I guess my first baby steps were to switch out my diet cokes for water & quit eating out so much.
I did not stop the diet cokes all at once either, I baby stepped that baby step . I used to have a diet coke in hand at all times but now I generally only have one when I eat out. Most of the time (but not 100%) at home I have water with my meals.
The baby steps to eating out less started with switching from fast food to real food at restaurants & then to cooking more at home.

My exercise is still in the baby step phase. I walk & do some simple hand weights (2lb) and leg lifts on the bed (I have trouble getting up & down on the floor).

This may sound strange, but my first baby step was to get my kitchen functional.

My kitchen often looked like a bomb went off. There were lots and lot of times when the dishes were piled up past the faucet and getting a drink of water was a challenge (not to mention that there were no clean glasses or cups).

It was impossible to cook there… so I didn’t. And we ended up eating a LOT of fast food.

www.FlyLady.net helped a lot. Things are not exactly perfect all the time, now, but I can make meals at home, rather than EVERY bowl in house being dirty… and going out for the #3 McBreakfast meal “just this once”.

I know that I’m not alone in the overwhelming messy kitchen. Here are some kitchen BEFORE (Before #1, Before #2, Before #3) pictures. And AFTER (After #1, After #2) pictures.

(Although, honestly my kitchen is not this nice, THIS morning… but is WAY, WAY better than it used to be and I am able to make a bowl of oatmeal.)

Right now my goals are to get at least 3 fruits or veggies into my diet during the day and to move at least 20 minutes a day doing some sort of aerobic activity.

Bump

My babystep was logging any and all exercises I do. I spent a day looking trough the exercise books I have and going through them to see which ones I could do in a few minites. Like plie'? at the dressing table after I fix my hair. Can't fit in exercise today- park my car farther away. I found some you can do while sitting down and such. It is fun trying to see where I can slip them in then log them in a little notebook daily. I can see when I get behind and my improvements.

bump up

Peg,
Love your new baby step. I could use it at home too!

My newest exercise babystep is to use the bathroom @ work that is up a flight of stairs. With all the H2O, I'm climbing those stairs several times a day. Now I should start making myself do it at home too!

Peg

I try to make sure I get in at least 20 minutes of planned activity most days. Even if I don't want to, I usually will go and tell myself I'll just do ten minutes or so.

This week, though, I have a terrible cold so I'm not doing much. I did take a little walk on my lunch hour to get some sun and fresh air.

I keep a set of gym clothes and shoes in the car. Sometimes I also wear my sports bra to work. It's a very subtle reminder that I have an appointment with myself after work.

A quote from the cdc.gov web site:

"You don't stop exercising because you grow old. You grow old because you stop exercising." —Anonymous

CDC, Growing Stronger: Strength Training for Older Adults

I thought about this yesterday. I hate to exercise, but I love to dance. I have been a dancer all my life and didn't think of it as exercise. Then yesterday when I was dancing to some music (which comes naturally to me, I am Puerto Rican and was raised w/Latin music), I said to myself hey this IS EXERCISE. My heartbeat elevates and the best part is I LOVE TO DO IT!! So now I will make a conscious effort to dance at least 10 minutes a day.

I like to put on some really "peppy" music while I do house work. It makes it all seem a little less dull & a little more enjoyable. Also, I am trying to practice better posture. (I am a cronic "slumper".) I've found a really good article on this.. "The Secret to a Flatter Belly" by Selene Yeager http://www.prevention.com/cda/feature2002/0,,s1-7175,00.html

I've made a "deal" with myself that I can't go on the computer until I've down 20 mins of exercise.

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I'm playing my "Doo-Wop 50's" tape while I'm on the treadmill. Makes me remember a time when I was younger and thin, which gives me energy and motivation. Whatever works, right?

Wear a pedometer every day, all day. Keep a log of your steps and then try to increase your steps 10% every week. Doesn't matter how you get them...10 at a time or 1000 at a time, just get them. It is said 10K per day for fitness, 12K per day for weight loss.

Peg

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Park a little further from the building at work, at the mall, everywhere you go. Park further at the grocery store and then after you are done shopping, walk your cart all the way back up to the store after emptying it and walk back to your car.

If you work full-time take a walk during lunch, even for just 10 mins. Also, take the stairs instead of the elevator if you can.

Dawn

I got a workout partner. We don't work out next to each other, but we keep each other accountable, go to the gym together, and talk about our workouts afterwards.

If you're as much a people-pleaser as I am, it's a good way to focus your energies into something healthy for YOU until you realize that's you ARE worth the time & effort.

D

Instead of sitting down and watching TV, walk in place. Then when you've mastered walking, march in place. Then jog. You'll be amazed at the difference and how quickly you can progress.