Last night was especially challenging. Wednesday nights are "man nights" for the husband and in the past, these nights alone have been binge nights for me. Add onto that that our son just started a new daycare and is having a hard time transitioning which just tears me apart. I find myself desperately wanting to turn to the pantry whenever I think about it. I went to the pantry oh um about 100 times last night just to stare at all the food. I thought about sugary cereal. I contemplated the ginger cookies. Popcorn with real butter? How about making some mac and cheese? In the end, I chose dried pineapple because it's sweet and chewy and I went to bed. I guess this is how you lose weight.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
six pounds!!!
Holy crap. Could I have really lost 6 lbs last week just from walking, drinking more water, and thinking about what I eat? Apparently so. I've got to assume a lotof it is water weight but damn, I'll take it. 6 down, 40 more to go! (ouch)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
My Meals
Day 1:
Breakfast. Two eggs, cottage cheese and apple sauce.
Lunch: One tuna sandwich, sliced apple with peanut butter.
Dinner: Sauteed chicken, brown rice, salad (spinach, romaine, cukes, tomatoes, cheese).
Day 2:
Breakfast. Skipped
Lunch: One tuna sandwich, baby carrots with Ranch, sliced apple with peanut butter.
Dinner: Sauteed fish, mashed potatoes, cukes with Ranch.
I know it's all relative so I'll just tell you, this is pretty awesome for me. Note the conspicuous absence of soda, baked goods, or candy. I just realized I feel kind of lost. I'm so used to eating junk, and it's such a big part of my life. It's losing your left pointer finger, or not being able to see the color blue, or something. Whoa! Where the fuck is it? You can't help but notice it, more or less all the time.
Also, today we went to the store, which is The Place Where You Buy Temptation to me, and we had to walk through the bakery, and there were a jillion fresh donuts, then ice cream at end caps, bulk candy and sodas by the check-out, etc etc. Going to the store is one of the hardest things for me. But I did it! No junk food! Not. Even. Considered. Boo-yah! As my circa 1993 brother would say.
Breakfast. Two eggs, cottage cheese and apple sauce.
Lunch: One tuna sandwich, sliced apple with peanut butter.
Dinner: Sauteed chicken, brown rice, salad (spinach, romaine, cukes, tomatoes, cheese).
Day 2:
Breakfast. Skipped
Lunch: One tuna sandwich, baby carrots with Ranch, sliced apple with peanut butter.
Dinner: Sauteed fish, mashed potatoes, cukes with Ranch.
I know it's all relative so I'll just tell you, this is pretty awesome for me. Note the conspicuous absence of soda, baked goods, or candy. I just realized I feel kind of lost. I'm so used to eating junk, and it's such a big part of my life. It's losing your left pointer finger, or not being able to see the color blue, or something. Whoa! Where the fuck is it? You can't help but notice it, more or less all the time.
Also, today we went to the store, which is The Place Where You Buy Temptation to me, and we had to walk through the bakery, and there were a jillion fresh donuts, then ice cream at end caps, bulk candy and sodas by the check-out, etc etc. Going to the store is one of the hardest things for me. But I did it! No junk food! Not. Even. Considered. Boo-yah! As my circa 1993 brother would say.
Fiber Is Your Friend
My plan for the next 30 days is to keep following (with some tweaks) the Fiber Up, Slim Down plan from a cookbook of same name that I found at the library. Getting me and my husband sated at a meal seems to be key for us, and so adding more fiber helps that since the assumption is that we'll eat less of the good stuff (i.e., meat, sweets, etc.). I cannot do deprivation, so I'm hoping this will help me keep shedding weight.
I lost about 30 pounds pretty easily over the last year because I quit my desk job and started staying at home with our 4-year-old (switched places with husband, who had been doing it since her birth -- he finished school and got a job). The desk job is a killer -- why are there always donuts and tacos and celebration lunches ... not to mention I was the food editor, so we had monthly recipe testing. Ugh. Then I started actually exercising (sporadically), watching my portion sizes and what I was cooking, plus did a 10-week "biggest loser"-style competition with friends, and lost another 10 pounds. I know that's a big accomplishment, but I also have a looooong way to go. I could lose 60 more pounds before even showing up in the "healthy" weight category for my height, and more than that for "ideal," which we should all pause to scoff at now.
I mentioned that I don't do deprivation. I started dieting (with my mom) when I was about 10, and kept it up (gaining, losing, gaining. losing) until I was 27. I was just so sick of it, having done everything from Atkins (the first time around, in the '80s) to Optifast (yeah, thanks Oprah). I knew there had to be some other answer. I found a great book called Overcoming Overeating. It helped me put things in perspective, and I decided to just be me for awhile, and see where I ended up with my weight and with my life. I ended up getting a divorce, moving to Austin, getting a master's degree, and finding a therapist to work out body issues with. The result was that I was a much, much happier person, even though I was still overweight. I has stopped bingeing and dieting, stopped seeing myself as this flawed thing that needed fixing, and started to know myself better.
Fast forward to now (age 38). I feel like I can (finally) lose weight without freaking out about it. I can step on the scale and not let a "bad" number bring me down for the day, or a "good" number make me elated. Don't get me wrong, I feel good when it's going in the healthier direction, but I'm no longer tying that to my worth as a person. ... Alright, this is getting really long. Anyway, I'm here. Let's do this thing. I'll post some good recipes from the fiber book next time.
I lost about 30 pounds pretty easily over the last year because I quit my desk job and started staying at home with our 4-year-old (switched places with husband, who had been doing it since her birth -- he finished school and got a job). The desk job is a killer -- why are there always donuts and tacos and celebration lunches ... not to mention I was the food editor, so we had monthly recipe testing. Ugh. Then I started actually exercising (sporadically), watching my portion sizes and what I was cooking, plus did a 10-week "biggest loser"-style competition with friends, and lost another 10 pounds. I know that's a big accomplishment, but I also have a looooong way to go. I could lose 60 more pounds before even showing up in the "healthy" weight category for my height, and more than that for "ideal," which we should all pause to scoff at now.
I mentioned that I don't do deprivation. I started dieting (with my mom) when I was about 10, and kept it up (gaining, losing, gaining. losing) until I was 27. I was just so sick of it, having done everything from Atkins (the first time around, in the '80s) to Optifast (yeah, thanks Oprah). I knew there had to be some other answer. I found a great book called Overcoming Overeating. It helped me put things in perspective, and I decided to just be me for awhile, and see where I ended up with my weight and with my life. I ended up getting a divorce, moving to Austin, getting a master's degree, and finding a therapist to work out body issues with. The result was that I was a much, much happier person, even though I was still overweight. I has stopped bingeing and dieting, stopped seeing myself as this flawed thing that needed fixing, and started to know myself better.
Fast forward to now (age 38). I feel like I can (finally) lose weight without freaking out about it. I can step on the scale and not let a "bad" number bring me down for the day, or a "good" number make me elated. Don't get me wrong, I feel good when it's going in the healthier direction, but I'm no longer tying that to my worth as a person. ... Alright, this is getting really long. Anyway, I'm here. Let's do this thing. I'll post some good recipes from the fiber book next time.
New House!
Okay I'm really psyched...a BRAND NEW house!
Met with the builder today and gave very specific instructions
Definitely DO NOT want a giant garage door as part of the front of the house...who thought this was a good idea anyway? where's the curb appeal in that
I don't want all the bedrooms down the same hallway
I don't want my back windows to be left untrimmed...who cares if they can't be seen from the road, I can seem em when I'm in the back yard!
I don't want to look into my neighbors house from my kitchen window...or any other window for that matter
I don't want an electric range
I don't want white fixtures in the bathrooms
I don't want light fixtures with two sets of switches coz screw the convenience, it bugs the hell outta me when the light switch is "on" but the light is off! (its OCD creeping up on me)
I don't want sliding glass doors and I don't want the master closet enclosed with the master bathroom.
I think it was a great meeting...we're expecting the plans by the end of next week and I just know they'll be EXACTLY what I want!
Just sayin...
Met with the builder today and gave very specific instructions
Definitely DO NOT want a giant garage door as part of the front of the house...who thought this was a good idea anyway? where's the curb appeal in that
I don't want all the bedrooms down the same hallway
I don't want my back windows to be left untrimmed...who cares if they can't be seen from the road, I can seem em when I'm in the back yard!
I don't want to look into my neighbors house from my kitchen window...or any other window for that matter
I don't want an electric range
I don't want white fixtures in the bathrooms
I don't want light fixtures with two sets of switches coz screw the convenience, it bugs the hell outta me when the light switch is "on" but the light is off! (its OCD creeping up on me)
I don't want sliding glass doors and I don't want the master closet enclosed with the master bathroom.
I think it was a great meeting...we're expecting the plans by the end of next week and I just know they'll be EXACTLY what I want!
Just sayin...
expanding the horizons of "healthy"
just food for thought (and no, karen, sorry, it doesn't taste like a donut):
one month of healthy living doesn't have to be solely focused on physical health. treat yourself to a little bit of emotional lovin' or cerebral lovin' too, if you need it. actually, you probably DO need it since body and mind are so intertwined. so on days when you're prone to bash yourself for "failing" to meet a physical goal you set for yourself, look to other parts of your day where you lathered on the lovin'...or where you would have liked a little self-induced TLC.
play along: if you were forbidden from making any healthy PHYSICAL changes over the next 30 days, what would you focus on?
focusing on the ADDITION of healthly habits and behaviors and attitudes because who we kiddin'? tempetation ain't goin' anywhere.
angel
ps: 94 effing degrees IN THE SHADE at 5:30 pm according to my patio thermometer??? sweetbabyjesus. and on my walking day. you'll find me at the gym instead of the pond tonight, ladies. how soon 'til october?
one month of healthy living doesn't have to be solely focused on physical health. treat yourself to a little bit of emotional lovin' or cerebral lovin' too, if you need it. actually, you probably DO need it since body and mind are so intertwined. so on days when you're prone to bash yourself for "failing" to meet a physical goal you set for yourself, look to other parts of your day where you lathered on the lovin'...or where you would have liked a little self-induced TLC.
play along: if you were forbidden from making any healthy PHYSICAL changes over the next 30 days, what would you focus on?
focusing on the ADDITION of healthly habits and behaviors and attitudes because who we kiddin'? tempetation ain't goin' anywhere.
angel
ps: 94 effing degrees IN THE SHADE at 5:30 pm according to my patio thermometer??? sweetbabyjesus. and on my walking day. you'll find me at the gym instead of the pond tonight, ladies. how soon 'til october?
Well, well
So I said I was going to do this and ... well, then I forgot about it. This seems to be my MO for just about any new 'program'. I have been being better about cutting my portion sizes, eating more slowly and only eating until I'm full. Somehow, though, it doesn't seem to do much when all you're eating is sweets. I can eat those until I'm full and *still* gain weight. Imagine that?!
With that, my goals
* Get my 5 a day - a mix of fruits and veggies, and yes, I'm counting the can of V8 as one because otherwise it's damn near impossible for me.
* Eat in more often - the kids and I eat lunch out almost every day. Which means that we throw away a lot of the leftovers that we could be eating for that meal, and that we spend money that we really shouldn't be spending. I know we can't give up the Thursday trip to Chick Fil A without my kids rioting, but if we can keep it to just that one - Win!
* Maintain my slow, conscious eating - as a mama this is *HARD*. I eat on the run. I eat quickly so I don't have to share. I clean up after my kids without even realizing it.
I'm sure there's more, but those are the ones that come to me quickly. I'll be back...
With that, my goals
* Get my 5 a day - a mix of fruits and veggies, and yes, I'm counting the can of V8 as one because otherwise it's damn near impossible for me.
* Eat in more often - the kids and I eat lunch out almost every day. Which means that we throw away a lot of the leftovers that we could be eating for that meal, and that we spend money that we really shouldn't be spending. I know we can't give up the Thursday trip to Chick Fil A without my kids rioting, but if we can keep it to just that one - Win!
* Maintain my slow, conscious eating - as a mama this is *HARD*. I eat on the run. I eat quickly so I don't have to share. I clean up after my kids without even realizing it.
I'm sure there's more, but those are the ones that come to me quickly. I'll be back...
wardrobe mistake #138
talking to myself this morning: "wow, i guess my stomach is slimming down because these underwear are pretty loose in the front now." (insert pat on back for drinking obviously effective chinese herb slimming tea)
talking to myself an hour later, while using the restroom at work: "dumbass, you put your underwear on backward today."
guess this wouldn't happen if i wore a thong, eh? so much for progress on day three.
angel
talking to myself an hour later, while using the restroom at work: "dumbass, you put your underwear on backward today."
guess this wouldn't happen if i wore a thong, eh? so much for progress on day three.
angel
I'm sticking around
So my quest to a healthier life started last week, and the week before that, and then a couple months ago, oh and last year's start was really awesome, and when I got married, and before that trip to NYC, and, and, and, and....
I'm really good at starts. It's the maintaining part that's a bitch.
I've been walking two miles every day, drinking more water, and keeping track of what I put in my mouth. I'm doing pretty good so far- but that's not the problem, it's when I don't do so good that I'm worried about.
So my goal this month (and this blog better well last more than 30 days) is to stick with it regardless if I have a binge of Cocoa Puffs one night or not. Previously, one binge would lead to another, and then I'd say "oh why even bother? I'm doomed! Where's the chocolate?"
I'm really good at starts. It's the maintaining part that's a bitch.
I've been walking two miles every day, drinking more water, and keeping track of what I put in my mouth. I'm doing pretty good so far- but that's not the problem, it's when I don't do so good that I'm worried about.
So my goal this month (and this blog better well last more than 30 days) is to stick with it regardless if I have a binge of Cocoa Puffs one night or not. Previously, one binge would lead to another, and then I'd say "oh why even bother? I'm doomed! Where's the chocolate?"
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Day 1: What Has the First Day of No Junk Food Been Like For Me?
Headaches, energy zaps, mood swings, irritability, mental fuzziness.
So, no changes there.
So, no changes there.
Making it official
Wow I've moved to the front of the page :)
*going more raw. I'll juice every morning and add at least one other raw meal or snack each day
*I'll try out one new raw food recipe each week
*I'll work in the garden(s) every day, usually after work when the sun is still out but it's not too hot
*I'll relocate and renovate the compost bin
*I'll do something each of my KIDS wants to do one day each week instead of something I want to do with my kids
*One week this month, every night of the week
So here are my goals for the "30 days" plus one that didn't appear in the original comments complete with hyperlinks where appropriate
*going more raw. I'll juice every morning and add at least one other raw meal or snack each day
*I'll try out one new raw food recipe each week
*I'll work in the garden(s) every day, usually after work when the sun is still out but it's not too hot
*I'll relocate and renovate the compost bin
*I'll do something each of my KIDS wants to do one day each week instead of something I want to do with my kids
*One week this month, every night of the week
*The only scale-like object I will put my feet on is my Wii fitness board
And as for e's mama's comment on my comment:
"Does hubby know about the plan for a week of crazy monkey sex? I could aim for 7 days this month but probably not in a row."
I don't THINK I said anything about "crazy monkey sex," just sex...some can be crazy, some can be monkey, some can just be...and I haven't decided whether I'll let him in on it beforehand :)
I was going to put an official "start date to the 30" and have it be this Friday...but then I figured, Why Wait!
ever wondered what 7200 calories looks like?
3 boxes of donuts, each box holding a dozen donuts, assumed calories are 200 per donut. voila = 7200 calories. i should thank my boss because this image has seered itself into my brain and i don't think i'll crave another donut ever again. i didn't even eat one this morning, which is a daytime television SHOCKA so either the sight of so many donuts in one place grossed me out or it's because i'm sick and have no appetite (the pieces of paper were there for people to record which brand was their favorite).
in other news, i walked last night. went to the local pond where, years ago, i worked my way up to a jog, figuring maybe i left some good mojo there to get me up to a jog again in the next few weeks. the first song on my ipod was mystikal's shake ya ass, which was fine because my ass shakes quite well without much effort. note to self: add more crystal method to my ipod. makes me feel bad ass. and find a good remedy for shin splints.
question du jour: how will you monitor your progress over the next 30 days? what milestones will you notice? i'm not weighing myself. i did that back in the WW days when i ate carrots for a living and lost 20 pounds in 4 months. i think i'm forcing myself to go with a more intuitive measure of accomplishment this time.
angel
Monday, June 8, 2009
ZOMG!
Tomorrow! Demain! Manana! How do you do accents on here! Huomenna! Imorgon! Jutro! Domani! Thank you Google translate!
TOMORROW!!!
Here's a little sumsum to put us in the mood.
TOMORROW!!!
Here's a little sumsum to put us in the mood.
well, well, well, what do we have here?
no, i'm not about to litter. i just happened to be at a red light. that's my apple a day, another goal of mine for these thirty days*.
*this apple a day is contingent upon pollen counts since birch tends to trigger an oral allergy for me when eating apples, i know--like you care. btw, when is the damned mold count going to drop??? sweet bejesus, it's killing me and i'll probably have to wear a michael jackson face mask when i go walking tonight but what the hell, it's austin so it will be fashionable. (oh yeah, and i'm assuming we can cuss on this blog since we're all big girls and karen already popped the profanity cherry when she said "suck it, bitches").
angel
It's Not You, It's Me. Well, Okay, It's You.
Dear Krispy Kreme Chocolate Iced, Maple Iced, and Sugar Coated Donuts,
I can't see you anymore. The truth is, you're no good for me. If you were a person, you'd be the sexy biker with the heart of stone, the prison record, and the drug habit. And I just can't live like that anymore.
I would wish you well, but frankly I wouldn't be sad if all your locations burned to the ground. Also, I think it's very unfair of the three of you to be so entangled in my mind that whenever I loose myself to your siren call, I do so in triplicate.
Meet me on the couch in five minutes for one last fling.
Karen
PS Suck it, bitches.
PPS No, I didn't mean it! Take me back, my darlings!
PPPS NO! NO! YOU FIENDS!
I can't see you anymore. The truth is, you're no good for me. If you were a person, you'd be the sexy biker with the heart of stone, the prison record, and the drug habit. And I just can't live like that anymore.
I would wish you well, but frankly I wouldn't be sad if all your locations burned to the ground. Also, I think it's very unfair of the three of you to be so entangled in my mind that whenever I loose myself to your siren call, I do so in triplicate.
Meet me on the couch in five minutes for one last fling.
Karen
PS Suck it, bitches.
PPS No, I didn't mean it! Take me back, my darlings!
PPPS NO! NO! YOU FIENDS!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
T Minus One Soda
Only one of my many, many health flaws: once the junk is in the house, I cannot not consume it. Now is not the time to explore how eloquently this illustrates my dysfunction with food, since I am too busy shoveling fast food french fries into my mouth hand over fist.
The important thing to know is this: sodas in the house = no success, and what I'm doing here is called Not Setting Myself Up For Failure as opposed to Making Excuses.
For waiting to start this challenge until the last soda has been dispatched with, you may either congratulate me or hit me over the head. I welcome both responses equally.
In any case, there is but one Coke left in the fridge now, which means that TUESDAY IS D-DAY. Monday I will spend the day lovingly sipping the Coke and choreographing an appropriate war dance to start my thirty days.
The important thing to know is this: sodas in the house = no success, and what I'm doing here is called Not Setting Myself Up For Failure as opposed to Making Excuses.
For waiting to start this challenge until the last soda has been dispatched with, you may either congratulate me or hit me over the head. I welcome both responses equally.
In any case, there is but one Coke left in the fridge now, which means that TUESDAY IS D-DAY. Monday I will spend the day lovingly sipping the Coke and choreographing an appropriate war dance to start my thirty days.
inspiration station
okay, here's what's driving me to get through this month of healthy living.
i'm not one to keep "skinny clothes" around as inspiration because they've never succeeded in the past. but something about this goodwill goodie caught my attention. maybe because it's what i *felt* when i saw it. i could feel the kind of person i would be when wearing this skirt. so it's hanging in full view in my closet. and i'm printing copies of this photo for my car (where i often binge on fast food), for my work badge (where i often binge in the break room), for my wallet (where i often reach for my debit card to buy fast food as a comfort), and another one just for good measure.
karen: damn girl, that's a lot on your plate! can you prioritize the lists so we can help you stay on track?
angel
Fairy Dust, Butterfly Snot, and Feathers From an Angel's Wing
Do you have any I could borrow? Because those may be the things needed to help me stick to my goals, which will include but may not be limited to:
No! BAD Karen!
Yes! Do this!
No, you don't have to be insane to be me, but it helps.
No! BAD Karen!
- donuts
- cookies
- any other baked good sugary deliciousness
- store-bought soda (From restaurants is OK. As we all know, the shiny glasses eating establishments serve their refreshments in renders them calorieless.)
- candy. Period.
- sitting on my ass all day
- croissants
Yes! Do this!
- drink water
- be more active
- eat vegetables every day
- eat fruits every day
- get enough protein
- get enough sleep
No, you don't have to be insane to be me, but it helps.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
How Thirty Days of Health Might Be Like Thirty Days of Night
Consider the following:
- They have monstrous creatures with lightning speed and incredible strength that appear from nowhere and drag victims off into the darkness; I have monstrous cravings with lightning speed and incredible strength that appear from nowhere and drag me off into the darkness.
- They have super hottie Josh Hartnett to help them battle the Villainous Demons that would tear them limb from limb; I have super hottie Husband to help me battle the Villainous Donuts that would tear my resolve limb from limb.
- That cold ain't the weather. That's death approachin'; That cold ain't the weather. That's ice cream sandwiches approachin'.
- Survivors must creep in silence from one shadow to another, ever mindful of the bloodthirsty ambushers that could be waiting around any corner and oh my god don't move don't even breath please don't see me please don't see me jesus please don't see me and see? Thirty Days of Health and Thirty Days of Night may as well be one and the same!
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