The Good The Bad and The Ugly

This week has shown some extraordinary success, but weight loss would not be on that list.
Most importantly, my lab test results show much improvement of my tryglyceride numbers, which went from 267 to 183, which is 84 points in a three-month window. it's still too high though. Anything above 150 is high. So I have done something right, and that would be cutting down on my sugary fatty lovely treats. they're killing me. Don't miss the sugar so much anymore.
Number two point that I'm proud of would be the amount of accidental exercise I've gotten. Rode my horse Sat., Sun., and Monday and rode my bike to work Wed.
But no weight loss. In fact, I've gained it all back so I guess it's time to start over. The emphasis will be one small portions, healthy choices, and to QUIT SNACKING IN THE EVENING!
Saturday night I'll be going to concert at Wildwood to see Dave Mason. Dinner included. Perfect time of year. I"m looking forward to it.

Where Did I Go Wrong?

I've been completely off this diet for about two weeks now. I'm not sure what has happened. Maybe the mental preparation of my daughter leaving for college? Maybe the constant inner worry regarding my son? Maybe the laziness? You know it is hard to plan, track, shop. Laziness is probably my culprit. I don't know.
The refrigerator is pretty barron since I've been out of town for the weekend. The plan is to use the items already purchased to make meals, then do a big grocery shop with low cal items.
So far today, breakfast was low calories, but I'm extremly hungry now. Evidently it was not satisfying! I think the yogurt and berries breakfast is more satisfying, and the oats with berries.
Lunchtime will be a struggle since I'm so hungry and it is only 10:40 in the morning. Geez, I've got a long day ahead.

On The Down Low

Last week I completely went off my diet. Didn't count, didn't care. I'm stressed out. Hopefully this week I'll get on track. So far, so good.

Slow and Steady

Down only 4 pounds for the four weeks. I realize now how mindless I eat when I'm not paying attention to what actually goes in the mouth. I've had some full blown cookie binges and felt terrible about it afterwards. I love sugar but sugar does not love me.

This is a new week, I've tried some new recipes last month and will keep on trying new foods to keep me interested. My hope is that new recipes will be a permanent part of my daily eating. I haven't entirely given up going out to dinner, but have cut down tremdously on eating lunch out. It is my hungry part of the day and I'm more liable to lose control at noon than I am in the evening.

With Helen and Rob eating less and less meals with me at dinnertime, I can't blame fixin food for them on my indulgences. It's all me. All my doing.

I'm hopeful that I'll have another good four weeks.

The Big Change

Last night while dining out at Red Lobster with a friend, The Big Change actually happened. First off, I have to give Mary credit for inspiring me after she ordered oil-free-butter-free dinner. Upon receiving my dinner, immediately the plate was divided, totally, and put aside for a to-go container. Miracles do happen. I didn't eat my "to-go" food.
Miracle Number Two - neither of us ate the biscuts. Mind you, Red Lobster biscuts are heavenly. I usually eat two basket fulls. How did I gain this weight again???

Thanks Mary!

Insanity

My definition of Insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results. What do I expect when I overindulge and don't lose? Weight loss? It's a WISH. Diet wishes don't come true. I can't wish the weight off. My weight stayed the same this week and I did indulge.

But onto more interesting happenings in my life. This weekend was a lot of fun and a lot of work. Rob inivited a small group of his friends to hang with us at the cabin. I cooked a lot. Two gigantic breakfasts: Day One: Blueberry waffles, sausage, bacon and eggs. Day Two: French toast and bacon and eggs. Dinner Saturday we all pitched in to cook. Tom prepared the roasted vegetables. I made homemade cornbread and pan fried lime/chipolte sole and macaroni and cheese. Melissa made a homemade peach pie. Incredible dinner, and lots of DISHES!

Activities:

Mule ride to the lookout Friday evening. Couldn't see a thing.
Horseback riding - OT one-way
fixed Melissa's awning - 45 min. in blustering heat
fed horses
do washing dishes count as activity points?
Kayaked 7 miles Sunday.
cleaned house. did laundry
climbed up ladder to get on deck because I locked myself out

I was exhausted when I was finally able to go to bed at 11:00 Sunday evening
hitched up trailer to pickup in evening.

Today, Monday, is a new day. 3 point breakfast. Will eat at Subway for lunch. The challenge tonight will be the Chinese restaraunt.

Roasting in August

Thank goodness for friends, especially ones who can put together a great meal. Since last week's cabin weekend feasting, I have been oven roasting fresh seasonal vegetables. Any vegetables, any mix of veggies. Just clean, peel (or not), slice and coat with good olive oil, lemon pepper, and put in a large roasting pan, cook on high heat till much of the liquid is gone. Dab on a little butter, sprinkle some brown sugar on it, and YUM.

I have never eaten so many colorful veggies in my lifetime. I cook a big pan of roasted veggies and eat on them all week long. I'm certainly getting my fill of ivitamin I need.

I guess at 50 it's still not too late to learn how to cook.

Metamorphis

I'm into week three and my attidue has changed. No longer do I feel obsessive with food. I have my old standbys that are low calorie that I can count on, stocking the frig is no longer has huge problem, and passing up fattening lunches in restaraunts is no longer a problem. Being that I feel ill after eating at the local restaraunts has become a deter for me from even eating out lately.

What has worked for me is eating at home, passing up fast food joints because I am hungry while in the car and carrying with me drinks and gum and mints.

I've learned how to cook Sole. I had guests at the cabin this weekend who taught me how to roast veggies and bake sole. It was delicious. So I'll add those items to my artillary.

However, I did overeat this weekend, but not to the extreme, and I was quite active.

My friends helped me stay on the diet because I told them before the weekend that I'd be watching what I ate, so they helped prepare foods that were low calorie. And we all loved it.

My weight went up and down all week long, and I'm up a pound from last week.

I'll try even harder this week to lose the weight.

Week Two - Perseverence

Counting counting counting every meal every day is paying off in 5 pounds of fat off my body this first week. The loss has given me great encouragement to keep counting every morsel I put in my mouth.

Talking about weight loss (and writing about it) is seeming so redunant and quite boring. Maybe it' just my brain today, feeling dull.

Besides this diet, I feel like I need a plan, a plan to try something new, to learn something new, to accomlish something, something interesting.

I'll be thinking of a plan to possibly get in some exercise and interest and fun all at the same time.

The Counting Game

I gained one pound this week. Starting today I will count calories, or WW points. That's the only way I've ever lost weight. I found my old WW point calculator and some old food diaries. I sitll find it difficult to get an accurate count on food such as the chicken salad I made last night, but I think I'll be able to get close enough.

What I did right:

Carry gum and mints with me to keep food (sugar) cravings at bay. And this has worked.
Became more active, not necessarily exercise, but physical activity.
Ate lunch at home more often.

What I did wrong:

Mindless eating, such as grabbing handsful of nuts, eating at the suggestion of others (mom, let's order pizza tonight. ok. )
Sugary drink at St. Louis Bread Co. Should have opted for a healthier choice.

WHAT I'LL DO DIFFERENT THIS WEEK:

Track my eating.

Exercise right after work, on the glider, before dinner. I'm not hungry at 5:00 anyway. May as well work out first.

Heavy Artillary

I keep caving in to my cravings. I'm weak, and I admit it.

Solution: Be prepared for my triggers in stores such as Walgreens (great candy isle), Target (great carb isle), grocery store (it's all in your face), Debbie's Office (full of sweets), drive-throughs (great fats and carbs.)

So I stopped at Walgreens during my lunch recess (after lunch) and bought Altoids, curiously strong mints, Trident Tropical Twist gum and sugarfree Russel Stovers candy. I plan on keeping some in my purse at all times and some at work. We'll see how this works.

What I did right today: went home for lunch and had a huge vitamin-packed salad. Fought the urge to dine out at lunch with friends.

So far, so good.

Roller Coaster

My food choices are all over the board. Meal one excellent choices, meal two 50% good choices, meal three fatty and salty and sugary. I have a problem with consistency. I break down at some point, every day.

How can I stop myself from losing control? If I were tired in the evening I'd just go to bed to avoid eating.

I erred today when I sporadically went out to lunch with a friend who I ran into on my way to my car from work. I'd planned on going home for a "healthy" lunch, but I'm not one to pass up a good lunch with a good friend. So, as usual, I made a bad choice for lunch.

I erred again at dinner time when I picked up my son and took him to Taco Bell for dinner. I didn't do my homework, couldn't figure out what to order, so, of course, I ordered the cheese pizza (Pizza Hut).

I need a restaraunt food list. I'll work on it this week.

I'm Scared

I've been avoiding the scale, and for good reason.. . . maybe not so good. Anyway, I was feeling great this morning, exercised a lot over the weekend, had a minimal amount of splurges, so I though, why not jump on the scale?
Big disappointment.

152.8.

I hope to lose at least two pounds this week.

I'm going to weight myself daily, even if I know it's painful.

Getting Started - Week One

July 11, 2010

I'm fed up with myself and my unhealthy ways. I read a friend's blog today describing her diet quest, and I was inspired. Thanks Tami.
Oh, and most importantly, my triglycerite count it too high. Going to be rechecked in a month. Got to cut carbs.
Starting with a list of lifestyle changes I've experienced since the weight gain, I came up with a few substantial changes, as follows:

No longer walking the 4-mile hilly route.
No longer doing yard work.
Coming home earlier, more free time, and more lying on the couch.
Kitchen is connected to the hearth room, where I find myself on the couch too often.
Weekends at the cabin are filled with good food and good drink. Big hearty breakfasts. Wine in the evening. Beer. Cheeses. Desserts.

My eating habits are good 2/3 of the day, but the 1/3 of badness is sabotaging any gains I've made.

My plan:

Bike to run errands. Bike to work on nice days.
Do yard work, even if it's a little bit.
When I don't like what I'm watching on t.v., quit flipping channels and get off the couch.
Weekends at cabin: Since it's myself doing the breakfast cooking, that will be easy to change. But I so look forward to waffles and bacon and eggs. Maybe I'll let that be my splurge. But go easy on the cheeses in the evening.

Food weaknesses:

Candy
social eating
pastries
bread and butter

STEPS TO TAKE:

Weakness - at grocery store when passing an item I love and binge on, how can I be stronger and not buy it? Possibly eating a mint while walking through the store, or some sweet gum? I'm going to try that.

Walgreens - same problem but with Candy. Same solution.
I'll check in with my progress/failures at the end of this week.