SparkNB's Journey to Fitness

  I don't follow a 'diet'; I find that I'm too much of a rebel (esp. against myself!) to follow a restriction-based diet.   I used to limit to a certain number of calories, but now I just track my food, though I need to write-it-down-as-it-happens more, before getting to the computer. I try to max protein but rarely get much above my 75 g. I keep in mind the calorie needs I'll need at *maintenance*, and try to eat that amount & +/- is okay. It's not a "diet" but a lifelong lifestyle, though some days &/weeks I'll go above and others below (the latter when I'm trying REALLY hard to make some significant pound drops). I did go to low-end of my calorie range, naturally, all last week, as I worked on #NetZero, burning as many calories as I ate, daily, (cals In=cals Out), and even found I HAD to add food/make myself eat (just wasn't hungry, but was concerned I would become weak and not be able to sustain momentum through the week). Becau...

  Made a hand-written plan yesterday, but didn't get chance to type it here, and not doing that now (may do another post tonight) Just wanted to acknowledge that I just realized, depending on how/when I calculate the beginning...I'm either at or coming up on 10% down. Yay. Gonna do next 5% on Summer 5% Challenge team (is still in sign-ing up members stage, so check it out on my teams!). I'm doing 'Casual Travelers', because it stresses me out to HAVE to post daily, even though I often do, esp. when scale doesn't move. We're supposed to have an exercise plan, 20 minutes minimum in 2020: *I do cardio: either low-impact aerobics, spinning, walking, gardening, &/cleaning daily, enough to engage aerobic benefits, for 20 minutes. On weekends, I usually go down to 10 minutes minimum daily minimum. *I also do yoga/tai chi daily, sometimes combined into cardio, esp. during cool-down *I also do pilates/weights (dumbbells) daily, sometimes combined into cardio *I W...

  So here's the thing...I'm a good starter. I didn't used to think so, because I didn't count planning as part of starting, but it is, it *really*is, and I've gotten good at planning, partly due to Spark, plus I really enjoy the potential in a good beginning.       But was just lying down, considering sleeping...and had switched TV from SNL to CBS where they run re-runs of Madam Secretary, late night on Saturdays, and tonight, ep 4.05, 'Persona Non Grata', where Elizabeth M.Sec is trying to stop global trafficking. {True factoid: it's very likely this episode is based particularly on Hillary Clinton: she was one of the VERY 1st major politicians to first publicly *call out* and name the enslavement of women, children and all people as 'human trafficking'...as feminist academics had for decades...when she was in newly independent Ukraine, in the 90's when she was still FLOTUS, after Russian mobsters and government were doing a brisk business p...

  Wednesday's Attitude of Gratitude is going to be internal, instead of external: I'm happy with myself re: 3 things: 1) A team challenge was to post 3 things I like about myself, my body, specifically superficially; I said my face, my calves, and my lack of much body hair 2) Did 2 rounds of sun salutations (yoga) after not having done it in a long time, particularly cuz I was not confident about my downward dog (it's still not great anymore but can only get better!); this is the one the pic I had printed out a LONG time ago & have hanging on the wall: 3) Was a couple hundred calories short of my Tues' netzero (cals in=cals out) goal for the challenge I'm doing to myself (or rather for myself, but to myself 'feels' like it, lol) so did a bollywood cardio vid, which was fun, and though not super easy, got the job done! Per @1CrazyDog the other day: Always remember that who you are is love-able: able to love and be loved. Love-able is who you were created ...

  The other day I posted about my frustrations with family situation, and had also cried on phone with my sister, so she talked to mom, who corrected her behavior a little, and acid attitude is gone, and I'm less stressed. Also realized I had let whole thing get to me, and one way to not get to that point is to change my own attitude, and best way for me is compassionate, mindful attitude of gratitude; I used to post 3 things I was thankful for, and gonna start doing that again, not sure how regularly. Today, I'm thankful for 1) my sister 2) my fam (notwithstanding probs) & 3) sparkpeople. Member Comments About This Blog Post v 1965KAREN Bravo! There is already enough stress in this world and family doesn't need to add to that. I love the way you turned things around and recognized your gratitude. Keep up the great work.  428 days ago v CD4994568 Families know where all the buttons are the press and drive people crazy! 431 days ago v CD16260615 Family stress...I can so ...