Thursday, May 20, 2010

Walk It Off...

In the past month or so I’ve gained five pounds. Two are an okay addition to the mix. The other three are not and bathing suit season is nearly upon us.

The number on the scale will continue to rise if I don’t do something - or stop doing something. Ending my current addiction to chocolate pudding cups and red licorice would be an excellent start.

So far, my weight loss/fitness plans consist of coming across various methods to achieve my goals on the Rogers Yahoo news page. I diligently copy and paste these articles to Word and have a folder labeled “Miscellaneous.” (A more specific label would depress me each time my desktop appeared.)

Two tips I’ve discovered:

1. Walking – lose 20 pounds in six months with a brisk 20 minute daily walk. I don’t have six months before I don a bathing suit in public but since I only have three pounds to lose this should be doable. Math is not my strong suit (hah!) but by my calculations if one can lose 20 pounds in 180 days I could lose 3 pounds in 27 days. Or one pound in 9 days. If I don’t bring my Twizzlers (the licorice) with me.

2. Grapefruit - start every meal with either half a grapefruit or a glass of grapefruit juice and lose about half a pound a week. No dieting required. Or exercise. I like this one – very much. I’m buying some grapefruit today but I’m wondering if sprinkling sugar on the grapefruit will nullify the intended effects. I can’t stand grapefruit without sugar.

I am currently searching the Internet for an exercise regimen that consists of visualization techniques only – no actual exercise required. The mind is a powerful thing.

Yes, I am lazy, unfit and ridiculous.

If I put as much energy into losing the weight and becoming fit as I do the research, I would be a vision to behold. Not sure of what, though.



photo credit: http://www.runningtrainers.org.uk/images/oldtrainers.jpg

22 comments:

Charlotta-love said...

Beth,
I am a physical education major and I still am looking for that 'think your way to health' option. Sometimes I am motivated, sometimes I am not. 3 pounds in a month is completely doable. You've got this!

nursemyra said...

I love red licorice!

The grapefruit diet won't work, walking and smaller portions is the way to go

Cid said...

Since I have about 10 lbs to lose I guess I'll have to eat grapefruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hope no one sees me on the dock this weekend. Have a wonderful May 2-4!

laughingwolf said...

lol ...good stuff ;)

another thought:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wbdKSUus3U

oreneta said...

I too have discovered about 5 lbs have arrived, unbidden. Could be less, could be more, but seems about five. A bit of a drag, though not really a disaster. I figure some minor changes will tackle it and keep the trend from continuing.

Hope so anyway. Too bad we can't go walking together every day, that'd be sweet.

Anonymous said...

Have you tried the hitting-yourself-over-the-head-with-a-bottle diet? Apparently you forget to eat.

Gorilla Bananas said...

If the grapefruit feels firm when you squeeze it, it won't taste bitter. Speaking of firm, climbing trees is good for the buns.

The Bodhi Chicklet said...

If I wasn't laughing so hard I would scold you over this. The approach of bathing suit weather is always a bit daunting. I am sporting a bigger tire that I would like to have at the moment but I've gotten quite adept at holding it in. Not without pain though...

Anonymous said...

I love both walking and grapefruit juice, I should be a top model by now!

Seriously, walking does help a lot. That's how I maintain my current weight and get away with no indoor exercise (I'm a true French, I hate the gym!).

Cipriano said...

Yikes.
You better not read my own current blog -- about Kraft Dinner.
Anyhoo -- I wish you luck. As for me, I am beyond all hope. I saw a really neat book yesterday at Chapters, and I want to buy it.... it looks so interesting.
The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite, by David Kessler.
There's an entire chapter devoted to Twizzlers!

Angie Muresan said...

I eat grapefruit every day because I love it (without sugar) and haven't lost a pound in ages. Maybe I should eat JUST grapefruit?

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Yes, 3 pounds is very doable. YES YOU CAN!
I'm still searching for an exercise regimen that involves visualizing (and then ravaging) chocolate. No luck, so far. I'll keep you posted.
Cheers,
Robyn

Alyssa Goodnight said...

Not sure any of this is going to work, but I love your attitude!

Good luck!

Lainey-Paney said...

I think about exercising more than I actually exercise.
Really.
It's about a 10 to 1 ratio there.
I'm mentally FIT.

I've gotta get my rear moving on the exercise thing too...
Mostly I have to do it b/c of my low HDL. Sure, I love veggies & salads & healthy food. I just happen to love slathering them with butter, salt, and eating them with my cheese-burger.

The grapefruit thing: I can't do grapefruit without sugar either. What about splenda? Will splenda make it better????

Anonymous said...

Beth,
Not too long ago you were posting about the need to gain weight. Are you sure about this?

Having been on the other end, I find that walking is the best (although recently, I've been told I can't do that anymore-see future post). I can relate so well with your addiction to Twizzlers. Red licorice is my weakness, I think I need a 12 step program for this. I have to go cold turkey or I just can't stop taking one more, then, one more and on it goes. I especially love it at the Movies.

I think your best bet is smaller portions of what you do eat, tons of veggies, 3-4 fruits, lots of water and walking.

Personally, I don't think anyone is EVER happy about how they look in a bathing suit. I once lost a lot of weigh before my wedding and in my bathing suit, felt the same. After my pregnancies, I made a choice to accept my body, and just have fun in the water. So much of it is our own mental battle.
Just my own 2 cents.

XXXXXXX

Cheryl said...

Nothing I hate more than exercising! Which is why I have to trick myself into it by signing up for activities like hiking, dodgeball or dance classes.

Ooo, can't stand grapefruit. Good luck with that!

According to The Secret, such things are possible. Alas, it never worked for me. Then again I kept getting distracted by thoughts of chocolate and ice cream, etc...

Mike Minzes said...

Walking is the best form of exercise. I walk 2 miles a day. 40 minutes total.

Deidra said...

when you find out the answer to thinking off the pounds, please share! i'll be eating red licorice while i wait for your reply. ;)

Maggie May said...

i was frustrated that no sooner had i lost 6 pounds then i got pregnant! :) you can do it :)

Seraphine said...

grapefruit? the only way i can stand to even taste a grapefruit would be to pour sugar on it.
i read once that it takes more calories to digest a grapefruit than a grapefruit supplies the body with.
frankly, i'd rather drink lots of water.
drink lots of water, beth. trust me.
exercise is a wonderful way to lose weight. but more than that, it's good for your outlook on life and it's good for your mind too.
don't give up red licorice.
losing 3 lbs. in 30 days is a great goal. you *can* do it!
you're going to look great and feel great this summer.

Undercover Mother said...

Oh, honey. I had to quit the gym when SH started his new job two hours away. No time to work out when I am wakeful. Typically, by this time of year, I would have had a least a few weeks of great walking weather with my dogs, but this year has been really cold and wet. I also have put on five slobby pounds on an already overweight frame. I hope the weather will improve, I find a free treadmill on Freecycle or both. Until then, mazel tov!

Bee said...

I have a friend who NEVER exercised and when she started walking every day it really helped her lose weight. I walk at least 4 miles nearly every day . . . and this barely helps me maintain my weight!

Good luck with this . . .
but I am reminded that two summers ago you mentioned that you needed to PUT ON weight.