Fourteen hundred. That's right, people. I burned fourteen hundred calories in one day.
Before I get to the juicy details, let's start from the beginning of the week- or better still, a brief glimpse into the week before.
One thing I didn't mention last week- I'm walking through the wonderful world of menopause. Nothing was going on for a good three months, and while I contemplated the possibility of an additional family member, I also knew that I'm at an age where hormone changes happen.
I suspected something interesting biologically, because last week I was hungry. Really hungry. Like "Gimmie a cow and a fork!" hungry. The last time I was that hungry, I was on my way to parenthood. But then again I wasn't dieting at the time, so I had no idea what was going on at present.
Last week I found out I wasn't preggers- no tests strips needed.
Well, thank You Jesus for very large favors! That explained everything, and I didn't have to reveal to my teenagers that Mom and Dad are still intimate. The secret is still safe! (at least from the kids.)
That was last week. Resisting food was hard, hard, hard. And sometimes I indulged myself before I ate one of the kids.
This week was a great week calorie-wise, though there wasn't as much salad involved. I had oral surgery on Thursday; sutures and scaling, so soup was recommended. It's now Monday, and I haven't had a drop of soup. Soup just wasn't in the cards, but I did eat a lot of chicken- very slowly. I had to eat on the other side of my mouth. Did I mention there are only two "workable" teeth on that side? Try to eat chicken while only using two teeth- you'll lose weight no matter what because you have no choice but to eat slow.
My husband treated me to Chinese food, so I had to be really careful with the rice. And every meal took about thirty minutes to eat. There just wasn't time for snacks, because by the time I was done breakfast, it was lunchtime. Sorta. Today I'm making soup with everything cut so tiny all I have to do is swallow. Sutures in the gums aren't fun.
Now for the juicy part! How on God's green earth did I manage to burn fourteen hundred calories?
Volunteer work.
The women's Fellowship at our church went to SHARE- a group that helps poor families get fresh produce and food in the inner city. Every time we go we have different jobs to do- sometimes it's packing produce, or making boxes, but this time we were boxing up canned goods and cereals to make care packages. I was in charge of making boxes to fill. I was the beginning of the line. The anchor. The one who keeps everyone else going. If I stopped, the entire line stopped.
I worked for three solid hours making boxes, helping to stock one of the packers when I got ahead of myself, and broke down the empty boxes of used stock items. By the end of the shift, I'd made three hundred boxes and carried several hundred pounds of goods- and stacked empty pallets.
I was sore, but satisfied. I went home to see what I could chart in MyFitnessPal.
The closest thing that would compare on the list was light calisthenics. I put in how long (three hours) and hit the "enter" key. It calculated I had burned at least fourteen hundred calories. After deducting that from my daily intake, I'd only consumed two hundred calories that day! I think it was okay to go over one hundred calories that day- WOOHOO!
Weeding and planting my garden doesn't seem so bad now. I wonder how many calories I can burn doing that? I know housework won't be as dreadful if I know I can burn some serious calories!
Lessons learned:
If you're really hungry, plan ahead and make some grab and go veggie and/or protein snacks (like nuts or chicken).
Exercise around the house! Chores can be good calorie burners- especially those times when you want to eat a whole cow.
Knowing one is officially menopausal helps to stem panic attacks about buying baby clothes- it also helps to stop stress eating from said thoughts.
Doing three hours of hard work is good on occasion when limiting calories, but doing so regularly is not. If I start working harder regularly (oh hush- I heard you laugh!), I'll make sure to eat more on those days.
Plan on doing more outside of the house. Not only yard work but out in the community as well. It does a body good, and I feel like I can tackle the housework the next day. Gaining confidence doesn't hurt a body either!
Make soup when you get oral surgery. Make soup today.
That's it for this week! I go back to the nutritionist Friday, so I'll have a weight loss report for you next week! My spring wardrobe is a lot more loose than last year, and shirts that were tight now fit! I can't wait to see what the scale says- this could be the first time I've been under three hundred pounds in years!
Monday, March 30, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Week Ten: The Dear-God-This-Tastes-Good New Eating Lifestyle
There are some things you forget you love until it's put in front of you.
Like homemade cheesesteaks.
And homemade pizza.
And homemade french fries, or homemade potato chips.
Basically, anything homemade tastes great. The best thing about homemade is it's usually better for you too- as long as you don't completely pig out!
This was a very tasty week.
I managed to stay within my calories, despite th fact that I had homemade versions of our take-out favorites. I also took it easy on the snacks so I could have these wonders, and when I did snack, it was veggies or fruit. Good stuff.
I worked almost regularly on the exercise bike, and even did a little walking when the weather permitted. Guess what? Those hard-to-do walks weren't so bad! In fact, I was barely winded when I got to my destination. Yay me!
Spring is almost here (I don't care what the calendar says- it snowed here on the first day of "Spring"- liar, liar Mother Nature) and I hate walking or biking for no reason, so I'm going to explore my neighborhood instead. I'll take a camera and get a few shot of nature waking up, check out a few of the stores on the main street, and talk to people.
Maybe I'll try riding out of my neighborhood and explore other places, when I get in better shape.
It's fun anticipating new things, and knowing I can do more than I used to is a big motivator. Yes, It's been hard not to eat more than I ought to, or refrain from eating something because the calories aren't worth it, but keeping on track and getting back on that horse when I stumble off is getting easier and easier as I move forward.
Lessons Learned:
Log everything the moment you eat it- or you'll forget. Those can be calorie breakers!
A bite of this or that is fine. Anything bigger than a bite should be logged- especially if you ate "your half".
Sharing helps to lighten the caloric load and yet still let you enjoy it. Eat slower than the person you're sharing with, and savor the food.
Exercising regularly works. I'm constantly surprised at how far I can go now!
Homemade is a lot less calories, but if it's fried, it still packs a caloric punch.
Drink more water. Dehydration can be mistaken for hunger.
Well, that's it for this week! I'm hoping to find a place to weigh-in (I keep forgetting to look when I'm out!), but the next time I do, I'll post it! Looking forward to the warmer weather!
Like homemade cheesesteaks.
And homemade pizza.
And homemade french fries, or homemade potato chips.
Basically, anything homemade tastes great. The best thing about homemade is it's usually better for you too- as long as you don't completely pig out!
This was a very tasty week.
I managed to stay within my calories, despite th fact that I had homemade versions of our take-out favorites. I also took it easy on the snacks so I could have these wonders, and when I did snack, it was veggies or fruit. Good stuff.
I worked almost regularly on the exercise bike, and even did a little walking when the weather permitted. Guess what? Those hard-to-do walks weren't so bad! In fact, I was barely winded when I got to my destination. Yay me!
Spring is almost here (I don't care what the calendar says- it snowed here on the first day of "Spring"- liar, liar Mother Nature) and I hate walking or biking for no reason, so I'm going to explore my neighborhood instead. I'll take a camera and get a few shot of nature waking up, check out a few of the stores on the main street, and talk to people.
Maybe I'll try riding out of my neighborhood and explore other places, when I get in better shape.
It's fun anticipating new things, and knowing I can do more than I used to is a big motivator. Yes, It's been hard not to eat more than I ought to, or refrain from eating something because the calories aren't worth it, but keeping on track and getting back on that horse when I stumble off is getting easier and easier as I move forward.
Lessons Learned:
Log everything the moment you eat it- or you'll forget. Those can be calorie breakers!
A bite of this or that is fine. Anything bigger than a bite should be logged- especially if you ate "your half".
Sharing helps to lighten the caloric load and yet still let you enjoy it. Eat slower than the person you're sharing with, and savor the food.
Exercising regularly works. I'm constantly surprised at how far I can go now!
Homemade is a lot less calories, but if it's fried, it still packs a caloric punch.
Drink more water. Dehydration can be mistaken for hunger.
Well, that's it for this week! I'm hoping to find a place to weigh-in (I keep forgetting to look when I'm out!), but the next time I do, I'll post it! Looking forward to the warmer weather!
Monday, March 16, 2015
Week Nine: The Dear-God-I'm-Rooting-Out-The-Weeds New Eating Lifestyle
The week started out great!
Monday was chock full of chores, deadlines and prepping. The new morning schedule is working out great- all the editing is done, breakfast eaten and workouts finished by 10:30 am. The rest of the day was spent making up for a too-busy weekend. I brewed two kinds of tea, cleaned out the fridge, cut all of my veggies into bagged snacks to grab and go, and even made a breakfast casserole.
I didn't finish my entire list of things to do that day (will I ever?), but I did what I could at a good pace. I accomplished a lot. I still have a long list, but the stuff I didn't do just went to the top of the list for the next day. A mom's list is never ever totally completed!
One thing I noticed during the latter part of this week is that I was getting physically hungrier, despite the fact I was staying on track. Yes, I rode my bike, but I've been riding regularly, so why the change? I decided to look at my past logs and see what was different.
Sugar and carbs.
This week I had sugary snacks like a Cadbury caramel egg (love those things!), strawberry shortcake, and Swedish fish. Not a lot, mind you, but that was the only difference. Now my stomach is growling first thing in the morning. In fact, any time I had sugar the previous day, my stomach growled earlier the next day- and I wanted to eat more throughout the day.
I admit that I indulged more this week because I thought I could get away with it. Easter is jellybean and chocolate egg season (at least for me), and I thought a little bit of indulgence wouldn't hurt. A little indulgence doesn't hurt- but I was having something sugary every day, which is not good-even if I was staying within my caloric intake.
I also had more bread and pasta than I normally do. Sandwiches, though thrifty foods, don't always do this body good. I love bagels, but bagel sandwiches are close to 600 calories, and half of that is the bagel! So I fixed the situation by slicing the bagels into fourths instead of halves. Did I mention I love my deli slicer? Made the job a snap, and I sliced all the bagels so my family can save calories too- and get twice as many sandwiches out of them!
But still too carby to have every day. It's been a busy week and I was in "Grab and Go" mode. Sigh.
Still hoping to be under 300 pounds soon, and still seeking a scale to use until I can buy one. My ring turns around my finger on a constant basis now, and I even found it on upside down once! My spring pants are a lot more roomy, and shirts that were tight now fit better- still a little snug, but much better than before. WOOHOO!
Lessons Learned:
Sugar is okay in small doses, but reserve the sugary treats to once or twice a week.
Savor sandwiches by putting the sandwich down after each bite, and take smaller bites.
Cutting out isn't an answer, but holding off until you truly crave something is paramount to success.
"Just a small handful" doesn't work if you do it several times a day.
Having an online journal really helped pinpoint the problem- even though I hate journaling.
Unless I'm truly craving something sugary/carby, I need to hold off eating it.
"It's not worth the calories" works- but should especially be applied to carbs and sugar (in my case).
All in all, it was a good week. I keep learning new things about myself as I go, and I like finding out what works for me and what doesn't. I'm pinpointing calories with more accuracy when I'm eating out, as well as gauging serving sizes.
It's starting to warm up outside, and there's a lot of yard work to do. It looks like I'll get the chance to burn more calories this spring!
Monday was chock full of chores, deadlines and prepping. The new morning schedule is working out great- all the editing is done, breakfast eaten and workouts finished by 10:30 am. The rest of the day was spent making up for a too-busy weekend. I brewed two kinds of tea, cleaned out the fridge, cut all of my veggies into bagged snacks to grab and go, and even made a breakfast casserole.
I didn't finish my entire list of things to do that day (will I ever?), but I did what I could at a good pace. I accomplished a lot. I still have a long list, but the stuff I didn't do just went to the top of the list for the next day. A mom's list is never ever totally completed!
One thing I noticed during the latter part of this week is that I was getting physically hungrier, despite the fact I was staying on track. Yes, I rode my bike, but I've been riding regularly, so why the change? I decided to look at my past logs and see what was different.
Sugar and carbs.
This week I had sugary snacks like a Cadbury caramel egg (love those things!), strawberry shortcake, and Swedish fish. Not a lot, mind you, but that was the only difference. Now my stomach is growling first thing in the morning. In fact, any time I had sugar the previous day, my stomach growled earlier the next day- and I wanted to eat more throughout the day.
I admit that I indulged more this week because I thought I could get away with it. Easter is jellybean and chocolate egg season (at least for me), and I thought a little bit of indulgence wouldn't hurt. A little indulgence doesn't hurt- but I was having something sugary every day, which is not good-even if I was staying within my caloric intake.
I also had more bread and pasta than I normally do. Sandwiches, though thrifty foods, don't always do this body good. I love bagels, but bagel sandwiches are close to 600 calories, and half of that is the bagel! So I fixed the situation by slicing the bagels into fourths instead of halves. Did I mention I love my deli slicer? Made the job a snap, and I sliced all the bagels so my family can save calories too- and get twice as many sandwiches out of them!
But still too carby to have every day. It's been a busy week and I was in "Grab and Go" mode. Sigh.
Still hoping to be under 300 pounds soon, and still seeking a scale to use until I can buy one. My ring turns around my finger on a constant basis now, and I even found it on upside down once! My spring pants are a lot more roomy, and shirts that were tight now fit better- still a little snug, but much better than before. WOOHOO!
Lessons Learned:
Sugar is okay in small doses, but reserve the sugary treats to once or twice a week.
Savor sandwiches by putting the sandwich down after each bite, and take smaller bites.
Cutting out isn't an answer, but holding off until you truly crave something is paramount to success.
"Just a small handful" doesn't work if you do it several times a day.
Having an online journal really helped pinpoint the problem- even though I hate journaling.
Unless I'm truly craving something sugary/carby, I need to hold off eating it.
"It's not worth the calories" works- but should especially be applied to carbs and sugar (in my case).
All in all, it was a good week. I keep learning new things about myself as I go, and I like finding out what works for me and what doesn't. I'm pinpointing calories with more accuracy when I'm eating out, as well as gauging serving sizes.
It's starting to warm up outside, and there's a lot of yard work to do. It looks like I'll get the chance to burn more calories this spring!
Monday, March 9, 2015
Week Eight: The Dear-God-I'm-Taking-One-Step-Back-Two-Steps-Forward New Eating Lifestyle
It was an interesting week.
It was also a very busy week. Deadlines were eminent, meetings planned, events attended, and though I was back on track and doing well, there were a few bumps in the road- especially over the weekend.
I had two teeth pulled this week. Let's just say that day it was easy to behave myself- and now I look like a rabbit.
Saturday's schedule was crazy! Had a long meeting with the community Rec Center staff to plan events for the year and tell them what I had planned for the Yard Sale fundraisers. I'm in charge of running two yard sales a year to help the Rec Center to make repairs and improvements, so I had to be there.
They provided breakfast at the beginning of the meeting, but I knew it was probably going to be doughnuts and bagels, so I ate breakfast at home before going. I was right, and didn't even have a single doughnut hole- those things are dangerous.
Because the meeting was so long, they included lunch too- and it wasn't salad. It was pizza.
Pizza isn't bad, but I could have eaten one slice. Could have. Coulda, shoulda, woulda...didn't. Had I remembered to bring myself a snack, I might not have eaten two slices, but I didn't bring one, so I was a little too hungry when the pizza came. Alas, poor pizza, I knew you well.
The kids were out with a friend most of the day, and my friend said she was taking the kids to Chic-fil-a, one of my favorite places- also one of my approved places, since they have lower calorie offerings and they actually have chicken in their chicken! No fillers- just all white meaty goodness. We met them at the restaurant, and I was looking forward to something good.
We got something good all right- a huge platter of chicken nuggets was placed before us, along with four cartons of giant fries- so much for the salad idea! But it was a money saver since we were feeding a troupe of eight, and we divided the platter for the kids and for us adults. I ate the nuggets slowly, and had a few fries. And a few more. And a few more nuggets. And fries. By the time the food was gone, I really had no idea how much I'd eaten.
Then we all had ice cream. I wasn't going to, but everyone else was eating one, and I figured I blew my calorie count out of the water anyway, so I went for it.
Why am I surprised at the numbers when I type everything into MyFitnessPal? Over 2000 calories, and the day wasn't over- we still had a church event to attend. Did I mention it was an early dinner too? And the evening event had snacks as well-right when I would be hungry.
The good thing is I didn't have the cookies or sweet stuff, but I did eat some chips, cheese and crackers. I didn't put this stuff on my calorie counter- the entire day was a wash- and I didn't ride my bike because there was no time. It wouldn't surprise me if I went over the 2500 calorie mark that day. Yikes! I think that was my worst day since I started this eating plan!
The upside is the ice cream cone was about 170 calories- not nearly as much as I thought, and it goes on the list of 'okay snacks when eating out'.
Sunday was church and I took green pepper strips with me for a snack. It's a good thing I did, because they had all sweet carby things for snacks after church, which I didn't indulge in. I behaved myself, but I forgot to ride the bike. I was feeling a bit run down too- probably from Saturday's overeating. Ugh.
Lessons learned:
Take snacks with you, no matter where you go. Especially if you know you'll be out for a while.
Don't depend on people offering healthy stuff when you're eating for free.
It's okay to screw up once in a while, as long as you get back on the horse ASAP.
Riding the bike is so much easier when I have a book or can watch something! Riding the bike with no distractions and not looking at the timer is impossible, not to mention it makes the time drag on and on and on...
I need to come up with a plan on the weekends for using the exercise bike- or going outside for a walk.
Go to bed earlier. Being tired makes for bad decision-making later on in the day.
I'm still feeling the after-effects of Saturday. Things will be all right though because I'm starting fresh today. I have a ton of fresh veggies in the fridge, something to watch when I ride my bike- I'm going to go for forty minutes this time!
It was also a very busy week. Deadlines were eminent, meetings planned, events attended, and though I was back on track and doing well, there were a few bumps in the road- especially over the weekend.
I had two teeth pulled this week. Let's just say that day it was easy to behave myself- and now I look like a rabbit.
Saturday's schedule was crazy! Had a long meeting with the community Rec Center staff to plan events for the year and tell them what I had planned for the Yard Sale fundraisers. I'm in charge of running two yard sales a year to help the Rec Center to make repairs and improvements, so I had to be there.
They provided breakfast at the beginning of the meeting, but I knew it was probably going to be doughnuts and bagels, so I ate breakfast at home before going. I was right, and didn't even have a single doughnut hole- those things are dangerous.
Because the meeting was so long, they included lunch too- and it wasn't salad. It was pizza.
Pizza isn't bad, but I could have eaten one slice. Could have. Coulda, shoulda, woulda...didn't. Had I remembered to bring myself a snack, I might not have eaten two slices, but I didn't bring one, so I was a little too hungry when the pizza came. Alas, poor pizza, I knew you well.
The kids were out with a friend most of the day, and my friend said she was taking the kids to Chic-fil-a, one of my favorite places- also one of my approved places, since they have lower calorie offerings and they actually have chicken in their chicken! No fillers- just all white meaty goodness. We met them at the restaurant, and I was looking forward to something good.
We got something good all right- a huge platter of chicken nuggets was placed before us, along with four cartons of giant fries- so much for the salad idea! But it was a money saver since we were feeding a troupe of eight, and we divided the platter for the kids and for us adults. I ate the nuggets slowly, and had a few fries. And a few more. And a few more nuggets. And fries. By the time the food was gone, I really had no idea how much I'd eaten.
Then we all had ice cream. I wasn't going to, but everyone else was eating one, and I figured I blew my calorie count out of the water anyway, so I went for it.
Why am I surprised at the numbers when I type everything into MyFitnessPal? Over 2000 calories, and the day wasn't over- we still had a church event to attend. Did I mention it was an early dinner too? And the evening event had snacks as well-right when I would be hungry.
The good thing is I didn't have the cookies or sweet stuff, but I did eat some chips, cheese and crackers. I didn't put this stuff on my calorie counter- the entire day was a wash- and I didn't ride my bike because there was no time. It wouldn't surprise me if I went over the 2500 calorie mark that day. Yikes! I think that was my worst day since I started this eating plan!
The upside is the ice cream cone was about 170 calories- not nearly as much as I thought, and it goes on the list of 'okay snacks when eating out'.
Sunday was church and I took green pepper strips with me for a snack. It's a good thing I did, because they had all sweet carby things for snacks after church, which I didn't indulge in. I behaved myself, but I forgot to ride the bike. I was feeling a bit run down too- probably from Saturday's overeating. Ugh.
Lessons learned:
Take snacks with you, no matter where you go. Especially if you know you'll be out for a while.
Don't depend on people offering healthy stuff when you're eating for free.
It's okay to screw up once in a while, as long as you get back on the horse ASAP.
Riding the bike is so much easier when I have a book or can watch something! Riding the bike with no distractions and not looking at the timer is impossible, not to mention it makes the time drag on and on and on...
I need to come up with a plan on the weekends for using the exercise bike- or going outside for a walk.
Go to bed earlier. Being tired makes for bad decision-making later on in the day.
I'm still feeling the after-effects of Saturday. Things will be all right though because I'm starting fresh today. I have a ton of fresh veggies in the fridge, something to watch when I ride my bike- I'm going to go for forty minutes this time!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Week Seven: The Dear-God-I'm-Doing-Great-Again New eating Lifestyle
Life is good.
Got back on track Monday by reworking my schedule. I have a new online job (writing, voluntary, and great experience!) that allows me to work at any time I want. After fiddling around with time frames, the best time for me is right after getting up and dressed- so I'm starting around five in the morning. I don't get hungry until about nine o'clock, so I work until eight, do a little light cleaning (because I know the kids didn't clear and wipe off the counters last night), make breakfast, and relax for a bit.
After breakfast, I do a little straightening up before popping on Netflix and getting on the bike. I can manage to do thirty minutes now, and it really helps to be distracted! I like my quiet time too, but I've learned that I keep watching the timer on the bike too much when my eyeballs have nowhere to go. Sad but true.
Bringing in more veggies to snack on in my menu plan is always a good idea- especially when I don't feel like cooking them and can slice a nice crispy seedless cucumber to adorn my plate like chips. It's an easy-peasy side for leftovers that doesn't take a lot of effort (or cooking). I'm not making carby sides like last week if I can avoid it.
I need to find more clear broth soup recipes in my cookbook larder. I have tons of books, but do you think I'd crack one open? Noooo. The best part about getting the workday out of the way in the morning is that it leaves my afternoons totally open to things like menu planning and soup making.
I'll be off to the nutritionist in a day or two, and I can't wait to see how much I've lost! I can tell that my belly is smaller, and even my fingers seem slimmer than they were- my wedding ring is getting more loose anyway- and that's a good thing because I needed a blowtorch to get it off before this eating plan! Now it can come off with a few wiggles so I can clean it!
Just came back from the nutritionist- I lost 16 pounds! I was 335 before I met her, went on a weight loss roller-coaster ride to 321, and now I'm a svelte 305. WOOHOO! Break out the bikinis, I'm going swimming!
Okay, NOT. There's no way anyone is going to get me into a bikini- especially now in the dead of winter- but even if I was in the middle of an Arizona heat wave, I know better. I still have a long way to go, but it sure feels good to know on average I lost over two pounds a week!
Since I started this new eating lifestyle on MyFitnessPal, I've printed out each day to track my progress. Looking back, I was surprised to see that there were only two real bad days where I went over 2000 calories. It wasn't a binge, I wasn't starving, but I did learn that surprise buffet dinners and being really stressed isn't good for an emotional eater like me. For the most part, I was staying within the 1500 calorie mark- give or take a hundred or so calories-and it showed on the scale.
Thirty minutes on the exercise bike allows me a lot more freedom for mistakes- 400 calories worth, so I especially want to use the bike on days I know I'll be going out to eat and have no idea what the counts are until I get home. Not all restaurants have good choices, and the portions need to be handled before I start grazing. I've learned not to be embarrassed in asking for a take-home bag as soon as I am served my meal. Why I was embarrassed in the first place is beyond me!
One day i did 40 minutes on the bike. My legs weren't happy campers afterwards, but it's good to test limits once in a bit. I might try pushing the 40 minute mark once or twice in a week until the stamina kicks in.
Lessons Learned:
Most restaurants do have calorie counts online if not on the menus themselves. It's good to plan ahead- especially when it less calories to have sirloin and veggies instead of chicken and dumplings!
Having a regular morning routine sets the tone for the entire rest of the day. I get more done in the mornings and am quite productive! I'm up at the crack of dark (4:30am) and by the time I'm done my morning routine, it's about 10:00-10:30. Job done, exercise done, breakfast eaten, and I'm ready to tackle the chaos.
Seven weeks of logging everything made it into a habit. Now I feel compelled to log my calories, and it isn't a drudgery anymore. In fact, sometimes it's fun to see how well I guesstimated my intake, and delightful to see when I'm under my count for the day and can treat myself if I want to! And yes, sometimes I do treat myself, but most times I don't- because I don't crave anything.
I love living a "Can eat anything" lifestyle. I'm calmer, and less likely to stress eat when I know I can have anything I want- the supermarket's the limit! In the past two months I've indulged in chocolate, jellybeans and potato chips- try to find those on anyones "no-no" diet plan!
By not overeating I have more energy and am happier because I don't feel bloated or stuffed like a turkey. Just remember in the beginning In was still eating the same foods, just too much of them! Healthy food can be detrimental too, if you eat too much of it.
Want to know something else? Other than when I'm actually eating, I'm not focused on food anymore. I no longer dream of my next meal right after eating. No more "if I only had this to eat, I could calm down", or "I need chips to vent my frustrations". Why? Because I'm finding new things to focus on. Food doesn't have the stranglehold that it used to. Yes, I still falter, but it's never as devastating as it used to be- I just pick myself up and move on to a fresh new day.
And that, my Dear Readers, is awesome!
Got back on track Monday by reworking my schedule. I have a new online job (writing, voluntary, and great experience!) that allows me to work at any time I want. After fiddling around with time frames, the best time for me is right after getting up and dressed- so I'm starting around five in the morning. I don't get hungry until about nine o'clock, so I work until eight, do a little light cleaning (because I know the kids didn't clear and wipe off the counters last night), make breakfast, and relax for a bit.
After breakfast, I do a little straightening up before popping on Netflix and getting on the bike. I can manage to do thirty minutes now, and it really helps to be distracted! I like my quiet time too, but I've learned that I keep watching the timer on the bike too much when my eyeballs have nowhere to go. Sad but true.
Bringing in more veggies to snack on in my menu plan is always a good idea- especially when I don't feel like cooking them and can slice a nice crispy seedless cucumber to adorn my plate like chips. It's an easy-peasy side for leftovers that doesn't take a lot of effort (or cooking). I'm not making carby sides like last week if I can avoid it.
I need to find more clear broth soup recipes in my cookbook larder. I have tons of books, but do you think I'd crack one open? Noooo. The best part about getting the workday out of the way in the morning is that it leaves my afternoons totally open to things like menu planning and soup making.
I'll be off to the nutritionist in a day or two, and I can't wait to see how much I've lost! I can tell that my belly is smaller, and even my fingers seem slimmer than they were- my wedding ring is getting more loose anyway- and that's a good thing because I needed a blowtorch to get it off before this eating plan! Now it can come off with a few wiggles so I can clean it!
Just came back from the nutritionist- I lost 16 pounds! I was 335 before I met her, went on a weight loss roller-coaster ride to 321, and now I'm a svelte 305. WOOHOO! Break out the bikinis, I'm going swimming!
Okay, NOT. There's no way anyone is going to get me into a bikini- especially now in the dead of winter- but even if I was in the middle of an Arizona heat wave, I know better. I still have a long way to go, but it sure feels good to know on average I lost over two pounds a week!
Since I started this new eating lifestyle on MyFitnessPal, I've printed out each day to track my progress. Looking back, I was surprised to see that there were only two real bad days where I went over 2000 calories. It wasn't a binge, I wasn't starving, but I did learn that surprise buffet dinners and being really stressed isn't good for an emotional eater like me. For the most part, I was staying within the 1500 calorie mark- give or take a hundred or so calories-and it showed on the scale.
Thirty minutes on the exercise bike allows me a lot more freedom for mistakes- 400 calories worth, so I especially want to use the bike on days I know I'll be going out to eat and have no idea what the counts are until I get home. Not all restaurants have good choices, and the portions need to be handled before I start grazing. I've learned not to be embarrassed in asking for a take-home bag as soon as I am served my meal. Why I was embarrassed in the first place is beyond me!
One day i did 40 minutes on the bike. My legs weren't happy campers afterwards, but it's good to test limits once in a bit. I might try pushing the 40 minute mark once or twice in a week until the stamina kicks in.
Lessons Learned:
Most restaurants do have calorie counts online if not on the menus themselves. It's good to plan ahead- especially when it less calories to have sirloin and veggies instead of chicken and dumplings!
Having a regular morning routine sets the tone for the entire rest of the day. I get more done in the mornings and am quite productive! I'm up at the crack of dark (4:30am) and by the time I'm done my morning routine, it's about 10:00-10:30. Job done, exercise done, breakfast eaten, and I'm ready to tackle the chaos.
Seven weeks of logging everything made it into a habit. Now I feel compelled to log my calories, and it isn't a drudgery anymore. In fact, sometimes it's fun to see how well I guesstimated my intake, and delightful to see when I'm under my count for the day and can treat myself if I want to! And yes, sometimes I do treat myself, but most times I don't- because I don't crave anything.
I love living a "Can eat anything" lifestyle. I'm calmer, and less likely to stress eat when I know I can have anything I want- the supermarket's the limit! In the past two months I've indulged in chocolate, jellybeans and potato chips- try to find those on anyones "no-no" diet plan!
By not overeating I have more energy and am happier because I don't feel bloated or stuffed like a turkey. Just remember in the beginning In was still eating the same foods, just too much of them! Healthy food can be detrimental too, if you eat too much of it.
Want to know something else? Other than when I'm actually eating, I'm not focused on food anymore. I no longer dream of my next meal right after eating. No more "if I only had this to eat, I could calm down", or "I need chips to vent my frustrations". Why? Because I'm finding new things to focus on. Food doesn't have the stranglehold that it used to. Yes, I still falter, but it's never as devastating as it used to be- I just pick myself up and move on to a fresh new day.
And that, my Dear Readers, is awesome!
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