HomeTeeter Totter ~ Finding a Balance Between Me-Hood and Motherhood
Gender: female Date of Birth: January 01, 1973 Member Since: September 11, 2007 Last Signed In: November 30, 2008 Blog Views: 8588 Send To A Friend Sign Guestbook Add as a Friend
Tradition Interrupted
Enjoy Your "Day Off!" Building Self Esteem Blogging Tips Ho Ho Ho (or something like it) I Love Cell Phones… I Hate Them Pruning Your Life A Crafty Gift My Husband Martha Food For Thought September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 Teeter Totter Finding a Balance Between "Me-Hood" and "Motherhood" In this blog I'll be covering as wide a variety of subjects as the duties of a real mom in today's culture. From raising special needs children, family vacations, marriage, relationships, sex, cooking, local to-do, school (both for you and the children), working, hiring a daycare provider, arts and crafts, decorating, holidays, to well... EVERYTHING! No holding back. 
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Bad Habits Are Hard to Break
Two things are most difficult for me during my quest for health. The ritual of eating bad foods with my family (aka: TREATS!) and exercise. I was telling my husband last night that changing your eating habits so much reminds me of quitting smoking (which I successfully did last year). It wasn’t the actual cigarettes. I don’t like the taste or smell. It was the ritual of it. The habit of it that I enjoyed. As a good friend told me recently. It’s like a physical exclamation point that you can flourish in the air at will. I agree. Changing the ritual and habit of smoking was much harder than the physical part of quitting for me. Food is the same. As soon as our son went to bed my husband and I would dig into treat time. We’d snuggle up in bed in front of the TV and enjoy a big bowl of ice cream, or a plate of cookies, or brownies… you get the picture. Almost every night this was our ritual. Now it’s not the treats in bed I miss. It’s the ritual of eating sweets in bed with my sweet. Although something interesting is happening. The last few nights we’ve been talking more. We still watch TV, but not as early. Instead we’re talking, snuggling, reading and just enjoying each other. So although we both miss the treats a little, we are gaining something even more special. All while being healthier. In the past when one of us would try to be healthier and loose some weight the other would end up sabotaging. Bringing home or making something decedent and high calorie to “treat” each other. Instead, yesterday I bought my husband a magazine I thought he would like. He’s also being very supportive and encouraging me. I think this time will be a winner! Getting healthy and changing your habits is also very time-consuming and draining. When I quit smoking it was before I started my business and was on un-employment. It was draining, hard work and took a lot. But I did it. Getting healthy and loosing weight is the same. I’m busy, but what extra energy I have left is being devoted to staying strong and on-task. Especially with the support of my man (and you all), I think I can do it! 8 comments from 6 users
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posted by
SacMom
on Jan 10, 2008 at 04:50 PM
posted by
creatress
on Jan 10, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Thanks for the tips! I agree, Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches are great! Have you tried the peanut butter and chocolate ones? Mmmmmm.I didn't think of Jello and Cool Whip. That's a good idea. posted by
jnkmommy
on Jan 10, 2008 at 06:06 PM
I agree that it's easier if you both change your way of eating. Its great that your husband supports you and that you can do it together. I have been struggling with my weight all my life seens like, and my husband is skinny as a bird. He is really helpful, and encourages me. We also go on walks together with the kids now, which really helps. I hear you about the ice cream at night, we always used to do that, and we stopped just a few months ago. I know how hard it is, but you can do it. You sound like a strong woman, so keep it up, and good luck.
posted by
reneinsac
on Jan 10, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Congrats on recognizing a pattern and trying to find a fix. I like the exercise part and since I too have been eating better.. i find that I am enjoying cooking more .. I like the challenge of making a tasty dinner that I can eat... I am really using this to eat local food and fresh foods .. and I am finding that act very very rewarding!AS for working out do you want to Wii Box each other we can bring out Miis to each others nome.? Do you want to walk together this weekend? I am thinking Sunday posted by
creatress
on Jan 10, 2008 at 07:24 PM
I have NO idea how to hook it up so we can box each other. I'm sure my guy knows though. Let me find out how to do it and message you. That would be really fun though! Thanks for the encouragement!Ugh, I always say at least my husband is big with me. I think it would be super hard having a really skinny partner. My sister-in-law was in that boat. Then she lost a lot of weight and is almost as thin as he is. She's a good role model for me. Moderation, healthy... they travel a lot and she's even run a marathon. Running is something I could never do. I have zero interest and don't "get it" at all. I always say I only run when something is chasing me. Walking is my second least favorite exercise. The tapes have been fun. I also love swimming and enjoy bike riding. I just need to get out there. I'd love to get back into golf with my husband this spring. I'm competitive and like beating him! Thank you for the compliment jnkmommy . That's GREAT that you gave up night-time ice cream! posted by
girl4agreenerworld
on Jan 11, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Creatress...first off let me say that I love the new photo! You look fabulous!!!  Speaking of photos...I bought the Sony Cybershot that you had suggested. It is much easier to work than my old digital camera. Thanks for the tip. I plan to get to know my camera better this weekend and then hopefully have some pictures to show of my family soon.
Back to you and your dieting...I'm right there with you about the ice cream. It's a bad habit that I haven't given up yet....but I plan to. I tend to not start my diet the first part of January. Unlike you who has her birthday on the 1st of the month and can then start a diet, my birthday isn't until the end of this month, so I give myself a little extension about the start date. After that comes Valentine's Day, of course, followed by the chocolate bunnies of Easter, etc. Do you get the picture that I am horrible at dieting? I am!!! I would be so good if only I had a personal chef! It's not that I don't like healthy foods, I just tend to grab something not-so-healthy just because I don't want to take the time to prepare something that is better for me. I would imagine that most people like myself consume the majority of calories in the evening. One thing that helps me though, is to keep my hands busy with a project. Do you like to do your jewelry work in the evening or would you rather not? Like you, I do NOT like running. There are way too many things moving about when running is involved and it is so hard on your joints. I do walk our dogs in the morning and I walk with a neighbor. That is the key...having a buddy! One of our dogs is my daughter's Canine Companion dog. When you receive one of these dogs you are responsible to keep that animal in shape. CCI usually visits you and the dog and checks to see how well you are taking care of it. Every time they visit or we go to CCI in Santa Rosa, I get scolded because our dog is overweight. So our dog is on a diet too. Now this is what I think I need to have someone do for me in order to get and stay on a diet....put someone in charge of feeding me 3/4 of a cup of kibble in the morning and the same in the evening. If I had someone putting a specified amount of food in my bowl twice a day and that was all that I got, I think I could be successful with the diet then! Anyways.....you are doing great!  Keep it up! I love reading your blogs. posted by
Jenniefromtheblock
on Jan 11, 2008 at 02:51 AM
Enjoy reading your blog.The picture I have to agree is fabulous. Keep of the good work.
posted by
creatress
on Jan 11, 2008 at 07:20 AM
Hey there girl4agreenerworld! Good to hear from you.I have a few tricks that help me with speed and portions. - NEVER eat from a container. Read the serving size and do it. Scoop it, or put it on a plate and savor. -I discovered Amy's organic frozen entres this week. I have to have something fast for lunch, or I'll skip it. Great taste, super healthy, nice portion size. -Pre-bag healthy snacks for the week into single serving sizes so you can grab and go. -Eat proteine in the morning. This helps you go longer on less. I don't do jewelry in the evenings. I used to when I was just doing beading, but now that the majority of what I do involves chemicals (click here to see what I'm talking about), I do it during the day when the boy is at school and hubby is at work. I agree that it's good to have something fun to do in the evenings rather than eat. I have a friend who became seriously addicted to crochet by doing it in the evenings. I honestly try not to think of it as a "diet" (cause then the rebel in me will try and come out to "cheat") and just think "HEALTHY!" "MODERATION" and "EXERCISE!" If I just focus on those, I'm good. I agree with you, I'd LOVE a personal chef, and dog walker. Sounds good to me! Oh and I'm so glad that you like the Cybershot! Yay! I couldn't live (or work) without mine. Thanks for the compliments, support and post! Hey Jenniefromtheblock! Glad you're still here. I get a smile every time I hear from you. Thanks for the compliment! My husband took that picture for my business this past summer. I made him get up on a step stool to get the most flattering pic he could. Hahaha.
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It's hard to deny yourself - I suggest finding the one thing that satisfies the craving but is low cal. I think it's so much easier to lose weight if you aren't feeling like you are missing something. Here are some of my favorite treats all under 100 calories and guaranteed to satisfy!
Jello Brand Sugar Free Jello with Cool Whip Free - about 25 calories
Jello Brand Devils Food Chocolate Sugar Free Jello with Cool Whip Free - 100 calories and really does the trick
Quaker Chewy Low Fat Granola Bar - My favs are chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin - 90 Calories
Rice Krispy Treat (in the box or homemade) about 100 calories - great when you want something chewy
and don't forget SKINNY COW ice cream sandwiches - which are pretty much the best thing on earth - the best is the mint ice cream with chocolate cookie - Heavenly!