Shake Off the Shame

Well, here I am again. It's been over a year since my last post.

(I sound a little like I'm at a 12-step meeting, don’t I?)

The good news is that since I last wrote, I decided to rejoin Weight Watchers (online, this time) and have lost some weight. It turned out to be the right decision, and I had an excellent experience. Generally, I've been getting in more steps and eating better. My husband and I also celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in April (with a cruise!) and my birthday in a May.

The not-so-good news?

Let’s just say these celebrations have involved some... extended eating.

Okay, fine. What’s done is done, and I had a blast. But I do NOT want to completely undo what took so many months and considerable effort to accomplish.

Plus, I bought new clothes—some of which are not yet fully paid for.

So it’s time to get back on track, and blogging encourages accountability.

How’s it going for you?

I hope it's going great! If so, I welcome the inspiration your answer provides. 😊

If not, I invite you to join me in shaking off any shame you may be feeling about whatever situation you are in, and let’s get moving again—slowly but surely. 🐢

A May Monday Check-In

What’s working?

Feasting on Beauty — such as the beautiful tulips and azaleas in bloom when my husband and I recently visited the Biltmore Estate.

Smoothies — I don’t like many veggies, so it’s a great way for me to get more greens/fiber/nutrients than I otherwise might.

Birthday Festivities — I had the day off on my birthday, and Bill took me out for a wonderful steak dinner that evening!


What’s not?

Walking — I didn’t meet my step goals this week.

Clutter — I’m overdue for some serious spring cleaning, and I suspect there’s a relationship between the excess weight I'm hanging on to and all the other stuff I need to get rid of but haven’t.

Monday Check-In Posts — I've missed two.


In the Works:

I’m going to start adding some blog posts that aren’t just check-ins and will share more of the things I've been pondering, of late.

I'm also starting to watch for advertised deals on the online Weight Watchers program, as I anticipate signing up within the coming month.

Attitude adjustment! This one is very much a work in progress, but I'm trying to reframe some of my plans (such as joining Weight Watchers and walking more) as things I have reason to look forward to, rather than to dread.


YOUR TURN: Any suggestions of blog posts you’d like to see from me? Anyone else interested in signing up for Weight Watchers online? Or maybe you already have and would like to share a bit about your experience?

Monday Check-in Time!

What's working?

Celebration! Today is our 24th wedding anniversary, and we are spending it in one of my favorite places: Charleston, South Carolina! Getaways are terrific for mental health, and historic Charleston is wonderfully walkable, so that's also great for physical health.

Walking — A friend recommended some new insoles developed for plantar fasciitis, which I'm thrilled about! It's so much easier to walk when you are not uncomfortable.

Seafood — Not living near the sea, I think of good seafood as a special treat, but our little trip to the ocean is inspiring me to incorporate more shrimp, scallops, and fish into my day-to-day eating.

Color — Food isn’t the only thing we can savor and/or feast on, and this time of year we are surrounded by more and more color with each passing day. Color makes me feel happy without making me gain weight, so it’s something I've decided to focus on. I painted my nails this past weekend for the first time in ages! Skillful use of color is also a key to more satisfying meals. There’s truth to the saying that, “We eat with our eyes.”

Gratitude Journal — Super easy. Very uplifting. I’m doing mine online. Near the end of your day, you simply jot down 5 things for which you are grateful. This practice can magically effect where you focus your attention. I find myself watching all day for new things to appreciate!


What’s not?

Water — I’m not drinking enough of it. Fortunately, I actually like to drink water, so this should be easy to solve. I just need to be more intentional about it.

Charger for my Fitbit — I forgot to pack mine! I used to have two for my old Fitbit, which was quite handy and helped me avoid this issue. I’d like to get an extra for my newer Charge 2, as well.

Sleep — I’m not getting enough. It’s not a new issue for me, but as I get older it feels even more important. I've read that not sleeping enough can have an adverse affect on weight loss. This is an area I want to make some serious progress on.


In the Works:

I’m gonna start tracking the water I drink. I've used my Fitbit app to do this in the past, so that’s my plan.

I’m already tracking my sleep (via Fitbit). What I need is to get more of it, on a regular basis.

I’m watching for more ways to use color and seafood in my cooking (and am open to your suggestions)!



YOUR TURN: What has helped you with the things I’m working on above? What personal practices help you refresh your wellness journey? Thanks for joining me as we learn to take better care of ourselves and one another.

Monday Check-in

It’s time for the first weekly check-in since my recent wellness reboot!

What’s working?

My Fitbit. I bought a new model with a few more features in January, and it’s quite motivating. I’m meeting my step goal most days.

Gratitude. So important for me. In fact, I’m thinking I may resume a more formal gratitude practice.

Springtime! This time of year is filled with such promise. I find it inspiring..

My cookware. I just got a new Le Creuset braiser that I absolutely love! I’m looking forward to doing some healthy cooking in it.


What’s not?

Well, for starters, I couldn’t decide whether or not to hyphenate “check-in.”

Food. That's rather broad, I realize, but I'm all over the map in my eating—not only with what foods I'm choosing, but the timing of meals, portion control, etc. I need to come up with more of a plan.


In the Works:

A formal gratitude practice—probably in the form of a simple gratitude journal, as that has worked well for me in the past.

A deadline. For a number of reasons (including my upcoming wedding anniversary and birthday), I'm reluctant to start a whole new eating plan right now, but if I am not moving decidedly in the right direction by the end of May, I'm going to watch for a deal on the online Weight Watchers program and sign up.

It’s been years since I've followed Weight Watchers. It was a very positive experience, but I'm sure there have been many changes since I lost weight on the program. If you are on Weight Watchers, I'd love to hear from you! Which plan are you on? How do you like it?



YOUR TURN: What’s working for you, and what isn’t? What one change could you make—however small—that you know would make a positive difference in your health?

Refreshment

It's springtime! Change is in the air. New growth. Lighter, brighter colors and flavors. Nature in all its finery. There is a freshness to the season and a sense of true potential. Seeds are being planted, both literally and metaphorically.

Easter was mere days ago, when the spiritually-minded among us often focus on redemption, renewal, resurrection.

On the more practical/mundane side, spring cleaning is also an important focus this time of year. Out with the old—those things which no longer serve us—and in with the new. It's a time for letting go, a season of refreshment.

I’m looking forward to shedding some extra “stuff” that I've been hanging on to for far too long. That includes extra pounds I've been carrying and clutter that's cramping my style.

As you may have noticed, my blog has a new name, as does my Twitter account (@wellnessrefresh). I invite you to join me, especially on Mondays, for a weekly check-in: what's working, what's not, and what changes are in the works.

I'd love to hear from you, either in the comments or on Twitter, to learn how your health and wellness journey is progressing. What kinds of refreshment are you ready for?

Wellness Reboot

I’m feeling the need for some accountability and thinking of blogging again, starting with a weekly check in post that touches on what is working, what’s not, and changes I'm putting in place with regard to health and wellness in my life. A check in—not a weigh in. Monday seems like the best day for such a post, doesn’t it?

So I invite you to watch for my Monday posts!

In the meantime, I’m pondering the name of this blog. It could use an update, but I'm not sure yet to what. I somewhat reluctantly chose “No Need To Weight” years ago, when it turned out that my first dozen or so ideas were already in use by other bloggers. Another idea had been, “Weight No More.” Since that idea was taken, I tried to retain a similar play on words with No Need To Weight. But it never quite worked. Maybe I just need a fresh start. In any case, I'm considering a name change for the blog (and accompanying Twitter feed) as I reboot. Stay tuned...

Emerging

It's been quite a year. In June of 2012, my beloved mother was diagnosed with cancer. 12 long hard months later, she drew her last breath. My biggest and most important job during that time was being mom's primary caregiver through the chemo, the surgeries, the clinic and ER visits, and ultimately her funeral. Thankfully, there were silver linings along the way but also many challenges, including my father's heart attack last January, even as mom was struggling to overcome large blood clots in her lungs--an unexpected side affect of her bladder removal surgery.

Until 2012, mom was always the healthy one, seeing my dad through one health problem after another: Stroke. Diabetes. Colon cancer. Kidney failure. Until one day, to her great surprise and ours, mom became the patient.

Our last trip together was to Charleston, South Carolina. 

I'm still processing the events of the past 13 months. It's often hard to believe that mom is really gone and not coming back. In some ways, it feels almost like I've been living in a cave, isolated from the real world. When I emerged from the cave, I encountered all the things I've neglected for the past year, and it's a long list. My dad still requires a great deal of help, as well, not all of which he's entirely receptive to.

Overwhelm has perhaps been my greatest ongoing challenge. I think I expected to feel more relief by now, but so far it hasn't worked out that way. I am grateful that my mom is no longer in pain, so there is an element of relief in that, to be sure, but the rest still feels pretty relentless, even though the scenery has changed a bit.

So for now, my work is to simply do what I can, as mindfully as I can, knowing I won't get all caught up in a day or a week or even a month. In this moment, I don't have to know exactly how I will be able to cross the finish line. I only have to know how to take the next step.