Just this week MO asked,

…How do you do everything that you do in one day?

And Amy said,

How much do you [...]]]> One of the Most Common Questions I get — especially on Sensational Sunday Posts — is how am I able to get so much done in a day.

Just this week MO asked,

…How do you do everything that you do in one day?

And Amy said,

How much do you actually plan out your Sundays? You always seem to get so much done that I wonder if you make a list or just let things happen.

I guess it’s time to share my secrets.

I invented a device that slows down time.

Really!

I did!

And I use it every Sunday.

It’s called a…

CAMERA – Catch All Moments Everyday Regardless of Activity.

This CAMERA slows time by making you stop and acknowledge what you are doing when you are doing it. It also has this amazing power that lets you peer back in time and reminisce moments you experienced during the day. All this leads to a sense of accomplishment and gratitude giving you motivation to wake up the next day and start all over again.

I’m sorry. I’m not sure where all that came from. I was trying to be clever, but honestly, I’m only partially joking. If you’ve seen my Sunday posts you know I take a lot of photos of some pretty mundane things:

laundry,

eating,

cooking,

playing a board game.

I do this to not only communicate what we did that day but to try express that it is the little things that matter in life, at least in my opinion. I’m sure if you took a moment to take a quick photo of everything you did in a 24 hour period you’d be quite surprised at what you actually accomplish.

Sunday’s have become a special day in my house. I literally grab the camera and document everything we do specifically for my posts. We also consciously try to do more to prepare for the week and reenergize the family. So, in all fairness you are only seeing a tiny slice my life on a day that I specifically set out to accomplish as much as possible.

All of that being said I thought I’d still take a moment to share my overall thoughts on getting more done. If you haven’t read, Ask Roni: How I Stay “Organized” HA! take a moment. It will give you a bit of insight into my overall philosophy that I think actually helps me accomplish more. Go ahead, click here the tips below will still be here when you get back.

OK, back? On to 5 Easy Ways I Get More Done in a Day…

Wake Up Earlier

OK, this is a no brainer but I’m going to assume there actually are other people in the world like my husband. He can easily sleep until noon on Sunday, then around 4PM he almost always says something like, "Wow it’s so late! Where did the time go?"

Really? I’m been up since 6 AM, ran, made breakfast for the kids, cleaned up the living room, paid some bills, put kid #2 to nap, played cards with kid #1, responded to emails, started the laundry and ate lunch all while you were sleeping. Of COURSE I get more done in a day then you. Geesh!

Do NOT Turn on the TV

I’m not anti-TV. Really, I’m not! Actually if you follow me on twitter you KNOW. All I do is talk about Revenge and Once Upon a Time, oh! and The River! I watch Food Network more than anyone else I know, and I can’t fall asleep unless the Science Channel is on in the background.

I like me some TV BUT I rarely turn it on in the morning and if I do, those are always the days I accomplish a heck of a lot less. There’s just something about the background TV noise that makes me less productive and slow.

This counts for kids shows too. Cartoons are just as big of a time suck as the morning news. Shut it all off or don’t turn it on in the first place. Start your day with the radio or nothing at all! Getting something accomplished first thing sets the tone of the day. Watching the news does nothing but put you in passive mode.

Involve Everyone in Everything

You can argue that kids slow you down but if you think of it as killing 3 birds with one stone, you get more accomplished with them then without them. Yes, I said 3.

I’ll use our laundry adventures as an example. Every weekend we do the laundry. I could let Little Guy watch TV while I sorted and started. Instead we do it together while trying to make it fun in the process.

Now instead of getting the laundry done, I’m getting the laundry done, spending time with my son and teaching him that chores are a part of life.

3 Birds – 1 Stone.

I could also do all the folding in the basement while the husband watched the kids up stairs. Instead I bring the laundry up and we fold it in the living room together while watching TV and spending time together as a family. Again, instead of getting the laundry folded, I’m getting the laundry folded, spending time with my husband/family and watching TV.

3 Birds – 1 Stone

I do this with everything from emptying the dishwasher to making dinner to cleaning the bathrooms. Sure, there are some times I just focus and get something done alone but more often then not, I involved the family some how. Recently, it was assembling a stroller. Now that was funny. lol Click here to see the story.

Make Plans but Be Flexible

So Amy asked above if I make plans or just let things happen and it’s a little bit of both. I always go into a weekend with few goals and activities in mind but then I play it by ear. I find this approach works best for me because if I over-plan then without fail something will happen throwing us (me) off schedule. Then everything is "ruined," I get depressed, sit on the couch and do nothing.

It’s happened.

Instead, I say to myself…

"Boy, it would be nice to go rock wall climbing on Sunday or if it’s nice out we’ll take the kids to the park. I’d love to get a run in too. Maybe we can grab dinner out or I can make sauce in the morning and we’ll have pasta."

So I give myself options and if something doesn’t workout I have something else to fall back on without feeling like I failed or the day was ruined. This helps me stay positive and motivated which helps me get more done by the end of the day.

Disconnect

You may not believe this but I’m a bad phone person. The husband often asks me why I even bother having one at all. It’s true. I disrespect my phone.

I do it on purpose.

I know myself and I know how easily I can get caught up in whats happening on line, on my blogs or in my inbox so I purposely "forget" my phone or shut it off or let the battery run out. I’m sure there’s a HUGE percentage of you nodding your head in disbelief saying something like, "I can’t live without my phone." or "I could never do that." or "I need it for emergencies."

Blah blah blah

You don’t need it you WANT it and there’s nothing wrong with that but don’t tell me you can’t get anything done during the day if you are constantly checking email or texting or doing whatever.

Step away from outside distractions a few times a week and focus on something. Really focus and you may be surprised how much you can actually get done.

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I hinted about this post on Sunday and honestly, it’s been brewing in me for days. I just needed a quiet moment to actually collect my thoughts (without a baby in tow) and attempt to communicate them in a way that makes sense. Now that I have that moment, I’m pretty sure I’ll [...]]]>

I hinted about this post on Sunday and honestly, it’s been brewing in me for days. I just needed a quiet moment to actually collect my thoughts (without a baby in tow) and attempt to communicate them in a way that makes sense. Now that I have that moment, I’m pretty sure I’ll still ramble on excessively. Expect a long one and please forgive me for that cheesy "A-Ha" photo.

As you may know I’ve been trying to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight for 10 months now. Baby number 2 came almost 6 years after baby number 1 and 5 years after a 70lb weight loss that I have maintained happily (minus pregnancy gain of course.) I not only lost weight back then but I started to find myself. For as long as I can remember weight loss and a bad body image dominated my thoughts. (Read more of my weight history on the My Story page.)

If you’ve been reading for some time you know this. You’ve been on this journey with me. Maybe you were there when I reached goal in 2006 or when I had the tummy tuck or made the decisions to join a gym to or the first time I ran 5k on a treadmill.

*sigh* Running. Now there’s something I never thought I’d EVER do. Yet you were there the first time I ran a 5k and 5 miles and 10 and my first half and, in-spite of a rough year, a marathon. Yes, I ran a FREAKIN’ Marathon. To say it now it still seems unreal, impossible and unbelievable. So does climbing a rock wall and doing a pull-up but I did all of those things.

Yes, now I’m crying.

Over the years my approach to losing and maintaing weight ebbed and flowed. I went from weekly weighing to daily to none at all. I food journaled on paper, in email, twitter and even Excel. I counted points and ate intuitively. My diet has slowly shifted from convenience based foods (100 cal packs, Frozen Dinners) to more and more whole and unprocessed options.

For Pete’s Sake my favorite things to eat now are winter squashes and kale! Who am I?

No, really.

Who am I?

Well…

I am now someone who not only wakes up at 5:30 AM to go to the gym but WANTS to wake up at 5:30 to go to the gym because I know from experience how awesome I feel the rest of the day.

I am now someone who is not afraid to be naked in front of her husband. That may have been a bit TMI but it’s true and I know some of you out there know where I’m coming from.

I am now someone who can wear a bathing suit on a beach and enjoy herself. Not because I’m sporting the perfect body but because I’m having too much fun with my family to care what anyone else thinks.

I’m now someone who can go out to eat and not feel controlled by food, overwhelmed at the menu or anxious about making the right choice.

I am now someone who doesn’t starve herself after eating something "bad" and then sneaks food when no one is looking.

I am now someone who doesn’t shy away from things she wants to do or try or experience.

I am now someone who doesn’t care what the scale says because of everything listed above<–THAT was My A-Ha Moment.

These thoughts all came flooding to me when I received this comment from Tina on my latest weigh-in post….

Roni, did you ever think that possibly giving up the journaling might work in your favor? I see that you go back and forth with it, I think that you know by now exactly what your body needs and doesn’t need. I know that emotions play a huge part in that at times, but I think in my experience that “so called” dieting or keeping track always set me up for a binge at some point. Since I gave up counting points, calories etc. I have seen the most progress in my weight, and I also feel more relaxed with food. Just a thought.

Tina pointed out something I think I’ve been afraid to admit because it takes me further and further away from where I started and for some reason that’s scary. Here I thought I was doing the right thing by following my own example of what worked for me in the past.

6 years ago I counted points, food journaled and blogged my way to weight loss. It worked then so why shouldn’t it work now?

Ohhh yea… because I’m not the same person I was back then. I don’t need to learn what a portion is or that a banana is a better choice then pretzels or that drinking my calories isn’t "worth it." I don’t need a daily limit to stop me from eating because I can’t tell the difference between hunger or boredom or stress or exhaustion.

I’m not saying I know it all now but I know myself and I’ve learned a lot over the years. Why am I forcing myself to do something that’s not working for me now and why aren’t I trusting myself? Oh! and for Heaven’s sake WHY do I need to see some stupid number on some stupid scale when I am everything I ever wanted to be?

Happy.

~*~*~*~

P.S. I wanted to end the post right there on a "happy" note (pun intended) but while writing this I got an email from Annalisa and I feel the need to share it in this post.

Hi Roni! This is not an ask-Roni question but really a thank you. I’ve read your blog for a few years and I’ve always found you inspirational. Quick background – I lost 50 lbs a few years ago and kept it off until I had my first baby 9 months ago. I’m struggling with losing the weight. I’m 40lbs heavier that I am used to being and it gets demotivating when nothing changes week after week (I nurse, eat clean, lots of walks, etc). I’m working on it slowly but very little is happening. Anyway, my thank you is for you continual advice to ‘live your life’. I continue to sign up for things, meet new people, be active, etc. even though I am not comfortable in my own skin. I noticed this over the weekend when I signed up for mommy and me swim classes. OMG – I had to wear a swim suit! I thought about not going but I am so GLAD I did! My daughter loved it – and so did I. I sometimes even hesitate to take pictures/videos of us as a family since I’m so much bigger but I realize this is a time in my life I don’t get to repeat so I need to suck it up and embrace everything around me. I don’t think I would have this attitude if I haven’t read your blog all these years. I would truly be a SAHM and never leave the house. Instead, I bought bigger pants and kept going. Thank you!

This blog started out as a weight loss journal but now it means so much more to me and hopefully, to you. I don’t mind helping people lose weight, it’s how I got started on this whole journey. But what I really want to do is change people attitudes about themselves, their bodies and their lives. That’s my real goal. Weight loss is just the byproduct.

Thank YOU Annalisa for solidifying my A-Ha moment. :)

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I must have uttered the phrase,

“When I lose weight I’m going to….”

A million times in my life.

I said (and thought) it instead of wearing what I wanted to wear, doing what I wanted to be doing and experiencing what I should have been experiencing.

“Live your life [...]]]>

I must have uttered the phrase,

“When I lose weight I’m going to….”

A million times in my life.

I said (and thought) it instead of wearing what I wanted to wear, doing what I wanted to be doing and experiencing what I should have been experiencing.

“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.”
- Harold B Melchart

I don’t think there is anything wrong with having a weight loss goal. What is wrong is thinking you aren’t…

good enough,

strong enough,

worthy enough,

to live the life you want RIGHT NOW regardless of some stupid number on some stupid scale.

Have a goal. Work at the goal. But remember to enjoy the “beautiful scenes” now.

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A billion people have sent me this link to The Fat Trap on NYTimes.com. Ok, maybe not a billion, more like 5 but a billion sounded better and I’m in a silly mood.

So the Fat Trap goes something like this… Those of us that have been overweight are doomed because our bodies [...]]]>

A billion people have sent me this link to The Fat Trap on NYTimes.com. Ok, maybe not a billion, more like 5 but a billion sounded better and I’m in a silly mood.

So the Fat Trap goes something like this… Those of us that have been overweight are doomed because our bodies now like to be fat and will defend its fat to the death!

Honestly, my response is…

blah blah blah.

We’ve heard it all before and I say OF COURSE. Of course our bodies like to be fat. It’s warm and safe and easy in our time of plenty.

I don’t doubt anything the article says about hormones and how our bodies respond to losing weight, but deep down don’t we all know there are forces working against us all the time? Let’s not get into the specifics for a change. I don’t care who naturally burns 300 more calories a day or how many miles I need to run to work off that cookie. Let’s peer down from the 50,000 foot view.

Everyone’s bodies are different. We all know people who eat fast food for every meal and never gain an ounce. For Pete’s sake my husband actually sucked down weight gain shakes in high school because he was so thin. We also know (or are) people who gain weight after a few big meals. There are people who can enjoy 1 cookie without giving it another thought and others that can’t handle having a bag of chocolate chips in the house in fear they can’t control themselves.

Our age plays a factor.

Our activity level plays a factor.

Our hormones play a factor.

Our genes play a factor.

Our body image plays a factor.

There are so many variables, some we probably aren’t even aware of yet.

So knowing this changes what?

I’m not going to lie and tell you that losing weight wasn’t awesome for all the vanity reasons. For the first time in my life I was able to try on clothes without bursting into tears in a dressing room. Being thin was an emotional triumph for me. There’s no doubt about it, but I also FEEL better now and it’s not all because of a thinner physique.

I feel better physically.

There’s also no doubt that food and exercise affect my emotional state and mood.

I think we forget that for some being overweight is a byproduct of living a life you don’t want to live. I know that’s not the case for everyone, but for me it was, and I can’t be alone.

What I’m trying to get at here (and doing a bad job at it) is…. I don’t care about “The Fat Trap.”

I don’t care if I will have to work at maintaining my weight for the rest of my life because the alternative is what? Be fat and unhappy?

At least if I’m living the active life I want to live, eating a balanced healthy diet and enjoying exercise the worst case scenario is fat and happy.

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ewwwwe. I know it’s dramatic but it sure paints a mental picture!

I’m not completely anti-soda. Hey, everything in moderation, right? But I know many–*cough* THE HUSBAND–who drink it continuously all day, every day.

Promise me you will swap out just one soda a day (yes even you diet drinkers) for water [...]]]>

ewwwwe. I know it’s dramatic but it sure paints a mental picture!

I’m not completely anti-soda. Hey, everything in moderation, right? But I know many–*cough* THE HUSBAND–who drink it continuously all day, every day.

Promise me you will swap out just one soda a day (yes even you diet drinkers) for water this week. Just one. Deal?

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THANK YOU for all that fabulous, heartfelt comments. Writing yesterday’s post was exactly what I needed to start to moving forward and reading your comments helped me see (yet again) I am NOT ALONE and that is powerful stuff.

Funks are never fun, but they are an inevitable part of life, at [...]]]>

THANK YOU for all that fabulous, heartfelt comments. Writing yesterday’s post was exactly what I needed to start to moving forward and reading your comments helped me see (yet again) I am NOT ALONE and that is powerful stuff.

Funks are never fun, but they are an inevitable part of life, at least for me. Here’s a few things I’ve been doing to get my groove back.

Face the Feeling

That’s what yesterday’s post was all about. I meant what I said about "getting out of my own head." I’m convinced if I had an outlet to share all my messed up thoughts about my body and weight issues earlier I would have never gained so much weight in the first place. Once I started blogging, I got all the stuff swimming in my head OUT and I realized I’m not all that different than anyone else. A lot of people feel the way I do. I would have never known if I didn’t take the leap and face the feelings I was going through. Of course you don’t have to be crazy and do it publicly like I did/do, but get them out of your head. Write an anonymous blog. Confide in a friend. Go to a group. Seek professional help. Whatever makes sense for you and your situation.

Reach Out and MAKE Things Happen

I’m not one to normally sit around and wait for things to happen except when I’m in a funk. Then I shut down. I stop calling people. I pull back on my social media outlets. I not even as talkative as I normally am. Today, however, I made an effort. I called an old friend. I talked to my mom. I even tried to set up a play date. It didn’t work out BUT again, the act of reaching out is what matters here. What’s the quote? “Too many people go through life waiting for things to happen instead of making them happen!”

Discover (or Re-Discover) Your Creative Outlet

I think I take for granted how happy making things makes me. I’m not the craftiest person, but I do like to draw with the Little Guy and cook (der.) Both are a creative outlets. The whole cooking process from coming up with an idea, organizing the ingredients, taste testing, even photographing and calculating the nutritional information, all of it, gives me an amazing sense of satisfaction. Even more so when I share it and inspire someone else! Sometimes when we get into a funk we don’t want to do anything at all, but what we really need is to focus on the things that provide us happiness. Mary Lou Cook says, “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” Just remember you can’t be in a funk if you are having fun!

Get up, Get out, Move More

This isn’t about weight loss or training or sculpting the perfect abs. This is about being in touch with your body. When you are in a funk and stuck in your own head, you tend to forget you have a body and it can do amazing things! Get up and go for a walk, hit a class at the gym, pop in a yoga DVD, climb a rock wall, roller skate, hike, play a game of catch in the backyard, go bowling! I don’t care just MOVE. Today I walked and walked and walked. The fresh air and exercise did wonders for my soul.

Smile

I know it’s cheesy and it’s hard to do when you are in Funkville, but make an effort. Blast your favorite happy song, find things online that make you laugh, ask your friend to tell you a joke. Today, for me it was making Little Bean laugh. How can you be in funk surrounded by this sound?

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A few weeks ago, I strapped Little Bean in the stroller and took advantage of a gorgeous fall day by going for a run. While crossing an intersection I glanced over to the cars waiting at the light and saw a guy opening his window. All of a sudden he blurts out,

There are 23 days until Thanksgiving, 53 days until Christmas and 60 until New Year’s!

Yikes!

Halloween starts the holiday season and if you are anything like me, the next 2 months revolve around food. Oh heck, who am I kidding? My life always revolves around food!

What can I [...]]]> It’s November 1.

There are 23 days until Thanksgiving, 53 days until Christmas and 60 until New Year’s!

Yikes!

Halloween starts the holiday season and if you are anything like me, the next 2 months revolve around food. Oh heck, who am I kidding? My life always revolves around food!

What can I say? I’m an addict.

It starts with Halloween candy and ends with one too many cocktails on New Year’s Eve with pies, cookies, and every carb known to man in the middle. Every year my inner diet perfectionist struggles with the desire to "give up" until I can start fresh come January 1.

I’ve been doing this for 6 years and STILL there’s a tinge of that mentality.

Side note: I looked through my archives and I’ve consistently posted on October 31 since 2005. It blew my mind to go back and read them all…

• 2005 – HUGE Day!
• 2006 – A Halloween Treat
• 2007 – Soup vs. Candy
• 2008 – Merry Thanksgivoween!
• 2009 – Weekend Quote Halloween Style: Tomorrow is a New Day
• 2010 – Happy Halloween! (preggers)
• 2011 – Note to Self…

That’s a lot of Halloweens "I survived" and I needed to see that. It made me realize a few things.

1. It’s so easy to let that old diet perfectionist mindset takeover, especially around the holidays, but I refuse to fall into the cycle ever again. The next two months are no different than any other time of year. I wake up everyday, make conscious choices, move when I can and live life. It’s as simple as that.

2. I saw the best quote a few weeks ago…

"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas." ~Author Unknown

3. It’s not the special occasions that keep us from our goals. It’s letting those special occasions convince us it’s ok to simply not try because they are coming.

How ridiculous is that? Let’s call a spade a spade.. It IS ridiculous to binge from now until after the holidays just because they are coming. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they are ALWAYS coming. There is always something happening and you can continue to use these "somethings" as an excuse or you can learn to navigate them.

It’s also ridiculous to eat more candy simply because you already had a piece. Yet my brain still wants to justify choices in that way.

I did something I’ve done for the last 6 years this morning. I woke up and ate a healthy breakfast….

Spinach Omelet Rollup

There was a time I would have starved myself the day after I ate "bad" things which would simply lead to more and more binges. Perpetrating the yo-yo diet cycle.

Then I shifted to "forgiving myself" for eating the "bad" things and made better choices the next day.

Now I know I don’t even have to forgive myself. There’s NOTHING WRONG with eating candy. If I want to lose a few pounds I should keep it to a minimum, of course, but I refuse to put the candy on some kind of bad food pedestal and give it any power beyond "it tasted good and I wanted a piece."

My ultimate goal has always been to make food choices consciously. No auto-pilot binges or excuse driven choices, regardless of the season.

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It’s ALWAYS the hardest part. Why is that?

I ran to the gym tonight and did a class, then ran home. It was my first workout since last Monday (besides the Sat Zombie event.)

It. was. AWESOME.

I felt great. I feel great! Frankly, I could have ran further and stayed at [...]]]>

It’s ALWAYS the hardest part. Why is that?

I ran to the gym tonight and did a class, then ran home. It was my first workout since last Monday (besides the Sat Zombie event.)

It. was. AWESOME.

I felt great. I feel great! Frankly, I could have ran further and stayed at the gym longer but I had to get home and cook dinner!

The funny thing is, it took every fiber of my being to actually get my butt out the door. The excuse gun was loaded, cocked and ready to go in my head, but I wouldn’t let myself pull the trigger. Instead, I turned on autopilot and simply…

walked out the door.

Sounds easy enough right?

It should have been but, for some reason, it wasn’t!

Once the door shut behind me I was into it 100% and why WOULDN’T I be? It was the first time all day I was doing something just for me.

No baby needing to be fed.
No grade schooler needing help with his homework.
No husband wanting me to review his work.

It was me, my music and my thoughts.

What a luxury!

I’m so happy I didn’t give myself an excuse, but I have to wonder….

Why IS getting out the door the hardest part?

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I know I haven’t "weighed in" here the last couple of weeks. Part of me was just unmotivated to do so. It’s hard to come back week after week weighing the same thing when you actually are trying to lose. The last 8 weigh-ins go like this…

0
-1.4
0

I know I haven’t "weighed in" here the last couple of weeks. Part of me was just unmotivated to do so. It’s hard to come back week after week weighing the same thing when you actually are trying to lose. The last 8 weigh-ins go like this…

0
-1.4
0
+.4
-.2
+.2
-.2
-.4

That’s a grand total -.2 for 2 months.

I get the plateau question a lot and I understand the frustration, especially RIGHT NOW. My response is always the same… Just keep trucking.

Let’s think about this. What’s the alternate?

Am I suppose to get mad the weight isn’t coming off faster and then drown my sorrows in a pint of Ben and Jerry’s?

There’s no going back.

There’s no off plan.

If I never lose another pound I will still to eat the way I’m eating. I will still run and go to the gym. I will still dance at weddings, climb walls, go on hikes, and get lost in corn mazes.

I may have a weight loss goal but it’s secondary to my lifestyle goal.

I’ve reached that one a long time ago and nothing the scale says can take that accomplishment away.

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