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Monday, May 27, 2013

WLS, Hypnosis and a Case of the Blahs



Lately, I haven’t felt motivated to blog or do much else for that matter.  For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been drifting.  Not feeling inspired to do much; I’ve been going through the day to day motions.  Maybe the weather is to blame.  The sun disappeared and we’ve been left with dreary grey skies.  Eh, probably just another excuse.
 
While the scale is down a few pounds since I last posted, my eating has only been so-so.  I’ve ate more meals at home than not, but still too much take out, especially over this weekend (French Dip and Fries aka Starch and Salt).  

Last Monday, I had an annual check-up with my doctor.  During which, she asked me whether or not I have considered weight loss surgery.  This is maybe the third time she’s brought it up.  Doc, are you trying to tell me something?  She’s also mentioned Weight Watchers and hypnosis a couple of times each.  I don’t blame her.  I’ve been giving her the same song and dance for years about how “this time” will be different and I have a plan to lose the weight.   I don’t think she believes I will do it on my own but I still feel like I can and will.

Source: psychology.about.comTry, try again seems to be my motto.  I need to get back to the plan, which mostly means restricting grains, sugar and dairy.  Good grief, this is starting to sound like a broken record.  My husband is out grocery shopping.  My list only contained vegetables, strawberries and ground beef.  If I cook and eat the food he buys (along with some chicken and fish), it should be a good week.  The plan is simple but not easy.  Trying to change decades of bad habits and eating a certain way is not a switch that I can just flip and make everything miraculously better.  Again, it’s simple but not easy otherwise I would have done it by now.  It will take work. Tired of the bloat and yucky feeling, I am determined to find my mojo, do the work and have a successful week.  

Did you enjoy your long weekend?  I was lazy but the rest was nice.  I am ready to awake from the fog and make things happen. 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Doing better but could do more



The meal planning and prep work that I did this weekend has helped my eating this week.  So far, most meals have been prepared at home.  That’s right, I said most meals, not all.  Because I didn’t finish all the prep work that I had wanted to do this weekend, my laziness won out a couple of times and either I didn’t pack a lunch or I didn’t fight my temptations to eat out. 

I’m eating somewhat better than I have in the last few weeks.  I mean I am actually eating vegetables again and I don’t mean potatoes.  I even tried a new vegetable.  Well, not really new.  As a kid, my mom used to steam brussel sprouts often.  I didn’t care for them but would usually digest a few to make her happy.  Lately, everywhere I look I am reading about people roasting brussel sprouts and how much they like them.  After weeks of buying them only to not use them and throw them in the trash come garbage day, I roasted some Tuesday night.  While I thought they tasted better than I remembered from childhood, I was disappointed and will not be trying them again anytime soon.  At least now I know and can quit wasting money and food.

Tomorrow is another chance to eat well and on plan.  I’m looking forward to it.  The fact that it is a Friday is just a bonus.  Hope you enjoy your Friday as well.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Classic Mistake



This weekend I made a classic fat person move.  
Source: www.makethechanges.com
Knowing that I was going to fully commit myself to a new way of eating the next day, I allowed myself a final unhealthy meal.  That was Thursday night.  The problem (one of the problems) is that I didn’t start on Friday and recommitted to starting on Saturday.  This meant one more night of take out before the big start.  What a mess I am.  I didn’t start on Saturday nor did I start on Sunday.  Rather than bore you with how disappointed and disgusted I am with myself, I will just tell you that it happened and it is over.

I debated whether or not to mention my failure here or pretend like everything was fine.  Obviously, I decided to spill my guts and come clean.  I’m not in to cover ups and need to own up to the reasons why the scale isn’t showing any weight-loss.  I’ve been home a week so I can no longer blame mom for forcing food on me.  It’s all on me.

Speaking of coming “clean”, today I am making a change.  The same change that I have wanted to do and have been talking about for a month now.  I am cutting out the processed foods and will be eating “clean”.  Whole foods such as lean meats, vegetables and some fruit are on the plan.  Sugar, added sugar, artificial sweeteners, legumes, dairy and grains are off the list for now.  Saying and doing it are two different beasts.  If you don’t believe that I am ready to make the change or will make the change, I don’t blame you.  I haven’t given you any reason to believe me.  Heck, I have trouble believing I will make the change myself.  No, I need to prove myself by actually doing it.  The proof will be my weigh-in next Sunday.  If I am eating on plan there is no way that the scale doesn’t show a loss next Sunday.

Besides talking the talk, what am I doing to ensure that I can make this change?  Well, groceries have been bought.  That’s the first step.  Let’s be honest, that’s not much of a step.  I’ve had healthy groceries in the house for months now and most (80% or more) of them end up in the garbage bin the following week.  The second thing that I have done is prepped some of the food.  Yesterday, I roasted some vegetables.  This afternoon I will be doing more and cooking some chicken and hamburger.  Okay, that second step is still in work, so not much confidence there.  The third step is that I have a loose meal plan for the week.  I am most vulnerable to eat out on the days that I work from the office (Tues. – Thurs.), so to make things easier, I will have vegetables and meats that have been precooked and only need warmed.  Quick and easy will be the name of the game.  This is not a fool proof plan, but it’s what I am working with. 

In other news, the weather sucks.  The sun is gone and the rain has returned.  Sometimes it feels like Seattle is just one big rain forest.  Rain, rain and more rain.  It’s green though.  Very green.  It probably doesn’t rain as much as you think it does, but some years are worse than others and some months just suck.  I look forward to July 5th through September.  That’s our sunny warm time.  This concludes the weather segment of today’s blog.
 
Are you prepared for this week?  Do you create a meal plan or don’t really need one?   Whatever you do to keep on plan, I hope you have a great week.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Just to say "Hi"



My husband has had training the first three days of this week which is putting us off our normal schedule.  Late days in the office has this girl T-I-R-E-D.   Tomorrow should be our regular eight hour shift and then working from home on Friday. 

Our eating has not been well this week.  Breakfast and lunch have been reasonable, but by time dinner comes around we have been too tired and resorted to take out.  Darn, an excuse found its way again. Even though I thought about it, I didn’t follow through and prepare meals for these nights.  The week is not over and I will finish it strong, starting with eating better all day tomorrow.

On Monday, I went to the park by myself to take a walk.  There weren’t too many people at the park, otherwise I might not have gotten out of the car.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to do much, but wanted to start somewhere.  Actually, I started walking last week while at mom’s.  However the walking done last week was in short bursts of maybe five minutes at a time.  I would do several short bursts a day to help loosen up the legs which were feeling quite tight (as they are again this week).   

Monday, I wanted to make it around a small loop at the park.  I was a bit nervous because there is no place to sit down and rest on this loop.  It turns out the loop took me about fourteen minutes.  I had to stop a couple of times because my back and/or shoulders were hurting.  After I finished the loop, I wanted to push myself to do more, but by then my back was really achy and my hamstrings were as well.  Rather than tire out the back too much, I stopped.  While it wasn’t a great distance, it’s a start and I’m glad that I did it.  Now, I just need to get back there and do it again.  Maybe I will tomorrow evening.

Thanks for all the comments on my last post and the suggestions regarding Paleo.  I will be ordering some books and trying to learn more about it, especially recipes. 

How is your week going?  Got sun?  We do and it has been nice, but it will be changing by the weekend.  Come on, it’s Seattle, what else would I expect.  Have a great one!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Back Home and Ready to Deflate



It was hard to leave mom yesterday morning to head home, but I think she was ready for me to go.  My sister, brother-in-law and nephew will be visiting her starting on Friday, so mom need’s some downtime.  Not sure she will get much as she is very well known and liked in her community and seems to have a lot of drop-ins.  The passing of my step-father is a huge weight off her shoulders.  She misses him but at the same time knows that his suffering is over.  I think she’ll be just fine.

Source:www.thealphaparent.com
When I weighed myself this morning and saw a four pound gain (385), I wasn’t surprised.  It’s only temporary and I expect to have it off and more by next Sunday.  Mom pushed and pushed food on me as if she was receiving some kind of monetary kickback for anything she could get me to put in my mouth.  I don’t think I have said “no thanks” as many times as I did in the last four days ever in my life.  Good grief woman, stop!  Even though I was able to less than I normally would at her house, I did eat more than I wanted.  It was mostly the wrong kinds of food…and salt.  I am so swollen and bloated, I feel like I could pop.  My feet and ankles are huge and I am not sure any of my shoes will fit now.

While at mom’s I was able to do some walking.  The weather was beautiful and I took advantage of the privacy her lot provides.  I would like to continue walking this week since the sun is supposed to stick around.  However, now I won’t have the privacy.  I’ve mentioned before that I do not like being in public.  I’m uncomfortable with it but it has kept me indoors for too long and I plan to conquer that fear this year summer.  Since I am working from home today, I will take a walk at lunch time.  It will be small, but 1) it will be outside and 2) better than not walking.

Now that I am home, I can eat the way I would like.  The plan is to follow the Whole30 approach, well most of it.  A lot of people have been talking about the Whole30 lately, so if you haven’t already heard of it you can check it out here.  I won’t be doing the 30 day challenge.  I tried that once and with all the changes all at once, and me being super strict, I failed. Hmmm, that sounds like an excuse...moving on. I will be following 95% or more of it though and I think for me that will be just fine.  The reason I say ~95% following, is that I may have honey or small amounts of bacon from time to time. I plan on eliminating grains, legumes, white potatoes, dairy, sugar and artificial sweeteners.  So goodbye bread, beans, milk, butter, chocolate and diet soda.  I’m not saying that I will never ever have these foods, but for the foreseeable future, I would like to stay away.  Since I eat most of them daily, giving them up will be challenging.  Nevertheless, I am determined.  My husband isn’t jumping on board but is supportive.

Is Whole30 just another name for Paleo?  I think they are similar, but not exactly the same.  I don’t much about Paleo.  I’ve read "It Starts With Food", by the founders of the Whole30.  Maybe I will start reading some Paleo books.  I’ve tried all kinds of ways to lose weight, from Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutri-Systems, Optifast, counting calories and more.  I now believe I need to just eat as healthy as I can by eating whole foods rather than processed. Simple and clean will be key.  I’m excited to give it a try and hopefully see my weight and blood sugar readings coming down.

Have you heard of the Whole30?  Or do you eat a Paleo plate?  If you have any suggestions for good Paleo reads, I would love to check them out.

Thanks for stopping by,
Roly