05/22/2011 18:59
Two More Inches!
I went outside and poured some water into the post holes, and I managed to get two more inches deep in each of the holes. I want the posts to be especially anchored, since they will be supporting a heavy gate. I noticed, however, that the frame kit I bought was made for a two-rail gate instead of a three-rail fence section like I bought. I think I can make it work by adding one or two of my own 2" x 4" rails to the back of the pre-made fencing section. I hope it will work. I really don't want the hassle of building my own gate.
After I get off work today, I really want to get the concrete mixed and get the posts set. That will make me feel very accomplished, since the project has already been set back by a day.
Now I'm off to get ready for work!
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/22/2011 18:00
One is the Loneliest Number
Fat discrimination, though an ever-growing segment of society is obese, is still accepted by our society. Because of this, overweight can spawn isolation, as people feel justified in shunning the fat person. The prospect of this occurring is so scary to some, that it leads to avoiding social occasions, hesitance to contribute in business meetings, and lack of self-confidence in relationships with people.
When you're the fattest one in the room at gathering after gathering, and are subjected to devaluation because of it, you tend to withdraw or avoid gatherings entirely. You have been "put in your place" by prevailing attitudes, and people feel pretty comfortable putting you there. With a growing waistline, we withdraw more and more as we sense the disapproval.
We even disapprove of ourselves!
I once had a friend who didn't mind my overweight at all: Indeed I eventually realized that she manipulated the friendship because of my lack of self-confidence. The "friendship" was fine in her eyes, as long as I filled the role of My Fat Friend. It gave her the upper hand, and over the years it became more and more of a one-way street.
Then I had to go and lose weight. She never once commented on it, encouraged me, or complimented me in the year it took to lose 56 pounds. Gradually, I realized that the things she was saying to me, the pushing food on me, and the total lack of support for my efforts, were because she felt more comfortable when I was fat, hovering in the background, and not asserting myself into conversations or activities.
I was really hurt when I finally realized that my conditional friendship with her was predicated on my being overweight. Our "friendship" became more and more of a one-directional affair until I finally had to call it off. Her attitude was eating away at my serenity, and making me long to have the old us back. I found myself eating. In the back of my mind, I think I was subconsciously trying to fulfill that longing, by re-gain.
I searched my heart and soul, and decided it was time to choose between her and the me I wanted to be. I chose me.
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/22/2011 17:57
At Last!
DSIL came with his truck and trailer last night, and we got all the materials for the new gate here, and ready to go. Yesterday afternoon, I got the two post holes dug. It was no easy thing to do! I wanted to make them at least 22 inches deep, but only managed 20 inches. I may try my DSIL's trick of putting some water in the holes to soften the dirt, though I fear I have struck mudstone, and that effort will be for naught. Still, I have to go to work this afternoon, and maybe by the time I get home I will be able to get my last two inches.
I also did some more clean up in the area behind the garage, and it's starting to look a lot better now. I'm still debating whether I want to go to the work of putting in a larger pond back there, and I'm starting to think I'm not going to do it after all.
It will be so nice to get the old gate and fence section removed. It has become a real eyesore.
Ended up with a 900 calorie deficit for the day.
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/21/2011 18:25
Intangibles
The most wonderful thing, about being on a food-based program for my initial weight loss, was that I wasn't thinking about food so much any more. At long last, I saw in a structured way, how to eat for health rather than for entertainment and comfort.
Because I didn't have to think about what food to have or where I might find it, or how I might prepare it, I started thinking about what the books that came with my program had to say. I began to think about things I hadn't considered before, like the lifestyle issues that got me in my predicament. I began to think about my bingeing in a different way: I discovered that my eating habits of many decades represented an eating disorder. An eating disorder!
I started taking the Mindset aspect of my program a lot more seriously. I started journaling my feelings and getting some insight into the situations that drove my binge episodes. Little did I know when I first started, that it would turn out to be the most important, and least easy to manage aspect of all!
Now that I'm losing again, I've found a way to replace the structure of the Jenny Craig program, without the expense of the food (which I can't afford right now). Basically, it's simple repetition of the same menu every day, which I have already weighed, measured, and know the nutritional content on. It gives me the much-needed structure of not having to think much about food, and it seems to be working.
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/21/2011 18:15
Down Two!
I got on the scale this morning, and after the initial three pounds of water weight, I have lost another two pounds this week. I think I'll continue the same eating pattern this week. I still haven't gotten tired of the repetition, and it sure makes planning easy! The only change will be that I decided to get green beans instead of asparagus, and I got blueberries to take the place of the clementines for the first few days this week.
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/21/2011 18:09
Mixed Results
Yesterday, the new Pirates was really fun! The series does not disappoint.
Then I went to Home Depot to get the materials to make the new gate to the back yard. I borrowed DSIL's truck, and I thought it would be a quick and easy trip. The guy at HD didn't want to load part of the order, so I just went back in and got a refund. Very frustrating. DSIL has a very old trailer, and said we can use it to get the stuff today. Hopefully, he will be available to do that this morning.
I decided not to go in to work today, even though the boss told me to go ahead and come in if the weather is nice. Since I wasn't on the regular schedule for today, I consider it optional. I had a bit of a stomach ache last night and this morning, and decided not to go.
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/20/2011 19:09
Be Your Own Cheerleader
Sometimes we need to be our own cheerleader. Mostly, it amounts to positive self-talk, and eliminating those self-doubting thoughts. Or maybe no one else seems to be encouraging us right now, so we need our own reinforcement.
Remembering that our thoughts are self-fulfilling prophesies, it helps to clean up our minds, telling ourselves only those statements that predict our success and abilities. For me, that is telling myself that I can get even slimmer, that since I have been successfully maintaining for years, I can really manage this aspect of my life.
I can especially do it for all 100 days.
I am learning even more good habits.
I'm using a great plan that is sustainable.
I can be inspired by the accomplishments of others.
I can do it because I can do anything I set my mind to.
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/20/2011 19:06
PIRATES!!!
Today I have a day off, so I'm going to see Pirates of the Caribbean. I can hardly wait! This is supposed to be the best one ever. I hope my expectations aren't too high, but Johnny Depp always seems to deliver.
I'm looking forward to this!
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/19/2011 23:24
Don't You See??!!
When we've had a history of yoyoing or diet failures, sometimes we're a little reluctant to let anyone know we are losing weight—again! But when we've been working hard at dropping the pounds, we are understandably proud, and want someone to notice. We may even have lost more pounds than ever before, or at least more than we've lost the last three attempts.
And no one says anything.
WHAT?! Can't you see I am shrinking?!
There can be a number of reasons why no one says anything, and it isn't always because no one noticed. Commenting on a woman's weight can be a dangerous minefield to stumble into. Men, especially, don't want to go there, out of cold, knee-shaking fear! Women have their own, more complex reasons.
My own experience was very frustrating. I had lost 35 pounds, and no one had said a word to me about it. We even went to a party, and everyone was fussing over my husband, and complimenting him on losing all kinds of weight he hadn't even lost! I went home that night, crushed. I had worked so hard, and no one even noticed!
I did what any self-respecting American woman would do under these circumstances—I took myself out for some retail therapy. I found some good sales, and finally rewarded myself with clothes three sizes smaller than when I started my program.
A few days later, we met the same group of friends at a restaurant for FAC. What a difference a few days made! Everyone was marveling at how good I looked, and how much weight I had lost. Overnight. Right. Clothes that fit had made all the difference in the world. When we went home that night, I tried on one of my old outfits, and realized that those saggy baggy clothes had kept anyone from being able to see what I had accomplished.
So I did what any self-respecting American woman would do under these circumstances—I took myself out for some more retail therapy.
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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05/19/2011 23:22
Monotony: Weight Loss Trick
I have to admit, I have had little or no desire to overeat since I started having the same things every day. So far, I have been surprised that haven't gotten bored with it, either. Obviously, it's something I need to continue, at least for a while.
I'll take whatever "diet magic" I can find!
So after the same breakfast, lunch and snacks today as for the last eight days, I will once again be having rice pilaf, asparagus, and 3 oz. of meat for dinner. The only variation has been that on some nights the meat is beef, and on some nights, chicken.
The first few days, I lost several pounds of water weight. Now, let's hope that for the rest of the week, it translated into fat loss, too!
Posted By: Helen Wheels
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