I lost a pound!!! That just doesn't sound as exciting as it should. Nor does my weight loss ticker look encouraging. I've decided to change my diet start date. As my faithful readers know, I started messing around with this diet a few weeks before I started this blog. By the time I started writing, I had already lost 4 pounds and had hit that point where your body stops losing.
Since than, I have lost 1 pound!!! So really, I'm up to 5. Plus I would estimate 2-2.5 inches around the big places (Shame on me, I still haven't measured!). I decided to go ahead and change my weight ticker to the full total so it told the full story.
I'm still keeping on. Nothing exciting is happening. I am not winning huge battles. I still am not eating perfectly, just a little bit better than I was. I never win all of the battles, nor all of the ones I do completely.
I think that will come though. The important thing is that it has been over a month since I started playing with this idea and I am still keeping at it! I am not going to stop this quest for a healhier me. This is a lifestyle change. I just can't stop...I can't do that to my family.
I did see an encouraging article this week which of course I didn't put up and now can't find. It was about a woman who lost 100 lbs merely by making better choices and small goals. She only focused on 5 lbs at a time and did only what she honestly could. It is possible!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Up and Down
Besides busyness, I think dieting's next biggest enemy is lack of money. We have been extremely poor this month. It's one of those months where you choose which bills to pay and which to hold off until...someday. Sigh. As a result, we have been eating as cheaply as possible. Let's be honest, there is just nothing diet friendly about raman and frozen pizza.
My biggest success comes when I have lots of veggies as fillers. For instance, I'll have a main dish even of something as unhealthy as macaroni and cheese. But before I eat my mac, I eat a large serving of my favorite vegetable. Half-way through the mac I'm full. The food last longer, is higher quality, and I'm taking in fewer calories. However, when you can't afford veggies you end up with a side of carbs followed by a main dish of even unhealthier carbs!
As a result, I have seen my weight slowly creep back up. So discouraging! Out of necessity, I kind of gave up for a few days...ok week.
The last couple of days I finally decided to at least try to stop when I was full. I haven't been perfect, but apparently I'm making some progress. I got on the scale this morning and it looks like I've lost a pound or so! I will wait till tonight to decide if that is official. I've found that I'm exceptionally light in the mornings and bigger in the evenings. I tend to take the average of both and go by that. Or when I'm feeling defeated, I honestly take the heaviest weight.
This week in general:
My biggest success comes when I have lots of veggies as fillers. For instance, I'll have a main dish even of something as unhealthy as macaroni and cheese. But before I eat my mac, I eat a large serving of my favorite vegetable. Half-way through the mac I'm full. The food last longer, is higher quality, and I'm taking in fewer calories. However, when you can't afford veggies you end up with a side of carbs followed by a main dish of even unhealthier carbs!
As a result, I have seen my weight slowly creep back up. So discouraging! Out of necessity, I kind of gave up for a few days...ok week.
The last couple of days I finally decided to at least try to stop when I was full. I haven't been perfect, but apparently I'm making some progress. I got on the scale this morning and it looks like I've lost a pound or so! I will wait till tonight to decide if that is official. I've found that I'm exceptionally light in the mornings and bigger in the evenings. I tend to take the average of both and go by that. Or when I'm feeling defeated, I honestly take the heaviest weight.
This week in general:
4
Today after seeing my weight:
6
Monday, July 18, 2011
Big Fat Apathetic 4
Dieting is hard. It’s really only fun for the first day or so. I have hit the slump…big time! Busyness has kept me from writing this week. Self-pity for my busy weekend has cancelled out my conscience and accountability. I haven’t done my best this weekend. In fact, I’d give the last few days a big fat (pun intended and definitely descriptive)
I definitely lost more than I won. This is the time when I typically quit on my resolution. This is when you quietly disappear and hope no one remembers your brave words just a short time ago. This is when I come up with excuses.
However, this time is very different. For some reason, I have it settled in my heart that quitting is not an option. Not this month, this year, or any time in my life. I hope that sticks around. I hope I will keep on feeling determination even after a sad four of a weekend.
No, determination is not my problem. My problem is apathy. I have other things on my mind, other concerns and demands on my time that block out any desire to work at this. I don’t want to think about what the better choice would be. I don’t care about Scripture. I want to just forget my life while I eat, not think about my fullness level every bite. I know I need to keep taking this to the next level. I need to keep making better choices. Yet, right now I’m just doing the bare minimum to get by…and it’s hurting my progress. I have made no progress and in fact may have gained a pound this week.
I think it’s time to be done with the apathy. I honestly have no idea how to accomplish that. All I can do is pray to God for the strength and wisdom to not waste my time, but instead keep doing this WELL!
It’s Monday… Here’s to a better week!
4
I definitely lost more than I won. This is the time when I typically quit on my resolution. This is when you quietly disappear and hope no one remembers your brave words just a short time ago. This is when I come up with excuses.
However, this time is very different. For some reason, I have it settled in my heart that quitting is not an option. Not this month, this year, or any time in my life. I hope that sticks around. I hope I will keep on feeling determination even after a sad four of a weekend.
No, determination is not my problem. My problem is apathy. I have other things on my mind, other concerns and demands on my time that block out any desire to work at this. I don’t want to think about what the better choice would be. I don’t care about Scripture. I want to just forget my life while I eat, not think about my fullness level every bite. I know I need to keep taking this to the next level. I need to keep making better choices. Yet, right now I’m just doing the bare minimum to get by…and it’s hurting my progress. I have made no progress and in fact may have gained a pound this week.
I think it’s time to be done with the apathy. I honestly have no idea how to accomplish that. All I can do is pray to God for the strength and wisdom to not waste my time, but instead keep doing this WELL!
It’s Monday… Here’s to a better week!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Day Four
Today has been CRAZY! One of those days where you are scheduled to the gills. As a result, no Scripture and no exercise. Maybe I need to re-think my priorities as those are the last things I accomplish...?
I did do quite a bit of spiritual exercise though. I started out my insane day very, VERY stressed. I am working to choose not to let myself get stressed or mired down by a "bad" day. It was hard and took a lot of prayer and truth speaking to myself, but I did improve my attitude and let go of my stress as the day progressed. It ended wonderfully! I was very nervous about a new voice student (my last new student has been a disaster!). Oh yes, I teach voice lessons. She was amazing! Perfect age, perfect voice, perfect personality, perfect work-ability and she likes all the singers/songs that I like. Oh yeah! Good ending!
I did eat really well! Mostly because I didn't have time, but hey. I was able to turn down seconds of my favorite dish and only ate a tiny bit of my leftover amazing cheesecake, both without much of a thought. Hooray! This is starting to become habit! However, as I didn't intentionally win any battles today and left out the most important parts I still give this day a
I did do quite a bit of spiritual exercise though. I started out my insane day very, VERY stressed. I am working to choose not to let myself get stressed or mired down by a "bad" day. It was hard and took a lot of prayer and truth speaking to myself, but I did improve my attitude and let go of my stress as the day progressed. It ended wonderfully! I was very nervous about a new voice student (my last new student has been a disaster!). Oh yes, I teach voice lessons. She was amazing! Perfect age, perfect voice, perfect personality, perfect work-ability and she likes all the singers/songs that I like. Oh yeah! Good ending!
I did eat really well! Mostly because I didn't have time, but hey. I was able to turn down seconds of my favorite dish and only ate a tiny bit of my leftover amazing cheesecake, both without much of a thought. Hooray! This is starting to become habit! However, as I didn't intentionally win any battles today and left out the most important parts I still give this day a
6
Two Days in One!
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that right when I decide to start this big life change my world explodes! I am pretty sure I couldn't cram another meeting, activity, chore or breath into this week. I am about out of my mind with busyness. Thankfully, I'm not completely out of my mind yet (although my eye does twitch 5 beats per second). I have been doing a fairly good job at keeping my diet.
Exercise: Has not happened, but I have been cleaning and running around like a mad woman so...
Scripture: Ha. Definitely not happening. Time for myself? Not possible this week. Sigh.
Poundage: Haven't lost a single pound! However, I am keeping my pre-diet loss off so that's something. I went out to Cheesecake Factory with girlfriends to celebrate birthdays and had to dig through my closet to find something dressy. I was encouraged that several of my outfits are starting to fit again and the ones that still don't are at least getting closer. I may not have lost pounds, but my post-baby middle is shrinking! That was very encouraging.
Eating: I haven't eaten anything good this week between the Cheesecake Factory and being busy. I'm lucky to just be eating at this point. However, I have been really good with my portions! I haven't stuffed myself once and have successfully said no to bigger, second, or late night portions.
Exercise: Has not happened, but I have been cleaning and running around like a mad woman so...
Scripture: Ha. Definitely not happening. Time for myself? Not possible this week. Sigh.
Poundage: Haven't lost a single pound! However, I am keeping my pre-diet loss off so that's something. I went out to Cheesecake Factory with girlfriends to celebrate birthdays and had to dig through my closet to find something dressy. I was encouraged that several of my outfits are starting to fit again and the ones that still don't are at least getting closer. I may not have lost pounds, but my post-baby middle is shrinking! That was very encouraging.
Eating: I haven't eaten anything good this week between the Cheesecake Factory and being busy. I'm lucky to just be eating at this point. However, I have been really good with my portions! I haven't stuffed myself once and have successfully said no to bigger, second, or late night portions.
Day 2 & 3 Rating:
6
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Here We Go!
First official day! I have to admit, I feel kind of like I cheated. I have been following my diet principals for the last three weeks. I kind of fell off the wagon while my son was sick and then decided on this blog so I decided I would start over and have an new official date. July 12, 2011 starts my journey.
Here's some things I've noticed from my soft opening in the last few weeks:
1. It's hard to remember to notice when you get full while you're eating. I often sit down to a meal and the next thing I know, I've cleaned my plate and I realize that I passed that point and then some without noticing. I have been getting better at this, but it took a good week to get the hang of.
2. My desire to snack hits me especially at night. We have a tendancy to stay up rather late every night. By the time 9-10 rolls around, dinner is a thing of the distant past! If my stomach is actually rumbling I sometimes give in and have a small snack. However, 95% of the time I am just peckish. These are the times that the temptation hits me the worst. The good news is that I won that battle last night! Hooray!
3. So far I have lost 3 pounds on the pre-diet enabling me to set my goal at an even lower weight for this blog. According to the blog I've actually lost 0 becuase I'm not counting my starting weight till today.
Daily Report:
I feel like I did pretty good yesterday. I didn't pay attention at breakfast, but only went a few bites over my full line. I ate a small lunch mostly because it was all that I brought, but I managed to be ok with it all afternoon. Dinner didn't happen until I was very hungry so I ate a little more than I should. However, I still kept it to a fairly reasonable portion. I had an intense battle after dinner to eat more. I had one Dove dark chocolate and was able to keep it to that! What a victory for me!
I have decided to rate each day's success as a more concrete, concise way to show progress. I'm going to rate my days from 0-10. A completely victorious day will be 10 and completely unsuccessful will be 0. A day where my wins and losses are even will be 5. Here we go!!!
Here's some things I've noticed from my soft opening in the last few weeks:
1. It's hard to remember to notice when you get full while you're eating. I often sit down to a meal and the next thing I know, I've cleaned my plate and I realize that I passed that point and then some without noticing. I have been getting better at this, but it took a good week to get the hang of.
2. My desire to snack hits me especially at night. We have a tendancy to stay up rather late every night. By the time 9-10 rolls around, dinner is a thing of the distant past! If my stomach is actually rumbling I sometimes give in and have a small snack. However, 95% of the time I am just peckish. These are the times that the temptation hits me the worst. The good news is that I won that battle last night! Hooray!
3. So far I have lost 3 pounds on the pre-diet enabling me to set my goal at an even lower weight for this blog. According to the blog I've actually lost 0 becuase I'm not counting my starting weight till today.
Daily Report:
I feel like I did pretty good yesterday. I didn't pay attention at breakfast, but only went a few bites over my full line. I ate a small lunch mostly because it was all that I brought, but I managed to be ok with it all afternoon. Dinner didn't happen until I was very hungry so I ate a little more than I should. However, I still kept it to a fairly reasonable portion. I had an intense battle after dinner to eat more. I had one Dove dark chocolate and was able to keep it to that! What a victory for me!
I have decided to rate each day's success as a more concrete, concise way to show progress. I'm going to rate my days from 0-10. A completely victorious day will be 10 and completely unsuccessful will be 0. A day where my wins and losses are even will be 5. Here we go!!!
Yesterday's rating:
7
Monday, July 11, 2011
Eternal Chocolate Cake
The second (see previous post) was a verse that really stuck out to me. In answer to Satan's tempting request for Jesus to curb his starvation by turning stones into bread (which He could indeed have done), Jesus said, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
What do you live for? I live for food. Sometimes I vary it by living for fun times or things, but my biggest joy in life is food.
The problem is that food will only sustain me for a little while. Even if I had a magic table that would feed me whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted without any weight gain, I would not be alive. I would be a slave to that table. I would never let it out of my sight. I would probably kill for that table, sell my soul to keep that table. That is a living death.
No, the only thing that sustains life in me in this sinful, dark world is God. The best way to know and experience Him is through His Word, the Bible.
This is such a good reminder for me. When I go to put that extra bite of Annie's mac and cheese in my mouth, I need to have an eternal perspective. I need to see that mac and cheese for what it is. A momentary sensation that I will just poop out.
I hope that someday, every time I put food in my mouth I will be reminded of more important food I need insert. The food of Scripture. I hope that I will always remember to eat my eternal vegetables.
The neat thing is the more that I do it, the more I will realize that they aren't eternal veggies after all...they're the most moist, chocolately, delicious eternal cake!
What do you live for? I live for food. Sometimes I vary it by living for fun times or things, but my biggest joy in life is food.
The problem is that food will only sustain me for a little while. Even if I had a magic table that would feed me whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted without any weight gain, I would not be alive. I would be a slave to that table. I would never let it out of my sight. I would probably kill for that table, sell my soul to keep that table. That is a living death.
No, the only thing that sustains life in me in this sinful, dark world is God. The best way to know and experience Him is through His Word, the Bible.
This is such a good reminder for me. When I go to put that extra bite of Annie's mac and cheese in my mouth, I need to have an eternal perspective. I need to see that mac and cheese for what it is. A momentary sensation that I will just poop out.
I hope that someday, every time I put food in my mouth I will be reminded of more important food I need insert. The food of Scripture. I hope that I will always remember to eat my eternal vegetables.
The neat thing is the more that I do it, the more I will realize that they aren't eternal veggies after all...they're the most moist, chocolately, delicious eternal cake!
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