Healthy Habits For Ponies! Take 2! ~Update last challenge, pg 99!!

[shockponie]

Yesterday I didn't end up swimming. The water was too hot & yucky. I did my elliptical workout though.
I also made my calorie count (by having my chicken taco fixings on a lettuce mix instead of in taco shells or tortillas). It was quite delicious! I didn't feel like I was missing out. I think I've made it over my first rough patch. I'm off to a good start today.
I'll also note that I made a line graph of my calories for breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks on Google docs & noticed that lately most of my calories have been in (healthy!) snacks. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. I think it's been tiding me over from one meal to the next, so I'm sticking with it.  2 pts.

[SurfStar]

The speed slides!  yes I LOVE those.  None at this park, unfortunately.  I wanna go check out the Schlitterbahn though...it's a REALLY cool waterpark.  And yes it's a short trip for me, too.

I've never been (though I only live about 2 hours away from it). I'd definitely like to go while I still live here in Texas, I've heard a lot of great things about it! I'm thinking next summer, maybe as my graduation present, since I'll be done with my Specialist (between a Masters & Doctorate) degree! This one is flying away too fast.

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 07:39:02 AM

Unfortunately I've been watching documentaries while exercising and this french one basically said they found 300 different toxic chemicals in the umbilical blood of newborn babies. I guess I'm going to be eating more organic from now on too.

Mmmm. I read a great article about what foods (and when it's worth the cost) to eat organic. I've been trying to do more of that lately since I feel it's important to eat 'cleaner' as it were. I'll see if I can find it, I know that I don't have an unlimited budget for food so I try and shop smarter.

In that same vein, a couple of awesome books on it are:
Wildly Affordable Organic by Linda Watson (about $10 on Amazon, new) and To Buy or Not to Buy Organic: What You Need to Know to Choose the Healthiest, Safest, Most Earth-Friendly Food by Cindy Burke (about $12 on Amazon new). I found them both to be helpful reads and they've certainly helped me eat 'cleaner'. The biggest difference I notice is in milk, our HEB here has a gallon of organic milk for a pretty reasonable price too.

[Radiance]

That link just takes me to the group search page. I tried looking for it but all I got was the Bronies group.

[SurfStar]

Ok, had salad for lunch today, a couple tortillas with some turkey and string cheese, worked out at karate pretty hard, came home and did some ab workouts, and packed up a healthy lunch for tomorrow.  My new thing this week is the tonfas, a weapon in karate that looks beautiful and easy, but it is a nightmare to use.  >.<  Poor Sensei had to stand there and go over it all little by little with me. 

My problem, I know, is not eating the wrong things, or even too much of anything, but the steroids I was on to combat my multiple sinus infections.  I put on 5lbs with each shot and pack I got, and I had 4-5 over the last 6 months.  >.<  I'm feeling kinda low today about myself, because when I look in the mirror, I feel so...round.  >.<  I know I'm not huge, but it's driving me nuts cause I looked so good last summer and now I look awful (I think).  I'm sorry for the small rant...I've just had a bad day for feeling like I was doing ok.

Tonfas make me think of Snake Eyes.... which probably says just what a huge nerd I am.

I feel you on the medication, I have much the same problem with BC. It feels like I'm always running uphill to lose any kind of weight. I'm sorry you're feeling down, I'm sure that you're still absolutely gorgeous. Just from your posts here I know that you do amazing workouts (whenever I need that extra push I come read your posts!) so I have faith that you'll get back to where you were. Please feel free to rant away ~ that's what friends are for!

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 07:44:14 AM

That link just takes me to the group search page. I tried looking for it but all I got was the Bronies group.

Switched the group over from private to public ~ so you can find it via search.

Are you renee_chan on MFP too?

[fiwen30]

Glad to hear you're getting your 2 points today, BrightSide

And yeah, join the MyFitnessPal group! I was sceptical, but it's a fabulous website for tracking your food and excercise, and it works all the numbers out for you.

I've also just had my pasta for lunch, only a small portion so I was able to finish it all, and it was yummy! I'm going to try and make my own cheese sauce either tomorrow or Friday, so I can have it with pasta or Quorn. So many new things this week!

[SurfStar]

Only a one point day for me today. I caught my ankle in a pothole yesterday while walking in the evening, so I had to stay off of it today or else risk making it worse >__> Tried to do some sit-ups to fill in, but it just wasn't working. Managed to keep to my new diet though, which was a lot harder today since I was housebound, lol. Hopefully tomorrow I can get back out and moving. And I think for the challenge this week I'm going to have my friend cook dinner for me. Her food choices are always way towards the healthy end, and typically things that make me go bleh, so I'll see what kind of new things she could make for me to try, lol

Ouch!  That sounds painful, I hope that it's starting to feel better now. Yay for sticking with the healthier eating though, big for that!

That sounds like a good challenge, though it did make me chuckle a bit. I have a friend that is the same way, I'd say that I eat about middle of the road, more healthy than not. I just try not to go off the deep end, but a friend of mine just.. some of the things she eats. Bleh! You'll have to share what she fixes for you and whether or not you were able to enjoy it.

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 07:50:26 AM

Glad to hear you're getting your 2 points today, BrightSide

And yeah, join the MyFitnessPal group! I was sceptical, but it's a fabulous website for tracking your food and excercise, and it works all the numbers out for you.

I've also just had my pasta for lunch, only a small portion so I was able to finish it all, and it was yummy! I'm going to try and make my own cheese sauce either tomorrow or Friday, so I can have it with pasta or Quorn. So many new things this week!

I know! I use Calorie Count too, it rates how good of a day you had on a scale from A+ to F-, so you can see how "good" your choices were too. I think that's equally important, since you could be eating under your calorie goal, but filling up on terrible things.

Yay! I'm psyched that you're going all out with the challenge! Yay for trying some new things ~ Also, home-made cheese sauce can be super amazing. After making my own for nachos... I can never go back.

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 07:53:29 AM

Thanks Surfstar.  I did much better today.  To make up for yesterday a bit I did a really steep walk at lunchtime that got me huffing and puffing lots, lol.  I also ate well and I tried something new as per the weekly challenge.  I bought some strawberry fruit wraps that are low fat and surprisingly yummy.  I plan to keep them on hand to eat in places where fruit is just too messy (apple cores and banana skins are a pita).  So today was a three pointer for me

Mmmm. Yeah! I have some fruit wraps that are 100% fruit (I get them in strawberry & wildberry) to keep in my purse. As you mentioned, sometimes certain foods are just too messy to eat on the go. Usually if I plan to have apples, I cut them up beforehand and toss with a little lemon juice (so they don't turn brown).

Congrats for getting right back in there! I hope today goes equally well!

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 07:55:35 AM

Hmmm I got 3/4 points the last few days. I didn't stick with my eating since we went out today I kinda fell off a bit. We're keeping up with exercise though! Now I just need to decide what to do to accomplish this weeks challenge. 

At least you're keeping active! You'll get there with the food =)

[Radiance]

Yay! I'm on MFP now- same user name.

[SurfStar]

Oh man. My husband just arrived home with a bag of pineapple lumps for me.   Sometimes I don't know if he's just thoughtless or if he's trying to sabotage my efforts. Anyway, I shoved the bag to the back of the cupboard.  *sigh*

Jeez! I'm beginning to think loved ones must have some sort of internal radar that goes off when someone starts losing weight.  Maybe ask him? I know my husband does the same darned thing (he's just thoughtless sometimes) since he can pretty well eat anything he wants and still lose weight.

Another thing you can do, is portion out the correct serving size of the bag (I'm thinking it's pieces of dried pineapple?) and keep them in the back of the cupboard but give yourself 1 serving each week. Sometimes treats are even more awesome that way =)

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 08:00:26 AM

Yay! I'm on MFP now- same user name.

Added you! =) You made it easy by having the Arena in your description.

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 08:01:18 AM

I cannot give myself points today or yesterday. This is getting off to an embarrassing start!
Definitely fixing things tomorrow.

:hugs: You'll be fine! Just think about making 1 thing different today and I'm sure that it will all start coming together for you!



Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 08:06:33 AM

Well, I didn't have a great day on Monday. My mother decided to make no-bake cookies for my husband, and I really have no willpower with sweets! So I went over my calorie limit by 260 calories  So no point there. I was also so sore from the previous days that I wanted to let my muscles heal for a day, so I get 0 points for exercising on Monday also. So Monday = 0 points.

On Tuesday that dang pretzel my husband talked me into eating bounced my calories WAY over what I was supposed to have. Do you realize that one of those soft pretzels have 483 calories in it?!!! I guess I should have looked before I ate it. Gracious!!! Anyway Tuesday is a 0 points on my calorie intake.

I got 45 minutes of exercise in though - WOOHOO!!! 30 minutes of back streangthening Yoga (which I love though I feel like an awkward hippo) and 15 minutes of Zumba - which meets the Weekly Challenge!... I still felt like an awkward hippo, but that is some good exercises!


@Surfstar - I love my name also!!! I adore Star Trek and the Tribbles are my alltime favorite alien/animal - I have little ones here and there throughout the house... One day I am going to have one of the real ones that they sell throug thinkgeek.com .

Yay for staying on track with exercise. I have a pretty good recipe for those pretzels if you want it - it cuts the calories down by about half. I eat them occasionally for a treat (plus, my husband loves the darned things.

I always tell my best friend that I feel like a drunken cow when I'm doing Zumba, so now I'm tempted to doodle both of those mental images. I'm sure that if Hippo's could do Yoga, they would be awesome at it (plus I wouldn't argue, have you seen their 'tusks'?!). I'm sure you're awesome at it too. Hopefully it starts to feel more natural soon.

I love Think Geek, they have so many awesome things. I have a Memshiba (basically a puppy edamame) from Entertainment Earth, my next plushie acquisition is going to be the Companion Cube from Think Geek though. I bought my Dad the Tribble for Christmas last year, since he's the one who got me into Star Trek. I can remember watching re-runs of it with him in the afternoons.

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 08:08:51 AM

Yesterday was a 3 point day! I ate well, did 45 minutes of pilates, the 20 minutes of goofing off on the trampoline. My whole body is sore today, but it's the kind of sore that feel kind of good, if that makes any sense.

It makes total sense, the kind of sore where you just want to have a good stretch because it feels great. I'm glad you had fun on the trampoline.

Some of my best childhood memories are from playing on the trampoline. Though, in retrospect, it's amazing one of us didn't get seriously injured with the crap we pulled - the worst was bouncing off the trampoline into the 'grass' (littered with goat-head stickers, huge pointy, ouchy stickers!).

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 08:11:56 AM

Good day so far! I cut down my breakfast, spent half an hour on the Wii Fit, jogged Rogan around the block and I'm gonna have a handful of Gluten-free pasta for lunch

I've been feeling a bit stodgy for a few days though, and havn't been waking up with a (relavtively) flat stomach like I usually do. Gonna see if the pharmacy down the road have any gentle laxatives ._.'

:hugs: Hope you get to feeling better soon on that front. I know that when I started eating more veggies it took about a month before things settled 'digestively' speaking.

Breakfast is always the biggest meal for me, I try and eat lighter as the day goes on. I think that's because I try and work out before breakfast usually.

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 08:14:21 AM

Aw, awesome teasers, SurfStar!  It's so exciting!

I'm rather worried as I've lost even more weight, and tomorrow is weigh in day. But at least I can keep up my happy levels with exercise, thinking of hitting the trampete and hoop again later: our garage is currently used as a 'crap room', so I keep all of my stuff in there so I can work out whatever the weather is like!

I've already earned 1 point today for both my 9 and 12 supplements. Today will be a 2 pointer, as I'll be exercising and having cereal later.

Also, shameless plug:

Please Join the MLP Arena MyFitnessPal Group!

Track your food, exercise and your goals with us! There's also a little board to post tips and things..

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/6384-mlp-arena-healthy-habits-for-ponies

:hugs: and Hooray for getting your points! I'm super proud of you. Hopefully things go better than you think tomorrow =) Remember to try and do some strength training exercises in addition to your cardio, it helps with building calcium in your bones (something, that usually is an issue) and will help with adding "weight" without making you look much different (just toned).

As a tip, make sure you're logged into your My Fitness Pal account before clicking the link. It took me right to the group now, so hopefully that works for everyone too!

Post Merge: June 20, 2012, 08:18:17 AM

Yesterday I didn't end up swimming. The water was too hot & yucky. I did my elliptical workout though.
I also made my calorie count (by having my chicken taco fixings on a lettuce mix instead of in taco shells or tortillas). It was quite delicious! I didn't feel like I was missing out. I think I've made it over my first rough patch. I'm off to a good start today.
I'll also note that I made a line graph of my calories for breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks on Google docs & noticed that lately most of my calories have been in (healthy!) snacks. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. I think it's been tiding me over from one meal to the next, so I'm sticking with it.  2 pts.

:hugs: Yay for being over the first rough patch! Here's to hoping (and planning) that they will be less rough in the future. I think that healthy snacks are totally okay, remember, as long as it's working for you then that's what counts. There's no single lifestyle that's going to work for everyone. I usually have at least one snack during the day too.

Also, I love doing 'taco salad' that way. It's something we did when I was a kid, sometimes with 4-5 doritos on it to help with adding some 'crunchy' stuff.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As I was browsing through some articles on SparkPeople, I stumbled across this one:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1681

it basically goes over some of the things researchers have noticed (trends, as it were) regarding people that feel they are not successful at losing weight. It offers some fixes, but really it's just a pretty good read.

[Yurusumaji]

Only one point yesterday for keeping on track with my food goals. Unfortunately, hubbs and I were busy running errands in the evening and by the time we got home it was almost time for bed. Boo. So, no exercise point. I shall get one for today, though!

[Crowning_Glory13]

Sorry i missed yesterday..2 points! 1400 cals and i did way more in my work outs and mowing the lawn.

Yogi is the detox tea i am trying. Taste is actually good kind of sweet. No stomach issues but i have strated to see a boost in my energy:)
Yesterday i noticed my arms had some definition so that was my positive yesterday.
todays positive was my singing...sang in the shower and thought yes i am good:) these positives have helped me feel better and keeps my motivation:)

[NovelNerd]

Yep yep. >3 I'm determined to at least get my one point everyday! I'm lucky because the wife is doing pretty good with encouragement. She's actually dancing with me to keep me motivated. Haha I'm a bit out of practice and sore that's for sure.


Oooh also some of you that have a sweet tooth that are suffering you can give me a pm. I can always look up some recipes on Weight Watchers for not so bad deserts if it will help you.

[ZettaMomo]

I usually like to do my workouts in the morning, but I am so tired.   
I need to get my lazy butt out of bed soon.

[egyptiondragon]

im happy i inspired you surfstar:)

[hyenacub]

Nothing for me, today. Stressful day.  Went to a "celebration of life" for me very dear friend's stepfather, who died too young of renal cancer.  I'll be back on track tomorrow, though.

[banditpony]

I just would like to say, while I haven't taken a salad to work yet -- I /have/ stopped the binge eating processed foods in my car. (first part of my goal was to eat lunch b/c it was causing me to feel starved, and then I ate lots of junk food in the car on the way home-- because junk food doesn't go back in the heat)

I do actually have the salad, I just had been too busy to prepare it for work. And I'd love to buy some in the cafeteria (it normally costs less than a dollar), but back to that social anxiety thing.  ... But anywho, I'm happy with myself. no cheese-its. baby steps, I guess. Oh, and I have eaten the salad at home , lol.