I'm two weeks shy of one year being on my new eating plan.
Or am I?
Looking back it's closer to six months on, six months screwing up- but it's still almost a year since I've been trying to live a new eating lifestyle- whether I've succeeded or not. But I'll save those thoughts for my one year post.
I've never been on an eating plan for this long. Most times I'm in for only a few months- many of those tries didn't last more than a few weeks. Past diets I've done included juicing with no solid food (not good for a carnivore), giving up one or more foods (also not good- but this time for a comfort food addict), skipping meals (that worked for a few hours), and even going to meetings where they limit what you eat for you or you buy their prepackaged stuff- and eat only their stuff.
I won't pretend to tell you I've behaved myself this week, because I haven't. I've behaved better this week, but not to the point where I think I lost anything. Since my husband's workplace is closed for the holidays, it wasn't a problem to skip the scale to weigh in- since it's behind locked doors.
The next time I weigh myself will be after my birthday dinner, which happens right before everyone goes back to work on January 4th. My husband is making me his 'typical' five-course birthday dinner, complete with his signature shrimp bisque- the one and only time he ever makes this soup, because my daughter and I are the only ones who will eat it during the rest of the year. I usually have five to six friends over, but this year we both bragged about it so much, I might have as many as ten women over!
As for the dinner? The food itself differs each year. He totally spoils me, and since it's my birthday, I let him.
Course one is an appetizer. Last year it was an awesome chicken, bacon and asiago cheese stuffed eggroll wrapper deep fried to perfection. Not exactly healthy, but super yummy.
Course two is always the shrimp bisque. This is the only item that never ever ever changes.
Course three is a salad- last year he made one with all kinds of greens, and a homemade raspberry vinaigrette.
Course four was dinner. Last year we had cranberry brisket with roasted green beans and mixed roasted root vegetables. Yum city!
Course five is dessert. Last year was Orange Dreamsickle Pie- his own recipe.
I have no idea what he'll make this year, but I don't plan on behaving!
January begins a new year. Most people start dieting. I'm re-starting my eating plan. Why? Because this isn't just a diet; it isn't just a plan- it's a new eating lifestyle. And the only way to lose weight and keep it off, is to take it one day, one month, one year at a time!
The only lesson learned this week is that I need to realize that this isn't some temporary change, and that I really need to pay more attention to what goes in my mouth, every time, every meal, snack, or event. Only then can I truly break the bad habits I fall in and out of every time I'm tempted!
Monday, December 28, 2015
Monday, December 21, 2015
Week Forty Nine: The Dear-God-My-Coat-Is-A-Turncoat! New Eating Lifestyle
I have a winter coat.
This coat fit me twenty or so pounds ago. I never thought it would, but it did- even if it was a teeny bit tight.
This coat is my only winter coat. And since my holiday eating issues, that coat is getting almost to the point where I can't wear it.
Who needs a scale to tell you you're gaining weight? Apparently not me!
I'll confess something. I've been buying snackable candies at this awesome Amish candy store near my second driving job. At first it was semi-good stuff like banana chips, but it escalated quickly into dark chocolate raisins- still good for you (if you don't eat the entire bag in one sitting), if a little calorie-dense.
Then came the jellybeans. I love me some jellybeans!
At first it was a small handful. All was good. I got a taste, and that was enough. But then it became two handfuls, then three...of each. The next thing you know I was eating a bag of each- per week.
I ate the last bite on Friday. I won't be buying any more. It's just too tempting, and I can't seem to control myself completely. Maybe one day, but not today.
This weekend I made carrot chips (just sliced them round and thin instead of the typical sticks) and bought some seedless cucumbers. I asked for an insulated lunch bag for Christmas, so I could keep them cold in the van as I drive- no sense eating them at room temp. Ew.
I also bought a rotisserie chicken and will be going back to chicken, spinach and grape tomatoes this week, with a cobb salad or soup for lunch, with the sliced veggies or a banana or sliced apple for a snack. Dinner is up to my husband.
My coat is a turncoat- but it's a good turncoat. It's helping me realize I'm gaining. Coats can't lie- and to be honest, I really don't want it to.
Getting back on track isn't easy. I won't be rebooting until the first week in January. But the reboot won't be as jolting if I start behaving better now, while the coat still fits!
Lessons learned:
If you can't control it, you shouldn't have it available in more than one serving at a time.
Rest. It's hard to maintain or lose when you're tired and achy from doing too much.
I knew this was going to be a tough fight from the get-go. It took me twenty years to gain all that weight, so why should I complain if it takes a few years to get it all off? Yes, I could've done a lot of things differently, but I'm still ahead of the game almost a year later- and that's better than it has been just a year or two ago.
Thank you for joining me on my weight loss journey- for cheering me on, empathizing when I stumble, and sharing with me your own journeys- I love you all for your support!
This coat fit me twenty or so pounds ago. I never thought it would, but it did- even if it was a teeny bit tight.
This coat is my only winter coat. And since my holiday eating issues, that coat is getting almost to the point where I can't wear it.
Who needs a scale to tell you you're gaining weight? Apparently not me!
I'll confess something. I've been buying snackable candies at this awesome Amish candy store near my second driving job. At first it was semi-good stuff like banana chips, but it escalated quickly into dark chocolate raisins- still good for you (if you don't eat the entire bag in one sitting), if a little calorie-dense.
Then came the jellybeans. I love me some jellybeans!
At first it was a small handful. All was good. I got a taste, and that was enough. But then it became two handfuls, then three...of each. The next thing you know I was eating a bag of each- per week.
I ate the last bite on Friday. I won't be buying any more. It's just too tempting, and I can't seem to control myself completely. Maybe one day, but not today.
This weekend I made carrot chips (just sliced them round and thin instead of the typical sticks) and bought some seedless cucumbers. I asked for an insulated lunch bag for Christmas, so I could keep them cold in the van as I drive- no sense eating them at room temp. Ew.
I also bought a rotisserie chicken and will be going back to chicken, spinach and grape tomatoes this week, with a cobb salad or soup for lunch, with the sliced veggies or a banana or sliced apple for a snack. Dinner is up to my husband.
My coat is a turncoat- but it's a good turncoat. It's helping me realize I'm gaining. Coats can't lie- and to be honest, I really don't want it to.
Getting back on track isn't easy. I won't be rebooting until the first week in January. But the reboot won't be as jolting if I start behaving better now, while the coat still fits!
Lessons learned:
If you can't control it, you shouldn't have it available in more than one serving at a time.
Rest. It's hard to maintain or lose when you're tired and achy from doing too much.
I knew this was going to be a tough fight from the get-go. It took me twenty years to gain all that weight, so why should I complain if it takes a few years to get it all off? Yes, I could've done a lot of things differently, but I'm still ahead of the game almost a year later- and that's better than it has been just a year or two ago.
Thank you for joining me on my weight loss journey- for cheering me on, empathizing when I stumble, and sharing with me your own journeys- I love you all for your support!
Monday, December 14, 2015
Week Forty Eight: The Dear-God-Holidays-Kill-Me New Eating Lifestyle
I am not a pie person.
I am not a cake person.
However, when it comes to cookies and chips, I am a starving, rabid wolverine.
It's the holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas bring out a variety of goodies, and though I can get away with a piece of pie or two, one cannot hide the fact that one ate way too many Christmas cookies. Part of the reason is the weather is too unconditionally warm to hide my fat with a bulky sweater, but the scale doesn't let you lie- even to yourself.
Lost one pound last week, gained two this week. Mayhaps I shall fit myself with the cone of shame like doggies wear, but I have a feeling that sucker will be better to funnel more cookies down my throat.
Sigh.
I really need to stop looking at the "almost fifty pounds lost before this happened" and "almost a twenty pound gain" and look at the behavior instead. Numbers are numbers, and if this was a five pound discrepancy, it wouldn't matter as much.
Part of it is past bad habits come to re-roost. I'm so afraid I'll be hungry later that I "have a little something" before I go back out into the workforce- even if I already have something to eat in my purse. Don't ask me why I feel this way- I have no idea! The funny thing is when I forget to eat the stuff in my bag until later and don't have a snack beforehand, I feel pretty darn good. So this has to be all in my head. And hips.
In between jobs I come home and eat lunch. Then I have a few cookies. Then a bit of this and that. By the time I go out for job number two I'm quite full. Too full. But I do it every single time.
It also didn't help that I didn't have time to buy my rotisserie chicken, and I did ham and cheese sandwiches all last week. Not too bad calorie-wise, but not as good as veggies and chicken! I think bread makes me hungrier. I tend to eat a lot more when I 'sandwich it up' during the week.
Between the holidays and the jobs, there isn't much time left for an eating plan. I didn't even have time to slice up my veggies! Something has got to give soon- I just hope it isn't my waistband!
Lessons Learned:
Put the cookies under a crate in the dryer and pack boxes all around the door so you can only get to them when you really need a cookie.
Make time to cut those veggies and buy that chicken!
If all else fails, do a reboot in January, after your birthday (no worries, I was born early- on the 3rd!)
It's definitely looking like a full reboot folks. To be honest, there are just too many 'Christmas only' foods that I like, and I don't want to say no. Little yeses are good, I just have to make sure they stay little! Denying myself doesn't help matters- it just makes me want them more. So the goal is to still try and lose, but at least maintain and no weight gain.
Pray for me. I need it! :)
I am not a cake person.
However, when it comes to cookies and chips, I am a starving, rabid wolverine.
It's the holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas bring out a variety of goodies, and though I can get away with a piece of pie or two, one cannot hide the fact that one ate way too many Christmas cookies. Part of the reason is the weather is too unconditionally warm to hide my fat with a bulky sweater, but the scale doesn't let you lie- even to yourself.
Lost one pound last week, gained two this week. Mayhaps I shall fit myself with the cone of shame like doggies wear, but I have a feeling that sucker will be better to funnel more cookies down my throat.
Sigh.
I really need to stop looking at the "almost fifty pounds lost before this happened" and "almost a twenty pound gain" and look at the behavior instead. Numbers are numbers, and if this was a five pound discrepancy, it wouldn't matter as much.
Part of it is past bad habits come to re-roost. I'm so afraid I'll be hungry later that I "have a little something" before I go back out into the workforce- even if I already have something to eat in my purse. Don't ask me why I feel this way- I have no idea! The funny thing is when I forget to eat the stuff in my bag until later and don't have a snack beforehand, I feel pretty darn good. So this has to be all in my head. And hips.
In between jobs I come home and eat lunch. Then I have a few cookies. Then a bit of this and that. By the time I go out for job number two I'm quite full. Too full. But I do it every single time.
It also didn't help that I didn't have time to buy my rotisserie chicken, and I did ham and cheese sandwiches all last week. Not too bad calorie-wise, but not as good as veggies and chicken! I think bread makes me hungrier. I tend to eat a lot more when I 'sandwich it up' during the week.
Between the holidays and the jobs, there isn't much time left for an eating plan. I didn't even have time to slice up my veggies! Something has got to give soon- I just hope it isn't my waistband!
Lessons Learned:
Put the cookies under a crate in the dryer and pack boxes all around the door so you can only get to them when you really need a cookie.
Make time to cut those veggies and buy that chicken!
If all else fails, do a reboot in January, after your birthday (no worries, I was born early- on the 3rd!)
It's definitely looking like a full reboot folks. To be honest, there are just too many 'Christmas only' foods that I like, and I don't want to say no. Little yeses are good, I just have to make sure they stay little! Denying myself doesn't help matters- it just makes me want them more. So the goal is to still try and lose, but at least maintain and no weight gain.
Pray for me. I need it! :)
Monday, December 7, 2015
Week Forty Seven: The Dear-God-I'm-Doing-It! New Eating Lifestyle
After being too long off of the weight-loss wagon, it's nice to have a bench seat again.
I closed my eyes and stepped on the scale. I lost one pound.
Not a gain. Not maintaining. Lost. I never knew one pound off could feel so good!
This past week was a series of better choices. I didn't get to walk much, but the eating was much better. I stopped most of the second helpings, and stopped having those calorie dense breakfast sandwiches. Hey, even homemade stuff can be full of calories!
Breakfast consisted of rotisserie chicken, cherry tomatoes and fresh baby spinach. Lunches were either Chic-Fil-A nuggets (once), homemade soup (a lot more than once), and a lean sandwich (once, half the cheese). Soup does a body good!
Dinner was tougher, because there wasn't much time to cook and take-out was the only option at least twice during the week. But I didn't dine at the regular fast food places; I stopped at sandwich or pizza shops and got a hoagie (sub or grinder to some of you non-Philly folks), a freshly made burger, or chinese. Not the best choices, but the best considering fast food!
When I did eat at home, a lot of it was homemade stuff I had previously frozen in single serving containers. Only a microwave required!
Now I just need to find a well- lit place to walk, since the only time I can do it is in the early evening when the sun starts setting. Or maybe pak the car a few blocks away from somewhere I want to go. I'll figure it out!
Lessons learned:
Fast food can be good for you if you look hard enough.
Homemade is better, so prepare ahead in case you can't cook.
Find a place to go (or is well lit) to walk- you need to!
I can't tell you how much difference a single pound can make. It's not even the numbers on the scale- it's the fact that I feel in control of my eating again, and what I'm doing is working. Thank You, God! I couldn't have done this without you!
I closed my eyes and stepped on the scale. I lost one pound.
Not a gain. Not maintaining. Lost. I never knew one pound off could feel so good!
This past week was a series of better choices. I didn't get to walk much, but the eating was much better. I stopped most of the second helpings, and stopped having those calorie dense breakfast sandwiches. Hey, even homemade stuff can be full of calories!
Breakfast consisted of rotisserie chicken, cherry tomatoes and fresh baby spinach. Lunches were either Chic-Fil-A nuggets (once), homemade soup (a lot more than once), and a lean sandwich (once, half the cheese). Soup does a body good!
Dinner was tougher, because there wasn't much time to cook and take-out was the only option at least twice during the week. But I didn't dine at the regular fast food places; I stopped at sandwich or pizza shops and got a hoagie (sub or grinder to some of you non-Philly folks), a freshly made burger, or chinese. Not the best choices, but the best considering fast food!
When I did eat at home, a lot of it was homemade stuff I had previously frozen in single serving containers. Only a microwave required!
Now I just need to find a well- lit place to walk, since the only time I can do it is in the early evening when the sun starts setting. Or maybe pak the car a few blocks away from somewhere I want to go. I'll figure it out!
Lessons learned:
Fast food can be good for you if you look hard enough.
Homemade is better, so prepare ahead in case you can't cook.
Find a place to go (or is well lit) to walk- you need to!
I can't tell you how much difference a single pound can make. It's not even the numbers on the scale- it's the fact that I feel in control of my eating again, and what I'm doing is working. Thank You, God! I couldn't have done this without you!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Week Forty Six: The Dear-God-I'm-Gearing-Up-For-A-Reboot New Eating Lifestyle
I came, I saw, I ate.
I ate a lot.
I fully intended to walk all last week. I didn't move a toe. But I did eat.
The scale is not my friend. Perhaps I should have weighed in last week- it might have kept me from eating as much. As it stands, I have gained more than eight pounds. This is not good folks.
For weeks I've been fooling myself. That extra this here and extra that there matters. And it's time I really got my head back in the game before I have to start back at square one!
I am now 304 pounds. At my lowest I was 288. That is sixteen pounds of unwanted weight that I need to start controlling now.
I need to reboot. During the holidays. Yikes!
Back to greens and lean meats. Soups and veggie snacks. Back to fruit, nuts, and fish. I've fooled around long enough.
It's not easy. I've started working outside of the home for the first time in eighteen years, and the toll on my family structure shows. My husband and kids miss me, I miss them, and the house is left up to my husband to maintain. I have every confidence in him (because he's so much better at cleaning than I am), but I miss those mornings when I can sew or write in the quiet of my home when the kids are at school.
Now I'm out most of the time. Meals have to change. Snatch and grabs are becoming more common than slower home cooking. I've taken the time on the weekends to cook, and have saved those meals in single serving containers. I have a lot of them now, so it's a good time to reboot.
This week I've taken baggies of cherry tomatoes and spinach, along with another baggie of chicken or leftover turkey. Surprisingly, I can last most of the day if I pack enough of these items. Yesterday I was near a Chic-Fil-A, so I got some chicken nuggets (about 300 calories). I never touched foot in the house the entire day, and came home to a clear soup (one bowl) and went to bed satisfied.
Weekends are going to be busy with holiday baking (which is good, because I hardly eat when I bake!), and I'll also be making a big bag of carrot chips (instead of sticks) and maybe some cucumber slices as well. Both will satisfy the crunch factor, and maybe some fruit for the sweet tooth.
I'd not been packing anything for the afternoon/evening job, and found myself snacking and getting fast food because I got too hungry- despite my healthier menu choices. If I use my own food, not only do I save money, but it's better for me as well.
I'll be investing in a insulated lunch box soon. Bananas don't fare well in my purse!
Lessons Learned:
Always check the scale to stay on track.
Starting over is better than giving up.
When in doubt, work it out with your husband or friends. They can give great feedback and ideas.
Walk whenever possible.
Get a lunch bag.
Replan those menus for bulk cooking on the weekends.
Don't eat the Christmas cookies!
Working so many jobs and writing during the breaks can be a good thing- especially if I can meal plan while in the van! Since I'm stuck waiting in between jobs, I can use that time to work on a lot of new ideas to eat better- including making shopping lists a week ahead of schedule, so I have everything when I need it! It doesn't hurt that my waiting spot is right near a farmers market...
The holidays are hard on anyone trying to eat right and lose weight. Doubly so if you have a lot of job stress and your schedule is higglety-pigglety! Planning ahead seems to be the best way to go for me, and having 'just enough' food in the van without it becoming my personal food truck is a good way to keep off the pounds. Maybe I'll park a few blocks away from the market and get some exercise too!
I ate a lot.
I fully intended to walk all last week. I didn't move a toe. But I did eat.
The scale is not my friend. Perhaps I should have weighed in last week- it might have kept me from eating as much. As it stands, I have gained more than eight pounds. This is not good folks.
For weeks I've been fooling myself. That extra this here and extra that there matters. And it's time I really got my head back in the game before I have to start back at square one!
I am now 304 pounds. At my lowest I was 288. That is sixteen pounds of unwanted weight that I need to start controlling now.
I need to reboot. During the holidays. Yikes!
Back to greens and lean meats. Soups and veggie snacks. Back to fruit, nuts, and fish. I've fooled around long enough.
It's not easy. I've started working outside of the home for the first time in eighteen years, and the toll on my family structure shows. My husband and kids miss me, I miss them, and the house is left up to my husband to maintain. I have every confidence in him (because he's so much better at cleaning than I am), but I miss those mornings when I can sew or write in the quiet of my home when the kids are at school.
Now I'm out most of the time. Meals have to change. Snatch and grabs are becoming more common than slower home cooking. I've taken the time on the weekends to cook, and have saved those meals in single serving containers. I have a lot of them now, so it's a good time to reboot.
This week I've taken baggies of cherry tomatoes and spinach, along with another baggie of chicken or leftover turkey. Surprisingly, I can last most of the day if I pack enough of these items. Yesterday I was near a Chic-Fil-A, so I got some chicken nuggets (about 300 calories). I never touched foot in the house the entire day, and came home to a clear soup (one bowl) and went to bed satisfied.
Weekends are going to be busy with holiday baking (which is good, because I hardly eat when I bake!), and I'll also be making a big bag of carrot chips (instead of sticks) and maybe some cucumber slices as well. Both will satisfy the crunch factor, and maybe some fruit for the sweet tooth.
I'd not been packing anything for the afternoon/evening job, and found myself snacking and getting fast food because I got too hungry- despite my healthier menu choices. If I use my own food, not only do I save money, but it's better for me as well.
I'll be investing in a insulated lunch box soon. Bananas don't fare well in my purse!
Lessons Learned:
Always check the scale to stay on track.
Starting over is better than giving up.
When in doubt, work it out with your husband or friends. They can give great feedback and ideas.
Walk whenever possible.
Get a lunch bag.
Replan those menus for bulk cooking on the weekends.
Don't eat the Christmas cookies!
Working so many jobs and writing during the breaks can be a good thing- especially if I can meal plan while in the van! Since I'm stuck waiting in between jobs, I can use that time to work on a lot of new ideas to eat better- including making shopping lists a week ahead of schedule, so I have everything when I need it! It doesn't hurt that my waiting spot is right near a farmers market...
The holidays are hard on anyone trying to eat right and lose weight. Doubly so if you have a lot of job stress and your schedule is higglety-pigglety! Planning ahead seems to be the best way to go for me, and having 'just enough' food in the van without it becoming my personal food truck is a good way to keep off the pounds. Maybe I'll park a few blocks away from the market and get some exercise too!
Monday, November 23, 2015
Week Forty Five: The Dear-God-It's-Thanksgiving-Already?? New Eating Lifestyle
If you think I'm going to put a single toe on the scale in the next two weeks, you're one drumstick shy of a full turkey.
No, I'm not going to pig out, but I'm not going to count every calorie either.
Yes, I'm going to have a lot of greens and veggies. And turkey.
Yes, I'll even have some starches and dessert.
I also plan on walking a lot since I won't be working for at least two days this week, and three afternoons will be free as well.
This week I'm not planning anything drastic, or learning any significant lessons. If I gain, I gain, if I lose I lose. I hope the latter happens. I will reboot next week.
One thing I will say is I plan on adding a few extra veggies to the table, other than the typical mashed potatoes and corn (which are more starchy than veggie). I want to add sauteed spinach, maybe some broccoli, and definitely some carrot coins into the mix. The carrots if nothing else. I have to see what I have time to make!
I will restart my reports again next week. I might even reboot this whole plan after my big birthday dinner in January. That will be a year since I started!
Hmm...six months eating plan, six months to maintain....I might be on to something!
No, I'm not going to pig out, but I'm not going to count every calorie either.
Yes, I'm going to have a lot of greens and veggies. And turkey.
Yes, I'll even have some starches and dessert.
I also plan on walking a lot since I won't be working for at least two days this week, and three afternoons will be free as well.
This week I'm not planning anything drastic, or learning any significant lessons. If I gain, I gain, if I lose I lose. I hope the latter happens. I will reboot next week.
One thing I will say is I plan on adding a few extra veggies to the table, other than the typical mashed potatoes and corn (which are more starchy than veggie). I want to add sauteed spinach, maybe some broccoli, and definitely some carrot coins into the mix. The carrots if nothing else. I have to see what I have time to make!
I will restart my reports again next week. I might even reboot this whole plan after my big birthday dinner in January. That will be a year since I started!
Hmm...six months eating plan, six months to maintain....I might be on to something!
Monday, November 16, 2015
Week Forty Four: The Dear-God-I-Fed-The-Chip-Monster New Eating Lifestyle
Two pounds forward, one pound back.
This weekend was a weekend for relaxing. Part of that relaxing was taking a day trip to Lancaster to get the things we needed for the holidays. Lots of potatoes and pumpkin squash, and a trip into the Bad Lands- otherwise known as the Amish Bulk Food Store. We saved money on lunch by buying junk at the bulk food store. When there's five people in the van, that can be a significant savings.
Savings in money- not in calories.
Two of the snack items were chips. My favorite.
I fed the chip monster and it bit me in the butt.
The scale showed I'd gained a pound. Had I not eaten those chips, maybe the numbers would be different. Sigh.
Not much walking this week, though I worked a lot. Also, I didn't get a chance to buy anymore spinach, cherry tomatoes and rotisserie chicken, so breakfast sandwiches have been the go-to food until I can go shopping. The sandwiches are at least 200 calories more per sandwich, so that is also going to take part of the blame.
I don't like skipping meals, but I am considering having a piece of fruit for lunch on those breakfast sandwich days.
Lessons learned:
Don't feed the chip monster. Ever.
When sandwiches are the only breakfast go-to food, plan lighter lunches to cut back the calories. Salads and fruit might be the best choices.
Make sure the fridge is stocked with good stuff before the week starts!
Plan shopping trips better when pressed for time- especially when you notice you're running out of something.
Cold salads for breakfast might also be a good option- just put the dressing on the side!
This week has been crazy busy, and I don't expect it to slow any time in the next few months- especially for the holidays. This has to be the hardest part of weight loss- finding that balance between 'time' and 'healthy' where you can have both. It might also help if i organized my low-cal recipes a bit better- maybe even write a cookbook! At least then I'll know where they are! :)
This weekend was a weekend for relaxing. Part of that relaxing was taking a day trip to Lancaster to get the things we needed for the holidays. Lots of potatoes and pumpkin squash, and a trip into the Bad Lands- otherwise known as the Amish Bulk Food Store. We saved money on lunch by buying junk at the bulk food store. When there's five people in the van, that can be a significant savings.
Savings in money- not in calories.
Two of the snack items were chips. My favorite.
I fed the chip monster and it bit me in the butt.
The scale showed I'd gained a pound. Had I not eaten those chips, maybe the numbers would be different. Sigh.
Not much walking this week, though I worked a lot. Also, I didn't get a chance to buy anymore spinach, cherry tomatoes and rotisserie chicken, so breakfast sandwiches have been the go-to food until I can go shopping. The sandwiches are at least 200 calories more per sandwich, so that is also going to take part of the blame.
I don't like skipping meals, but I am considering having a piece of fruit for lunch on those breakfast sandwich days.
Lessons learned:
Don't feed the chip monster. Ever.
When sandwiches are the only breakfast go-to food, plan lighter lunches to cut back the calories. Salads and fruit might be the best choices.
Make sure the fridge is stocked with good stuff before the week starts!
Plan shopping trips better when pressed for time- especially when you notice you're running out of something.
Cold salads for breakfast might also be a good option- just put the dressing on the side!
This week has been crazy busy, and I don't expect it to slow any time in the next few months- especially for the holidays. This has to be the hardest part of weight loss- finding that balance between 'time' and 'healthy' where you can have both. It might also help if i organized my low-cal recipes a bit better- maybe even write a cookbook! At least then I'll know where they are! :)
Monday, November 9, 2015
Week Forty Three: The Dear-God-I-Have-A-New-Dynamic New Eating Lifestyle
The family dynamic has changed.
I'm now working about 40-50 hours a week at two of the four jobs. One in the morning, and one in the late afternoon and evenings at least 3-4 days a week.
There fore the eating has to change, since I won't be home to cook most nights.
Most nights.
Soups, crock pot meals and casseroles are the order of the day, with my husband cooking once or twice a week to help me out. Good thing he can cook shoe leather and make it tender and tasty! Lucky for me we have chicken in the freezer and not shoe leather.
Breakfast usually consists of a homemade egg sandwich (500-600 calories) or two sandwich bags- one with fresh spinach and grape tomatoes (maybe 50 calories) and the other has a few slices of rotisserie chicken (about 250 calories). When I run out of the fresh stuff, i make the egg sandwiches. Both are eaten throughout the morning and not all at once, which works well for me. I'm not famished when I get home, so there's less chance of me pigging out at lunch time.
Lunch is almost always leftovers. Most are within the 500-600 calorie mark. This is more calories than I should have if I'm eating the egg sandwich for breakfast, so I try to keep it lighter on those days, but not always, and the scale shows it.
Dinners have been late eating, which isn't good for me, but it's a necessary evil. My usual eating time is between five and six, but now it's more like seven. There was a night or two when I didn't eat until after eight- That's late for someone who's up at 4:30 each morning!
One thing that has changed for the better is that our family is starting to go for walks together. Geocaching is something we dabbled in (a treasure hunt using the GPS), as well as long walks on park paths. Fall is such a beautiful time of the year, and the walks are refreshing and desperately needed to keep me active. It's also a good time to rake up leaves- another way to stay active!
This week was a challenge as I started my second job. No weight loss, but I didn't gain either!
Lessons Learned:
I can't do everything. Ask for help when work at home needs more time than I can give.
Park walks feel good and allows my brain to settle down with live conversation- it's nice to not have a screen in my face all the time!
I might have to start cooking in bulk on the days I'm not working, and freeze leftovers individually so we have a choice for lunches- and dinners when I'm late and he can't cook.
Drink more water when eating at night so I don't eat too much before bed.
Do the third job in between the first and second job, when there's a few hour lull.
It's not easy. It especially won't be easy when that fourth job kicks in! But right now I have to do what I have to do, and work things out so I'm losing weight along the way. I always did like a challenge!
I'm now working about 40-50 hours a week at two of the four jobs. One in the morning, and one in the late afternoon and evenings at least 3-4 days a week.
There fore the eating has to change, since I won't be home to cook most nights.
Most nights.
Soups, crock pot meals and casseroles are the order of the day, with my husband cooking once or twice a week to help me out. Good thing he can cook shoe leather and make it tender and tasty! Lucky for me we have chicken in the freezer and not shoe leather.
Breakfast usually consists of a homemade egg sandwich (500-600 calories) or two sandwich bags- one with fresh spinach and grape tomatoes (maybe 50 calories) and the other has a few slices of rotisserie chicken (about 250 calories). When I run out of the fresh stuff, i make the egg sandwiches. Both are eaten throughout the morning and not all at once, which works well for me. I'm not famished when I get home, so there's less chance of me pigging out at lunch time.
Lunch is almost always leftovers. Most are within the 500-600 calorie mark. This is more calories than I should have if I'm eating the egg sandwich for breakfast, so I try to keep it lighter on those days, but not always, and the scale shows it.
Dinners have been late eating, which isn't good for me, but it's a necessary evil. My usual eating time is between five and six, but now it's more like seven. There was a night or two when I didn't eat until after eight- That's late for someone who's up at 4:30 each morning!
One thing that has changed for the better is that our family is starting to go for walks together. Geocaching is something we dabbled in (a treasure hunt using the GPS), as well as long walks on park paths. Fall is such a beautiful time of the year, and the walks are refreshing and desperately needed to keep me active. It's also a good time to rake up leaves- another way to stay active!
This week was a challenge as I started my second job. No weight loss, but I didn't gain either!
Lessons Learned:
I can't do everything. Ask for help when work at home needs more time than I can give.
Park walks feel good and allows my brain to settle down with live conversation- it's nice to not have a screen in my face all the time!
I might have to start cooking in bulk on the days I'm not working, and freeze leftovers individually so we have a choice for lunches- and dinners when I'm late and he can't cook.
Drink more water when eating at night so I don't eat too much before bed.
Do the third job in between the first and second job, when there's a few hour lull.
It's not easy. It especially won't be easy when that fourth job kicks in! But right now I have to do what I have to do, and work things out so I'm losing weight along the way. I always did like a challenge!
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Week Forty Two: The Dear-God-I'm-Working-It-Out New Eating Lifestyle
I don't have all of my ducks in a row, but a few of them are in line!
I'm down two pounds! Yay me- 293!
I was very happy to see a smaller number on the scale for a change- it can be so disheartening to not see some progress after so long a plateau. But I'm not done yet.
I'm still plateauing because I'm still not under 290. But I won't be breaking my legs trying to get there either. There's just too much going on.
I now have four jobs, all of them part time. Two are regular and paid, one is regular and volunteer (and important, so imma keep on doin' it!) and the last is sporadic, but will pay well when they call me. And that's on top of the momming, housewifing, writing and crafting.
Yet I still manage to find time to overeat. I amaze me.
Despite the candy craze of Halloween (Mom taxes deducted, then eaten), I managed to lose two pounds. Now let's see what I can do when I'm not eating chocolate. Okay, maybe less chocolate- I won't deny myself completely!
Unfortunately, the gym membership is going to be cancelled. I just don't have time to go to a separate building to exercise and we could use that money elsewhere. So my next goal is to get something small to exercise on, like that little elliptical doojigger I saw in a FaceBook ad or another exercise bike. Treadmills are just too darned big, and to be honest, I like the elliptical better than a bike because I have to stand. I don't need anything else keeping me on my butt, but at this point, I'll get anything that will make me more active!!
Lessons learned:
Having premade meals in controlled portions really helps keep me from bingeing.
Plan healthier meals that can be heated up in a jiffy.
Do more on your feet when home.
Exercise standing up when possible- machine or not. Maybe dance silly dances with my daughter!
This will not be an easy fight- my body likes being big and will do anything possible to keep it that way. So I just have to change the way my body thinks- and that will take a lot more than a year!
What's your story? Share your struggles and triumphs with me!
I'm down two pounds! Yay me- 293!
I was very happy to see a smaller number on the scale for a change- it can be so disheartening to not see some progress after so long a plateau. But I'm not done yet.
I'm still plateauing because I'm still not under 290. But I won't be breaking my legs trying to get there either. There's just too much going on.
I now have four jobs, all of them part time. Two are regular and paid, one is regular and volunteer (and important, so imma keep on doin' it!) and the last is sporadic, but will pay well when they call me. And that's on top of the momming, housewifing, writing and crafting.
Yet I still manage to find time to overeat. I amaze me.
Despite the candy craze of Halloween (Mom taxes deducted, then eaten), I managed to lose two pounds. Now let's see what I can do when I'm not eating chocolate. Okay, maybe less chocolate- I won't deny myself completely!
Unfortunately, the gym membership is going to be cancelled. I just don't have time to go to a separate building to exercise and we could use that money elsewhere. So my next goal is to get something small to exercise on, like that little elliptical doojigger I saw in a FaceBook ad or another exercise bike. Treadmills are just too darned big, and to be honest, I like the elliptical better than a bike because I have to stand. I don't need anything else keeping me on my butt, but at this point, I'll get anything that will make me more active!!
Lessons learned:
Having premade meals in controlled portions really helps keep me from bingeing.
Plan healthier meals that can be heated up in a jiffy.
Do more on your feet when home.
Exercise standing up when possible- machine or not. Maybe dance silly dances with my daughter!
This will not be an easy fight- my body likes being big and will do anything possible to keep it that way. So I just have to change the way my body thinks- and that will take a lot more than a year!
What's your story? Share your struggles and triumphs with me!
Monday, October 26, 2015
Week Forty One: The Dear-God-I'm-Tired! New Eating Lifestyle
Eleven short weeks, and I will be on this journey for an entire year. That's a lot to think about.
I lost most of my weight in the first half of these forty-plus weeks, and the latter trying to maintain- or not gain so much as to weigh over 300 pounds. It's been a struggle.
Right now I'm not only fighting fat, I'm fighting peri-menopause, dental issues and financial fallout. That's a lot to juggle in a day, no less for a three month stretch! Though I'm not giving up fighting fat, I really do need to find time to rest and heal up a bit.
Nothing can be more distracting than a sore mouth when you need to focus- and not all healthy foods are soft foods. The good news is not all bad foods are soft foods either!
I'm working on herbal solutions for the menopausal thing; unfortunately I have to take antibiotics for my infected gums. Odd jobs can be expounded on for more fundage, so I can work on that as I trudge along.
Cooked veggies are becoming more prominent on the menu- and home-grown beets out of the garden then slow roasted are awesome! They're naturally sweet and are great hot or cold- and taste much better than the ones I bought at the store!
And they're easy to chew. Oh yeah!
While I'm eating my soft veggies, I'll be taking a look at my past posts from the beginning of this New Eating Lifestyle. Seeing how far I've come can help me stay on track to lose more!
Lessons Learned:
Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you need to switch gears concerning diet when some foods are hard to eat.
It's okay to falter- as long as you get back up and do it again!
Reviewing past posts can revive the spirit- and see where things could be changed.
Stop telling yourself you'll do better tomorrow- tell yourself you'll do better right now. One screw-up won't ruin the entire day, but bingeing will!
I'm going through a lot of changes lately, but that will only help me get stronger in the long run. I'll learn from the trips and spills, pick myself up, dust myself off and get back in the game. Can you imagine what the posts will be a year from now? I know I can!
I lost most of my weight in the first half of these forty-plus weeks, and the latter trying to maintain- or not gain so much as to weigh over 300 pounds. It's been a struggle.
Right now I'm not only fighting fat, I'm fighting peri-menopause, dental issues and financial fallout. That's a lot to juggle in a day, no less for a three month stretch! Though I'm not giving up fighting fat, I really do need to find time to rest and heal up a bit.
Nothing can be more distracting than a sore mouth when you need to focus- and not all healthy foods are soft foods. The good news is not all bad foods are soft foods either!
I'm working on herbal solutions for the menopausal thing; unfortunately I have to take antibiotics for my infected gums. Odd jobs can be expounded on for more fundage, so I can work on that as I trudge along.
Cooked veggies are becoming more prominent on the menu- and home-grown beets out of the garden then slow roasted are awesome! They're naturally sweet and are great hot or cold- and taste much better than the ones I bought at the store!
And they're easy to chew. Oh yeah!
While I'm eating my soft veggies, I'll be taking a look at my past posts from the beginning of this New Eating Lifestyle. Seeing how far I've come can help me stay on track to lose more!
Lessons Learned:
Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you need to switch gears concerning diet when some foods are hard to eat.
It's okay to falter- as long as you get back up and do it again!
Reviewing past posts can revive the spirit- and see where things could be changed.
Stop telling yourself you'll do better tomorrow- tell yourself you'll do better right now. One screw-up won't ruin the entire day, but bingeing will!
I'm going through a lot of changes lately, but that will only help me get stronger in the long run. I'll learn from the trips and spills, pick myself up, dust myself off and get back in the game. Can you imagine what the posts will be a year from now? I know I can!
Monday, October 19, 2015
Week Forty: The Dear-God-What-Happened? New Eating Lifestyle
Where did the week go?
I managed to work two days this week, but the rest of the week was a wash. Sickness is never fun. This time I had no problem eating- and guess what? I gained back those five unwelcome pounds.
Of course it could be water weight, but it also could be that this is my plateau weight range. 290-295 pounds is my plateau zone.
I'm not going to try to break this zone just yet. My body is still sluggish, so all-out workouts just won't happen- but I can control what I eat to lose some of it, so that's what I'll do.
Breakfast has changed here and there for workday mornings, but has mostly been lean roasted chicken, raw spinach and cherry tomatoes. These do a body good, and I can eat them on the fly when waiting between drives. I'm not starving when I get home (or if I get done in time to go to the gym), so I'm not eating like a rabid beast at lunchtime.
Idle hands while staying home? Not such a good idea. Stress eating doesn't do a body good!
Lessons learned:
When sick, stay upstairs as long as possible. No TV or computer up there. The only item is my laptop- which I never remove from my writing room- and the only thing I do on that machine is write. I never eat in any of the upstairs rooms.
Remove all food nearby when I want to graze. I was surprised how much PB I consumed with a butter knife while watching a movie. A little dab won't do ya!
If you still want to munch, make it veggies or watermelon- something that will fill you up, satisfy the crunch/sweet craving, but not cost a lot in calories.
Find something better to do with your hands other than scrape the vestiges of PB from the bottom of a jar!
Alas, I have gained back the weight. Yet I'll lose it again. Hopefully I'll lose more than five in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the PB will go back on the shelf, the watermelon is cut, and I have plenty of things to do with my hands- including writing this blog!
I managed to work two days this week, but the rest of the week was a wash. Sickness is never fun. This time I had no problem eating- and guess what? I gained back those five unwelcome pounds.
Of course it could be water weight, but it also could be that this is my plateau weight range. 290-295 pounds is my plateau zone.
I'm not going to try to break this zone just yet. My body is still sluggish, so all-out workouts just won't happen- but I can control what I eat to lose some of it, so that's what I'll do.
Breakfast has changed here and there for workday mornings, but has mostly been lean roasted chicken, raw spinach and cherry tomatoes. These do a body good, and I can eat them on the fly when waiting between drives. I'm not starving when I get home (or if I get done in time to go to the gym), so I'm not eating like a rabid beast at lunchtime.
Idle hands while staying home? Not such a good idea. Stress eating doesn't do a body good!
Lessons learned:
When sick, stay upstairs as long as possible. No TV or computer up there. The only item is my laptop- which I never remove from my writing room- and the only thing I do on that machine is write. I never eat in any of the upstairs rooms.
Remove all food nearby when I want to graze. I was surprised how much PB I consumed with a butter knife while watching a movie. A little dab won't do ya!
If you still want to munch, make it veggies or watermelon- something that will fill you up, satisfy the crunch/sweet craving, but not cost a lot in calories.
Find something better to do with your hands other than scrape the vestiges of PB from the bottom of a jar!
Alas, I have gained back the weight. Yet I'll lose it again. Hopefully I'll lose more than five in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the PB will go back on the shelf, the watermelon is cut, and I have plenty of things to do with my hands- including writing this blog!
Monday, October 12, 2015
Week Thirty Nine: The Dear-God-The-Weight-Flu-Off New eating Lifestyle
No, that wasn't a misspelling. The weight really did 'flu' off.
This was a week of sickness. Not so much for me, but for my family- then me. My son started it, then my husband, so I went into Mommy Mode and made a huge pot pf chicken noodle soup. I don't know what you use for sicknesses, but this homemade soup does wonders for us.
I was too busy to eat as much as I have been because I spent my energy taking care of them. I also had to work longer and pitch in more concerning chores, and by the time dinner was finished, so was I.
Despite all of my preventative measures, I got the flu this weekend.
I'm still a little wonky, so I'm staying home today also. Yes, I'll lose a day of work, but having a bathroom nearby is just a wee bit more important at the moment! Lucky for me I have at least two working brain cells to make my blog posts this morning.
I took my now recovered husband to work and while there, I weighed myself. I lost five of the seven pounds I gained!
So now my weight is an even 290 pounds.
Being sick had its advantages after all!
Normally I don't lose weight. I usually gain weight because I get a cold, and you know the adage "Starve a fever, feed a cold"- and I fed that sucker. This time it was a fever and a sour stomach, so even the thought of food made me want to hide under the covers.
Still a five pound loss over a week? Maybe some of it was water loss. At this point I'm not caring too much as to the why- I'll just celebrate because I'm only two pounds heavier than my greatest loss.
I'd dance like a lunatic, but my stomach is still a bit wonky, so I'll do it in my head- and on my blog.
*dance, dance, twirl...backflip, split, do the worm, jump to my feet, twirl, twirl, dance, take a bow*
Lessons learned:
Sickness can be a good thing- especially when it resets your tummy for lesser storage.
Those 'sometimes' snacks should possibly become 'don't eat that' snacks. Or 'only at parties' snacks.
Listen to your body when you're sick. It's okay not to eat your own chicken noodle soup if the smell makes you gag.
Keep hydrated when sick, even if it takes you ten minutes to shuffle to the bathroom and back. Just consider it a mild gym workout every couple of hours.
You can do your best thinking on the road to recovery.
You can also gain a lot of perspective.
This was a tough week, health-wise. But everyone is slowly getting back to normal (at least our version of normal), and I already have ideas on rewriting the family budget, getting the house clean (since the kids are off today), and making sure I rest and sip my soup.
God is good! He even made being sick a blessing!
I'll be honest with you- that seven pound gain scared the bejoobees out of me! I kept thinking about how hard it's been to lose a single pound, and I gained seven. Being sick was a definite blessing, in its own weird way. Now all I have to do is behave, eat right- and pick up all of my bejoobees.
This was a week of sickness. Not so much for me, but for my family- then me. My son started it, then my husband, so I went into Mommy Mode and made a huge pot pf chicken noodle soup. I don't know what you use for sicknesses, but this homemade soup does wonders for us.
I was too busy to eat as much as I have been because I spent my energy taking care of them. I also had to work longer and pitch in more concerning chores, and by the time dinner was finished, so was I.
Despite all of my preventative measures, I got the flu this weekend.
I'm still a little wonky, so I'm staying home today also. Yes, I'll lose a day of work, but having a bathroom nearby is just a wee bit more important at the moment! Lucky for me I have at least two working brain cells to make my blog posts this morning.
I took my now recovered husband to work and while there, I weighed myself. I lost five of the seven pounds I gained!
So now my weight is an even 290 pounds.
Being sick had its advantages after all!
Normally I don't lose weight. I usually gain weight because I get a cold, and you know the adage "Starve a fever, feed a cold"- and I fed that sucker. This time it was a fever and a sour stomach, so even the thought of food made me want to hide under the covers.
Still a five pound loss over a week? Maybe some of it was water loss. At this point I'm not caring too much as to the why- I'll just celebrate because I'm only two pounds heavier than my greatest loss.
I'd dance like a lunatic, but my stomach is still a bit wonky, so I'll do it in my head- and on my blog.
*dance, dance, twirl...backflip, split, do the worm, jump to my feet, twirl, twirl, dance, take a bow*
Lessons learned:
Sickness can be a good thing- especially when it resets your tummy for lesser storage.
Those 'sometimes' snacks should possibly become 'don't eat that' snacks. Or 'only at parties' snacks.
Listen to your body when you're sick. It's okay not to eat your own chicken noodle soup if the smell makes you gag.
Keep hydrated when sick, even if it takes you ten minutes to shuffle to the bathroom and back. Just consider it a mild gym workout every couple of hours.
You can do your best thinking on the road to recovery.
You can also gain a lot of perspective.
This was a tough week, health-wise. But everyone is slowly getting back to normal (at least our version of normal), and I already have ideas on rewriting the family budget, getting the house clean (since the kids are off today), and making sure I rest and sip my soup.
God is good! He even made being sick a blessing!
I'll be honest with you- that seven pound gain scared the bejoobees out of me! I kept thinking about how hard it's been to lose a single pound, and I gained seven. Being sick was a definite blessing, in its own weird way. Now all I have to do is behave, eat right- and pick up all of my bejoobees.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Week Thirty Eight: The Dear-God-It's-A-Tough-Fight! New Eating Lifestyle
I did the one thing I didn't want to do this week. I stepped on a scale.
I really didn't want to. Truly. I'd rather have painted the house than to step on the stupid scale. But I had to know just how bad a blew it.
Ugh.
I now weigh 295. A seven pound gain.
Double ugh.
Okay it's not so bad that I can't bounce back from it (though 'bounce' might not be the best word...sheesh!), but it's a big enough gain that I need to do something. Fast.
The problem is when I work, it's best for me to do the gym right afterwards, but menopause has hit me hard. I don't eat much in the mornings anymore, and by the time I finish working, it's almost lunch and I have no energy- not the best time to go to the gym.
I'm not making excuses. It's just the way things are going at the present moment. I've got to find a better way to get that exercise in, even if it means I do it after dinner. Or after lunch. Or after writing.
Egad, I wear way too many hats.
I've been thinking about joining a walking group. I've been thinking about starting a walking group. Just one more responsibility to add to the list! At least if I did this one, it might do a body good. Exercise reduces stress, and I could use a boatload of that right now.
Diet alone won't do it. Neither will exercise alone. I have to do both- there's no way around it. Especially if I want to avoid those 'miracle pills' and other weird things they make people do to lose weight.
Working as a driver, there isn't a lot of time to eat, but very little exercise. However, when I took that week off, that's when I gained the most weight- more than half the gain was in that week! So after a week or two back at work might help me lose something other than my schmidt! Now all I have to do is find something that's low intensity exercise and still keeps me away from food (at least for the most part), then the weight should melt off. I'll worry about sweating and raised heart rates later.
I need to keep my hands busy without sitting all the time. Egad- could it be? Would housework be the answer? Ewwww!
Although this is leaf raking season. That could be a good 'all over' workout! Hmm...
Lessons learned:
Some form of exercise must be done each day. Including...*shudder*...housework.
Stop having seconds- you're doing it again!
Remind yourself that the calories aren't worth it.
Don't beat yourself up over the gain. Learn from it.
Stop trying to fight this yourself. Join a group, create a group, or involve the family to motivate you to exercise more.
Reward your efforts with activities or a good book- not goodies.
If you can't live with 'just one taste', then do without it. You can't miss what you haven't tasted (or have seconds either!)
This is not an easy road for me to travel. To be honest, I'd thought I'd be a lot thinner by now. But that's okay- I'm still forty pounds lost, and I can lose that seven again. I will lose that seven again. I just might need some help this time, even if it's someone nagging me to take that walk! I might not be able to depend on anyone to go with me, but I know I can depend on a lot of people to nag me to get out there and do it!
I really didn't want to. Truly. I'd rather have painted the house than to step on the stupid scale. But I had to know just how bad a blew it.
Ugh.
I now weigh 295. A seven pound gain.
Double ugh.
Okay it's not so bad that I can't bounce back from it (though 'bounce' might not be the best word...sheesh!), but it's a big enough gain that I need to do something. Fast.
The problem is when I work, it's best for me to do the gym right afterwards, but menopause has hit me hard. I don't eat much in the mornings anymore, and by the time I finish working, it's almost lunch and I have no energy- not the best time to go to the gym.
I'm not making excuses. It's just the way things are going at the present moment. I've got to find a better way to get that exercise in, even if it means I do it after dinner. Or after lunch. Or after writing.
Egad, I wear way too many hats.
I've been thinking about joining a walking group. I've been thinking about starting a walking group. Just one more responsibility to add to the list! At least if I did this one, it might do a body good. Exercise reduces stress, and I could use a boatload of that right now.
Diet alone won't do it. Neither will exercise alone. I have to do both- there's no way around it. Especially if I want to avoid those 'miracle pills' and other weird things they make people do to lose weight.
Working as a driver, there isn't a lot of time to eat, but very little exercise. However, when I took that week off, that's when I gained the most weight- more than half the gain was in that week! So after a week or two back at work might help me lose something other than my schmidt! Now all I have to do is find something that's low intensity exercise and still keeps me away from food (at least for the most part), then the weight should melt off. I'll worry about sweating and raised heart rates later.
I need to keep my hands busy without sitting all the time. Egad- could it be? Would housework be the answer? Ewwww!
Although this is leaf raking season. That could be a good 'all over' workout! Hmm...
Lessons learned:
Some form of exercise must be done each day. Including...*shudder*...housework.
Stop having seconds- you're doing it again!
Remind yourself that the calories aren't worth it.
Don't beat yourself up over the gain. Learn from it.
Stop trying to fight this yourself. Join a group, create a group, or involve the family to motivate you to exercise more.
Reward your efforts with activities or a good book- not goodies.
If you can't live with 'just one taste', then do without it. You can't miss what you haven't tasted (or have seconds either!)
This is not an easy road for me to travel. To be honest, I'd thought I'd be a lot thinner by now. But that's okay- I'm still forty pounds lost, and I can lose that seven again. I will lose that seven again. I just might need some help this time, even if it's someone nagging me to take that walk! I might not be able to depend on anyone to go with me, but I know I can depend on a lot of people to nag me to get out there and do it!
Monday, September 28, 2015
Week Thirty Seven: The Dear-God-The-Hungries-Got-Me! New Eating Lifestyle
When I first started this new way of eating, there was a little part of me that still thought this was all temporary- that once I started losing weight, there would be very little struggle because 'I got it'. Not that it would be a short road- I'm in this for the long run- but wow, I never thought I'd be struggling for this long.
No weight loss for weeks and then a lot of drama...not good for an emotional eater. The hungries got me.
Last week I took off work because of the papal visit. Here in Philly the traffic was a hot mess; roads being closed all over, and it seemed like it would be better for me if I stayed home and wrote, cleaned, and other mom/wife/writer stuff.
But being at home was a danger because whenever I took a break, the fridge was only a few rooms away. I snacked on good stuff, but there was also crackers, cheese and chips. Yep, I made the mistake of 'treating myself' and ate almost the whole bag of chips- and Cheeze-its. Not in one sitting, but I still ate too many snacks and too many helpings at dinner.
I was feeling lazy mid-week, and didn't cook much; take-out pizza and Chinese were added to the menu. The Chinese food was mostly veggies and meat which was a good thing, but there was rice as well as fried food too.
Basically, I blew it. Big time.
Now I need to deal with feeling bad about my choices, and still deal with the personal dramas of being a working mom/wife/writer. Ugh.
I'll get through this with God's help- I know I will. But I do get more than a bit tired of all the bumps in the road. Especially when those bumps taste like chicken or pepperoni!
Lessons learned:
Taking breaks from work doesn't mean taking breaks from eating plans.
Stop buying chips!
Treating myself isn't a treat- it a step backwards.
Find a friend to talk to about personal and eating drama.
If all else fails, reboot again!
I hope and pray I get out of this funk soon- it's not doing anyone any good- especially me. Spinning my wheels is better than throwing myself into reverse, and though I hit a few snags, I'm getting back on course to lose weight!
No weight loss for weeks and then a lot of drama...not good for an emotional eater. The hungries got me.
Last week I took off work because of the papal visit. Here in Philly the traffic was a hot mess; roads being closed all over, and it seemed like it would be better for me if I stayed home and wrote, cleaned, and other mom/wife/writer stuff.
But being at home was a danger because whenever I took a break, the fridge was only a few rooms away. I snacked on good stuff, but there was also crackers, cheese and chips. Yep, I made the mistake of 'treating myself' and ate almost the whole bag of chips- and Cheeze-its. Not in one sitting, but I still ate too many snacks and too many helpings at dinner.
I was feeling lazy mid-week, and didn't cook much; take-out pizza and Chinese were added to the menu. The Chinese food was mostly veggies and meat which was a good thing, but there was rice as well as fried food too.
Basically, I blew it. Big time.
Now I need to deal with feeling bad about my choices, and still deal with the personal dramas of being a working mom/wife/writer. Ugh.
I'll get through this with God's help- I know I will. But I do get more than a bit tired of all the bumps in the road. Especially when those bumps taste like chicken or pepperoni!
Lessons learned:
Taking breaks from work doesn't mean taking breaks from eating plans.
Stop buying chips!
Treating myself isn't a treat- it a step backwards.
Find a friend to talk to about personal and eating drama.
If all else fails, reboot again!
I hope and pray I get out of this funk soon- it's not doing anyone any good- especially me. Spinning my wheels is better than throwing myself into reverse, and though I hit a few snags, I'm getting back on course to lose weight!
Monday, September 21, 2015
Week Thirty Six: The Dear-God-I'm-Still-Fighting New Eating Lifestyle
I'm still fighting Fat!
The progress is slow but I believe I'm gaining ground and losing weight. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the loss is yet because I was so busy this week I forgot to weigh myself!
The good thing about forgetting is I'm not focused on food- and it's been an emotional eating kinda week.
Another good thing- I found a small bit of fruit (this time a fruit salad with melon, pineapple and grapes) made a really good choice for breakfast. I didn't have as much time or energy to spare for the gym this week, but I feel thinner and don't have that bloated feeling I normally get when I have an 'emotional eating' week.
The down side? I did too much and now I'm exhausted. this is the hardest part of losing weight because 'resting' sometimes means 'eat comfort food'- and that can be bad, bad, bad.
But I'm not out of the fight- not by a longshot. I still have Fat on the ropes and I have a second wind!
Lessons learned:
It's better for me to eat a little bit every hour than a big meal in one shot- at least on the mornings I work. Fruit is more refreshing and less heavy than a breakfast sandwich (even the homemade ones), and a lot less calories.
When I have fruit for breakfast, lunches need to be heavier in the protein department.
Keeping hands busy with food prep, paper sorting, etc. does a body good on those emotional eating days. Oddly enough, when I prep food, I don't eat!
A time to rest is just as important as a time to exercise. Sometimes more-so.
Never, ever give up! Take a small break if you have to, but never give up the fight.
I'm still fighting. It's not a losing battle but a 'losing' battle! To lose is to gain, and to gain is to lose. Weird, but true. And right now, the only thing I'm gaining is confidence- I'm going to beat Fat!
The progress is slow but I believe I'm gaining ground and losing weight. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the loss is yet because I was so busy this week I forgot to weigh myself!
The good thing about forgetting is I'm not focused on food- and it's been an emotional eating kinda week.
Another good thing- I found a small bit of fruit (this time a fruit salad with melon, pineapple and grapes) made a really good choice for breakfast. I didn't have as much time or energy to spare for the gym this week, but I feel thinner and don't have that bloated feeling I normally get when I have an 'emotional eating' week.
The down side? I did too much and now I'm exhausted. this is the hardest part of losing weight because 'resting' sometimes means 'eat comfort food'- and that can be bad, bad, bad.
But I'm not out of the fight- not by a longshot. I still have Fat on the ropes and I have a second wind!
Lessons learned:
It's better for me to eat a little bit every hour than a big meal in one shot- at least on the mornings I work. Fruit is more refreshing and less heavy than a breakfast sandwich (even the homemade ones), and a lot less calories.
When I have fruit for breakfast, lunches need to be heavier in the protein department.
Keeping hands busy with food prep, paper sorting, etc. does a body good on those emotional eating days. Oddly enough, when I prep food, I don't eat!
A time to rest is just as important as a time to exercise. Sometimes more-so.
Never, ever give up! Take a small break if you have to, but never give up the fight.
I'm still fighting. It's not a losing battle but a 'losing' battle! To lose is to gain, and to gain is to lose. Weird, but true. And right now, the only thing I'm gaining is confidence- I'm going to beat Fat!
Monday, September 14, 2015
Week Thirty Five: The Dear-God-I-Did-It! New Eating Lifestyle
As I look back on the past week, I still can't believe it.
I managed to do most of what I wanted to do!
I ate less.
I went to the gym three times. (would have been four, but we had a holiday)
And yet iI still managed to make healthy meals and eat less than I have been. Not entirely meeting my 1500 a day goal, but much, much better than last week.
I'll be honest with you. It was hard.
It wasn't easy getting up every morning at the crack of dark, making two breakfasts, taking him to work, working five to six hours, working out, then coming home to lunch, chores, and dinner prep. I usually went to bed early and fell asleep instantly.
It helped that my daughter (who now has to get up with us to make the school bus) made us breakfast a few mornings- it's a lot easier to eat a breakfast sandwich one half at a time during my work shift than to eat way too early and be too hungry when I get home- though I wish I could make sandwiches without bread!
Sometimes I do forgo the sandwich and make special eggs and bacon, eat that, and take a banana with me for worktime hungries. Both ways have worked out well and have about the same amount of calories.
I was surprised at how dehydrated I get when working though. But bathrooms are few and far between, so this is something I have to bear with- then guzzle like a fish when I get to the gym. The gym has bathrooms- thank You Jesus.
After being unemployed for so long (18 years; but I was working- just not getting paid!), it's hard getting back into job mode. Both writing and crafting has suffered, so there are still scheduling changes to be made, but for the most part, the morning routine works, as does most of the eating routine.
Menu planning? Nope. I need to, but nopity, nope, nope. I picked out recipes, but haven't made a list or gone shopping for the missing ingredients yet.
Snacks? There's no time to cut veggies, so a big nope there too. Though I admit I don't have much time to snack anymore either!
Sleep? Oh, sleeping is good. In fact it's so good, I find myself falling asleep when I'm not supposed to!
Lessons learned:
There's more than one way to kill the hungries when working.
Write down places where there are public bathrooms and take breaks when possible so you can drink more water.
It's amazing how much dinner prep can be done on a coffee table while watching NCIS on Netflix.
It's also amazing how many recipes you can leaf through, papers you can sort, and straightening you can do while Netflix is on.
Pandora is awesome for 'cleaning music'.
Small naps are essential in having a clear mind if you plan on staying up past 8:00 pm. (especially when you're up at 4:30 am!)
This week was hard, but gratifying. I found myself accomplishing more and more each day, though I also see a need for rest. I found myself trying to talk myself out of going to the gym, only to stubbornly go anyway- and feeling better for having done so.
I did it. At least I did most of it. And that my friends is a step in the thinner direction!
I managed to do most of what I wanted to do!
I ate less.
I went to the gym three times. (would have been four, but we had a holiday)
And yet iI still managed to make healthy meals and eat less than I have been. Not entirely meeting my 1500 a day goal, but much, much better than last week.
I'll be honest with you. It was hard.
It wasn't easy getting up every morning at the crack of dark, making two breakfasts, taking him to work, working five to six hours, working out, then coming home to lunch, chores, and dinner prep. I usually went to bed early and fell asleep instantly.
It helped that my daughter (who now has to get up with us to make the school bus) made us breakfast a few mornings- it's a lot easier to eat a breakfast sandwich one half at a time during my work shift than to eat way too early and be too hungry when I get home- though I wish I could make sandwiches without bread!
Sometimes I do forgo the sandwich and make special eggs and bacon, eat that, and take a banana with me for worktime hungries. Both ways have worked out well and have about the same amount of calories.
I was surprised at how dehydrated I get when working though. But bathrooms are few and far between, so this is something I have to bear with- then guzzle like a fish when I get to the gym. The gym has bathrooms- thank You Jesus.
After being unemployed for so long (18 years; but I was working- just not getting paid!), it's hard getting back into job mode. Both writing and crafting has suffered, so there are still scheduling changes to be made, but for the most part, the morning routine works, as does most of the eating routine.
Menu planning? Nope. I need to, but nopity, nope, nope. I picked out recipes, but haven't made a list or gone shopping for the missing ingredients yet.
Snacks? There's no time to cut veggies, so a big nope there too. Though I admit I don't have much time to snack anymore either!
Sleep? Oh, sleeping is good. In fact it's so good, I find myself falling asleep when I'm not supposed to!
Lessons learned:
There's more than one way to kill the hungries when working.
Write down places where there are public bathrooms and take breaks when possible so you can drink more water.
It's amazing how much dinner prep can be done on a coffee table while watching NCIS on Netflix.
It's also amazing how many recipes you can leaf through, papers you can sort, and straightening you can do while Netflix is on.
Pandora is awesome for 'cleaning music'.
Small naps are essential in having a clear mind if you plan on staying up past 8:00 pm. (especially when you're up at 4:30 am!)
This week was hard, but gratifying. I found myself accomplishing more and more each day, though I also see a need for rest. I found myself trying to talk myself out of going to the gym, only to stubbornly go anyway- and feeling better for having done so.
I did it. At least I did most of it. And that my friends is a step in the thinner direction!
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Week Thirty Four: The Dear-God-I'ts-Working-Out New Eating Lifestyle
It's working out. I'm working out. And the schedule? That's starting to work out too!
School started for my daughter today and will start next week for my son. I did my 'regular hours' driving, then went to the gym, worked out (at least 30-45 mins.) then came home, ate lunch, and started doing housework and prepping for dinner.
Food-wise last week was horrible- I found myself eating more each day, and tried experimenting with breakfast by making myself a breakfast sandwich (about 600 calories) each morning. The hungries were sated, but when I came home I grazed more- and none of it was veggie related! Allergies are kicking me in the hind end as well, and I found myself stress eating more than I wanted.
I did not weigh myself on the freight scale this week. It might have been detrimental to my progress.
Instead of weighing myself, I looked at the food I ate. I felt thinner and more energetic without that breakfast sandwich. Was it the bread, or breakfast as a whole that was doing it? Well, this morning I fully intended to just take a banana again (and only eat it when I got hungry- usually around 9am), but my daughter got up extra early and made my husband and I breakfast.
My favorite. Special eggs with cheese,. spinach and tomato. And bacon. She knew my morning breakfast routine before I started working, and also knew I hadn't eaten it in a long time.
I ate breakfast extra early with my husband and daughter. It was perfect. (and about 430 calories.)
Later in the morning, I ate my banana, about an hour before hitting the gym. I wasn't starved, I had energy, and I did a pretty vigorous workout. I ate a light lunch of baked ham and cheese (no bread) and got to work on the chores.
It was a darned good first day!
I have no idea if this will happen every day (especially making special eggs for myself at 5am), but I'll take it when I can. Getting up a few minutes earlier might help. We'll see.
Lessons learned:
A late breakfast banana is a good thing. But a no-bread breakfast might be better in the long run.
Exercising after work does a body good- and helps relieve stress.
Exercising also boosts the energy level enough so I get more housework done after I get home.
Dinner prepping early not only relieves stress, but makes cooking a lot more fun! (especially if you can prep in front of your favorite TV shows!)
TV is a nice break, but it's amazing how much you can do-and get done- while watching the boob-tube. Laundry or dinner prepping takes one or two shows, and before you know it, it's all done! It also let's you go through all those papers you've ignored for the past two weeks. Yay, decluttering!
Last week, I slipped. I know I ate too much. But getting back in the zone feels so good! I've felt more productive today than I had most of last week, and I'm not focusing on food as much. I had to remember not to weigh myself because I knew it would depress me.
Maybe you're different- it might motivate you. But I know me, and I know what works best- for me. That's what this blog is all about; helping people find their own way through my experiences. I think we'll all learn something new about ourselves!
School started for my daughter today and will start next week for my son. I did my 'regular hours' driving, then went to the gym, worked out (at least 30-45 mins.) then came home, ate lunch, and started doing housework and prepping for dinner.
Food-wise last week was horrible- I found myself eating more each day, and tried experimenting with breakfast by making myself a breakfast sandwich (about 600 calories) each morning. The hungries were sated, but when I came home I grazed more- and none of it was veggie related! Allergies are kicking me in the hind end as well, and I found myself stress eating more than I wanted.
I did not weigh myself on the freight scale this week. It might have been detrimental to my progress.
Instead of weighing myself, I looked at the food I ate. I felt thinner and more energetic without that breakfast sandwich. Was it the bread, or breakfast as a whole that was doing it? Well, this morning I fully intended to just take a banana again (and only eat it when I got hungry- usually around 9am), but my daughter got up extra early and made my husband and I breakfast.
My favorite. Special eggs with cheese,. spinach and tomato. And bacon. She knew my morning breakfast routine before I started working, and also knew I hadn't eaten it in a long time.
I ate breakfast extra early with my husband and daughter. It was perfect. (and about 430 calories.)
Later in the morning, I ate my banana, about an hour before hitting the gym. I wasn't starved, I had energy, and I did a pretty vigorous workout. I ate a light lunch of baked ham and cheese (no bread) and got to work on the chores.
It was a darned good first day!
I have no idea if this will happen every day (especially making special eggs for myself at 5am), but I'll take it when I can. Getting up a few minutes earlier might help. We'll see.
Lessons learned:
A late breakfast banana is a good thing. But a no-bread breakfast might be better in the long run.
Exercising after work does a body good- and helps relieve stress.
Exercising also boosts the energy level enough so I get more housework done after I get home.
Dinner prepping early not only relieves stress, but makes cooking a lot more fun! (especially if you can prep in front of your favorite TV shows!)
TV is a nice break, but it's amazing how much you can do-and get done- while watching the boob-tube. Laundry or dinner prepping takes one or two shows, and before you know it, it's all done! It also let's you go through all those papers you've ignored for the past two weeks. Yay, decluttering!
Last week, I slipped. I know I ate too much. But getting back in the zone feels so good! I've felt more productive today than I had most of last week, and I'm not focusing on food as much. I had to remember not to weigh myself because I knew it would depress me.
Maybe you're different- it might motivate you. But I know me, and I know what works best- for me. That's what this blog is all about; helping people find their own way through my experiences. I think we'll all learn something new about ourselves!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Week Thirty-Three: The Dear-God-I-Am-Not-Wonder-Woman New Eating Lifestyle
Life just got interesting. So interesting I need a time machine or that time-mover-thingie Hermione had that allowed her to attend two classes at once. Maybe two of them.
My new job keeps me in a sitting position for a good five hours. My writing job is a sitting job. Paperwork for running a house is a sitting job. So is cooking; when I'm cutting veggies and meat, I'm usually at my dining room table (because my kitchen is small, it's hard to stand at the tiny counter and not get knocked over).
In other words, most of my day is spent on my duff. I need to get to the gym regularly. But by the time I find some time, the day is almost over.
Where did the time go?
I sat down and made a mock-up of my day, allotting 168 hours a week. Even I was surprised at how little time I had to do anything but work. Driving work. Housework. Writing work. Homemaker work. There's a difference between housework and Homemaker work. Housework is cleaning, Homemaker work involves wife and mom stuff, a lot of paperwork and errands including appointment making and keeping, as well as budgeting and food shopping.
I need a time machine- and an at-home gym. And an attachment to the house to put them in. Sigh.
I went to the gym once last week. Once. Had a great workout, but was a starved Tasmanian Devil by the time I got home. My kids and the cats hid from me until I got something to eat.
To lose weight, I need to eat good food, less of it, and exercise. Two out of three won't cut it anymore.
I'm maintaining. That's good for now, but I can't be this weight forever. I don't want to be this weight forever!
Now it's a matter of balancing work, home, and writing- not an easy task. That's like juggling a bowling ball, and egg, and an elephant blindfolded. Wonder-Woman I ain't. And she doesn't even have kids! So why am I trying to do everything?
Lessons Learned:
I am not Wonder Woman. I need to do a lot, but I don't have to do everything.
Have the kids help make dinner. They need to learn to cook anyway- and it saves time too!
Make a list (yes another one!) for the kids concerning chores and dinner prep. They can do a few things after school to help out more.
Schedule gym time. If you don't, you'll never get there.
Schedule breaks in the day. At least one. Burning out is not going to anyone any good.
Tweak work hours. The job is flexible- take advantage of that.
Pack breakfast and a snack. One or the other just won't do anymore- especially if you're going to the gym right after work.
No, I'm not Wonder Woman. I need time to breathe as well as drive, write, and manage a household. I've been tweaking the schedule for weeks now, but until I actually put the hours on paper, it never dawned on me just how much I was doing- and not doing.
I also need to be listening to God. I'm reading a great book called The Best Yes, and though I'm only half way through it, it's already helped me get my ducks in a row, instead of working with a handful of feathers and duck-poo.
Wonder Woman and duck-poo. Not the kind of life I'd envisioned for myself.
The weight loss is maintained, but I need to step it up if I'm going to get thinner. Anyone want a used lasso and an American-themed bodysuit?
My new job keeps me in a sitting position for a good five hours. My writing job is a sitting job. Paperwork for running a house is a sitting job. So is cooking; when I'm cutting veggies and meat, I'm usually at my dining room table (because my kitchen is small, it's hard to stand at the tiny counter and not get knocked over).
In other words, most of my day is spent on my duff. I need to get to the gym regularly. But by the time I find some time, the day is almost over.
Where did the time go?
I sat down and made a mock-up of my day, allotting 168 hours a week. Even I was surprised at how little time I had to do anything but work. Driving work. Housework. Writing work. Homemaker work. There's a difference between housework and Homemaker work. Housework is cleaning, Homemaker work involves wife and mom stuff, a lot of paperwork and errands including appointment making and keeping, as well as budgeting and food shopping.
I need a time machine- and an at-home gym. And an attachment to the house to put them in. Sigh.
I went to the gym once last week. Once. Had a great workout, but was a starved Tasmanian Devil by the time I got home. My kids and the cats hid from me until I got something to eat.
To lose weight, I need to eat good food, less of it, and exercise. Two out of three won't cut it anymore.
I'm maintaining. That's good for now, but I can't be this weight forever. I don't want to be this weight forever!
Now it's a matter of balancing work, home, and writing- not an easy task. That's like juggling a bowling ball, and egg, and an elephant blindfolded. Wonder-Woman I ain't. And she doesn't even have kids! So why am I trying to do everything?
Lessons Learned:
I am not Wonder Woman. I need to do a lot, but I don't have to do everything.
Have the kids help make dinner. They need to learn to cook anyway- and it saves time too!
Make a list (yes another one!) for the kids concerning chores and dinner prep. They can do a few things after school to help out more.
Schedule gym time. If you don't, you'll never get there.
Schedule breaks in the day. At least one. Burning out is not going to anyone any good.
Tweak work hours. The job is flexible- take advantage of that.
Pack breakfast and a snack. One or the other just won't do anymore- especially if you're going to the gym right after work.
No, I'm not Wonder Woman. I need time to breathe as well as drive, write, and manage a household. I've been tweaking the schedule for weeks now, but until I actually put the hours on paper, it never dawned on me just how much I was doing- and not doing.
I also need to be listening to God. I'm reading a great book called The Best Yes, and though I'm only half way through it, it's already helped me get my ducks in a row, instead of working with a handful of feathers and duck-poo.
Wonder Woman and duck-poo. Not the kind of life I'd envisioned for myself.
The weight loss is maintained, but I need to step it up if I'm going to get thinner. Anyone want a used lasso and an American-themed bodysuit?
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Week Thirty Two: The Dear-God-It's-Coming-Together New Eating Lifestyle
I'm not 'there' yet, but I can start to see my schedule coming together. Slowly but surely, I'll figure this thing out!
Food is still an issue, since bananas aren't always the best thing to have every single morning- not when you don't have a clue where the public bathrooms are and your job is driving all morning!
Fruit still is in the running, while veggies are not. For some weird reason, fruit keeps me going while veggies make me hungrier. So maybe it isn't a fiber thing, it's a sugar thing. If I can't make eggs for breakfast, fruit is the next best option. As long as I have enough that I'm not a starved piranha by the time my shift is over!
Water in the am is also an issue, for the same reasons. And both issues make it hard to go to the gym right after work- it's not good to be hungry and dehydrated whilst using the gym machines- skinny people might get eaten!
Okay, so the gym has water. Still working out whether I'd be better off eating lunch then go to the gym, or just taking a little extra with me to temper the hungries. Going to test out those theories this week and see what happens.
Lunch and dinners have been a bit heavier than I like calorie-wise, and I really need to watch myself before bad habits return. I bought a lot of green veggies this week, and I plan on 'salading it up' during lunch. That might just balance things a bit better- especially if the salad has some protein in it, like a boiled egg or some chicken.
I might be losing weight, but sitting in a van all morning isn't going to tone anything. I have to fit the gym into my day somehow, and my best bet is to do it before I get home. Home means rest (sorta), and once I'm in the door, I probably won't want to leave again!
The morning schedule is finished. Get up, take hubby to work, do my shift, come home before lunch. Except now I might try the gym before going home, and have lunch after I walk in the door. I'm still not sure how the rest of the day will work out, but at least half my day is planned!
Unfortunately since I started this new job, I still have am appointments for me and the kids for checkups. Most don't need rescheduling as they are on the cusp of the end of my shift, so I can work around that. But the ones that aren't are also the ones that were hard to get (of course!), so I have to make up those hours later on in the week. An new appointments will be done in the afternoons from now on!
Menu planning is on the list. You'd think crock-potting would be preferable, but I'd have to be up before the crack of dark to cut the veggies and prep the meat before going to work. I'm already up at 4:30, and that's early enough, thank you! Maybe a quicker crock-pot dinner if I came home and everything was defrosted first? Maybe. Either way meat needs to be taken out and defrosted in the am- or in the fridge the night before. But that requires brain function I usually don't have at night. Most morning people are zombies by 8pm. I am one of them.
As for the housework, writing, and crafting? I'll fit it in somewhere. I just need to get the basics down first!
Lessons Learned:
Plan menus at least twice a week so you don't have 'whatever' dinners consisting of leftovers and junk.
Plan appointments for after your shift to avoid loss of wages and make-up hours.
Plan time to clean before the dust bunnies get you.
Plan time to write- the more books you publish, the less driving you need to do!
Plan fun together- so no one else can take that precious time away from you and your family!
Plan rest breaks. Even God took a day off!
Now all I need to do? Plan time to make all of these plans!
Food is still an issue, since bananas aren't always the best thing to have every single morning- not when you don't have a clue where the public bathrooms are and your job is driving all morning!
Fruit still is in the running, while veggies are not. For some weird reason, fruit keeps me going while veggies make me hungrier. So maybe it isn't a fiber thing, it's a sugar thing. If I can't make eggs for breakfast, fruit is the next best option. As long as I have enough that I'm not a starved piranha by the time my shift is over!
Water in the am is also an issue, for the same reasons. And both issues make it hard to go to the gym right after work- it's not good to be hungry and dehydrated whilst using the gym machines- skinny people might get eaten!
Okay, so the gym has water. Still working out whether I'd be better off eating lunch then go to the gym, or just taking a little extra with me to temper the hungries. Going to test out those theories this week and see what happens.
Lunch and dinners have been a bit heavier than I like calorie-wise, and I really need to watch myself before bad habits return. I bought a lot of green veggies this week, and I plan on 'salading it up' during lunch. That might just balance things a bit better- especially if the salad has some protein in it, like a boiled egg or some chicken.
I might be losing weight, but sitting in a van all morning isn't going to tone anything. I have to fit the gym into my day somehow, and my best bet is to do it before I get home. Home means rest (sorta), and once I'm in the door, I probably won't want to leave again!
The morning schedule is finished. Get up, take hubby to work, do my shift, come home before lunch. Except now I might try the gym before going home, and have lunch after I walk in the door. I'm still not sure how the rest of the day will work out, but at least half my day is planned!
Unfortunately since I started this new job, I still have am appointments for me and the kids for checkups. Most don't need rescheduling as they are on the cusp of the end of my shift, so I can work around that. But the ones that aren't are also the ones that were hard to get (of course!), so I have to make up those hours later on in the week. An new appointments will be done in the afternoons from now on!
Menu planning is on the list. You'd think crock-potting would be preferable, but I'd have to be up before the crack of dark to cut the veggies and prep the meat before going to work. I'm already up at 4:30, and that's early enough, thank you! Maybe a quicker crock-pot dinner if I came home and everything was defrosted first? Maybe. Either way meat needs to be taken out and defrosted in the am- or in the fridge the night before. But that requires brain function I usually don't have at night. Most morning people are zombies by 8pm. I am one of them.
As for the housework, writing, and crafting? I'll fit it in somewhere. I just need to get the basics down first!
Lessons Learned:
Plan menus at least twice a week so you don't have 'whatever' dinners consisting of leftovers and junk.
Plan appointments for after your shift to avoid loss of wages and make-up hours.
Plan time to clean before the dust bunnies get you.
Plan time to write- the more books you publish, the less driving you need to do!
Plan fun together- so no one else can take that precious time away from you and your family!
Plan rest breaks. Even God took a day off!
Now all I need to do? Plan time to make all of these plans!
Monday, August 17, 2015
Week Thirty One: The Dear-God-I'm-Taking-Baby-Steps New Eating Lifestyle
The plateau is broken!
It's not a huge weight loss. In fact, it's rather small for the time I've been getting back on track. But it's an important weight loss.
The 292 pound plateau is broken. The 291.5 record is broken. I am now a svelte 288 pounds!
My new job helps. I drive first thing in the morning after dropping off my husband for work, so I take a banana with me to stem the hungries. By the time I get home, it's lunchtime, and I don't need as much food to feel full. The down side is I don't have time to log everything (or I forget to).
But what about the title? What baby steps? Well, my nutritionist has told me that we will no longer be having monthly meetings, since I no longer need them as often. At first this was a blow- I looked forward to meeting regularly, even though we didn't have much to go over anymore, and she had a working scale. It was my safe zone, and I was becoming too dependent on those visits- and she knew it.
It was time to step out on my own. Egad.
That's also why the weight loss has slowed. I'm learning to do it on my own again, but this time, I have the tools I need to succeed.
I found a place with an accurate scale at my husband's workplace. Okay, okay, it's a freight scale, but if the skinny people can weigh themselves, so can I! It's not a 'fat' thing at this point- it's an 'accurate weight measuring' thing.
The weight loss is slow. Very slow. But I'm still losing- and that's all that matters. it took me years to get this big, so it'll take a few more years to get it off. I don't need to have all the weight lost right this second. Baby steps not only with what I eat, but exercise as well, and getting that schedule fixed so I can do as much as possible without burning out.
It isn't easy!
Lessons learned:
Bananas are really good as a travel snack- as long as you have a plastic baggie to stuff the skin in when you're done and still on the road.
Coming home hungry and thirsty can be a good thing- as long as you have a big glass of water first, then eat.
Slow weight loss is still a loss!
I have no idea how long this journey will take, but I feel thinner and more energetic each day. The hardest part isn't the eating and portion control anymore- it's getting the schedule right!
It's not a huge weight loss. In fact, it's rather small for the time I've been getting back on track. But it's an important weight loss.
The 292 pound plateau is broken. The 291.5 record is broken. I am now a svelte 288 pounds!
My new job helps. I drive first thing in the morning after dropping off my husband for work, so I take a banana with me to stem the hungries. By the time I get home, it's lunchtime, and I don't need as much food to feel full. The down side is I don't have time to log everything (or I forget to).
But what about the title? What baby steps? Well, my nutritionist has told me that we will no longer be having monthly meetings, since I no longer need them as often. At first this was a blow- I looked forward to meeting regularly, even though we didn't have much to go over anymore, and she had a working scale. It was my safe zone, and I was becoming too dependent on those visits- and she knew it.
It was time to step out on my own. Egad.
That's also why the weight loss has slowed. I'm learning to do it on my own again, but this time, I have the tools I need to succeed.
I found a place with an accurate scale at my husband's workplace. Okay, okay, it's a freight scale, but if the skinny people can weigh themselves, so can I! It's not a 'fat' thing at this point- it's an 'accurate weight measuring' thing.
The weight loss is slow. Very slow. But I'm still losing- and that's all that matters. it took me years to get this big, so it'll take a few more years to get it off. I don't need to have all the weight lost right this second. Baby steps not only with what I eat, but exercise as well, and getting that schedule fixed so I can do as much as possible without burning out.
It isn't easy!
Lessons learned:
Bananas are really good as a travel snack- as long as you have a plastic baggie to stuff the skin in when you're done and still on the road.
Coming home hungry and thirsty can be a good thing- as long as you have a big glass of water first, then eat.
Slow weight loss is still a loss!
I have no idea how long this journey will take, but I feel thinner and more energetic each day. The hardest part isn't the eating and portion control anymore- it's getting the schedule right!
Monday, August 10, 2015
Week Thirty: The Dear-God-My-Schedule-Is-A-Hot-Mess New Eating Lifestyle
Egad, it's week thirty already??
I managed to snag a doctor's scale when I took my kids for a checkup, and I've maintained. I'd be sad, but I ate like a starved piranha for the past two weeks, and behaved for most of the week this week, both in eating and exercising. So it's all good to me!
Yet there's another facet to this life which I must get accustomed to. Working. Not that I haven't been working as a wife, mother and writer, but it was time to start working a job that actually pays some fundage other than hugs and appreciative murmurs of content at dinnertime. Bills have to get paid, and my husband's overtime just isn't what it used to be.
Oh no, oh no, it's off to work I go!
The morning gym routine is squashed because that's when I work. I eat breakfast after I get home around 10:00 am (I'm working for a driving company), so there's a big gap between dinner and breakfast since I'm up at the crack of dark (that's 4:30- and the 'crack' part is me stubbing my dang toe in the dark.)
Get up, make the hubster breakfast (I take thyroid meds so I can't eat for an hour after I take it), take him to work, go to work, come home and eat. But I was prepared and took a banana with me- just in case the hungries got me.
I ate my banana on the way home and as we speak, I'm good. I might just have a piece of fruit in the mornings when I drive. It's almost lunch time and I'm not starving like I thought I'd be!
This was my first day on the job, and I did well. Now I just have to tweak my schedule so I can still get some fat burning in sometime during the day. It might be easier when the kids are back in school. We'll see.
Lessons learned:
Semi-pigging out and then behaving might let you get lucky in weight loss once in a while, but what would you have lost had you not ate so much?
Planning to take a banana with you was the best idea on busy mornings.
Come up with a plan to do at least some fat burning cardio at least three times a week. Especially after a four hour driving shift!
Look up some crockpot recipes for those days that are too hectic to 'cook'- and make sure you have all the ingredients!
Lifestyle changes along with dietary changes can make life a hot mess. But planning ahead, knowing your body, and tweaking schedules is something that needs to be done constantly in order to keep the mess at bay. Or at least most of it!
I don't like change. I like a steady schedule. So when things like this happen, it drives me straight up the wall, over the ceiling, and hangs me upside-down from the ceiling fan. I don't like it, but it's life, so I need to get used to it- otherwise life stops being interesting. And fun.
And if this job is going to be as busy as I think it is, I need more bananas!
I managed to snag a doctor's scale when I took my kids for a checkup, and I've maintained. I'd be sad, but I ate like a starved piranha for the past two weeks, and behaved for most of the week this week, both in eating and exercising. So it's all good to me!
Yet there's another facet to this life which I must get accustomed to. Working. Not that I haven't been working as a wife, mother and writer, but it was time to start working a job that actually pays some fundage other than hugs and appreciative murmurs of content at dinnertime. Bills have to get paid, and my husband's overtime just isn't what it used to be.
Oh no, oh no, it's off to work I go!
The morning gym routine is squashed because that's when I work. I eat breakfast after I get home around 10:00 am (I'm working for a driving company), so there's a big gap between dinner and breakfast since I'm up at the crack of dark (that's 4:30- and the 'crack' part is me stubbing my dang toe in the dark.)
Get up, make the hubster breakfast (I take thyroid meds so I can't eat for an hour after I take it), take him to work, go to work, come home and eat. But I was prepared and took a banana with me- just in case the hungries got me.
I ate my banana on the way home and as we speak, I'm good. I might just have a piece of fruit in the mornings when I drive. It's almost lunch time and I'm not starving like I thought I'd be!
This was my first day on the job, and I did well. Now I just have to tweak my schedule so I can still get some fat burning in sometime during the day. It might be easier when the kids are back in school. We'll see.
Lessons learned:
Semi-pigging out and then behaving might let you get lucky in weight loss once in a while, but what would you have lost had you not ate so much?
Planning to take a banana with you was the best idea on busy mornings.
Come up with a plan to do at least some fat burning cardio at least three times a week. Especially after a four hour driving shift!
Look up some crockpot recipes for those days that are too hectic to 'cook'- and make sure you have all the ingredients!
Lifestyle changes along with dietary changes can make life a hot mess. But planning ahead, knowing your body, and tweaking schedules is something that needs to be done constantly in order to keep the mess at bay. Or at least most of it!
I don't like change. I like a steady schedule. So when things like this happen, it drives me straight up the wall, over the ceiling, and hangs me upside-down from the ceiling fan. I don't like it, but it's life, so I need to get used to it- otherwise life stops being interesting. And fun.
And if this job is going to be as busy as I think it is, I need more bananas!
Monday, August 3, 2015
Week Twenty Nine: The Dear-God-I-Survived! New Eating Lifestyle
I have no idea if I gained weight or lost it. All I know is I survived this week!
I went to a writer's conference this week, and after all that baking the two weeks prior, I was tired. Beat. Drained. And that was before the conference.
The lunches and dinners started out well, but progressively got more junky by the end of the week. The menu started out with roast chicken and green beans and ended up with a processed chicken burger as my meal. All in all, I did eat a lot, but I also walked a lot. I was up before dawn and back home at dark. I didn't even think of journaling my food, or I would've never gotten to sleep!
The conference was a blast, and I made some new contacts and some new friends. A few people who met me last year saw that I lost weight- bonus! I even managed to fit into those student chairs a bit better, though the curve of the seat caused a suction effect that I could've done without- but it makes for good storytelling!
Lessons learned? I could have eaten less. That's it. I did the fruit and veggie thing for snacks, but I also did the cheese and cracker thing, and had a little homemade pound cake as well. I ate when I was hungry, and I ate when it was time to eat.
But there is a second lesson learned. Sometimes when life is just too darned busy, you need to stop logging every morsel for a few days and see how well you do without it. Especially when you're running all day long and this isn't your 'normal'. The trick is to get back to 'normal' as soon as possible, and not let a few days off from journaling derail your progress!
P.S. I am exceeding glad that the faculty at the conference ate every scrap of the pound cakes my husband made- the vanilla was just too good with strawberries, and the chocolate-chocolate chip pound cake was addictive! I was glad I had a lot of classes to attend when that stuff was out. Seriously.
Today I went to the gym, and am back to food and exercise journaling. All I need now is to weigh-in to see where I'm restarting!
I went to a writer's conference this week, and after all that baking the two weeks prior, I was tired. Beat. Drained. And that was before the conference.
The lunches and dinners started out well, but progressively got more junky by the end of the week. The menu started out with roast chicken and green beans and ended up with a processed chicken burger as my meal. All in all, I did eat a lot, but I also walked a lot. I was up before dawn and back home at dark. I didn't even think of journaling my food, or I would've never gotten to sleep!
The conference was a blast, and I made some new contacts and some new friends. A few people who met me last year saw that I lost weight- bonus! I even managed to fit into those student chairs a bit better, though the curve of the seat caused a suction effect that I could've done without- but it makes for good storytelling!
Lessons learned? I could have eaten less. That's it. I did the fruit and veggie thing for snacks, but I also did the cheese and cracker thing, and had a little homemade pound cake as well. I ate when I was hungry, and I ate when it was time to eat.
But there is a second lesson learned. Sometimes when life is just too darned busy, you need to stop logging every morsel for a few days and see how well you do without it. Especially when you're running all day long and this isn't your 'normal'. The trick is to get back to 'normal' as soon as possible, and not let a few days off from journaling derail your progress!
P.S. I am exceeding glad that the faculty at the conference ate every scrap of the pound cakes my husband made- the vanilla was just too good with strawberries, and the chocolate-chocolate chip pound cake was addictive! I was glad I had a lot of classes to attend when that stuff was out. Seriously.
Today I went to the gym, and am back to food and exercise journaling. All I need now is to weigh-in to see where I'm restarting!
Monday, July 27, 2015
Week Twenty Eight: The Dear-God-I-Hope-I-Survive New Eating Lifestyle
I'm still not sure if last week was more insanely busy, or if this week will be. I guess I won't find out until I actually survive this week.
If I survive. Food-wise, that is.
I did really well last week despite my crazy schedule. In fact, I wound up having a piece of fruit instead of a full breakfast at least two days out of the week, and sometimes only had time for a light but sketchy lunch. One of the keys to my success was I'd made some really awesome low-cal soups.
Two soups I depend on are Green Soup, dubbed by my daughter. All this is made of is chicken broth, some julienne chicken or pork (this time it was chicken), carrots, rice, and spinach. The spinach turns the broth slightly green, hence the name. The best part is a half quart is less than 200 calories!
The other soup was Chicken Vegetable Soup. This is also low on the calorie scale (a little over 200) for the same sized serving. All veggies and meat does a body good. Especially when you're in a hurry and can microwave a bowl in a few minutes.
I didn't exercise as much this week. At the gym anyway. I did however exhaust myself every day prepping for the conference, and hardly any of it concerned writing! I thank the Lord each day for my daughter, who helped me make about sixty-five dozen cookies (and yes, that is an accurate count) and several banana breads. My husband is making some vanilla and chocolate pound cakes, and I'll be spending today prepping dip, veggies and fruit for the conference coffee breaks.
How can I resist not eating everything we made? Easy. I'm too darn tired at the end of the day that I forget! I usually don't taste when I bake (at least after the initial taste that's mandatory), so when I have busy baking days, I lose more weight simply because I'm too busy to eat. I just have no interest in eating until all the baking is done!
Good thing I'm taking all of this stuff to the conference- otherwise I might be in trouble. Because them cookies is good. Yes, I had to taste test them the next day. Had to. It was a moral imperative.
This week I can graze as I prep, because everything is healthy. Veggies and fruits are easy to munch on when prepping, and as long as I leave enough for the conferees, all is well. I know many of the people attending the conference are in the same boat as I am, so healthy choices will give them a chance to behave. However, if they choose to indulge, they can too. I made the cookies cute and small so if one is eaten, their whole day isn't ruined.
But man, I could sure use a nap!
Lessons learned:
Cookies in hard-to-open, air-tight containers is a good way to keep my mitts off of them the day after baking.
Being busy and have soups ready to eat is the best way for me to stay on track.
Idle hands make for determined cookie container opening. Keep busy.
Having fresh fruit handy when strapped for time helps keep the Hungries away when you can't eat a full meal at that moment.
Always try to get to the gym, but if you know you're going to be running on borrowed time all day, it's okay to skip it- just don't make it a habit!
The conference starts Wednesday and will last for four days. The menus at the conference are dicey at best, but I hope to make good choices- or at least better ones. I just hope I have the energy to survive!
If I survive. Food-wise, that is.
I did really well last week despite my crazy schedule. In fact, I wound up having a piece of fruit instead of a full breakfast at least two days out of the week, and sometimes only had time for a light but sketchy lunch. One of the keys to my success was I'd made some really awesome low-cal soups.
Two soups I depend on are Green Soup, dubbed by my daughter. All this is made of is chicken broth, some julienne chicken or pork (this time it was chicken), carrots, rice, and spinach. The spinach turns the broth slightly green, hence the name. The best part is a half quart is less than 200 calories!
The other soup was Chicken Vegetable Soup. This is also low on the calorie scale (a little over 200) for the same sized serving. All veggies and meat does a body good. Especially when you're in a hurry and can microwave a bowl in a few minutes.
I didn't exercise as much this week. At the gym anyway. I did however exhaust myself every day prepping for the conference, and hardly any of it concerned writing! I thank the Lord each day for my daughter, who helped me make about sixty-five dozen cookies (and yes, that is an accurate count) and several banana breads. My husband is making some vanilla and chocolate pound cakes, and I'll be spending today prepping dip, veggies and fruit for the conference coffee breaks.
How can I resist not eating everything we made? Easy. I'm too darn tired at the end of the day that I forget! I usually don't taste when I bake (at least after the initial taste that's mandatory), so when I have busy baking days, I lose more weight simply because I'm too busy to eat. I just have no interest in eating until all the baking is done!
Good thing I'm taking all of this stuff to the conference- otherwise I might be in trouble. Because them cookies is good. Yes, I had to taste test them the next day. Had to. It was a moral imperative.
This week I can graze as I prep, because everything is healthy. Veggies and fruits are easy to munch on when prepping, and as long as I leave enough for the conferees, all is well. I know many of the people attending the conference are in the same boat as I am, so healthy choices will give them a chance to behave. However, if they choose to indulge, they can too. I made the cookies cute and small so if one is eaten, their whole day isn't ruined.
But man, I could sure use a nap!
Lessons learned:
Cookies in hard-to-open, air-tight containers is a good way to keep my mitts off of them the day after baking.
Being busy and have soups ready to eat is the best way for me to stay on track.
Idle hands make for determined cookie container opening. Keep busy.
Having fresh fruit handy when strapped for time helps keep the Hungries away when you can't eat a full meal at that moment.
Always try to get to the gym, but if you know you're going to be running on borrowed time all day, it's okay to skip it- just don't make it a habit!
The conference starts Wednesday and will last for four days. The menus at the conference are dicey at best, but I hope to make good choices- or at least better ones. I just hope I have the energy to survive!
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