11 Nice Ways to say "NO to FOOD PUSHERS"

With Thanksgiving tomorrow and the holiday season upon us, I thought it appropriate to bring up the notorious "food pusher".  You know the ones right?  The ones who tempt you with everything known to man, that is NOT good for you.  It could be a co-worker pushing those ooey gooey chocolate chip homemade cookies she brought in, it might be your mother, "oh come on sweetie have another helping, you are eating like a bird", it might be your significant other - "what do you mean you do not want to have a glass of wine with me or two or three or four?"

During the holiday season especially, food temptations are everywhere.  From stuffing and pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, to eggnog and sugar cookies in December, the seasonal temptations are endless.  It can be tough enough to navigate the turkey buffet without your great aunt forcing an extra helping of mashed potatoes onto your plate, or resisting Grandma Fern's homemade dutch apple pie when she kindly smiles "oh my dear you must have a piece, I made it just for you"!

Food pushers range from well-intentioned loved ones to out right diet saboteurs.  Regardless of their motivation, you need to stick to your guns.  I find that honesty is best for me, and I simply tell them that my lifestyle has changed and that I am living healthy now.  Sometimes, that type of response just simply gets ignored.  So I have come up with some retorts to their food forcing ways that may help you keep in control of what goes onto your plate and ultimately into your mouth.

These tips will work year round, at birthday parties, special occasion dinners, Sunday brunch after church, any type of social gathering where temptations abound and the pushers lurk!

Food is DRUG to most of us!

The Push: "It's my specialty, you have to try it!"

Your Response: "I will in a bit!"

Why It Works: Stalling is a great tactic with food pushers. Odds are the offender won't follow you around making sure you actually try the dish. If they catch up with you by the end of the party to ask what you thought, tell them that it slipped your mind but you'll be sure to try it next time.

 
The Push: "This [insert name of high-calorie dish] is my favorite. You'll love it!"

Your Response: "I had some already—so delicious!"

Why It Works: A white lie in this situation isn't going to hurt anybody. You'll get out of eating food you don't want or need, and the food pusher will have gotten a compliment on what probably is a delicious dish.

The Push: "It's just once a year!"

Your Response: " But I'll probably live to celebrate more holidays if I stick with my healthy lifestyle!"

Why It Works: People can sometimes see healthy eating as vain—a means to the end result of losing weight and looking better. It's harder for a food pusher to argue with you if you bring attention to the fact that you eat right and exercise for better health and a longer life. Looking good just happens to be a side effect!

The Push: "Looks like someone is obsessed with dieting…"

Your Response: "I wouldn't say obsessed, but I am being conscious of what I eat."

Why It Works: Words like "food snob" or "obsessed" are pretty harsh when they're thrown around by food pushers. But don't let passive-aggressive comments like this bring you down—or make you veer away from your good eating intentions. Acknowledging your willpower and healthy food choices might influence others to be more conscious of what they eat. Sometimes you just have to combat food pushers with a little straightforward kindness.

The Push: "If you don't try my dish, I'm just going to have to force you to eat it!"
Your Response: "Sorry, but I don't like (or can't eat) [insert ingredient here]."

Why It Works: It's hard to argue with someone's personal food preferences. If someone doesn't like an ingredient whether its sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or butter, odds are that he or she hasn't liked it for a very long time. If you'd like to get creative with this one, go into detail about how you got sick on the ingredient as a kid or how your mom says you always threw it across the room as a baby. Who can argue with that?  

The Push: "You need some meat on your bones."

Your Response: "Trust me, I'm in no danger of wasting away!"

Why It Works: This food push is definitely on the passive-aggressive side. Using humor to fight back will defuse any tension while making it clear where you stand. 

The Push: "One bite isn't going to kill you."

Your Response: "I know, but once you pop you can't stop! And I'm sure it's so delicious I wouldn't be able to stop!"

Why It Works: This is another situation where humor will serve to distract the food pusher from his or her mission. It's a way to say "thanks, but no thanks" while making it clear that you're not interested in overindulging.

The Push: "But it's your favorite!"

 Your Response: "I think I've overdosed on it; I just can't eat it anymore!"

Why It Works: If you have a favorite holiday dish that everyone knows you love, it can be especially tough to escape this push. If a loved one made the dish specifically for you, the guilt can be enough to push you over the edge. But people understand that food preferences change, and most have been in that situation of enjoying a dish so much that they can't touch it for awhile.  

 
The Push: [Someone puts an extra helping on your plate without you asking.]

Your Response: Push it around with your fork like you did as a kid to make it look like you tried it.

Why It Works: While putting food on someone else's plate can be viewed as passive-aggressive, it was probably done with love. (Let's hope!) Making it look like you ate a bite or two can be an easy way out of the situation, but you can also just leave it alone and claim that you've already had your fill. (After all, you didn't add that extra helping!)

 
The Push: "Have another drink!"

Your Response: "I have to drive."

Why It Works: No one will argue with the fact that you want to drive home sober. If they do, you should have no qualms walking away from the conversation, period. If they offer a place for you to stay, you can always get out of the situation by blaming an early morning commitment or the fact that you need to get home to let the dog out. Kids will also get you out of everything.

 
The Push: "We have so many leftovers. Take some!"

 

Your Response: "That's OK! Just think, you'll have your meals for tomorrow taken care of."

Why It Works: Not every party guest wants to deal with the hassle of taking food with them, and this makes it clear that you'd rather the food stay. If the host is insistent, you can feign worry that they'll go bad in the car because you're not going straight home, or it'll go bad in your fridge because you've already been given so many leftovers at other parties recently. Or be polite and take them. You'll have more control of your food intake away from the party anyway. So whether you don't eat the leftovers at all or whether you split a piece of pie with your spouse, you're in control in this situation.

These tactics can work wonders in social situations, but honesty is sometimes the best policy. A simple "No, thank you" is hard for a food pusher to beat, especially if it's repeated emphatically. Remember, too, that it's okay to have treats in moderation, so don't deprive yourself of your favorite holiday foods. Just make sure that you're the one in control of your splurges—not a friend, family member or co-worker who doesn't know your fitness and health goals!

I wish you and your families the safest and blessed Thanksgiving!  

Remember Christmas and New Years are just around the corner! 

 

Goals do you set them?

Do you set goals for yourself?  Do you always set goals but only see them come and go and never realized?  Well join the group, I believe we all do this most of the time.    The good news is, that there are reasons why we do not see our goals realized.  There are actually smart ways to set goals.






Did you know that the human brain forgets 80% of detail within 24 hours and 99% within two weeks.  (This has been proven in memory studies.)  To me this is sort of a rude awakening that I needed to hear.  Writing down our goals keep them fresh and clear in our minds.  Hence why blogging and food logging has become such an important part of my life.


You can create a target date so now you have a point A and a point B.  Along the way you can have milestones, these can keep the momentum high and you focused on the right path.  Set smaller weekly or monthly goals along the way.  This can help as you move closer to that ultimate prize.




Milestones can be achievements and having nothing to do with the scale, such as being able to walk 3 miles.  To be able to swim laps for 45 minutes.  To be able to play nonstop with your children outside, or run for the first time in your life.


Plan out your actions that will help you get to this goal.  These are your daily and weekly nutrition and fitness goals that will ultimately lead you to your success.  This is how just doing a little bit each day will help you to find your dream of being thin.  Just by doing the actions, you will become a happier and healthier you.

You must be:

1. Realistic - Start off with a goal that isn't too ambitious, so that you can soon experience the thrills of success.  Build toward grander goals to keep your motivation high.
2. Specific - make sure it can be measured and tracked.
3. Forgiving - leave room for the 1 step forward - 1 step back  rule to apply.
4. Crystal clear - find a photo depicting or symbolizing what you want.  The clearer the point, the easier to stay focused.
5. Valuable - Remind yourself why you want to succeed in the first place.  
6. Challenging - What do you wish for?  This is the goal that will hold your attention the most. There is no reason that our wishes cannot become our goals.
7. Reward - every little bit of positive reinforcement helps.
8. Backed up - Prepare for the unknown with contingency plans before problems come up.  Have options waiting that will help you stay consistent in the face of the unexpected.

If you are able to do this, you will soon find that the journey becomes easier, and more fulfilling, and less of a drudge.
I cannot imagine wanting to start out on a trip, without some idea of what I want to do, or where I may end up.  I mean, OK maybe flying by the seat of your pants is OK if you are going to trek across Europe for 6 months, but most of the time a plan is of the utmost importance.


I have set my goals, and I am moving forward and I am loving every moment.

7 Tips For Sticking With Your Workouts

I have been a member of my gym since four months before my surgery!  So that is nearly 4 1/2 years.  Now mind you I was religious in the beginning, I worked and worked.  I did water aerobics, I walked on the god for saken treadmill.  I walked on the track, I did yoga, I strength trained.  I became a workout junkie.....me, the middle age woman who because of being obese would never ever think about going to the gym upon waking in the morning before this.

When I fell off the wagon 18 months into my journey, I stopped going, I found every excuse known to man not so go.  Let's face it, excuses are like a_ _ holes well you know, everyone has one.  We all get busy, we all have bad days, we all have children or grandchildren, or full time jobs outside of our homes.  Even so at some point you have to stop, and say I am taking 30 or 45 minutes a day for MYSELF!

I always hated exercise because I did not like how I looked, I always felt someone would be watching me, and saying WOW she is fat!  Well so be it if they do, I am fat and I am trying to get UNFAT for lord sake.  That is why people go to a gym right?  If we all looked like Barbie, most of us would not even bother.  

The first few weeks felt like utter torture, it was so hard to make myself go.  But something truly wonderful began to happen, not only did I begin to see results on my scale and in my clothes, I began to feel better physically and emotionally.


I began to smile more, and feel happier.  It was true, all that stuff you read about why working out is absolutely wonderful for you.  I proved it to myself.

So what are the 7 tips I can give to you for staying the course you ask?


1.  I just go
I have never regretted going to the gym ever.  I have always felt better after going, even if it is after a grueling 60 minutes of Zumba and I thought my lungs were coming out of my body.

2.  I have come a long way baby
When I think over the past four years and where I was before I began to exercise, WHOA I am so much stronger and able to move better, and be up longer, and no longer have to sit on the side lines.  I would not trade this feeling for anything.

3.   I treat myself
I bring a good magazine with me to read, or I buy me a new workout shirt or something that makes me feel good about myself.


4.  I make a new playlist
I love music, I am a singer.  I have been in musicals, choirs, won at state and all of that.  I have to listen to music and when working out that is a given.  I am even asking for a container for Christmas to hold my IPOD in while I swim!  I have to have good music in my head, it makes my workouts fun!

5.  I work and play
Sometimes I plan something fun and exciting after my workout, or I go have a healthy dinner, or I simply get into my PJ's and relax with a cup of tea, I do something after for me!  I keep my eyes on the prize and envision it while I am working out.

6. I am not alone
I think of all the other women around the world and especially my fellow BOOBS who are also putting on their tennis shoes and heading to the gym right there with me.  I remind myself that they too are working out today!

7.   Sometimes it is ok not to workout
Sometimes you just need to take a break.  I know for me once I begin going I want to go every day.  But sometimes it is best to listen to our bodies and our minds.  If it has been a horrible day, take a break if you need to.  For me, going to the gym helps the stress, so I prefer to go.  However, it truly is ok to miss a day.  Sometimes we just have to go easy on ourselves.

Take it from me a women who never imagined herself working out and loving every moment. I am moving and I cannot ever imagine going back to being that OBESE couch potato of days gone by!

Stop the insanity..................NOW!

A healthy lifestyle is not an all or nothing proposition.  Plans will go awry and obstacles will pop up.  Don't get down.  Get down to business.  






It doesn't matter how often you fall.  What matters is how you land and where you end up.  Cats have nine lives, and always seem to get second chances.  Cats also land on their feet when they fall.  Coincidence?  Healthy living is a process of learning.  Life does not always pan out as we thought, and fate has a toolbox full of wrenches to throw into your plans.

In the years ahead, you will go through success and failures, highs and lows, steps forward and steps back, times of plenty and times of difficulty.  When the dust settles and the books of life are squared away, you are doing well if you come out the other side, better, stronger and happier for the experience.

Some of us see weight loss and healthy living as struggles.  I believe this is because we have an all or nothing approach and will only accept perfection.  When we have to face anything less than 100% success, we fall into the vat of guilty despair, convinced that we have failed.  We then revert to our old habits and the cycle begins again.

Guess what, it does not have to be this way.  Healthy living is a process of learning.  Setbacks can show up in a lot of ways.  

Plateaus:  "the scale is just not moving anymore!"
Burnout:  "I just can't keep up this tough regiment anymore!"
Week Moments:  "I had a really bad week, and spent all weekend drinking, eating cheeseburgers, and donuts!"
Discouragement:  "I'm never going to make it all the way, I might as well just give up now!"
Interruptions:  "Why did I have to get sick now!"
Injuries:  "Can't believe I pulled a muscle right when I was starting to see progress!"

Since you are developing a new healthy life style, you can choose to do things differently this time.  Instead of expecting perfection, you can concentrate on damage control, on bouncing back.



Keep a positive attitude:  Studies have shown the optimists reach more goals than pessimists.   You see, a setback is not a brick wall that must be climbed, it is merely a gate that must be opened and gone through, you will soon be on your way.

Trust in your plan:  You spent allot of time, money and energy deciding to get your band.  You laid out the steps before you.  You knew it was only a matter of time to reach your goal.  You also knew, it was not an easy fix.  What was true in the beginning of your journey, still holds true today.  Stay the course. 


Believe in yourself: Self discipline is hard.  But you have what it takes to build a healthy lifestyle.  When things go wrong, do not beat yourself up, instead give yourself a pep talk.  You are worth the effort.  Your weight loss goals deserve another shot.  You are already doing more than most people even try to do.


Give yourself good reason to keep going: return to the basics of motivation to get back on track.  Look back over the reasons you got your band.  Remind yourself of how you felt those first weeks after surgery when you had no intention of cheating what so ever. Who can you connect with that can give you a lift?  Are you rewarding yourself often enough?  The answer to those questions may hold the golden nugget of motivation that you have forgotten about. 

The Trainer From HELL!!!

Ok so last night at 7:00pm was Nichole and my first appointment with a trainer at our gym.  Now mind you, I have dealt with these types before, you know.  The young, hot, and muscular males, who look fantastic in workout shorts.  Well let me tell you something.  This boy was a pain in the ass.


I have told you I hate working out on machines, any kind of machine.  It is boring, it is not rewarding to me in the least little bit.  I would rather be dipped into a vat of hot butter.  Or have my eyes poked out.  So the first thing he does is have us get our own personal mats and I am thinking wait a minute, I thought this was suppose to be on the machines.  There was a gentleman and his wife who also were there with us.  They were in their 60's.  So he looks at me and says "give me 20 push ups" of course I just laughed at him.  Right, like I can do push ups.  But you see, Travis ( this was his name) - was not kidding.  He said it again, "give me 20 push ups".  I proceeded to explain to him, about my knees and putting weight on them while kneeling, and he said hold on and went and got me a thick piece of foam, and said "we will put a Kabosh on the excuses right now" and I was like good lord.  So I began doing push ups on my knees, and I after the third one, I wanted to drop kick him across the gym.  But I didn't.  I just kept plugging away, and finally I finished the 20th one.  He said now see, You CAN do push ups, so do not ever tell me again you can't!

From here we went to the push up machine.  This is the machine that simulates the same muscle movements and resistance as doing them the good ole conventional way.  He had me sit on the bench and then proceeded to tell Nichole and the couple to do "jumping jacks" until I finished.  Now mind you, I knew these people wanted to kill me, because I was sorta slow at doing these.  Travis kept telling me that my form was perfect and that I was doing very well!  All the while my body wanted to grab him around the neck and strangle him.

From here we went back to the mats and he had us grab free weights and do bicep curls.  I had to use 10 pound weights and I just gave him my rolling eyes and he smiled and said you can do this.  Sure HE can do them easy, but I am fat, out of shape, and well I just plain have no upper body strength.  I was able to do them though, and it was not as bad as I had originally thought.  Then he had us work on the bands.  These are elastic bands, that you use in place of the free weights.  These are hard and even with all of my swimming that I have been doing, I feel like a weakling.

From here we moved to the leg press machine, and he of course chose me to go first.  He had me do 100 pounds, slave driver that he is.  Then he looked at the other three and said you will do squats while she is working the machine.  When she stops you will hold your squat til she exits the machine.  I saw the glare in the others eyes.  They were like Kristin you better not be as "fricking" slow as you were before kind of look.  So I began, and I thought my thighs would catch on fire from the intense burn.  I told him how hot they were, and he said GREAT that is what I want.  Damn him, who does he think he is Bob from Biggest Loser?

 When I was finished, I had to do the squats and he kept telling me to push my butt out farther.  I was like you know, my butt is huge and I really do not have to push it out very far for it to be OUT ya know!  Then skinny minnie, the lady, looks at me and says I am 60 years old if I can do this so can you, and I proceeded to remind her that I am 100+ pounds heavier than her.  So when I do these squats it is far more difficult than her......right?

 All in all, it was not that bad really.  I was winded and exhausted at the end but, I did feel like I had gotten a work out.  So next Monday is my second session.  This time we are going to work the core.  Travis said be ready you will be doing some sit ups!!!!!  I wonder if he means lying on the couch and sitting up?  Ya think?  I doubt it too.  Oh well, at least he gave me permission to "give him the bird!"

Will keep you posted on Travis!

I am in a fitness challenge Yeap Sure Am!!!!!

Healthy Loser Gal  has created a wonderful challenge!  Head over and check it out.  I have signed up because I believe that this will keep me honest for the next three months, and help me to reach my goal I have for myself by Christmas!

So here are my goals for this challenge:

1.  Swim a minimum of 5 days a week: Increase my time to 60 minutes.

2.  Drink at least 65 ounces of water every day.

3.  I will do strength training at least twice a week.  (I hate machines).  This will be a challenge.

I am thrilled to have this to focus on.  I have averaged 2.75 pounds a week loss since my fill on July 5th.  I hope to continue this movement with being accountable in this challenge.  Chicago will not be an issue for me, as I have excellent restriction and overeating isn't an issue.  Healthy choices are getting easier and easier for me every day.

Head on over and check on the challenge, the prizes are really very nice!