I do a lot of work on the computer. In fact, I do too much work on the computer. I’m on my summer break trying to generate some more revenue but the bad thing is my sleeping schedule is messed up and I’m working out 1/2 the time I used to. Well that stops today. I’m going to go to the local middle school football yard and running sprints. I’m also going to do some pushups, jump rope, and curls to get some all around workout in me. Once you start getting in better shape, you can’t let it go, you just can’t. The mountain can make you pause sometimes, but never stop.
weight loss plateau
Today’s weight: 279, + 1 pound from last weigh-in.
Uh-oh, the scale is moving, but it’s not moving in the right direction. Don’t you just hate it when that happens? Of course, I know very well why it’s happening. Between the Easter holidays, when chocolate eggs are everywhere, and old friends visiting (of course we just have to catch up over dinner) I’ve been putting a lot of temptation in my path.
But if I don’t get back in control, how will I ever manage to be at a weight to enjoy my vacation to Las Vegas in a few weeks? I have no illusions of being thin, mind you, but I would like to fit comfortably into airplane seat.
So today, it’s back to my diet. No exceptions, no excuses, no ifs, ands or buts. The next chocolate Easter egg that gets in my way is going to get squished instead of eaten. I want my trip in April, and later my trip with my family in August, to be fun ones. So, it’s back on the diet wagon for me.
:::sigh:::
I know the experts are seriously divided about whether or not diet colas really do help with weight loss. For me, however, Diet Coke has been a lifesaver. It’s just sweet enough to satisfy my sugar cravings, it gives me something to do with my mouth besides stuff food in it, and it has no calories. It also counts towards the eight glasses of fluid I try to drink every day.
My job requires me to drive for long stretches. On days when I know I’ll be spending a lot of time in my car, I buy a 44-oz. Diet Coke and sip it as I zip along the road. Since I used to eat candy bars while driving, this actually is an improvement.
The only drawback is that I notice I get a little jittery after a mega-dose of cola, and I can counter that by switching to caffeine-free Diet Coke at some point during the day.
Is there a food or a drink that has really helped you with your weight loss goals? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Leave me a note in the “comments” section or leave me a link to your blog.
By sharing our tips and tricks, we can make the weight loss happen!
Last week I was standing in line to get a pretzel. Yes, I know that’s not on my list of diet-approved foods. So shoot me. Anyway, one of the men who was also in line said to me, “You know, those are fattening.” I gestured to my more than ample figure and shot back, “Honestly, do I look like I care?” The people within earshot laughed. At him, not at me.
But that incident really burned me up. How dare a complete stranger take it upon himself to 1) Make judgments about what I should and shouldn’t be eating, and 2) Share those judgments with me? How rude can you get?
It reminded me of my days in college when frat guys used to gather on the sidewalk and rate the bodies of the women walking past them. Back in those days, I actually had a pretty decent body, and friends would ask me why I complained when my ratings were high. I replied that it wasn’t the rating itself but the principle of the thing, the idea that some stranger would make unsolicited remarks–positive or negative–about my body.
Of course, I’m sure nobody reading this blog would ever dream of doing such an insensitive thing. But just in case you’re ever tempted to “help” someone by making a comment about their size or attractiveness, remember this: People who are fat know they are fat. We don’t need to be told. We certainly don’t need to be instructed about healthful eating habits by someone we don’t even know. In these situations, silence isn’t just golden. It’s mandatory.
The other night I was sitting at my computer, typing away, when I heard a loud thud followed by plaintive meowing. As everyone who is owned by cats knows, these are not good sounds. I went to investigate and found my one year old orange tabby, Alexander, stuck in the top-loading clothes washer. Heaven knows what enticed him to jump in there in the first place, but once he was in, he couldn’t get out. I rescued him and went back to work.
About half an hour later, he did it again. And twenty minutes later, another thud and another meow. For my sanity and his safety I finally shut the washer door. But the situation got me to thinking. Alexander is not a stupid cat, but he made the same mistake three times within the space of an hour.
Similarly, I am not a stupid woman, but when it comes to dieting, I tend to make the same mistakes and get myself “stuck” over and over. For instance, yesterday was my “cheat day.” I had a reasonable lunch with a colleague. Then, on the way home from work, I stopped and bought myself a large chocolate Easter Bunny. And even though I was full and it didn’t really even taste that good to me, I ate every mouthful. I don’t even want to think about how many calories were in that thing! If I had enjoyed every one of them, it would have been one thing, but I kept eating when I wasn’t enjoying myself. How silly is that?
Maybe I need to learn a lesson from my cats–and believe me, it wouldn’t be the first–and stop making the same mistakes and expecting different results. From now on, while I am putting food in my mouth, I will be aware of the signals my body is sending me. If it doesn’t taste good or if I’m not hungry, I’ll stop eating. Period.
Today’s weight: 278, + 4 from last week (sigh).
Even though I still think some of my amazing weight loss last week was water weight, I have to admit I slipped a little this week. I ate too many of the wrong foods and too much of the right ones.
Oh, well.
Weight loss is an up and down battle at best. This week I’m up. It’s not the result I wanted, but I know how to get back on track. Those pounds will come off again, and more besides. It just takes time, patience, and a little more self discipline than I’ve been exhibiting recently. Wish me luck!
Last night was not a good night for my diet. A friend that I hadn’t seen in a while called and invited me out to dinner. I promised myself that I’d watch my calorie intake, but in the end I ate like a horse.
You know what the turning point was? The glass of white wine I had before dinner.
I’ve noticed that when I drink even a small amount, I tend to make bad choices about what I eat afterwards. I don’t think about how hard I had to work to get the weight off. I don’t think about how much exercise it will take to work off all those extra calories. I don’t even think about my long term goals, like being able to fit in airplane seats and walk comfortably on my next trip. I just think about how good everything on the menu sounds and how I can let myself slip “just this once.”
So I’ve decided that, except for very special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and vacations, alcohol is off my menu. Oh, I no I won’t be completely immune to temptation without it. But I think keeping my wits about me will make the impulse to binge much easier to resist.
Somewhere along the way, I did something to strain my back. I’ve been experiencing low level back pain for the past couple of weeks, but starting this weekend the pain has become intense spasms. My doctor gave me muscle relaxers and advised me to take it easy for a couple of weeks–a very appropriate response.
A colleague of mine who went to her doctor for pain in her hip got a less appropriate response. The doctor simply advised her to lose weight. He didn’t discuss different options for increasing her comfort in the meantime. It was clear he didn’t care about her pain. All he cared about was her weight.
And that’s just plain wrong. Yes, I know certain health problems are exacerbated by being heavy. And I certainly don’t mind a doctor offering his or her best advice. What I object to is a doctor looking at only one part of the totality, one number of the whole equation. Yes, my friend is heavy, but she also has an old hip injury and significant joint disease which contribute to her pain. The doctor didn’t even mention–much less address–those factors.
Fat-phobia is one of the last socially acceptable prejudices. For this reason, many people who are fat experience considerable discrimination, often from the very people we trust to manage our health. If you’re heavy, by all means inform yourself about the health risks you may face, but don’t let a doctor refuse to treat your conditions or symptoms simply because of your weight. Fat or thin, you still have the right to high-quality, respectful health care.
Today’s weight: 274 pounds, -7 pounds from last week
Yea! I’m not sure all of it is “real” weight loss, a good portion of it may be water weight, but it feels good to be down instead of up. You can bet I did a little Happy Dance when I got off the scales this morning.
In other news, I did something bad to my back last week (not sure what, but it hurts like you-know-what) so I haven’t been exercising much, but I have been watching my calorie intake.
I’ve also been managing my stress better. In fact, I’m taking today off work to pop muscle relaxers and nurse a cold I caught this weekend. It feels good to rest in bed surrounded by cats. I’m catching up on my reading and even treating myself to a little daytime TV. I’ve also had the most glorious nap.
Tomorrow I’l be back on the job, and of course there’ll be plenty of work piled up waiting for me, but it was nice to take a day just to take care of myself. I highly recommend it!
I don’t know what was wrong with me yesterday, but for some reason I was hungry all day. Oh, I was good. I stuck to my diet. But I was utterably miserable doing it. Why?
Well, when I look back at yesterday, the first word that comes to my mind is: STRESS. It was a busy day with lots of clients needing lots of different things, way too much to do and way too little time to do it in.
And for better or for worse, food is how I’ve learned to comfort myself when I get stressed out. I literally eat my feelings instead of finding a more self-nurturing and productive way to deal with them. When I don’t have the food to fall back on, I’m like a child facing the big, bad world without her security blanket. But I’m not a child, and I know that I can find other ways to cope with stress.
Here are a few ideas I’ve come up with.
- Treat myself to a long, hot bath with lots of bubbles
- Read a good book
- Drink a cup of herbal tea
- Take five minutes and just focus on deep, even breathing
- Take a drive while listening to my favorite music
- Burn a candle
- Vent to a friend or co-worker
Stressful days happen to everyone. They pass, as all days do. Today I resolve to be patient and gentle with myself when it comes to dealing with stress. I will not lose my mind and I will not blow my diet.
