Back on Track Tips and Tricks Pls Chime In oh wise ones!!!

Thanks Kathy! By this point for most of us at least...it is becoming more and more important to use very controlled portions. So, what a phenomenal idea! I do this for my two little kids when we hit the park or something or go on a long trip. So, I should take so much care with myself too! Anyway, what a neat tip!

I'm learning about the food stuff from everyone here, but I've been great about exercise. I exercise just about every day, and for me what works is the 20 minute rule. I only have to do 20 minutes of workout -- that's what I tell myself. So even though I've worked a 12 hour night shift (and I'm a nurse so it's a busy 12 hours) and am tired, it's easy enough for me to tell myself, "Okay, chica, only 20 minutes, then you can go home, shower and get into bed." Then, once I'm there, the 20 often turns into 30 or 40, but I know it doesn't have to, that even that 20 minutes is better than nothing. The other thing I do is change into my workout gear first thing. So when I leave work? I change out of scrubs and into my workout clothes and tennies. If I'm going to work out on my way to work? I have the clothes right at the side of my bed, put 'em on and that way I know that in order to take them off and shower I have to have had a workout. It's silly, but those psychological mind games work for me. As for the food? Feh, I'm not doing so well. But one thing I do make sure and do is get my supplements in, drink plenty of water, and push protein above all else. I probably eat more carbs than I "should" but my focus right now is getting the right things INTO my diet rather than getting the wrong things OUT.

I really needed to read this! I just emailed a friend about joining her at the gym. It has been a missing link between me and my goal for a long time. Thanks Vickie! Molly

Hiya Mol~ Great idea!  And there are some great responses so far.  I only have ONE crazy, wacky tip.  And it's really geared more toward keeping regular.  I am sure ya'll are rolling your eyes.  But as a WLS patient I have found that keeping regular is HARD!  (No pun intended)  Anyway, I use Activia Light.  I eat one per day in the morning.  It's like a MIRACLE drug!  I now have a very happy digestive tract.  And that makes for one happy girl.   That's all I got~

Pffttt! That's all you got? Whatever! You could write a book of tips I bet! I am glad you shared this. I don't really know about Activa Light except for the commercials. I drink laxative herbal teas every other night so maybe I should try your more balanced approach to the problem. Molly

What a great thread! Three things I cannot live without: My "Kid size" divided Tupperware dishes with their seals, my big, blue Tupperwre water glass with "spill proof" top, and my Tupperware shaker. I mix my shakes in the blender, but then put them in the shaker and drink on the way to work-that way I can "shake" and they can't "settle" to the bottom. Sorry to sound like a Tupperware commercail-and--NO--I'm not a dealer...lol..These are just things I find very beneficial for ME, and I like to "give" as well as "recieve" such great ideas

I'm trying to get back on track - modified time out - but I have discovered that if I have my healthy items "handy', I will choose them over bad foods....... so here we go....... I DO use the sliced apples - with Laughing Cow Cheese and a few crackers (although I am dropping the crackers lately!) Quaker Rice Cake with teaspoon of peanut butter and bananas on top Small containers - I keep them at my desk for my tuna. I also spend a little extra and get prepackaged items, namely my tuna (5oz. =2 servings) and I discovered PayDay Protein bars......they are a little high in calories but hey, if I am gonna cheat, I might as well cheat and get my protein in! I keep a GNC mixer at work, so I can measure my liquid intake...and have a protein drink at work... My file cabinet looks like a kitchen cabinet!! BUT IT KEEPS ME OUT OF THE SNACK MACHINE..........

Here's my tips and tricks:

1. I record everything that goes in my mouth in software on my PDA from calorieking.com. (Similar to what's available at fitday.com.) I also use this software to track my daily weight and my exercise. This helps me see how my daily calorie intake and diet composition is affecting my weight loss (or weight gain, which does happen sometimes).

2. I sit down every morning and plan what I'm going to eat that day.

3. I eat 5-6 mini-meals during the day, followed by a decent dinner (protein, veggies, salad, occasional carbs) and bedtime treat (100 calories of something involving chocolate and often frozen - SF fudgesicles, 100 calorie portion-controlled SF products, etc.)

4. I keep a stash of good snacks at my office. Stuff like cottage cheese, light yogurt, string cheese, apples, bananas, Kashi crackers, beef jerky, bran buds cereal, etc. If I have good things to choose from, I won't go to the vending machine or the cafeteria looking for crap.

5. When I travel, I take a stash of good snacks with me. Again, keeps me from eating too much crap when I'm on the road.

5. On Friday afternoon or Monday morning, I put my weekly exercise plan in my electronic calendar, complete with reminders that pop up and tell me when it's time to go. The electronic reminders are helpful, and I find that when I schedule exercise, I'm more likely to stick to my plan.

6. I lift weights 2x per week and I do 60 minutes of cardio 4-5x per week. If I can't fit that into my schedule, I squeeze in whatever I can - short walks, bike rides, anything to get moving.

7. If I really want a treat, whether that's some potatoes, pasta, rice, cake, cookie, etc., I have it. But I try to limit how often I "treat" myself; when the treats become too frequent, I back off for a while and get myself regrounded.

That's it for me. I've enjoyed reading other folks' tips and tricks - I can always learn something new!

Kellie