Hi,
I promised to ask how your fitness project is going. So how's it going!!!! I have actually been taking baby steps. When I have a choice of parking closer or far away I'm choosing to walk. Some lighter foods. Being physically active with the kids instead of watching them be active.

Share what you're doing (or not).

Supportive thoughts from the North Country (Go Liliansmama GO!!).

Linda

By Lilianasmama on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 04:02 pm:

Hi Linda :-)

Thanks for asking...I appreciate it!

I am doing pretty well lately. Walking with my baby and my dog about 2 miles Four to five days a week. We live in a hilly area, so sometimes I am so out of breath by the time we get home! (Pushing the stroller uphill, and trying to prevent our dog from knocking us over getting to other dogs!) Ha ha...

I have been limiting my calories to about 1100 daily. And most days i do well, I have had a few off days but not too many...

I just found out not too long ago that I am ten pounds under my first prenatal appt weigh in with my last baby. That made me happy, but considering I started off pretty overweight I still have a ways to go!

How are you doing?, Are you trying as well to lose weight, or get in shape?

I hope you are having a good day, and things are going well for you

Kristin

By Northcountrymom on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 10:30 am:

Hi Kristen,
Sounds great. A dog and a baby really do keep you moving.

I need more exercise. Definitely helps with energy and mood. I do walk the dog and the kid but its not as rigorous as yours.

Looking forward to sunshine here - gives me motivation

One step at a time.
Linda

By Lilianasmama on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 12:37 pm:

Hi Linda,

Where in the north country do you live? When do you usually start having better weather?

Sunshine is nice, we usually have it abundantly here. We just got over almost three weeks or cold rainy weather. It was about 40, and rainy, often with hail. We have snow all over our mountains, (in the distance of course.)

The sunshine really does effect my energy and mood as well. Something about cold rainy weather that makes me want to cook "comfort food" for dinner, and dessert as well! It is a struggle..

You are right though, one step at a time! I think it's great that you are out there walking, especially if it is cold! Good for you!

My dh and I have been cooking big pots of veggie/chicken soup. That is filling, but healthy. We leave out the noodles though. The kids are a bit sick of the healthy lifestyle, they want pizza or MC Donalds...or so I hear...

Ha ha..

Well keep up the good work as well I will send sunny California energy your way, hopefully you'll get some sunny days!

By Northcountrymom on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - 02:22 am:

Hi Kristin,
Sorry took so long to respond. We were away from home for most of the week in the New York City area. We went swimming in an indoor pool with the kids 3-4 times. I thought of you as I suited up. Exercise. I did sit and watch sometimes but I was grateful I kept the kids moving instead of sitting around during their vacation week. We did go to McD's but I don't eat there for the most part - they have coffee and diet soda and they'll give you as much water as you can drink Free.

We live an hour south of the Canadian border and right on the New York Vermont border.

The past few years we have had late snow storms in April. Sometimes there is still skiing.

We love soups also. Whatever is around is what goes in mine.

We drove home late last night in some of our "weather". Icy roads take forever. I also wanted warm comfort food when I got home.

Today our schools were open despite my little guys deep felt wishes otherwise but less than 5 miles away they were closed and had severe weather warnings.

Think of us in your sunshine and thanks for spreading yours around.
Linda

By Lilianasmama on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 04:13 pm:

Hi Linda,

Wow that is nice to have a vacation this time of year! We have to wait until spring break, but we are all in need of one now! Do your children go to year round school? Too bad for the kiddos that school was open (ha ha) that story made me laugh! If we lived where it snowed I could see my kids wishing to be snowed in! How is your weather now?

I bet it is just beautiful where you live (from you describing your location.) I am imagining lots of green, and many trees that turn color in the fall.

Good for you for getting in your suit and swimming with the kids! Wow, you are more brave then I am right now. I am hoping to be semi decent by summer so I can go in the pool with the kids too!

I made more progress since my last weigh in, it is now 50 pounds instead of 40! I am so happy to finally be taking charge and getting back in shape. It is so easy to let yourself go a bit with pregnancies, and having 4 kids to take care of. Although one is in college now, but she just left over last summer, and she is still around quite a bit.

Hope the sunshine heads your way soon!!
Kristin

By Northcountrymom on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 02:01 pm:

Hi Kristin,

10 more pounds gone!!!!!!!!!!!! We celebrate with you - without food of course. May they never come back. Keep on keepin on.

If you celebrate Lent (or just an unofficial prep for Easter) there might be some incentive for changing one habit (e.g. dancing around the living room for 15 minutes, no night eating, extra veggies 3x's per week, something fun just for you (my favorite choice)???

Weather is like another relative here. Right now its sleeting, just over freezing with 50 mile per hour winds. But it is beautiful even in ugly weather. To enjoy it you always have to dress for the weather. One of the sayings here is that the only certainty about the weather is that it will change. It is spectacularly gorgeous year round and beauty around every bend.

On the fitness front the pool experience was so much fun I'm thinking of counting my pennies and taking a month by month membership in a local hotel pool and fitnesss center for the winter (lasts until May). There are olympic size pools within 30-40 miles but I'll never get there. Too much going on local with kids, school, work, church and did I mention husband. I'm thinking maybe closer would encourage use -maybe???? THey say the process is awareness, acceptance, action. Guess I know I need excercise, know its available nearby -yes -even in a diabolical winter - next step Action!!!!

Your partner in good health
Linda

By Northcountrymom on Monday, March 9, 2009 - 08:39 am:

How are you doing on your "health initiative". I don't use words like "diet" or "fitness" -they scare me.

A magazine article (FIRST) on Eco-Atkins/flexitarianism made me think of you. The basic gist was plant protein helps you lose 50% more weight - things like nuts, seeds, beans, soy. Increasing plant intake especially veggies evidently releases a super hormone -adeponectin that tells the body to burn fat and not store sugar as fat. The food plan I use already mandates tons of veggies but I thought the plant protein was an interesting addition.

There was more but thought that was a good goal for the day - eat more plants and plant proteins. I like working smarter not harder if at all possible this might help.

Your partner in good health,
Linda

By Northcountrymom on Monday, March 16, 2009 - 10:19 pm:

Hi,
Its just me. Wondering how you're doing on the fitness thing. I haven't gone to the pool yet but I have it on the horizon to do very soon. I've been focusing on family and work and gotten distracted. Hopefully you're taking actions - let me know. It'll inspire me. By the way the sunshine you sent got here over the weekend. We actually had temperatures in the high 50's - very exciting for the snowbound, sun deprived amongst us.
In the spirit of comradarie and fitness,
Linda

By Northcountrymom on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 12:48 am:

Lilianasmama,
How's it going. Sorry fell off the accountability wagon. Miss you. Enchens kind of reminded me by example that you and I were trying to increase healthy motion.
Would love to know how its going.
Linda