Posts by paulajmcd

Here a 3 that always get me motivated:

Cake - Going the Distance

Black Eyed Peas - Pump It

Mary J. Blige - Family Affair

Other ones listed above are on my iPod too - Britney, Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, etc.

Hi jredig and everyone else!

You asked about my exercise/diet etc. I have never been on a diet before but have always tried to eat moderately healthy and have exercised regularly for the last decade. I used to run all the time but my knee just started to bother me so now for cardio I do a lot more elliptical, walking. I also weight train. I did get out of my regular routine over the past couple months with xmas, kids, travel, etc. but am anxious to get back to it.

I am counting calories now to try to shave off a few pounds, and be healthy. I have always emphasized working out over food, but now want to try to gain control over both. My portion control needs work, as well as my excessive night snacking.

Good luck to everyone here. This can definitely be a challenge so it's good that we have a place here to support each other. I fell off the wagon last night after almost one week of being really good. Darn hubby keeps a cabinet full of junk food/candy and I couldn't resist. Once I started, I felt like, what the heck, I've already ruined my diet for today lol I always seem to want to eat way above and beyond the amount of calories burned when I exercise.

I am currently using an Excel spreadsheet to log my food/calories. This has definitely taught me portion control, and kept me from snacking at night too - because I don't want to add those 300+ empty calories to my total at the end of the day either! I am really learning a lot by doing this also. Everyone always hears about "empty calories", but until you write it all down, you don't realize how little room there is for those types of foods if you want to get the appropriate intake of the healthy stuff.

And with the portion sizes at restaurants, it's no wonder there are so many overweight people! I wish places would rethink this and go back to smaller portions.

I will probably continue with this until I can estimate a meal just by looking at it. Then I will likely have the routine down where I know what foods I need to fit into my diet.

One last great benefit for me is the healthy eating. I have learned how great simple fish, fruits, and veggies really do taste, now that I'm not stuffing my face with Doritos and cookies! : )