Tricks and Treats

Happy Halloween

Here are some simple ideas to make your journey more successful.


When you are doing sets (3 sets of 15 for example) position yourself in the room with something as a middle point.  Start just left of the point for the first set then move to the middle and then to the right.  It helps you to know what set you are on and also tricks your mind and makes the 45 push-ups or whatever seem not so daunting.

Use fiber to trick your brain into thinking it has eaten more than it really has and for a treat try South Beach diet chocolate chunk cookies.

When you are feeling that emotional need to have something.  Stop and make a little different choice.  If you need ice cream try frozen yogurt.   If you need a candy bar grab a snack size.  Try to fulfill the need for a treat creatively.

Count downward when doing your reps to trick yourself into thinking you are changing things up.

For a movie treat try a small package of Jelly Belly's.  It goes a long way.

Here is a trick for make logging a little quicker in  MFP , type in only key words instead of the whole thing.  

Remember, treats are not evil and by making them so increases the desire for them.

Keep on  keeping on...

Happy Trick-R-Treating!!

What are some of your tricks and treats?

Who wants a smaller pants size for Christmas?

So, I have this great opportunity that I thought I would share with you all.  Starting November 5th I will be teaching a class with my good friend at the PiNK! gym for women.  It will be the nutrician/motivation kind of class verses an exercise class.  I am so excited!
Each Thursday at 6:30pm for six weeks we will focus on a new topic to help you lose pounds and gain the mindset I am always talking about.  The classes are $5 each  (free if you belong to PiNK!) and you can come to one or all of them.  This Saturday  is an open house located at PiNK! and you will get a prize if you sign up for the class.  Fun fun fun!!!

Iluvmfp

Today I went to lunch with my first grader.  We ate chicken rings, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, a wheat dinner roll and a carton of chocolate milk (the little skinny straw...remember?) .  Not the greatest meal I have ever eaten but the memory of simpler times warmed my tummy.
When it was time to account for my little walk down memory lane, I searched for school lunch on My Fitness Pal and poof like magic there it was.  Thank you whoever you are that added those entries!

Creating Your Own Path

I was talking to physiologist one time and he explained to me how our minds work.  Just like water takes the route of least resistance, our minds will do the same.  We face a situation, we react to the situation all without much thought or effort.  When that same scenario presents itself again the path has been carved previously and we generally follow it.  Creating new paths can be difficult.  Many times the first time these paths were carved they were done automatically.   An understanding of this information can help as we are losing weight. 
Here is an example. 
You are making school lunch for the kids and you pop a grape, then a chip and then a half of a cookie in  your mouth without even thinking.  This scenario plays itself out every morning until a habit forms.  The problem with this habit is not the extra calories consumed but when you decide to try to be healthy and that habit pops up and you feel guilty about losing control.  Little by little these moments kick you in the pants until you give up.   Guilt is the first red flag that your efforts are not lifestyle changes but rather changes that are good for the moment.  These moments are not bad in fact they are good.  They are good practice and give you a lot of thoughts to process and analyze. 
When we can identify these kinds of scenarios we can have a plan of action to create a new path.  In my example you could put a pack of gum right next to the sack lunch bags and stick one in right before you start the packing.  After a while you will see that the desire to put something in your mouth will be gone - even without the gum.  You have created a new path!