Mammy Update

Mammy is still going super strong! The last couple of weeks we have gone out to eat TWICE and both times she automatically looked for the best option to make her feel good and healthy. Not one time did she even consider getting something "good" meaning wanting to eat a bunch of junk. She's dropped the attitude that working out and eating healthy DESERVES a meal full of fat.

Since January she's lost 45lbs and 35lbs of that working with me in the last four months. As I have said over and over again...we haven't counted a calorie, macro, or done anything fancy. What we have done is instituted a basic lifestyle she can live.

Is giving up hamburgers, fries, and a steady stream of crap easy? No. But what Mammy has learned is that she must balance a menu filled with the foods she likes with some things she simply should be eating. Let me go through her plan right now.

1. Eat 4-6 times a day.

Corrected Behavior: For years she ate once or twice a day. Most of the time she didn't even eat more than 2500 calories a day and others she ate only 1500 in one junky meal. Her body would go long periods without food, ingest a bunch of crap, and then hold it all as fat. That's how she gained over 100lbs. No overeating junk all day. It was under eating all day and then eating some poop.

2. Move. She walks daily, takes a bike ride, swims several times a week, and does BASIC strength training once a week. Nothing is in extreme ranges. She just makes sure she is exercising to some extent daily. Shouldn't we all?

We don't do any real structured workouts. I give her a basic outline but if she didn't follow it she would still be losing because in the end you just need to move.

Corrected Behavior: Mammy didn't exercise, she didn't walk, she did nothing but watch TV and ache. After her knee replacements she started walking. Her attitude prior to surgery was moving felt bad so she made excuses like being tired, busy, etc. She also used to say, "I don't know what to do." Everyone knows how to walk. How many of you don't walk each day because it wouldn't be the perfect exercise and then do nothing?

3. Plan. She makes a plan each week. She figures out what she would like to eat, cooks it up, and then considers her schedule so she can move a swim or bike ride around.

Corrected Behavior: Mammy used to just go through life waiting for starvation to hit. No food in the house, worked late, heading home, enter drive thru, and watch TV until she fell asleep. That was the usual plan.

Here is a little excerpt from an email she sent me this week updating things. We did a "hood workout" with modifications for her ankle and shoulder issues. My hamstrings and calves are so sore from the workout. It is very similar to the workouts in my Treadmill Bootcamp.

My ankle was pretty sore today and the back of my thighs, otherwise I'm ok today.  I walked a lot yesterday at various times hoping I wouldn't get too sore.  I also drank a lot of water. 

Joe called and asked me to come over last night to see his garden. We walked into the backyard and he patted my stomach and butt and said "you are really losing weight!"  I was so tickled.  I told him about me doing that workout with you.  I can't stop thinking about how well I did exercising with you.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you about my soreness and I have an appointment Thursday to get my ankle looked at.

Mammy thinks she might be able to shoot some cortisone in her ankle to make it better. She wants to DO MORE exciting exercise!

Aren't you proud of her? I sure am.

Comments

[Bill Menees]

I'm certainly proud of her! Anna rocks.

[betty]

Tell Mammy that I think she is a leader! So many people don't bounce back from knee replacement surgery. She has lost so much weight, I don't think I can ever catch her. She's a star in my book. Woot!

[Kirsten]

So proud of Mammy! She is a wonderful example Corinne. I love following her story and seeing her change so much.

[Kathleen]

Its wonderful that you are making the change Mammy. You will have so many more years to live with your children and grandchildren and NOT just a life of sitting around but actively participating in their lives.
You rock girl!