Enough is Enough, Quit Dieting!

October 16, 2012 by Featured Author

Enough is enough – quit dieting!

Quit the diets!

Weight watchers, low-carb, vegetarian, detox, Beverly hills diet, cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, subway diet, Atkins diet and the list goes on and on.

What is a person that wants to lose weight supposed to do?

Everyone wants the easiest, quickest way to lose the weight. In our society today, we are accustomed to fast results on everything. We have fast food restaurants, fast access internet, up to the minute news and weather and smart phones with everything at your fingertips. So why not the same for you getting rid of that extra bulge around your middle?

I am sorry to inform you, it just doesn’t work that way!

You and I both know that it took some time and overeating to gain the weight, so common sense will tell you that it will take time and perseverance to lose it.

I don’t know about you but over the course of many years, I’ve tried many different types of diets. Some were vaguely successful and some were complete disasters. A few lasted a day or two while others for weeks. The one thing they all had in common is, as soon as I stopped the diet, the weight would magically re-appear.

So how did I lose 40 pounds and keep it off?

I quit dieting.

That’s how!

Below, I’ve listed a few pointers that helped me personally. I lost the weight that I had attempted to lose for years. Some of the following tips I’m sure you’ve heard before. Remember, everyone is different and may be facing some different circumstances, so make sure before beginning any type of lifestyle change – (notice I didn’t say diet) to consult with your physician first.

10 most helpful (healthy lifestyle) tips

1. Get motivated –

Whatever it takes…find something that will motivate, challenge or get you excited about your new healthy lifestyle! Your mindset has got to be in the right place before you can succeed. The motivation will carry you through those moments when you feel like caving in.

My personal tip – I was personally motivated by my “new look” that I had gotten from surgery that corrected a physical abnormality. See my story here. https://thistimeimeanit.com/goals/change-goals/overcoming-obstacles/point-view-overcoming-congential-coloboma/ This gave me the inspiration and fuel I needed to continue on.

2. Eliminate sugar, bread and caffeine.

These foods will make your calorie intake skyrocket. I don’t know about you but I love my snacks and bread. It was very hard to take them out of my life but I wanted to be healthy and look good more than I loved the food. From time to time…allow yourself to have a treat, just remember portion control. You will be surprised that after taking them out of your life, you will crave them less and less.

3. Physical activity.

You MUST move your body…somehow, somewhere, depending on your fitness level. You will need to push yourself past your comfort level each time, little by little at least three times a week. Some ideas for you to think about could be walking, swimming, tennis, dance class, hiking, sports. Just remember…your only limitation is your imagination!

My personal tip – What works for me is bike riding, I love it and I built up my stamina over a period of time. I also joined a zumba class because I love to dance. I’ve never been one to jog or run but the idea of an obstacle course intrigued me, I found a friend to join me in training for the barbarian challenge and it ended up being one of the biggest challenges of my life and I successfully accomplished it!

4. Stay busy.

Begin new projects or discover a new hobby. Do something that excites you, immerse yourself in things that you love to do!

My personal tip – I always loved art but never felt I was good enough. I began taking art classes even though it intimidated me, that is a good thing! Stretch your wings…and step outsideof the box. Do something that you don’t think you can do. I dived into some home projects that I had been putting off and began to write more.

5. Visualize your end result.

We humans have need to have a goal, something that seems real. Maybe an old photo of how you used to look, or a picture of how you want to look. Find inspirational quotes to put on your desk, refrigerator and mirror. Read inspiring stories of others weight loss journeys. Gather information on great new healthy recipes. You have a goal and it is attainable!

My personal tip – The day I lost enough weight the I noticed my clothes were getting to big was all I needed to inspire me to continue on!

6. Drink plenty of water

This is self explanatory.

My personal tip – I like to add some flavor by adding lemon.

7. Download a weight loss website or app on your smart phone.

This will give you moral support from others who are on the same journey as you are and you can also find great recipes, tips and tricks that will help you along the way.

My personal tip – I downloaded “loseit” app on my iPhone. I entered my daily calories and the calories I burned during exercise. I was able to see in chart form how I was doing on a day-to-day basis and it really helped!

8. Don’t starve yourself!

Eat healthy! lots of greens, veggies and lean meat. small portions and keep up with your daily caloric intake. Remember to burn those calories by moving that body!

9. Don’t eat after 7 p.m.

Plan to eat early in the evening. Don’t go to bed with food weighing down in your belly at night.

My personal tip – This was the hardest thing for me to overcome. I love to snack in the evenings while I am relaxing after a long day of work. To get past this, I stopped watching so much television and spent more time doing the projects that I wanted to do.. (See # 4 above).

10. Quit the diet but never quit the healthy lifestyle!

I mean it! If you crash into a brick wall with your new healthy lifestyle or if you get so down and out because you are not seeing any results from all of your hard work…this is when you HAVE to keep going. Tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity and a new beginning to a new, beautiful healthy YOU!

You have lost the weight, what now?

Maintaining your new body can prove to be just as difficult as losing it. This is why it is so important to look at it as a lifestyle change. You have entered into a new way of eating and taking care of yourself. It is a maintenance plan but it is so worth it.

It took me a year to lose forty plus pounds and now I am in the maintenance phase. I weigh myself regularly to know what I need to do. I give myself a five-pound average up or down before I buckle down seriously. Don’t expect fast easy results but do expect long-lasting results.

I feel better than ever, my clothes fit better and it is actually FUN to go shopping and try on clothes now!

I hope my tips help you into finally accomplishing whatever your goal is in your new healthy lifestyle.

Are you on a weight loss journey now? What tips do you have? Please share!

About the Author: Sherry Cook currently works for Mobile Arc, a non-profit organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities. She is wrapping up her memoirs and hopes to be in publishing soon. Her desire to tell her story has been nudging its way to the surface for many years. Having undergone personal challenges, living with monocular and low vision, while struggling to “fit in” with society’s version of what is normal. She understands all to well the difficulties life has to offer. Accepting yourself and learning how to overcome is her main platform for her energetic and touching motivational presentations. Her hobbies include painting with acrylics and working on home projects. Sherry can be reached at sherrycook8@gmail.com or http://sherrylcook.com

5 Ways to Stay Fit at a Desk Job

October 9, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

by guest author Kyra Kuik

There was a time, not so very long ago, when human life involved a lot of movement.

With most people doing hard labor in the factories, fields and home, only the upper middle class and above knew much about the sedentary lifestyle. Sadly, as these sorts of jobs have spread across all echelons of society, calories have become more and more condensed into cheap (and delicious) products, packing a one-two punch for our guts and our health. It takes a lot of creativity to stay fit at a desk job, where it’s easier to reach for that slice of cake in the break-room than it is to jog across town to the grocery store for a nice rewarding pack of carrots. Here are a few unexpected ways to sneak that healthy lifestyle in.

5. Get the Most Out of Your Commute

If you can’t get a good workout in either before or after work (and even if you can), try turning that commute into an opportunity for exercise. Run, walk, bike, flap your arms like a bird, whatever; even taking public transport to work will require more movement, as you’ll have to walk between stations and your destinations. This can also be a good way to sneak in time for stimulating podcasts and audiobooks, which can get you into a contemplative or creative mood for the workday, or help you let down after a long one.

4. Sneak in Movement

Despite how it may seem, there are opportunities for movement throughout the workday. Start by getting up to stretch every 30 – 45 minutes, increasing blood flowing through those legs. Drink a lot of water, too, and you’ll have a regular excuse to get moving. Try visiting a colleague’s desk across the office rather than firing off an email, and host a good old fashioned West Wing-style walking meeting once in awhile.

3. Schedule in Time for Lunch

For workhorses, it’s tempting to work through lunch and sneak in a few extra tasks. But the human body and mind have limited productivity, and you’ll find you’ll actually get a lot more done if you take the time to relax and let your mind refresh itself. When I recommend scheduling in time for lunch, I mean actually blocking it off on your calendar like it’s as important as a meeting…because it is. If you take the time to fully enjoy your meal, both your mind and body will take note of what you’re doing, keeping you better satiated for longer. If eating isn’t as important to you, take this time to sneak in a workout at the gym around the corner.

2. Snack…Strategically

Snacking’s bad rap is largely undeserved. Sure, if you throw back a salty, fatty packet of chips three times a day, your body isn’t going to like you. But healthy snacking can actually be your key to staving off hunger-induced binges, keeping energy levels constant, and losing or maintaining weight. For the best results, keep those portions small and try to snack every several hours or so. Go forhealthy snacks that provide nutrients and vitamins along with calories, like fruit, nuts, or whole grains that won’t spike your insulin levels.

1. Get Your Whole Office In On It

If you’ve got friends at the office with fitness goals of their own, why not make them your support network? They’re right there, and you’ll be a lot more likely to head to the gym after work if you know you’ve got a nearby friend in on it. If you’re up for some lobbying, ask your boss about implementing a workplace wellness program. This can be anything from gym memberships to developing incentives and initiatives for taking time out of the work day for working out, guilt-free. Working out gets a whole lot easier if you’re not having to sneak it in, and a company-wide preventative health program can actually lower insurance costs if they offer wellness programs.

Staying fit at a desk job is possible, just as long as you get your supportive network in place and your creativity hat on. So snack well, get moving, and work better while feeling better, too.

About the Author: Kyra Kuik works for a creative internet marketing company in Seattle, WA. You can connect with Kyra via Twitter.

Ways to Stay Motivated While Pursuing your Online Degree

August 31, 2012 by Featured Author Leave a Comment

These days, many people are weighing their options of going back to school and furthering their education.

Thankfully, with the advent of online universities and certification programs, this is now easier and more convenient than ever. Classes can work around YOUR schedule and fit into almost anyone’s life.

Yet, this increased accessibility and availability does not mean that the act itself has gotten any easier. It’s still school. There will still be tests, projects, and more and you will be challenged. That being said, you might need some help staying motivated throughout this journey. Below are some helpful tips and reminders to make the whole experience easier on yourself.

Map Out Your Plan

Goals are much easier to attain when you know what you’re working toward and how you intend to get there. Doing this helps you keep your eye on the prize and also makes the whole process seem more doable. When you have a big, daunting goal such as trying to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree ahead of you, it helps to break it into smaller, less intimidating targets and objectives, that way you can note and track your progress as you go.

You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment with each passing one, and this will help keep you going.

Find Your Support System

Whether it’s your family, a close group of friends or a combination of the two of them, it’s important to identify who your key support system is, as you will need their help and encouragement during this time. You will likely be stretched thin at times between your career obligations and school requirements, on top of any personal commitments, so when or if this happens, don’t be afraid to lean on those you love. They will help get you through and remind you why you’re doing this in the first place. Now is not the time for pride.

Tune out Naysayers

Just as you should cling to those who offer and provide encouragement and positivity, you should also RUN FROM anyone who brings the opposite energy into your life. I know this might seem hard to do, but it is 100% necessary. Whenever you make any sort of monumental decision, people will give their two cents, no matter how discouraging it maybe, that’s just an undeniable, unfortunate fact of life.

So, rather than letting them “win” and get the better of your, turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to anyone who offers a less-than-productive outlook on things. Because, the truth is, you yourself might get discouraged, which mean you don’t need people around you turning you into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Replace their negativity with more uplifting positive thoughts and you’re sure to succeed.

So, if you make the decision to pursue an online degree, please remember these tips. They may seem simple, but they can make a world of difference. Trust me, I’ve seen it first hand.

About the Author: Patricia Garza is a freelance blogger and education writer that can offer suggestions on anything from choosing between accredited online colleges to picking a major. She welcomes your comments below.

Do You Have it in You?

August 29, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

I have a theory that I believe strongly influences whether or not we succeed at what we want.

I understand that’s a big promise and it’s going to take a bit of explanation, so bear with me.

My hypothesis: When we are happy with our actions, we take credit for them. When not, we blame them, not us. In effect, good results are internalized; bad results are externalized. This is critical because where we place that control determines our future results.

For example, you surprise your husband with a thoughtful gift for no reason other that being a loving life-partner. He walks in the door unaware and discovers the trinket — with a loving note — centered on the coffee table, asking, “What prompted this?” Per my premise, because you’re pleased with yourself for being so considerate, your reply will be internalized. “I just wanted to do something nice for you; no special reason.” Notice you spoke in first person; you owned the action.

As another illustration, the results of your diet are finally showing; and the scale, the measuring tape, and your friends’ comments are all reflecting it.

“You look great!” says your friend. “What are you doing?”

Your reply: “I’m eating better and exercising more.”

See? When happy, we lay claim to our actions.

Yet, should the situation be frustrating or what we deem as unsuccessful, we abandon it quicker than one can shrug his shoulders and say, “Who me?” [Read more…]

Using The Human Condition To Make A Change

July 24, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

By guest author Josh Landson

Many people have equated human nature with human condition and use this connection to justify delaying or outright avoiding difficult decisions. The fact of the matter is that the phrases are very different from one another. Human nature refers to the instincts that we have: the ways in which we act and think without the influence of our upbringing and culture. The human condition is the opposite of human nature: it is a combination of the social, personal, and cultural aspects of our being. The human condition is extremely important in our lives because it allows us to rise above our nature.

When a person says that human nature is the reason they cannot make a decision in their lives, they should be challenging themselves to overcome their biological design. In many cases, a person resigns themselves to their fate, stating that ‘whatever happens, happens.’ However, the reason that human beings have achieved so much in our short history and triumphed above all other organisms is that we strive beyond what is expected of us and do what seems impossible. For many people, settling for whatever happens is a defense mechanism. If you do not make a decision, you do not have to be responsible for the repercussions.

In order to get past this monumental roadblock, a person has to tap into their human condition.

It requires a complete change in the way you think. If you are avoiding change and denying decision making, you have to realize that your action is in itself a decision! The decision you are making is not to act. Thus the consequences are your responsibility just the same as if you had acted.

There is another reason why people avoid or delay making a change.

Most of the time, people do not trust themselves over a decision. They think they aren’t good enough, smart enough, strong enough, and so on. This insecurity plagues every individual and it takes a lot of mental courage to overcome it. However, our human condition tells us that we are capable of achieving great things. If you are going to make a monumental decision, take a minute to do a mental exercise: take all of your presuppositions about your weakness to be true, and picture what the worst outcome would be. Now think about how you can rebuild from that outcome. You will find soon enough that your human condition allows you to work out any problem if you apply enough effort and determination.

Lastly, if you are still hesitant about making a change in your life, think about the historical precedents we have. Think about what would have happened if Martin Luther King Jr. was too afraid to make a stand for civil rights, or if Gandhi didn’t fight for the poor, or if no one stood up to the likes of Hitler. There have been many life changing events in history that wouldn’t have occurred without some very brave people. And you have the exact same human nature as them! Avoiding and delaying decision making will lead to a lot of mental turmoil and self-doubt. Although you may be uncertain about a change in your life, if you do not venture down that path it is something you’re likely to regret for a long time.
[Read more…]

« Previous Page