Lent

Lent is here, and I gave up cheese. It's my favorite food in the whole world. I've done it twice before, but I was much younger then! Three days cheese-free. I guess if it was easy, it wouldn't be much of a sacrifice!



A lovely long weekend in Florida with friends actually resulted in a few pounds lost. Current weight is 222 1/2.

I need my routine!

I clearly need my usual routine. Last week it was mostly cancelled due to teacher workdays and a snow day. What did I do with my unstructured time? I ate (and ate and ate and ate). I started the week at 220. My post-Super Bowl party weigh-in was 229. Good grief! It's truly amazing how much food I can eat, yet not feel full. I pray that this week is back to normal. I miss my Bible studies that we don't have when there is no school. I miss the fellowship and the learning, and I tend to eat when I'm bored. I need to come up with something to replace eating when I'm bored or stressed or whatever it is that's not real physical hunger. I love to read. I used to like to draw, and I am working on a crocheted baby blanket for a friend. I need to make a habit of going for those things and not the food. It may sound pretty hopeless, but I'm going to get there! I could clean my house. No, no, anything but that!

Just do it!

I've got to stop making big proclamations, especially those that revolve around "milestone" days. I know that there are no "magic" days that will turn my life around. A date on the calendar can't do that; only I can, with God's help, of course. And that help is there; all I have to do is listen for His word and obey it.

After my big speech on Friday, I had much stress with my parents on Saturday and plowed my way through the refrigerator. I lost the battle of trying to get my parents to do what the doctors prescribed, and gained two pounds in the process. I know I have to just let it go, what will be, will be, etc.; but I feel like I must help them, they won't let me, and things are going steeply downhill.

Anyway, after that, I did well until last night, when there was a little stress eating (same subject). But I did make some progress, and this morning I weigh 221 1/4. Yea! I tried to make good food choices, added a little protein, and, (except for last night), didn't eat after dinner. Now I need to work on exercise and sleep, battling laziness and nightmares! And to remember to breathe!

Why did I make those sticky-buns?

Well, my family wanted them. Fiber One doesn't excite them. Go figure.

I've had three good days and one bad one. Today is up for grabs.

Continued

How symbolic. Tech's coach handing out the oranges from the trophy. Healthy food! Orange cheese, orange oranges -- really, what's the difference? Seriously, the old season is over, and the new season is here. I'm going to get it all out in the open, for complete accountability. Right now I weigh 226 1/4. I have been as high as 232 1/2. This would be fine if I were 7 feet tall, but, alas I am barely over 5 feet. No more hiding. Not from cameras, nor from people who haven't seen me in 30 years.

Happy New Year!

I love the Christmas season; however, I'm glad the food part of it is winding down. I've cleaned out stuff from the fridge and pantry, and am looking forward to my holiday-related excuses going away. I had both good and bad diet days, so that really was a wash.

I think changing some other habits will also help with the food thing. I'm trying to form better sleep habits, which should help all-around health-wise. I also need to start walking again, both for exercise and for fresh air. They say that will also help with sleep, in addition to weight loss and blood-pressure reduction.

So, tonight is the last food-related event of the season. I'm referring, of course, to the Orange Bowl. Go Hokies!

Happy and Healthy and Blessed 2009, everyone!

Reasons to lose

32 Reasons to Lose Weight:

Looking forward to getting dressed every day.

Having cheekbones. And pelvic bones, and shoulders, and ribs, and bones you never knew you had.

Wearing styles you never thought you'd look good in.

Having the energy to exercise for an hour at a time.

Not being the heaviest one at a family gathering.

Wearing bras whose straps don't leave deep gouges in your shoulders.

Tossing out those big panties.

Not grabbing the queen size when buying stockings.

Turning down tempting desserts, or having just a sliver and moving on.

No longer having to live with those consequences of over-eating: that stuffed feeling, and the emotions that go with it.

Passing one weight milestone after another; seeing fantasy numbers on the scale.

Fitting into your wedding dress.

Looking good in a bathing suit.

Feeling strong because of weight training, and liking the muscle definition in your upper arms (hello sleeveless!).

Not having to "hide" your stomach with the strategic use of clothing.

Tucking in your shirt.

Being a good example of self-discipline for your kids.

Not worrying about running into an ex-boyfriend and imagining that he's chuckling about how you've let yourself go (it's a small world, ladies).

Going to your class reunion without fear of making a poor showing in front of your husband's ex-girlfriends.

Not having a "W" after the size on your clothes...and never going into that department again.

Not avoiding the doctor's office because you know you are going to be weighed.

Not avoiding buying any new clothes because you refuse to buy clothes in the larger size.

Swimming with your children.

Running into your mom's friends and not worrying about getting the "once over."

Finding out you're not big-boned after all.

Not being asked the mortifying question, "When are you due?" when you're not expecting.

Feeling more feminine.

Having more energy for your kids.

Being the most beautiful wife you can be to your wonderful husband who has never made you feel bad about your weight.

Looking (and feeling) ten years younger.

Doing your happy dance on the scale every morning.

Living longer by avoiding high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

(Feel free to add to this list and pass on.)

More tweaking

I'm having a challenging time with foods I'm not supposed to have for stomach-lining reasons. I take Aciphex every day, so I can usually get away with eating them. Sometimes not. Lately has been not. I've got some stress going on with the health of my mother, who will be 86 on Monday, and for the past several days, the only thing that makes me fairly certain that my chest pain was not a heart attack was that my throat felt like I was a fire-breathing dragon! It's starting to feel better today, so I've got some choices to make. Do I make the lifestyle changes that take things like coffee and tomato sauce off my list? The thing is, I hadn't eaten those types of things. I think a diet soda set it off. Carbonation is also a no-no. So, the enjoyment of certain foods, versus the reality of the situation.
On a happier note, I have lost a few pounds since last week, so that is encouraging. I think this blog is a really big help.

Two Oprah articles

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/debs-style-file/debs-style-file/2008/12/oprah-eats-and-tells-in-the-january-edition-of-her-magazine/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121200907.html

Bottom line: it's hard to lose weight and maintain weight loss. :-(

Monday December 15,2008 Starting Again

Hi everyone! I am feeling determined to get back to my goal weight. I am about 15 pounds away and not feeling comfortable with my body right now. I lost almost 60 pounds over the course of a couple years, several years back, but have regained some over this past year. My clothes are all tight or just plain don't fit and I refuse to go up a size. It is interesting seeing the latest news about Oprah and her weight gain. I can relate because it is so easy to "fall off the wagon" and let the pounds creep back on. It is time for me to do something about it before I gain back all 60 pounds. I'll be 39 in a little over a week and I want to feel and look as good as I did before. One of the things I did when I first embarked on my weight loss journey was to write down all the reasons why I wanted to lose weight. When I was tempted to eat something that I shouldn't, I would look at the list to remind myself why I was doing this. It can be a powerful motivator. Here were/are some of my reasons:

To avoid Diabetes and High Cholesterol which runs in my family.

To feel comfortable enough to put on a swimsuit to go swimming with my children.

To look and feel great in stylish clothes.

To feel strong and athletic.

To feel like myself again and not "trapped" in a body that was starting to feel broken down.

What are some of your reasons to lose weight? Please post them below! It is so motivating to hear everyone's reasons.

New Beginning

Hi, everyone! I'm new to blogging, so please bear with me. I'm starting today to try to become a healthier person. I had a regular check-up with the doctor today, feeling like something that the cat dragged in. I have a number of health issues that require a lifestyle change. Lifestyle changes are no fun, but I think I'm at the point where I have no choice. I'm sure the doctor thinks I got to that point years ago! So I've made it through one day. I know God has a better life in mind for me. He's given me so many blessings. I need to do my part by taking proper care of myself. I hope to have a great testimony to share. I know my writing is a little choppy today, but I'm crazed with hunger. Just kidding!

Good foods for dieters

We all have our favorites. A few of mine:

Fiber One or its generic equivalent -- my store brand is better than the original.
Low-fat low-sugar yogurt, like Lite n Fit.
Cottage cheese -- it's a super-food, high in protein and calcium, satisfying, low in fat, and versatile.
Lean protein deli meat, usually between 50 and 70 calories per 2 oounce serving. Great in salads or by itself for a quick protein boost.
Imitation crab meat. It's not real crab meat, but it is real fish, and I loved it in my salads until my store reformulated their product and ruined it. High in omega 3 fatty acids.
Big, big salads (with that lean protein added), with low-cal dressing or just balsamic vinegar.
Parmesan cheese sprinkled on those salads to give them a little more taste and texture.

Wanna share your faves?

Why modern women shouldn't want an hourglass figure

This is more politics than science.

From Livescience.com:

An imperfect body might be just what the doctor ordered for women and key to their economic success, an anthropologist now says.

While pop culture seems to worship the hourglass figure for females, with a tiny waist, big [breasts] and curvy hips à la Marilyn Monroe, this may not be optimal, says Elizabeth Cashdan of the University of Utah.

That's because the hormones that make women physically stronger, more competitive and better able to deal with stress also tend to redistribute fat from the hips to the waist.

So in societies and situations where women are under pressure to procure resources and otherwise bring home the bacon, they may be less likely to have the classic hourglass figure, Cashdan hypothesizes in the December issue of the journal Current Anthropology.

Hmm. Judging from this article, it appears that the only data in this study are the compiled numbers of waist-to-hip ratios of women in 33 non-Western and a few Western countries. The rest seems to be speculation and feminist spin, trying to explain why more women have a less-defined waist than not.

The author is theorizing that the more shapely shape, though best for attracting males and presumably good for child-bearing, is not as well adapted for breadwinning or functioning in stressful situations.

Why would that be the case? Mothers know that childbearing and raising families are plenty stressful and require lots of strength. Maybe body type doesn't matter at all.

What might be more useful would be an explanation of why the flat stomach has become the holy grail of womanhood. Just look at those Google ads. They're everywhere.

Don't go stuff yourself

Why Overeating Hurts and How You Can Avoid It on Thanksgiving

Excerpts:

There's some debate among the experts about stomach capacity, but the average stomach ordinarily holds about one or two cups of food. On Thursday it may be contending with twice that amount or much more. To accommodate the added bulk, the stomach stretches like a balloon. If you were accustomed to overeating, frequent expansion and contraction would have exercised this muscle, allowing it to expand more easily, Sandon says.

If not, though, you'll be feeling the discomfort of a muscle stretched beyond its normal capacity.

And that feeling's going to linger. You may fill up with so much fatty food -- which the digestive enzymes are slow to digest -- that you'll delay the process by which your pyloric sphincter (the ring-shaped muscle at the tail end of your stomach) pushes liquefied food into the small intestine, where the nutrients are absorbed.

Keep reading for some suggestions on how to avoid this.

And more tips here.

FYI:

• Fat flummoxes digestive enzymes and makes food linger longer in the stomach.
• Fiber, which the stomach can't digest, can help speed food through your system.
• Liquid leaves the stomach more swiftly than solids.

To combat this:

• Eat breakfast: Don't starve yourself during the day. Otherwise, you'll be so ravenous come turkey time you'll stuff yourself silly.
• Move the mealtime: Eat at 1:00 instead of 4:00, Salge Blake recommends. Wait till it's late and you may find yourself saying, "It's a long time between breakfast and 4:00. I'm noshing!," she says. "The absolute worst that will happen," she says, "is that we may be hungry again at 6:00. So you pull it all out again then" to eat when your stomach is really ready for more.
• Allocate alcohol: Nothing kills willpower like too much to drink. If alcohol is part of your celebration, sip wine with your meal; don't imbibe on an empty stomach.

Finally, Salge Blake says, "Remember, this is not the Last Supper. It's not the last time you'll ever see turkey and mashed potatoes. This is America. If you want to make turkey in July, make turkey in July!"

Send in the Marines

Maine man sheds 140 pounds to join the Marines

Army and Navy recruiters took one look at 330-pound Ulysses Milana and told him to forget about joining. "'You've got to lose weight,'" Milana remembers them saying. But Marine recruiters were willing to work with him as he began his weight-loss journey in December 2007.

Now, 11 months later, Milana is 140 pounds lighter as he leaves Monday for Parris Island, S.C., to begin boot camp.

Click on title for whole story.

More reasons to lose weight

Fat Chance: On the Scales of Injustice, Overweight Women Always Lose Out

Squeezing into her office clothes, squeezing on to the train and then squeezing behind her desk are all in a day's work for a fat woman. Until she gets fired, that is.

Overweight women, according to medical research, are far more likely to lose their jobs.

They are also more likely to be a victim of crime - or a criminal. And as if all that wasn't enough, they are also more likely to be broke.

Click on title to read the rest.

Week 2 begins

Week 1 was great except for one little day, Saturday. Blown. But I lost One Pound anyway. Took one walk and did a few push-ups on two days. The plan is to gradually increase the exercise to 4 times a week.

Tell us about your week. And let me know if you've ever heard of anyone using chocolate pudding as a topping for ice cream. My skinny 17 year old son did this the other day. It struck me as over-the-top, though I admit I was intrigued. (And thought it could use some whipped cream.) Next time I'll take a picture and post it. That's as close as I'll get to eating it. Good grief. That would not make me feel good. Life must be different when you have a metabolism that metabolizes.

Trigger foods

The Thin Commandments Diet contains lots of wisdom about weight loss and maintenance. The author understands how and why some of us have problems with over-eating.

He suggests that we think about which foods have been major problems for us in the past. He calls these "trigger foods." We can either eliminate them entirely, or set up rules for consuming them (only in a restaurant, only at your mother's, only on Christmas, only on the weekend, whatever makes sense to you). The key is to be honest with ourselves about our history with these trigger foods and how well we can handle them.

From Amazon:

In Part One, Dr. Gullo shares his Thin Commandments, including:

• Think historically, not just calorically--identify trigger foods that can undermine weight loss

• Slips should teach you, not defeat you--uncover the "24 hour secret" and never gain weight from binging again

• Success is about substitution, not denial--discover the 10 most common diet-busting foods and their satisfying substitutes

Exercise: interval training, not just for Olympians

We have to exercise. And once we get started, we feel so much better when we do it.

Here's a little article about interval training from about.com.

Workouts for Stress Relief
by Paige Waehner

How do you deal with stress? If you’re like most people, you probably have a mixed bag of tools. Some are healthy, like taking a day off or getting a massage, and some are not so healthy, like eating sweets or drinking too much. It’s a good idea to have a variety of ways to reduce tension so you always have something to reach for (besides those chips or glass of wine) that offers relief. Exercise is one of the best ways to ease stress and anxiety while giving you a sense of confidence and mastery when other parts of your life feel out of control. These workouts offer you new ideas for reducing stress.

Interval Training

Higher intensity cardio is great for stress reduction because your body releases endorphins, feel-good hormones that boost your energy and mood. Interval training helps relieve stress by allowing you to work at higher intensities for shorter periods of time, making the workout effective and efficient.

Try it:

• Choose any activity you like (running, walking, etc.)
• Warm up for 5-10 minutes
• Increase intensity (adding hills, incline, resistance and/or speed) so that you're working at Level 7-8 on this perceived exertion scale for 30-60 seconds.
• Reduce intensity and recover for 2 or more minutes
• Repeat intervals for 20 or more minutes

More Interval Workouts

• Beginner Interval Workout
• Sprints and Hills
• Treadmill Intervals

Day One

11 weeks from today is my birthday. If my goal is to lose about 15 pounds (actually, 12-17 pounds), I need to lose 1.5 pounds a week. Sounds easy, but not really. From my extensive experience, I know that I can't lose weight quickly; my metabolism moves at the speed of molasses in January. I'm going to have to be very careful, and endure some hunger.

Anyone want to join me?