Even the most effective weight loss pills, no matter how much you spend on them, are not going to make your body look the way you want it to if you don't eat right and exercise. You know this. We ALL know this. So why are we so stubborn?  I propose we're not stubborn. We are tired. 

I was being hard on myself and my soft addiction to nutrition and weight loss supplements. But when I sat down and thought about WHY I keep depending on pills that don't work rather than doing the work that I know will produce results, I was surprised to realize that I wasn't leaning on the pills for how I wanted them to make me look, but how they made me feel.

I am so tired. Is it 40? Is my "active" school aged kids? Marital stress? Recession? Yes yes yes and yes. When I really thought about my spending habits and what I am looking for from these products I realized it is the ENERGY to eat right and work out that I am looking for. After all, I prefer a healthy vegetarian diet to driving through McDonald's, and I sincerely ENJOY working out. It's just so much easier after a long day and between homework and bouts of sibling rivalry to eat junk and NOT work out. And diet pills give energy.

Unfortunately they also give side affects so this is an unhealthy practice. The crazy thing is that fruits and veggies in the morning would provide a natural boost of energy and exercising revs up the metabolism and makes me want to work out more once I get into a routing.

How to get in the damn routine though? Anyone? 

I am a freak for Christmas. Despite the dark and cold climate and seasonal affected disorder, I am of sunny disposition and festive spirit throughout the month of December and am constantly in the mood for shopping, sharing, eating, and celebrating.

People are stressed to the max in December for sure, but somehow it gets trumped by hoy and good will. And I love it.

Christmas decorations are like crack to me. Since having kids and the spike thy cause in holiday spending, I don't buy as much as I used to but I am still drawn to browsing the holiday aisles at the stores and I feel all warm and happy when doing so.

And of course like everyone else I have a tendency to overspend on presents but I actually get most excited over cool little stocking stuffer gifts like silly bands, personalized gifts, and paperbacks.

What's your favorite part of holiday time? 

Hydroxycut reviews, diet tea videos, beauty and exercise infomercials... these are the hottest topics year round, but come holiday time, their popularity soars.  

It's October - almost November. I tend to get lots of assignmeat at this time of year addressing the healthy, beauty and weight loss industy so let's spend some time over the next several posts talking about what's out there.

I myself would surely be shocked if I learned how much I spent on beauty supplies and diet supplements throughout the year. I have been cutting back and spending more responsibly but I know there is still a lot of fat I could trim. 

I remember when I was 17 I read an article about how drastically different the metabolism is after 30. I made a plan. "Great!" I thought. "That gives me plenty of time to eat right, work out, and build a healthy lifestyle to help me keep it together after 30. I failed to consider one simple fact - that LIFE at 17 and LIFE at 30 and beyond would be very different. 

At 17 there was nobody to take care of but myself. At 17 my Mom was still making sure the kitchen was filled with healthy foods. At 17 I had but 2 concerns... grades and my appearance.

At 35 there were three other people to take care of BEFORE taking care of myself. I still had grades to worry about but they weren't mine - they were my kids! And that healthy food in the kitchen was gone! Replaced by mac and cheese and hot dogs - and other such things that were both enjoyed by my kids and affordable on my budget.  

Now at 40 - I've had it! I'm an expert on diet pills fat burners and such - and I definitely see their value - but they are not the wonder cure I wanted them to be. I still have to work out and eat right. Which is okay! I have no problem with that. I love working out.The trouble is finding the time. When I hear myself say "I just don't have time to be healthy" aloud it sounds so stupid.  How can there not just be at least 20 minutes left in the day to run to the corner or do some sit ups. I miss the energy I had, eating right and being active. 

It's about time management. I've known it all along but I can't avoid the fact any longer. I'm building a schedule, making a plan, and making some time for this and other important things. Someone said to me the other day "If you can't find time to take care of yourself now, you're going to have to find time to be sick later."  Ugh. Brutal. 

Supplements and energizers are still my friend, but I have to take responsibility for my part too. Wish me luck.