Your Body Isn't Going to Make Sense #WW #DoItAnyway

The longer I do Weight Watchers the more I notice when people say depressing and wrong and damaging things about their bodies. Why do we punish ourselves like that?

Recently someone said to me that they like to do Weight Watchers also but they like to go hungry (meaning maybe only use their daily points and nothing extra) so they lose the weight fast and get out. I personally have tried that and it's not sustainable. It doesn't build good habits for a lifetime. What's your rush? To look good in a dress for a wedding for one night? To look good in a swimsuit for one summer? Then after the event or when fall hits you go back to your regular eating habits.

Nope, I'm in this for the long haul. I'm not going to lie to you. Sometimes it sucks. Sometimes I want to give up like I always have. Sometimes I don't want to go for a walk outside in July. Sometimes I want to eat an entire cake and don't really want a salad. Instead, I keep on making better choices and they are becoming ingrained in my brain and lifestyle.

Sometimes when I go to weigh in (weekly) I have worked hard all week and the scale shows a 2-pound gain.

Yes, I get a little depressed. It doesn't make sense. Am I gaining muscle even though I'm in my 40s and that's hard to do? Or is it that when you work out a lot your muscle holds water (as a WW leader told me once when I was working out and kept gaining even though I stuck with my points)? Who knows?

It doesn't matter. They are numbers on a scale and as long as they slowly decrease I know my back won't hurt and my knees can take me further on a walk and in my life. I know when I eat well I am a nicer person to be around and by focusing on my health I focus a little bit less on the drama of other people around me.

Sometimes I weigh in after having a peanut M&M binge of 16 points at a movie and a drive-in binge of Twizzlers (1 point each) and too much food that tasted good. And I lose weight. It doesn't make sense.

I used to look and feel bloated after eating poorly or before my period and it would prompt me to give up on any healthy eating or exercise I had been doing. What was the point?

The point is that you do it anyway. The bloat won't last. The period won't last. Your body might be holding onto whatever it's holding onto for whatever reason and it's not your job to guess at that. It's your job to be consistent, which is harder for some of us than for others!!!!

Your body won't always make sense but you have to keep going anyway. Keep at it. You are worth it.

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

Runs/Walks in Kansas City: Run for Purple Peace September 12, 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: Run for Purple Peace

When: Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 8 a.m.

Where: Unity Village, Lee's Summit, MO

Purple Peace Foundation was founded in March 2012, in memory of Amanda Brady. It is the mission of  our Foundation to raise awareness about epilepsy and provide support to those living with epilepsy. It is our goal to raise funds in order to provide tools which may improve the quality of life for someone living with epilepsy, to support epilepsy research, and to increase awareness and education about epilepsy.

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!

Food Lessons Learned at #IHOP

I took my five kids plus Jake to International House of Pancakes for their 57th anniversary and 57-cent short stack of pancakes recently (and then our friends the Joneses also came with their dad). Being on Weight Watchers myself, you would think a place like this would be like a landmine field for me. But it was fine. Here's why and some lessons I learned about food I want to pass on to you:

1. Plan. I had planned for this visit for a few days so I had time to prepare in my mind what I was going to eat. If I had just been dropped into an IHOP by an airplane and had been starving and unprepared, I would have definitely ordered one of everything on the menu. But that wasn't the case, thankfully.
2. Treat. I didn't deprive myself. I was there for the short stack, after all, so I decided to figure out the Points value of a pancake (4) plus syrup and have one. I took the other two home to Mr. Kerrie.
3. Know. I got a side of scrambled eggs for some protein and to offset the sugar. I find that when I eat pure carbs/sugary items I can feel my mood change and I get grumpy. I also got some bacon for the kids so they could have some protein.
4. Stop. When I was done, I stopped eating. I couldn't eat all the eggs so I passed the rest on to one of my kids who wanted them (usually my 14-year-old growing-like-a-weed son!).

Eating out can be a real challenge but if you plan ahead you can handle it!

Business Cards and Other Great Supplies for My Direct Sales Businesses and for My Life as a Busy Mom

Okay, so it's pretty common knowledge around here that I am a Jamberry consultant and also a Younique independent presenter. I am also an author and a proofreader for hire. And a mom of five. And a wife. And a blogger. That's a lot to fit onto one teeny, weeny, tiny business card. I've been doing it this way but have seen people get out a magnifying glass to read all my tiny text on my card.

Just kidding, but you know what I'm getting at.

I've been seeing this Moo business card all over Facebook and wondered about it so I went to check it out and turns out I can get a biz card of a LARGER size in a cool square ... to fit all my fun on there. Then I can put a cool image or graphic on the back and BAM! I am good to go as far as selling myself and my products. And my big card won't be forgotten, either ...

Oh, and if you want something even more different than their square card, they also have mini options and luxe versions. Lots of options besides the same old, same old. Check it out, no matter what your lifestyle is like!

Runs/Walks in Kansas City: Leawood Labor Day Run September 7, 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: Leawood Labor Day Run

When: Monday, September 7, 2015 at 7:30 a.m.

Where: Leawood City Park, Leawood, KS

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! (Happy birthday to my dad today, by the way!)

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!