What happens when your third race is your slowest race? My first 5K was 45 minutes, and my second one was 44 minutes. My third 5K was 46 minutes. Do I know what happened? I have suspicions. I had slacked off on my training because one of my knees had been bothering me. I gotContinue reading “Dealing with Disappointment”
Tag Archives: selfcare
Climbing Out of a Slump or Hole
How to you get out of a slump – where you just don’t want to do anything? Looking at the photo above, we can see both a ladder and a helping hand – two ways out of the hole. To quote Dr. Seuss, “When you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun.Un-slumping yourselfContinue reading “Climbing Out of a Slump or Hole”
Self Care: Journaling
Journaling can take many forms, from letter writing or poetry to long term goal planning – or even a blog like this one. We can use journaling to express our thoughts and feelings and create a lasting record of our journey. Getting in touch with this side of ourselves can be a healthy exercise andContinue reading “Self Care: Journaling”
Self-Care & Exercise: Deep Breathing
Deep breathing exercises have been associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression in numerous studies (1). By reducing cortisol levels, deep breathing exercises can normalize our hormone levels, leading to fewer cravings and reduced appetite. Deep breathing can also improve focus which is a valuable skill for weight maintenance (2). Diaphragmatic breathing (explained below) canContinue reading “Self-Care & Exercise: Deep Breathing”
TOPS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly
75 years ago, Esther Manz invited friends into her Milwaukee, Wisconsin home for a weight loss, mutual support meeting. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) is still helping dieters with weekly meetings throughout the United States and Canada, as well as Zoom meetings for those unable to attend in person. Other tools and videos available onContinue reading “TOPS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly”
Exercise: The Benefits of Yoga
Yoga can have many health benefits – both physical and psychological. Let’s take a look at some studies to learn if this exercise is right for you. Yoga is based upon an ancient practice first recorded in India about 5,000 years ago (1). Modern yoga focuses on strength, flexibility, agility, and breathing. There are manyContinue reading “Exercise: The Benefits of Yoga”
Self-Care: Vision Boards
What Is a Vision Board? A vision board is a tool that can help us to visualize a dream that we hope to realize. It can help us to be more positive and motivated to achieve our vision for the future. I’ve created a little one here that uses recent photos that make me feelContinue reading “Self-Care: Vision Boards”
Self Care: Mindfulness
Have you been seeing the term mindfulness more often lately? It’s not always associated with dieting, but it is often discussed in terms of health benefits. As it turns out, it can play a role in maintaining a healthy weight. Sometimes mindfulness is coupled directly with food, as in mindful eating. In that case, it’sContinue reading “Self Care: Mindfulness”
Exercise: Tai Chi
I recently took my first Tai chi class after reading about its many benefits. I was looking for improved balance but learned much more. Read about other exercises to improve your balance here: https://lindawbrowning.com/2023/02/10/exercise-keeping-balanced/ Tai chi is a traditional Chinese exercise based on the martial arts (1). Its slow breathing and pacing are reminiscent ofContinue reading “Exercise: Tai Chi”
Self Care: Sunlight
Are you looking for an easy way to uplift your spirits and your health? One that doesn’t require a lot of hard work or a big time commitment? How about a free therapy that can help with weight loss and even some diseases? Look no further than your own backyard or the nearest park! BeforeContinue reading “Self Care: Sunlight”
Coursework: Food Insecurity & Obesity
Perhaps you’ve encountered this paradox: many people who experience low food security have an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese (1). On the surface, this seems odd – that you might have a shortage of food yet are likely to weigh more than those with ample food choices. I believe that last word givesContinue reading “Coursework: Food Insecurity & Obesity”
Self-Care: Volunteering
By helping others, you can truly help yourself. Volunteering is an unexpected way to care for yourself. It’s definitely another tool we can use to help maintain our healthy weight. And it’s one with a far reaching positive impact. Here are some of the benefits of volunteering: How might you find the right volunteer projectContinue reading “Self-Care: Volunteering”
Self-Care: Clothing, Part 2
Last time, we looked at the first two items in the list below. Today we will consider the final three. Alterations I’m fortunate in being able to sew and I also have a nice sewing machine with ample supplies. I’ve been able to alter many of my clothes as I lost weight. But if somethingContinue reading “Self-Care: Clothing, Part 2”
Self-Care: Music
Let’s start off with a self-care practice that’s near to my heart, music. I’ve been learning the harp for four years and have found that playing is a wonderful way to de-stress. It is also one of the things I routinely do when I think I’m hungry, but know that it’s definitely not time toContinue reading “Self-Care: Music”
Self-Care: What and Why?
You’ve likely heard of self-care, a phrase that seems to mean just about anything that improves your life. But what is it really and why does it matter in terms of weight maintenance? Self-care is a sort of nebulous term, as it includes so many possible activities. These are actions you undertake to improve yourContinue reading “Self-Care: What and Why?”
Maintain Weight Loss 