No excuse this time for not posting in a while. I have been
avoiding this blog, which can't be a good sign. It's hard to come here and post when it feels like there's nothing good to report. But, I like to be optimistic, and I
know that God uses everything for good, so I'll try to find the sunny side of things.
I haven't gained any weight; still just stuck where I've been. That right there is a good thing. Another good thing, as the title of this post implies, is that I think I've figured out why my weight seems to be frozen where it's at. The reason however, is not a good thing. I was listening to some doctor on the news talking about pedometers. Now, I've heard and read many things about these little gadgets, and I know that it's recommended for an adult to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. But, for some reason, when I heard it this time it really got me to wondering. How much do I move in a day? Someone had given my husband a pedometer a while back, and since he doesn't use it I claimed it for my own. I figured that now was as good a time as any to open the package ;) I am
almost embarrassed to tell you what my number was at the end of the first day. 2,500!!! As you can imagine, I quickly figured out why I haven't been able to lose weight. Before we moved here I led a very active life. Besides my every day duties as wife and mother, I was also involved in several church ministries and I would do shopping at least a couple of times a week. Since we've moved here my
life has become stagnant (physically), and it's really reflected itself in my weight. I don't drive here, so I'm home all day. There are no church ministries for me to be involved in, even if I could get to them. The only shopping I do is for groceries once a week, and the rest is online. I homeschool my children, which involves a lot of sitting, and my hobbies, such as sewing, also require sitting. These things in my life aren't going to change (and I don't want them to), but I have
got to add some more movement to my day. I got myself all motivated to begin this new mission of movement when....... I got sick :( Right now I'm having a hard time getting a full breath, so any heavy exercise is really out of the question. But, I'm determined not to lose the drive to do better, and I'm praying for the Lord to help me in this. We will be taking a trip soon to
Petra (you can read details about that on my
other blog), so that will bring lots of movement for a few days.
I'm curious.... have any of you ever tracked your steps in a day? If you try it, it might just offer some new motivation for you as well!
5 comments:
I have used a pedometer on and off for quite a few years Pam. When I am being diligent I go anywhere from 5,000 to 12,000 steps a day, just depending. It has got to be hard living the life you are leading right now to get in those steps but you have stairs in the house, use 'em! I bought a treadmill that I love. My pedometer actually comes with software and hooks up by USB to the computer. I put in my goals for the day and when I hook up the pedometer to the computer it tracks when I walked as well as how many steps. It is really neat but I am gadget person as you know! Good for you for getting that pedometer out!
Love
Laura
When we traveled for work years ago, I was in some of your same situation. We would be put into small apartments or hotels, so there I stayed and home schooled while my husband worked. I found how easy it was to gain weight, how difficult it was to cook a variety of foods not having my 'whole' kitchen available, and not all the same foods I was used to cooking. I saw how much I loved returning home, literally running up and down the stairs to put things away, collect laundry, any excuse to exercise. What I decided was, that the kids needed exercise also, and started incorporating walks, parks, anything when the weather was good to be outside. Sometimes they played in a playground, and I walked around them for a while to get my 'steps' in. I grabbed the strollers to walk a ways to the grocery for a couple items I could easily carry home. One job was in the winter in North Dakota, so I put the kids in the sled and pulled them to the store, they had fun, and I walked heartily.
Hey Pam hun so good to hear from you and be proud that you are able to maintain your weight which is the hardest thing to learn. I know you want to loose and it will happen, being aware of what you do is a big thing.
Ok now you know I use to wear a pedometer I would wear it all the time even on sundays clipped to my pantyhose.
I was very shocked when I first started to wear it and then I started to challenge myself every day to increase the number. I would wear it from the second my feet hit the floor in the morning until I went to bed at night. I was getting really good with my numbers averaging from 18,000 to 30,000 each day. I would try to find ways to get them in. Like doing laundry folding one piece then walking down the hall to put it away. It did take me a little longer to do the luadry but I would learn to walk alot faster to put it away and even folding it along the way. You might be able to do that with walking up the stairs. I basically tried to find ways to walk out of my way to get what or go where I needed.
Also if you do have to sit alot try sitting on a swiss ball that way your abs and other muscles get a workout in too.
Pam I know you will get creative with getting some movement in and even getting the kidies to help. Have relay races up the stairs once a day for PE with them and walk down them backwards. On each level you could have one or a few stations to do like 10 jumping jacks, pushups or situps and then the next level has a few other stations of active things to do. Ask them to help think up what you could do at each station and make little signs for them. You could do this once a day or once a week and keep the signs and change the order the next time. Then even give little awars or ribbons for doing things the fastes or sillyest and so on even teach them bible princables along the way.
Hope this helps hun and miss you all so much.
Dear Pam, I was so surprised when I came to this blog and read your post. I have no doubt that God sent me here. I, went back to mine to day after a couple of months of eating all the worng things not that I have eaten too much it was just wrong things. But God gave me the courage that I needed to face Him, myself and all of you. So he sent me here to realize that other can feel in someway as I do. I am glad that I went back. I would never want to quit. But facing the weight gain ( I did gain) was so hard. So thank you for the post. I am going to add some walking in place at least to my routine. I am praying for you and I know that I sure need prayer in this area. That has not nor may never change. connie from Texas
Wow, you guys all had some excellent comments!! I'm going to have to make notes and start incorporating these ideas!
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