That was my weight yesterday -- I just forgot to post. And it was my weight today, too, which is disappointing because I wasn't THAT bad over the weekend and I've been 1200-ish calories the last two days. Actually yesterday I was closer to 1300, but that was after a trip to ColdStone. I was really good there, too -- I got the raspberry sorbet with chocolate chips instead of what I really wanted, which was Chocolate Devotion.
Today I've been good so far; I have only eaten two tiny chocolate candies from the gourmet candy place in town, and a couple of handfuls of the kids' popcorn from the movie theater downtown. But we haven't put out the candy for Trick or Treaters yet, and it will be harder to stay good. I didn't exercise as such today, though walking all around downtown with the kids has to count for something! I did go to the gym the last two days, and I have two more trips planned this week.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
I'm back!
Sorry to disappear like that. I got my grant submitted this morning. Whew! Now I have a huge clean up job to do, and then get caught up with all of my other work.
Anyway, I haven't been paying attention to my diet and I only managed to get to the gym once last week and once the week before, and it's not going to happen at all this week (I'm down in DC the next two days), but I've hit my goal of maintaining my weight--I was 140.2 last Tuesday and 140.4 yesterday, so I'm o.k. with that. So now I need to actually focus on losing weight (just in time for the annual candy inundation!), which means back to the gym and back to 1300 calories a day. This should be fun, right?
Anyway, I haven't been paying attention to my diet and I only managed to get to the gym once last week and once the week before, and it's not going to happen at all this week (I'm down in DC the next two days), but I've hit my goal of maintaining my weight--I was 140.2 last Tuesday and 140.4 yesterday, so I'm o.k. with that. So now I need to actually focus on losing weight (just in time for the annual candy inundation!), which means back to the gym and back to 1300 calories a day. This should be fun, right?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Doomed
I didn't weigh myself over the weekend - mostly because I just didn't want to know. Katie and I did go for sushi after church on Saturday and then I had a pit beef wrap on Sunday at the pumpkin farm - but other than that I stuck to my Glucerna diet all week and all weekend. I ate fruits, vegetables, small meals, nice snacks, etc. The one deliberate concession I made was with breakfast. I had a gluten free waffle, with turkey sausage. I had real syrup instead of the sugar free stuff. Anyway - my weight on Monday was 227.4 and today was 227. So much for dieting.
It is frustrating - if I eat a balanced, healty diet like this, timed to be consumed steadily during the day I trigger my metabolism - so I feel hungry. A lot! But I don't lose weight. If I don't plan and eat my meals I don't feel hungry - but I don't lose weight either. I was thinking that I should lower my calorie intake to 1000 or less - but if I am feeling hungry on 1500 I will either be STARVING at 1000, or back to the not feeling hungry, but not losing weight phase of things. I don't know.
THEN! Last night I made my Halloween costume. It is a plain circle skirt. I cut the pattern out at a size 19 (somewhere between the 18 and the 20). That is what I have been wearing lately - mostly 18s with some too big 20s periodically. THE DARN THING DIDN'T FIT. I mean - REALLY didn't fit. It is probably easy enough to fix - but it involves removing the waistband and lowering everything down an inch or two. Talk about a blow to my ego. I was already thinking that I am going to be "larger than life" in this crazy costume - but this makes it much worse. Sigh.
It is frustrating - if I eat a balanced, healty diet like this, timed to be consumed steadily during the day I trigger my metabolism - so I feel hungry. A lot! But I don't lose weight. If I don't plan and eat my meals I don't feel hungry - but I don't lose weight either. I was thinking that I should lower my calorie intake to 1000 or less - but if I am feeling hungry on 1500 I will either be STARVING at 1000, or back to the not feeling hungry, but not losing weight phase of things. I don't know.
THEN! Last night I made my Halloween costume. It is a plain circle skirt. I cut the pattern out at a size 19 (somewhere between the 18 and the 20). That is what I have been wearing lately - mostly 18s with some too big 20s periodically. THE DARN THING DIDN'T FIT. I mean - REALLY didn't fit. It is probably easy enough to fix - but it involves removing the waistband and lowering everything down an inch or two. Talk about a blow to my ego. I was already thinking that I am going to be "larger than life" in this crazy costume - but this makes it much worse. Sigh.
Monday, October 29, 2007
It's just water. It's just water. It's just water...
I keep hoping I'll convince myself of that! I am up four pounds from before we left town. For that to be real weight, that would require me to have taken in 3500 calories more per day than I burned. Since I actively tracked calories the first two days, I KNOW I didn't eat anything like 3500 calories, let alone 3500 calories plus what I burned off, so nearly 5000 calories (or more, since we walked all over God's creation two of the days) on either of those days. I gave up for the last two days and I didn't eat especially well, but if it had been 5000 calories I would have known it. So it is impossible for me to have gained four pounds of real weight over the weekend! But it's still depressing to see that number today. Time to redouble my efforts!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Diets are stupid
on birthdays and on vacation. And today I'm hit by both -- Mary's birthday, and Williamsburg. We ate at one of the taverns for lunch -- that was about a gazillion calories right there -- and we're going out to a Japanese steakhouse for dinner, and we had cake in the middle of the afternoon. And they have Belgian waffles in the hotel buffet -- the make 'em fresh kind. And we even tried to exercise in the exercise room, but they had a treadmill without a manual setting option that did really weird things when you tried to change the level and sagged when you ran on it, and a recumbent bicycle which at its longest setting would be appropriate for someone 5'0" and which couldn't get up to a difficulty level high enough for me to break a sweat. My heart rate maxed out at 110. After 15 minutes (tops) we gave up completely and did crunches and pushups, and those went considerably better, so at least I got a little workout. But not much.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Hanging ONLY by a thread
Actually, I can't say it is as bad as all that. I have been mostly perfect (which is all I am shooting for) all week, except last night - which I knew wouldn't be good. I didn't over eat at dinner (salad, lasagna, garlic bread - all in reasonable portions) but the two desserts pushed me over the edge. I ate my whole piece of pecan pie soup, and about a third of a piece of Arian Chocolate Cake (the German Chocolate Cake came out VERY pale). My stomach positively HURT after dinner.
I didn't exercise Tuesday or yesterday. My days were both full with making pie, cake and apron in the 24 hours between end of work Tuesday and party time last night. In the next five days I have to make a Halloween costume, 1/3 of a bushel of apples into applesauce, and jackolanterns (after I pick some pumpkins). THEN - by next Saturday (11/3) Katie and I have to be fully prepped for another craft fair. So - I don't foresee much exercise in the next week or so...
I didn't exercise Tuesday or yesterday. My days were both full with making pie, cake and apron in the 24 hours between end of work Tuesday and party time last night. In the next five days I have to make a Halloween costume, 1/3 of a bushel of apples into applesauce, and jackolanterns (after I pick some pumpkins). THEN - by next Saturday (11/3) Katie and I have to be fully prepped for another craft fair. So - I don't foresee much exercise in the next week or so...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Hanging in there
It's very satisfying to see my weight still going down. I stuck to 1250 calories yesterday (I couldn't eat just the half serving of pretzels at the end of the day -- I was hungry and ate the whole serving, so that's why the 1250 and not the 1200) despite going out to lunch and out for coffee with a friend in the evening (turns out a cappuccino is lower in calories than a latte, but it's depressing to get a cup that's mostly air -- next time I'll just go for the latte, since all the calories are skim milk anyway). I also did 40 minutes on the bike, 5 minutes on the elliptical (while I waited for Daniel to finish a 2-mile run, on top of his own 40 minutes on the bike), and 100 crunches and 20 sideways crunches.
Tomorrow we're headed out of town (we're taking Mary to Williamsburg for her birthday -- we never do trips just the five of us, so we thought we were due!) so it's going to be harder to watch my weight and to exercise over the next four days, but I'll do my best.
Tomorrow we're headed out of town (we're taking Mary to Williamsburg for her birthday -- we never do trips just the five of us, so we thought we were due!) so it's going to be harder to watch my weight and to exercise over the next four days, but I'll do my best.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Halloween Prep
http://walking.about.com/library/cal/blhalloweencalories.htm?
I found this candy calulator - how many steps does it take to work off the center of a Tootsie Roll? Well - you can figure it out here.
I found this candy calulator - how many steps does it take to work off the center of a Tootsie Roll? Well - you can figure it out here.
Um, 146, maybe?
I weighed myself at bedtime last night and it was 147.0. This morning I got up, went potty, and weighed myself again, and it was an improbable 147.0 again! Two minutes later, having changed nothing, I weighed myself again, and it was 145.0. After my shower, dripping wet, it was 145.5. So the 147.0 seems a bit unlikely, but I thought 146 would be a good compromise. Stupid scale.
Yesterday I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the bike, and then I risked a one-mile run despite my legs hurting. In the end my legs felt better, and they are much better today, so the run was the right thing to do. Then I did the usual VKRs (which were tough, since my legs couldn't really help and my abs had to do all the work, for once) and upper body stuff. My calorie intake for the day was about 1250.
Today I have a gym appointment at 4 but I have to take the van in for service at 2, so I really hope I'll be able to make it at the scheduled time! If not, Daniel has promised we can switch off with the kids so we can both get there anyway.
Yesterday I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the bike, and then I risked a one-mile run despite my legs hurting. In the end my legs felt better, and they are much better today, so the run was the right thing to do. Then I did the usual VKRs (which were tough, since my legs couldn't really help and my abs had to do all the work, for once) and upper body stuff. My calorie intake for the day was about 1250.
Today I have a gym appointment at 4 but I have to take the van in for service at 2, so I really hope I'll be able to make it at the scheduled time! If not, Daniel has promised we can switch off with the kids so we can both get there anyway.
Sticking with Oscar Wilde
"I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself."
So - clearly, I am better at giving good advice than listening to it myself!!
Today I was 226.6 (227 before my shower - but I am counting the lower one...). I had a virtually perfect day yesterday... minus the flossing. I ate my food at meal times (slightly before). I was feeling hungry all day when I was supposed to, and food calmed my hunger - but not much food. I had two "legal" cheats - to keep me sane... a skim latte in the afternoon and then ONE serving of Samoas after dinner (while I was packaging up the rest of the cookies into serving sizes - that worked for me before). Those two combined brought me to what I am guessing is just about 1600 calories.
Katie and I went to the gym. I had planned to do 30 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the equipment - but the gym was PACKED! Katie and I (amazingly) got treadmills next to each other - but we decided to forego the weight workout since it was so crowded. We did 45 minutes on the treadmills - me on Alpine Pass and Katie on Forest Walk. I like the Alpine Pass because it emphasizes incline rather than speed... which I prefer - although you set your on max speed and incline (4.0 and 5 respectively for me). I was sweating like crazy last night, so I think that is why I lost close to 2 pounds between yesterday and today - all water weight.
Today is my official "perfect day." I keep forgetting to check my calendar to see which day it is. But this morning I DID look - so I am even MORE determined to stick to my good habits ALL DAY. Hopefully when I go to the gym tonight it won't be as crowded (which would be logical - since last night Katie and I went earlier than I normally do since I got out of work a little early). I am going to start carrying my gym bag in my car again - so Julie, I may actually be able to join you at your gym when you go.
So - clearly, I am better at giving good advice than listening to it myself!!
Today I was 226.6 (227 before my shower - but I am counting the lower one...). I had a virtually perfect day yesterday... minus the flossing. I ate my food at meal times (slightly before). I was feeling hungry all day when I was supposed to, and food calmed my hunger - but not much food. I had two "legal" cheats - to keep me sane... a skim latte in the afternoon and then ONE serving of Samoas after dinner (while I was packaging up the rest of the cookies into serving sizes - that worked for me before). Those two combined brought me to what I am guessing is just about 1600 calories.
Katie and I went to the gym. I had planned to do 30 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the equipment - but the gym was PACKED! Katie and I (amazingly) got treadmills next to each other - but we decided to forego the weight workout since it was so crowded. We did 45 minutes on the treadmills - me on Alpine Pass and Katie on Forest Walk. I like the Alpine Pass because it emphasizes incline rather than speed... which I prefer - although you set your on max speed and incline (4.0 and 5 respectively for me). I was sweating like crazy last night, so I think that is why I lost close to 2 pounds between yesterday and today - all water weight.
Today is my official "perfect day." I keep forgetting to check my calendar to see which day it is. But this morning I DID look - so I am even MORE determined to stick to my good habits ALL DAY. Hopefully when I go to the gym tonight it won't be as crowded (which would be logical - since last night Katie and I went earlier than I normally do since I got out of work a little early). I am going to start carrying my gym bag in my car again - so Julie, I may actually be able to join you at your gym when you go.
Me too
My allergies are in high gear this week, bad enough to cause my asthma to flare, so I am feeling GREAT. I may have to go to the dr for more drugs today. Or tomorrow. Maybe they will settle down if it would just ever rain. Even just sitting here at my desk I have chest pains. When they first started happening I was really freaked, but then after I saw my dr for the first time and she explained that I wasn't having a heart attack, nor did I have a blood clot in my lung or any other horrible thing I could think of, I was ok with it.
I did pilates Sunday and Monday, which I am happy about. Peter did them with me, which is quite entertaining to watch. He is pretty determined to stick with the lady and get better at the positions, which I have to say is motivating to me to do it too. Today will be a non-exercise day for me though. Just too much time alloted for school and work. Amy, I wanted to tell you I changed my gym membership so I can go to any Brick Bodies. I plan to go to the one that just opened at Greenspring Station. Having said that, I can't go until probably Saturday. Anytime I am going to go I will text you and you can decide if you are available to join me.
My weight today was down to 167.5, which is much better than the 170 I have been holding steady at.
I did pilates Sunday and Monday, which I am happy about. Peter did them with me, which is quite entertaining to watch. He is pretty determined to stick with the lady and get better at the positions, which I have to say is motivating to me to do it too. Today will be a non-exercise day for me though. Just too much time alloted for school and work. Amy, I wanted to tell you I changed my gym membership so I can go to any Brick Bodies. I plan to go to the one that just opened at Greenspring Station. Having said that, I can't go until probably Saturday. Anytime I am going to go I will text you and you can decide if you are available to join me.
My weight today was down to 167.5, which is much better than the 170 I have been holding steady at.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Running out of titles
Every time I want to type in a title for one of these entries, my computer reminds me of all the other titles I've used and invariably whatever I was going to type was something I used before. Today was "slacking."
I wasn't totally on board with the "back to the beginning" approach last week. And it turned out to be a pretty bad week overall--my work schedule meant I only got to the gym once, and while I took numerous walks at home (mostly with Connor who is loving this weather and his jogging stroller), they weren't very vigorous. And I didn't really pay attention to my food at all. I didn't overeat particularly, but I didn't track my calories and I did eat that barbeque when we went out to lunch at work. Still, my weight this morning was 140.6--I was worried it would be much higher!
I'm not sure I'm on board with "back to the beginning" this week either. I've got a major grant deadline next Wednesday and at least two lunch meetings (today and Wednesday) so I'll have to rearrange the gym visits (if I can spare the time, that is). Is it o.k. to have a goal of just maintaining during these next couple of weeks? I'm feeling so burned out right now that I just don't have the energy to even think or care about weight loss!
I wasn't totally on board with the "back to the beginning" approach last week. And it turned out to be a pretty bad week overall--my work schedule meant I only got to the gym once, and while I took numerous walks at home (mostly with Connor who is loving this weather and his jogging stroller), they weren't very vigorous. And I didn't really pay attention to my food at all. I didn't overeat particularly, but I didn't track my calories and I did eat that barbeque when we went out to lunch at work. Still, my weight this morning was 140.6--I was worried it would be much higher!
I'm not sure I'm on board with "back to the beginning" this week either. I've got a major grant deadline next Wednesday and at least two lunch meetings (today and Wednesday) so I'll have to rearrange the gym visits (if I can spare the time, that is). Is it o.k. to have a goal of just maintaining during these next couple of weeks? I'm feeling so burned out right now that I just don't have the energy to even think or care about weight loss!
Back to the drawing board, part 2
"To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable." Oscar Wilde (who else?)
Katie and I are starting week 2 of the Glucerna diet. Any progress I made last week was gone this morning (I was 228.4). I didn't stick religiously to the diet this weekend - but neither was I grossly excessive. I went to the happy hour on Friday (as I reported) then Saturday night I had dinner at the crop - which was sandwiches and salad from Panera. 1/2 sandwhiches, which I am pretty sure fell well within my alloted calories for the day. Yesterday I had the glucerna breakfast - then a banana and 1 oz gluten free wheat free pretzels (which weren't too bad!) for a morning snack. But since that was at noon-ish I didn't eat lunch. So around 4:30 I had soup - which counted as both lunch and dinner. I don't remember eating anything else yesterday - but I think I must have. I know I was feeling pretty reflux-y last night - so I think I must have eaten SOMETHING that didn't agree with me. I took a nap after I ate my soup, and I went grocery shopping after my nap. Then last night I worked on work stuff and buring A Breath of Snow and Ashes to my iPod - so maybe I DIDN'T eat anything else.
Exercise is going to be my focus this week. I want to go to the gym at least three times between now and Saturday. The only exercise I have done recently was the Walk (stroll) for Autism yesterday. It is billed as a two mile (if you do two laps) walk - but I think it is is pushing it to count it as ONE mile (even as two laps). Lynn Brick came and did the warm up - which was nice - and JUST about my pace (sad to say!) - about 10-15 minutes of squats, arm lifts, lunges, and general wagging of (not just) my fat butt.
The only challenge I see for this week is the birthday party for Mom and Dad on Wednesday. Pecan Pie AND German Chocolate cake all in one place - yeah... Hummmm.
Katie and I are starting week 2 of the Glucerna diet. Any progress I made last week was gone this morning (I was 228.4). I didn't stick religiously to the diet this weekend - but neither was I grossly excessive. I went to the happy hour on Friday (as I reported) then Saturday night I had dinner at the crop - which was sandwiches and salad from Panera. 1/2 sandwhiches, which I am pretty sure fell well within my alloted calories for the day. Yesterday I had the glucerna breakfast - then a banana and 1 oz gluten free wheat free pretzels (which weren't too bad!) for a morning snack. But since that was at noon-ish I didn't eat lunch. So around 4:30 I had soup - which counted as both lunch and dinner. I don't remember eating anything else yesterday - but I think I must have. I know I was feeling pretty reflux-y last night - so I think I must have eaten SOMETHING that didn't agree with me. I took a nap after I ate my soup, and I went grocery shopping after my nap. Then last night I worked on work stuff and buring A Breath of Snow and Ashes to my iPod - so maybe I DIDN'T eat anything else.
Exercise is going to be my focus this week. I want to go to the gym at least three times between now and Saturday. The only exercise I have done recently was the Walk (stroll) for Autism yesterday. It is billed as a two mile (if you do two laps) walk - but I think it is is pushing it to count it as ONE mile (even as two laps). Lynn Brick came and did the warm up - which was nice - and JUST about my pace (sad to say!) - about 10-15 minutes of squats, arm lifts, lunges, and general wagging of (not just) my fat butt.
The only challenge I see for this week is the birthday party for Mom and Dad on Wednesday. Pecan Pie AND German Chocolate cake all in one place - yeah... Hummmm.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Ow. Ow. Ow.
Ice skating hurts. I don't remember it being that painful! Or that wobbly. But I think I haven't skated since college or, at best, shortly thereafter. It took me a while to get the hang of it and I had to re-lace my skates a few times but it wasn't bad after that. I skated pretty hard for at least an hour and a half of two hours -- once I remembered how to skate I remembered that I like to go a lot faster than most people -- and when I came home I learned I'd burned about 600 calories in the process. And I didn't fall down until the very end, and the first time was because I was asking Mary if she could hop on both feet on the ice, and it turned out I can't. The second was right after that as I escorted Xander to the exit and he fell down, taking me with him. But still, I should go skating more often. Except we only have a rink when they convert the civic center for hockey games.
Last night we had Daniel's poker party with lots of bad food around. I definitely had too much, but even so my total intake for the day was around 1800! With the skating -- and on a day when I wouldn't usually exercise at all -- I still came out about right. :-) (That was pure coincidence, though -- after multiple drinks I wasn't counting food calories too carefully; I was just too busy. So most of the calories were the drinks.)
Today I woke up very, very sore. Walking is painful -- skating really uses your quads. And my right ankle is bruised because of the painful skate that I'd had to re-lace! But I've been using "MyPlate" to track calories the last three days -- unlike Nutrition Data it has a lot of brand names in its database, though it's not as rigorous, and it can store my data from one day to the next -- and it has an exercise section on the calories entry page, and it looked very forlorn today. So I took the kids on a bike ride (gorgeous day) and discovered that bicycling uses completely different muscles from skating, so it didn't hurt! It was only 4-5 miles total, but it was better than nothing.
My weight was down this morning but I was dehydrated so it's not real yet. But I would love to see the same number sometime this week!
Last night we had Daniel's poker party with lots of bad food around. I definitely had too much, but even so my total intake for the day was around 1800! With the skating -- and on a day when I wouldn't usually exercise at all -- I still came out about right. :-) (That was pure coincidence, though -- after multiple drinks I wasn't counting food calories too carefully; I was just too busy. So most of the calories were the drinks.)
Today I woke up very, very sore. Walking is painful -- skating really uses your quads. And my right ankle is bruised because of the painful skate that I'd had to re-lace! But I've been using "MyPlate" to track calories the last three days -- unlike Nutrition Data it has a lot of brand names in its database, though it's not as rigorous, and it can store my data from one day to the next -- and it has an exercise section on the calories entry page, and it looked very forlorn today. So I took the kids on a bike ride (gorgeous day) and discovered that bicycling uses completely different muscles from skating, so it didn't hurt! It was only 4-5 miles total, but it was better than nothing.
My weight was down this morning but I was dehydrated so it's not real yet. But I would love to see the same number sometime this week!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
My own progress
I have been good and bad in the past few days. Katie and I have stuck with preparing and eating (for the most part) our 1300 calorie healthy menu. The food has been on the whole VERY good. Thursday night, however, I did meet Lynne and Kristy for dinner. I had one Mojito and a cup of smashed pea and barley soup and an appetizer of 4 (very) mini crab cakes and corn and black bean salsa. I didn't do the calorie research - but I thought it was a pretty good dinner out meal on low calorie, good nutrition.
I wasn't as good with my eating yesterday. Mostly because I got running late yesterday morning - which meant I only ate the toast for breakfast - taking the yogurt and almonds with me to work. I ate my sandwich at about 11:30 and my yogurt finally at 2-ish. I ate my baby carrots in between the two and my pistachios early afternoon. I can't remember what I missed out of my lunch bag yesterday - but I had a party to go to last night - where I ate several pieces of sushi, a few bites of bread with dilly dip and (e-hem) two bites of cheesecake dipped in chocolate and a pretzel stick also dipped in chocolate (there was a chocolate fountain). I drank two margaritas (that were pretty small - but yummy!). When I got home I wasn't able to eat the VERY good dinner of pork chops and apples with green beans that Katie had made. I ate one slice of apple and a few bites of green beans. I am going to eat the rest after I finish typing this.
Katie is off to a dentist appointment today and then Susie's bachlorette party. I am making jewelry for the Craft Fair on 11/3, copying The Fiery Cross into iTunes and this evening going to a crop at Recollections with Heather. So - a full, but fun day.
I wasn't as good with my eating yesterday. Mostly because I got running late yesterday morning - which meant I only ate the toast for breakfast - taking the yogurt and almonds with me to work. I ate my sandwich at about 11:30 and my yogurt finally at 2-ish. I ate my baby carrots in between the two and my pistachios early afternoon. I can't remember what I missed out of my lunch bag yesterday - but I had a party to go to last night - where I ate several pieces of sushi, a few bites of bread with dilly dip and (e-hem) two bites of cheesecake dipped in chocolate and a pretzel stick also dipped in chocolate (there was a chocolate fountain). I drank two margaritas (that were pretty small - but yummy!). When I got home I wasn't able to eat the VERY good dinner of pork chops and apples with green beans that Katie had made. I ate one slice of apple and a few bites of green beans. I am going to eat the rest after I finish typing this.
Katie is off to a dentist appointment today and then Susie's bachlorette party. I am making jewelry for the Craft Fair on 11/3, copying The Fiery Cross into iTunes and this evening going to a crop at Recollections with Heather. So - a full, but fun day.
Eating out
Last night we went to Olive Garden for dinner because Daniel needed to pick up a package (a computer, of which FedEx had botched delivery) in Roanoke. It was difficult to find something that looked truly appetizing but potentially low enough in calorie to stick with my diet. In the end I picked the mixed grill (kabobs of chicken, steak, potatoes and vegetables) and ate just less than half, and when I got home I found I'd eaten about 340 calories from my plate. I also ate salad (but no cheese nor olives, so not very caloric even with the dressing) and one breadstick (to my usual three or four there -- at 140 calories even one is major!). So my total yesterday was around 1400 calories, slightly higher than the previous three or four days but still not bad. I also got to the gym and did my usual bike and VKR stuff, but no weight machines because I'd just done them the day before and needed the break.
Today I'm going ice skating (should be comical and potentially calorie-burning, depending on how much I have to hold Alexander up and how much I can just skate -- come to think of it, keeping a 40-pound child upright on ice might be the better workout after all) so I'll get some exercise, though not as vigorous as usual. Tonight is pizza for dinner because Daniel's having a poker night so I'll have to watch my eating all day!
Today I'm going ice skating (should be comical and potentially calorie-burning, depending on how much I have to hold Alexander up and how much I can just skate -- come to think of it, keeping a 40-pound child upright on ice might be the better workout after all) so I'll get some exercise, though not as vigorous as usual. Tonight is pizza for dinner because Daniel's having a poker night so I'll have to watch my eating all day!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Stubborn scale
I was really good again yesterday. I ate about 1200 calories and I exercised at the gym. I did 40 minutes on the bike, and the usual VKRs; then, inspired by Daniel's work on the floor I got down and did a dozen push-ups from my knees. After that I did the usual arm machines (with slightly fewer chest presses, for obvious reasons) plus leg extensions, so overall it was a great workout. My scale this morning read exactly the same as it has the last two days; I was really hoping for a drop! But my period is due any minute now, so I'm hoping the number will go down tomorrow. Today I'm again watching calories, and I have a gym appointment as usual. That will make four days this week. Yay, me!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Today I am hungry
I was 224.2 this morning - so still going down - despite the fact that I barely MOVED yesterday. I spent the morning in my Why Catholic? group and then a good chunk of the afternoon at Rebecca's. In between I did a whole lot of not much moving around. I loaded Lightroom onto my computer and then adjusted a bunch of photos. Then I watched the FOUR season two episodes of Heroes that are out that I hadn't yet seen. I cooked dinner (which Katie couldn't eat because she had two teeth extracted at Dr. Behar's last night...) and made lunch for today. And then I went to bed. Not necessarily in that order.
Today - as my title says - I am feeling hungry. Katie and I had poached egg on toast again this morning (which Katie was able to eat - she had applesauce for dinner in between changing her gauze) I had hummus with carrots and pita bits for snacks (morning and afternoon) and a YUMMY chicken and pineapple salad. It looked gross - chicken with pineapple and celery and a dressing made of 2 t lime juice and 3 t mayo. It was very good - it reminded me of the Chiles Caribbean Chicken Salad - which is my all time favorite salad. I had flax crackers to eat with it - which I forgot. I drank my water and took my vitamins - and am looking to eat some more. I think - to avoid the ever present Halloween candy - I will make a cup of green tea.
I have a dinner with Kristy and Lynne tonight. I have already looked at the menu (we are going to California Pizza Kitchen) and I am torn between the Miso salad with crab and the grilled salmon. I don't know. They have a lot of good, healthy foods - but they also have a lot of things coated in Mayo with bacon as a garnish. Yum!
Today - as my title says - I am feeling hungry. Katie and I had poached egg on toast again this morning (which Katie was able to eat - she had applesauce for dinner in between changing her gauze) I had hummus with carrots and pita bits for snacks (morning and afternoon) and a YUMMY chicken and pineapple salad. It looked gross - chicken with pineapple and celery and a dressing made of 2 t lime juice and 3 t mayo. It was very good - it reminded me of the Chiles Caribbean Chicken Salad - which is my all time favorite salad. I had flax crackers to eat with it - which I forgot. I drank my water and took my vitamins - and am looking to eat some more. I think - to avoid the ever present Halloween candy - I will make a cup of green tea.
I have a dinner with Kristy and Lynne tonight. I have already looked at the menu (we are going to California Pizza Kitchen) and I am torn between the Miso salad with crab and the grilled salmon. I don't know. They have a lot of good, healthy foods - but they also have a lot of things coated in Mayo with bacon as a garnish. Yum!
The Hacker's Diet
I've been reading an online book called "The Hacker's Diet." It was written by an engineer who sees life as an engineering problem -- he was extremely successful as an engineer and became moderately wealthy but still looked like, well, an engineer. So he decided to lose weight, and he succeeded, and wrote a book about it, and put it online because he apparently already has enough money and he thinks too many trees are wasted on diet books full of psychobabble. The book says, in a nutshell: Eat less. Eat. Less. Eat Less. The only way to lose weight is to eat less than you burn, and you can't really burn off that many extra calories by exercise -- though exercise becomes part of the program as well -- but no matter how you look at it, you have to eat less than you used to, because that's how you got fat to begin with. All the diet books out there are essentially padding to fill up the book on how to eat less.
He also says that skinny people have an internal "eat watch" -- it tells them to eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. For the rest of us, we never had the watch or it got broken. So the part of the book I haven't gotten to tells about tools to help us restart the eat watch. But I've been enjoying the analysis of calories taken in and going out. The most interesting bit is on the water vs. food -- we take in 9 pounds of water a day, to only 2.5 pounds of food, so of COURSE water has a larger impact on day-to-day weight. So, once again, one needs to focus on long term daily averages and not get distressed by any particular day's number on the scale (so long as you continue to see the general downward trend -- you should probably get distressed if it goes up by a pound every day for a week).
The link to the book is: http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/. But I suspect this is mostly an "Emily" book. Mostly it helps because I'm reading something that reminds me that I'm on a diet!
I kept to my 1200 calories again yesterday, though I didn't get any real exercise because it was Wednesday. Today and tomorrow I have gym appointments. This weekend's camping trip got cancelled because the leader's daughter had her first athsma attack this week and so she's not allowed to be that far from a hospital, but there isn't another leader in our troop or the junior troop we were joining who has the training to make it a legal Girl Scout trip. And my weight today was the same as yesterday, still down from Tuesday. :-)
He also says that skinny people have an internal "eat watch" -- it tells them to eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. For the rest of us, we never had the watch or it got broken. So the part of the book I haven't gotten to tells about tools to help us restart the eat watch. But I've been enjoying the analysis of calories taken in and going out. The most interesting bit is on the water vs. food -- we take in 9 pounds of water a day, to only 2.5 pounds of food, so of COURSE water has a larger impact on day-to-day weight. So, once again, one needs to focus on long term daily averages and not get distressed by any particular day's number on the scale (so long as you continue to see the general downward trend -- you should probably get distressed if it goes up by a pound every day for a week).
The link to the book is: http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/. But I suspect this is mostly an "Emily" book. Mostly it helps because I'm reading something that reminds me that I'm on a diet!
I kept to my 1200 calories again yesterday, though I didn't get any real exercise because it was Wednesday. Today and tomorrow I have gym appointments. This weekend's camping trip got cancelled because the leader's daughter had her first athsma attack this week and so she's not allowed to be that far from a hospital, but there isn't another leader in our troop or the junior troop we were joining who has the training to make it a legal Girl Scout trip. And my weight today was the same as yesterday, still down from Tuesday. :-)
I'm in...
for tracking down that book. I think my creativity is gone. My stress level is getting to where I can't handle it. I can't sleep, I can't focus, I can't get anything completely finished because I have 300 things started at once...I could go on and on. I need some balance in my life because it is pretty out of control. And I don't help myself AT ALL. Peter & I had an "argument" (use that loosely, it wasn't really, it was more me being stubborn and him subsequently being insistent) this morning over him running an errand to Staples for me. WHY wouldn't I just give him the list? WHY did I fight this person who has the day off and WANTS to help me? But I did. Why do I feel like I have to do EVERYTHING myself? I struggle with this a lot, and it has gotten worse lately. Why did I get up and rush around to get dressed and unload and reload the dishwasher and clean out the fridge and get the trash together when he is going to be home all day and could have done that stuff? What is wrong with me?
I haven't figured out what my food was yesterday. I didn't exercise like I wanted. Once I got home we were going to go for a walk, but Peter's dad called from Belfast so I laid down on the couch while he took the call and ended up falling asleep.
I haven't figured out what my food was yesterday. I didn't exercise like I wanted. Once I got home we were going to go for a walk, but Peter's dad called from Belfast so I laid down on the couch while he took the call and ended up falling asleep.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Nutritionist Follow-up
I know I say this every time - but I really like Rebecca. I wasn't particularly looking forward to my session today - mostly because I didn't feel like much had happened in the last three weeks - and so I wouldn't have much to talk about. We ended up running over by 1/2 an hour! We talked a lot about psychological problems with food. She said she had the name of a cognative/behavioural therapist that might be able to help uncover childhood - I don't know what word would work - "issues" I guess - but that isn't right... that helped form my views on eating. I told her that I don't need help uncovering childhood problems, but I need help in reprogramming myself. I feel fairly sure that my problems are rooted in being one of six kids. As such, I felt like I had to compete for treats, and that there was never enough of them. Follow that up with the requirement to finish all food on my plate - even the stuff I didn't like (vegetables). While these "problems" aren't unusual or even BAD, for me I still feel like if I say no to something yummy I will miss out on my share and I won't have another chance - and eating vegetables is more of a punishment than anything. I know that these thoughts are totally irrational - but I see it in myself on a REGULAR basis! I would love to know if there IS a way to fix that.
Then we got back into the conversation on what I am replacing with the desire to eat. Sarah, I told her what you said about creativity. I then told her about my two most commonly reoccurring dreams (over flowing toilets and houses with mystery rooms) BOTH of which symbolize a feeling of repressing creativity and gifts. She suggested a book that she said changed her life. It is called Artists Way, by Julia Cameron. The way she described it sounded like it was a program that you can do alone of with a group, where you explore your creative impulses - or whatever. She said she first did it alone and then with a group of her girlfriends. I am going to track down the book. If it sounds interesting, I will see if it is something we can do as a group to help us all get more in touch with what we would like to be doing.
Then we got back into the conversation on what I am replacing with the desire to eat. Sarah, I told her what you said about creativity. I then told her about my two most commonly reoccurring dreams (over flowing toilets and houses with mystery rooms) BOTH of which symbolize a feeling of repressing creativity and gifts. She suggested a book that she said changed her life. It is called Artists Way, by Julia Cameron. The way she described it sounded like it was a program that you can do alone of with a group, where you explore your creative impulses - or whatever. She said she first did it alone and then with a group of her girlfriends. I am going to track down the book. If it sounds interesting, I will see if it is something we can do as a group to help us all get more in touch with what we would like to be doing.
Congratulations......
.....to everyone on your restraint today (or in the middle of the night--whichever)!
Apparently you all got MY daily restraint because I don't seem to have any today! Breakfast was normal, and then we had a departmental lunch planned (birthday of a woman who quit a few weeks ago--good excuse to get back together with her) so I skipped the morning snack, knowing I'd undoubtedly eat more at lunch than I normally do. Well, pulled pork barbeque was their daily special and I ate it. All of it (left a bit of the bun). Including the french fries. So I figured, o.k., little hitch, I can still get in a good workout after my afternoon meeting. Only my afternoon meeting ran to 3:30 and was followed by an immediate desperate request for a budget modification that had to be in today, so I just finished that up (along with another emergency that arose--what's with today and emergencies?) and now it's almost 5:00, so no gym today. But wait--it gets worse! The woman we had lunch with gave us all little bags of Wockenfuss chocolate coins. Mine are gone.
Calorie intake: a bazillion
Calories burned through exercise: zero
Wait, we're supposed to be being positive, right? OK, my barbeque sandwich came with two slices of tomato and some lettuce (who puts those on barbeque sandwiches?) and I ate them too, so at least I had some vegetable-like stuff. And I can get to the gym tomorrow (which means passing up the first day of the DSW boot sale!) and walk the dog and do pilates tonight to burn some of the excess I took in.
Apparently you all got MY daily restraint because I don't seem to have any today! Breakfast was normal, and then we had a departmental lunch planned (birthday of a woman who quit a few weeks ago--good excuse to get back together with her) so I skipped the morning snack, knowing I'd undoubtedly eat more at lunch than I normally do. Well, pulled pork barbeque was their daily special and I ate it. All of it (left a bit of the bun). Including the french fries. So I figured, o.k., little hitch, I can still get in a good workout after my afternoon meeting. Only my afternoon meeting ran to 3:30 and was followed by an immediate desperate request for a budget modification that had to be in today, so I just finished that up (along with another emergency that arose--what's with today and emergencies?) and now it's almost 5:00, so no gym today. But wait--it gets worse! The woman we had lunch with gave us all little bags of Wockenfuss chocolate coins. Mine are gone.
Calorie intake: a bazillion
Calories burned through exercise: zero
Wait, we're supposed to be being positive, right? OK, my barbeque sandwich came with two slices of tomato and some lettuce (who puts those on barbeque sandwiches?) and I ate them too, so at least I had some vegetable-like stuff. And I can get to the gym tomorrow (which means passing up the first day of the DSW boot sale!) and walk the dog and do pilates tonight to burn some of the excess I took in.
Caloric Obsession (or, Fun with NutritionData)
Daniel and I have been going nuts with Nutrition Data this week. We figured out how to keep track of calories for the day and how to add in foods that aren't on the list and how to make recipes out of our foods, so last night I was able to put in the Garlic Smashed Potatoes recipe that I used with dinner, and figure out that I could eat a half "serving" and still stay within my calorie limits for the day. Once again I got through the day at almost exactly 1200 calories -- normally when I say I'm aiming for 1200 I end up overshooting, but it's fun to get to the number I want and have the willpower to stay there.
This is self-improvement week all around for me, though I know that's not usually the best way to go about it -- it's easier to focus on one goal at a time. But last week after I had a melt-down and screamed at the kids for the gazillionth time over something completely trivial I went hunting online for information about homeschooling and losing one's temper (I'm told it's VERY common), and I found a book called "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit." I'm a bit skeptical about the book -- the site also had lots about preparing your girls to be good homemakers and your boys to be good breadwinners, and it was full of God-talk of the sort that I'd be embarrassed to use in public. But so long as the book doesn't turn out to be anti-Catholic, I'm more than willing to use religious inspiration to keep from throttling my generally sweet and bright children over whether they know their arithmetic facts. In fact, I suspect that religious inspiration is going to be necessary here. Even so, I wouldn't have ordered the book except that I read a review of it on another site that seemed to describe me exactly -- screeching "Why won't you just answer??? WHAT IS NINE TIMES FOUR????" at a completely disinterested child. So I hope it will be useful. It just arrived today and it has a lot of Bible verses in it. Hmm.
This is self-improvement week all around for me, though I know that's not usually the best way to go about it -- it's easier to focus on one goal at a time. But last week after I had a melt-down and screamed at the kids for the gazillionth time over something completely trivial I went hunting online for information about homeschooling and losing one's temper (I'm told it's VERY common), and I found a book called "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit." I'm a bit skeptical about the book -- the site also had lots about preparing your girls to be good homemakers and your boys to be good breadwinners, and it was full of God-talk of the sort that I'd be embarrassed to use in public. But so long as the book doesn't turn out to be anti-Catholic, I'm more than willing to use religious inspiration to keep from throttling my generally sweet and bright children over whether they know their arithmetic facts. In fact, I suspect that religious inspiration is going to be necessary here. Even so, I wouldn't have ordered the book except that I read a review of it on another site that seemed to describe me exactly -- screeching "Why won't you just answer??? WHAT IS NINE TIMES FOUR????" at a completely disinterested child. So I hope it will be useful. It just arrived today and it has a lot of Bible verses in it. Hmm.
Is it working?
I am sure it is too soon to tell, and I always have weight fluctuations - but today I was down to 224.8. That is down two days running. Woo-hoo!!
So - last night I DID eat a serving of cookies around 10:30pm (forgetting that I still had my evening snack to eat). I put my evening snack then next to my bed just in case I DID wake up again. I did wake up, but I just had to go to the bathroom and didn't even think about eating. Tonight I am going to flip flop the two snacks - eat the approved one and put the cookies next to my bed and see if that does the trick again. I think it is psychological maybe. I don't know.
I have another appointment with Rebecca the nutritionist today. I wish it wasn't for a few more weeks. I don't feel like I need to see her just yet - and I will need her after Halloween - I'm SURE. Oh Well. I didn't remember the appointment until it was too late to cancel it. Sigh.
So - last night I DID eat a serving of cookies around 10:30pm (forgetting that I still had my evening snack to eat). I put my evening snack then next to my bed just in case I DID wake up again. I did wake up, but I just had to go to the bathroom and didn't even think about eating. Tonight I am going to flip flop the two snacks - eat the approved one and put the cookies next to my bed and see if that does the trick again. I think it is psychological maybe. I don't know.
I have another appointment with Rebecca the nutritionist today. I wish it wasn't for a few more weeks. I don't feel like I need to see her just yet - and I will need her after Halloween - I'm SURE. Oh Well. I didn't remember the appointment until it was too late to cancel it. Sigh.
GUESS what I just did?!?!?!?!?!!?
We had an informal company meeting in the lobby a little bit ago because our company president brought donuts and bagels from Dunkin Donuts in to celebrate our ranking #35 by ENR magazine AND the $3 million contract we (as in my section--GIS) just won with Maryland Aviation Administration AND I DIDN'T EAT ANY OF IT. Walked away. Whew. I had breakfast at home, so there was no reason to eat. And amazingly, I didn't eat for the sake of it being in front of me. Bagels and donuts for 350 people is an impressive thing to look at and not eat. It was like having the whole store in front of you for free.
Hopefully I didn't use up my supply of RESTRAINT for the day. Or week...
Hopefully I didn't use up my supply of RESTRAINT for the day. Or week...
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Don't Should on yourself
That is what Laura used to say about thinking positive. Don't Should on yourself. You know "I should eat less." "I should avoid junk food at all costs." "I should go to the gym instead of sit around my house." That is where counter productive weight loss happens. I liked Emily's report of her calories. She said where she was and then said "I get another 490 for dinner." THAT'S positive!!! And it showed in her below 150 weight. 8-)
Katie and I started on the Glucerna meal plan again yesterday. I have it set for 1300 calories - knowing full well that I generally add an extra 200 per day through coffee, and, well - I am not sure - breathing I guess. I didn't actually STAY at 1300 (or 1500) yesterday because I started the day with a glucose tolerence test - which involved drinking 75g of glucose in about 12 oz of icky orange drink. Gack! Then they drew blood from me every half hour/hour until about noon. I don't know how many calories that was all told. Then I did have a skim pumpkin latte on the way back from the doctor's. But I was perfect the rest of the day. I went to bed at midnight, not feeling hungry - and woke at 2am. So I ate cookies. WHY!?? Why do I do that. Whenever I have a calorie restricted day - even a perfect one like yesterday (almost) I wake up craving carbs. Tonight I am actually going to diviate from the set diet and ALLOW myself to have a serving of cookies (2 raspberry filled sugar cookies from Wegman's) and see if that prevents me from waking with a craving. Or maybe I will have pistachio nuts. Or something else that is a treat/snack rather than an approved snack. Since I haven't (yet) broken from the 1300 calories I can probably afford the calories.
This morning Katie and I started our day with a poached egg on toast (well, two actually, one for each of us) and grapefruit sections. YUM! Lunch was a particularly delicious parmesaen, basil chicken salad on lettuce. Dinner is beef kabobs. We have had snacks of strawberries and cheese and a pear with flax crackers with dill cream cheese. It amazes me that all of this good, healthy food totals to be 1300 calories!
I am trying to think of a positive way of saying that I haven't exercised. Well - I guess I COULD say that I was inspired by the weight loss lady in FC this month. She lost 101 pounds, and is about my size (build is very different though). She motivates herself to work out by saying to herself "Go to the gym and you can stop after 10 minutes." Of course - she never would, because once you are AT the gym it ain't so bad.
My "starting weight" yesterday was 227 even and today I was 225.2. I held steady over the weekend at 226-ish. I am actually kind of excited by this "do-over." I had fun shopping for groceries on Sunday - and I think next week I am going to plan in a sushi night. Not as a food reward - just because I do much better restricting my food if I plan in treats. I can probably make it to next week for my sushi craving. 8-)
Katie and I started on the Glucerna meal plan again yesterday. I have it set for 1300 calories - knowing full well that I generally add an extra 200 per day through coffee, and, well - I am not sure - breathing I guess. I didn't actually STAY at 1300 (or 1500) yesterday because I started the day with a glucose tolerence test - which involved drinking 75g of glucose in about 12 oz of icky orange drink. Gack! Then they drew blood from me every half hour/hour until about noon. I don't know how many calories that was all told. Then I did have a skim pumpkin latte on the way back from the doctor's. But I was perfect the rest of the day. I went to bed at midnight, not feeling hungry - and woke at 2am. So I ate cookies. WHY!?? Why do I do that. Whenever I have a calorie restricted day - even a perfect one like yesterday (almost) I wake up craving carbs. Tonight I am actually going to diviate from the set diet and ALLOW myself to have a serving of cookies (2 raspberry filled sugar cookies from Wegman's) and see if that prevents me from waking with a craving. Or maybe I will have pistachio nuts. Or something else that is a treat/snack rather than an approved snack. Since I haven't (yet) broken from the 1300 calories I can probably afford the calories.
This morning Katie and I started our day with a poached egg on toast (well, two actually, one for each of us) and grapefruit sections. YUM! Lunch was a particularly delicious parmesaen, basil chicken salad on lettuce. Dinner is beef kabobs. We have had snacks of strawberries and cheese and a pear with flax crackers with dill cream cheese. It amazes me that all of this good, healthy food totals to be 1300 calories!
I am trying to think of a positive way of saying that I haven't exercised. Well - I guess I COULD say that I was inspired by the weight loss lady in FC this month. She lost 101 pounds, and is about my size (build is very different though). She motivates herself to work out by saying to herself "Go to the gym and you can stop after 10 minutes." Of course - she never would, because once you are AT the gym it ain't so bad.
My "starting weight" yesterday was 227 even and today I was 225.2. I held steady over the weekend at 226-ish. I am actually kind of excited by this "do-over." I had fun shopping for groceries on Sunday - and I think next week I am going to plan in a sushi night. Not as a food reward - just because I do much better restricting my food if I plan in treats. I can probably make it to next week for my sushi craving. 8-)
149.0
I have been over 150 for most of the past week so that is a good weight for me. And I'm trying to consider it a starting weight -- I'm bound and determined to stick to my diet now. Yesterday was very successful; I only consumed about 1200 calories (Nutrition Data said 1191, but it didn't have goldfish, and I ate a few of those, so I was just over 1200) and the same site said my calorie usage was around 2800, with the gym trip, so I had a deficit of 1600 calories yesterday. Cool! If I could do that every day, I'd be losing a pound every three days! I realize that's unlikely but there was a time that I was losing almost at that rate, so I know I can achieve it again it to a certain degree.
Today I've had my usual breakfast, except only 3 ounces of OJ because I hadn't thawed another can. I measured my breakfast cereal! Today I have a gym appointment so I'll burn another big batch of calories. Yippee!
Today I've had my usual breakfast, except only 3 ounces of OJ because I hadn't thawed another can. I measured my breakfast cereal! Today I have a gym appointment so I'll burn another big batch of calories. Yippee!
Still hovering
I was 139.8 today--down from last week, but not really weight loss since my weight has just been fluctuating between 139 and 141 for weeks and weeks now.
My exercise has been really good--I'm back to three days a week at the gym doing both cardio and weight work, then another two days of just walking. I'm actually pretty pleased with my fitness level at the moment. When I was working out yesterday I noticed that my cellulite level was way down--not much visible at all (at least not to MY eyes--but then, I can't see the backs of my thighs). And walking around NY on Saturday my arms and shoulders didn't get achy like I'm used to when I carry a bag around all day, so I guess the weight work is having some effect! I just need to be able to snatch lift Connor's weight.
Food--I just need to stay out of the snacks! My meals have been pretty good--I haven't changed my breakfast, lunch, or daytime snacks pretty much since we started this, but dinner is iffy (sandwich and salad last night; stir fried chicken and veggies on Sunday; pizza on the bus on Saturday) and I still want to overindulge in cookies and crackers as soon as I get home from work and then again after the kids have gone to bed. Last night I had an ice cream bar because Brian brought one up from the freezer for me and I didn't say no. I had no intention of having one and wouldn't have gotten one myself, but once it was in front of me I just gave in. On Saturday I did the same thing in NY--Claire was hungry but I wasn't but instead of just getting a snack for her, I got ice cream for both of us. And I didn't want two pieces of pizza on the bus but that's how much I was served so that's what I ate! I really need to go back to "just say no" about food.
My exercise has been really good--I'm back to three days a week at the gym doing both cardio and weight work, then another two days of just walking. I'm actually pretty pleased with my fitness level at the moment. When I was working out yesterday I noticed that my cellulite level was way down--not much visible at all (at least not to MY eyes--but then, I can't see the backs of my thighs). And walking around NY on Saturday my arms and shoulders didn't get achy like I'm used to when I carry a bag around all day, so I guess the weight work is having some effect! I just need to be able to snatch lift Connor's weight.
Food--I just need to stay out of the snacks! My meals have been pretty good--I haven't changed my breakfast, lunch, or daytime snacks pretty much since we started this, but dinner is iffy (sandwich and salad last night; stir fried chicken and veggies on Sunday; pizza on the bus on Saturday) and I still want to overindulge in cookies and crackers as soon as I get home from work and then again after the kids have gone to bed. Last night I had an ice cream bar because Brian brought one up from the freezer for me and I didn't say no. I had no intention of having one and wouldn't have gotten one myself, but once it was in front of me I just gave in. On Saturday I did the same thing in NY--Claire was hungry but I wasn't but instead of just getting a snack for her, I got ice cream for both of us. And I didn't want two pieces of pizza on the bus but that's how much I was served so that's what I ate! I really need to go back to "just say no" about food.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Putting Restraint in my toolbox
I really liked that article. I remember having that feeling exactly, two years ago -- for some reason, for a few months, it was easy to resist, and the longer I did it, the easier it got, because it was so fun to see the results. So I'm trying to recapture that. I am counting calories today and trying to be upbeat -- should we try to force ourselves to be more positive for a while (e.g., I have to say three good things before I can make a criticism about myself) or just try to keep it generally more upbeat?
I have had 710 calories so far today (Raisin Bran Crunch, milk, OJ, almonds, ham sandwich), and I'm about a half hour from dinner, where I plan to collect the other 490 to get me to 1200. I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the bike (the icky bike, at level 6, which is like level 9 on the other bike, but it felt too easy so I bumped it to level 7 for the last ten minutes, and that got hard in a hurry!) and ran a mile. I was very under-enthused about the pace Daniel and I were setting -- we were trying to do 55 second laps to finish in under 8:30 and I just didn't feel like I could maintain that -- but I kept going at my slightly more sluggish pace, managed to push it for the last lap, and still finished in 8:24. So that's seven seconds better than my last mile there, and this was AFTER 30 minutes on the bike! Then I did 100 VKRs, plus two sets on each of the shoulder and tricep machines. Not a bad workout. I'm also booked to go to the gym tomorrow and Thursday, and then the campout is this weekend (I had the date wrong -- they changed it on me).
I have had 710 calories so far today (Raisin Bran Crunch, milk, OJ, almonds, ham sandwich), and I'm about a half hour from dinner, where I plan to collect the other 490 to get me to 1200. I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the bike (the icky bike, at level 6, which is like level 9 on the other bike, but it felt too easy so I bumped it to level 7 for the last ten minutes, and that got hard in a hurry!) and ran a mile. I was very under-enthused about the pace Daniel and I were setting -- we were trying to do 55 second laps to finish in under 8:30 and I just didn't feel like I could maintain that -- but I kept going at my slightly more sluggish pace, managed to push it for the last lap, and still finished in 8:24. So that's seven seconds better than my last mile there, and this was AFTER 30 minutes on the bike! Then I did 100 VKRs, plus two sets on each of the shoulder and tricep machines. Not a bad workout. I'm also booked to go to the gym tomorrow and Thursday, and then the campout is this weekend (I had the date wrong -- they changed it on me).
Articles
There was a little blurb in Family Circle this month (you know - the magazine that teases me with pictures of yummy desserts on the cover and appealing recipes throughout) about a study that was done recently about positive attitudes towards weight loss. Aparently, women who spend time talking to other women about how fat they are in negative terms are less likely to lose weight. Women who are positive and encouraging are MORE likely to succeed at weight loss.
Suzanne just emailed this to me (at my request - not because she thought it applied to me...)
Et cetera: Women’s breast cancer risk possibly tied to mother’s hip size
10/15/2007
Daughters of women with wide, round hips may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer because their mothers’ hip size reflects a higher level of certain sex hormones that can trigger an adverse change in the fetus’s breast tissue, according to an article in the American Journal of Human Biology. For the study, researchers from Oregon Health and Science University partnered with colleagues in Finland and the United Kingdom to analyze breast cancer rates among 6,370 women born in Helsinki between 1934 and 1944 whose mothers’ pelvic bones were measured during prenatal care visits. They discovered that daughters of mothers who had an intercristal diameter—defined as “the widest distance between the wing-like structures at the top of the hip bone”—of more than 11.8 inches were significantly more likely than other women to develop breast cancer; women with mothers whose wing-like hip structures were round were also at increased risk for the condition. While noting that these kinds of studies are “not designed to define precise biological or molecular mechanisms,” the researchers say the findings could help identify predisposing factors for the disease and yield targeted prevention strategies (ScienceDaily, 10/9).
Suzanne just emailed this to me (at my request - not because she thought it applied to me...)
Et cetera: Women’s breast cancer risk possibly tied to mother’s hip size
10/15/2007
Daughters of women with wide, round hips may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer because their mothers’ hip size reflects a higher level of certain sex hormones that can trigger an adverse change in the fetus’s breast tissue, according to an article in the American Journal of Human Biology. For the study, researchers from Oregon Health and Science University partnered with colleagues in Finland and the United Kingdom to analyze breast cancer rates among 6,370 women born in Helsinki between 1934 and 1944 whose mothers’ pelvic bones were measured during prenatal care visits. They discovered that daughters of mothers who had an intercristal diameter—defined as “the widest distance between the wing-like structures at the top of the hip bone”—of more than 11.8 inches were significantly more likely than other women to develop breast cancer; women with mothers whose wing-like hip structures were round were also at increased risk for the condition. While noting that these kinds of studies are “not designed to define precise biological or molecular mechanisms,” the researchers say the findings could help identify predisposing factors for the disease and yield targeted prevention strategies (ScienceDaily, 10/9).
Friday, October 12, 2007
I loved this blog entry from Cathy Zielske about her own weight loss:
http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/like-a-slow-lea.html
She's such a good writer--I love some of her tool bag references!
So I went back and re-read some of the early blog entries and the thing that struck me as being different now than it was then (for me) was the lack of social eating back then. I had just started my job, so I didn't know anyone and was pretty much off on my own plugging away at work without much interaction--I was part of a two person department and the other person is way down the hall. Now I'm part of a 10 person department and there are constant birthday lunches and group activities and it's a lot harder to say no to food when you're friends with the person offering it!
My biggest challenge is to get my eating in check again. One or two "perfect" days each week isn't going to cut it for me. At the start, I was losing one to two pounds a week, which is normal and healthy weight loss, but to do that I had to eat no more than 1300 calories a day and I had to exercise five or six days a week. I'm back to exercising regularly (more like three days of heavy exercise and two days of light exercise, but it all works out the same) and while I'm not terrible with what I eat, I no longer obsessively count calories and unfortunately that seems to be what works for me.
The good news, though, is that I had the same reaction to 140 pounds as Amy had to 220--for me the 140 weight seems to be my mental "oh my God" weight now--that's my pre-pregnancy weight, so when I go over it, I'm in bad territory. Plus if I go much over that weight, I'll have to go up a size! But when I hit that weight I at least started fighting back. I'm not down to the 130 to 135 range (yet), but at least I'm holding the line at 140 and not continuing to gain. I was back down to 139.8 today. My goal for the next weigh-in day is to still be below 140!
http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/like-a-slow-lea.html
She's such a good writer--I love some of her tool bag references!
So I went back and re-read some of the early blog entries and the thing that struck me as being different now than it was then (for me) was the lack of social eating back then. I had just started my job, so I didn't know anyone and was pretty much off on my own plugging away at work without much interaction--I was part of a two person department and the other person is way down the hall. Now I'm part of a 10 person department and there are constant birthday lunches and group activities and it's a lot harder to say no to food when you're friends with the person offering it!
My biggest challenge is to get my eating in check again. One or two "perfect" days each week isn't going to cut it for me. At the start, I was losing one to two pounds a week, which is normal and healthy weight loss, but to do that I had to eat no more than 1300 calories a day and I had to exercise five or six days a week. I'm back to exercising regularly (more like three days of heavy exercise and two days of light exercise, but it all works out the same) and while I'm not terrible with what I eat, I no longer obsessively count calories and unfortunately that seems to be what works for me.
The good news, though, is that I had the same reaction to 140 pounds as Amy had to 220--for me the 140 weight seems to be my mental "oh my God" weight now--that's my pre-pregnancy weight, so when I go over it, I'm in bad territory. Plus if I go much over that weight, I'll have to go up a size! But when I hit that weight I at least started fighting back. I'm not down to the 130 to 135 range (yet), but at least I'm holding the line at 140 and not continuing to gain. I was back down to 139.8 today. My goal for the next weigh-in day is to still be below 140!
PANIC!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a horrible thought this morning... I was remembering how, I don't know, six months ago I was in dread of topping 220. I wasn't going to let that happen and was going to do anything to avoid it. Well, 220 came and went and I stopped noticing it. Well NOW I am flirting around 230! I was 228.4 this morning, 229 yesterday. I know the yesterday was affected by the fattening lunch I had on Tuesday (it usually takes two days for the bad stuff to show up on the scales...) and it is possible it will go away - but I looked at my September weight where I went from 223 to 228. Five pounds in a month. August I did go down - from 225 to 223. July was flat, June was an increase (223-226) May was again up (2 pounds). All told... not counting when I quit smoking in October... I went from December (212) to September (228) up by 16 pounds! I have to DO something about this! I know my goal is to be positive - but - GASP!!!!!
I need renewed committment!
I need to crack down and DIET and EXERCISE - HARD!
I need to start chanting affirmations!!!
I need to DO SOMETHING!!!!!
I need renewed committment!
I need to crack down and DIET and EXERCISE - HARD!
I need to start chanting affirmations!!!
I need to DO SOMETHING!!!!!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Work Smarter not Harder
I hate that phrase... In my experience - the only way to work smarter and NOT harder is by finding someone else to do the work. Since it seems (in my experience) that the smart people are the ones who end up doing the most work (because we can't stand to see things done badly or wrong) the phrase makes smart people begin to think they are dumb!!
Anyway - that being said - I think it IS time for me to work smarter AND harder at this diet business. Back in the early days another thing I used to do is divide all of my food into portion sizes. Like Julie, I didn't refuse myself any particular food - but I was much more careful with portion control. So what if it took me an extra half hour or so after grocery shopping to divide up the boxes of cereal, pretzels, cookies, pistachio nuts, etc. into baggies for future consumption. It was MUCH easier for me to track my intake - and to control my urges to overeat in the evenings. It also made packing lunches much easier in the mornings... So, I am going to reintroduce that.
So - 1. Plan my meals
2. Control my portions
3. Do a minimum of 10 minutes of exercise daily - at least 5 days a week
Anyway - that being said - I think it IS time for me to work smarter AND harder at this diet business. Back in the early days another thing I used to do is divide all of my food into portion sizes. Like Julie, I didn't refuse myself any particular food - but I was much more careful with portion control. So what if it took me an extra half hour or so after grocery shopping to divide up the boxes of cereal, pretzels, cookies, pistachio nuts, etc. into baggies for future consumption. It was MUCH easier for me to track my intake - and to control my urges to overeat in the evenings. It also made packing lunches much easier in the mornings... So, I am going to reintroduce that.
So - 1. Plan my meals
2. Control my portions
3. Do a minimum of 10 minutes of exercise daily - at least 5 days a week
Interesting article and a few things I've been thinking about
1st: Interesting article... http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100171438>1=10514
2nd: I want to focus on keeping foods in moderation. I do much better that way than when I tell myself something is totally off limits. Now having said that, I have recently had no food boundaries (obviously given my upswing in weight.) I want to get back to having the snack size chocolates around and letting myself have 2 of them once a day, stuff like that. I find if I take 2 small chocolates to work, I will eat 2 small chocolates instead of visiting the vending machine for a full size bar. Same goes with other fatty foods; I am only going to make enough mac & chese for us to each have a reasonable portion rather than have leftovers. This is my plan to make small adjustments rather than sweeping changes.
2nd: I want to focus on keeping foods in moderation. I do much better that way than when I tell myself something is totally off limits. Now having said that, I have recently had no food boundaries (obviously given my upswing in weight.) I want to get back to having the snack size chocolates around and letting myself have 2 of them once a day, stuff like that. I find if I take 2 small chocolates to work, I will eat 2 small chocolates instead of visiting the vending machine for a full size bar. Same goes with other fatty foods; I am only going to make enough mac & chese for us to each have a reasonable portion rather than have leftovers. This is my plan to make small adjustments rather than sweeping changes.
Wednesday
I was able to get out last night and exercise! Peter and I went to Robert E Lee Park and walked the trails and even ran for a bit. It was great. We were there for about an hour. Then we went home and I wanted to do my Pilates for Dummies DVD but it doesn't work anymore. So at Peter's insistance we put in MTV Yoga, which is really quite difficult, as I was content to not do a video when the Pilates didn't work. It was hysterical. I told him how difficult the DVD was and he was insistent that it couldn't be that bad--it's YOGA after all. Well, we didn't last the warm up. It was really, really funny. He certainly had his eyes opened.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Old Ways
So I took my own advice yesterday and read through some of our original blog entries. The thing that impressed me the most is how POSITIVE we all were. We reported what we were doing and what we were thinking - both successes and not so successful stuff - but all of it was with an upbeat attitude. I wonder if that actually has an impact. Now, most of our posts are confessions of how we failed. Even when we are reporting good stuff we do it with an attitude of "it could have been better..."
I would like us to try to be positive again. I don't know how, but we should try I think.
So - How about we start our new beginning on Monday of this coming week. That will give us time to plan our course of action - and if it is intended to last two weeks that means it will end before Halloween... What do you all think?
One thing I had forgotten about sort of is that Katie and I used to do 10-30 minute videos each night before dinner. I want to start that again. I think that helped. I also need to get back to planned food. Not just packing a healthy bag of food each day, but an actual PLAN. I want to see how that impacts me.
Oh - my weight today was the same as yesterday - 226.8.
I would like us to try to be positive again. I don't know how, but we should try I think.
So - How about we start our new beginning on Monday of this coming week. That will give us time to plan our course of action - and if it is intended to last two weeks that means it will end before Halloween... What do you all think?
One thing I had forgotten about sort of is that Katie and I used to do 10-30 minute videos each night before dinner. I want to start that again. I think that helped. I also need to get back to planned food. Not just packing a healthy bag of food each day, but an actual PLAN. I want to see how that impacts me.
Oh - my weight today was the same as yesterday - 226.8.
Surprise weight
This morning I dropped three pounds from yesterday. I've had two "good" days in a row -- last Friday I completely forgot it was supposed to be my day, and we were traveling and then it was Crawford food (yummy but unhealthy, for the most part) that day and the next two and a half. But on Monday I kept breakfast in check, ate a small, sensible lunch at McDonald's (they have a chipotle chicken wrap that is small and good, though I discovered it contains cheese, which I didn't need!), and ate two small slices of pizza for dinner. And almost nothing else all day. Yesterday I was even better, because I was home and it was back to my day in the rotation. I ate cereal with milk, lunch of tuna and pretzels, and milk to drink, and dinner of chicken with broccoli and rice (higher fat than I like, though -- it uses cream of chicken soup and I didn't have the light kind, and it uses mayo, but I was out of that so I had to use yogurt, and I only had lowfat, not fat free; but at least it's with brown rice). I had snacks of a banana and a box of raisins and some almonds. Oh, phooey, and at least a full serving of goldfish and a piece of light string cheese. But the point is I didn't go overboard on my grains, I ate some vegetables, and I got just enough dairy and fruit. But in retrospect it could have been better.
I went to the gym yesterday and ran a mile (with my Nike+iPod, which was fun) and then did 30 minutes on the bike. Then I did the usual VKRs and weights. A good, solid workout.
Today is my busy day, so I won't snack much, but I also won't get much exercise. It's a leftover night for dinner so I have no idea what I'll be eating but I'll keep it as light as possible.
I hate to say it, but Amy's right. We need to go back to square one and diet like it's a new thing. We posted our food EVERY day. I know I didn't exercise the first week or so but after that I brought it in gradually -- I exercise as much now as I used to then, I think, but it was all new then and woke my body up. I have two Oatmeal Stouts left from my birthday (the "good" days keep getting in the way, and we've been gone!) and a collection of chocolate -- so I can't promise to be perfect every day, at least while the beer is there. Once that's gone I can go back to my 2005 model of eating ONE piece per day. Two weeks. At least that ends before Halloween!
I went to the gym yesterday and ran a mile (with my Nike+iPod, which was fun) and then did 30 minutes on the bike. Then I did the usual VKRs and weights. A good, solid workout.
Today is my busy day, so I won't snack much, but I also won't get much exercise. It's a leftover night for dinner so I have no idea what I'll be eating but I'll keep it as light as possible.
I hate to say it, but Amy's right. We need to go back to square one and diet like it's a new thing. We posted our food EVERY day. I know I didn't exercise the first week or so but after that I brought it in gradually -- I exercise as much now as I used to then, I think, but it was all new then and woke my body up. I have two Oatmeal Stouts left from my birthday (the "good" days keep getting in the way, and we've been gone!) and a collection of chocolate -- so I can't promise to be perfect every day, at least while the beer is there. Once that's gone I can go back to my 2005 model of eating ONE piece per day. Two weeks. At least that ends before Halloween!
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
141
I seem to be stuck in this cycle--I weigh in at a weight that doesn't make me happy, I proceed to lose weight (or at least see lower weights) during the week, I don't weigh myself on the weekend, and then on Tuesday I'm back up to where I was before! Today's weight has me a bit flummoxed--I was down to 138 last week, and my eating and exercise over the weekend were pretty good (not great, but not terrible--nothing to make me gain three pounds!) and even Monday's weight was 140 even, and normally I have a drop between Monday and Tuesday. So I'm not sure what happened yesterday that drove my weight up another pound. Frustrating.
I've been getting to the gym for longer workouts--25 to 30 minutes on the treadmill and then another 20 minutes or so working on the weight machines. This week, barring any weirdness, I should be able to get there three times. I've also been doing the dog walking at least twice each week--my goal is to log 15 miles of walking or running each week. That's three days on the treadmill and two days walking. I also just bought a sleeveless dress for the gala in December so I want to get my arms in shape for that, so about half of the weight work I've been doing has been for my arms. I also went out today and got new running shoes--I've started having problems with pain in my knees and shins while running, and new shoes cured this problem when I was having it before, so I hope it works again!
I've been getting to the gym for longer workouts--25 to 30 minutes on the treadmill and then another 20 minutes or so working on the weight machines. This week, barring any weirdness, I should be able to get there three times. I've also been doing the dog walking at least twice each week--my goal is to log 15 miles of walking or running each week. That's three days on the treadmill and two days walking. I also just bought a sleeveless dress for the gala in December so I want to get my arms in shape for that, so about half of the weight work I've been doing has been for my arms. I also went out today and got new running shoes--I've started having problems with pain in my knees and shins while running, and new shoes cured this problem when I was having it before, so I hope it works again!
A New Beginning
I think we all need to regroup. I don't know how this can affect anything - but I think we all need to go back to the first few months of blog entries when we started this... read through them and figure out what we were doing then that we can re-implement now. We all managed to lose weight (even me!). Was that through discipline? Strict diets? New habits? A combination of all of the above? I don't know. I know Sarah has been the most successful at keeping weight off - and she told me that when she is dieting she doesn't allow ANY deviation from her plan. That is great for losing weight - but also is what traditionally leads to diet back fires. I don't know WHY that is entirely, but the concept is that people are designed to compensate for deprevation by "loading" up when the opportunity presents itself. This means that when we are simply mentally depriving ourselves our bodies crave fattening foods - for emotional reasons as well as physical reasons. I know we all introduced good habits - which may or maynot still be in place... but I think it may be time for us to go back to a no mercy way of doing things. If that idea is daunting - let's do a no mercy/new beginning challenge for 2 weeks, and they figure out what to do from there. Personally I would like to drop the 10 pounds to get back to where I started... THEN I can think about dropping the other 50 that I need to lose. I was as low as 201 at one point. How did I get there and how can I get back?
So - I was down from last week but up from this past Friday. I was 226.8 this morning. I will be bad tomorrow because I just at an extreeeeeemly fattening lunch (salty, and fatty too) shrimp melt on garlic toast. I am very sleepy now.
I haven't exercised in a while - but I went to Brownie camp this weekend with Claire. The food (while not particularly healthy) was in small enough quantities that it couldn't have been too bad. We didn't do any ACTIVE exercise really - but we took a hike that lasted about 2 hours and involved more climbing than hiking. I spent most of Saturday on my feet - and moving around, albeit slowish.
So - I was down from last week but up from this past Friday. I was 226.8 this morning. I will be bad tomorrow because I just at an extreeeeeemly fattening lunch (salty, and fatty too) shrimp melt on garlic toast. I am very sleepy now.
I haven't exercised in a while - but I went to Brownie camp this weekend with Claire. The food (while not particularly healthy) was in small enough quantities that it couldn't have been too bad. We didn't do any ACTIVE exercise really - but we took a hike that lasted about 2 hours and involved more climbing than hiking. I spent most of Saturday on my feet - and moving around, albeit slowish.
Could nail polish weigh three pounds?
I was 151.5 this morning. Ouch! It wasn't entirely unexpected, after another awful weekend, but it is decidedly unpleasant, and up five pounds from my low a couple of weeks ago! I painted my toenails on Saturday so I was hoping I could blame that, but I suspect that's a bit of a reach. More likely it was the fried chicken and pork barbecue and cookies and cake and candy and even chocolate cream pie (birthday pie for Daniel and me from the Crawfords) that I was eating. And chili and spaghetti and popcorn, come to think of it.
I did go running one day this weekend, but by the next day I was so sore that I could barely move. Today I am finally feeling mobile again, so I have a gym appointment at 4. I think this is my only gym appointment this week -- yesterday we were on the road, tomorrow is our normal chaos, Thursday I couldn't get a slot, and Friday Mary and I are headed away for the weekend for a Girl Scout camp-in. (It's definitely not a campout -- it's a big house with bunks and electricity and everything.) But I'll try to squeeze in exercise on Thursday, at least.
I did go running one day this weekend, but by the next day I was so sore that I could barely move. Today I am finally feeling mobile again, so I have a gym appointment at 4. I think this is my only gym appointment this week -- yesterday we were on the road, tomorrow is our normal chaos, Thursday I couldn't get a slot, and Friday Mary and I are headed away for the weekend for a Girl Scout camp-in. (It's definitely not a campout -- it's a big house with bunks and electricity and everything.) But I'll try to squeeze in exercise on Thursday, at least.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Better
I am down 3 lbs from that horrific 170 I reported last week. I signed myself back up for the weightwatchers online program. I discovered that if I signed up through a link off my insurance comapny's page I got a decent discount for the 3 month plan. My weight tracking day is now Friday for that. I did get out an exercise 2x last week--a 45 minute walk Monday and another on Wednesday. I am planning to get out 2x this week as well, tonight and Wednesday night.
So that's all for now.
So that's all for now.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Pretty good week
So yeah, it was water retention. Period started, weight dropped. I was down to 138 (although it flashed on 137.8 for a second) on Friday morning. I only got to the gym twice this week, but I had good hour-long workouts each time. Just don't tell my boss.
Then to make up for all of my good behavior, I've been horrible in the past 24 hours! Last night was the Chamber of Commerce/Dave Barry dinner. Fancy hors d'oeuvres, a few drinks, filet mignon, buttery green beans, roasted potato (although I only ate half of the potato and skipped the salmon with crab that was also on my plate). And I missed dessert because I had to run home so Brian could get to work.
Dave Barry live was as funny as Dave Barry reading. In fact, it was an awful lot like reading his stuff, only you know how when you try to read it out loud you start laughing so hard that you're unintelligible? That part didn't happen since he was the one telling the stories. And even though they were almost all stories I'd heard before (stupid dogs after the hurricane, exploding whale, Miami stuff, how guys think, etc.) I still laughed until it hurt.
We also got this guy for pre-dinner entertainment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_E8H-KApqM
Working in the wealthiest county in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country can be a LOT of fun, especially when you get to go to dinner with the some of the wealthiest people.
Today Brian and I went furniture shopping. I had a McDonald's McSomething for breakfast--the first fast food breakfast I've had in YEARS. And lunch so far has been Ikea candy. So I'm betting I'm not still 138 pounds.
Then to make up for all of my good behavior, I've been horrible in the past 24 hours! Last night was the Chamber of Commerce/Dave Barry dinner. Fancy hors d'oeuvres, a few drinks, filet mignon, buttery green beans, roasted potato (although I only ate half of the potato and skipped the salmon with crab that was also on my plate). And I missed dessert because I had to run home so Brian could get to work.
Dave Barry live was as funny as Dave Barry reading. In fact, it was an awful lot like reading his stuff, only you know how when you try to read it out loud you start laughing so hard that you're unintelligible? That part didn't happen since he was the one telling the stories. And even though they were almost all stories I'd heard before (stupid dogs after the hurricane, exploding whale, Miami stuff, how guys think, etc.) I still laughed until it hurt.
We also got this guy for pre-dinner entertainment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_E8H-KApqM
Working in the wealthiest county in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country can be a LOT of fun, especially when you get to go to dinner with the some of the wealthiest people.
Today Brian and I went furniture shopping. I had a McDonald's McSomething for breakfast--the first fast food breakfast I've had in YEARS. And lunch so far has been Ikea candy. So I'm betting I'm not still 138 pounds.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Conservation of weight
Since Amy's losing, someone has to be gaining, right? Well, that's me. Ugh! What a week! Daniel didn't want us to get cheated out of veal scaloppine for my birthday since we were gone, so he fixed that on Tuesday, then we had our shrimp dish because we had company on Wednesday, and then Thursday was leftovers day. And on Thursday I also had to use my Coldstone birthday certificate before it expired, and if they offer me a free Love It, why would I get just a Like It? And with the company Wednesday I also had cheese and wine, and I've had two of my Oatmeal Stouts so far this week, and I've made a slight dent in the chocolate Cecilia gave me, so my weight has only gone UP since Tuesday morning. It peaked at 152 or 153 -- I have forgotten -- but at the very best it has been 150.5. And I've even been drinking water and exercising. Wonder what it would be if I'd been lazy.
And now we're in Alabama and tomorrow is the family reunion, where I'll be surrounded by fried chicken and barbecue, both too yummy to ignore, and the only vegetables will be ones that have been cooked for several hours with bacon, eliminating all nutrients in the process and introducing a good deal of fat. Gross. Oh, and there's always homemade ice cream, too. So I'm expecting my weight to be terrible next Tuesday. I DO plan to exercise while I'm here, at least, but, darn it, would you believe I left my new Nike+iPod at home? What's the point of having a gadget for running on the open road if I don't have it around when I actually get to the open road? Sigh.
And now we're in Alabama and tomorrow is the family reunion, where I'll be surrounded by fried chicken and barbecue, both too yummy to ignore, and the only vegetables will be ones that have been cooked for several hours with bacon, eliminating all nutrients in the process and introducing a good deal of fat. Gross. Oh, and there's always homemade ice cream, too. So I'm expecting my weight to be terrible next Tuesday. I DO plan to exercise while I'm here, at least, but, darn it, would you believe I left my new Nike+iPod at home? What's the point of having a gadget for running on the open road if I don't have it around when I actually get to the open road? Sigh.
6 ponds in three days
OK - this morning I was down to 224.8 - which means I lost 5.4 pounds since Tuesday. That is cool. I don't know HOW I did it - but there we have it.
I have been trying to remember to take my bitter drops - but so far I mostly have only remembered them once a day. I haven't noticed them making me feel hunger better - but they definitely make me eat.
I don't really have anything to report - but no one else has posted in a while so I wanted to touch base...
I have been trying to remember to take my bitter drops - but so far I mostly have only remembered them once a day. I haven't noticed them making me feel hunger better - but they definitely make me eat.
I don't really have anything to report - but no one else has posted in a while so I wanted to touch base...
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
That's some BITTER
GACK! I just took my first dose of the tincture of bitter that Rebecca made for me. It smelled good - nice and cinnamony. I almost took it straight but decided that I wouldn't risk it just in case. Thank goodness I didn't. As it was, diluted in about 1/4 cup of water I almost gagged. It made me eat just to get the hideous taste out of my mouth!!! Right now the only thing lingering is the cinnamony taste. Good thing. Ugh.
I have my girly doctor's appointment today at 11am. Sigh. I suspect since I am now 40 I will have to go for a mamogram. Ugh again.
I am back to weighing myself everyday (if I can remember). Clearly my experiment didn't work. Luckily I am down 1.6 pounds from yesterday. Now if only that would continue. 1.6 pounds a day I would achieve my goal in about 40 days. How biblical. I could stand that.
I almost lost my appetite pemanently yesterday. I found out one of the TESSCO team members was arrested over the weekend for sexual abuse of minors. And sadly they were very minor (13-ish). He says he didn't do it, but he is totally the type you think would have done it. He rings high on my creepy meter - even before this. What's worse is he just got married about two weeks ago to another team member, and I think her daughter was one of the people he was abusing. Ugh. UGH! Seriously, reading the news article made me more than a little sick!
Well - I have to go now to my first session of Why Catholic? We are studying the sacrements this time around. I would rather be doing session 4 which is studying prayer. That seems more interesting to me.
I have my girly doctor's appointment today at 11am. Sigh. I suspect since I am now 40 I will have to go for a mamogram. Ugh again.
I am back to weighing myself everyday (if I can remember). Clearly my experiment didn't work. Luckily I am down 1.6 pounds from yesterday. Now if only that would continue. 1.6 pounds a day I would achieve my goal in about 40 days. How biblical. I could stand that.
I almost lost my appetite pemanently yesterday. I found out one of the TESSCO team members was arrested over the weekend for sexual abuse of minors. And sadly they were very minor (13-ish). He says he didn't do it, but he is totally the type you think would have done it. He rings high on my creepy meter - even before this. What's worse is he just got married about two weeks ago to another team member, and I think her daughter was one of the people he was abusing. Ugh. UGH! Seriously, reading the news article made me more than a little sick!
Well - I have to go now to my first session of Why Catholic? We are studying the sacrements this time around. I would rather be doing session 4 which is studying prayer. That seems more interesting to me.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Idea
OK - I almost fell down dead this morning when I saw the scale. While - like you all - I can totally justify WHY I had a three to four (3.4) pound spike this week, I am no happier about it. I know it was partially inspired by 1. my period, 2. food heavy weekend, 3. alcohol heavy weekend, 4. sick (mental health) day yesterday where I did nothing but sleep, read, and watch Bones and eat. None the less, I am blaming this ALL on the "no holds barred" diet I have been half following the past few days. I know that is kind of silly because in reality it has been less than a week since I was given "permission" and in practice I haven't actually eaten anything I wouldn't have eaten before the release of rules - I just haven't felt as guilty about it.
All that being said. Something has gotta give!!! I don't know now if I should continue on the suggested course for the next week or so and see if the horrors of this morning's scale review improves or if I should quickly fat flush starting tomorrow. Katie said she is up for a fat flush... but according to Rebecca part of my problems have been my unhealthy relationship with food. Meaning, that I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love to eat, but I see food as a "bad" thing since it makes me fat. So - I ignore the signals that my body sends me... and then I binge - which results in me being disgusted with myself for eating. I do take comfort in the fact that my binge foods have gotten healthier (if no less in calories). For example, pistachio nuts have been my snack of choice for the past several years. However, the unhealthy aspect is primarily my attitude.
All that being said. Something has gotta give!!! I don't know now if I should continue on the suggested course for the next week or so and see if the horrors of this morning's scale review improves or if I should quickly fat flush starting tomorrow. Katie said she is up for a fat flush... but according to Rebecca part of my problems have been my unhealthy relationship with food. Meaning, that I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love to eat, but I see food as a "bad" thing since it makes me fat. So - I ignore the signals that my body sends me... and then I binge - which results in me being disgusted with myself for eating. I do take comfort in the fact that my binge foods have gotten healthier (if no less in calories). For example, pistachio nuts have been my snack of choice for the past several years. However, the unhealthy aspect is primarily my attitude.
Looks like I'm in good company!
140.8 this morning!!!! I was down to 138.4 on Friday, and now I'm over two pounds up from that! I know some of it is water retention, but a lot of it is from just eating too damn much this weekend! I was hoping that the walking (and walking and walking and walking) would negate some of the birthday cake and cheesecake on a stick and kebabs and fried cheese and such, but no luck. So I'm back, well, not quite to square one but at least back to where I was at the end of the summer when I hadn't exercised or watched my diet at all for nearly two months!
149.5
Ouch! A three-pound jump from my weight before the weekend. When I travel I retain -- well, everything -- so I expect to see that number fall a bit over the next few days, but there's no question that I ate badly over the weekend. On Saturday I missed lunch, and on Sunday I ate junk and drank alcohol all day, and on Monday I missed breakfast again. So it wasn't a good weekend. But the scale was also giving me a bit of a fluke; when I weighed again before my shower, it was 147.5, and after my shower it was 149.0, so probably 148.5 or 149.0 is more like it.
Yesterday was supposed to be my "good" day. I missed breakfast, as I said, because we were in such a rush to get home. I ate a banana on the road, and a serving of goldfish crackers, so that was something. For lunch I had a ham sandwich (one slice of bread and a serving of lean ham) on the run. When I finally got home for more than two minutes, I had almonds for a snack, and then for dinner I had two slices of pizza (the frozen variety, not two REAL slices). I had water to drink all day. I ate about six pieces of candy corn and one piece of chocolate (45 calories) for dessert. I think that was it all day. So it wasn't a nutritionally balanced day, but it was at least relatively low-cal and not overdone in terms of the junk food. I also got in my regular exercise at the gym.
Yesterday was supposed to be my "good" day. I missed breakfast, as I said, because we were in such a rush to get home. I ate a banana on the road, and a serving of goldfish crackers, so that was something. For lunch I had a ham sandwich (one slice of bread and a serving of lean ham) on the run. When I finally got home for more than two minutes, I had almonds for a snack, and then for dinner I had two slices of pizza (the frozen variety, not two REAL slices). I had water to drink all day. I ate about six pieces of candy corn and one piece of chocolate (45 calories) for dessert. I think that was it all day. So it wasn't a nutritionally balanced day, but it was at least relatively low-cal and not overdone in terms of the junk food. I also got in my regular exercise at the gym.
Yesterday
Monday was actually an ok day. Food wasn't all super low fat, uber-diet food, but it was all in moderation. Breakfast was half of a bagel with cream cheese, snacks were a banana, a pear, and a special k bar, lunch was a pop tart, and dinner was a few baked wings I took the skin off of to eat, and a Let's Dish steak and mushroom sandwich on half the bread it should have been on. For dessert, Peter & I shared a caramel apple with peanuts. Here's the big thing: we went for a 2 1/2 mile walk after work as well.
Today there will be no time for going for a walk; I'll have about an hour between work and school, and then I'll get home from that around 10 pm and be exhausted.
Having said all that, when I weighed myself today I was 2 lbs less than the heaviest I have ever been in my life: 170 lbs.
Today there will be no time for going for a walk; I'll have about an hour between work and school, and then I'll get home from that around 10 pm and be exhausted.
Having said all that, when I weighed myself today I was 2 lbs less than the heaviest I have ever been in my life: 170 lbs.
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