Food v. Excercise

There are so many varying opinions out there about what is the most effiiceint way to lose weight. Is it the food you eat or your ability to exercise? I hear so many different things and the funny thing is, most of it seems SO biased. The people that are trying to sell diets say its mostly food related. The people selling items or memberships say "eat what you want and in only 10 minutes a day". Seriously? Who's buys that dribble? These people are just trying to SELL you something. I wish someone would sell me time, organization and peace.
Personally, I think its a balance tipped a little on the exercise side. Its so hard to balance all these things. Eating the right foods, eating clean/whole foods v. processed foods, making sure you are getting exercise AND trying to feed a family on a budget AND working FT? Rightttt...its a wonder I'm not a complete nervous/anxious wreck yet. Oh wait....
I held out as long as I could on buying the weight watchers food. I hate how processed and nasty it sounds. Fat-free chesese? So very wrong on so many levels. But this week - I absolutely gave up. I bought enough of the WW pre-packaged lunches to get me through the week. They're not bad. I have to say and most of the ingredients aren't THAT bad - at least I think I can pronounce most of them. For me - at least that is one less meal that I don't have to think about weighing, counting points and making sure everything is ready to go. I can just grab that red (soon to be blue) box and toss it in my lunch bag. I'm learning that a big part of weightloss (anything really though) is organization. I can't simply rely on my cafe to have something decent for me to eat. And you know what happens when you fail to plan? You are left to eat the crap thats been sitting in your desk drawer for 6 months. Be it chocolate, popcorn or worse -- whatever the vending machine is willing to whore out for a buck.
So for the last week, I've arrived to work with my "tools". My water bottle, my bag o' carrots (I so feel 16 candles running through my head whenever I eat them), my ww meal and my assorted Special K snacks and goodies. These are helping to get me through the day.
A big challenge I STILL haven't been able to accomplish is getting thee back to the gym. I still haven't been able to put all those tools together. Why? I don't know. Somone text me tonight and remind me to get my shit together? Such a dispondent feeling knowing that all my tools are there, I just need to get them together. Everyday seems like I'm slowly getting there but not quite .... So for 2 days I got my lunch/food together. Today, I remembered my WW book and managed to get to a meeting. Hopefully tomorrow - I get the gym stuff together and by Friday? I'll be able to put it all together.
Man - this is like learning how to swim. Remember learning how to breathe and blow bubbles in the water? Then holding on to the side of the pool and kicking? Then holding on to a kickboard going up and down the lanes kicking away? Then someone holding you up in the water while you floated on your back? Then flipped you over to practice strokes? Then .... eventually they let go and..and...off you went! You were swimming! All was good and then...then...you sank to the bottom because you forgot to breathe! Gotta learn to put it all together and do it all the same time. Thats when I'll be successful.

How to become selfish?

Accountability. What does it mean to you? To me it means that I have someone/something else to answer to other than myself. But in the end - this whole journey is about me. Pretty selfish right? Well yes and no. I would like to think that I'm a pretty selfless person but its high time that I take more time for myself. My mother (and if anyone knows her...you know I speak the truth here) is forever telling me "if you would just take some time for yourself, your hair, your nails, your clothes...". But in my mind, I would rather spend that time, that money, that effort on my children. But whats going to happen if I'm too unhealthy to enjoy my children? Can't let that happen! So as odd as it may sound - my resolution is become more selfish. I need to learn how to put myself first and make that time for me. Making that time FOR ME. Making MYSELF a priority. Do you know I didn't get to the gym ONCE at all in December? Sad. I was shopping, wrapping presents, decorating the house, drinking starbucks in those pretty red cups, and baking and oh do I notice that now. I have the accountaiblity of getting emails from my gym offering me free personal training sessions, getting my wellness udpates and telling me that I have ZERO points for the month of December.
I have accountability all around me and yet, I'm still not back there yet.
Another problem for me is organization. My poor gym bag is buried in our garage amongst wrapping paper. I can't find my headphones to my ipod to save my life and a lock to the locker is completely MIA.
What are your tips for staying organized so you have your gear ready to go at a minutes notice? I need them all as organization is not one of my strong suits. Please - give me all your hints and tricks to stay organized! I read on a friends FB that being healthy is hard work and man is it ever. I remember when my children were babies that being a good parent is hard work too. Amazing how this all comes full circle huh? Anything worthwhile doesn't come without a fight.
Here's to a fabulous 2011 ~ Join me on my journey!