tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post5256501918909360881..comments2024-03-27T02:54:47.055-04:00Comments on Sparrow Tree Journal: Willpower (and the lack thereof)Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-64707202845376724332017-01-27T00:34:15.886-05:002017-01-27T00:34:15.886-05:00Well, when asked for advice, I always warn friends...Well, when asked for advice, I always warn friends about making too radical a change in their diets, as they usually do not manage to stick to it very long. It seems to work much better if they make smaller, sustainable adjustments, not cutting out something completely (except for maybe alcohol, which has in itself no fat at all but has enormous "fattening" power once it is in your body).<br />Instead of one doughnut, cut one in half and leave the other half on the plate for someone else who would like a treat but feels one is too much.<br />Instead of sugary drinks, use the diet variety most soft drinks come in. Instead of two slices of bread, have one. At the same time, eat as much salad and fruit and vegetables as you like - as long as they are fresh and not drenched in butter (vegetables) or sweet or oily dressings (fruit and aslads). From the looks of your lunch, you are on the right path there :-)<br /><br />And I absolutely agree with some of what the others here have said, you are such a beautiful woman, a few extra pounds do not make you less attractive. But of course it is also true that it is all about how you feel about yourself, and how healthy you are.Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-60952324245448339202017-01-26T20:51:47.086-05:002017-01-26T20:51:47.086-05:00I so feel your pain. That salad looks good and it...I so feel your pain. That salad looks good and it also looks healthy but oh ...... the temptations out there. Good luck. I do hope you succeed in your endeavour to become more healthy. Charliedownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10212403434770733660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-925890098751354252017-01-26T10:28:09.782-05:002017-01-26T10:28:09.782-05:00My star stickers are my method of countering that ...My star stickers are my method of countering that old "what's the point?" voice in my head....even if I mess up, I can look back at all the days I did well and remember that I'm seeking progress, not perfection!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-18172032065752218052017-01-26T10:27:05.067-05:002017-01-26T10:27:05.067-05:00That's a great idea! Thank you! I shall check ...That's a great idea! Thank you! I shall check on that today.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-1081131234389511112017-01-26T10:26:34.075-05:002017-01-26T10:26:34.075-05:00Yes! The chocolate chip cookies baking made my mou...Yes! The chocolate chip cookies baking made my mouth water. I wanted to go grab one while it was still warm and wash it down with a cold glass of milk. Resisting was hard! <br /><br />But you're right...I feel so much better when I eat right.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-20157249424712689272017-01-26T10:25:23.442-05:002017-01-26T10:25:23.442-05:00I agree that winter is a time for comfort food! Th...I agree that winter is a time for comfort food! The problem is, we've hardly had a winter here. With the exception of a handful of nights, it's been like perpetual spring with abnormally high temperatures.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-16555605932327402342017-01-26T10:24:07.974-05:002017-01-26T10:24:07.974-05:00Thanks, Rachel. I think there are a few reasons wh...Thanks, Rachel. I think there are a few reasons why I haven't lost any weight yet. Antibiotics last week....my fingers got so swollen with excess fluid I couldn't wear my wedding ring for a few days. And then this week, it's time for my period to start. I'm hoping once that's over with I'll see some results on the scale! :)Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-20989821721271729992017-01-26T10:19:42.523-05:002017-01-26T10:19:42.523-05:00I really want to start cycling, but a decent bike ...I really want to start cycling, but a decent bike will be quite expensive, and I don't have the extra cash for it right now. Maybe for my birthday in March, though! <br /><br />Once the weather warms back up, I'd also like to take advantage of my friend's pool and do some swimming. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-36670959910905183382017-01-26T10:04:44.292-05:002017-01-26T10:04:44.292-05:00You are so sweet, Yael. Thank you for the kind wor...You are so sweet, Yael. Thank you for the kind words!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-13451965327134187192017-01-26T10:04:11.495-05:002017-01-26T10:04:11.495-05:00I will post a photo of my star studded calendar fo...I will post a photo of my star studded calendar for you, Maria! :) Thank you!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-13798302821767772572017-01-26T10:03:11.789-05:002017-01-26T10:03:11.789-05:00Thank you Cro, but I can assure you that I do, ind...Thank you Cro, but I can assure you that I do, indeed, need to lose weight. However, I forgot to mention that I was taking antibiotics for a week after oral surgery and I also had to eat some stuff during that week that wasn't very diet friendly (due to the stitches in my mouth). I think both those things have slowed down my initial progress.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-44724802725041808722017-01-26T10:00:42.040-05:002017-01-26T10:00:42.040-05:00That's funny that you should mention steak...I...That's funny that you should mention steak...I had that same meal with a NY strip the night before! This was just my lunch the next day!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-1210242344370238702017-01-26T08:08:36.528-05:002017-01-26T08:08:36.528-05:00I have also had good luck with the My Fitness Pal ...I have also had good luck with the My Fitness Pal site. It kind of makes a game out of it. Don't give in to that "What's the point" voice inside your head. The point is that you want to feel good about yourself, to feel like you can reach a goal you have set. After a couple of weeks you won't crave sugar anymore. Good luck! Colettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929646037752189809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-51128929187499943102017-01-26T07:47:09.947-05:002017-01-26T07:47:09.947-05:00Have you tried the fitness site My Fitness Pal? I ...Have you tried the fitness site My Fitness Pal? I know it may seem like a lot of "work" but I think you can tailor it/use it anyway you want. I used it religiously in the beginning just to see where I was falling short (I'm vegetarian and have a thyroid disorder). In that sense, it really helped me; now that I have an idea of what I'm eating (which honestly doesn't change that much), I really use it to just track my weight but at least I know, for example, that I was actually eating way, way more carbohydrates than I ever thought...Elle Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563633298659967269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-37520078059219309472017-01-26T07:20:51.275-05:002017-01-26T07:20:51.275-05:00Those star stickers are a great idea. It's fru...Those star stickers are a great idea. It's frustrating. Some healthy meals are unbelievably delicious. And I feel so much better when I eat healthy. But, oh, cookies!!!Moving with Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954028272162285597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-14945418630641038392017-01-26T05:20:00.758-05:002017-01-26T05:20:00.758-05:00Winter always seems to me to be the wrong time of ...Winter always seems to me to be the wrong time of the year to start a diet, and try to keep to it. This is the time of year when our bodies crave comfort food and we should eat what we enjoy in moderation. I'd wait until Spring and warmer days, if I were you !Coppa's girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459503600694841117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-75982015843266516872017-01-26T03:56:54.413-05:002017-01-26T03:56:54.413-05:00We have tried to lose weight by giving up bread an...We have tried to lose weight by giving up bread and potatoes for a year on doctors instructions for P. P lost 3 lbs in the year and I have not noticed any difference in my own weight. We have given it up and gone back to bread and potatoes, in moderation. And I agree with what Andrew and Yael said.Rachel Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16053924416805878169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-11776115463307353322017-01-26T02:46:14.506-05:002017-01-26T02:46:14.506-05:00Star stickers are brilliant! So is cycling. I ha...Star stickers are brilliant! So is cycling. I have never been able to lose weight by healthy eating alone but as soon as I get out and about on my bike the pounds fall off. It is the only exercise I can do that doesn't hurt my hips, less weight is good for the joints. And it's fun!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10787732343048847565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-68176115630208419392017-01-26T02:14:04.023-05:002017-01-26T02:14:04.023-05:00I am with Cro. may be you are wonderful and beauti...I am with Cro. may be you are wonderful and beautiful as you are Jennifer, and your body knows it.Yaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15181961536405061470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-41963752730009516012017-01-26T02:00:23.590-05:002017-01-26T02:00:23.590-05:00I love the star stickers idea! I used to make a we...I love the star stickers idea! I used to make a weight-chart (used to because now I should go on fattening diet!) with days of the month on the top and kilograms on the left side of the chart - weigh myself every day then dot it on the chart and join the dots. The first months the line zig-sagged, then it slowly went down. <br />Greetings Maria xMariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01525028325800849416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-59499400966163205092017-01-25T23:54:32.264-05:002017-01-25T23:54:32.264-05:00Usually weight falls off very quickly when you STA...Usually weight falls off very quickly when you START a diet, it's after the first few weeks that it becomes more difficult. Maybe your body it telling you that it feels just fine as it is!Cro Magnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840670227576695352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-70722567490893965722017-01-25T23:43:01.553-05:002017-01-25T23:43:01.553-05:00Your lunch does look extremely delicious, I like t...Your lunch does look extremely delicious, I like the look of that sweet potato. I hope that's butter on it! But I would be hankering for a nice piece of steak to go with that salad. Believe me, I empathise. I seem to have spent most of my adult life on a diet. It never gets any easier!<br />Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13974206679853189199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-6772414961777273282017-01-25T19:22:13.215-05:002017-01-25T19:22:13.215-05:00I don't have room in my house for an exercise ...I don't have room in my house for an exercise bike, but I've considered buying the real thing once I have several hundred dollars to spare for a good one. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-75626912659988663942017-01-25T18:55:22.843-05:002017-01-25T18:55:22.843-05:00It's hard to break entrenched habits. You have...It's hard to break entrenched habits. You have to believe 100% in your goal and if that belief is strong and unwavering you will find a way to continue. How about buying an exercise bike and clocking up the miles as you listen to music? (sorry - perhaps you already have one - I don't know).<br /><br />https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stamina-Airgometer-Upright-Exercise-Bike/17463912Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3830720322970025712.post-49811738667704961732017-01-25T18:10:13.074-05:002017-01-25T18:10:13.074-05:00I hate to waste a treat on cheap doughnuts and stu...I hate to waste a treat on cheap doughnuts and stuff like that. I did have a beer tonight, and I had two drinks over the weekend at a friend's house. So I'm having a treat every now and then, but trying really hard to control how often and the quality of the treat. :)Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512800812290518552noreply@blogger.com