I am learning other ways to keep track of my food besides using the CK dairy. I still use the food Dairy in order to occasionally check up on my food exchanges to make sure I am staying close to my calorie level. But, I have gone to an exchange method with standard weighing and measuring i order to keep up with portion control. This way I don't have to spend 20 minutes a day on the computer typing in everyday what I eat. I can check every three days or so my food levels instead to make sure I am staying on target instead. I have decided to choose my difficult days that have a lot of extras that need the extra calculating the diary. This has turned out to be a marvelous solution to my burn out problem. With this method I don't or haven't gotten tired of putting down or weighing and measuring my food. I follow a pattern of eating certain amounts of carbs, proteins, and veggies at each meal with 2 snacks per day.

I also have determined that I need 30-45 minutes of exercise to burn 100-150 calories each day. I'm a walker due to my handicap. Can't run or do the eliptical (SP ? ). I have found walking and the exercise bike will burn calories, but not as much as running and other machines unless I can get to a higher speed and an incline. Since the old back and SI joint aren't there, I am going to have to settle for now as a goal of those 150 cals per work out session for now. This is ok. At 1300 calories, that 100-150 of exercise means if I goof up calculating my daily intake, I will have some breathing room. It also means my metabolism should get a healthy jolt in the right direction as well as my self esteem.

That's right, the emotional benefits really out way the physical benefits by a long shot. For me just being able to get out there and accomplish any exercise is a victory. I feel like the athlete who ran the marathon when I get back from a work. " Look at me " I just walked two miles ! NA NA NA NA >>> as the song goes.... Seriously. As I pranced around the yard strutting my stuff !!!!! OK, you runners think I'm full of it I know and are truly laughing at how silly at what a big deal I am making over my petty two miles. But, this girl walked those two miles without much pain today. A year ago It really hurt. Ok, There's still pain, so it's still not pain free, but the pain is getting less. Three years ago I couldn't even walk around the grocery store ! I needed one of those carts to carry me around the store! When I got home from my walk I even thought that as soon as I got back into real shape, I might be able to walk a 12 minute mile. Then maybe make that three three miles under 45 minutes. That's my goal by next year.
Only time will tell I my body will be able to do this. I am starting my work outs now. Let's see how long it takes me to accomplish this goal.