10/04/2008 12:02
Food choices and experiments...
My it's fun trying new things and seeing how my body responds. I've been on Soy milk for about a month now (I only use milk in smoothies and coffee) and I've found my GI tract has calmed down a lot. A couple days ago, I wanted ice cream and was DUMB enough to give into the whim... BAD idea.. I had such gut wrenching pain that it nearly sent me to the hospital ER. So.. I'm guessing dairy IS a problem afterall. I've also been trying vegan/vegetarian foods. I made two chicken pattie sammies the other day; one regular chicken patty and the other a Boca chicken patty. I had J taste each in turn, then switched them on him... by the end of the experiment HE liked the Boca patty better and so did I! It was too much fun.. he was sure he'd like the real better.. hee hee ... wrong answer! Does anyone know of a lactose free/vegan cheese that tastes like cheese? I miss my cheese!
Posted By: tartnsweet
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09/30/2008 08:10
Optimism rules today...
I woke early this a.m and felt renewed from a great night's sleep, for once! I DECIDED today would be great. I had my plan mapped out... smoothie for breakfast and walk the dog for a hour just after sun up. Then I'd do some work in the office for a few hours. Do a vegan lunch, and go to J's doctor's appointment. Come home and walk the dog for another half hour, grab a granola bar and do some more yard work. Then do a poor girl's chicken cordon blu for dinner: chicken breast stuffed with spinach, thin ham and mozzerella (it's surprisingly yummy!). Well... it's now about 8 am and it's been raining ALL morning already. sigh.. but it's still going to be a good day... nanana.... nothing can get me down today.. nope. I just keep reminding myself that all this bad stuff is happening lately to make room for something much, much better.
Posted By: tartnsweet
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09/28/2008 22:33
Hanging in and Holding on....
sigh... I keep playing with the same few pounds between 242 - 239; up, down, up, down...I think the new scale is more frustration than it's worth some days! I wish my weight would go down and STAY down. No, I'm not being perfect lately. I've been breaking my own 'master plan' rules more than I care to admit. It's amazing how hard it is to change one's habits. The whole stress eating habit is especially hard to break!
Stress? the insurance company is failing to move things along very quickly, J broke his foot and is on short term disability, and my dog (Jada) had to have surgery to remove splinters from the tree that had fallen in the yard. UGH.. Stress?... nah... LOL
Anyhoo... I'm hanging in and holding on once choice at a time....
Posted By: tartnsweet
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09/07/2008 12:27
Amazing... the scale moved - downward!
Wow, positively amazing that the scale moved - downward - especially given the last couple of weeks of bad eating and lack of walking (maybe all the debris cleanup/room emptying has made up for the lack of actual exercise). But today begins a new week, and so far I have been on track with my eating (one hour at a time, some times!!!). I simply need to stay focused on MY goals, and be in tune to MY body. It's so easy to grab junk when tired or frustrated. So my goals this week are to stay 'in tune' and do what *I* need - and put the rest of the world on hold when I need to. For example, I have trouble taking naps during the day (I feel lazy or guilty or something) but there are days I need to nap, or shut down for a few. I have also spoken to J about my lack of commitment lately and apologized for giving him mixed signals on how serious I am about getting the weight off. He has gone into 'free for all' mode, bringing junk food into the house. He's agreed to stop bringing it in, as I have a tendency to grab junk instead of real food. My goal this week is to stay focused on MY goals (regardless of if J wants to watch his weight or not) and control only what I have any power over, ME. For now, I'll try to stay out of the junk food that's here, and keep visualizing my dream of having junk in the house and being so desensitized to it that it spoils before I eat it. What a lovely dream....
Posted By: tartnsweet
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09/06/2008 22:27
Fay....tree IN my house. It's hard not to eat when under STRESS
On Aug. 21 st, the winds were low and the rain level was high. About 10:30 p.m, there was a HUGE explosive sound, shattering glass, a trembling house - a tree had fallen on top of the house, covering the Florida room and garage. We were a mere 10 ft. away in the living room! After we stopped trembling/crying in terror, we quickly started to empty the contents from the FL room, which was being used as a workshop/studio for stained glass and mosaics business (Business is essentially closed until further notice). J grabbed 4x4 posts from the garage and wedged them between the floor and ceiling to prop up the falling roof. He quickly went outside, with a flashlight, to see what exactly had been hit. By the grace of god, the tree had fallen perfectly. Perfectly? meaning the tree didn't hit the main house which would have meant we'd have to move out, the house would have been condemned and subject to mold, mildew and other problems (although the garage still is.. ugh). Meanwhile, we are still waiting for the insurance company to determine the value of the claim. We're dealing with contractors (good and bad), which is quite a new experience. I'm all for learning new things but not so keen on it when it's forced onto me. The adjustor has informed us that the entire back half of the house must be demolished, including the slab foundation (it is not up to local codes). Therefore, this will not be something that's resolved quickly. Water and debris falls thru the roof with each rain, near daily or more often, creating a complete MESS that we and the dog are tracking into the house (the FL room is the only exit to the outside, so there is no choice. It's also the only way to the garage where the laundry area is). To make matters worse, J fructured his foot (we don't know how) and is out of work for 4-10 weeks, in a cast and on crutches. Although he can apply for short term disability, it's not going to be a regular check. SO... I am STRESSED!!! I don't know of a personal money genie - drats. Anyhoo, I'm trying to get my walking schedule on track because haven't done so well over the last couple weeks. And eating? I want to eat everything in sight.. STRESS eat. I'm TRYING to gently remind myself that eating won't make the problems go away, nor help the stress. I'm trying to be grateful for the good parts to this whole thing; by the grace of god no one was hurt, we may end up with a larger/nicer studio space out as things must be brought up to code, and a cement wall between the front and back yard has been taken out by the tree (I hated that wall!) and a nice stockade fence with dual gate will take it's place. I have a great vision for what we'll do with the spaces that were affected. Now, if the insurance just comes thru with a good number we can get moving along on it. Sigh... I'm destined to learn that yucky P word (patience) which I HATE. Sigh....
Posted By: tartnsweet
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08/20/2008 07:53
Looking at more than just the numbers @ WI
UGH...it's hard to believe, but the scale has NOT budged for some time now! (I started this journey July 7th, before I found EP, and I weighed 252 so I had lost 4lbs. prior to EP.) However, I feel more weight should have come off by NOW. Sigh...I am trying to keep a good attitude and have faith that if I do what I'm suppose to do, it WILL happen for me - my body WILL respond! When I think back to previous weight lose efforts, my body tends to keep the weight and suddenly BAM! - a few lbs. down at once. Meanwhile, I am trying to keep in mind the things that ARE changing; 1) My food choices are MUCH better. 2) My daily headaches are SUBSTANTIALLY reduced now that I am eating less processed/packaged foods. 3) I DO fit into shorts I haven't been able to zip/button for over a year, so my waist is getting a bit smaller. 4) The exercise is helping a LOT with the chonic pain I've had in my back. 5) I AM feeling stronger physically, and mentally, than I have in a LONG time! So, I'm back to the patience thang... growl, I hate that word... I walked 45 mins. yesterday, and biked 60 mins. My intake was pretty good too, although I did eat a bit more than I should at dinnertime (breakfast and lunch are fine, dinner is an issue... J is home then...hmmm ). Today's Goals; Exercise bike min. 30 mins. (Faye in coming thru today) and not overeat from stress/boredom/frustration.
Posted By: tartnsweet
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08/19/2008 06:50
Ranting and raving... and other ponderings
-After my woohooo attitude yesterday, I proceeded with what looked to a 'good day' for me. I took my walk, breakfast was banana and Fiber One bar, midmorning blueberry smoothie was portioned (usually I make too much for 1 person), late lunch was salmon and thai veggies and dinner was turkey burger/veggie 'pie'. Plus I drank LOTS of water yesterday. The problem? When lunch came around my hunger was RAGING. I knew I was suppose to cook and eat one piece of salmon but I cooked and ate 2. At dinner, the 'man' made an altered version of his favorite shepard pie. It looked so good, he even made a pretty decorative crust on it; his kitchen skills FAR exceed mine. At dinner, AGAIN, I had double portions. Yesterday was one of those days when my hunger button was pressed all darn day long. I don't know why I have days like that, unless I'm misreading my tummy's medical conditon as hunger - which I might be. Or maybe I didn't have enough protein at breakfast and it left me feeling hungry all day. The consequence of overeating at lunch and dinner was/is telling myself more lies. The lies? I tell myself to give myself a break because I AM altering the types of foods I'm eating. I tell myself it's totally okay to have portions that are a little high when I'm really hungry because 'normal' people take doubles when they want to. I tell myself portion control doesn't always have to be every day in the beginning stage of this journey; I'm not going to be perfect! I tell myself these things to let myself off the hook, so I don't beat myself up all week, feel like a failure and throw my hands up and say 'F it' it's not worth trying. (I am a perfectionist by nature and want things perfect; I know it's my quasi-reality because NOTHING will be perfect. Good enough, has to be - good enough). I overate SALMON and mainly VEGGIES! In a *billion* years, I would have never expected to gladly eat salmon, let alone over eat it! I wanted 'naughty' stuff all day long and had things in the cabinet to nibble on or I could have baked something (and destroyed the evidence before the man got home!!) but I didn't - Go Me!
UGH.... I guess all I can do is go from today. It would be pointless to beat myself up about yesterday (right?) because it's already done and gone. So today I will do what I have to do one choice at a time.... Goals: exercise, and not overeat.
/
Posted By: tartnsweet
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08/18/2008 06:36
Armed with tools and increasing support - woohooo!
Have tools! Got me a digital scale, a $75 scale on sale for $20! (God has got my back and he's lining things up as I need them!). I am so thankful for the stories on EP, especially stories with ups and downs. They remind me I'm not alone with good-day/bad-day syndrome, as I call it. You're all so inspiring! I just wish there was time to respond to every blog I would like to respond to! My neighbor looks to be a reliable walking buddy, although she doesnt go every day, she shows up on time - LOVE that! The 'man' is being more supportive than before, although I have to gently remind him not to bring junk food into the house (I am a BINGE eater, so environmental control is hugely important for me). I have to keep the faith that if I do what I'm suppose to do, and follow my 'rules' toward a sensible lifestyle change, the scale WILL respond!
I have already gotten my 60 min/3 miles walk out of the way... go me!
Please forgive my lack of separation in paragraphs but I haven't figured out how to make spaces, bold, colors etc. yet. It looks how I want it in the post box but the blog looks all blobbed together, dang it!
Posted By: tartnsweet
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08/16/2008 10:02
The MASTER PLAN - steps, habits and strategies I'll use to get to a healthier me.
I had mentioned in my 1st post that I'd outline my strategies another time, so here goes.......
1) Exercise: 45 min/5 days minimum (build up as I get stronger).
2) Keep Exercise Journal.
3) Keep Food Journal.
4) Keep Personal Journal/blog at EP.
5) Weigh in weekly.
6) Menu Plan Dinners - Fish 2 nights a week (fish has been among me avoided foods but I'm finding ways to make it taste GOOD, Chicken 2 nights a week, Pasta/high starch meal 1 night a week, Beef or Pork 1 night a week, a 'Freebee" (eat out or order in) 1 night a week. (Historically I eat WAY too much beef and high saturated fat meats). Any of the meat meals can be swapped out for vegetarian as I learn more recipes, etc.
7) Eat a healthy breakfast daily (try to use eggbeaters replace eggs when I have eggs.)
8) 5-6 mini meals instead of 3 large meals a day.
9) NO soda, ice cream or other processed junk foods allowed in house (I can't eat what isn't here!).
10) Limit pre-packaged meals (too high in sodium) and read labels pre-packed foods.
11) Shopping Strategies: don't shop while hungry or tired and use a list.
12) Cooking Strategies: chew gum while cooking, put leftovers away before I eat, and bake, broil or boil nearly everything.
13) Act of eating: Eat more slowly, at the table, and don't watch others eat!
(I tend to eat more quickly if I see people around me eating quickly).
14) Learn and Try new things: I'm not real domestic but I am trying new recipes, vegetarian and low fat, to get a better handle on what goes in my mouth and body! Also trying to learn about portions; they seem so small! (Do people of normal weight really eat that LITTLE?).
15) Late Night Munchie Squashers: chew gum, munch ice cubes, and nibble pieces of frozen fruit.
16) Barter for cravings that won't go away - if I MUST have chocolate or ice cream, I have to ride (bike, not car!), or walk for it and I get one and ONLY one serving. Preplanning what to buy is very helpful because I don't hover and end up overdoing it.
17) Remember it's a process...and try to be patient (I hate that word!) with myself and my body - because I didn't get this fat overnight!
That's the MASTER PLAN!!! It's not ridiculously rigid and I actually *think* I can live with it LONG TERM! I know diets do NOT work. Diets are full of constant restrictions and when I go back to 'normal', I gain more weight than I lost. This plan is more about incorporating good habits and disassociating with recognizable bad habits I've developed. I'd like to think of this as a journey in self-discovery (and self-recovery on the road back to ME!) and an adventure! Wish me luck!!!
Posted By: tartnsweet
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08/16/2008 07:50
Walk is DONE... god bless dogs!
It's 9:30 a.m and I've done the 60 minute walk. My dog, Jada, is more than happy to get me moving in the morning. She's a liver spot dalmation (brown spots instead of black) and very vocal when she wants something. Thanks to her there's no such thing as going back to sleep!. God bless dogs! My neighbor, and her dog, Rough, joined us!
Posted By: tartnsweet
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