Sharley's (insert catchy journal title here)

[SharleyBloom]

Hi. My name is Michelle. I eat too much, I eat all the wrong things, I don't exercise unless I have to (and typically I don't other than going up and down the stairs to my bedroom), I have over 100lbs to lose and I'm on Day 7 of P1 and as far as I know, I have not cheated at all.

My story is long and complicated and I'll spare you the gory details all in one lump sum and spread it out piecemeal throughout my posts.

Short version? I'm 47 years old and am probably prediabetic. I began to really pack on the pounds when my marriage ended 10 years ago as a way to avoid dealing with any further relationships. Now that my kids are mostly grown, I've changed states, jobs, and figure this is as good of a time as any to just reinvent myself totally.

I am avoiding the scales like the plague (don't even own one). But I do have weight goals. 1. To be able to wear knee high fashion boots and actually zip them up. 2. To fit easily in the rollercoaster seat next to my youngest daughter (13 years old) and 3. To be able to shop for clothes that do not have an "X" on the size label. When I accomplish those three things, I'm moving into Phase 3 regardless of a number on a scale.

SB has become my hobby this week, if not my obsession. I figure when I learn the basics enough to not continually look everything up, I'll just have a "way of life" instead of a hobby.

I feel better having eliminated sugar from my diet this past week. I can feel the difference. I am, however, a bit grumpy today. Go figure. Good news is that I'm not comfort eating, nor do I have the desire to. That right there is one heck of an accomplishment.

Thanks for listening!

[joesuzzi]

Hi Michelle ((((((((((waving from Texas))))))))))))))
WELCOME to the journal board.
I love the way you describe the beach as being your hobby right now........or even an obsession ! I agree with that it will become a way of life after some time...............but what a way to go.
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I really related to the clothing issue............everything in my closet had at least one "X" after the size....and doing laundry was really a chore because I had to get my tops out half damp....so I could pull and tug on them to make them bigger before they dried all the way.................those were definately NOT good times.
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You will find a ton of great people here.........ready to help......or just ready to listen....because we really are all in this together. A walk on the beach is so much more fun when you have friends walking right beside you !
So again...Welcome !

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Also..it is pretty normal to get a 'lil grumpy during PH 1............but it will pass..I promise !

[SharleyBloom]

aawww thanks so much! I was REALLY grumpy when I wrote my intro. And just for the record, I thought I was the only one doing the "damp stretch". My daughter that I live with is also doing SB and is on her 7th day in P1. She's just shy. So, I have a built in buddy. It keeps me honest.

Wish I was in Texas today! Up here in Iowa, it's been a bit chilly and the worst is yet to come! But I moved from Michigan to Iowa, so I'm familiar with the weather.

Thank you for being so kind! I really appreciate it!

[SharleyBloom]

Today....

B: 2 egg omelet w/plain sf/ff yogurt mixed in eggs.. stuffed with fresh spinach, onion, green pepper, lf cheese ~2 1/2 turkey sausage patties ~coffee
MS: Celery dipped in hummus
L: Homemade veggie/beef soup w/lf cheese sprinkled on~coffee
AS: skipped (was too busy having a bad attitude)
D: Baked herb chicken breast, 1TBS peas, 1C refried beans w/lf shredded her cheese, celery sticks~diet Squirt
S: NSA fudgecicle

[SharleyBloom]

Well, something must have changed. I actually woke up hungry this morning. Also, I haven't puffed up (fingers like sausages) in 5 days! My moods are rather swinging though. I spend some time mourning the foods I've sworn off. I'm really gonna miss chips/dip while playing cards.

On the flip side, I feel really pretty good. My aches and pains are related to having too much weight, so I expect those to lessen. I understand that this change has to be made. I am hoping it goes a long way to making me healthier and a more productive individual. I want to feel joy again. Apathy sorta just sucks. Being that I do at home childcare for my grandchildren, I think I have more time than most to think about food. The very good news is that my DD is doing this with me also so we have a built in support system that most people don't have.

Today is about staying on the Beach. That's it. Period. STAY ON THE BEACH!

[manzanita]

Hi! I just thought I'd pop in as you've been sweet enough to post in my journal. I am impressed by your setting of non scale based targets and I do feel that for some people those targets are more meaningful and motivational than scale targets. Plus you can always create a new one whereas with scale based targets, there will come a point where the goal is unachievable.

Where are you from?

[SharleyBloom]

Thanks for stopping by Manzi! I really appreciate your support so much!

Until August, I was from Michigan..... now I guess I'm from Iowa. I get a whole new life!


Today's fun included....

B: Three slices turkey bacon, V-8 Juice
MS: 15 nuts
L: Salad w/tuna & beans (not all that fond of beans in my salad, but they had to go somewhere)
AS: N/A
D: Ground Beef Patties w/Feta cheese & Mushooms, Green Beans with Turkey Bacon & Almonds, s/f Jello
S: NSA Fudgepop

[SharleyBloom]

OMG! DD and I took the grandtots to McDonalds today! And I ordered.............NOTHING! Yay me!

[GrammaKD]

Whoo Hoo Sharley...ordering zilch at McD's....SB pays great dividends...you just proved it!! By the way, HELLO!!! So glad to 'meet ya' and read your journal so far. Thanks for posting sweet comments on my 100 Pounds Less of Me story and also on my journal. It's always sooooo great to make new like-minded friends here Strength in numbers and all that stuff...it's real truth, right! Love your saying those beans 'gotta go somewhere' ....too funny I 'hid' some in my scrambled eggs then smothered in salsa and I hid lots in the bean/veggie burgers I made recently...they'll become your friend before you know it, promise! I'm so excited for you for having chosen to get healthy....you and I share lots of pounds that is and together...we're gonna share less and less pounds of us!!!!

Great that your daughter's doing this with you...my daughter lived with us when I started SB this past Jan but she's since moved back to Austin but I 'found' another SB buddy who I walk with three mornings a week. If I don't make 'dates' to exercise, I won't....I'll NEVER ever be called a gym rat, trust me! I do the physical cause I have to to get the rest of this wgt off and forever keep it off but do I like it more today than yesterday..I'm not lying...NO!!!! Not saying that can't happen....I'm waiting....

Better pop over to my own journal, I'm behind in posting my food and exercise log. Dh has been off 4 days and my online time's been greatly reduced Hop by my 'place' anytime...there or Ph2's Accountability Anyone thread...those are where I mainly hang out Wishing you a super-duper wise choice week! Gramma

[cheshirecat]

Hi Sharley! Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you've made a great start just had to say hi after reading your journal, especially the part about weight-related aches and pains - I was on my way home just half an hour ago and thinking how much less pain my knees and hips are in since starting this way of eating and dropping a few pounds! It can be done and I can't wait for you to post here in your journal that you have noticed something similar good luck and great to meet you! xx

[SharleyBloom]

Hi CheshireCat! I really appreciate your post. I was just telling my DD this morning, who is also with me on the SB journey, that not only do I not have any cravings anymore (day 10 P1), I noticed so many differences in my health that I can't afford to go backwards. I can climb steps easier, I can get out of bed easier, no water retention, less cracking of the joints. (Good god, I sound O L D !) This is a done deal for me, I'll never go back.

As we were comparing notes, I asked her what she thought about when she was backing off something she normally would have eaten like a french fry at McDonalds or something. She says that she thinks she is not a cheater, so she doesn't eat it. I think to myself... this is not the way I eat anymore. That is AMAZING to me! I don't even know how it happened... suddenly, it was just happening. I am soooo happy with the changes.

Gramma! Thanks for stopping in. I also will never be a Gym Rat, but this morning it's warmer and sunny and I just promised to take the grandtots for a wagon ride.... that almost looks like exercise...what was I thinking!?!? LOL

Yesterday's fare:

B: Turkey bacon, poached eggs, sauteed onion & mushrooms, coffee
MS: I don't remember
L: Sauteed Zucchini w/ green beans and turkey bacon pieces, lf chunk cheese, diet Squirt
AS: String Cheese
D: Chili ranch pork chops, spinach/ricotta bake, cottage cheese, diet Squirt
S: NSA fudgecycle, coffee

[kittykathy]

Thanks Michelle. All the best to you in your journey!

[SharleyBloom]

Rough day today and I'm not even sure why. Good news is............I get another day tomorrow (at least I think so!)


B: Turkey bacon, cucumber spears & hummus, coffee, 1 cup milk
MS: chocolate cheesecake ricotta creme
L: Lean pork chop, and a wonderful salad, Diet Squirt
AS: I forget, but there was something.
D: Homemade Bean Soup with ham, sf jello cup, Diet Squirt.
S: NSA fudgecicle

[kittykathy]

Michelle, can I come over to your house for breakfast? Seriously, that stuffed omlette with the yogurt is making me jealous as are the sauteed onions and mushrooms. Yum!
I'm inspired by your introduction to come up with non-scale based goals for myself as well. I will post those on my journal soon -- it's a really valuable idea. (Although, I'm a bit scale fixated, so I'm sure I will still want to post about numbers as well as goals).

[SharleyBloom]

Thanks Kathy! Come on over, there's plenty of breakfast!

Speaking of non-numbered goals, I just have to share! This morning I pulled jeans from the dryer and normal they're a tug, tug, tug to get them on and hope they will stretch later in the day........this morning those babies slid on like BUTTER! (lf/sf butter of course )

Oh, and I caught myself crossing my legs without having to reach down with my hands to pull one leg over the other. I just looked down and they were crossed.

Take that all you scale watchers! Forget the numbers! This is so much more fun!

Hope you ALL start your day at the positive end of the experience! Hugs!