I am working right along with you and the soon-to-be cardinal! I signed up for a SparkPeople team, set my goals, started working out at least 3 days a week at 5:45am, and I have fixed some problems with my diet.  I am on my way to adding to the 33 lbs I lost last year.  My goal is to lose 17 lbs in the next 8 weeks.  The other thing I did was I got a Groupon for E-mealz menu planning.  I have access to the menu planning tool for the next year and I got it for 50% off. 

It is hard to keep on track when life is so busy and days rush by so quickly that it’s sometimes hard to plan. But if we do go out, I try to stick to salads, protein and veggies.  One thing that helps me a bit is that I have to eat gluten-free so breads, desserts, and pastas are not options for me at restaurants.

Kimberlie, thanks for sharing your experience—I’m not familiar with the E-mealz service. What does it include and can you share the link?

The thing NOT to order at steak n shake is the shake!!!!  I believe they have just about an entire day’s calories in one.  I’m guessing that the chili without the cheese might be a good choice, or a single steakburger hold the cheese.  I am being sabotaged my husband’s constant fudge making (the real kind that you beat).  He has made it twice this week - the cold weather brings it on.  While he has the will power to just eat a little, I don’t.  However, I did put it away in a sealed tupperware container and stuck the bread on top, so at least my brain has time to think about and see what I am doing before I eat more.  Tomorrow I am going to the doctor for a check up, and after I get weighed, I am going to start weighing weekly.  I have been exercising about an hour for 4 days a week, and I just signed on to the YMCA’s next fitness challenge - which is basically a commitment to exercise for a set amount of time for the period between the end of January and March.  I loved what the Archbishop had to say about stewardship - we talk about that all the time in our parish but I have never heard the word used to refer to care for your body.

I’m working on making my health a priority.  I fall into the trap so many of us do, putting myself last.  I need to lose weight for health reasons. My 6 wk old seems to be on nursing sprees early morning and evenings and will scream if anyone else takes her (I’m really good at one handed typing don’t ya think ), and we homeschool during the day.  Last night I asked my dh to postpone what he was doing and hold the sleeping baby while I squeezed in 10 minutes of exercise.  I did it!  I came up to a crying baby who had awoken to discover it wasn’t momma holding her. Extra motivation though…I go back in one month and want to show the doc some serious progress, and I want off BP meds.

I’m re-affirming my exercise program this year.  I had lost 45 pounds a couple of years ago, and these past holidays were those of over-indulgance.  I’ve only gained 5 pounds, but last year I neglected to exercise at all.  So far in two weeks, I’ve been riding the exercise bike at 10 mile intervals.  I watch CatholicTV.com while riding, so the time goes by fast and I can listen and watch Catholic info.  I love praying the Divine Mercy chaplet at 2:00pm my CT with the website.  I’m reminded that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit and what I put in my body should be for the glory of God.  Keep it up my friends, you encourage me, too.

I’m a huge fan of Archbishop Dolan ... I think it’s awesome that he’s putting it all out there for us to see.

For me, a big part of exercise is reasonable expectations. In other words ... build slowly. Also, you have to make it a priority—like a doctor’s appt.