ugh. friday afternoon i found out my blood pressure is elevated- yeah, i am sure it is partially because i have anxiety and have had a shitty year and genetics are against me,
but really, and this is extremely painful for me to admit, my blood pressure is elevated in part because i am too fat.
so once again, i make a commitment to taking better care of myself by eating less and more healthfully- with the result of that being the weight will FALL off (or just come off slowly- doesn’t really matter how fast right?) i’ve been going to a nutritionist for a few weeks to analyze and improve what i eat. (she weighs me and tells me that i’m “heading in the right direction”) and i write down my food each day (was thinking about putting my food log on the blog but wasn’t sure anyone wants to see that…do you? I will share when I find things like best vitamins for weight loss though.)
and i’ve been exercising for the past couple of months and will continue to move more.
that’s it. that’s what i HAVE to do.
maybe by talking about it on the blog, i will hold myself more accountable. so as to not disappoint myself, nor you.
and no, i am not doing this for anyone other than me.
so far so good. weekends are usually hard for me to stay on track, but i have managed to. and i am avoiding all sweets other than an occassional skinny cow cone (a dieter’s dream at 150 cal) until my birthday (feb. 7th- only one cheat day!) when alexis and johnny iuzzini (dessert fourplay) have their big bake off.
wish me luck. (or don’t!)
and feel free to start your healthful living along with me…
xxx
jennifer
facebook; @Jennyhutt
Jennifer, I emphasize with what you’re going through. You need to take care of you. We can’t control much in life, but what we can control…we need to and that means what we do to our bodies. That mindset helped me recently drop 55 pounds. Here were some my strategies…I ate oatmeal with berries every morning (the secret weapon of my success). I didn’t focus on ‘diet’, I focused on making sure everything that entered my body was healthy and well balanced. I have a glass of red wine every night as a treat. I avoid listening to music unless I’m working out. This pushes me to get on the eliptical for that zone out time to myself. Staying well hydrated helps too. I also had my husband hide the scale. I know food diaries are encouraged along with small meals, but it didnt work with my busy schedule. The most important thing is to find what works best for you and be the heathiest you can be. Take care.
You know what I love about you?? No matter who your family is or who your friends are you are so real. I think it is great that you put yourself out there and share your feelings with us. I think it’s great that you have begun a transformation of your diet and exercise program. Keep up the good work!!
I’ve had weight problems my whole life and for a couple of years now I’ve been on blood pressure pills. As my weight goes down, my blood pressure isn’t. I’m sure if I were to exercise that it would help tremendously. In May I made the decision to join Weight Watchers because of my health and not getting any younger. No matter what I still go. Even during the month of December when there were cookies everywhere around the office and I made sure I had several of them I still did my weigh ins. If it makes you feel like you’re holding yourself more accountable, then you should post what you eat. Nothing like all of your listeners and blog readers to help you keep on track. I find that the support of people going through the same thing is what keeps me always thinking about the program and the new lifestyle that I am working on adopting. WW meetings are really great, but posting on your blog will open you up to positive comments from those who care. Remember that every day is another chance to start over.
I am right there with you Jennifer…I would be interested in your food blog. Have you ever tried Pilates? I have been doing it for 2 years now and it is the only form of exercise that I honestly love. I am sure there are some great studios in NY, although my instructor and her studio in Boston is the best! We all support you Jennifer.
Hey Jennifer, its really hard to deal with weight issues, I have been trying to lose baby weight for three years now, but you can do it. If it helps for you to post every little thing to help keep yourself accountable, we will gladly read it. My b-day is feb 6th and I will be cheating a little too! Good Luck, you can do it!
Why not try Weight Watchers. You pretty much can eat what you want, only limited. Good Luck!
I would love to see your daily food log! I’m in the same boat. You are beautiful, though 🙂
brave blog 🙂
It goes back to the only way to loose weight. Eat less and exercise. No magic pill. I think you should just do it without keeping anyone posted about it. Just do it for yourself not the blog, etc. Good luck!!!
Jennifer – does low-carb/high-protein work for you? I ask because I see you on TV and I see me! (and I love that!). I think we have very similar body types. I was a Jewish girl born in Westchester and given up for adoption – maybe we’re long-lost sisters… Seriously, another thing that has worked for me is the Wii Personal Trainer program. This is not Wii Fit (which I also have), but a program for the Wii that will customize a workout to your needs. I love it and it’s very motivating and fun (workout on the beach or in a high rise? Dance music or hip hop)… Good luck. I’ve declared 2009 the “Year of Me” – you should do the same!!
Good luck, though it looks like you are doing the right things… 🙂
I use a website called sparkpeople. Ther are listings there of thousands of foods and you can click on them and calculate what you ate for the day. It makes a page each day for exercises that you did and food that you ate. You can choose to make those parts public or private, and you can get encouragement from other members and join teams. I am not sure if this is something you might like, but I know for my hubby and I just knowing that we have to “put this in sparkpeople” (list a food) will sometimes keep us from over indulging… 🙂 Take care!!
Thanks for your honesty! I am sorry you have had such a rough year and wish you the best!! Good luck and please keep posting in your blog –
as many others have said, i’m right here with you. high BP is a big concern for me as well.
in the last month, i’ve been watching “You Are What You Eat” on BBCAmerica and it’s opened my eyes so much. A holistic nutritionist overhauls peoples crap diets into what is essentially a vegan diet (she never calls it that though, she being Gillian McKeith). I won’t bother trying to explain it further when you can just watch an episode and see yourself. 🙂
I’m about to start following her plan (you can get a detailed personal health profile on her site) and i’m feeling so jazzed about it. Losing weight – def. factor. Feeling Healthy – even more so.
Plus I’ve just started doing yoga, which has evolved into power yoga – wowza! never knew how hard it would be, yet so rewarding when i make progress.
good luck to all of us.. would love to hear the steps you’re taking and your progress.
*** Please post your food log ***
Good luck and I would love to try it too. Thanks Jennifer!
Post away!
Like “I understand”…I too have avoided the photo op…saw a picture of myself and WHOA…I have packed it on.
Started Weight Watchers…love it…
Weekends are tough…
Try shirataki noodles!
Good luck! I started trying to eat healthier this new year as well. I would love to see your daily food log. It might give me some ideas of different types of meals to prepare!
I like sparkpeople.com for keeping a daily calorie total. Easy to add your own foods if not in their listing too
Dearest Jen,
I think you should post what is helpful to you to post. I feel lucky to read your comments and know what you’re experiencing.
I ache to have a normal relationship with food and my body. Every day it gets away from me, then the anger and guilt, then another day. Ridiculous. Wasteful. And ridiculous again.
You are not alone.
Me and my friend used to do WW together and every morning we’d email eachother what we ate the day before – it kept us honest even if we’d fallen off track. We still do it now even though I’m pregnant and she’s still WW’ing – it just helps to make yourself aware and accountable of what you’re putting in your mouth, even if you’re not trying to lose weight.
Now aside from anything else you truly have your health as motivation to make it work and hopefully the results will not only be seen in the pounds coming off but your blood pressure dropping as well.
Good luck.
I would love to see your food blog daily. I have recently lost 20 pounds by running and cutting out dairy and white flour, sugar, etc. I eat lots of grain and bean dishes,fruits and veggies preferably organic. On New Years Eve I ran a 5K into the New Year, I feel great. You can do it, Jennifer, keep up the good work!!
I’m no fan of Oprah, but here’s my advice:
1. Try Pilates. It’s a beautiful, empowering form of exercise based in part on the way children move when they play. It will give you a body awareness that will make you want to slim down. Working out at the gym with a trainer is a bore, and so are constantly sore muscles. And yoga’s not for everyone. Combine pilates with effective cardio, like an hour a day on elliptical with good music or tv. Take deep, slow breaths. Dance every day.
2. Don’t obsess about what you eat. And don’t think of crap like Skinny Cow as a “treat.” Good cheese with a ripe pear is a treat. Eat mostly whole foods, and whole grains only before noon–rest of the day minimal carbs. Look to macrobiotic for inspiration, like chewing each mouthful 40 times (more a guideline than a “rule”) to slow down your intake. Don’t count calories. Enjoy beautiful vegetable dishes, warm winter soups like miso or bean, hot herbal teas when you’re famished. Eat a little every few hours.
Jennifer, I too struggle with weight. I love food, really I do, I love everything about it, picking it, buying it, chopping it, cooking it, eating it, You name it I really do love food, all food and apparently it loves me too as it refuses to leave my ass!
I ate a package of peperage farm butter cookies, 8 hostess donuts and 2 ice cream cones. This was all in one evening. Its time I realize I am sick and addicted to sugar, addicted to food and replacing junk to fill all my sadness.
Every Monday is a new diet, every 1st of the month is a new beginning. I fluctuate 20 to 30 pounds. I am sad and unable to stop the insanity. I feel out of control, fat & ugly.
When I finally loose the weight I am certain to gain it back.
Maybe with your truth and blog I too can face what I am doing to myself and stop the madness and self destruct.
Oh Jennifer, I was {{ almost }} put on Blood Pressure Medicine but I wanted to try and lower it myself so I eliminated all the salt I could from my diet, increased the exercise, acupuncture and herbs and foot baths (yes, foot baths). I was able to lower my BP 15 points. Now if your doctor says you should take it, take it, but try to get all the salt out of your diet too. Read labels, you can’t believe how high in sodium foods can be.
Yes, please post what you eat. I think it would be helpful for those who also struggle with weight loss. I was just referred by my Kaiser Internist for a bariatric consultation because I have borderline high blood pressure, diabetes (somewhat controlled by medication) and borderline high cholesterol. Apparently, it only gets worse with age and more weight. Diet and exercise is supposed to be the key factors in controlling all of it. I haven’t been sucessful in getting it all together. My son will turn 23 soon and I weigh more now than I did when he was born all those years ago. So, it doesn’t improve unless certain measures are taken.
I am proud of you. I do just the same thing…every so often I make big plans to drop the weight. If there was a magic pill we’d have it! Finally I am learning that it takes planning ahead, exercise and taking one day at a time. I just don’t get how Alexis is baking ALL the time and never eats any of it. Not normal! Love your blogs!
Jennifer…I have the same prob with BP…going thru terrible mournign adds to it..you your Mom..me my Dad.
I was thinking it might be fun or at least take your mind off to get bicycles and do it on the weekend with family..then I remembered it’s freezing there..so scratch thatMaybe just dance with your kids..1/2 hour a day…great for connecting with them also..they will love the attention as they always do.
I am sorry you are going thru this…sorrow is a hard thing to deal with..I admire you for the honesty you have with us all.
Hang in there and dont be so hard on yourself ok
Suzi
I really dislike how much you two hate Oprah, but to each his/her own. All, or most diets start out great–we’re all excited, this time I’m going to loose the weight. And then three months, three years, whatever, the cravings get the best of us. You two were waaaaaaaaaaay too hard on Oprah— what she has done !!!–All the schools she supports (not just the famous one), towns in Africa she feeds, scholarships here in the US. You didn’t even give her credit for that. You don’t have to like her but at least admire her for her philanthrophy (did I spell that right ? !!). And what did she do this past weekend, but go back to her school in Africe (one among many), pushing herself harder for her schools. Why pick on Oprah—I don’t get it. All the good that she has done for so many people.
Well, if you want to put your food diary up then I’d like to see your weight too——–Oprah has never hid her weight numbers. But, personally, I’m really not interested—-diets, play around with semantics all you want but I’ll call it a diet——–do you diet stuff privately and then come back in five years and show us your journals if you kept the weight off. That’s the problem, maintenance is harder than the diet——the cravings get the best of us sooner or later. Love ya—now I’m going to eat my Reeses Peanut butter cups (Oh !!! I better switch away for Peanut butter for now—OK Hershey bars !!!)
I am sure the Nutritionist has had you do this but can you isolate why and when you “fall off” your plan. If it is related to your Mom you should find a group or hospice to speak with. You cant keep things inside.
I also LOVE the Skinny Cow products.
Love YOU!!!
Good Luck to you! You can do it!!!!!:)
This is probably the absolute last thing you want to hear and im sure every jackass know-it-all says the same thing to you, but 30 minutes of exercise 3 times a week has seriously changed my life. It is clinically proven that exercise negates the effects of smoking, which is why I decided to get a gym membership. I lost weight (I didn’t change my diet one bit) and have more energy, I’m happier and I sleep better and an unexpected side-effect was that I lost a lot of the urge to smoke and my two-packs-a-week habit has been halved.
Good luck, we’re all cheering for you!
Yes, please share your food intake only if there is a place where we can share ours too! I’m way too fat right now- ugggg.
Dear J,
It looks like everyone would support the listing of your daily food consumption….it may open you up to too much criticism though. Perhaps a scale system would work out better for the blog without revealing “the items” you consume in particular. Say the scale is from 1-10 and “the optimum” balance … what we all strive for, would be a 10 ( a great day)…..limited sugar, ( love those skinny cows!), more fruit/veg/nuts, etc…and the gauge would go down from there. A 1 would be …I craved everything and ate way too much and loved every minute of it but now I have food remorse so bad I could vomit….LOL
This is just a perspective, I also try to manage my eating and exercise, everyday is different depending on so many things…like everything else…..we can only try for the outcome we want, some days are successful and some are not…no internal punishment necessary……
be well…
i’d love to see a food log here and there if you have time. might get some ideas on new healthy things to eat.
Angela, Great advice. The ONLY way I can get my butt moving is if I wear a pedometer faithfully, and aim for 10 thousand steps a day. It has a way of keeping me on track, and it’s fairly easy to do once you really focus on it. That adds up to roughly five miles, so it’s a great start. Get one Jennifer!
Jennifer -Best wishes. I too am starting again, today. I want this to be the year……sending all good thoughts your way and I would love if you updated with ideas, menus, tips, and what your eating…..anything to help motivate me
Good luck! I feel your pain because I need to exercise and eat better. Maybe reading your blog will help me. I appreciate you honestly and willingness to share your progress. You are an inspiration. YOU ROCK!
I lost 80 lbs under the care of a GREAT nutritionist, great being the key of course. However, 90% of it all is you being in the right frame of mind and keep your eye on the prize. I am rooting for you, you can do it. I fell off the wagon and I am back on again. There is nothing better than being healthy and feeling good.
xoxo
Miami
Yipee!
Our STEELERS are heading for the SUPER BOWl!
ok jennifer I am eating too much also.
I try to stick with raw veggies but I would rsther cook them.
Nuts have a lot of calories as does
anything with sugar/.startch/fat
ya know?All the tasty stuff!
I snack on cereals[dry] non sweetened]
Anyway jennifer…
eating less is the way to go but NO F N way will i excercise!
I was considering a good jump rope….
Veggies
no chicken skin
no pork fat
no this no that…
good luck!! I think if you post things it will make you feel more accountable. I had a hard time loosing weight but got a body bugg and it helped me lose weight it shows your calories and how many you have burned. It made me move more because I could see my calories burned.
i would love to have you post the food log…it helps me to keep on track too!
Good luck Jen, but before you lose it, push that fat up to the mic and let us hear the ambient swishing sounds of it.
not a BLOB of fat ew yucky
Jennifer, I do wish you all the luck and wish I had the nerve to go right along with you. However my level of stress right now with 2 sick parents don’t permit it. But I will be cheering from the sidelines!
Jennifer, I have used a site called Diet Diaries. You get an idea of what others are doing that works and their struggles as well. You can either have a private or public post. Good Luck to you. It is hard enough to keep weight off, add some stress and things can seem awhole lot more overwhelming. However, you do have alot of support look how all these people are pulling for you!
shut up and eat already, you’ll never be skinny
post away! xo
jen, you are WAY too young to have blood pressure problems. here is an easy way to lose weight. STOP EATING SO MUCH and do cardio. Unless you have a thyroid problem, there is no excuse. You talk about it so much. I think all the talking is a way of you not to do something about it. Don’t think – just do!
get a life and worry about yourself…you probably dont have 1/2 the beauty, brains or kindness as Jenny does…the fact that you even take the time to write with such negativity shows what a-holes you are!!! find another blog to comment on.
Joann,
“Way too young to have blood pressure issues” is bullshit. I’ve been on high BP meds since the age of 20 when I weighed a whopping 102 lbs. I have a family history…diet and exercise aren’t always the answer. I think YOU should eat more so your mouth is busy doing something other than spouting off useless crap.
Both Bob and joann could use some sensitivity training. I used to be a tall fat man. I lost close to 200 lbs and people would come up to me and say such things as; “you look sick”, “you’re too thin”, “you don’t look happy anymore.” Well it’s been an up & down adventure for me, right now I’m a tall guy who could lose 15/20 lbs. and I am OK with that. Jennifer IS admittedly putting herself out there for comment, but joann is as incorrect as she could be about blood pressure and Bob has his head up his ass.
Hey Jennifer! I listened to some of your show today (I listen to you guys whenever I can-you are great!) anyway, don’t listen to the mean stupid people-they suck!
I am rooting for you! I have the blood pressure problem too and had very bad side effects to the medication. Be careful with that. And try to eat potassium rich foods like bananas, baked potatoes, oranges, Also V-8 Low Sodium is high in potassium. You know what you have to do and you will do it!
Also, while I am writing I want to comment on a show a few weeks ago when someone complained about you and Alexis and your show-I don’t know the exact details. But your show gets more calls than any of the other show on Martha Stewart radio. On some of the other shows they are practically begging people to call. Maybe those people are just jealous.
Anyway, you guys have the best job in the world! And I love listening to you! Good luck Jennifer!
It’s not useless crap. MOST people wouldn’t be overweight if they ate less and moved more. What is with you people who think you are Jennifer’s private feelings protecter? Get real. She does talk about it way too much.
Jennifer sorry to hear about your blood pressure…you will overcome this. You are already taking the right steps. I would love to see you blog your food log. You are a kind, sweet and beautiful woman and I know you will reach your goal. Also a little cheating here and there doesn’t hurt. The guilt will make you bounce back on the right track.
I thought you were doing WW? I understand your pain. my father passed away 4 years ago and I’m a stress eater, needless to say here I am 30# heavier. WW has helped me, get yourself to the meetings! good luck
i think you should post. it will keep you accountable….have a good day! happy inauguration day!
🙂
food blog would be interesting–how do you avoid sweets? really, how?
check Lotril 5/10 with your doctor. No side effects from me but it keeps the blood pressure level. Don’t ignore it get the doctor to help. My wife is a Weight Watcher she says they have a new program, maybe it is worth going again. My wife has paid for the last xxx years but mostly doesn’t go. She won’t cancell it is a life line. I am hopeful she is going back next week. If you go back I am sure it will inspire her. One time she did a big loss and kept it off for several years. Agravation at work eat away and she yo yo’d. It does work but you have to want it to and just do it. So just do it. Say hi to Charlie and if anyone sees Don Rubin hi to him, what is he doing these days?
take small steps. it goes on easy and a pain to come off, believe me I have done this for far too many years. Do
what works for you. Smaller portions, and NO SODA, and no artificial sweetener crap. Cut back on sugar and thins that are white, like bread, rice.pasta, switch to whole grains.
Go for it girl, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING in moderation. good lucl
i wish you the best of luck! I know you can do it!! =)
Good luck, you are not alone :0)
I think you’re one of the most hilarious women I’ve ever come across and I think everyone here agrees- you’re fantastic and we’re here to support you!
But only if you feel comfortable…we won’t judge!
Jen is putting her weight problem on her blog specifically for us to comment. There is no need for us to attack each other’s comments. Just because we don’t agree with each other doesn’t mean anyone is right or wrong or has “their head up their ass.” Everyone has different ways to lose weight, different things that worked for them and Jen is looking for something that clicks with her, her lifestyle and eating habits. Hence: “Unclench your fist and open your hand”, as Obama said.
Good Luck!
I use http://www.thedailyplate.com it’s part of Livestrong I guess.
It’s awesome. You track your food, and exercise!!! There is also a message board..very very helpful!
You can make it public, so if you give us your user name we can see what you eat!! 🙂
I started my “journey” last January and I’ve lost 50lbs..it’s coming off slowly but I too have trouble on the weekends. I can’t stick to my weekday routine and temtations get the best of me.
Right now, I’m in the “just do it” mode.
You’re not alone…you owe it to YOURSELF to be healthy first, and your family will reap the benefit of a healthy wife & mother.
i want to see what you eat, we all face this struggle. tell us your story, I’d love to hear it! love you and your postings. you make me happy.
Come on, Jennifer – you can do it. In December I felt like a sloth after too many months of falling off the wagon with regards to eating healthily. So January brought me to Weight Watchers again and I’m counting points like a demon. Luckily (?) I weigh so freakin’ much that I enough points so that I don’t feel hungry at all. And the good news is… 2 weeks in, I’m down 11 pounds WOO HOO!!!
Of course I wish you luck. I’m in the same boat with you. Poor eating habits, no exercise. Got to get after it. Here’s to us! A better 2009. I also lost my Mom last year. We will prevail!
With love.
I’m sure you have, but just in case, have you tried anyof these sites?
https://www.fitday.com
https://www.nutritiondata.com
https://www.peertrainer.com
all good and mostly free; first two for food tracking/bloggin and the third for peer support where you can also do food tracking with your chosen team or group
good luck. Im in the same boat.
my BP is too high too. i’ve been thinking myself a hypocrite lately because i preach exercise/healthy living, but i don’t do it myself. i’m going to jump on the bandwagon with you! i won’t cheat on your birthday, but i will cheat on mine! feb 10th. not only will i turn 3-0, but i will also be taking my nursing boards that day. i’m going to need cake.
best of luck on your journey to healthy! i’m cheering for you, as are many!
Jenn: I feel your pain. With the weight issues and I too lost my mother, in October (on my 60th birthday!) and now my 83 year old father is diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer…what a rough year it’s been for our family, too. I’m spending a lot of time in CA taking care of him as I’m the only one of 7 children who’s not working (retired) so fortunately I can take the time. I bring my mini Schnauzer Summer with me to help keep myself sane by taking her for walks morning and night, and she definitely cheers up my dad, too. So, as for your weight issues…use a smaller dish for your meals and moving more will definitely help. I find turning on a movie with lots of fun music (Mama Mia, Footloose, Grease, etc.) that I can dance along with helps, too. Also, when you go to sit down, take a few times of almost sitting and standing to get in some more movement, too and you can do it at workLittle tricks like that will definitely help you move more!
sometimes you just gotta say Fuck it and have a nice big thick piece of cake….
Jen,
YES!!! The more you write in the blog about your new healthy living, the better! I’m sure you and I aren’t the only ones trying to lose weight and I truly believe that sharing your “tips/tricks” helps everyone!
You go girl – I’m exercising again too and hate every minute of it, but the results will make us VERY HAPPY!!!
Love the show and both you and Alexis!!!
Good luck. Go ahead and put your food diary on the blog as long as you know you will be 100% honest. If not then that would only be destructive. I do not have a weight issue but I know I would lie about what I eat in a food diary. Even one that was not public.
Good luck, you deserve to slim and healthy and full of energy.
I need inspiration! That’s why I’m here. I was watching Dr. Drew and you on tv and I thought “wow, jenny has kept the weight off for a long time”, which brought me to your site then to here. I am a 43 year old, 7 year Breast Cancer Survivor, mother if a 13 y.o. boy, 9 y.o. girl. I have always struggled with my weight, yada yada yada, I could lose 70 lbs. if I lost 20, I don’t know what I would do with myself. I had my ovaries removed during my cancer battle,so I am post menopausal and have hypothyroid. Those have been the excuses I’ve been using to not lose weight. Sure I try for 2 weeks lose 4-6 lbs. then it gets hard and I give up. I have fought through so much, I can’t give up again…on me! Wish me luck!