Healthy? Lifestyle?

I have my mother's chubby cheeks and knees.  I see them when I catch a fleeting glimpse in a window or mirror.

Don't get me wrong, that's not necessarily a bad thing... unless that's not what I was aiming for. 

I distinctly remember NOT mentioning my mother's cheeks and knees to Andy, my personal trainer, in answer to his question: "what are you hoping to get out of this program?"  What I remember (and sometimes regret) is answering that I missed my waistline, and wanted Madonna Arms.

So while in my 4 months in this 13 month Healthy Lifestyle program, wherein I've taken great pains to live up to the standards of healthy eating, and thinking, and physical activity, I have to admit that I'm greatly disappointed that  I've only lost maybe 10 pounds... maybe.  Depending on the time of day and the day of the week.

Damn it! I've gone from absolutely no physical activity to two thirty minute sessions a week, then to two sixty minute sessions a week of what can only be called physical abuse.

And seriously, it's not like I eat donuts for breakfast, snickers for lunch, and a whole pizza for dinner!  I have very healthy eating habits, which has been basically the same thing every day:  Granola and yogurt for breakfast, an apple for a midmorning snack, a chicken breast with rice and vegetables for lunch, or a salad, and dinner.... well that's where I fall down, but not to any great extent.  I drink about 28 ounces of water a day, not as much as I should, but more than I used to. My dietician even told me she thought I wasn't eating enough!

Seriously, I have increased my activity, I don't drink pop, I've completely cut out cookies, cakes, or basically anything sweet (which really isn't a sacrifice for me) I've increased my water, and have kept a positive attitude, remembering that muscle weighs more than fat, and slow and steady wins the race. But no progress.

I have an appointment with my dietician on Monday morning.  Apparently she has the ability to prescribe something that will kick start my weight loss.  I'm guessing some kind of amphetimine, which actually sounds like fun!  What I'm supposed to be working on today is fabricating the Food Logs that I have told the rest of the particpants in my group, that I've been keeping religiously. 

Wish me luck

Social Media Will Be The Death of This Blog

As I mentioned in a recent post (the word "recent" being extremely subjective) since I spend many hours a day socially networking, and managing social media and editing copy for my employer, when I come home, I'm a little (a lot) reluctant to stick my head back into the computer during what should be "ME Time."  I've been pondering this conundrum lately, and I've had some breakthrough ideas, (Breakthrough, not earthshaking mind you) but maybe reading this will help someone else struggling with what I consider to be social media burnout.

Since my daylight hours are spent doing Internet things, when I come home, I want to do other things to entertain myself, you know, beyond dishes, laundry, cooking.... things I actually want to do.  But since socially networking and managing social media and editing copy felt too much like work, I took a break of sorts... I haven't actually accomplished any life changing goals during this time, but what I have done was actually finish some things.  I'd forgotten how great that sense of accomplishment is.  Some of what I finished were chores, but others we’re things that I wanted to do for me.  Things like watching the entire second season of Game of Thrones, or reading a book, or yoga, or going to the gym.  The difference, was that as opposed to reading and commenting on social media, I accomplished the task, I finished.

When you read a book, or watch a particular program (not channel surfing), you do it for a purpose. Granted, the purpose is usually to entertain yourself. Unlike social media Twitter, Facebook, and even blogs, where the purpose is constantly shifting. It’s a two way, conversation, but you still have to manage that conversation - listen or talk, participate or follow, write or read. On the surface, this is a wonderful thing, but I just never have that sense of completion I was talking about. It’s an open loop that never closes in my head.

It used to be that I wanted to write posts for my blog, it gave me a satisfying sense of accomplishment, and fed my creative needs.  But in order to have readers, you have to read, and  if you want comments on your posts, you have to comment on others.  I'm preaching to the choir here when I say this takes time!   It seems like Facebook and Twitter have diminished my urge to blog.  Lets be honest here, you can scan 50 Facebook and Twitter posts in the time it takes to read one blog, and posting a picture with a caption or 140 characters, is much easier and quicker than creating an actual long-form blog post.  

Sure, this is self centered, and really just a big ole slice of Poor-Me-Pie.  You can point out why I’m wrong and how selfish this sounds, and how I'm over thinking this.  But I can't believe I'm the only one who feels this way!  I love reading other blogs, and I love commenting on them, almost as much as I love writing a great post, and having others comment.  I'm just not sure where to draw the line. I'm sure there are people that have a clear purpose when it comes to using social media and somehow, they are able to stick to their plan. Do you have a plan?  How do you manage your social media time?  What's your secret, and will you teach me your ways?

Obsession!

I sometimes get obsessesed with things.... getting healthy, my kids theatre productions, beer... and I like to share my obsessions with the bloggy world!


Well, I have a new obsession - Infographics.  If you don't know what an Infographic is, or what it is used for, allow me to count the ways!

1. It is a graphic visual representation of information, data or knowledge.  These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly.  (This dry boring definition is courtesy of Wikipedia)
2. It is a lovely picture that can make dry boring facts seem infinitely more interesting.
3. It is a way to make sense of incomprehensible information.
4. It is a way to say paragraphs, when you'd otherwise be limited to 140 characters
5. It's a little like a comic book in the way that you read them
6. They are entertaining
7. They are pretty and creative
8. There isn't anything you can say that can't be said better with an Infographic
9. You will draw people's attention much faster with an Infographic than you will with text.
10. and, when all else fails in explaining things... use a picture... or Infographic!

Until now, I would have resorted to finding someone else's Infographic to use.  But I just found Piktochart and I made my very own lovely Infographic all by myself, in under an hour! Now every thought, or question, I have, I see in the form of an Infographic! I truly am obsessed!

This week, I'm linking to Pink Saturday where Beverly invites us to Share Our Pink Obsession Inspiration. Infographics is mine... what's yours?