Stop Saying You Can't Eat That

I'm so tired of listening to people have conversations about food.

"I can't have that."

"If I have that I won't be able to eat for a week."

"I'm starting my diet tomorrow."

"I'll have to work out every day after I eat that piece of cake."

Of course I have been guilty of this over the years. I don't know how many times I have been through Weight Watchers in the last 10 years only to finally recently UNDERSTAND it.

These women who think deprivation and laxatives and exercising to the point of injury and bingeing and purging are the way to go roll their eyes when I say Weight Watchers. It's just another diet to them.

They are so clueless ... and so was I.

photo courtesy of pixabay.com

Here are some things I've learned:

• Eating cabbage soup all day and tossing in cranberry juice is a diet. Gave me a headache.

• Breastfeeding only works for losing weight if you don't sit on the couch also eating entire bags of Hershey kisses.

• The scale is just a number, like age. I am 44 on the outside but much younger on the inside. I choose to act NOT my age and want to keep active and fun for my husband, kids, friends and family. The scale's number does not define whether I am a worthy person or not. Sometimes I feel like I walked a lot in a week and ate well and my number goes up. I get disappointed for a minute, sure, but then I keep going. After all, quitting only means definite failure.

• You can have anything you like to eat on the Weight Watchers plan. You have so much freedom. You have a set number of "points" you should eat in a day. EAT ALL OF THEM or you will fail the plan. You also have 49 extra points for the entire week. Save them all up for that dessert you know you want badly on a holiday or for your birthday meal. Use them or don't. Then you also have activity points you can use on food or not. I call that a lot of cool choices, a lot of freedom, a lot of independence.

So, people, my message to you today is stop saying you are not able to eat something. Make smart choices. Do you enjoy having your knees hurt when you walk down the stairs or your back hurt all the time? I didn't enjoy those things and knew I wanted to be more active for my kids. I also know that when I eat better and care for myself my moods are more stable and my brain function is more focused. With the kind of chaotic life I choose to live, I have to be in top form.

I am telling you Weight Watchers is not a diet. It is a lifestyle. It is not something you do for a few months and get to goal weight and abandon. If you have food issues, you need to stay on this plan for life .... don't worry, once you hit Lifetime goal and hit your goal weight you can start weighing in and going to meetings for FREE! 

That's where I am hoping to find myself in my later years of life ... hitting the Weight Watchers meetings with my old fogey friends and then going out for a walk or a smoothie after the meeting before going home to fool around with my husband and then pick up the grandkids for a fun day out at the pool or the zoo. So many more life possibilities when you are fit and taking care of yourself!

You might also like to read: 

Losing weight when traveling (just had to deal with that this past weekend during Fourth of July) and your weight loss environment/where to hide your food.

Runs/Walks in Kansas City: Longview Half Marathon November 14, 2015

Before I was the homeschooling writer mom of 5, I used to love to walk all the time as a stress reliever and to stay in shape. Walking is something you can do as a parent anytime, but now that my youngest is 5 and my oldest is 14, it's a lot easier for me to fit in time for my own fitness. Over the winter I walked some at the gym on the treadmill and track. Now I can walk the neighborhood or the field at the school by my house. I'm not a jogger or a runner yet . ... but might be someday! For now I walk in my OOFOS sandals because they are the most comfy thing I have ever worn and work perfectly for summertime.

What: The Longview Half Marathon

When: Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 8 a.m.

Where: Longview Lake, Grandview, Missouri

Fun facts: my uncle used to coach track at a high school in Lee's Summit for many years and my dad has taken up jogging ... it's in my blood!

Check the link (above after WHAT) for more info!

P.S. I get my info from the fabulous KC Running Company website.

On a personal note, here's my walking story for National Walking Day a couple of years ago with an update.

When you're all done, you'll be hungry! Grab a copy of my Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook and whip up a batch of happiness for dinner!

Runs/Walks in Kansas City: The Rivalry Run 5K August 15, 2015

Before I was the homeschooling writer mom of 5, I used to love to walk all the time as a stress reliever and to stay in shape. Walking is something you can do as a parent anytime, but now that my youngest is 5 and my oldest is 14, it's a lot easier for me to fit in time for my own fitness. Over the winter I walked some at the gym on the treadmill and track. Now I can walk the neighborhood or the field at the school by my house. I'm not a jogger or a runner yet ... special equipment needed for my upper lady parts ... but might be someday! For now I walk in my OOFOS sandals because they are the most comfy thing I have ever worn and work perfectly for summertime.

Because I love walking so much, I'll be posting upcoming walk/runs in Kansas City as I find them. This does not mean I'll be participating in all of them, so don't show up expecting me to sign autographs or anything. I MIGHT or MIGHT NOT be there, depending on household funds at the time, Mr. Kerrie's travel situation, my sanity level, etc. Enjoy the race info, and go out and find some in your town!

What: The Rivalry Run 5K (who do YOU run for?) ... I love this one because it raises money to fight domestic violence and help out ... an issue that is close to my heart

When: Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 8 a.m.

Where: Downtown

Fun facts: my uncle used to coach track at a high school in Lee's Summit for many years and my dad has taken up jogging ... it's in my blood!

Check the link (above after WHAT) for more info!

P.S. I get my info from the fabulous KC Running Company website.

On a personal note, here's my walking story for National Walking Day a couple of years ago with an update.

When you're all done, you'll be hungry! Grab a copy of my Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook and whip up a batch of happiness for dinner!

Runs/Walks in Kansas City: Rock the Crossroads 5K July 25, 2015

Before I was the homeschooling writer mom of 5, I used to love to walk all the time as a stress reliever and to stay in shape. Walking is something you can do as a parent anytime, but now that my youngest is 5 and my oldest is 14, it's a lot easier for me to fit in time for my own fitness. Over the winter I walked some at the gym on the treadmill and track. Now I can walk the neighborhood or the field at the school by my house. I'm not a jogger or a runner yet ... special equipment needed for my upper lady parts ... but might be someday! For now I walk in my OOFOS sandals because they are the most comfy thing I have ever worn and work perfectly for summertime.

Because I love walking so much, I'll be posting upcoming walk/runs in Kansas City as I find them. This does not mean I'll be participating in all of them, so don't show up expecting me to sign autographs or anything. I MIGHT or MIGHT NOT be there, depending on household funds at the time, Mr. Kerrie's travel situation, my sanity level, etc. Enjoy the race info, and go out and find some in your town!

What: Rock the Crossroads 5K

When: Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. (an evening walk/run, people, which is way more up my alley!)

Where: Race starts in front of Grinders at 417 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO with a concert immediately following

Fun facts: my uncle Kris used to coach track at a high school in Lee's Summit for many years.

Photo from Rock the Crossroads

Check the link (above after WHAT) for more info!

P.S. I get my info from the fabulous KC Running Company website.

On a personal note, here's my walking story for National Walking Day a couple of years ago with an update.

When you're all done, you'll be hungry! Grab a copy of my Tater Tot Casserole Cookbook and whip up a batch of happiness for dinner!

Sunday Family Fun at My House, June Edition When Daddy is in Town

Sunday mornings.

My kids gripe because it's going to be a boring day because we go to church and we pick up the house and we don't go anywhere to spend money, don't go to the pool, aren't allowed to get online or play games and yet by the end of the day ...

we have all had the BEST DAY EVER.

Callie and I walked home together from church and chatted. And yesterday I got a nap, people. A nap. Shocking. And while I did that Mr. Kerrie baked and cooked with various kids while others did iron-on (Perler) beads and played in the water with the neighbors.

Sam got funky and tried on Joel's old Scout shirt and ended up wearing it all day and sleeping in it. Here he is also sporting his new haircut given by Mommy!

I also scrapbooked while the kids did their iron-on beads and we chatted and joked and had fun.

And my amazing gourmet cook husband made Joel's belated birthday dinner and banana cream pie! This included a grilled appetizer of bacon-wrapped shrimp stuff with cream cheese and jalapenos!

We watched Men in Black II while having some pie!

And Mr. Kerrie is off work all week so pretty much all week is going to be like Sunday only WITH some Minecraft and SkyWars and WITH the swimming pool. Toss in a Scout meeting, a birthday party (click here to fast forward to this boy turning 16), a little homeschooling, feeding a friend's cat and a potential spend-the-night for one or more of the kids, and you have a fun week!

Here's hoping your week is just awesome!