My New Years Plan

Happy New one and all.  I hope you're ending 2014 on a high note and are looking forward to what a new Year can offer.

I've not been one to make New Years Resolutions, sometimes I think about goals...in a loose manner, nothing written down, nothing hard and fast.  It seems lots of folks get down on themselves if they're not able to get their New Years Resolutions.

Most of you know several months back I began walking in order to reduce pain and swelling in my knee from arthritis, as well as bring down my cholesterol which was too high.  I've been successful with both of those quests.   A bonus has been weight loss, which I've learned reduces the stress to ones knees.  In fact, I read a single pound of weight loss reduces stress to each knee by 5 pounds.  That's HUGE and has made a real improvement for me.

My Fitbit has been a big help with keeping me on track and I enjoy the friendships that have developement with Fitbit'ers.  People encouraging each other, virtual walking buddies is indeed very helpful.  Stats prove people with walking buddies, exercise buddies both in person and virtually do better with their goals than those that try to meet the goals/weight loss solo.

So, my plan for up coming year of 2015 is to continue.  I've been a bit lax of late, in that I've not walked daily as I was before.  The cold weather has made it more difficult as have the holidays.  So, need to re-double my efforts on that.  For anyone out there wanting a walking buddy, virtually...sing out.  We can share Fitbit profile links, or connect on facebook or here.  I was religious about recording my food intake until the last couple of months, so need to regroup on that score.  Again, stats show you're more successful if you do keep track of your meals.  Not only for weight loss, but if you're watching your sodium level, or cholesterol, or carbs...any specific item like that.

So I vow to be more consistent with my walking,
To be more consistent with recording my food,
To be available for others who want/need encouragement....

Tomorrow I'll post something about part 2 of my quest for the New Year, so please check back in.  Don't want to be too wordy here.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Years

Calories in and Calories Out, Fitbit

Shrimp and Brussels Sprouts right off the barbee.  I've not been blogging lately, seems my on line time has been diverted to logging in my steps, miles, and food on fitbit and it's side kick fitnesspal.com.  It takes time, though it should get quickier because I have a good amount of food now listed in my food diary.

Been doing well with steps and miles on an on going daily basis.  Fitbit (the device) really does motivate you.  Then you join a couple of on line groups and make virtual friends with the same or similar goals and it truly inspires you.  I'm in several groups/forums through Fitbit but find the 60 plus Trackers and !!Walk and Wine!! groups both fun, interesting, and inspiring.  We have a lady in our 60's group 80 something and she's leading the pack...how cool is that.  I also love how young she's staying by being on line and chatting with us.  Good for her.

The goal to be healthy is to walk 10,000 steps daily, currently I'm averaging around 16,000 so no problem making goal there.  Additionally you're suppose to strive for 30 minutes of active minutes daily, I don't always make that, because even with getting lots of steps in (at work and or mowing etc) you often aren't going fast enough for it to log you as "active". I do make it most days though.  Drinking 64 ounces of water daily is another of the daily goals, and I struggle with that.  In fact, I didn't make much of an effort in the beginning until I learned it actually is important from my group members.  The other goal you're to strive for is 5 miles daily, I manage that most of the time.  You can add your weight and your goal weight and it will track for you how on target you are and estimate a date when you'll reach your goal based on your in and out calories.

In calories.......thus the picture of food.  One reason I started this fitbit craze(which by the way is pretty addictive), I needed to lower my cholesterol.  Along the way I learned dropping some weight not only makes my clothes fit better but reduces the pressure on my knee (my arthritic knee).  A pound of weight loss reduces pressure to each knee by 5 pounds!  I've managed to reduce the pressure by 60 to each knee which has truly helped the pain and swelling.  Building up good muscles around the arthritis is also very beneficial.  This meal, very satisfying is quite low on calories.  The shrimp were marinated in a garlic oil for about 30 minutes before I skewered them.  The Brussels sprouts were cooked in water in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes and once cooled on the skewers they went...light drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper.  By using the skewers it's easy to turn over both the shrimp and the round Brussels sprouts.

It paired nicely with a Pinot Noir...and yes I faithfully add those calories on my food diet too. (as well as the Martini I had prior to this good dinner......you can't give up everything!).

You must walk more then 10,000 steps if you're trying to loose, and you loose 1 pound when you burn 3500 calories more then you eat.  So, since I'm not giving up my wine etc...I'm walking walking walking.  I generally walk about 1.5 hours and then whatever else I get step wise is normal day to day and or work.