im trying to work harder and more myself

i am not eating bad foods, as i have mentioned before, just more food i think

i find myself hungry again, maybe its mental, not sure.  also i do not feel the
restriction that i once had after the surgery.

exercise is slow for me since my accident.  i cant really do the treadmill or
elliptical yet and walking goes slowly, so im frustrated.  i am trying to walk a
little bit every day, but my ankle is so swollen after work, that i cant always go
very far, and i cant really work up to a good pace. 

may have to rethink this, maybe the exercise bike would work better for me right
now as far as pressure on my foot.

anyway, its a battle and i have put back a few pounds since my lowest weight and
i HATE it. 

hugs to all, jacki

Jacki,

I started doing some stretchcing exercises because I thought it would be nice to be able to do something while watching TV.  Then I read where doing Yoga burns calories and strengthens your muscles too. Well, I cannot do a lot of the yoga moves, but as far as the floor stuff, so can do it and it is good.  You may want to try floor exercises or sitting in a chair exercises for a while.  Also, I can speed my heart up by doing arm exercises too.  It's a thought.  The exercise bike sounds good too. 

When I started walking, girl I went at a snail's pace.  I think slow walking certainly has its benefits.

Independence Day.   You are right.  what a great reminder!!!!

I am going to make a better effort to get in my protein and vitamins on the weekends and days off work.  I seem to do okay at work as  I keep a routine and set my timer as needed.  It's the weekends and days off work that fly by so fast, my head is swimming wondering how to get it all in.

Thanks for the incentive.

I have a real problem with protein and have since surgery.  I am making better choices but still need to work at it.  You're right with the routine of work making this an easy process.  I find that when I'm home, I end up letting the water slide or skipping meals.  It should get easier, but for many of us, it just becomes easy to lag. 

For me it is all about getting refocused on my exercise and sticking to it every day (not just for 2 weeks and then off for a week and on for two..etc, etc)

Tomorrow morning I'm getting on the bike come hell or high water!

I just got this in an email.....

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www.mayoclinic.com/print/fitness/HQ01543/METHOD=print

Fitness programs: 10 tips for staying motivated

Are you having trouble sticking with your fitness program? Stay motivated with these 10 simple tips.

Have you ever started a fitness program and then quit? If you answered yes, you're not alone. Many people start fitness programs but stop when they get bored or results come too slowly. Here are 10 tips to help you stay motivated.

1. Set goals. Start with simple goals and then progress to longer range goals. Remember to make your goals realistic and achievable. It's easy to get frustrated and give up if your goals are too ambitious. If you haven't exercised in a while, a short-term goal might be to walk five minutes once or twice a day. An intermediate goal might be to walk 20 minutes three or four times a week. A long-term goal might be to complete a 5K walk.
2. Start slowly. If you push yourself too hard at first, you may be forced to abandon your program because of pain or injury. It's better to start slowly and progress gradually.
3. Think variety. Vary your activities to keep boredom at bay. Alternate walking or biking with swimming or a low-impact aerobics class. When the weather cooperates, do your flexibility or stretching exercises outside. Play soccer with your kids. Join a health club or martial arts center to broaden your access to different forms of exercise.
4. Have fun. You're more likely to stick with an exercise program if you're having fun. If you're not enjoying your workouts, try something different. Join a volleyball or softball league. Take a ballroom dancing class. Trade your running shoes for a swimsuit. Remember, exercise doesn't have to be drudgery.
5. Make physical activity part of your daily routine. If it's hard to find time for exercise, don't fall back on excuses. Schedule workouts as you would any other important activity. You can also slip in physical activity throughout the day. Be creative! Take a walk during your child's music lesson. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Pedal a stationary bike or do strength training exercises with resistance tubing while you watch TV at night.
6. Put it on paper. Are you hoping to lose weight? Boost your energy? Sleep better? Manage a chronic condition? Write it down! Seeing the benefits of regular exercise on paper may help you stay motivated.
7. Seek support. You're not in this alone. Invite a friend or co-worker to join you when you exercise. Work out with your spouse or your kids. Take a class at a local fitness center.
8. Track your progress. It may help to keep an exercise diary. Record what you did during each exercise session, how long you exercised and how you felt afterward. Recording your efforts can help you work toward your goals — and remind you that you're making progress.
9. Reward yourself. After each exercise session, take a few minutes to sit down and relax. Reflect on what you've just accomplished. Savor the good feelings that exercise gives you. This type of internal reward can help you make a long-term commitment to regular exercise. External rewards can help, too. When you reach a longer range goal, treat yourself to a new pair of walking shoes or new tunes to enjoy while you exercise.
10. Be flexible. If you're too busy to work out or simply don't feel up to it, take a day or two off. Be gentle with yourself if you need a break. The important thing is to get back on track as soon as you can.

Now that you're enthusiastic again, get moving! Set your goals, make it fun and pat yourself on the back from time to time. Remember, physical activity is for life. Review these tips whenever you feel your motivation sliding.

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These are some really good tips.  I like the idea of tracking progress.  I also try to keep my exercise program a daily routine that is not negotiable with what I'm doing.  I don't, for instance, replace exercise with television.  I will replace walking with mall shopping because I know that I will walk as much if not more at the mall.  It's all about making exercise a life prority.

For the price of what I used to spend on fast food trash lunches I joined the local YMCA.  It's conveniently located on my way home from work, so no excuses there. I have committed to exercising every evening after work. I alternate between water aerobics classes and weight training/treadmill sessions, spending 1 - 1 1/2 hours each time. On Wednesdays DH joins me for an evening Tai Chi class. I have made an appointment to talk with the fitness coordinator to connect with a personal trainer so I can fine tune my program to meet my personal goals.

It's been a month since I joined, and I can definitely feel some differences already. At first I thought I would die after spending only 5 minutes on the stationary bikes; today I did an 18 minute mile on the treadmill and could still converse without huffing and puffing. My flexibility has improved a lot, and muscle tone is beginning to develop beneath the flab.

I am fortunate that DH is quite capable of fending for himself at home. He's retired, and does most of the domestic duties, including cooking, so that frees me up a lot. His love and support mean more than words can express. 

I'm very careful to get daily water quotas. Protein is usually adequate; I'm only 2 months out from surgery, so still "experimenting" in the dietary phases. I can't eat much and don't get hungry. It takes some concentration to get things right.

Head hunger? You bet! My worst enemy at this point. That dragon just won't stay in the closet. It's a lot of self-talk to keep the cursed critter off my back. I'd be lying if I said I don't mess up once in a while, but that ol' dragon doesn't win too often!

I am 1/3 of the way to my goal weight. Drawing on the support and past experiences of the folks here on OFF will make the rest of the way achievable. Thank you ALL!

It sounds like you are doing what you need to be doing in order to acheive the maxium amount of weightloss possible.  You feel good now, wait until a year out when you've lost most if not all of your excess weight and you are able to run not walk around the stores. LOL.  I am so happy you are doing so well.