The Imperfect Community

Anthromomma · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:32 am Post subject:

Ah, you crazy southerners and that sweet tea. Wink

Can you reduce how much sugar you put into it, to kind of wean yourself off? I went through this with coffee, sort of. I'm just flat out not giving up coffee. I love it, and I need it given my four hours- average of sleep per night. But I don't really like black coffee, and in the amounts I drink ( Embarassed

) it makes my stomach hurt. So I switched to using milk instead of half and half, and spent about two weeks putting less and less sugar until I determined the absolute minimun I could live with. In my big giant coffee mug (16 oz), I add 1/2 tsp sugar and a splash of 1% milk, which works out to be about 15 calories or so. That, I can live with. Sugar is 16 calories per teaspoon, so if you can figure out just how much you 'need' in your tea and it's not some crazy amount, then I personally wouldn't cut it out of your diet entirely. Unless the sugar in your tea is making you crave other sugary things, or somehow messing with your karma or something.

Erika

Scout · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:02 pm Post subject:

I know it sounds stupid, but tea is totally an addiction like coffee is for some people, or diet coke. Right now I make a gallon with 1 1/4 cup of sugar, which I go through in about two days. Embarassed

I can't stand any kind of artificial sweetener, and when I've tried making it with less sugar it just is like a completely different drink and I don't want it. I think it's going to have to be all or nothing, so it has to go. Which means also kicking a caffiene addiction.

MainstreamMom · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject:

Two things:

1. I did spark people and really loved it. It's the only way IMHO. Kristy, you don't have to use their food lists the beauty is that you can enter in ANYTHING and then have it saved to your favorites. You can search for anything and everything and if they odn't have it, you add it! Seriously, you only have to add it once and think about it, we mostly eat the same things over and over so it's awesome. This lets you eat *whatever* you want and just work on portion control and staying within the calories.

2. Exercise is everything - more important than eating (IMO). I have some good ideas there too. The biggest motivator for me is that I go to the YMCA and it has an amazing support system for parents. They have babysitting for up to age 6, a supervised activity room for ages 6 and up and then kids can play basketball, swim or do other stuff if they are older (while you work out).

I would join a place that you can go right from school after you pick up kids - put little ones in daycare and just get it over with so it's not hanging over your head to do at night when dh gets home.

I think running is one of most effective and fastest ways to get the weight off so that's a great start!

good luck!

Anthromomma · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject:

julymom · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject:

prescott · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

Hey, wait a sec, it's my birthday today, too! January 10th fucking ROCKS!!

occasion9

Anthromomma · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject:

Hooray! All the best people are Capricorns. Mr. Green

Although, this may well be my lamest birthday ever. Dh is ~still~ at work (it's 11 pm here), my evening consisted of putting three kids to bed, watching bad TV and drinking five Shiner Blondes. Woo Hoo.

Scout · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

Happy belated birthday to both of you!

MM, that's good to know that it worked for you. We are members of the Y, but the childcare at ours totally sucks. Plus I feel bad about getting the kids from school and sticking them somewhere else, KWIM? I do get out 45 minutes before I have to pick them up, and the Y is directly across the street from their school, so I could conseivably squeeze in 20-30 minutes a few days a week before picking them up, but I'm so not good at rushing and the whole clothing thing is such a hassle. I know, more excuses...

My jogging buddies and I start Monday, so that will help. Maybe I'll get a yoga or pilates DVD or something to do on other days for strength training.

TreeMom · Slightly Flawed Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 109

Scout -

I have both a yoga and a pilates DVD which are gather dust in my house if you would like a burned copy of them.

Kelly

MainstreamMom · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:11 am Post subject:

Scout,

Not sure if you saw this but I liked it:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/Fitness_articles.asp?id=758&page=3

I totally understand about not wanting to rush around to just squeeze in 15 minutes at the Y. And I understand not wanting to put kids in daycare after you just picked them up - I don't see ours as daycare, more of a playroom. They actually call it the children's gym. Ours is HUGE though and totally made of glass walls so you can see in while you work out. The kids love it too.

I have a hard time too with the whole dieting thing. I have to play mental games with myself all the time.

Did anyone see Bob Green on Oprah yesterday? He had some great tips too!

Scout · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:06 am Post subject:

Thanks for that. I really do want to love running. It's so convenient, you know?