Belly Fat

I've been reading some articles lately on the dangers of holding a lot of fat in your midsection.
Did you know that if a person has a lot of belly fat, that they are more suseptable to heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes? And that people who hold more of their fat in their hips, thighs and legs are not? The reason I'm interested in this is because I am that "apple shape," not the "pear shape." I hold a lot of fat in my abdominal area and it worries me that I may be more at risk for a heart attack sooner than later! That's scary...I have a 2 year old daughter who needs her mama around. So, if something happens to me, and she grows up without a mother, it will be my own fault. That is a VERY sobering thought because she deserves to have her mother, who loves her more than anyone else in the world. So, that's been on my mind the past few days and I've been thinking and praying about a way to zap that belly fat.

I've also read a lot of articles that say that a diet higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates is what eliminates belly fat. I guess you could call it a "diabetic diet." Doctors ask diabetics to eat this way. My own doctor asked me to eat this way. I'm not diabetic (yet), but he told me that it was a very healthy way to eat, and that he prefer I eat high protein, low carb as opposed to go on medication. He told me to get the book, "Protein Power" and read up on the science behind eating low carb, high protein. So, I did. I'm not going to go into all of that here, because I just don't feel like writing all that out! LOL But the gist is, your body's energy comes from 1 of 2 places, from carbohydrates or from your fat stores. If you are eliminating a great deal of carbohydrates from your diet, and eating mostly protein, your body is forced to pull upon those fat stores (your belly fat) and burn that for energy. That is called, "ketosis." It has nothing to do with calories, and all about how many grams a day you are consuming in carbs, vs. proteins. I've tried this diet many times before and have really lost weight with it...usually a pound a day! But I've always looked at it as a diet, and not a lifestyle. Then of course, add back the sugar and the bread and the junk and gain it all back. The trick is to keep adding back carbs gradually until you stop seeing weight loss, but are not gaining weight, and this is your measuring stick. This usually varies from around 40-60 grams of carbohydrates a day.

So, I am now more interested in making this pretty much the way I eat. It's healthful in that you are consuming more fresh, non starchy vegetables, less sugars, whole wheat pastas and breads, lean meats (I don't get into the whole, "you can eat all the bacon you want and not get fat!" stuff), beans and nuts and and fresh, low sugar fruits such as berries and melons. Sounds pretty healthy to me!

I have been reading the book, "Atkins for Life" and it gives great guidelines and instructions on how to make this a lifestyle and not just a quick diet. Of course you start off on a really strict, 20 grams of carbs a day, but you are supposed to gradually increase that intake as you keep losing. When you've lost all the weight you want, then you go into maintenance mode where you just eat the amount of carbs your body requires before you start gaining weight. And if you do gain weight, you just back off again. Seems pretty easy to me!

"Atkins for Life" also encourages cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. I need both of these for heart health, and to help me look more toned. There's nothing I dread more than losing weight and having a lot of flab hanging around! GROSS! So weight training is essential I think!

Ok, so this is day one for me. I'm doing great so far. Not feeling hungry or sluggish or like my brain is in a fog (like I've felt in the past). I'm feeling pretty good!

I'll keep you posted on my efforts!!!!


(p.s. I don't feel like rereading this for errors (I've been battling some sort of horrible flu or cold for about a week), so if there are grammatical mistakes, please forgive me and my poor typing and spelling skills! LOL)

Counting Down!

As I write this there are....

81 Days
1951 Hours, &
117089 Minutes

left in the year 2010!

If that doesn't make a person want to get off their "bootay" and take care of some unfinished business, I don't know what will? Time flies doesn't it?

My brain scrambles to think of all the loose ends I need to tie up, goals I need accomplish and promises (to myself) I need to strive to keep. Most of which being the goals that are listed to the right of this post! I can say that I have a strong handle on several of them and that I feel really good about that! But some of them are still as lost a cause as they ever were! And after all these months, I can't deny that that makes me a little sad and disappointed in myself.

Here's a personal assessment and a breakdown of how I'm progressing with my goals on a 1-10 scale....

~Get (and keep) my house in order- 3
I'm still not doing great at this. This has to be the one I'm most disappointed in myself for not improving upon. I see taking care of my home as my one and only responsibility and I'm failing miserably. If I were my boss, I'd fire me!

~Lose weight-5
Some change here. I'm more conscious of what I'm doing, but not necessarily making a lot of effort to change old habits. So a 5 for this one...only giving half of an effort.

~Get in shape-2
Not following through on any exercise goals. I just seriously HATE it with all my being and find it EXTREMELY hard to get up and do it. I signed up for a 5K and could have been training now for like 4 weeks. But have I even stepped outside to at least start? NOPE! But because I try to keep my word (at least to other people) I will do the 5K even if I have to walk the whole way!

~Require more of myself (personal hygiene and appearance)-8
I have REALLY improved on this a great deal. A lot of it has to do with actually having someplace to go during the week and needing to not look like "death warmed over." But when I wrote out these goals like 10 months ago, I was only out of the house one day a week for my bible study group. But now, I'm out of the house 3 times a week for my Bible study, my networking group, and as a leader in my MOPS group. Because I'm more involved in business now, I try to keep my nails looking nice (people notice that kind of stuff!), and try to look nice when I go out because I never know who I'll run into...and I don't want them seeing me as a sad sahmbie, but as an active professional. So YAY! I've really improved on this one ya'll!

~Develop a better spiritual life-6
I'm doing ok here. I am reading a lot of books (though not consistently) and still find myself praying throughout the day. But the desire I've always had (since like, high school) to set aside time JUST for Jesus...I haven't gotten there yet. But I really want to, more than anything! I know that this is the piece of the puzzle that will make all the others fit.

~Pursue my own desires and dreams more fervently-8
Starting my business on January 25th of this year has been a serious life saver for me. Not only does it really focus on a lot of personal development and being the best you you can be, but it's all about giving to others as well. Those two things have seriously improved my view of myself. Because when you give, you get back. I get so much joy from sending cards to people and exposing them to SendOutCards. And like the Bible says, "...it is better to give than to receive!"
I have also learned a lot of business and networking skills, have made new friends, am starting to view myself as more of a professional, and am proud of the fact that I am not giving up on this. I'm building something for my family and our future quitting is not an option! And I don't want to quit...I'm having too much fun! I guess this has just given me the little shove I needed to just get out there...out of sahmbiedom!

So there you go...

81 Days
1951 Hours, &
117089 Minutes

...to get this done. Being a classic "wait til the last minute" kind of person. I can see myself trying to pull this out at the 11th hour. But real, deep rooted change doesn't work that way, and I know it. Change happens when you do something one day, and then the next day, and then the next day and so on until it just becomes part of your life. 81 days is plenty of time to develop some new habits...so I best get on it!
I'll keep ya posted.....