Random Thoughts From Someone Pushin' 50

[slimmin' in the tropics]

Hmmm....To journal or not to journal, that is the question.

I'll start and we'll see where this goes. I've been on SB for a little over 3 weeks and have been enjoying the changes I see in my body and mental perspective. The clothes are looser and the face and neck are thinner.

On the mental side, it's good to see a change in motivation. For a couple of years, I've been SO frustrated with my weight and the inability to lose it. Old ways I've lost before just didn't work. Age perhaps. For the past year, I've been wanting to have a healthy motivation, but the desire to be slim overwhelmed any desire for health.

What changed? I believe that God answered my prayers for a healthy perspective. I'd also been asking Him to show me what to do to get the weight off. A book that a friend loaned me briefly mentioned SBD as a healthy way of eating. I checked into it online and knew it was the direction in which God had been taking me.

The past few weeks have been incredibly encouraging. The weight is dropping and I am regaining energy that I thought was just age related. Goes to show that what we stick in our mouths really does make a difference. It is an easy, nourishing way to eat and I'm thankful to be here.

[caffrey]

I've been SO frustrated with my weight and the inability to lose it. Old ways I've lost before just didn't work.

This seems to be a common problem - once you've tried a way of eating, it doesn't work as well the second time around. Our bodies are incredibly complex systems and they definitely have memory for more than we realize! I'm sure they think, "Oh, I've seen this before and I know just how to keep my fat stores at tip top levels as long as possible so I don't die." It learns, it adapts and then you need to outsmart it! To get your body to change, you need to shock it - either through eating or exercise.

It sounds like you are up for this challenge though. Being healthy is the best goal you can have and it seems you have your mind in the right place - good luck to you!

[slimmin' in the tropics]

Thanks, Caffrey!

You said that once you have tried a certain way of eating it doesn't work as well the second time around...do you think that SBD follows that or is an exception?

[slimmin' in the tropics]

It's the end of a rather challenging day emotionally. The food has been ok though and I've had enough to eat. I'm also pleased with the amount of water I've been able to drink this past couple of weeks. I think there was only one day that I didn't get 3 liters down. I'm finding that the Diet Coke I've been addicted to is losing some of its appeal. I'd really rather have water most of the time.

No exercise the past three days and I feel sluggish. Tomorrow morning I will walk and Wed morning I'll swim.

I've added one slice of homemade ww bread at breakfast and a little Kashi Go Lean in my yogurt for snack. The thought struck me today that I am REALLY enjoying planning my snacks. I like coming up with variety in that area. Now if it would transfer to some other meals. I think I'll dig deeper into some recipes here to charge my thinking.

[slimmin' in the tropics]

bump

[caffrey]

SB is NOT immune to this phenomenon - I know first hand! I lost weight very quickly the first time, then I fell off the wagon . Second time round has been much slower going. Many people here on the boards have experienced it and it is considered the norm. It still works though ! Many other plans don't! I started back on Thanksgiving Day (I know, a little crazy!) and I have lost 18lbs so far. I feel fantastic! I wouldn't change it for the world!

[slimmin' in the tropics]

Mmmm....so glad to know that this WOE is still a great WOL even after regaining. Not that I'm making plans to regain, of course, but life does happen! Besides, I've spent enough years beating myself up about my weight.

Hubby and I just came back from eating out. Veggie salad, hamburger pattie and some water. I didn't feel full, but reminded myself that snack time will help if I get hungry later.

It seems that some days are just plain easier than others based solely on my schedule and the structure it provides. Some days I just want to nibble, graze, and chew. Hmmm....I sound like a pastured animal!

Thought for the day~Healthy and strong outweighs sick and weak.

[PismoKaren]

Hi Slimmin!
I was over checking out the journals and ran across yours. Did you get your exercise in this morning? I was planning on doing mine yesterday but went grocery shopping right after work and came home so hungry that I ended up just getting dinner and not the workout. And I even have 3 new DVD's to check out so tonight I will for sure!

I think that the winter is the hardest time to eat on plan. Our bodies seem to want to bulk up and I seem to be hungry all the time. I'm just trying to keep in SB friendly when I do munch.

[slimmin' in the tropics]

Hi Karen,

Thanks for dropping by. I walked 1 3/4 miles on Tuesday. This morning marked the start of swim season. I'm helping coach. It was 12 degrees C. outside. I didn't get in the water, but planned to go lift weights in the weight room. It was locked. By the time I'd walked to the weight room and back, I talked myself out of walking the track, went home and back to bed for an hour...just to warm up!

I brought some DVD and videos back with me last summer and have used them on and off. Perhaps I'll get one of those out. 2 friends and I are heading to some hot springs for a couple of days, so I'll be gone. Have plans to take along snacks. Meals are pretty easy to eat out here. Lots of veggies!

Winter~I agree. Although it doesn't get as cold here as in the States, it's still cold for the tropics~and I find I just want to veg under a warm blanket and snooze rather than be active.

[slimmin' in the tropics]

Ok...It's Wednesday afternoon. I've eaten breakfast, lunch and a snack. In spite of being angry this afternoon, I've not eaten. That's a NSV (non scale victory)! I'm starting to train my brain to think of food as fuel rather than comfort. Eating the wrong things doesn't solve issues, it just compounds them.

I went to the wet market this afternoon to try to find some beef for company tonight. THis was after going two other places and not finding what I was looking for. Unfortunately, I hadn't done enough prep yesterday and found myself behind today. AAARGH...I hate when I do that! The day would have been so much easier if I hadn't procrastinated. I was stressed and found myself pulled towards the pan bread that I get at that afternoon market. It's pure white flour, and fried in a huge skillet. It's the first time the bread has called my name since I started P2. Nope, I didn't buy any. Told myself that I don't want the up and down sugar rush anymore. It worked today.

The SBD book (new one) is on my bedstand and I've been reading in it as time allows. It has been such an eye opener. Now I understand why I've had such a tough time with my weight since I was 12. I was eating the wrong things...too much white flour products! Memories of eating a half a loaf of white bread, toasted and topped with cinnamon/sugar come to mind. Well, duh! Talk about a sugar rush that produces more cravings! I had asked God to show me what to do and give me understanding. He has used SBD to do that and I'm thankful to Him. He's faithful when I humble myself and seek Him.

[PismoKaren]

Slimmin, way to go avoiding the pan bread calling out your name! Remember how good it felt to not give in the next time you get tempted. The grocery store I go to has the bakery right before you get to the produce. I used to rush right thru so I wouldn't see all the cakes and cookies they had on display. Now I can stroll thru and even look at what they have without thinking that I need to buy any of it. Which means, it does get easier.

What DVD's and videos do you have? I have a yoga/pilates DVD that I used for abs this morning. I delay the exercising too but I feel so good once I've done it. I need to try to remember THAT feeling so I can convince myself to exercise regularly.

[slimmin' in the tropics]

Thanks, Karen. I hadn't thought about remembering how good it feels to help me avoid temptation the next time. Great idea.

Let's see...I've got 4 Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds...1 mile, 2 mile, 3 mile and Fat Burning. 2 TaiBo DVD's, Pilates for Dummies, and another Pilates for Weight Loss. I've been exercising with them for a couple of years...more off than on, but hadn't seen any success weight-wise. SBD is changing that.

My trip w/friends to the hot springs is cancelled. one of the gals has the flu. Oh well. I was looking forward to going, but am ok with staying home too.

10 pounds down as of this morning. That feels so good. Not just seeing the numbers on the scale, but feeling smaller and more comfortable in my clothes. I'm looking forward to the day when I can pull down my pants w/o having to unsnap and unzip them! Ha Then I'll know I've lost a significant amount.

For now, I'm content. 10 pounds the first month is so much farther than anything I've tried for the last 2-3 years! Let me correct that...the scale has gone UP more than that during that time. Needless to say, that's not the way I was desiring!

It's time to get going for the day. I'm dressed and have had breakfast, but the day holds so much more than that!

Thought for the day: There is HOPE!

[slimmin' in the tropics]

Karen~do you have a journal?? I've been looking for it, but not having any success.

[slimmin' in the tropics]

The end of a long day. Let me talk about anger and frustration...

Anger and frustration are the two emotions that I feel frequently. I've been trying to track how I relate to food when I'm either. In the past when I've been angry, I would want to eat. "I'll show them!!" As though eating myself into oblivion is going to wreck havoc upon THEIR heads. I'm not doing that, but can't remember how long it has been since I have.

Let's talk late night eating...

Due to my job, I'm up late at night. There are days when I haven't had enough to eat, so get hungry around 11 p.m. I am eating OP and snacking at those times, when necessary...otherwise, I can't get to sleep because of hunger pangs. Water is also part of that snack, but not too much or I'm getting up at night.

Just wanted to put into words what is happening in my head...

[slimmin' in the tropics]

I thought I was finished, but found more in my head.

This morning began with a different breakfast. I had yogurt with Kashi Go Lean and thought that would be enough. Two hours later, I am RAVENOUS, so I fixed a mushroom omelet and sliced tomato. That held me till early afternoon. My snack was some strawberries. By 3pm, I was RAVENOUS again. So a salad and meat did the trick. At 6pm, all I wanted was a snack...peanut butter stuffed celery. Oh good grief!!!I just realized that I never had a third meal today. No wonder I was hungry at 11pm! DUH!!! Mental-pause has struck again!

I just ate some Triscuts and drank some water. If I'm not up too much longer, I'll be able to sleep w/o eating anything else.

This post was just to document what I was thinking about earlier in the day. Looks like I'd better keep writing things down or I'll forget them!

Looking back on today's menu, I see that I got my snacks and meals turned around. I'll be eating more for breakfast tomorrow!