Your question

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:50:04 -0500

How can I lose weight? I'm 5'7 I weigh about 120 pounds and I want to lose weight and lose my stomach. What type of diet and exercises should I stick to and please don't say "but you don't need to lose weight."

Some tips on being POSITIVE!

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:34:58 -0500

Now I’m not saying these things will work for you, they’re just some things I’m accustomed to doing or things I have come across and wanted to try.

Ready?

Eating Right and Exercising: Yep, that’s right and while it might sound like torture to you, it’s peace of mind to me. Feeling like complete poop after skipping a gym session or eating McDonalds is something I can honestly live without. Don’t get me wrong, we are entitled to treats and such, and if your body says no to the gym then give it a rest. What I am talking about though are those days filled with sheer laziness and greed. Those days always end in guilt and that I just don’t need!
Eliminating the Negative: If mid convo, text, IM etc I start to feel badly about myself, I immediately remove the thoughts and if not I end the conversation. It’s hard to do so when consoling a friend who is only focused on the pain they’re feeling but for other issues, I am spot on. For example I recently decided to take a twitter break because I didn’t want to see what and how well my ex was doing. Whether it’s real, a facade, a coping mechanism, etc, it didn’t make me feel better unless I am doing just as well or better. I decided to remove myself from the situation for awhile. I was allowing my imagination and thoughts to drive me crazy, and until they could calm down this seemed best.
Positive Affirmations: I have little sheets of paper filled with Yetti-Goodness EVERYWHERE, on my fridge, on my bedroom door, on the bathroom mirror, in my purse, in my cubicle, in my car… you name it, it’s there! I use them as little reminders that I am great, smart, beautiful, etc. I also have a list where I put everything I like about myself and as the days go on my list grows!
Vision Board/Visualization: Now if you haven’t realized it by now, I am quite the indecisive human being, some pick at it as a flaw, but I simply see it as me. I want to do a lot… I want to do everything, be a Jill of all trades and with visualization I am able to kind of structure my thoughts and desires. This is where the vision-board comes in . I have placed everything I want to do on my vision board. Meet my goal weight & body? It’s on there! My dream job (for now)? It’s on there, even little things like hair length and vacations are on there. They kind of keep me focused and serve as a constant reminder of what I am working towards to become a happier Yetti
Be Nice To Others: I love to help people out because when I can make someone else happy it makes me happy! I’m a people pleaser what can I say! Please keep in mind there is a difference between helping someone out, being fake and over extending yourself. You want to help someone out because you genuinely want to, not just because it makes you look good, and you want to do so only if your time allows it. If you’re already overworked, how can you bring yourself joy by giving yourself something else to stress over? It wont work out how it was intended to! Even if it is something little, helping someone with their groceries, a small compliment to brighten someones day, or even advice… it goes a long way! (This is coming from a self-proclaimed bitch sometimes)
Get A Positivity Buddy: My positivity buddies are my aunts in England. No matter what negative thing I say they can negate it. Whenever I’m having a negative moment, they cheer me up and tell me all the things that are going well for me. It’s nice to have people to put things into perspective for you, and are willing to do it constantly until you can learn to do it on your own. Find someone that knows you well and is NOT a Negative Nancy, chances are they can keep you a lot more positive than you think!
Don’t = Do/Can’t = Can: I’m trying to spin my negative sentences into positive ones, and most of them start with “I don’t” or “I can’t”. Instead of “I don’t like how this is turning out,” I’ll say “I do think this will turn out a lot better if I …”. It all goes into how you think of things, ie: Is the cup half full or half empty?

So there you have it! Tools and Tips that I use to get me on the right track to a better self-esteem and a new and brighter view on life.

What things do you do to keep you positive?

Your question

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:39:50 -0500

I'm truly with a great guy, who is supporting me through nursing school and bought me a new car because I drive 80 miles one way to class and my truck left me on the side of the road one time too many. I love him! Truly do and not because he's supporting me, but because he is the one who makes me laugh and smile for no reason. But, how do I get past the trapped feeling of having to rely on him and the loss of my independence? I've never depended on anyone I supported my ex-husband for 6 years! How can I accept his help without fear without this failing feeling? It's starting to put a burden on my end of the relationship!

You're Not Ready To Lose Weight

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:30:50 -0500

So I have been meaning to write this post for a while now, but I decided not to until I could honestly say that I no longer do the things I am about to list out within this post. I have come across many people during my weight loss journey that claim they want to lose weight. Keyword: CLAIM. They say that they’re ready to make this lifestyle change, that they’re committed, that they need to. But do all of them mean what they say? Most of the time no, they don’t.

Now I’m not knocking this, not one bit… that used to be me and sometimes still is me, but the fact of the matter is you are not ready to lose weight until you commit yourself and jump in knees deep. I’m not talking about committing yourself for 3 days out of the week and then taking a break. I’m talking about 24/7 commitment. Twitching because you haven’t had junk food in 2 weeks commitment. At the gym staring at your old fat picture commitment. Yes that whole-hearted commitment. Until you are committed you will remain fat, unhealthy, unfit or [ enter opposite of goal here ].

So here is a list of four things that I have noticed about people that start and do not finish their weight-loss journey.

You’re Not Ready To Lose Weight:

If you don’t do the research.
The first thing I did when I decided I wanted to lose weight was research how I could go about it. I went on many sites such asWebMD, SparkPeople, and Daily Burn. I calculated my food intake and how much I should be burning based on my goal, my activity level, and my body. We all know it’s fairly simple [eat less + burn more] but that doesn’t mean anything flys. Look into diets, meal/recipe plans and exercise routines. ASK OTHER PEOPLE QUESTIONS. Watch youtube videos of peoples journeys, join communities or read and maybe create a blog! You can’t start this journey without knowing what you’re getting yourself into and creating a plan for yourself.

If you workout and then eat a Big Mac.
Are you shitting me? Chubbykins listen here, and listen closely. EAT LESS + EXERCISE MORE = MAGIC/HOT BOD/SEXY BEAST! If you plan on eating badly and exercising you will see no results, and if you’re weight training and eating badly, you’re just gonna get bulky and weigh more on the scale. Eww. It’s a commitment folks, you’re signing the dotted line, giving up your soul! Okay not really, but you get my point. If you plan on making a commitment to your weight loss journey you NEED to give up the junk! Now don’t go cold turkey… you’ll fail, ease yourself into healthier options of your favorite food, cut down the portions some, reason with yourself. But do not expect to see results if you’re going to continue to stuff you cheeks with bad food.

If you honestly believe you can vigorously exercise and read/text at the same time
Okay cool… biking and walking you may be able to, elliptical and stair-master it’s hard but doable. Running? Get the fuck out. I don’t care what ANYONE has to say about this, it’s fact. Unless you’re slow motion running for… oh I don’t know… 4 hours you are not doing shit on that treadmill but making some chubbykin (me in particular) annoyed that you are hogging the machine’s time. Same goes for texting. Your sweaty fingers should be slipping all over your touch screen, missing the buttons on your blackberry, frustrating you to the point where you say “EFF THIS” and put your bloody phone down. Yes, trying to distract yourself from the pain and burn developing furiously in your nowhere near buns of steal is completely understandable but when it hinders your workout…stop. Just.stop.it. You came to the gym to get in a workout, so do that. If you can multitask while doing so, good for you, but chances are if you just started your weight loss journey, you can’t. Focus, get in the zone, and sweat it out.

If you do not have a goal
Now many of us have goal weights, but I’m talking deeper than that. You need a goal that means something to you deep down within you. You didn’t wake up and look at the scale and say “Hey, maybe I wanna be 20lbs lighter.” You maybe thought, “Oh my God, this weight is unhealthy,” or “Maybe this high number on the scale and my wide ass is what’s making me feel insecure.” You need tangible and untangible goals. Trust me… they work hand in hand with each other to motivate you to keep going. That’s why I wrote my “Why I Want to Lose Weight Post” because it’s not just about the low number on the scale, it’s about so much more.

I feel like I could spend a post or two on each of these points. So much more goes into them than the high level explanations I have given. But I’ll stop here for now, until I can fully conquer these four “No-No’s”.

Reader Question: What are some other things you have noticed about people who are just not ready to commit to their journeys? Which one of the four points listed did you or do you still struggle with? Mine is my goals and motivation.

Your question

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:25:17 -0500

Does anyone on here meditate? If so, what do you do and how because I would like to start doing it :)

Your question

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:30:12 -0500

Hi. I have always been kind of tender hearted/sensitive. I don't know why. But I really think it is part of my problem not only with guys but family. I let stupid stuff get to me and don't mean to. How do I fix this??? HELP!

25 Best Self-Love Tips

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:58:10 -0500

I came across this list a few months ago when I was tired of being my own worst enemy. Instead I wanted to to become my own best friend or at the very least build up my self-esteem. I hope some of you can benefit from it as much as I did.

It's a sweet recipe for self-love that you can indulge in everyday of your life.

1. Take full responsibility for your life. Stop blaming others.
2. Participate in life at the highest level you can. Make a list of 10 things you love doing and do them frequently.
3. Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts.
4. Be gentle and kind and patient with yourself.
5. Give yourself the simple pleasures of life abundantly.
6. Watch what you say. Avoid self put-downs.
7. Stop being critical of yourself and others.
8. Take care of your body. Give it exercise and good food.
9. Be willing to create a life-style that generates and nourishes
self-esteem.
10. Associate with others with high esteem.
11. Acknowledge yourself frequently. Even if it's just a diary you keep of your successes and accomplishments.
12. Avoid comparing yourself with others.
13. Remember that it’s who we are, not what we do, that’s important.
14. Give yourself permission to do nothing periodically. Schedule time by yourself.
15. Frequently take deep breaths. Discover the benefit and pleasure of breathing fully.
16. Stop trying to change others. Focus your attention on being the way you want others to be.
17. Look into a mirror regularly and say “I love you, I really love you”.
18. Stop feeling guilty and saying “I’m sorry”. See mistakes as valuable lessons and avoid judging yourself.
19. Consciously generate positive thoughts and feelings of self-love
in place of old thoughts of inadequacy.
20. Be willing to laugh at yourself and at life. Stop taking yourself so seriously.
21. Accept compliments from others without embarrassment. Don’t invalidate their positive thoughts and feelings about you.
22. Be kind to your mind. Don’t hate yourself for having negative thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.
23. Keep your awareness and your thoughts focused in present time instead of living in the past or future.
24. Acknowledge others frequently. Tell them what you like and appreciate in them.
25. Treat yourself as you would treat someone you really loved. Praise yourself.

7 Easy Tricks to Lose Weight

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:19:46 -0400

I lost over forty pounds in just under a year doing these small tricks and basically eating what I wanted, so I thought I would share them with you! Here are some little ways to lose weight without really feeling like you're on a diet.

1. Don't drink calories.

Yeah, it's that easy. I know you've heard it a thousand times, don't drink soda, it's loaded with calories and sugar. Your calories should be coming from food not beverages. I was once an avid soda drinker, I couldn't imagine ever liking diet soda. When switching to diet soft drinks, drink water and milk for at least a month straight. Then try diet soda. Give it a few times and you will become used to the artificial sweeteners. But sticking to water is the healthiest and cheapest option. The first few days will be the hardest, but just remind yourself that you've already gone x amount of days without soda, and stay motivated!

2. Avoid white foods.

I'm not talking about cauliflower either! I am talking about cheese, mayonnaise, ice cream, ranch etc... In general, if it is white it is full of fat and calories. These are all fine in moderation, but that bucket of blue cheese is not going to help your waist line. Instead cut back on your portions, opt for light mayonnaise and dressings, and remember that sweets are to be used sparingly.

3. Watch portion sizes.

Sure a serving size of Cheetos is only 160 calories, but did you know a serving size is only 21 delicious morsels of cheesy goodness? Watch those serving sizes, you'd be surprised.

4. Eat slowly.

Don't gorge yourself. Take your time to enjoy every bite. I'm sure you've heard that it takes some time for your brain to get the signal that you're full. So really enjoy your meal and you will consume less because you will get the full sensation when you're actually full versus when you've eaten too much and then are uncomfortably full.

5. Replace one meal a day with a leaner option.

Who doesn't love Lean Cuisines or Smart Ones? They're college friendly in more than one way. They're a breeze to prepare, easy on the wallet and delicious! Replacing one meal with a leaner option is an easy way to stay slim. If you aren't fond of frozen meals, there are an infinite amount of recipes that you can prepare that are under 300 calories, just search online. There are so many options that you are sure to find something that you really love.

6. Stop grazing.

Don't eat because you are bored, and don't eat it just because it is in front of you. Snacks are fine in between meals. It is easy to eat mindlessly. especiall with snack foods. Don't ever eat potato chips out of the bag. Instead measure out the portion size into a bowl that way you know how much you are consuming.

7. Diets don't work.

You should make a permanent change and strive towards a healthy weight. Never deny yourself the occasional treat! If you are craving a chocolate brownie, then have one! Really want to have cheese fries? Do it! If you deny yourself all sweets you will binge and there goes all of your hard work!

Remember, A normal and healthy amount of weight to lose each week is two pounds. Good luck and remember it's not going to happen overnight.

Your question

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:31:36 -0400

Exactly a year ago I was on the receiving end of what I suppose would be termed attempted rape. I was at a party in my home and drank excessively, (I'd just broken up with the guy I'd been seeing) passed out on the couch, and woke many hours later to an unknown guy trying to get....intimate.... I had no idea at that point who he was, and wasn't quite comprehending what he was doing. I knew I wanted to get up and leave, go to my own bed, but I just couldn't make it happen. Eventually I twigged exactly what he was doing, and managed to get out of there, thankfully avoiding the physical act, but it has affected me far more than I ever thought it would have. maybe more than it should have. after all, I came out unscathed.

So really, my question is, how do people put things behind them? I'm so afraid the lose control now, of anything. I inexplicably flip out with my boyfriend at times when we're intimate. I feel like that night was my fault somehow, that I gave him the impression that I was interested somehow.
My attitude to sex has changed hugely, I feel now like I cant say no, that my boyfriend will be upset with me, or he'll take it anyway. I guess mentally I decided that if I always offer sex, at least it cant be taken from me, which is probably not a great attitude....
Does anyone have any pointers? I'd really appreciate them.....

Your question

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:25:54 -0400

I NEED. TO LOSE. WEIGHT. I'm 5'7" and weigh in at 169 whoppin pounds. I'm trying to find a motivation to lose weight, but I can't. I'm looking for an excercise that I can do basically in my bedroom or on a bike. I live in a house surrounded by unfit/unhealthy people, and this doesn't help in the least.

I don't want my family to see that I'm trying to lose weight, because they'll make a huge @$$ deal out of it. I need to lose weight off of my arms, thighs, butt, hips, and especially stomach/belly area. Any recommendations?

Assets: I have the whole Xbox kinect thing, but I won't do any workout videos, because, well I want to keep my weight loss a secret.