Fad Diets.

You know, I've been wondering if maybe I SHOULD do a fad diet to jump start the weight loss.  It's just going sooooo slowly (and I've actually gained a bit back due to my lack of good choices over the weekend).  I just wonder if maybe I do one of those "fads" for a week or so, if that really would jump start me, or if it would just work until I went off of it and then I'd gain it all back.

I suppose if I want to do something to get fast results, I could always just restrict the calories for a short time.  But with the exercising I do, I get all shaky when I don't eat enough. 

One of the new apps I downloaded is called the Rapid Weight Loss Diet.  It seems very restrictive - no fruits, no veggies ... how can this be a good thing?  It seems to kind of go along the lines of the Atkins diet - lots of protein, no carbs.  Not so sure about this one.  However, there are some really good things in this app as well - the exercise ideas are quite interesting.  It talks about planking which I have already been doing at my daughter's suggestion.  I can tell you, from the pain in my stomach muscles, it does something!

I think if I had to pinpoint the theme of my diet, it would be calories, calories, calories.  Rather than going on some weird diet where all you eat is grapefruit or something, it seems to me that calories are the key to weight loss.  I even heard about a guy who ate nothing but twinkies and lost weight because he kept the calorie intake low.  The point of his experiment was to prove that it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you count those calories.

So, I've added in a lot more vegetables since they are lower in calories and I can eat more of them and feel full.  Plus, I like a lot of different veggies.  I really like green beans and broccoli (though the gas factor of broccoli leaves a bit to be desired). 

And it seems to be working.  But veeerrrryyyy slowly.  I want to lose it faster!!

Then again, when people lose weight too quickly, there is all that extra saggy skin to deal with.  So maybe doing it as I am is the way to go.

It's just so frustrating.  I want results! 

How quickly I've already forgotten that I lost 6" in one month.  I guess I just want the numbers on the scale to follow suit.

So, maybe I should do some kind of fad diet for a few days or a week and get some quick results and then go back to the calorie counting.  I guess I'll think about it for a bit.  If I find something that strikes me, maybe I'll try it.  If I do, I'll report back!

Date Night Success!

I am pleased to report that I did a LOT better last night than I did last Friday night!  I did a little research, and though I didn't make the best choices I could, I still made BETTER choices than I did before. 

I chose the fried shrimp which were about 27 calories each.  I ate ten of them, so that was 270 calories.  I only ate about 10-12 of the fries that came on the plate (I was very worried that I wasn't going to be able to control myself there - I DO love fries!).  I ate a few bites of the fried fish.  However, I did eat the tartar sauce.  That was something I forgot about during my research phase so I don't know how many calories that did me in for.  But we did not get the guacamole dip, which saved us a lot of unneeded calories.  I did still eat some chips and salsa.  The salsa isn't bad, but the chips are so, I tried to limit the number.  I didn't eat too many.  I broke them up so it felt like I was eating a lot more.  All in all, I'd say it was a success!

And, I'll go ahead and ride the bike today even though I usually take the weekends off to let my body recuperate from the week.  I think I'll feel better if I go ahead and ride today.

So, I'm pleased to report that date nights CAN be manageable.  I mean, I could have had the grilled chicken thing, but it sounded so unappetizing.  I refuse to feel deprived when I'm out on a date with my hubby.

I'm in a much better place today than I have been in a while.  The mental health aspect of a date night is so important.  I feel stronger today.  More focused.  Driven.  Optimistic. 

I'm making soft boiled eggs for breakfast and I've taken my vitamins, so things are going well today.

I am going to try some more "light" meals this coming week.  I am very excited about that given the success of that tomato soup!  I will post successful, tasty recipes on my recipe page!  I will also probably make another batch of the bean and ham soup.  It's so comforting and at only 118.5 calories a cup, it's hard to pass that up.  I just don't want to make so much of it that I get sick of it. 

Soups can be a great diet food.  Especially in the winter when it's cold outside.  A thick, hearty soup can really feel decadent when in reality, it's not high in calories.  My downfall with soups is that I always want to eat a big, thick piece of bread slathered with butter on it with the soup ... not so good for you! 

I also downloaded some more apps for my ipad that are supposed to be weight loss helpers.  I will try them out and report back to you!

Did I tell you that I made my first goal of this diet/journey?  I had set a non-weight related goal as advised in the 52 Weight Loss Missions app (since constantly harping on the numbers on the scale is often a very bad thing).  I wanted to lose 2" off my waist.  And I did!  In one month, I've shed 2"!!  Very exciting.  I know I reported my inches lost, but I don't think I said how within those inches I actually met my first goal!  Now, I've set another one.  I want to lose 2 MORE inches off my waist!

There is one downside.  I'm starting to have my clothes fit looser and look saggy on me.  But I haven't lost enough to actually go down a size yet.  So I'm in that frumpy looking stage.  Kind of distressing, actually.  BUT, I have to remember, that I'm progressing, and soon I WILL be able to go down a size and go shopping for some clothes!

I will keep you guys posted!  

Sabotage.

There are so many things that are just waiting to jump out and sabotage us on our journeys to healthier selves.  I'm amazed, really, at the number of them.  They seem to lurk around every corner, in every closet, and sometimes blatantly smack you upside the head when you are looking straight at them!

This week I have battled several attempts at sabotage.  I've had my beast rearing it's head at me, tempting me with thoughts of decadent food, trying to eat away my willpower. 

I've also faced that lovely demon that seems to come up so often in the journey for
health - time.  It has been an incredibly busy week.  Deadlines looming, too many things to do and not enough time to do them. 

Time really is one of the biggest saboteurs there is.  First, we have to deal with the time issue to even begin our journeys.  We have to make the time to fit exercise into our lives.  We have to make the time to do grocery lists and menus to accompany our new lifestyle.  Which, of course, means taking time from somewhere else.  Second, time has a way of shrinking when we least expect it.  This week, my time for work expanded beyond my expectations, which made the time I had for other things shrink accordingly.  Sometimes it almost seems that time is the evil villain in a story out to make my life miserable just for the fun of it.  Who knew that time was sentient?

So this week, I've ended up not having the time to work out on the bowflex but one day.  I managed it Monday, but had work issues on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  I WILL do it today. 

The time saboteur also created other problems.  Not only did I not have time to work out like I wanted to (other than riding the bike - I did that every morning, but that's only because I fit it in before my day starts), but I also didn't have the time to do a proper menu for the week or corresponding grocery list.  That made for some bad options when it came to food.  Because I was too tired and working such long hours, I ended up making unhealthy food choices, simply because they were easy, fast, and, I have to admit, yummy.  (I think part of that sabotage was my beast again - or maybe just emotions - and time is not ALL to blame for that). 

And, tonight, another saboteur - Date Night.  Which I have already discussed before.  I can plan to make better choices tonight than I did last Friday.  But there will still be plenty of calories.  And alcohol - which makes making good choices that much harder!  But, as I said before, there are the obvious benefits to date night which overcome the caloric issues.

The bottom line is to be on the lookout for sabotage.  It can be faced. It can be met.  It can be defeated.  And if not, then pick yourself back up again and start again tomorrow.

Measurement Day.

Well, one month ago, I did my first measurements.  So, today, I did another set.  I was sure that I haven't lost any inches and when I did the pictures to compare to a month ago, I don't see much change there either, so I was expecting to be disappointed with the inches.

However ... ::drum roll, please::  I have lost 6"!  Of course, that's from all over, but still, I'm quite excited about it!  I've lost 2" off my waist!  So I am pleased!

Yesterday wasn't as bad as the day before and today feels pretty good.  I rode the bike for over an hour and it wasn't a horrible struggle to make myself do it.  I actually was looking forward to it.  So I guess the trouble I was having was just a phase and I've gotten through it.  This time.  I'm sure I'll be back here for help and inspiration the next time.

I think it is very important to constantly remind ourselves why we are on our journeys.  I mean our deep-down reasons.  Not the "I want to wear that pretty dress" reason, but the "I don't want to die from health related illnesses" reasons.  And really, the pictures help too.  The kids think it's funny that I've posted them everywhere, but you know, if it works, keep on doing it!  I like the idea of cycling through them so that I don't get bored with them.

I have to keep motivating myself.  This blog certainly helps.




I think this last week has reminded me that this is not an easy journey.  There are going to be days where I can barely make myself move, much less do the weight lifing.  And then there are going to be days when I feel really good, like today!

You can always bribe yourself to get through the bad days.  I was thinking that I need to get some weight lifting gloves (I had forgotten how badly your hands hurt when you lift weights!) and I think that might be an excuse on a bad day to pamper myself and buy some!  And maybe some cute exercise clothes too!  Okay, so that's probably a woman thing, but guys can bribe (or reward?) themselves too - we just have to remember not to reward ourselves with FOOD. 

At any rate, today is a great day. I am doing it another day ... one day at a time!

I've hit a rough spot.

I don't know why I'm having so much trouble right now.  I want to eat and I want to eat a LOT.  I don't know what's wrong with me.  I want bad-for-me stuff.  Like red velvet cake.  And Long John Silver's fish and chicken.  I'm having a very hard time! 

I know that it's been bad at work for the past week or so - I've worked non-stop, so I'm sure stress is part of it.  Maybe this is a comfort thing.  I'm so stressed out and tired from work that I want food because it makes me feel good.

On the good end of things, my muscles are all achy from my workout yesterday, so I know I'm doing something on my exercise end of things.  The bike riding is pretty much second nature now, so that's also a good thing.  It's just so hard to do those things.  I just don't want to.  A few weeks ago I was all excited about the bike riding and the weight lifting, but the past few days have just been really hard.  I don't feel like working out or exercising.  I'm just so tired!

Of course, I haven't slept well, as usual.  My littlest one is sick, so that makes it hard.  The one night the dogs slept through the night, I ended up with my little on in our room at 3 a.m.  I don't think I ever did get back to sleep after that.  I was working by 7 a.m., after having worked until after 8 pm last night, I'm just so tired.

I hope this is a phase.  I hope that I work through this and go back on an upswing.  I'm thinking that maybe as the weather gets warmer, I'll get a "spring fever" type burst of energy and enthusiasm. 

Meanwhile, I'll keep trying to keep on going.  I've gained back a few pounds with the date night extravaganza and then I ate out on the following night and then ate out lunch yesterday.  It's not a big weight gain - about a pound - so I'm hoping if I can make better choices I'll start losing again.  I'm just having a heck of a time making the right choices right now.

So, I think what I'll do is refocus on what started me on this journey and see if I can re-motivate myself.  Maybe if I cut out a new batch of inspiring pictures to put up around the house that will help. 

I haven't had a chance to make the grocery list for this week yet (which leads again to bad choices) but I've been so busy I just haven't had time.  I will try and do that and maybe I can start making better choices and get myself back on track again.

I'm supposed to measure myself on the 8th and I'm a little afraid to ... I'm just not seeing big results.

As one of my kids said, "I want to lose weight a lot faster than you are."  She's put on some weight due to a knee injury and is looking forward to exercising again and losing some weight.  But apparently she doesn't want to lose it as slowly as I am.  And I have to agree with her.  This is taking forever. 

But I have to remember this is for the long haul.  I don't want to do a fad crash diet, which might work for two weeks but then end up binging on a horrible scale.  I want to do this right.  By trying to eat healthier and to exercise more.  And it's not a quick fix. 

I just have to keep on telling myself that I can do this.  I hope it gets better soon!

Date night.

Well, originally, I had thought I would come up with a plan to deal with date night.  I didn't.  I just sat down this morning (after a wonderful date night) to add up what the calories of what I ate were.  Whew.  Mexican food is really outrageous!  I SHOULD have done this before I went out, but it was a really busy, long week and all I really wanted to do was go out and enjoy some time with my hubby.  Which I did.

However, now that I have looked up all the things I ate last night (I believe I overate the amount of calories I was allowed by about 2000 or so ...) I realize, it really is important to know what you are going into before you get there.  If I knew last night what I know this morning, I would have chosen a lot differently as to what I ate.

For instance, it is the chips that killed me last night.  I love the guacamole dip and chips.  But if I had known that 50 chips are 730 calories, 35 grams of fat and 630 sodium, I think I would have chosen NOT to eat those.  When you add in a cup of the guacamole (we got the large, and I ate most of it - I'd say at least a cup worth) which is 364 calories, 33.3 grams of fat and 344 sodium, then you are talking some major calories/fat just in the appetizer! 

We also ordered chicken wings, which turns out was a really good option.  Six wings is 270 calories, 18 grams of fat (though still a whopping 1308 mg of sodium) plus offers up 18 g of protein.  I also love mushroom quesadillas - 492.2 calories, 27.1 grams of fat, 610.9 sodium and 20.3 g of protein.

Then, of course, add in my cosmopolitan drinks and I just really went over the top.

So, knowing all this now, I will forgo the dip next time.  The wings are fantastic and a fairly smart choice.  Or maybe I'll do just the mushroom quesadilla. 

I'm not giving up my cosmopolitans though!   
                                                                         

So, the lesson I've learned is that when I know in advance I'm going to go out somewhere, even if I don't want to deprive myself, I can do some research and come up with the best alternatives.  I may still eat over the amount I should, but I won't be blown away by unforeseen, unexpected calories. 

On the other hand, I have been fairly good in my regimen for two months, so one night of revelry isn't going to kill me.  I'm back on track today and I really enjoyed the date and that makes me mentally healthy.

On this journey I am looking to get totally healthy and that means body and mind.  So I'm not going to worry about the calories I ate last night. I have learned something from it and will be better prepared next time.  So, now, I will just continue on my journey in the direction of my healthy self.

"Lighter"  food.

Holy cow, the dinner last night was fantastic.  I really, really recommend this cookbook for anyone on a "diet" or just wanting to eat healthier.  It is Taste of Home's Comfort Food Diet Cookbook.  Truly wonderful!

I made a few changes to their recipe, but really loved it.  I'll post what I did on the recipe page.

The only problem that I had was that it was so good, I couldn't just eat one helping.  I ended up eating 2 1/2 times the "serving" amount!  But, boy was it good.  I guess I needed some comfort food, because I feel so much better today than I have for the past two days!  (It probably didn't hurt that I had some wine as well!).

I don't know what was wrong with me the past few days.  I was just a little glum.  I don't feel like I was deprived or anything, but maybe I was.  A glass of wine and some rich soup did wonders to bring me back to myself.  And even with that I still kept it under 1400 calories! 

It probably also doesn't hurt that I am going to get my haircut today.  I think a little pampering goes a long way.  I've always felt guilty for spending money on things like hair cuts or clothes when I look so awful and overweight.  I mean, who wants to spend money on hair, when you don't feel like anything will make you look better anyway?  That's just an example of how our "self hate" talk can really be a bad thing. 

So, I'm embracing my hair cut today.  It's kind of a reward for working so hard on my health since January 2nd.  It will be two months that I've kept this up tomorrow!  I'm pretty proud of that fact!

Wow.  Two months.  I'm impressed with myself!  I don't know that I've ever made it two months on a "diet" before.  Of course, I'm not on a "diet" now - I'm just on a journey go get healthier!

   I'm so happy that I've been able to keep it up.  This blog helps, for sure.  And I have friends who are supportive.  And even though my family grumbles every time I say I'm going to try a new low calorie meal, they jump in there and try it with me - and are often pleasantly surprised! 

Here is an inspiring quote:

          "The Greatest Thing In The World Is Not So Much Where We Are,
            But In What Direction We Are Moving" - Oliver Wendell Holmes

I think I'm moving pretty well at the moment.  And, so, I'll keep going in the direction I'm moving!