Uh-Oh! Setback!

Hello~

I have had trouble with my plan lately.  Seems I DO like to eat more than necessary.  The summer and holidays are difficult.  So are weekends, weekdays, and generally all the time!  LOL  Anyway, I gained 3 pounds.  It is the same three I just lost recently, so I am still 100 pounds down.  Exactly 100. Can't gain any more, or it will piss me off.  I am not mad about the three pounds.  Doesn't bother me, because it is all part of the journey.

I really enjoyed eating those three pounds back.  Yummy ribs, pie, and the sort.  Can't be perfect, anyway.  I am back on my self-made wagon again, so I will write more often.  It keeps me going.  Hoping to get a full-time teaching job soon, and I would love to be so busy that I don't even think about food! That will never happen.  Food is such an integral part of our lives.  We need it to live.

In the comments below, please feel free to share your weight loss strategies.  I'm always looking for some to improve myself!  How do you keep the weight off?  How did you lose it?

Thanks!

Buffets? What a Challenge!

Hello!  

I have missed everyone!  When I was in St. Louis last week for a family event, I found myself in a Golden Corral for dinner. WOW. I had not yet been in the company of that much food in a long time.  Luckily, someone told me and Darlene, my stepmom, that we were going there ahead of time.  I knew the day before.  What to do?  I panicked.  Then, not wanting to overeat, I called the restaurant on the morning of the potential feast.  On the phone, I learned that there is a To-Go box that is available.  It goes by weight, and you get one pound of food for $6.99.  This is cheaper than the $12.50 that they charge for a dinner.  Mindful of my waistline and budget, I decided to try the pound.  Thinking that a pound is a lot, I went forth into the establishment.

Picking up the box, it felt a little embarrassing, because everyone else had a plate.  It was too obvious, but I continued on my journey through the rows of food.  There was nothing but temptation everywhere.  Luckily, hunger was not ravaging me.  Looking over all the hot food first, and the desserts, the decision was made to brave the salad bar.  Now, even the salad bar offers many challenges: dressing, pastas, and some desserts.  I chose dark green leaves, and veggie toppings with cheese and French dressing.  Splurging on a good amount of dressing, passing up the pasta and desserts, I went for the three-bean salad and two deviled eggs.  I got what I wanted.

Noticing the very full plates of my family, I sat down with my box salad.  It felt out-of-place among the mounds of food in front of many.  Darlene had a plate of good yummy food.  Not overly full as some, but she did what I suggest: she got exactly what she wanted.  I was so happy.  I got what I genuinely wanted, too.  Happily eating my meal, and finishing wayyy before others, dessert started showing up on many plates.  When I saw lemon meringue pie, banana pudding and pies, I wished I had picked up dessert.  Letting that go, everything was fine - until one wee one showed up with items from a chocolate fountain, chocolate covered marshmallows, and the sort.  That is my ultimate favorite.  I drooled over it, wishing for the dessert.

Standing my ground, I did not get dessert, but it was definitely wanted.  Proud of myself for getting what was wanted, and not just mindlessly piling my plate, I sat and visited with family.  After all, that was the purpose of the visit.  We had a great time, and I spent too much time worrying.  When we left the restaurant, I was relieved at having survived the dreaded buffet, a killer of food plans to be sure, but in the end, I would have done one thing differently.

I would have picked up the chocolate dessert!

Losing Weight on Vacation? Yup!

Hello!

I am losing more weight, after a little plateau.  I even lost 3 pounds while in North Carolina last week.  How?  I watched portions, although I had everything I really wanted.  I walked a lot.  I walked hills, and not the flat land of Florida.  It was challenging, particularly with my lungs not yet at full power after the surgery last year.  I huffed and puffed going up some hills, losing my breath once.  I had to keep my inhaler close.  The point is, I did not let that stop me.  I adapted.

I am leaving for a family event tomorrow, flying to Saint Louis, Missouri.  I've never been there before, and all I can think of is BBQ!  Funny, I know.  However, it is human nature to think of food, entertainment, and other comforts when traveling.  I am going with my super supportive step-mom.  I suggested that we split every big restaurant meal, so we can try different things while still eating less than we would if we ordered two meals, two desserts, etc...

I did some research on restaurants in St. Louis, and where we will be staying; the portions of food are humongous.  Land of the Free and Home of the Fat!  LOL  No, really, Americans have taken portion sizes to a whole new level.  Also, everything looks completely delicious!  UGH.  Extra challenging!  We'll see.  I'll update you on Monday, after I get back.  I plan on walking a load to get all the food off.  That's the best approach while vacationing.  Exercise your food off.  Just to stay even, if nothing else.  I also drank a ton of water.

Well, ta-ta till Monday - wish me luck! 

What I Ate Yesterday!

Hello!

I have been wanting to share a typical day of eating with you.  Here's how yesterday went:

Breakfast:  small bowl of cereal
     
Lunch:  Ham and cheese sandwich
             One avocado, sliced with a little olive oil
     
Snack:  Small bag of caramel M&Ms.
             Diet Dr. Pepper

Dinner:  Roast beef
              Roasted potatoes
              Green peas

Dessert:  Small piece of strawberry and blueberry pie

The cereal was plain Cheerios, the avocado is a healthy fat, the M&Ms & Dr. Pepper were a treat for vacation, and the pie I made myself, so I controlled the amount of sugar, butter, and flour.  It had fresh berries, not frozen or canned.  I ate very small portions for dinner.

Don't  think weight loss is possible with a diet like this?

I've lost THREE pounds this week.  YUP!  I have averaged a mile a day walking, and I am staying busy, so I am not eating between meals.  Hell, I worked on a grab bag of chips for three days.  A handful is enough for me.  Didn't think I would ever say that, but it's true.  I try to put as much healthy food into my diet.  Thus, the avocado, fresh berries, potatoes, and peas.  The white potaoes were only ok healthy.  A veggie, but a sweet potato would have been better  No butter was used, only a little olive oil and pepper.

Eating on vacation is difficult.  You pass many temptations, only to find yourself fatter at the end.  Well, I need to keep portions small to be able to eat what I want.  Second, I have to exercise the food off.  I have averaged a mile a day walking while I've been on North Carolina.  I do not drink alcohol, and when not treating myself to a diet soda, I drink water all day long and the night as well.

I'll write another meal soon, and it will be one when I am home.  What's a typical day when on my regular schedule?  Stay tuned ...

Body Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes During and After Weight Loss

Hello!

My body has been through a whirlwind of changes this year alone.  In January, my blood pressure and A1C levels were off.  The doctor tested my A1C for three months, and deemed me just fine.  It seems that my levels of all kinds are off, because of the tremendous weight loss, my insides are freaking out, and trying to keep up.  I thought, wow, I lose 100 pounds and then get diabetes?  What a twist of fate.  Everything was fine.  Then, my BP went up and down.  Too far up and too far down.  It was a roller coaster, and it was making me sick.  Turns out, I needed to come off two of my four BP meds!  Awesome!  Let's eliminate where we can!

I was also told that I would have to start magnesium and iron supplements.  That was easy, and the magnesium stopped my restless legs!  My protein was also low in my bloodwork, so I have been drinking a protein drink in the mornings to increase that.  I don't want as much meat as in the past.

Now that the emergent problems were handled, I started to see the leftover me that was happening.  Everything on my body is learning that gravity works, and is sliding down to my feet!  Okay, not to my feet, but enough.  For all of you who are wondering, because it is the top question I get, YES, there is extra skin when you lose the amount of weight that I have lost.  I detest it, and I want to eventually have a tummy tuck, but nothing else.  I have seen scars from friends who have had the arms and legs done as well, and they aren't pretty at all.

The choice to have surgery or not is a completely personal decision.  Frankly, I don't want to put myself through unnecessary surgeries.  I don't have the money, either.  I am already sliding, and there's another 80 to go!  UGH.  I'll look like a Shar Pei!   There are wrinkles in places you wouldn't think:  thighs, arms, and even your wee booty!

None of these unpleasant things are enough to deter me from losing, but I will have to find a way to live with it.  I wish I could get it all done in a way, and I'd have a brand-new me!  HA!  That's not realistic.  I just want my thin self to come back out - she was and is fun.  Not terribly thin, but healthy.

Thanks for reading!

Food Challenges on Vacation!

Hello!

I took a couple of days off, as I am on vacation.  I have had some eating challenges while here, but none have been hard- except lunch at Mimi's Café.  Let's set the scene: old friends, relaxed atmosphere, and really good smells coming from the kitchen.  They have one of those menus where just about everything looks great, and is different than what you normally eat.  It is a French inspired restaurant, if you are not familiar with Mimi's.  I was eager to eat!

I looked over the menu with care, drooling all the way!  I finally decided on a bowl of French Onion soup, a French Dip sandwich, French fries, and I was looking at dessert, too!  I wanted it all, and didn't think it was unreasonable, and I already had a piece of a baguette with butter on it.  What to do?

I looked around at all the tables, and the portions were huge.  It was a lot of food, but I was determined to eat it all, and not gain any weight.  I did not look at calories at the time, but this is what I wanted in calories:

French Onion Soup - 450 calories
French Dip Sandwich - 580 calories
Caramel apple pie - 500 calories
French Fries - ?
2 pieces of a baguette - ?

I thought I could eat all of this.  I wanted to eat it.  They did not have the calories listed for the fries or bread, but you can imagine that it wouldn't be good to add that to the 1,130 calories I already wanted.  So, here's what I did:

I ate the French Onion Soup and 3 baguette pieces, and every bite was heaven.  I did not get anything else, even though my table had their specialty muffins.  Yummy looking, to be sure.  I was full, though.  I was not stuffed, but full.  I enjoyed the company, and a wee baby that was with us, visiting.  She is 10 months old, and lots of fun.  It's hard to eat when you are making faces at a baby!

I ended up having 450 calories and the bread, and I didn't know the calories till just now, when I looked them up!  I am proud of myself.  Not bad.  Blindly, I made some right decisions.  I feel much better now.  My belly was full, my palate satisfied, and it was enough!

Up Tomorrow:  Changes in the Body after Weight Loss!

Getting your Mind Set for Weight Loss

Hello!

It is mind over matter when it comes to weight loss.  It is the most difficult thing to achieve, but it simply won't come off until you can think your way there.  People have told me for 25 years that it is all in my head, and once I realized that was true, it seemed easier to lose.  It is a war in your brain every day, to be sure, but I must complete what I started.  It's simply not an option to fail.  That's one way to set your mind!

When you take care of everyone else but yourself, it can seem daunting to think of being kind to yourself, much less acting on it.  However, you only have one life, so make it a good one!  Some people may think that only one life gives you license to eat like crazy; after all, enjoy the cake, right? Have you ever thought that living longer would be better than being fat?  Think about your health, your children and grandchildren.  Can you move freely without impediment?  Can you run?  HA!  I still can't run very far yet, but I'm trying!  How far can you walk?  All these are important.  You need to know today's limitations, in order to smash them tomorrow.

When you think weight loss, the fat starts to melt.  This time that I am losing weight, I feel totally in control of everything I eat, drink, and the exercise that I do.  I am making the choices, no one is doing it for me.  I choose what I put in my mouth; I can't blame the failure or success on a traditional type of Diet.  I am responsible for winning or losing the battle for my life.  Oh, you didn't know it was a battle?

This is hard.  Nobody can do it for you.  No one is going to tell you what to eat or when to exercise.  Like I cautioned before, do not let anyone but your closest circle know that you are losing weight.  You set yourself up for failure, and then everyone gets to point it out to you.  I had to prove I could do it for myself!  I need to lose the weight for me, first.  Then, I can worry about everyone else.  Ya know?  Have a great day, and be kind to yourself!

Up tomorrow?  Body Changes During Weight Loss!

My Support Network

Hello!

Supportive people are a must for successful weight loss.  We all know the type that assist in making  us get fat: critical, hypocritical, mean, selfish people who help you gain weight.  The mean stares, comments, and general judgement of the person who is fat, can cause an obese person to go over the edge, and for me, well it drove me to eat, drink, and lose myself in depression.  I thought there was no way out.  I drove myself to desperation for a change.  So, I changed.  Not without those I love, though!

My family is an immense support, and they ones that aren't I have avoided like the plague.  My stepmom is at the forefront of my weight loss.  She's active, happy, and always encourages me, pushes me, and has kicked my butt hard!  However, she does so only with love, and to accept that, you have to be mature enough to admit you are sick and need help.  That is the hardest part of being obese.  Admitting it.  My daughter is so proud, and she is very attentive, so when I am with her, I feel like a million dollars.  Sisters are an infinite source of support, mostly because as women, we have all struggled with weight issues.  One can never be too thin, (so say many) and even if you are thin, it is never enough for people.  Those that want to will make you feel inadequate just because they can.

My Uncles, of which I have a handful, are immensely helpful with long walks when I see them, and they send texts of encouragement, emails, phone calls, and visits.  My husband is on board, and has lost 85 pounds himself.  We need to be healthy to live out a life together.  My parents have died; my father died at 37 from a heart attack, and my mother at 62 from alcoholism (another reason to quit drinking), and I have had the shadow of death around me since I was 15.  Some family always told me I would die like my father if I didn't lose weight.  Scare tactics don't work, they only make you feel inadequate.

I have a ton of friends that are extremely supportive, from those I see and talk to frequently, and many friends on social media.  One of my student's moms teaches the Zumba class I go to, and is always making me protein drinks before we go to Zumba.  My friends keep me walking and talking.  I did not let people know I was losing weight till they noticed, because it sets you up for failure.  If you announce you are dieting, then expectations are set.  If you don't meet them, then you feel like a failure.  Been there, done that.

I wouldn't be where I am today without support.  It takes a village.  I believe that those who truly love you can be supportive without judgement, because their love is stronger than that.  A good base of those you trust will be better than strangers in a circle, telling all about their problems.  Seriously.  That's just depressing.  Let's not talk and wallow.  Take action!  Just Do It is a good slogan.  Don't give lip service to changing your entire life.  Go with gusto and get it!  Only action will get the results you want.

Water Water Everywhere!

Hello!
Water is essential to life.  We have all heard that, but it is true.  The average adult is made up of 30%-65% water.  That needs to be replenished, with water!  We drink a lot of things during the day, but nothing we drink is what we need.  We must have water as a matter of life, and when you fill up with coffee, alcohol, soda, or energy drinks, you are doing a great disservice to yourself.  How do you drink water all day?  Here's how I do it:

I bought a cup.  It holds 36 ounces.  I drink a total of 5-6 of those big cups of water daily, even when I work.  I do end up in the bathroom several times a day, but I've told myself that it is simply what I have to do.  Filling up with water before eating does help.  I learned that in Weight Watchers, the six times I tried that one!  Ended up gaining each time I went on it.  Anyway, water is the most essential thing we need - even more than food.  When you think about it that way, then you will naturally gravitate to water.  I hated drinking water until I found the ultimate flavor enhancers.

Water drops are my friend.  The lovely flavored drop are sugar free, you don't have to squirt much out of the bottle to achieve the desired flavor, and they are a lot cheaper than soda or beer.  In my fat life and fat thinking, I would drink a 12 pack of soda a day and beer.  It was a tremendously unhealthy lifestyle.  I was constantly thirsty, and my body was in a state of despair.  It was dying!  When I came home from the hospital last year after surgery, I started on the drops.  My favorite flavors?
Raspberry Lemonade and Strawberry and Watermelon.  Yum!

I have about 3 coffees a week.  That's recent.  I drank a load of frappes and frappucinos per week, and now I only treat myself or need a wake me up some days that I tutor.  Got to be awake for the kiddos! I drink soda once a week, if that, and only Dr. Pepper or Root Beer.  I used to be addicted to Diet Coke (see above), and I hate the taste of it now.  I prefer the two I mentioned, and if you are going to eat or drink, make sure it is something you really want.  I rarely have alcohol, as I don't keep it in the house.  All of it was hard to give up or cut down on, because we like what we like, and we get stuck in ruts.  Break out and decide what you actually want.  Think about it before you decide.  Really want that last beer?  Is soda that important?  For goodness sake, it will melt the acid off of a car battery, so what makes us think it is good for us?

Let's all do ourselves a favor, and give our bodies what it is thirsty for!

Up tomorrow?  Support from family and friends.  Join me on my journey!

Exercise! Fun!

Hello!  Today has been awesome so far, as I went to Zumba this morning.  When I got home, I went swimming.  I'll do some bedtime yoga tonight to relax and sleep well.  I never would have thought of exercising three times in one day, but think about it: all my exercise for the day is only one hour and thirty minutes long.  It's really only a fraction of your day, and if you are serious about losing weight, the exercise gets to be addictive, fun, and not like work at all.  Really.  I couldn't even think of exercise a year ago.  However, I started by just walking, and I worked myself up to a day like today.  I can't do all this every day, but you would be surprised at how you can put it in your day if you want to.  It is a frame of mind you have to put yourself in.

My stepmom encouraged me to walk a lot.  We go shopping, to the beach, walk around her neighborhood, and to Friday Fest nights, where we would shop, walk, and talk.  Having someone who you trust and can talk to really makes the "work" of getting in shape easier.  I will talk more about supportive people around you in another post, but you get the idea.  Visiting with family and friends and taking a walk with them to chat is one of the best things you can do.  I find it to be relaxing and fun.  You begin to concentrate on the person, and not food or alcohol.

I have found that a routine of the same exercise to be boring and depressing.  You have to do it.  It is work.  I hate machines like the treadmill or elliptical.  As my Uncle Frank has said, "Why don't you simply walk outside?  It's a lot more interesting than a machine."  He's right.  I don't know what I'll do for the day when I wake in the morning.  I just build it into my day.  It is called living.  Life can't be spent at home, sheltered from the world, eating and eating.  That's what big people do.  It's what I did.  Get out and enjoy life!

Whatever you do to improve your health, just make it interesting, fun, and a challenge you want to meet.  I have to jack up my exercise now that I have plateaued.  I also need to add muscle building, as I am very, very soft!  UGH!  That's just part of losing weight, but frankly, I am working out to get rid of fat and wrinkles.  Lots of loose arms going on, flying about.  Losing a massive amount of weight causes extra fat, skin, and not so pleasant body areas that just won't ever be like when I was 20 or 30, or even 40.  I am 51 now, and I need all the help I can get!  If you need some motivation, e-mail me!

Up tomorrow, water water everywhere!

Step One For Weight Loss- Food!

Hello, Everyone!  There are five basic steps to my weight loss:

1. My relationship with Food
2. Exercise
3. Water
4. Support
5. Mindset

Today is about my food choices and how I eat are fundamental to losing the weight.  Now, I eat anything I want, and I'm finding that I am naturally, over time, choosing healthier options.  When I don't choose a healthy option, I eat a very small amount.  Portion control is my secret.  Never thought I would be able to eat a handful of chips or a small bag of caramel M&Ms!  However, a little satisfies me.  It seems that following what I want to eat, instead of denying myself, I drop it faster.  I just eat in little amounts, grazing throughout the day.

It took me a long time to get my stomach to this stage of eating.  I need to be really hungry when I eat.  I have a formula.  It's called the Who-What-Why-When-Where- and How food plan.

Who I eat with is important.  I choose only people I feel comfortable around to eat.  Eating should be enjoyable.  I remember the days of eating celery in the kitchen, while my family was eating in the living room.  No way to love food!

What I eat is important, of course, so I make sure I have plenty of good things to balance what junk I do eat.  There is no typical day for me with food, because the situations of life change daily, and that's one reason I think diets are too rigid.  You have to be flexible with food.

Why I eat is an important question to answer.  I don't eat anymore because of boredom, any current emotion I'm having, or for any other reason than the fact that I am hungry.  That's the main reason I wait to eat.  I have to make sure that I need to eat.

When am I eating?  All day long.  I don't put meals at a set time.  It's too rigid.  You may not be hungry at mealtime, so why eat?  We, as Americans, do a load of eating when we aren't even hungry.  We clean our plates, because our mothers told us to.  Well, you can either waste your waist, or waste the food.  Better yet?  Don't make a large portion.

Where am I eating?  I like a calm place to eat.  I deal with enough stress and anxiety, so I need to eat when I am calm.  Why?  I'll shovel it in if I don't.

How do you eat?  Fast?  Slower?  Are you the first one to finish dinner?  Do you graze when you cook or clean-up?  I eat very slow, enjoying conversation.  Food will always be here, and our loved ones won't.  I'd rather make visiting the main attraction, and not the food.

So, that's my eating.  If you can answer these questions for yourself, and change your relationship with food to a healthy one and not a toxic one, you will most surely find success.

If you really want to know WHAT I eat, stay tuned …
What's up tomorrow?  Exercise!

100 Pounds Down Without A Diet!

Diet again?  Dieting has always put weight on me!  When I began to lose weight a year ago, I realized that I did NOT want to choose a "Food Plan."  I cut portions instead - drastically from what I did eat.  I moved out of the chair and onto the beach, the pool, the streets for walking, and I decided to make exercise part of everything.  Move, I say!

People have told me my entire adult life to cut portions and move more.  Simple, they say. Well, it took 25 years to get here, but I am telling you, it is easier than you think.  Depriving yourself as part of a diet is not the way to go.  I eat anything I want, seriously.  I have the cake, the candy, and any other sweets I want.  I drink an occasional soda, which I gave up 8 years ago, but that's when I drank them like water.  Now, I drink water like water! HA!

I had lung cancer last year, and I had a lobe removed.  It scared the hell out of me.  I decided to try to cut down on food, and I had to walk to build up my lungs again.  I was terrified that I could not breathe.  I couldn't walk to the bathroom without oxygen.  I never want to go back there.  It was very unpleasant.  I simply had to make a decision whether to live or not.  I chose life.

I would like to take you on my journey at this point.  I have another 80-100 to lose.  Don't know what it will look like when I get there, so that is the range for now. I will rev up my exercise, since in the past month, I have plateaued.  I am beginning Sunday Zumba, and yoga and swimming during the week.  We'll see!

In this blog, I will share my tips, strategies, and anything else I can think of to help someone else.  It can be done!  Stay tuned for more tomorrow.  Join me and subscribe-- Veronica