Day 6: I Stuck to a Schedule

For the record- I hate dial up internet.-since I am visiting the FARM this weekend,  I have no choice.  The previous version has been interlaced w programming code. So here is a summary of the original post.

I found that with a baby in the house following a schedule became very important.  I also discovered that when I ate my meals and snacks at the same time of the day, I ate less and didn't become ravenously hungry. This continues in my life today.  My family is on the same schedule.  Sure we eat at the same time as 80 year olds, but we eat together- at the table, with no other distractions. No TV, cell phones, facebook or toys. We talk to each other.  Sure Toby shovels it in while James complains that it looks awful- but we sit there together.

Once I returned to work, I continued the routine to fit my school day.  I left my snacks where I could see them throughout the day.  This kept my hand out of the candy jar and away from the food that was carried in for meetings.  My students are allowed to have snacks through the day so they didn't mind me eating an apple or banana in front of them.  Still to this day one of my little nuggets will bring me in a juicy apple-it's a great treat.  

I started a walking routine soon after returning to work.  I would walk a little in the morning and then a little after dinner.  James didn't mind being plopped in the umbrella stroller.  In fact, he would get excited.  I found the morning walk helped me awaken for the day and the evening walk helped to calm my mind down from a busy day at work.  This also got me out of some bad habits like plopping down on the couch and eating out of boredom.  On the other hand, this is the Julie Matt was used to, the one he married.  He encouraged me often, but eventually the nightly walk got old and he complained that it took too much time.  That's when I switched my workout routine to the morning when everyone was still asleep. 

When people say to me, "I don't have time at night."  I ask how much TV they watch.  If you need more time in your day, stop watching TV.  Trust me- on your death bed you will not sit up and say, "I wish I watched more TV!" My older son loves riding his bike while I pull T$ in the wagon or push him in the stroller.  When people say, "My family isn't very active."  I say then be the example.  Once I started walking with James at night and I became more physically active, my husband started joining our walk.  Your kids will inevitably follow your lead.  James runs in the Turkey run with us each year.  We race, play tag, throw whatever kind of ball around the backyard we can get our hands on.  If I still weighed 254 lbs- I know James would be struggling with weight issues, too. I would not want to go outside and play or give airplane rides till my glutes were on fire.  James would be addicted to TV and video games and many other distractions in life.