I decided today would be a day for giving in. Not giving up. But simply letting myself have the things I've been craving. So I had noodles for dinner and sweets for dessert. It was time to give in. I've had three miserable days captive in the house because of weather, depressed because of hormones, and being driven nuts by cravings.
Hoping to offset the damage I did with my errant eating, I have tried to put in extra exercising today. I walked at the store and am exercising during commercials on tv tonight. And speaking of exercising, what the heck are planks? I've been hearing about them, but I have no idea what they are. Clearly, I still have a lot to learn.
Today's Tip:
Using herbs and spices in your cooking will reduce your need and desire for sugars and salt, thereby helping you in your weight loss quest. But be careful about where you store them. Heat, light, and moisture are all enemies of herbs and spices. So don't store them near these damaging influences. That means that while having them on or near your stove may be convenient, it's not good for your tasty add-ins.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Week 13, Day 3
Good grief, why have I been hungry ALL THE TIME the past few days? All I want to do is EAT. And when I do eat, nothing is satisfying. I suspect is has something to do with being trapped in the house for three straight days because of the blizzard, but still... there has to be some way to deal with this that I have yet to discover.
I've done mostly leg lifts and work with my resistance bands the past few days. I'll be glad when my car is unburied from the snow so I can go out walking at the store. Right now I feel old and blobby. And my knees and back hurt. I loved the finale of the Biggest Loser on Tuesday, but since then I've just felt really big. They are skinny and I'm huge. And I just want to sit down and cry. Okay, so that's not gracious or strong of me to admit, but it's honest. Perhaps it's only hormonal or just stir-crazy induced, but today just doesn't feel good. Maybe tomorrow will be better and I'll keep moving forward to my goals.
Food log: sandwich, bowl of cereal, and a yogurt. Maybe something later to make my stomach stop burning.
Today's Tip:
Not every day is going to be filled with energy, success, and enthusiasm when you're on a weight loss and fitness journey. Admit it, don't feel guilty, and NEVER let it stop you.
I've done mostly leg lifts and work with my resistance bands the past few days. I'll be glad when my car is unburied from the snow so I can go out walking at the store. Right now I feel old and blobby. And my knees and back hurt. I loved the finale of the Biggest Loser on Tuesday, but since then I've just felt really big. They are skinny and I'm huge. And I just want to sit down and cry. Okay, so that's not gracious or strong of me to admit, but it's honest. Perhaps it's only hormonal or just stir-crazy induced, but today just doesn't feel good. Maybe tomorrow will be better and I'll keep moving forward to my goals.
Food log: sandwich, bowl of cereal, and a yogurt. Maybe something later to make my stomach stop burning.
Today's Tip:
Not every day is going to be filled with energy, success, and enthusiasm when you're on a weight loss and fitness journey. Admit it, don't feel guilty, and NEVER let it stop you.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Week 13, Day 2
I exercised during all but two commercial breaks last night during the Biggest Loser two-hour finale. So why do I feel fat today? I really want to meet my 50 pounds of additional weight loss by March 27, so I really need to hit it hard each day between now and then. Only 107 days left, a little more than 15 weeks. So I need to lose about one pound every other day or about 3-1/2 pounds a week. Can I make it? I don't know now. I might have gotten too optimistic when I set that goal.
Eating has been a bit messed up, though. My stomach has been burning yesterday and today. Usually I eat something like crackers or soup or something to make it feel better, and I tried that last night. But nothing is working. All I did was add calories I don't need. Ugh. I've had a sandwich and two yogurts to eat today. I don't know what I'll do for dinner. I want a big salad, but I don't have the ingredients and can't get out because of the snow. I have some frozen veggies. I think I might add some cheese and have that for dinner.
SUBWAY AND THE BIGGEST LOSER
I watched the Biggest Loser finale last night, of course. It turned out pretty much like I expected. Danny won. Liz didn't make it into the final three. And two of the contestants looked like skeletons -- Rebecca and Tracey. But the pleasant surprise was what Subway is doing for Shay. She started out so big...476 pounds, and lost 172 pounds. Great job! But that still puts her at 306 pounds. So Subway is offering her $1000 per pound she loses between now and the finale of the next season of Biggest Loser. A 100 pound loss could mean $100,000 in her pocket. That's a great incentive! The reality is that it's a great marketing gimmick. But that's potentially a huge amount of money for them to spend, so I can't help but believe that at some level they really do care. Not only that, but the 2009 Zagat Fast-Food Survey has rated the Subway brand as the #1 overall provider of “Healthy Options”. Check out their online nutrition information for each menu item.
TODAY'S TIP:
Adding even a little bit of walking to your routine each day can help burn calories and boosts your weight loss. And it doesn't have to be hard to add a bit more walking. Prevention magazine suggests these simple ways to increase your steps without spending a lot of time:
* Walk around the perimeter of the grocery store at least once before heading toward the items you need.
* Move in place whenever you're talking on the phone.
* Go through or around the entire shopping mall instead of parking near the store you need.
* Take a walk around the block at lunch and after dinner.
Eating has been a bit messed up, though. My stomach has been burning yesterday and today. Usually I eat something like crackers or soup or something to make it feel better, and I tried that last night. But nothing is working. All I did was add calories I don't need. Ugh. I've had a sandwich and two yogurts to eat today. I don't know what I'll do for dinner. I want a big salad, but I don't have the ingredients and can't get out because of the snow. I have some frozen veggies. I think I might add some cheese and have that for dinner.
SUBWAY AND THE BIGGEST LOSER
I watched the Biggest Loser finale last night, of course. It turned out pretty much like I expected. Danny won. Liz didn't make it into the final three. And two of the contestants looked like skeletons -- Rebecca and Tracey. But the pleasant surprise was what Subway is doing for Shay. She started out so big...476 pounds, and lost 172 pounds. Great job! But that still puts her at 306 pounds. So Subway is offering her $1000 per pound she loses between now and the finale of the next season of Biggest Loser. A 100 pound loss could mean $100,000 in her pocket. That's a great incentive! The reality is that it's a great marketing gimmick. But that's potentially a huge amount of money for them to spend, so I can't help but believe that at some level they really do care. Not only that, but the 2009 Zagat Fast-Food Survey has rated the Subway brand as the #1 overall provider of “Healthy Options”. Check out their online nutrition information for each menu item.
TODAY'S TIP:
Adding even a little bit of walking to your routine each day can help burn calories and boosts your weight loss. And it doesn't have to be hard to add a bit more walking. Prevention magazine suggests these simple ways to increase your steps without spending a lot of time:
* Walk around the perimeter of the grocery store at least once before heading toward the items you need.
* Move in place whenever you're talking on the phone.
* Go through or around the entire shopping mall instead of parking near the store you need.
* Take a walk around the block at lunch and after dinner.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Week 13, Day 1
The finale of Biggest Loser is tonight. I feel sad because it's like saying goodbye to friends. I feel ecstatic, though, because as of today I have lost 25 pounds. My goal is to lose another 5 by Christmas, and a total of 50 pounds from today until March 27 -- my 50 by 50 challenge. Will you keep helping me, please? I count on your encouragement and advice more than you could possibly know!
Today's Tip:
Freebie Alert!!! Nubella.com is offering a free low-calorie cookbook in ebook format. You can access it at this link: https://www.qualityhealth.com/resources/creative/email/ebooks/General_Ebook_QualityHealth_LowCalSlimDown_Ebook.pdf
WARNING:
Slim-Fast ready-to-drink products are ALL being recalled because of contamination. To see the recall notice from the FDA, follow this link: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm192978.htm?s_cid=w_c_sms_cont_001
Today's Tip:
Freebie Alert!!! Nubella.com is offering a free low-calorie cookbook in ebook format. You can access it at this link: https://www.qualityhealth.com/resources/creative/email/ebooks/General_Ebook_QualityHealth_LowCalSlimDown_Ebook.pdf
WARNING:
Slim-Fast ready-to-drink products are ALL being recalled because of contamination. To see the recall notice from the FDA, follow this link: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm192978.htm?s_cid=w_c_sms_cont_001
Week 12, Day 7
I know there are men who read this blog. But I just have to say something. It's diet-related, I swear. -- I HATE the hormonal "issues" that come once a month. Honest to God, I would have killed last night for a chocolate bar. Today I'm tired, run down, bithcy, and I still want chocolate. How can I lose weight if once a month I have The Beast to deal with? Ugh!
And now I must confess to you. I DID give in to the chocolate craving. Today after I dropped Adam off at work, I stopped by Burger King. (I had Doggie with me, so I couldn't go to a grocery store.) I got a salad (lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cheese, no dressing) and a piece of Hershey's pie. Three bites of the pie were enough to make me feel human again. In fact, it was almost too much since I'm not used to sweet stuff anymore. It probably helped that I ate the salad first so at least I wasn't eating the pie out of hunger. The rest is going in the freezer to stay put until next month when undoubtedly The Beast will strike again.
Here's another confession. I have only done a few leg lifts today. In my defense, I have had work to do all day. I'm a freelance writer, and though I don't go to an office, I do still need to be disciplined enough to work. Besides, The Beast has made me really tired. That and the snow blowers came at 3 o'clock this morning to remove snow from the sidewalk right outside my window. I know, I know. That's a poor excuse for being so sedentary today. And to make myself feel better about being a slug, I'm going to try to at least put a few miles in on the bike this evening and some weight work with my arms. But truthfully, I don't think it will be much.
Today's Tip:
Prevention Magazine has an awesome website with a Body Mass Index calculator, a health tracker, quizzes, all kinds of helpful tips and ideas, and some great informative articles. One of the things I found that made me feel better is from a slideshow titled, "Foods Not to Ditch When You Diet". They said that pasta is actually not a bad thing. I suppose they don't mean plate after plate of it like you can get at Olive Garden's "never-ending pasta" event. But still, having some isn't bad.
Prevention says, "Cooked pasta and rice are about 70% water--and eating fluid-rich foods keeps you fuller longer, compared with dry foods, according to research from the British Nutrition Foundation. Like bread, the carbs in pasta boost serotonin to help curb overeating.The proper portion of pasta is ½ cup cooked, or about the size of an ice-cream scoop. Choose whole grain varieties for filling fiber, and add grilled chicken and lots of veggies to bulk up your dish even more."
And now I must confess to you. I DID give in to the chocolate craving. Today after I dropped Adam off at work, I stopped by Burger King. (I had Doggie with me, so I couldn't go to a grocery store.) I got a salad (lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cheese, no dressing) and a piece of Hershey's pie. Three bites of the pie were enough to make me feel human again. In fact, it was almost too much since I'm not used to sweet stuff anymore. It probably helped that I ate the salad first so at least I wasn't eating the pie out of hunger. The rest is going in the freezer to stay put until next month when undoubtedly The Beast will strike again.
Here's another confession. I have only done a few leg lifts today. In my defense, I have had work to do all day. I'm a freelance writer, and though I don't go to an office, I do still need to be disciplined enough to work. Besides, The Beast has made me really tired. That and the snow blowers came at 3 o'clock this morning to remove snow from the sidewalk right outside my window. I know, I know. That's a poor excuse for being so sedentary today. And to make myself feel better about being a slug, I'm going to try to at least put a few miles in on the bike this evening and some weight work with my arms. But truthfully, I don't think it will be much.
Today's Tip:
Prevention Magazine has an awesome website with a Body Mass Index calculator, a health tracker, quizzes, all kinds of helpful tips and ideas, and some great informative articles. One of the things I found that made me feel better is from a slideshow titled, "Foods Not to Ditch When You Diet". They said that pasta is actually not a bad thing. I suppose they don't mean plate after plate of it like you can get at Olive Garden's "never-ending pasta" event. But still, having some isn't bad.
Prevention says, "Cooked pasta and rice are about 70% water--and eating fluid-rich foods keeps you fuller longer, compared with dry foods, according to research from the British Nutrition Foundation. Like bread, the carbs in pasta boost serotonin to help curb overeating.The proper portion of pasta is ½ cup cooked, or about the size of an ice-cream scoop. Choose whole grain varieties for filling fiber, and add grilled chicken and lots of veggies to bulk up your dish even more."
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Week 12, Day 6
Do you feel this blog is helping you in any way? If so, please won't you help me by 1) "following" it through Networked Blogs (part of Facebook) or Google Friends, AND 2) recommending this blog to your friends? If not, would you please let me know what I can do better? I am humbled by the comments I have received so far, letting me know my journey is making a difference. But I lost a "follower" today, and I don't know why. Plus, I'm a little frustrated that this isn't reaching more people if it is, indeed, helpful.
I have nearly all of my Christmas shopping done. It has been wonderful to feel well enough and be fit enough to be able to get out and actually shop in person rather than being in such horrid shape that I am forced to do the bulk of it online. I'm looking forward to reporting here even more things I am able to do either again or for the first time as time goes on. I feel very hopeful today!
Food and exercise -- I have tons of energy today, so exercise is not an issue. About 15 minutes stair climbing, 15 minutes on the bike, and I dont' know how long doing weights with my arms. And for some reason my appetite is nearly nothing today. I had sandwich earlier, and I'm giving oatmeal another shot tonight (trying to not accidentally make enough for a small army). Yippy for days when constant hunger is not an issue!
I dont' know how many calories I eat each day. Perhaps there will come a time when I want to put enough effort into the process to figure it all out each and every day. But that's not what I care about right now. I have a general idea that I have significantly reduced my intake, and that's good enough.
Today's Tip:
Take time to laugh. Seems simple enough, but it really is a marvelous tool in the weight loss arsenal. For one thing, it reduces stress, which in turn reduces the release of "stress hormones" that make us fatter. Plus, you actually burn calories and tone your abdominal muscles when you laugh. An article in USA Today says, "Dieters looking for another edge might want to consider exercising their sense of humor — scientists have found that a good laugh is a calorie burner not to be ignored." Oh sure, your caloric burn won't be HUGE. The study, done at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, estimates 10 to 15 minutes of giggling will burn only 50 calories. But still, what a delightful way to burn them! And every little bit helps. :)
I have nearly all of my Christmas shopping done. It has been wonderful to feel well enough and be fit enough to be able to get out and actually shop in person rather than being in such horrid shape that I am forced to do the bulk of it online. I'm looking forward to reporting here even more things I am able to do either again or for the first time as time goes on. I feel very hopeful today!
Food and exercise -- I have tons of energy today, so exercise is not an issue. About 15 minutes stair climbing, 15 minutes on the bike, and I dont' know how long doing weights with my arms. And for some reason my appetite is nearly nothing today. I had sandwich earlier, and I'm giving oatmeal another shot tonight (trying to not accidentally make enough for a small army). Yippy for days when constant hunger is not an issue!
I dont' know how many calories I eat each day. Perhaps there will come a time when I want to put enough effort into the process to figure it all out each and every day. But that's not what I care about right now. I have a general idea that I have significantly reduced my intake, and that's good enough.
Today's Tip:
Take time to laugh. Seems simple enough, but it really is a marvelous tool in the weight loss arsenal. For one thing, it reduces stress, which in turn reduces the release of "stress hormones" that make us fatter. Plus, you actually burn calories and tone your abdominal muscles when you laugh. An article in USA Today says, "Dieters looking for another edge might want to consider exercising their sense of humor — scientists have found that a good laugh is a calorie burner not to be ignored." Oh sure, your caloric burn won't be HUGE. The study, done at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, estimates 10 to 15 minutes of giggling will burn only 50 calories. But still, what a delightful way to burn them! And every little bit helps. :)
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