how are you going to remind yourself to do it?