I've taken this whole "maintaining" thing too far, I think. :-)
Over the last few weeks, I've substituted one food for another, and in the process, added calories a little here and there. As a result, I have not lost anything. I weighed this morning at 176.4, which is the same as always. I'm not complaining, although it sounds like I'm bummed out. I'm really not. I'm enjoying my maintaining schedule.
Last week, I went to a "food" party, where samples were served, and we could order yummy things to fill our pantry. I sampled, and I bought. And I didn't feel guilty. It was actually nice to feel like I could have a bite of something, and not have a million eyes staring at me. I used to always think that, even among friends, there were those that were thinking, "She shouldn't be eating that!" or, "Get that girl a salad!" LOL
I'm back to normal, and really happy about it. I'm feeling less judged every day. :-)
Last weekend, I went to Reno with Bunna's mom, and we ate, and drank, and gambled! Our drink of choice is Bailey's and coffee, and we had a few. We also made a sharp right into the little goodie shop upstairs at Circus Circus when we smelled ice cream. Yes, you CAN smell ice cream, if your ice cream radar in on, and ours apparently was.
I was good to a point, though. I haven't lost all my senses, yet! I had a veggie panini on Friday night, with a bowl of soup. And a cookie for dessert. On Saturday night, I had a big Cobb salad and bowl of soup. I stole a couple of onion rings from Bunna's mom's plate, but other than that, I was mostly under control.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and it goes without saying that the food will be tempting. I think I'll have a glass of Benefiber before we go to Bunna's family's house, and I might dig up a capsule or two of Hoodia. I bought it a while back, and haven't really tested it yet. I've heard good things, but I'm not much for supplements like that. I don't trust them completely to be safe. But I'll try them tomorrow, and see if they don't curb my appetite a little. It's tough when everything smells so good and there are so many treats everywhere!
I'll check in again after this holiday. Christmas is coming, and with it, the stress of the season; shopping, finances, and work. It will be a new test for me to make it through the holidays without bouncing too high on the scale!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Holidays are comin'!
Well, here come the holidays. If I want to have that extra cushion of safety, then I need to lose 10 lbs before Thanksgiving! That way, if I have an extra calorie here and there, it won't throw me into a tailspin!
Went to the gym today, after a long hiatus. It felt good, considering I haven't been on an elliptical in months. I did a solid 30 minutes, which is more than what I did 80 pounds ago. It didn't kill me, and in fact, felt good. My legs weren't burning, although that would be a good thing. It was nice to know that I'm not so out of shape that I can do that length of time without pooping out. If I had cranked up the intensity, I would have felt some burn. Next time maybe. This time it was enough to know that I'm back on the horse... hopefully, for a while.
I was on a machine today between two friends. I didn't know they were friends, or I might have jumped on a machine on the end. But they didn't mind so much that I had gotten between them. They continued to talk, and included me.
Turns out both of them had gone to Curves before, like I had. And amazingly, we hadn't run into each other there, because we all went to the same location, during the same period of time.
And although we all had good things to say about the experience, we all agreed that there was more socializing and games going on there than actual working out. The three of us couldn't say that we had lost any weight, or toned up during our time there.
One of the women goes to a 6 am strength training class on Wednesday mornings at our current gym. She's not much older than me, and in comparable shape, so I think I could handle it. Assuming that I can get my buns out of bed at 5:30. Ugh... am I actually considering this? We'll see.
She told me it's a 10 minute stationary bike warm up, then a type of circuit program. I'm assuming it's an hour class, and she says they switch weights every 60 seconds. Hmmm. Sounds like a pretty active class! Whether I can get through it without my morning coffee is yet to be seen... But knowing my coffee is waiting for me in my warm kitchen would be a good reward!
This morning I weighed 178, which is at the high end of my bounce range. Back on schedule this week, with no more "little of this" and "a little of that". I should be back down towards the lower end of the range, around 173, in another week. Then I can start pushing again towards getting into the 160's. Nice... I haven't seen those numbers in about 30 years! Haha.
Went to the gym today, after a long hiatus. It felt good, considering I haven't been on an elliptical in months. I did a solid 30 minutes, which is more than what I did 80 pounds ago. It didn't kill me, and in fact, felt good. My legs weren't burning, although that would be a good thing. It was nice to know that I'm not so out of shape that I can do that length of time without pooping out. If I had cranked up the intensity, I would have felt some burn. Next time maybe. This time it was enough to know that I'm back on the horse... hopefully, for a while.
I was on a machine today between two friends. I didn't know they were friends, or I might have jumped on a machine on the end. But they didn't mind so much that I had gotten between them. They continued to talk, and included me.
Turns out both of them had gone to Curves before, like I had. And amazingly, we hadn't run into each other there, because we all went to the same location, during the same period of time.
And although we all had good things to say about the experience, we all agreed that there was more socializing and games going on there than actual working out. The three of us couldn't say that we had lost any weight, or toned up during our time there.
One of the women goes to a 6 am strength training class on Wednesday mornings at our current gym. She's not much older than me, and in comparable shape, so I think I could handle it. Assuming that I can get my buns out of bed at 5:30. Ugh... am I actually considering this? We'll see.
She told me it's a 10 minute stationary bike warm up, then a type of circuit program. I'm assuming it's an hour class, and she says they switch weights every 60 seconds. Hmmm. Sounds like a pretty active class! Whether I can get through it without my morning coffee is yet to be seen... But knowing my coffee is waiting for me in my warm kitchen would be a good reward!
This morning I weighed 178, which is at the high end of my bounce range. Back on schedule this week, with no more "little of this" and "a little of that". I should be back down towards the lower end of the range, around 173, in another week. Then I can start pushing again towards getting into the 160's. Nice... I haven't seen those numbers in about 30 years! Haha.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Same weight for 4 weeks.
So, my birthday came and went, and now I am the big 4-7. A couple weeks before my birthday, I realized that I was only 3 pounds from my goal weight of 170. Actually, it was on October 20th, that I weighed 173.2.
I've had a lot of days since then that have been nowhere near my goal intake of 1100 daily calories. In fact, I'm sure there were days I was pushing 2000 calories. But, based on most guides I've read regarding a person's necessary caloric needs, I should be eating 2400 calories to maintain my weight, and if I were to eat 2000 a day, it would take quite some time to lose anything. I think that eating 2000 a day would put me at a weight loss rate of 1-2 pounds per month.
So on October 20th, I thought I would hit my goal weight by my birthday, which was the 27th. One week to lose 3 pounds? Totally do-able, but it would have meant that I would have to watch my calories closely, and get in a good workout daily.
Those things just didn't happen, for some reason. I think now that I'm in a size I like, and my weight is so normal, it's just become less of a priority to actually lose more. I'm happy with my current size, and whether or not I lose the next 5-10 in a month, or 6 months, isn't a huge concern.
This morning I weighed 177.2, which is exactly what I weighed on September 29th. So it's been 4 weeks of maintaining, with no loss. I have been as low as 173.2, but I tend to bounce up and down about 3-4 pounds, depending what my body is going through that day. Cramping and bloating tend to keep my up a couple pounds, and then they come off after a couple days.
My big thing now is toning, and building muscle. I really have to do this, and it's not something I'm thrilled about... yet. There was a time when I loved going to the gym, and I loved my walking. But up until now, the dieting has worked so well for me, I haven't felt the need to exercise at all. I know, I know. It's gotta happen. And one day, I'll wake up, and just like the day I started to eat healthy, I'll know this is the day I'm going to stick with my exercise. That day just hasn't hit me yet. But it's coming... soon.
I've had a lot of days since then that have been nowhere near my goal intake of 1100 daily calories. In fact, I'm sure there were days I was pushing 2000 calories. But, based on most guides I've read regarding a person's necessary caloric needs, I should be eating 2400 calories to maintain my weight, and if I were to eat 2000 a day, it would take quite some time to lose anything. I think that eating 2000 a day would put me at a weight loss rate of 1-2 pounds per month.
So on October 20th, I thought I would hit my goal weight by my birthday, which was the 27th. One week to lose 3 pounds? Totally do-able, but it would have meant that I would have to watch my calories closely, and get in a good workout daily.
Those things just didn't happen, for some reason. I think now that I'm in a size I like, and my weight is so normal, it's just become less of a priority to actually lose more. I'm happy with my current size, and whether or not I lose the next 5-10 in a month, or 6 months, isn't a huge concern.
This morning I weighed 177.2, which is exactly what I weighed on September 29th. So it's been 4 weeks of maintaining, with no loss. I have been as low as 173.2, but I tend to bounce up and down about 3-4 pounds, depending what my body is going through that day. Cramping and bloating tend to keep my up a couple pounds, and then they come off after a couple days.
My big thing now is toning, and building muscle. I really have to do this, and it's not something I'm thrilled about... yet. There was a time when I loved going to the gym, and I loved my walking. But up until now, the dieting has worked so well for me, I haven't felt the need to exercise at all. I know, I know. It's gotta happen. And one day, I'll wake up, and just like the day I started to eat healthy, I'll know this is the day I'm going to stick with my exercise. That day just hasn't hit me yet. But it's coming... soon.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Svelte
Svelte (svelt) adj. (Fr) 1. slender; lithe 2. suave
Growing up, that word came up a lot. It was the word my mother used to describe a tall, thin woman. It was the word my teen boyfriend used to describe what he'd like me to become.* It was a word I never thought I'd hear used to describe me at age 47.
Thanks to Linda, my co-worker, for making my day yesterday. She saw me on the dock as we were unloading our trucks, and said, "You're looking very svelte lately!"
Oh! You could have knocked me over with a feather! Up until now, any word anyone has used to describe me sounded unreal. I've been called "skinny" and it didn't register that maybe I was getting there. Although "skinny" is not necessarily a complimentary word. Maybe "fit" or "healthy" sound better to me. "Skinny" sounds like you're sickly.
Anyway, the word svelte is a word that sums up exactly what my goal has been all this time. When I was 256 lbs, I never thought I'd see the day when someone used that word to describe me! I was never svelte as a teen, certainly not svelte in my 20s and 30s, and up until the last 8 or so months, I was hardly svelte. I was unhealthy, bloated, and pale. The farthest thing from svelte. My 5' 10" was almost embarrassing, because I always considered myself an Amazon; too tall, and too heavy. Now, my height is attractive again. You gotta be tall to be svelte, right?
Ahhh... how nice to be to this point. I'm so looking forward to the rest of my time on this planet, now that weight is not an obstacle. Holy cow! I can do anything!
Oh, and by the way... I weighed in at 173.2 this morning! Woohoo!
* See "Boots" entry, March '10.
Growing up, that word came up a lot. It was the word my mother used to describe a tall, thin woman. It was the word my teen boyfriend used to describe what he'd like me to become.* It was a word I never thought I'd hear used to describe me at age 47.
Thanks to Linda, my co-worker, for making my day yesterday. She saw me on the dock as we were unloading our trucks, and said, "You're looking very svelte lately!"
Oh! You could have knocked me over with a feather! Up until now, any word anyone has used to describe me sounded unreal. I've been called "skinny" and it didn't register that maybe I was getting there. Although "skinny" is not necessarily a complimentary word. Maybe "fit" or "healthy" sound better to me. "Skinny" sounds like you're sickly.
Anyway, the word svelte is a word that sums up exactly what my goal has been all this time. When I was 256 lbs, I never thought I'd see the day when someone used that word to describe me! I was never svelte as a teen, certainly not svelte in my 20s and 30s, and up until the last 8 or so months, I was hardly svelte. I was unhealthy, bloated, and pale. The farthest thing from svelte. My 5' 10" was almost embarrassing, because I always considered myself an Amazon; too tall, and too heavy. Now, my height is attractive again. You gotta be tall to be svelte, right?
Ahhh... how nice to be to this point. I'm so looking forward to the rest of my time on this planet, now that weight is not an obstacle. Holy cow! I can do anything!
Oh, and by the way... I weighed in at 173.2 this morning! Woohoo!
* See "Boots" entry, March '10.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Bonus photo!
Here's a little bonus photo. Me in my size 10s again. I think I have a photo of me in these jeans a few posts back, but this one is a frontal view. :-)
I really should enlist my son to be my photographer. These bathroom mirror pictures are pretty cheesy.
Drink Mixes
This morning I woke up and realized I hadn't written anything in the blog for days. When nothing much is happening, I'm not always motivated to write. But in fact, my weight has been up and down, but slowly staying towards the down side.
Over the weekend, I overate. Well, overeating to me now, is way different than overeating how I used to.
On Saturday, we went to Bunna's parents' house for dinner. We brought with us a pea and cauliflower salad, and they had steaks, baked potato, green salad and cottage cheese and peaches. Overall, in the right proportion, it was a great healthy dinner. So many times, leaving home can be treacherous. To come out of your comfort zone and try to blend with the people that eat regular food is still something I'm learning to do.
Bunna's mom also made a chocolate cake. I had three small squares. I just couldn't resist. We also had coffee and Bailey's with our dessert. I knew for sure that I would wake up Sunday morning feeling guilty and bloated.
BUT... Sunday morning, I weighed my least yet! The scale said 174.2, and I had to rub my eyes to believe it.
Maybe it was a little dehydration, or maybe just a fluke, because Monday morning, I weighed an even 176 again. And this morning, I'm back to 174.6.
I've been considering ways to make sure I'm getting all the water I need, and all the protein, without going over my calorie count for the day.
I've discovered the Crystal Light zero calorie drink mixes. I'm probably the last person on the planet to find these, but over the summer, I started trying them, and now I don't leave home without them!
Better yet, I've found that Walmart makes a version of these drink mixes, and I've also found the Wyler's version at the Grocery Outlet.
Each flavor packet is designed to do something different for your body. I've got the fiber packets, the energy packets, the metabolism packets, the vitamin enhanced packets, the hydration packets and the immunity packets. I half-freeze 3-20 oz. bottles with water each night, and the next day for work, I fill the bottles the rest of the way with water, and mix in a packet. I get three flavors for the day! And since my day consists of 5 hours in the hot sun in the summer, I always finish my 3 bottles. That's a good 60 oz of water, which is not a bad start. On really hot days, I find myself hitting up every drinking fountain on my route, too.
Now that the cooler weather is here, I'll likely cut back to 2 bottles a day. When it's 30 degrees outside, I just don't feel like slamming ice cold water. Call me crazy.
Anyway, these drink mixes are great. And with no calories, they are the perfect way to get that sugar taste without getting all the caffeine and other bad stuff they put in diet sodas. They're not as good for you as drinking straight water, but they are, in my opinion, the next best thing!
And as much as I enjoy a fresh glass of real orange juice, the sugar content in real juice is unreal! Three hundred calories in a glass of real orange juice compared to zero calories in a glass of Wyler's Immunity Orange Flavor mix? That's a no brainer.
Over the weekend, I overate. Well, overeating to me now, is way different than overeating how I used to.
On Saturday, we went to Bunna's parents' house for dinner. We brought with us a pea and cauliflower salad, and they had steaks, baked potato, green salad and cottage cheese and peaches. Overall, in the right proportion, it was a great healthy dinner. So many times, leaving home can be treacherous. To come out of your comfort zone and try to blend with the people that eat regular food is still something I'm learning to do.
Bunna's mom also made a chocolate cake. I had three small squares. I just couldn't resist. We also had coffee and Bailey's with our dessert. I knew for sure that I would wake up Sunday morning feeling guilty and bloated.
BUT... Sunday morning, I weighed my least yet! The scale said 174.2, and I had to rub my eyes to believe it.
Maybe it was a little dehydration, or maybe just a fluke, because Monday morning, I weighed an even 176 again. And this morning, I'm back to 174.6.
I've been considering ways to make sure I'm getting all the water I need, and all the protein, without going over my calorie count for the day.
I've discovered the Crystal Light zero calorie drink mixes. I'm probably the last person on the planet to find these, but over the summer, I started trying them, and now I don't leave home without them!
Better yet, I've found that Walmart makes a version of these drink mixes, and I've also found the Wyler's version at the Grocery Outlet.
Each flavor packet is designed to do something different for your body. I've got the fiber packets, the energy packets, the metabolism packets, the vitamin enhanced packets, the hydration packets and the immunity packets. I half-freeze 3-20 oz. bottles with water each night, and the next day for work, I fill the bottles the rest of the way with water, and mix in a packet. I get three flavors for the day! And since my day consists of 5 hours in the hot sun in the summer, I always finish my 3 bottles. That's a good 60 oz of water, which is not a bad start. On really hot days, I find myself hitting up every drinking fountain on my route, too.
Now that the cooler weather is here, I'll likely cut back to 2 bottles a day. When it's 30 degrees outside, I just don't feel like slamming ice cold water. Call me crazy.
Anyway, these drink mixes are great. And with no calories, they are the perfect way to get that sugar taste without getting all the caffeine and other bad stuff they put in diet sodas. They're not as good for you as drinking straight water, but they are, in my opinion, the next best thing!
And as much as I enjoy a fresh glass of real orange juice, the sugar content in real juice is unreal! Three hundred calories in a glass of real orange juice compared to zero calories in a glass of Wyler's Immunity Orange Flavor mix? That's a no brainer.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
100 Calories?
I started this "body overhaul" on February 2, 2010. Today is October 14, 2010, so I'm just over 8 months into this process. Today I weighed the same as I've weighed before, and matched the lowest weight so far to date. My scale said 175.2 this morning.
I've seen this weight before. It seems as if I stay here for a day or two, then I start feeling secure, and I have a few extra calories over the weekend or for some event. The next thing you know, I'm back to 178. I know it's only temporary, and a day or two of counting every calorie gets me right back down, but so far, and for the last month or so, that 175.2 is the lowest I can go.
Everyone goes through that stalled period. The "plateau". I say, "Plateau, Schmateau!" I good day of exercise and whole foods should get me down that next 5 lbs! I've got only 13 days until my 47th birthday, and I intend to hit that 170 mark by then.
I have sustained myself on the same type of food for over 8 months. I eat fiber bars, fruit, cheese, egg beaters, whole grains, lean meats, soy meat substitutes, dairy products, lots of green salads with tomato and low-cal dressing, and low-cal tv dinners. There are times when I just need a taste of what I used to eat. I don't want to cut that "bad" stuff completely out of my diet, but I need to know how much is enough. No more 1" thick peanut butter sanwiches. No more, "I'm gonna have a second donut! There's just so good!" I can snack responsibly if a situation comes up where there's bad food. I just have to know when to stop. Easy enough, right?
When you need to satisfy a craving, I've learned to go for what you crave. If you try to satisfy the craving with something else, like a rice cake, (haha) you'll still have that itch. If you want peanut butter, go ahead. Put a little on a rice cake, and stop at one! There are ways to get your fix without going off your plan.
Here are a few things that can be substituted for a fiber bar occasionally. But remember... these things might satisfy an urge to splurge, but they won't stop your stomach from growling if it's 3 hours from dinner!
One tablespoon of peanut butter.
Seven potato chips.
Four chocolate kisses.
1/3 of a fast food cheeseburger.
Fifteen french fries.
2/3 of a can of soda.
1/2 of a glazed donut.
Eight saltine crackers.
One tablespoon margarine.
I do have a fry once in awhile. I do have a potato chip. And I love a bite of chocolate occasionally. But I remember back in the day... I used to enjoy a PB&J so much, I'd make a second one. I'd stop on my route for a coffee, (sugary and creamy) and finish it off with a couple of mini-mart fried snacks. I was doing that twice a week! Baking every weekend was the norm, and fast food places were always there for last minute dinners. Pizza, thick and cheesy, was on the dinner table at least once a week, and boxed side dishes like Rice-a-Roni or mac 'n cheese were regular part of dinner.
But not so much now. I've got healthier foods in the pantry and fridge. And the family is benefiting from it.
I've seen this weight before. It seems as if I stay here for a day or two, then I start feeling secure, and I have a few extra calories over the weekend or for some event. The next thing you know, I'm back to 178. I know it's only temporary, and a day or two of counting every calorie gets me right back down, but so far, and for the last month or so, that 175.2 is the lowest I can go.
Everyone goes through that stalled period. The "plateau". I say, "Plateau, Schmateau!" I good day of exercise and whole foods should get me down that next 5 lbs! I've got only 13 days until my 47th birthday, and I intend to hit that 170 mark by then.
I have sustained myself on the same type of food for over 8 months. I eat fiber bars, fruit, cheese, egg beaters, whole grains, lean meats, soy meat substitutes, dairy products, lots of green salads with tomato and low-cal dressing, and low-cal tv dinners. There are times when I just need a taste of what I used to eat. I don't want to cut that "bad" stuff completely out of my diet, but I need to know how much is enough. No more 1" thick peanut butter sanwiches. No more, "I'm gonna have a second donut! There's just so good!" I can snack responsibly if a situation comes up where there's bad food. I just have to know when to stop. Easy enough, right?
When you need to satisfy a craving, I've learned to go for what you crave. If you try to satisfy the craving with something else, like a rice cake, (haha) you'll still have that itch. If you want peanut butter, go ahead. Put a little on a rice cake, and stop at one! There are ways to get your fix without going off your plan.
Here are a few things that can be substituted for a fiber bar occasionally. But remember... these things might satisfy an urge to splurge, but they won't stop your stomach from growling if it's 3 hours from dinner!
One tablespoon of peanut butter.
Seven potato chips.
Four chocolate kisses.
1/3 of a fast food cheeseburger.
Fifteen french fries.
2/3 of a can of soda.
1/2 of a glazed donut.
Eight saltine crackers.
One tablespoon margarine.
I do have a fry once in awhile. I do have a potato chip. And I love a bite of chocolate occasionally. But I remember back in the day... I used to enjoy a PB&J so much, I'd make a second one. I'd stop on my route for a coffee, (sugary and creamy) and finish it off with a couple of mini-mart fried snacks. I was doing that twice a week! Baking every weekend was the norm, and fast food places were always there for last minute dinners. Pizza, thick and cheesy, was on the dinner table at least once a week, and boxed side dishes like Rice-a-Roni or mac 'n cheese were regular part of dinner.
But not so much now. I've got healthier foods in the pantry and fridge. And the family is benefiting from it.
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