Well, it's semi-official; I may not have tested positive for Celiac disease, but I'm definitely sensitive to something in commercial flours.
I had wraps for the past three days- one wrap a day, so it wasn't a lot, but as each day passed, I felt more and more run down. I pulled a few recipes for tortillas out of my collection, and will try making a no-wheat version of the same kind, using low or no-gluten flours. I also want to try making some with flour we bought in Lancaster at a Amish market. I noticed over the Christmas holiday that I ate peasant bread (I made myself) and didn't get tired after eating it. So that warrants some testing too.
This week will be spent 'cleaning out my system', meaning I won't eat any more flour just so the results from my next experiment aren't muddled by the tortillas I ate over the weekend.
Due to inclement weather I haven't had a chance to weigh in this morning, but as of last week I lost a little more- my total weight loss is now 27 pounds, and I am now a svelte 293.
And it feels good.
I have more energy (at least before I did this tortilla thing), and my clothes are much looser- in fact, I was gifted with new clothes at Christmas and my birthday (January 3rd- write that down) because my other clothing was getting a bit baggy.
One thing I did not do was save the 'fat' clothes- those suckers got donated the first chance I had! Why? Because I am determined never to fit into them again. There is no 'just in case' for me. These are going to be permanent changes in my life. Period.
I'll be using this time to see just how long it takes for my body to recover energy too- after three days of having tortillas, then not having any flour, I'm curious as to when I'll stop feeling so sluggish. I hope it's soon!
I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, keep those chins up and smile!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Maintained through the holidays!
Over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I did a lot of running around. I shopped, wrapped, and did a lot of things I don't normally do. I also didn't do a lot of things I usually do around the holidays, like massive cookie baking and decorating. I just didn't have time!
And during the week between Christmas and New Years, I made this fantastic pepperoni dip that goes great with my homemade peasant bread. So I ate some.
Okay, more than some. But for some odd reason, I didn't feel tired like I normally do after having something with flour. The flours I used (three kinds) were bought in Lancaster (sold by the Amish) and I'm wondering if there is a difference between that and off-the-shelf brands at the store. It's worth looking into, especially with all the GM (genetically modified) grains used in most commercial flours.
That was my one splurge though. The only other time I had any kind of bread was when my mom took me out for lunch at a local restaurant that has phenomenal burgers!
I was so busy that I hadn't even walked or gone to the gym for the past two weeks. I really thought I would see bigger numbers on the scale, yet my really snug-fitting coat still felt less snug. So I let the scale tell my story for me.
I am 294.5- that means I only gained a half-pound over this entire chaotic holiday. That. Is. Awesome!
I'm back on my regular schedule now, and I feel as if I 'got away with it' this time- that doesn't mean I'm going back to eating bread or flour. I will be looking into the differences in the flour processing if possible; it's just a little too odd that I would react to commercially made breads but not my own homemade kind. I'm also back in the gym (and walking), so hopefully my past eating sins won't catch up to me.
Food experimentation was the order of the day last night, and I finally made something I've been wanting to try for at least a few weeks. I made a noodle-less lasagna, using chicken breasts instead of noodles. All I can say is thank God for deli slicers! I pan fried the breasts in butter until just tender and let them cool. Then I sliced those puppies up nice and thin and layered them with the sauce and cheeses. The sauce was made with Italian sausage, and I added a layer of baby spinach leaves between the cheeses and the last chicken layer. The cheese mix had mozzarella in it, and then I topped the whole thing off with shredded cheddar.
It was awesome!
I made two trays and the first was gone by the end of dinner. We're having the next one tonight, so I have the night off!
Kudos to those that lost or maintained their weight this Christmas- it's got to be one of the hardest things to accomplish! And if you gained? See it as a learning experience and do not put yourself down! Everyone stumbles once in a while (have you read this entire blog yet??), so just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep running. You'll be thinner by the time you cross the finish line!
And during the week between Christmas and New Years, I made this fantastic pepperoni dip that goes great with my homemade peasant bread. So I ate some.
Okay, more than some. But for some odd reason, I didn't feel tired like I normally do after having something with flour. The flours I used (three kinds) were bought in Lancaster (sold by the Amish) and I'm wondering if there is a difference between that and off-the-shelf brands at the store. It's worth looking into, especially with all the GM (genetically modified) grains used in most commercial flours.
That was my one splurge though. The only other time I had any kind of bread was when my mom took me out for lunch at a local restaurant that has phenomenal burgers!
I was so busy that I hadn't even walked or gone to the gym for the past two weeks. I really thought I would see bigger numbers on the scale, yet my really snug-fitting coat still felt less snug. So I let the scale tell my story for me.
I am 294.5- that means I only gained a half-pound over this entire chaotic holiday. That. Is. Awesome!
I'm back on my regular schedule now, and I feel as if I 'got away with it' this time- that doesn't mean I'm going back to eating bread or flour. I will be looking into the differences in the flour processing if possible; it's just a little too odd that I would react to commercially made breads but not my own homemade kind. I'm also back in the gym (and walking), so hopefully my past eating sins won't catch up to me.
Food experimentation was the order of the day last night, and I finally made something I've been wanting to try for at least a few weeks. I made a noodle-less lasagna, using chicken breasts instead of noodles. All I can say is thank God for deli slicers! I pan fried the breasts in butter until just tender and let them cool. Then I sliced those puppies up nice and thin and layered them with the sauce and cheeses. The sauce was made with Italian sausage, and I added a layer of baby spinach leaves between the cheeses and the last chicken layer. The cheese mix had mozzarella in it, and then I topped the whole thing off with shredded cheddar.
It was awesome!
I made two trays and the first was gone by the end of dinner. We're having the next one tonight, so I have the night off!
Kudos to those that lost or maintained their weight this Christmas- it's got to be one of the hardest things to accomplish! And if you gained? See it as a learning experience and do not put yourself down! Everyone stumbles once in a while (have you read this entire blog yet??), so just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep running. You'll be thinner by the time you cross the finish line!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Fighting Fat- and Winning!
Sometimes you learn things fast, and sometimes you need to be hit with a brick before you understand a concept. I knew I wasn't supposed to be eating breads and pasta, but I kept eating it, just not as often, and taking smaller portions. The idea was, 'A little bit won't be so bad.'
Hah!
That's when it hit me- I was eating some kind of wheat flour product at least three times a week- small amounts, but I was eating it. And it showed on the scale. I gained a bit, I lost a bit, but I was basically maintaining. Not bad, but not good either.
So I decided to try another experiment.
Last week I didn't do any walking (the weather was miserable and I had the car), but I did do my workouts. My diet consisted mostly of clear broth soups and stews, and meals that were mainly meats and vegetables that had no flour as a side or in the gravy. The soups contained rice, the stews contained potatoes, so the results of this wouldn't be skewed by the fact I didn't have any grains or starches. I did this all week, refraining from any flour consumption.
The result? I lost three pounds! I am now down to 294!
So, I can say I won't eat flour all I want, but the fact is, I was eating it- sometimes without realizing I was doing so, or thinking a 'little bit' won't hurt me- but when I began to think about wheat flour as a poison to my body instead of just a hindrance to weight loss, everything snapped into place.
Absolutely NO wheat or rye flour. None. Nada. Zilch.
I bought other flours that don't have gluten (graham seems to work well for things that don't need to rise, like pie crusts), and I'll experiment with them in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully I can find something bread-like so I don't crave the gluten breads.
Thanksgiving is coming, the holiday where bread runs rampant over the feasting table. That is going to be a real challenge for me! But I'll keep my chins up and put out some more veggies like broccoli and baby carrots to stem the bread tide.
I'll keep you posted on how I do!
Hah!
That's when it hit me- I was eating some kind of wheat flour product at least three times a week- small amounts, but I was eating it. And it showed on the scale. I gained a bit, I lost a bit, but I was basically maintaining. Not bad, but not good either.
So I decided to try another experiment.
Last week I didn't do any walking (the weather was miserable and I had the car), but I did do my workouts. My diet consisted mostly of clear broth soups and stews, and meals that were mainly meats and vegetables that had no flour as a side or in the gravy. The soups contained rice, the stews contained potatoes, so the results of this wouldn't be skewed by the fact I didn't have any grains or starches. I did this all week, refraining from any flour consumption.
The result? I lost three pounds! I am now down to 294!
So, I can say I won't eat flour all I want, but the fact is, I was eating it- sometimes without realizing I was doing so, or thinking a 'little bit' won't hurt me- but when I began to think about wheat flour as a poison to my body instead of just a hindrance to weight loss, everything snapped into place.
Absolutely NO wheat or rye flour. None. Nada. Zilch.
I bought other flours that don't have gluten (graham seems to work well for things that don't need to rise, like pie crusts), and I'll experiment with them in the upcoming weeks. Hopefully I can find something bread-like so I don't crave the gluten breads.
Thanksgiving is coming, the holiday where bread runs rampant over the feasting table. That is going to be a real challenge for me! But I'll keep my chins up and put out some more veggies like broccoli and baby carrots to stem the bread tide.
I'll keep you posted on how I do!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Struggling but Succeeding!
The past few months haven't been easy, and I still have a long road ahead of me. But I am learning a LOT about myself, and have found that I've been maintaining because I haven't been stepping up the exercise and stepping down the menu portions.
I've started walking to the gym more often, and most times I can get an additional 4-6 miles in a week when I do. I've been working longer at the gym machines, doing slower reps instead of increasing the amount. I haven't been adding any weight either, because I wrenched my rotator cuff and am waiting for it to heal up a bit more. I'm trying not to sit at home as much either, but hen you're a writer, it's pretty much part of the job!
As for the menu, I've found that soup is a good way to get filled up without overdoing it- as long as it's a clear broth. It doesn't do much good when the broth is creamy (which happens to be my specialty), so I'll be perusing the cookbooks and spice cabinet looking for more clear-broth recipes. I want to make sure I have a daily supply of soup, and one pot goes a long way.
Veggies are also becoming a bigger part of the meals, and are great to hide in casseroles so my son will eat them. Good for me too, because I can hide a lot of veggies in a casserole! Luckily for me I don't mind eating leftover for lunch, so a huge pot of soup and salad each day is going to be slotted in during the week.
Oh, and did I mention I'm back down to 297? I think that's a three pound lost from my last post! Either way, I'm under 300, and that's where I want to be. Now all I have to do is get closer to 275, and I'm golden!
Please keep those chins up- if something isn't working, keep trying to change it up or cut it down- something will work eventually! Just remember it took me years to put all of this on, and it'll take years to get it off- but it won't be as many years to lose as it was to gain, and the same goes for you too!
God Bless!
I've started walking to the gym more often, and most times I can get an additional 4-6 miles in a week when I do. I've been working longer at the gym machines, doing slower reps instead of increasing the amount. I haven't been adding any weight either, because I wrenched my rotator cuff and am waiting for it to heal up a bit more. I'm trying not to sit at home as much either, but hen you're a writer, it's pretty much part of the job!
As for the menu, I've found that soup is a good way to get filled up without overdoing it- as long as it's a clear broth. It doesn't do much good when the broth is creamy (which happens to be my specialty), so I'll be perusing the cookbooks and spice cabinet looking for more clear-broth recipes. I want to make sure I have a daily supply of soup, and one pot goes a long way.
Veggies are also becoming a bigger part of the meals, and are great to hide in casseroles so my son will eat them. Good for me too, because I can hide a lot of veggies in a casserole! Luckily for me I don't mind eating leftover for lunch, so a huge pot of soup and salad each day is going to be slotted in during the week.
Oh, and did I mention I'm back down to 297? I think that's a three pound lost from my last post! Either way, I'm under 300, and that's where I want to be. Now all I have to do is get closer to 275, and I'm golden!
Please keep those chins up- if something isn't working, keep trying to change it up or cut it down- something will work eventually! Just remember it took me years to put all of this on, and it'll take years to get it off- but it won't be as many years to lose as it was to gain, and the same goes for you too!
God Bless!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
PMS Hits The Fan(ny)
I don't know what hit me first- the bloating, the cravings, or my body going into hibernation. But all of them happened this past two weeks, right when I had chocolate in the house.
All I have to say is this; I didn't just trip on my way to the finish line, I stopped at the Brubaker House of Chocolate and had a feast. And I paid for it in pounds.
Yes, pounds. Plural. As in four of them. Now I'm back to being almost 300 again. Ugh.
Not only did I get the Sweet and Salties, I also had the can't-have-just-one-serving cravings. The dieting persons double-whammy. Dinnertime has become especially trying, because I'm tired from the sugar rush, and I'm grumpy and sore from the PMS, so it's hard to resist having 'just one more bite/serving/plateful'.
It's back to basics for me!
I asked my husband to alert me when dinnertime nibbling, having extra servings and snacking. I'm also going to prep all my veggies, so when I do get the munchies, I have something to grab. I need to get more variety when I buy fruit, because snacking on bananas is not a good idea for me all the time! Shopping day is tomorrow, and I have a list- and I'll use it too!
Today is gym day, and I'm still hurting from walking four miles on Monday and two miles on Tuesday. If I go (and I really should) it would be another four mile day because my husband has the car this week. I hope I'll make it! But I'm not willing to put myself in traction for a week either, so I'll have to see how things go when I take my daughter to school this morning.
All in all, things are not so bad that I feel helpless to fix them, so I'm keeping my chins up for this next week! I'll keep you posted!
All I have to say is this; I didn't just trip on my way to the finish line, I stopped at the Brubaker House of Chocolate and had a feast. And I paid for it in pounds.
Yes, pounds. Plural. As in four of them. Now I'm back to being almost 300 again. Ugh.
Not only did I get the Sweet and Salties, I also had the can't-have-just-one-serving cravings. The dieting persons double-whammy. Dinnertime has become especially trying, because I'm tired from the sugar rush, and I'm grumpy and sore from the PMS, so it's hard to resist having 'just one more bite/serving/plateful'.
It's back to basics for me!
I asked my husband to alert me when dinnertime nibbling, having extra servings and snacking. I'm also going to prep all my veggies, so when I do get the munchies, I have something to grab. I need to get more variety when I buy fruit, because snacking on bananas is not a good idea for me all the time! Shopping day is tomorrow, and I have a list- and I'll use it too!
Today is gym day, and I'm still hurting from walking four miles on Monday and two miles on Tuesday. If I go (and I really should) it would be another four mile day because my husband has the car this week. I hope I'll make it! But I'm not willing to put myself in traction for a week either, so I'll have to see how things go when I take my daughter to school this morning.
All in all, things are not so bad that I feel helpless to fix them, so I'm keeping my chins up for this next week! I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
My Plateaus Are Killing Me!
I'm losing weight, but it's a real battle because my body is fighting me all the way.
You see, I've been over 300 pounds for so long, my body has decided that this should be my ideal weight. me and my body need to have a serious chat.
As of today I'm still maintaining my 295.5 pounds, and am further modifying my diet and exercise to compensate for what I like to call Constant Rebellion Against Petiteness, or C.R.A.P. for short. I've been putting up with C.R.A.P. for years, and my body is still full of it. It's time to knuckle down and get rid of this C.R.A.P. and lose some weight, despite my body's protests.
Step one is to walk more. I walked to the gym today, despite feeling tired, despite the rain, and though I might not be able to move by the end of the day, I'm still walking my daughter to school and back. I'll log in a grand total of four miles just for today, and if I survive, I'll do it Friday too.
These big walking days are the days I'll do some back stretches by decluttering the house while sitting- it's amazing just how much paper we toss in a week! Sewing is also a good sit-down activity, so I'll be doing that when my legs get too tired. I won't be sitting the entire time (though right now it's pretty tempting!)- that would defeat the entire purpose of moving more- so dishes and other stand-up chores are also going to be done.
I am going to sleep so well tonight!
As for the menu, I have yet to make one up, so most dinners have been homemade, but tossed together with green vegetables being left out most of the time. This is also something I really need to focus on that's really hard, because I have to find the time to make a menu! I'm still tweaking breakfast and lunch, and so far, so good- I haven't lost, but I haven't gained either. My weight is about the only thing in my life that's consistent at this point!
I'm going to fight the fight, right the wrongs, and get myself thinner! 275, here I come!
You see, I've been over 300 pounds for so long, my body has decided that this should be my ideal weight. me and my body need to have a serious chat.
As of today I'm still maintaining my 295.5 pounds, and am further modifying my diet and exercise to compensate for what I like to call Constant Rebellion Against Petiteness, or C.R.A.P. for short. I've been putting up with C.R.A.P. for years, and my body is still full of it. It's time to knuckle down and get rid of this C.R.A.P. and lose some weight, despite my body's protests.
Step one is to walk more. I walked to the gym today, despite feeling tired, despite the rain, and though I might not be able to move by the end of the day, I'm still walking my daughter to school and back. I'll log in a grand total of four miles just for today, and if I survive, I'll do it Friday too.
These big walking days are the days I'll do some back stretches by decluttering the house while sitting- it's amazing just how much paper we toss in a week! Sewing is also a good sit-down activity, so I'll be doing that when my legs get too tired. I won't be sitting the entire time (though right now it's pretty tempting!)- that would defeat the entire purpose of moving more- so dishes and other stand-up chores are also going to be done.
I am going to sleep so well tonight!
As for the menu, I have yet to make one up, so most dinners have been homemade, but tossed together with green vegetables being left out most of the time. This is also something I really need to focus on that's really hard, because I have to find the time to make a menu! I'm still tweaking breakfast and lunch, and so far, so good- I haven't lost, but I haven't gained either. My weight is about the only thing in my life that's consistent at this point!
I'm going to fight the fight, right the wrongs, and get myself thinner! 275, here I come!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Switching Things Up!
Getting used to a new schedule is hard sometimes. I haven't worked out all the bugs yet, but I am working them out, which is all that matters! As long as I make some progress, that is!
So far, so good! I've lost another pound, so I'm down to 295.5! I might have to buy some new clothes, because what I have is getting baggy- can you believe it?
One of the things i switched up diet-wise is trying to just eat fruit for breakfast every other morning. Not trying to starve myself, but I wanted to see if my energy levels would change vs, eggs and bacon or cheese. What I found was interesting.
In the beginning, I do actually have more energy- but after about two hours I start to get hungry, and most times it's inconvenient to eat (I'm usually out somewhere or involved in a project), and then I wind up overeating when lunchtime comes. If I have the eggs and meat/cheese, the energy comes slower, but it lasts longer. I'm going to see if there's a happy medium in this somewhere- maybe if I make myself a carry-along protein snack- like cheese or maybe some homemade chicken bites- so when I poop out I can get a bit of a boost without getting too hungry. I'll let you know!
I now walk ten miles a week minimum, just taking my daughter to school, but I have not been to the gym as much as I wanted to, due to a car that needs fixing. Yes, I can walk to the gym (or bike), but the guy usually wants me to bring it in on my gym day (Wednesday) really early- the same time I'm usually at the gym. Then I walk home from there (1.5 miles), so I get cardio, but no weight training. Hopefully today will be the end of the car issues, and I can get back on schedule.
Ironically, I have a lot of decluttering and housework to do, so I might be doing a workout anyway! Good old housework- it never ends. Ever.
Remember to keep those chins up, try new things when you feel your routine is getting stale, and expand your tastebuds and try new foods too! Just make sure they come out of the fresh food section, and not the frozen food aisle! :) God Bless!
So far, so good! I've lost another pound, so I'm down to 295.5! I might have to buy some new clothes, because what I have is getting baggy- can you believe it?
One of the things i switched up diet-wise is trying to just eat fruit for breakfast every other morning. Not trying to starve myself, but I wanted to see if my energy levels would change vs, eggs and bacon or cheese. What I found was interesting.
In the beginning, I do actually have more energy- but after about two hours I start to get hungry, and most times it's inconvenient to eat (I'm usually out somewhere or involved in a project), and then I wind up overeating when lunchtime comes. If I have the eggs and meat/cheese, the energy comes slower, but it lasts longer. I'm going to see if there's a happy medium in this somewhere- maybe if I make myself a carry-along protein snack- like cheese or maybe some homemade chicken bites- so when I poop out I can get a bit of a boost without getting too hungry. I'll let you know!
I now walk ten miles a week minimum, just taking my daughter to school, but I have not been to the gym as much as I wanted to, due to a car that needs fixing. Yes, I can walk to the gym (or bike), but the guy usually wants me to bring it in on my gym day (Wednesday) really early- the same time I'm usually at the gym. Then I walk home from there (1.5 miles), so I get cardio, but no weight training. Hopefully today will be the end of the car issues, and I can get back on schedule.
Ironically, I have a lot of decluttering and housework to do, so I might be doing a workout anyway! Good old housework- it never ends. Ever.
Remember to keep those chins up, try new things when you feel your routine is getting stale, and expand your tastebuds and try new foods too! Just make sure they come out of the fresh food section, and not the frozen food aisle! :) God Bless!
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