Sometimes life is overwhelming. And sometimes life is hard. I mean REALLY hard. Like the-dog-ate-my-homework-and-then-my-cat hard. Or the oh-by-the-way-you’re-fired hard. Or the there-is-no-f#$^ing-way-I-am-getting-out-of-bed hard.

It’s at times like these that you may want to turn yourself on autopilot, or as I call it, the Mindless Manipulation Mode. This mode works especially well for those times that you are losing the drive and commitment to  your workout plan, but I’m sure it could apply to other times when life grabs you by the balls and gives them a squeeze (sorry girls, I’ll try to come up with more gender-equal comments as we go along).

Mindless Manipulation Mode involves a little bit of planning and then setting yourself up so that you just do whatever it is that needs to get done. Once things are set in place, there is no thinking about it on your part. You just do it (gosh, where have I heard that before?).

Which leads me back to yesterday’s post about bootcamp class and Weight Watchers, and about the tough time I’ve been having with my dad. I’m making so many decisions and looking at so many options with my dad that I really can’t handle any more thinking or decisions right now.

So I’ve very cleverly manipulated myself into “just doing it.” Just going to bootcamp three times a week. Just eating no more than 23 points worth of food on any given day. Just eating pretty much the same foods every day so that I don’t have to decide what I should or shouldn’t eat today (check out upcoming posts for devilishly delicious easy meals that I eat almost every day).

Think about it – how can you set yourself on autopilot to reach your weight loss goals?

Take me back to Little Black Dress Fitness Tips

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. Work, caring for elderly parents, and running two web sites has taken it’s toll – mentally, emotionally, and physically.

My parents are both 80 years old, and my father has Parkinson’s. His mobility and functionality have been deteriorating, but more rapidly over the last six months.

Then he had a fall and landed in the emergency room. No bones were broken, but he did have some heavy bruising. In addition, he lost pretty much all strength to handle daily functions. He needed assistance getting out of a chair, dressing, bathing, etc.

It was a rough couple months, but with some proper medication and in-home health care, he is improving. Needless to say, I allowed my personal well-being to deteriorate over the last few months.

But I am BACK and off to a brand new start! I joined Weight Watchers – yes, Weight Watchers! – last week. I never thought I would benefit from something as simple (simplistic?) as Weight Watchers – so here’s why I did.

• Supportive Group Environment: The supportive environment that I found at my group bootcamp classes was exactly what I needed. If it works (for me!) with exercise, why wouldn’t it work for the diet portion of my life? Just having a group of folks just like me that are going through the same struggles, and talking about it, has been a very positive experience for me.
• Keep It Simple Stupid: My bootcamp classes have been great because I don’t have to think – I just show up and work my butt off. Weight Watchers Points System is pretty simple as well – balance your food intake so that you don’t go over your point limit.
• Accountability: Weight Watchers forces me to look at my weight once a week, to acknowledge whether I’ve lost weight or not, and believe it or not, weight loss now almost seems like a challenge, or game, rather than deprivation.

I really thought Weight Watchers was “old school,” not something that a hip and happening chick like myself would be interested in, but I was wrong. They have some phenomenal online tools (available only with the monthly pass, I believe) as well as a great iPod/iPhone app that lets you track your points on the go.

I lost 2 pounds the first week (see my progress chart at the top of the page), which was big boost. And that was without any exercise! I’d suspended my bootcamp classes to deal with my father, and somehow “No Bootcamp Class” got translated into “You Don’t Have To Work Out” in my little pea brain. So a month has gone by with close to no exercise, but I start my bootcamp classes again tonight.

If you want to lose weight and have not tried Weight Watchers, or not tried it in a long while, I’d suggest giving it a shot. And fyi, I am not getting paid in any way, shape or form, at this time, to promote Weight Watchers. At some point there may be some advertising on this site, and it may feature Weight watchers, but I’ll be totally upfront about that if it happens.

Wish me luck!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!