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!
Monday, August 17, 2015
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!
Monday, July 20, 2015
Week Twenty Seven: The Dear-God-I'm-Getting-Muscle New Eating Lifestyle
Ever since my exercise bike broke (darn pedals!), I was lazing about instead of doing something physical to keep up the fat burn. So the other week I joined a gym, and started doing everything I could think of on the machines.
The good thing is I was also doing light weight training. The not-so-good news is I did too much of it.
Why is that not-so-good? Because I wasn't doing enough of the fat burning, cardio exercises I needed to burn calories. In fact, I became more concerned about toning, and became lax about the calorie crunching exercises that kept me moving.
This week I'm focusing more on the fat-burning, cardio stuff. Oh I'm still going to work on the light weight training, just not as much. Even in the week of working out, my muscles are already stronger, and that's good.
But I'm not there to gain muscle. Not yet.
Eating has still been tough, but tweaking my eating schedule helped a lot. I ate a lot more fruit, but ran out of time to make proper dinners filled with veggies. There's always something to work on when losing weight- and I don't mean in the gym this time!
It doesn't help that I have a week-long event I'm making goodies for. It's too easy to taste-test as you bake- just to make sure they are baking correctly, mind you! But those calories add up, and I wind up eating more calories than I should. The funny thing is I'm not a 'sweets' person- I'm a 'salty'. Except for this week, where I'm surrounded by yummy sweet things every day. Ugh.
And I ran out of fruit two days ago. Yikes!
Lessons learned:
Toning muscle is good- building it too early isn't.
Focus on the calorie burning exercises for better weight loss.
Keep fruits and veggies well-stocked.
Put goodies under lock and key after baking. make it harder to get to them than to the fruit!
Look into more crock-pot meals with lots of veggies when the schedule is full. Cut, toss, season and start!
Cardio and fat-burns can also relieve a lot of stress- especially when you do it for more than twenty minutes.
Ironing out the wrinkles isn't easy. Sometimes it a right pain in the rear to work and re-work everything until things run smoothly- but one thing I did learn, which Nike has been telling us forever- Just Do It. get up. Get it done. Stop dreading and start treading. Those feet aren't going to move themselves!
Telling myself these things each day gets me up and moving, motivating me to lose weight (and to get everything else done too!) Just Do It. Pray for strength. Try it- it might just change your life!
The good thing is I was also doing light weight training. The not-so-good news is I did too much of it.
Why is that not-so-good? Because I wasn't doing enough of the fat burning, cardio exercises I needed to burn calories. In fact, I became more concerned about toning, and became lax about the calorie crunching exercises that kept me moving.
This week I'm focusing more on the fat-burning, cardio stuff. Oh I'm still going to work on the light weight training, just not as much. Even in the week of working out, my muscles are already stronger, and that's good.
But I'm not there to gain muscle. Not yet.
Eating has still been tough, but tweaking my eating schedule helped a lot. I ate a lot more fruit, but ran out of time to make proper dinners filled with veggies. There's always something to work on when losing weight- and I don't mean in the gym this time!
It doesn't help that I have a week-long event I'm making goodies for. It's too easy to taste-test as you bake- just to make sure they are baking correctly, mind you! But those calories add up, and I wind up eating more calories than I should. The funny thing is I'm not a 'sweets' person- I'm a 'salty'. Except for this week, where I'm surrounded by yummy sweet things every day. Ugh.
And I ran out of fruit two days ago. Yikes!
Lessons learned:
Toning muscle is good- building it too early isn't.
Focus on the calorie burning exercises for better weight loss.
Keep fruits and veggies well-stocked.
Put goodies under lock and key after baking. make it harder to get to them than to the fruit!
Look into more crock-pot meals with lots of veggies when the schedule is full. Cut, toss, season and start!
Cardio and fat-burns can also relieve a lot of stress- especially when you do it for more than twenty minutes.
Ironing out the wrinkles isn't easy. Sometimes it a right pain in the rear to work and re-work everything until things run smoothly- but one thing I did learn, which Nike has been telling us forever- Just Do It. get up. Get it done. Stop dreading and start treading. Those feet aren't going to move themselves!
Telling myself these things each day gets me up and moving, motivating me to lose weight (and to get everything else done too!) Just Do It. Pray for strength. Try it- it might just change your life!
Monday, July 13, 2015
Week Twenty Six: The Dear-God-I-Need-To-Reboot New Eating Lifestyle
It's been twenty-six weeks.
Six months.
One half-year since I started this eating lifestyle. I've had great success, and I've had utter failures. But each time I got up and kicked Fat's proverbial butt.
But the past few weeks have been a struggle.
I thought I had the food thing conquered. But I became overconfident and started eating when stressed, and eating socially with the family at night. I also got addicted to animal crackers- those things are so good! Not so good if you're eating several handfuls before bed.
The funny thing is, I wasn't like this before I started this new eating plan! So why now? Because I've reached a plateau and my habits have changed. Even the bad ones.
It's time for a reboot.
Yep, I'm going to start from square one- actually more like square four, since I don't have to learn from the start and I'm doing exercises regularly now. I also need to promise myself to not eat the rest of those darn animal crackers!
One of the problems is my exercise schedule upsets the breakfast schedule. I usually don't like to eat until 9am,- but since I started going to the gym, that's been a problem. I work out after I drop my husband off to work at 6am, and by the time I get home from the gym, it's another 1-2 hours before I eat. Then I get too hungry and eat too much.
Last week I worked out four days in a row. Friday I could barely move. I was useless over the weekend because everything hurt. Too much too soon, woman! So I ate more simply because I wasn't as mobile.
This morning, however, I did three things- the bike, the arm curls (for the triceps- otherwise known as Batwing arms), and the treadmill. I was tired, but felt really good!
I came home from the workout and ate a banana. Hunger sated, and I can now relax and make breakfast at my regular time. Why don't I just eat breakfast when I get home? Two reasons; One, I'm lazy and bananas or any other fruit is just easier to pick up and eat, and Two, I'm tired from the workout and don't feel like cooking that early in the morning.
Oh, and one more reason- eating a late breakfast allows me to space out my meals evenly, so there's no huge gap in between meals to encourage grazing.
Six months is a perfect time to reboot, because my body is changing as well as my schedule. The tactics I've been using don't work anymore; food and workouts need to be tweaked for better (and steadier) weight loss. I don't want to be on this plateau any longer!
The best part? It feels good to know I have changes to make. I've been feeling in a rut lately, and that can bring on those bad eating habits- and it did. But now I have a better perspective on what I'm capable of, and a better sense of my shortcomings, so I can better guard against them in the edible future. I really am fighting fat!
Lessons Learned:
Just because something works in the beginning doesn't mean it will work through the entire process. Tweak and make new goals.
If possible, get rid of or reduce contact involving stressful projects, events, or people. It's okay to say no!
Don't bring any more dadgum animal crackers in the house. I should never have bought the big jar!
Want to eat socially? Eat those veggies you cut instead of crackers and cheese or cookies- even if they are yummy and animal-shaped.
Don't overdo it in the gym. Hurting all weekend because you didn't take it slow doesn't help you- or anyone else around you.
It was a very educational week. I'm really trying hard not to slip back into old habits, and to stop telling myself "the heck with it" when I want to eat more than I should. Self-discipline has always been hard for me, but I want this weight gone, and it won't leave on it's own! It likes me, and I have to kick it to the curb because it hasn't paid rent since it got here.
You might be struggling like I am now. Maybe you lost some weight, and thought the road should be easier; maybe for a time it was. But our bodies adjust and the things that used to work don't work as well anymore, and I'm here to tell you that's a good thing- because that means you're making progress!
Tweak your eating and exercise. Go a little longer, Snack a little better. The weight will come off if you do. And you'll feel better knowing you're on your way to being a happier, healthier you!
Six months.
One half-year since I started this eating lifestyle. I've had great success, and I've had utter failures. But each time I got up and kicked Fat's proverbial butt.
But the past few weeks have been a struggle.
I thought I had the food thing conquered. But I became overconfident and started eating when stressed, and eating socially with the family at night. I also got addicted to animal crackers- those things are so good! Not so good if you're eating several handfuls before bed.
The funny thing is, I wasn't like this before I started this new eating plan! So why now? Because I've reached a plateau and my habits have changed. Even the bad ones.
It's time for a reboot.
Yep, I'm going to start from square one- actually more like square four, since I don't have to learn from the start and I'm doing exercises regularly now. I also need to promise myself to not eat the rest of those darn animal crackers!
One of the problems is my exercise schedule upsets the breakfast schedule. I usually don't like to eat until 9am,- but since I started going to the gym, that's been a problem. I work out after I drop my husband off to work at 6am, and by the time I get home from the gym, it's another 1-2 hours before I eat. Then I get too hungry and eat too much.
Last week I worked out four days in a row. Friday I could barely move. I was useless over the weekend because everything hurt. Too much too soon, woman! So I ate more simply because I wasn't as mobile.
This morning, however, I did three things- the bike, the arm curls (for the triceps- otherwise known as Batwing arms), and the treadmill. I was tired, but felt really good!
I came home from the workout and ate a banana. Hunger sated, and I can now relax and make breakfast at my regular time. Why don't I just eat breakfast when I get home? Two reasons; One, I'm lazy and bananas or any other fruit is just easier to pick up and eat, and Two, I'm tired from the workout and don't feel like cooking that early in the morning.
Oh, and one more reason- eating a late breakfast allows me to space out my meals evenly, so there's no huge gap in between meals to encourage grazing.
Six months is a perfect time to reboot, because my body is changing as well as my schedule. The tactics I've been using don't work anymore; food and workouts need to be tweaked for better (and steadier) weight loss. I don't want to be on this plateau any longer!
The best part? It feels good to know I have changes to make. I've been feeling in a rut lately, and that can bring on those bad eating habits- and it did. But now I have a better perspective on what I'm capable of, and a better sense of my shortcomings, so I can better guard against them in the edible future. I really am fighting fat!
Lessons Learned:
Just because something works in the beginning doesn't mean it will work through the entire process. Tweak and make new goals.
If possible, get rid of or reduce contact involving stressful projects, events, or people. It's okay to say no!
Don't bring any more dadgum animal crackers in the house. I should never have bought the big jar!
Want to eat socially? Eat those veggies you cut instead of crackers and cheese or cookies- even if they are yummy and animal-shaped.
Don't overdo it in the gym. Hurting all weekend because you didn't take it slow doesn't help you- or anyone else around you.
It was a very educational week. I'm really trying hard not to slip back into old habits, and to stop telling myself "the heck with it" when I want to eat more than I should. Self-discipline has always been hard for me, but I want this weight gone, and it won't leave on it's own! It likes me, and I have to kick it to the curb because it hasn't paid rent since it got here.
You might be struggling like I am now. Maybe you lost some weight, and thought the road should be easier; maybe for a time it was. But our bodies adjust and the things that used to work don't work as well anymore, and I'm here to tell you that's a good thing- because that means you're making progress!
Tweak your eating and exercise. Go a little longer, Snack a little better. The weight will come off if you do. And you'll feel better knowing you're on your way to being a happier, healthier you!
Monday, July 6, 2015
Week Twenty Five: The Dear-God-Working-And-Working-Out-Ain't-Easy New Eating Lifestyle
It's been a crazy busy week!
The Good: I had several driving jobs. I spent the 4th of July painting faces (yes the entire day- in a nine hour stretch, I was painting for almost seven of them!) I sewed. I cleaned. I managed to get a lot done.
That day of face painting was great calorie-wise, because I didn't have the chance to eat any fair food. I didn't have time- my husband brought me something because we only lived a few blocks from the event. I even managed to behave (sorta) at the picnic afterwards! I ate more meat than anything else, but at least it wasn't the really bad stuff, like cake and other goodies.
The Bad: Because my schedule ran amok, I didn't eat a lot of salad. I didn't prep my veggies the way I should have either, though I had time if I had gottten off the internet. Many a veggie could have been salvaged and eaten had I just turned off the computer. But I was tired, and lazy, and I didn't do it.
Just keeping it real here, folks.
The Ugly: No exercise. None. Nada. Except for the 4th, I didn't do squat. And it took me a day just to recuperate from it. Ever hold you arms in an awkward position for seven hours straight? Best resistance training ever! And sitting spread-kneed whilst bending forward to paint faces does wonders for the thighs, knees and back. I was walking like and three-hundred year-old lady by the time we had to break down and leave the grounds.
Trust me, it wasn't pretty! I was happy with the calorie burn though- a good thirteen hundred calories (and some decent fundage) made the day worth it.
This morning after dropping off my husband at work, I went to the local gym to see what programs were available. I have enough regular work now that going to the gym would be worth the cost. Twenty bucks a month will also allow me to bring a guest- so I can incorporate my family into working out as well!
When I can I'll bring in my daughter in the morning, and my husband after work- when he's up to it. That way he can walk and not wear himself to a thread to build up his stamina again. I'm not so sure about my son though- he's a night owl, and by the time he's cognizant, my energy levels are drained. But I'll try!
I want to start at least three times a week after I drop my husband off, and see where I go from there, tweaking things along the way. This might be the best way to get everyone healthier and more active!
Lessons learned:
Too much time on the computer can lead to eating the wrong things. Take time out before turning the computer on to prep those veggies!
Exercise can be done for free, but if a gym is more motivating (especially when you're menopausal and it's hot and muggy out), go for it- the idea is to get out and be active- it doesn't matter what you're doing at this point, as long as you're moving!
On non-driving days, cook more than one meal and freeze it. No more 'finding whatever' in the fridge because a driving job ran late and you didn't have time to make dinner.
Don't overbuy. An overstuffed fridge is almost as bad as an organized fridge with junk in it. What good is having six heads of lettuce if you're not willing to dig for it when it's lunchtime? (and yes, the Sam's Club Romaine lettuce has six heads in each package!)
Learn to be more flexible concerning your schedule. If you can't exercise in the morning, do it on the way home from a driving job, or with your hubby in the evening after dinner. Once a day, three times a week at least!
Being crazy busy is a good thing, for the most part. Idle hands (in my case) makes for snacking fingers. But there has to be a balance between busy and healthy eating that I just haven't mastered yet. Hey, it took me a few years just to get the portion part right, so this will take some time also! Just not years... I hope!
The Good: I had several driving jobs. I spent the 4th of July painting faces (yes the entire day- in a nine hour stretch, I was painting for almost seven of them!) I sewed. I cleaned. I managed to get a lot done.
That day of face painting was great calorie-wise, because I didn't have the chance to eat any fair food. I didn't have time- my husband brought me something because we only lived a few blocks from the event. I even managed to behave (sorta) at the picnic afterwards! I ate more meat than anything else, but at least it wasn't the really bad stuff, like cake and other goodies.
The Bad: Because my schedule ran amok, I didn't eat a lot of salad. I didn't prep my veggies the way I should have either, though I had time if I had gottten off the internet. Many a veggie could have been salvaged and eaten had I just turned off the computer. But I was tired, and lazy, and I didn't do it.
Just keeping it real here, folks.
The Ugly: No exercise. None. Nada. Except for the 4th, I didn't do squat. And it took me a day just to recuperate from it. Ever hold you arms in an awkward position for seven hours straight? Best resistance training ever! And sitting spread-kneed whilst bending forward to paint faces does wonders for the thighs, knees and back. I was walking like and three-hundred year-old lady by the time we had to break down and leave the grounds.
Trust me, it wasn't pretty! I was happy with the calorie burn though- a good thirteen hundred calories (and some decent fundage) made the day worth it.
This morning after dropping off my husband at work, I went to the local gym to see what programs were available. I have enough regular work now that going to the gym would be worth the cost. Twenty bucks a month will also allow me to bring a guest- so I can incorporate my family into working out as well!
When I can I'll bring in my daughter in the morning, and my husband after work- when he's up to it. That way he can walk and not wear himself to a thread to build up his stamina again. I'm not so sure about my son though- he's a night owl, and by the time he's cognizant, my energy levels are drained. But I'll try!
I want to start at least three times a week after I drop my husband off, and see where I go from there, tweaking things along the way. This might be the best way to get everyone healthier and more active!
Lessons learned:
Too much time on the computer can lead to eating the wrong things. Take time out before turning the computer on to prep those veggies!
Exercise can be done for free, but if a gym is more motivating (especially when you're menopausal and it's hot and muggy out), go for it- the idea is to get out and be active- it doesn't matter what you're doing at this point, as long as you're moving!
On non-driving days, cook more than one meal and freeze it. No more 'finding whatever' in the fridge because a driving job ran late and you didn't have time to make dinner.
Don't overbuy. An overstuffed fridge is almost as bad as an organized fridge with junk in it. What good is having six heads of lettuce if you're not willing to dig for it when it's lunchtime? (and yes, the Sam's Club Romaine lettuce has six heads in each package!)
Learn to be more flexible concerning your schedule. If you can't exercise in the morning, do it on the way home from a driving job, or with your hubby in the evening after dinner. Once a day, three times a week at least!
Being crazy busy is a good thing, for the most part. Idle hands (in my case) makes for snacking fingers. But there has to be a balance between busy and healthy eating that I just haven't mastered yet. Hey, it took me a few years just to get the portion part right, so this will take some time also! Just not years... I hope!
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