SoWell on Sowal

SoWal Guide

Jul 24, '06 · 1:04 PM75,473

okay my little fitness wannabees... here it is. and thanks for deciding on this thread name. After sharing our goals and strategies for fitness and weight reduction, we'll all be sowell on sowal!!!

Cork and I are doing at least one yoga/pilates class per week now. plus we bicycled the other day (almost killed me). and plan to do exercise on our own at home as well.

as far as diet and weight reduction, we haven't really gotten very far. I'm reading two current resources for motivation and just general info: Body for Life for Women (A Woman's plan for Physical and Mental Transformation) - Pamela Peeke, MD, and The Reality Diet (fight fat with fiber) - Schnur, MD. They are both really straightforward, no nonsense approaches to weight loss - and include a lot of info on weekly menus, exercise, etc.

I know that I will need a menu plan to follow in the first 3 months of my "transformation". If I have a reasonable menu to follow, then I don't mind shopping and cooking. Having it all planned out makes it easier for me, and it makes me eat things that I would otherwise avoid or not think about eating (it expands the culinary experience)...

What are your goals? I need to finish up some of my reading and then I plan to put my goals on paper, along with my plan to achieve them. I have also already started a food and exercise journal.

I'll be sharing some of this with you. I hope we can all share successes, questions, recipes, exercise tips, etc... hope to see you on here every day looking for motivation and at the same time giving support to all of us..

Replies

1,558

cracker

Oct 30, '06 · 3:52 PM#977

Good Luck, BC. I really liked most of the recipes in the book. You have to like to cook to follow this program. I got a little lazy the last few months, but I am going to get back in the swing of things.[/quote]

Did you always use the recipes or did you ever go out on your own and use the food list to make whatever?

cracker

Oct 30, '06 · 3:53 PM#978

You tell her, BC!! :clap_1: And, cheers to YOU for starting SB this AM. Maybe I should go on it with you, since obviously just eating healthy hasn't worked so well for a while!

Come on gull :clap_1: BTW, how do you quote more than one person, that must have come with the new board. :idontno:

SoWal Expert

Oct 30, '06 · 3:57 PM#979

Come on gull :clap_1: BTW, how do you quote more than one person, that must have come with the new board.

Lemme think about it--and re-read the book a little. I love my carbs, you know!

Just click on the little quotation marks right by the quote on all the posts you want to answer, they will turn orange. Then, just click at the bottom on "post reply" and there you go!! Courtesy of Allifunn.

Beach Fanatic

Oct 30, '06 · 4:49 PM#980

Ocean Lover gave a recipe for a "mock" danish....1 egg, 2oz. light cream cheese, dash of vanilla and cinnamon, slenda packet all whisked together and microwaved for a minute and thirty seconds. It is really good and satisfying. I have been known to eat chicken salad for a break from the typical breakfast. The oatmeal pancakes are good once you get off the first two weeks.

Beach Fanatic

Nov 2, '06 · 6:20 AM#981

Well, Paula is back. I returned from Hong Kong on Saturday and my sister was in town so I didn't keep up with much of SoWal.com. Can't say I lost weight either (gained about 2-3 pounds which isn't bad for staying 9 days in a nice hotel where all your meals are fixed for you and paid for by someone else!). Because of SoWell on SoWal I drank less wine than usual, ate fewer desserts, and even skipped a few meals. But, between that trip and my sister's visit, I won't see any results of the "reinvented me" for about a week.

Congrats to IWishIWasThere and others on their weight loss. I was on South Beach Diet a few years ago, lost over 10 pounds and, though I stopped South Beach after a few months, kept about 4 of those pounds off.

As for the "reinvented me", ironing isn't part of it, Tootsie. In fact, I was thinking of sending some of the shirts out to be ironed! The reinvented me includes:

1. Seeing myself as a healthy person who makes good food choices (I'm getting better though need to work on this one -- haven't even started the exercise "me" yet, though I'm planning to visit 3 local gyms to check out the temperature of their pool water within the next week).
2. Really savoring the time with the kids. Sometimes I'm tired and don't really enjoy the times I should enjoy or I get distracted, and I've really savored the time with the kids since I've been back from Hong Kong. Our oldest will be home only 3.5 years and our youngest has only 5.5 years before college. And they are great kids (so far).
3. Spending more time with friends rather than work (I really wish I had gone kayaking or to Grayton Beach with SoWal friends when I was in SoWal, but instead I was cleaning the cottage -- clearly the old me made a very bad choice!). I'm going to spend time this month catching up with friends I haven't seen for a while because we've all been "too busy".
4. Sleeping better which means making myself stay in bed when i wake up early rather than get up to putter or do something "worthwhile". A good night sleep is very worthwhile.
5. Doing my work at work without worrying about it, and enjoy it instead -- see it all as a learning experience.
6. Turning my laptop off before dinner and keeping it off until morning.

And I've been in a great mood since I started creating the "new me". I was so relaxed this week (although that's probably also because some big work projects are behind me now).

What's your "reinvented you" Tootsie and others?

SoWal Expert

Nov 2, '06 · 6:44 AM#982

Lesson learned yesterday -- do not do a strenuous aerobic workout, followed by heavy weight lifting in the same day.

SoWal Expert

Nov 2, '06 · 6:50 AM#983

Can we forget SoWell on Sowal until January 2nd?

No you may not. These winter holiday months are when you need SoWel the most. If you can make healthy choices during these times, January the second will come with you feeling wonderful about yourself. No one says that you have to eat turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving. Last year, I was treated to raw oysters and stone crab claws for my Thanksgiving lunch, and I felt so much better after eating those instead of the traditional stuff. As Tootsie said, reinvent yourself, including making new traditions.

SoWal Insider

Nov 2, '06 · 7:44 AM#984

:nono1: Now how can a southern boy like you NOT eat turkey and dressing (cornbread) on Thanksgiving. Isnt that a BIG NO NO????

:funn: We are going to Guana Key, Abaco Bahamas for thanksgiving and we are bringing in everything to have our traditional tday dinner. Even pecan pie!!!! That is one thing I cant do without....sorry sowellers....

No you may not. These winter holiday months are when you need SoWel the most. If you can make healthy choices during these times, January the second will come with you feeling wonderful about yourself. No one says that you have to eat turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving. Last year, I was treated to raw oysters and stone crab claws for my Thanksgiving lunch, and I felt so much better after eating those instead of the traditional stuff. As Tootsie said, reinvent yourself, including making new traditions.

SoWal Expert

Nov 2, '06 · 8:26 AM#985

:nono1: Now how can a southern boy like you NOT eat turkey and dressing (cornbread) on Thanksgiving. Isnt that a BIG NO NO???? :funn: We are going to Guana Key, Abaco Bahamas for thanksgiving and we are bringing in everything to have our traditional tday dinner. Even pecan pie!!!! That is one thing I cant do without....sorry sowellers....

Honey, I've eaten enough southern cooking to last me, my children, and my grandchildren a lifetime. ;-) While it may taste good going down, it doesn't fit my dietary needs, and I can do fine without it.

Edited Nov 2, '06 · 8:27 AM

Beach Fanatic

Nov 2, '06 · 9:28 AM#986

All good thoughts, SJ. Let's see if by Jan 2 all of us weigh no more than we do now, and perhaps a bit less.

As for reinventing, I have one more thing I'm going to do differently than before (reinventing is as much about attitude as it is about weight and exercise).

It's snowing now and, while it's pretty, I usually complain about the winter cold (outside and inside our house -- it's a 1912 house so it's not very well insulated) and I complain about how long cold weather lasts around here (beginning in October and going well into April). So, this year I've decided to enjoy the winter rather than complain about it. I bought 3 little oil heaters to put in the rooms that I spend time in so I can be warmer (I took action rather than complained about the cold). I also bought early spring bulbs so that I start getting a taste of spring even when it's cold outside. The early bulbs start coming up here in late February and make the late winter much nicer as they peak through the snow.

SoWal Insider

Nov 2, '06 · 10:13 AM#987

Honey, I've eaten enough southern cooking to last me, my children, and my grandchildren a lifetime. ;-) While it may taste good going down, it doesn't fit my dietary needs, and I can do fine without it.

Oh..... OK, :wub:

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname

Nov 2, '06 · 10:44 AM#988

No you may not. These winter holiday months are when you need SoWel the most. If you can make healthy choices during these times, January the second will come with you feeling wonderful about yourself. No one says that you have to eat turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving. Last year, I was treated to raw oysters and stone crab claws for my Thanksgiving lunch, and I felt so much better after eating those instead of the traditional stuff. As Tootsie said, reinvent yourself, including making new traditions.

DAMN!!!

Raw oysters and stone crab claws sound like a fine Turkey day meal to me!! My family would kill me though if I did not make the traditional turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. I am going to practice portion control rather than doing without. That will be my reinvention for myself!!!

SoWal GuideAuthor

Nov 2, '06 · 12:06 PM#989

No you may not. These winter holiday months are when you need SoWel the most. If you can make healthy choices during these times, January the second will come with you feeling wonderful about yourself. No one says that you have to eat turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving. Last year, I was treated to raw oysters and stone crab claws for my Thanksgiving lunch, and I felt so much better after eating those instead of the traditional stuff. As Tootsie said, reinvent yourself, including making new traditions.

DAMN!!!
nice try darlene. IT WON"T WORK !!! :clap_1: looks like SJ is the assistant whip cracker (to our own DD - Head whip cracker). where is DD???

SoWal GuideAuthor

Nov 2, '06 · 12:14 PM#990

Paula: I really like your self-reinvention plan and will use some of it for my own. Because of some of my ankle issues the exercise is the most important thing I can do for myself. It has become necessary for mobility, so this is what I am concentrating on now. I've gone to one yoga class, and one private pilates class this week. I need to add a home yoga practice, and bicycling. All of these exercise activities are very therapeutic to me mentally as well as physically, so my plan is to put all my effort into the exercise NOW, and let the rest of my plan fall into place slowly. I don't have details as you have done, but this is my prelminary list of priorities as far as change:

exercise
healthy eating for me and my family
family time
enjoy the holiday season and winter fully! I LOVE winter anyway - but tend to hibernate, I need to get out into the weather much more.
be more organized in my home and on my calendar!!!

If I really work on 1 and 5, then the other things will be easier to accomplish. thanks for motivating me paula to put this into words and think about it.

SoWal GuideAuthor

Nov 2, '06 · 12:23 PM#991

Honey, I've eaten enough southern cooking to last me, my children, and my grandchildren a lifetime. ;-) While it may taste good going down, it doesn't fit my dietary needs, and I can do fine without it.

SJ: I can relate to this, at least most of the time. but when I go home to my mom's house, I can eat some good fried chicken, mashed taters, butter beans, corn bread, collards... pound cake... and its like heaven. thankfully, its not a tradition at my house though. I would be seriously obese and I'm not kidding.

Beach Fanatic

Nov 2, '06 · 12:25 PM#992

Yup, Tootsie, I find it helpful to use this site to articulate change plans and ideally hold myself accountable. I like reading about other people's ideas, too, and love it when DD (and now SJ) crack that whip!

SoWal Expert

Nov 2, '06 · 1:09 PM#993

DAMN!!!
nice try darlene. IT WON"T WORK !!! :clap_1: looks like SJ is the assistant whip cracker (to our own DD - Head whip cracker). where is DD???

Yeah, I thought of that too, Darlene. I have decided to add MORE exercise this season instead of sitting on the couch vegging. SJ, you've really let us see your whip cracker side this week--:clap_1: :clap_1: well done!!
I'm here, Toots....been busy, been lurking. But I luv y'all!!

SoWal GuideAuthor

Nov 2, '06 · 1:36 PM#994

DAMN!!!

Yeah, I thought of that too, Darlene. I have decided to add MORE exercise this season instead of sitting on the couch vegging. SJ, you've really let us see your whip cracker side this week--:clap_1: :clap_1: well done!!
I'm here, Toots....been busy, been lurking. But I luv y'all!!
Lurker!

SoWal Expert

Nov 5, '06 · 7:52 PM#995

Well, the lurker has come out---and what I want to know is WHERE TF is everybody? Are y'all mourning Miss Kitty's departure so much that you can't even post? Are you still hungover? Feeling guilty about your calorie consumption? I know jdarg got in some good exercise today. Weigh-in tomorrow. If you don't weigh in, at least check in.

Meow

Nov 5, '06 · 9:17 PM#996

I am soooo bloated from my last week in sowal.

I don't own a scale.

picky

Nov 5, '06 · 9:22 PM#997

I don't own a scale.

It's better for your sanity if you don't own one. Or, if you MUST own one, make sure it's rigged. :roll:

Meow

Nov 5, '06 · 9:25 PM#998

It's better for your sanity if you don't own one. Or, if you MUST own one, make sure it's rigged. :roll:

;-) ...the one I used to own was prone to rigging!!!

picky

Nov 5, '06 · 9:27 PM#999

;-) ...the one I used to own was prone to rigging!!!

The best kind to have.

If the odds are in your favor, that is!

Beach Fanatic

Nov 6, '06 · 9:05 AM#1000

I'm checking in but I'm already dressed so I won't weigh myself today -- I'll weigh in tomorrow, but I think I'll be in pretty good shape because I was relatively well-behaved over the weekend.

I just can't get myself motivated, though, to check out the local indoor pools...