I'm trying to make small changes and see how they work. My first change was to use smaller dishes when I eat. I don't normally go back for seconds, so this was worth trying. I bought some little bowls, and now eat dinner from a smaller luncheon plate. Yes, it does look like I'm eating off doll dishes!
The other change was to start drinking "green" smoothies for lunch at work. What's a green smoothie? It's a regular smoothie, except most of the liquid comes from blended spinach....hence the word "green"! Sounds terrible, I know, but if you put in fruit, you can't taste the spinach. If you have 5 servings of leafy green vegetables a day, you prevent diabetes. One smoothie has 6 servings!
This was a challenge. I bought a small blender to take to work, but there's still the challenge of keeping the berries frozen and cleaning everything up afterwords. So, I make it the night before, put it in a larger plastic container with a screw-on lid, and freeze it overnight. It naturally defrosts in time for lunch.
My recipe is 3 cups fresh spinach (washed), 1 cup almond milk, and 1 cup frozen fruit or berries. Be warned, if you don't use dark berries, your smoothie will be bright green! If you use blueberries, it just looks like blended blueberries.
15 pounds and one size later, looks like it's working. Even my friends are starting to notice!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Weight Loss
By Randy McNeely
The past few weeks have been interesting. I've had ups and downs, but I continue to progress - though not as quickly as I'd like. I'm down to 236. That's 30 pounds down since October. I feel pretty good about that. Still I have 61 pounds to go to reach my goal of 175. I know with the Lord's help I can do it. I also have 30 pounds to go for my weight loss fundraiser and 11 weeks to do it - an average of 3 pounds per week. I may not get there, but I'm going to give it my best shot!
The past few weeks have been interesting. I've had ups and downs, but I continue to progress - though not as quickly as I'd like. I'm down to 236. That's 30 pounds down since October. I feel pretty good about that. Still I have 61 pounds to go to reach my goal of 175. I know with the Lord's help I can do it. I also have 30 pounds to go for my weight loss fundraiser and 11 weeks to do it - an average of 3 pounds per week. I may not get there, but I'm going to give it my best shot!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Small and Simple Things
I remember years ago when I was a part-time janitor at BYU while I was going to school. It wasn't the greatest pay, but I worked with great people and I had the opportunity to greet people as they came into the Wilkinson Center early in the morning.
When I did greet people, I always tried to be cheerful. I would say "Good morning," and ask them how they were doing or tell them they looked nice, etc. I wasn't trying to "brown nose" or suck up, but I really meant what I said. After the brief greeting I'd go on my way, not really thinking about how my greeting affected people.
I found out one day, by surprise, that my greeting had affected someone. On of the staff members at the BYU bookstore would always come in early and if I was out cleaning or sweeping, I always greeted her in my usual manner. What I didn't know was that one of those days she was really feeling down and discouraged and my greeting lifted her, cheered her, and changed her whole outlook for the day. I had no idea until I came in to my bosses office a couple of days later and she handed me an small envelope with my name on it and told me someone had dropped it off for me. I opened it up and found a note from the bookstore staff member and some BYU bucks to use at the bookstore. In the note she thanked me for always greeting her and telling her she looked nice. She explained how she'd been feeling and how my simple greeting made her day.
I don't share this story to boast about myself. I share it merely as an example of how a small and simple act of kindness can make someones day. More than once I've been in a situation where I needed that simple act of kindness and been blessed to receive it. I'm sure you have too.
I hope you my readers have a great day. Thank you for being the wonderful people you are.
When I did greet people, I always tried to be cheerful. I would say "Good morning," and ask them how they were doing or tell them they looked nice, etc. I wasn't trying to "brown nose" or suck up, but I really meant what I said. After the brief greeting I'd go on my way, not really thinking about how my greeting affected people.
I found out one day, by surprise, that my greeting had affected someone. On of the staff members at the BYU bookstore would always come in early and if I was out cleaning or sweeping, I always greeted her in my usual manner. What I didn't know was that one of those days she was really feeling down and discouraged and my greeting lifted her, cheered her, and changed her whole outlook for the day. I had no idea until I came in to my bosses office a couple of days later and she handed me an small envelope with my name on it and told me someone had dropped it off for me. I opened it up and found a note from the bookstore staff member and some BYU bucks to use at the bookstore. In the note she thanked me for always greeting her and telling her she looked nice. She explained how she'd been feeling and how my simple greeting made her day.
I don't share this story to boast about myself. I share it merely as an example of how a small and simple act of kindness can make someones day. More than once I've been in a situation where I needed that simple act of kindness and been blessed to receive it. I'm sure you have too.
I hope you my readers have a great day. Thank you for being the wonderful people you are.
Working Out
By Randy McNeely
Life sometimes throws us curve balls but we have to keep moving. For some reason I've plateaued right now. I've lost 26 pounds since last October, and I seem to be stuck. I'm hovering right at 239-240.
That said, I am by no means discouraged. I can't be if I am to succeed. Those thoughts got me out of bed this morning and I worked out hard doing push-ups, rows, flies, curls, and standing stretch exercises, as well as jogging for 30 seconds in between each exercise. I went through two full sets of each today, except for push-ups of which I did three sets.
I will meet my goals. I won't be easy, but nothing worth having ever is.
Life sometimes throws us curve balls but we have to keep moving. For some reason I've plateaued right now. I've lost 26 pounds since last October, and I seem to be stuck. I'm hovering right at 239-240.
That said, I am by no means discouraged. I can't be if I am to succeed. Those thoughts got me out of bed this morning and I worked out hard doing push-ups, rows, flies, curls, and standing stretch exercises, as well as jogging for 30 seconds in between each exercise. I went through two full sets of each today, except for push-ups of which I did three sets.
I will meet my goals. I won't be easy, but nothing worth having ever is.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Going Down
By Randy McNeely
Another 12 days gone. I'm down to 240. I'm down by 5.5 pounds since I started my Weight Loss For Charity fundraiser. I've got a long way to go.
I know I can do it. It's hard staying motivated sometimes, but I have a lot of support.
Another 12 days gone. I'm down to 240. I'm down by 5.5 pounds since I started my Weight Loss For Charity fundraiser. I've got a long way to go.
I know I can do it. It's hard staying motivated sometimes, but I have a lot of support.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Still moving too!
Like Lynn, I'm moving on. Thus far this week I've lost 3 pounds! I have the extra motivation now as my Weight Loss For Charity Fundraiser is in full swing. I have added pressure too as I was just interviewed on WBOY TV. I weighed in at 249 with my clothes on. I now weigh just under 246. With the Lords help I'll make it.
Anyone out there who is interested can find out more about the fundraiser and how you can help at http:/wl4charity.blogspot.com
Anyone out there who is interested can find out more about the fundraiser and how you can help at http:/wl4charity.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Still moving!
Well, although I've been noticeably absent from this blog, I've still been trying to eat right and exercise!
I was recently called to the Relief Society presidency in my ward, and between meetings, working overtime, and school, well, you know....
The good news is that I'm praying for a reduction in my workload and continuing to exercise, even if it's 10 PM when I get home. My motivation? One of my friends recently ran a half marathon at Disneyworld. I want a Donald Duck medal!
My husband promised to take me to Disneyworld if I could do a half marathon in a "reasonable" amount of time. I'm shooting for three hours. So far, I've increased my treadmill work from 2.5 MPH for 10 minutes to 3.2 MPH for 33 minutes. I have a long way to go, but I have a year.
My efforts have been paying off. Four pounds so far. Not thrilling, but a start. All you need is a start....
I was recently called to the Relief Society presidency in my ward, and between meetings, working overtime, and school, well, you know....
The good news is that I'm praying for a reduction in my workload and continuing to exercise, even if it's 10 PM when I get home. My motivation? One of my friends recently ran a half marathon at Disneyworld. I want a Donald Duck medal!
My husband promised to take me to Disneyworld if I could do a half marathon in a "reasonable" amount of time. I'm shooting for three hours. So far, I've increased my treadmill work from 2.5 MPH for 10 minutes to 3.2 MPH for 33 minutes. I have a long way to go, but I have a year.
My efforts have been paying off. Four pounds so far. Not thrilling, but a start. All you need is a start....
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