Happy New Year! It’s resolution time again! I know what you’re thinking, “Wait, it’s almost April, why the heck is she talking about new year’s resolutions?” but my birthday is in March, so for me I always mark March as the start of a new year. Another notch in the birthday belt seems somehow more inspiring to me then the start of a new calendar year.
And speaking of belts and notches, I’ve never exactly been a skinny minny but in this past year I’ve put on a few pounds too many. This sitting on your butt all day at the computer thing is definitely taking it’s toll. I am well aware that the main lifestyle change I need to make is one of getting physically active more often. But taking a look at my diet certainly couldn’t hurt either. I’ve been cutting corners in the kitchen. Making some poor food choices for both myself and the kiddos, all in the name of convenience. I know I need to get back on track, but I’m at a bit of a loss as to where to start.
As a member of the Kelloggers network, I was invited to check out MySpecialK.ca back in January, when all the normal folks where rushing around making healthy lifestyle resolutions. So today I finally took a few minutes to look at it, and the idea seems solid. It’s basically an online program that offers personalized meal and fitness plans. But you know what I discovered? I weigh too much to use the program. When I entered in 5 foot 3 and 200 lbs I received an error message, “Sorry! Based on the information you entered, we don’t recommend this meal plan. Ask your physician for the best weight management plan for you.” Which made me feel like, “Wow, I guess I weigh WAY too much.” But then being the curious cat that I am, I logged out and played around with it… at 180lbs, 170lbs, even 160lbs the program rejected me. I know it’s not based solely on weight, it’s also based on my height and the BMI the program is calculating for me. So what’s the magic number? 150lbs. Which means I would need to lose 50 pounds before I can even LOOK at their suggested program. Well that’s not exactly encouraging, is it?
So I’m at a bit of a loss here. I started out this post thinking I’d write up a review of MySpecialK.ca. I was looking forward to playing around with the program and perhaps getting some inspiration for my own fitness goals. I have to say I’m disappointed. Apparently when they said that MySpecialK.ca is all about maintaining a healthy weight, they really meant strictly maintaining, a.k.a. if you’re overweight look elsewhere.
The other tool that immediately comes to mind is the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s Healthy Weight Action Plan, which bills itself as a “free, easy-to-use plan for getting to and keeping your healthy weight”. My friend Multi-Testing Mommy has written in the past about her success with using this program. I think I need to go and take another look at it.
What other online tools do you recommend for getting on track with a healthy lifestyle?
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