My story is much like many on here, I'm sure. There are those who have always struggled with weight, and those who put the pounds on in later years. I'm of the latter group. But in the end... it's a struggle for all of us. Those of you in that same situation probably have said many times how hard it is to even know where to begin, when you never had to know how to lose weight. Then again, I guess we ALL had to learn where to begin.
There were times over the years I wouldn't look in a mirror, esp. to buy clothes. I work in the corporate world, and knew I could have dressed a lot better, but I couldn't stand to go and try on clothes. When I did, I usually ended up crying, getting disgusted with the sizes I had to try on and walking out of the store. After some encouragement from my daughter, she made me realize that regardless of whether or not I was going to lose weight, I needed to wear clothes that fit me right... now... I started paying more attention to how I looked. That's when I went to the stores for bigger ladies, and bought some clothes that fit properly, looked nicer, which in turn gave me a better outlook. It took a while, but at some point I believe this was the reason I finally took charge and decided it was time to do something about my weight. Of course I've known for a long time that I needed to, but just couldn't get started.
It wasn't that I wasn't motivated. I just didn't know what to do to make it work. Should I do it on my own? Should I try Weight Watchers again? How about Dr. What's his Name? I bought that book and didn't read it. I had convinced myself that I couldn't do any kind of structured diet program. That's all well and good, but I still wasn't doing anything. What turned me around was a visit to the doctor's office and getting on the scale. It's not that I needed a scale to tell me I was overweight, but seeing that number freaked me out big time! Then I noticed some friends at the place I go to on weekends in the summer months were looking thinner, esp. the female of the couple. She told me they were doing South Beach. That was it!. I went out and bought the book, and started right away.
Soooo... here I am... 36+ pounds lighter, wearing 8's & 10's down from a snug 16. I wish the top half would be a size 10. Still got the ummmm... ample boobage going on. Problem now? I'm at a standstill. I'd like to say it's your standard stall, but I think I need to make some changes to get back on track. There are plenty of positives, lots of compliments, I don't hate looking in the mirror, but I have a long way to go to reach goal.
Some pitfalls and problem areas:
- - there was the little box of about six 4 x 5 pieces of dark chocolate I bought at Trader Joe's last week. My daughter had one, I think I ate the rest in about 4 days.
- there's the concert chorus Tuesday night rehearsals, and the food people bring for break. The rehearsals are near where I work, but I live 45 minutes away. So I don't go home. I go to the gym in the building where I work after work to kill the time, then off to rehearsal. So I haven't had dinner and I'm starving.
- crackers & (not rf) cheese, fruit, baked goods. I found even if I ate only the "good" things, I had too much.
- Then there are other occasions outside the home where I find it hard to cope. Like the Jewelry & gem show I went to and got a chicken sandwich. I had eaten breakfast so early I was starving. The food choices were horrible. I ordered the least of the worst.. a chicken sandwich. Turns out it was nuked. I was going to pull off the bread and just eat the chicken, but it was so "glued" together, and the chicken was so horrible, I figured eating the roll would at least make it palatable. Disgusting!!!! My friend had fries that were horrible that she didn't eat much of. We were so starving when we got back to her house we finished off a chunk of some fancy sharp cheese with lots of Triscuits.
I know I can stop that behavior, but I do have a few things I need to get right. The biggest thing is water. How do you all drink the amounts of water you need to drink. I'm not drinking nearly enough. I like water, I know I need to drink it, but it seems no matter how hard I try, I don't get it done. Another thing is portion control. I was soooo sure I had that licked, but now I'm not so sure, at least not about some things. So I have to start posting what I eat and drink for every day to see where I might be going wrong. A few things that come to mind are: I think I need to measure out my dry cereal, and watch the amount of nuts (sometimes I have my pb & apple or pb and celery, and still put some walnuts in my salad. I think cheese might be another problem area. I put cheese in my salads, but might have it in my eggs/Egg Beaters in the morning, or also have a cheese stick for snack, or grab a thin slice of lf Swiss when I get home from work.
So here's the plan:
- first and foremost, do P1 again for at least 1 week (starting on Monday)
drink more water and make note of amts. in journal
watch the nuts portions
watch the cheese portions
measure where necessary (like dry cereal)
keep this journal every day
post every thing I eat every day
set mini goals on a regular basis
Figure out how to link to my journal with my signature on every post so it's easy to find
Here's goes for today's meals
- B-V-8, Kashi Go lean with banana, 2 pcs. turkey bacon, coffee (half caff, half de-caff)
S-Celery with nat'l pb
L-Chicken soup (organic nf, low sodium broth, chicken, gr. beans, celery carrots)
D-Chicken Parm (1/2 chicken breast,(no breading) with rf mozz, homemade sauce, onions, peppers and brussel sprouts, side salad.
(But.. the day is young... I'll fill it again in a few mins, I'll drink some at the gym at lunch time, with my lunch after the gym, and during the afternoon. Then at home. This is all if it goes according to plan. It might take me a little time to adjust to doing the water thing right.Speaking of the gym: Got that all under control. I belong to a gym in the building where I work (subsidized by my company.. they pay $30 & I pay $20, which comes out of my pay.) I also belong to another gym near home that's only $10/month! I work with a trainer (no add'l charge!) here twice a week on Monday & Friday. Tuesdays because I have rehearsal that night, I'm in the gym here for cardio (35 mins) at lunch time, then again after work for more cardio (another 35 mins), then some serious core sessions on the floor and obliques with weights. Weds & Thurs it's 40 mins. cardio at lunch time. On the weekends it's to the gym for 45 mins cardio at the other gym. Once I'm away on the weekends, I will hit my local gym 2 nights during the week to make sure I get those extra days of cardio in. I have some goals in this area too:
- --either gradually increase my cardio times when I work at the local gym (not time when at work)
--and/or gradually increase resistance on machines
--do much more core work on a regular basis at home.
Second mini goal: Lose 8 lbs by May 1st
Sunday dinner will be broiled fish fillet w/broccoli slaw. Beyond those things, other meals aren't planned yet.
*glug, glug, glug* I forget the formula for how much I'm supposed to drink. (something based on weight??) It's "electrolyte enhanced"... is that okay? Anyone?