I had my 4 week follow-up appointment today at the Bariatric Clinic.
Weight: 272.5 (-13.5)
Blood Pressure: 136/85 (down a little)
So, I'm feeling pretty good about things. It was a great end to a pretty discouraging week.
Joseph and I are going to get our walk on tomorrow. We're going to spend the day in Downtown Charleston taking lots of pictures. It should be a good time. :O)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Holy Cow! No Wonder I'm Chubby!!
I searched for the nutritional information on one of my all time favorite meals, a meal I have been known to consume 3 or 4 times in a week because I love it that much. Because I have such a love for the meal itself and the restaurant that makes it, I feel I cannot "out" them on my blog, but I will share the nutritional information:
1540 calories
91 grams of fat
2375 mg sodium
HOLY STINKIN' COW!! NO STINKN' WONDER I'M CHUBBY!!
91 grams of fat is 4 1/2 days' worth of fat on my current diet. 4 1/2 days!! I used to consume that in one meal!! Multiple times a week!!
I was in so much shock that tears came to my eyes, and I had to share it with you.
1540 calories
91 grams of fat
2375 mg sodium
HOLY STINKIN' COW!! NO STINKN' WONDER I'M CHUBBY!!
91 grams of fat is 4 1/2 days' worth of fat on my current diet. 4 1/2 days!! I used to consume that in one meal!! Multiple times a week!!
I was in so much shock that tears came to my eyes, and I had to share it with you.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Day Off & Weigh In
Today was our weekly day off, and I'm pleased to announce that overall it went better than our last day off. We went to Denny's for breakfast again, and we were pleased that we made "healthier" choices. Since we were heading out of town for the day, we packed a healthy lunch that we could eat in the car. At the birthday party this afternoon, we allowed ourselves to indulge a little without going overboard. We did stop for fast food on the way back tonight, but we went splitties on it, so we didn't feel too bad. Both of us noticed that we did much better today at stopping eating when we were full. That's a big deal for both of us! So, while I know we didn't make perfect choices all day, I still feel like I can go to bed tonight with a pretty clear conscience.
Because today was our day off, we had our official weigh in for Game On. To date, Joseph has lost 11 pounds, and I've lost 7.1 pounds (yes, that .1 matters!!). Not bad for 12 days, huh? I'm really proud of both of us!
Thank you all for your prayers. We feel them!
Because today was our day off, we had our official weigh in for Game On. To date, Joseph has lost 11 pounds, and I've lost 7.1 pounds (yes, that .1 matters!!). Not bad for 12 days, huh? I'm really proud of both of us!
Thank you all for your prayers. We feel them!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Fine Line Between Woo Hoo and Blehk
I wasn't sure how to spell that sort of gagging noise I make playfully when I know I've eaten too much, so I went with "blehk". It will do.
I mentioned in a previous post that we took our Meal Off Friday night and our Day Off Saturday. We followed that up with a meal for which we got no points on Sunday night, a whole lot of spaghetti on Monday afternoon (it really did make my headache go away ...), and our Meal Off for this week on Monday night (that was actually a good decision).
Joseph and I chuckled as we reflected back over the weekend, because our Meal Off on Friday and one of our meals on Saturday were both buffet style. For two champion eaters like ourselves, we were in dangerous territory. I think we were both a little surprised at how quickly we got full at the Golden Corral buffet on Friday night. I started with a salad, and then I limited myself to one "main" entree (mmmm ... pot roast ... sooo good). By the time dessert rolled around, I was full. Did that stop me from eating dessert? Nope. That sure was good carrot cake (it wasn't from Golden Corral).
We went out to breakfast Saturday morning. Joseph did such an incredible job resisting the temptation to eat pancakes at a church dinner Wednesday night that I suggested we go out and eat pancakes for breakfast on our Day Off. So, we went to Denny's. They have new options for the build your own Grand Slam. I was proud of our choices! We chose things like whole wheat pancakes (they were actually really good!), yogurt, fruit, and oatmeal. We were still really full when we left (and we didn't even get to be in the Clean Plate Club!), but we felt good about the fact that we weren't full on things like bacon and sausage.
I think our biggest downfall as we headed toward the buffet at the wedding reception was that we were SO hungry. It's really hard for me to limit myself when my stomach is saying (in a Fat Albert voice, of course), "Hey, hey, hey! Look at those yummy chicken tenders! Oh, and croissants! Oh, my! A chocolate fountain! You could stick your whole head under that and fill me with chocolately goodness!" No, I didn't stick my head under the chocolate fountain. I do have a little self control left. I did, however, eat a piece of cake that I didn't really like that much just because it was cake. I know ...
I'm telling you all of this because Joseph and I had a conversation earlier about the fine line between Woo Hoo and Blehk. Woo Hoo is that moment when you're full and feel so good. As dieters, we didn't have that Woo Hoo feeling all week. I know for me, when I started to feel that Woo Hoo feeling, I didn't want to stop. I wanted to scrape all of the pot roast off my plate, because it felt so good to eat it. I wanted to eat 4 chicken tenders and 2 of those yummy croissant sandwiches, because it felt good satisfying my craving to overeat. I wanted to gorge myself on spaghetti, because it was the best spaghetti I've made in a long time, and it felt SO good eating it.
Then I found myself on the other side of the line. I was no longer in Woo Hoo. I had entered Blehk, and it felt gross. My stomach was no longer trying to persuade me to eat. My stomach was right down angry at me! I was uncomfortable and even felt a little sick at times.
So, part of this journey for me is learning not to cross the line. It's learning to enter Woo Hoo and then put the fork down. It's learning that feeling good after eating healthy, well portioned meals is much better than overeating and feeling Blehk.
I'm not naive enough to think that I'll reach that point quickly. I've been a Woo Hoo/Blehk eater for a long time. I do know I'll get there some day, though, and that will be a good feeling.
******
For those of you who are curious, Joseph and I weighed in Saturday (we're supposed to weigh in on our Day Off). I lost 4.4 pounds, and Joseph lost 6.9 pounds! I'm so incredibly proud of Joseph. He has been such an inspiration and encouragement over the last 9 days. Having him by my side going through this process with me has definitely made it much more doable.
I mentioned in a previous post that we took our Meal Off Friday night and our Day Off Saturday. We followed that up with a meal for which we got no points on Sunday night, a whole lot of spaghetti on Monday afternoon (it really did make my headache go away ...), and our Meal Off for this week on Monday night (that was actually a good decision).
Joseph and I chuckled as we reflected back over the weekend, because our Meal Off on Friday and one of our meals on Saturday were both buffet style. For two champion eaters like ourselves, we were in dangerous territory. I think we were both a little surprised at how quickly we got full at the Golden Corral buffet on Friday night. I started with a salad, and then I limited myself to one "main" entree (mmmm ... pot roast ... sooo good). By the time dessert rolled around, I was full. Did that stop me from eating dessert? Nope. That sure was good carrot cake (it wasn't from Golden Corral).
We went out to breakfast Saturday morning. Joseph did such an incredible job resisting the temptation to eat pancakes at a church dinner Wednesday night that I suggested we go out and eat pancakes for breakfast on our Day Off. So, we went to Denny's. They have new options for the build your own Grand Slam. I was proud of our choices! We chose things like whole wheat pancakes (they were actually really good!), yogurt, fruit, and oatmeal. We were still really full when we left (and we didn't even get to be in the Clean Plate Club!), but we felt good about the fact that we weren't full on things like bacon and sausage.
I think our biggest downfall as we headed toward the buffet at the wedding reception was that we were SO hungry. It's really hard for me to limit myself when my stomach is saying (in a Fat Albert voice, of course), "Hey, hey, hey! Look at those yummy chicken tenders! Oh, and croissants! Oh, my! A chocolate fountain! You could stick your whole head under that and fill me with chocolately goodness!" No, I didn't stick my head under the chocolate fountain. I do have a little self control left. I did, however, eat a piece of cake that I didn't really like that much just because it was cake. I know ...
I'm telling you all of this because Joseph and I had a conversation earlier about the fine line between Woo Hoo and Blehk. Woo Hoo is that moment when you're full and feel so good. As dieters, we didn't have that Woo Hoo feeling all week. I know for me, when I started to feel that Woo Hoo feeling, I didn't want to stop. I wanted to scrape all of the pot roast off my plate, because it felt so good to eat it. I wanted to eat 4 chicken tenders and 2 of those yummy croissant sandwiches, because it felt good satisfying my craving to overeat. I wanted to gorge myself on spaghetti, because it was the best spaghetti I've made in a long time, and it felt SO good eating it.
Then I found myself on the other side of the line. I was no longer in Woo Hoo. I had entered Blehk, and it felt gross. My stomach was no longer trying to persuade me to eat. My stomach was right down angry at me! I was uncomfortable and even felt a little sick at times.
So, part of this journey for me is learning not to cross the line. It's learning to enter Woo Hoo and then put the fork down. It's learning that feeling good after eating healthy, well portioned meals is much better than overeating and feeling Blehk.
I'm not naive enough to think that I'll reach that point quickly. I've been a Woo Hoo/Blehk eater for a long time. I do know I'll get there some day, though, and that will be a good feeling.
******
For those of you who are curious, Joseph and I weighed in Saturday (we're supposed to weigh in on our Day Off). I lost 4.4 pounds, and Joseph lost 6.9 pounds! I'm so incredibly proud of Joseph. He has been such an inspiration and encouragement over the last 9 days. Having him by my side going through this process with me has definitely made it much more doable.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Crank City
Warning: This post has the potential to be very whiny.
I knew it would hit me at some point - you know, that "I really just want to go back to the old way of doing things, because I like the old way of doing things" feeling. It hit me tonight, almost out of the blue. I actually had a pretty good day (truthfully, I've had a pretty good week). I had even just said that I thought our dinner this evening was my favorite meal we've had all week (fish and veggies; entire meal, entree and 2 sides, only 210 calories and 3 fat grams!!). Joseph and I had fun just hanging out and laughing after we used our "100 free calories" to indulge in fat free puddings (YUM!!! and only a wee 60 calories for a sweet treat). Then we went to Walmart, and things started to go down hill.
It wasn't Walmart's fault at all. I actually enjoyed going to Walmart. Joseph and I always have a nice time "running errands" together. Things started going down hill because I'm tired. When I get tired, I get cranky. Combine tired with being sore from the gym and craving everything in sight (cupcakes, candy, and chips, oh my!), and the result is a very whiny Rachelle. Bless Joseph's heart. He was so patient with me as I whined on the way home, whined as I put on my sneakers, and whined as I walked toward the gym like a reluctant 5-year-old going to her room.
Once we got to the gym, though, I was glad we went. While I was still tired and took it at a little slower pace, I knew that going to the gym was a good decision.
I'm still cranky, tired, and a little whiny, but something is definitely different. I haven't walked into the kitchen in search of a food pacifier. I haven't eaten a pint of ice cream or a can of Pringles. The stash of Little Debbie cakes is still untouched. I'm not sitting at Sonic ordering tater tots and a Route 44 Diet Dr Pepper with Vanilla. Instead, I'm acknowledging my state of whininess (hehe, is that a word?), praying that God will help me through it, and blogging about it. Aren't you so glad I gave up Little Debbie cakes and pints of ice cream so I could fill cyberspace with my whininess (hehe, still funny to me)?
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow night is our Meal Off, and Saturday is our Day Off. Explanation: In the Game On Diet, you are allowed one meal off a week and one day off a week. During the meal off, you may eat whatever you want (yep, whatever you want). During the day off, you pretty much don't have to follow any of the rules. You don't have to drink 3 liters of water, you don't have to eat a certain way, you can drink soda, etc. We're looking forward both to the meal off and the day off, but neither of us wants to sabotage our week's progress by overdoing our times off. So, if you'd like a specific way to pray for us, please pray 1) for self-control and 2) that treating ourselves a little during these times would simply be a treat we can enjoy and it won't make it harder for us to stick to our diet plan. Thank you all, my loyal readers. :O)
I knew it would hit me at some point - you know, that "I really just want to go back to the old way of doing things, because I like the old way of doing things" feeling. It hit me tonight, almost out of the blue. I actually had a pretty good day (truthfully, I've had a pretty good week). I had even just said that I thought our dinner this evening was my favorite meal we've had all week (fish and veggies; entire meal, entree and 2 sides, only 210 calories and 3 fat grams!!). Joseph and I had fun just hanging out and laughing after we used our "100 free calories" to indulge in fat free puddings (YUM!!! and only a wee 60 calories for a sweet treat). Then we went to Walmart, and things started to go down hill.
It wasn't Walmart's fault at all. I actually enjoyed going to Walmart. Joseph and I always have a nice time "running errands" together. Things started going down hill because I'm tired. When I get tired, I get cranky. Combine tired with being sore from the gym and craving everything in sight (cupcakes, candy, and chips, oh my!), and the result is a very whiny Rachelle. Bless Joseph's heart. He was so patient with me as I whined on the way home, whined as I put on my sneakers, and whined as I walked toward the gym like a reluctant 5-year-old going to her room.
Once we got to the gym, though, I was glad we went. While I was still tired and took it at a little slower pace, I knew that going to the gym was a good decision.
I'm still cranky, tired, and a little whiny, but something is definitely different. I haven't walked into the kitchen in search of a food pacifier. I haven't eaten a pint of ice cream or a can of Pringles. The stash of Little Debbie cakes is still untouched. I'm not sitting at Sonic ordering tater tots and a Route 44 Diet Dr Pepper with Vanilla. Instead, I'm acknowledging my state of whininess (hehe, is that a word?), praying that God will help me through it, and blogging about it. Aren't you so glad I gave up Little Debbie cakes and pints of ice cream so I could fill cyberspace with my whininess (hehe, still funny to me)?
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow night is our Meal Off, and Saturday is our Day Off. Explanation: In the Game On Diet, you are allowed one meal off a week and one day off a week. During the meal off, you may eat whatever you want (yep, whatever you want). During the day off, you pretty much don't have to follow any of the rules. You don't have to drink 3 liters of water, you don't have to eat a certain way, you can drink soda, etc. We're looking forward both to the meal off and the day off, but neither of us wants to sabotage our week's progress by overdoing our times off. So, if you'd like a specific way to pray for us, please pray 1) for self-control and 2) that treating ourselves a little during these times would simply be a treat we can enjoy and it won't make it harder for us to stick to our diet plan. Thank you all, my loyal readers. :O)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Perfect Storm
I chose to draw you in with a catchy title. I hope it worked. Well, I'm assuming it must have, because you're reading this.
Calling this afternoon The Perfect Storm may be a tad dramatic, but it definitely had all of the right elements to destroy my diet. There are a lot of things that lead me to make poor eating decisions. Things such as lack of time, feelings of frustration, being stressed, or sensing that I'm no longer in control. All of these things were present this afternoon, and it would have been incredibly easy to cheat on my diet.
But I had a plan! Yes, a plan! On Sunday, Joseph and I planned out all of our meals for the week. So, this afternoon when I was extremely tempted to grab fast food (one of my biggest downfalls), I was able to avoid that temptation. I knew what I was eating for dinner. The food had been purchased, and it would be quick and simple to eat at home. It felt really good avoiding the temptation to eat fast food! I'm sure it felt better than the momentary satisfaction I would have had gorging myself on fried delicacies.
Just a few highlights of our victories yesterday and today:
Calling this afternoon The Perfect Storm may be a tad dramatic, but it definitely had all of the right elements to destroy my diet. There are a lot of things that lead me to make poor eating decisions. Things such as lack of time, feelings of frustration, being stressed, or sensing that I'm no longer in control. All of these things were present this afternoon, and it would have been incredibly easy to cheat on my diet.
But I had a plan! Yes, a plan! On Sunday, Joseph and I planned out all of our meals for the week. So, this afternoon when I was extremely tempted to grab fast food (one of my biggest downfalls), I was able to avoid that temptation. I knew what I was eating for dinner. The food had been purchased, and it would be quick and simple to eat at home. It felt really good avoiding the temptation to eat fast food! I'm sure it felt better than the momentary satisfaction I would have had gorging myself on fried delicacies.
Just a few highlights of our victories yesterday and today:
- We scored 94% yesterday and 100% today on the Game On diet.
- Both yesterday and today, I drank 120 ounces of water!
- Joseph and I went to the gym together last night and tonight.
- Joseph and I, inspite of being hungry, have stuck to our meal plan faithfully for two days!
These may seem like small victories, but they add up quickly! I'll keep you posted on our progress, including a report of how much weight we've lost. We report our weight on Saturday, because that will be our day off (more on that another time).
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Game On!
Joseph and I are starting the Game On Diet tomorrow. We'll be competing against our friends Matt and Crystal. I'm really excited!
If you'd like a thorough run through of the diet, you can go to http://www.thegameondiet.com/. Basically, we earn points for doing things like eating healthy meals (we're doing a different meal plan than the one outlined in the book), exercising at least 20 minutes daily, drinking 3 liters of water daily, breaking a bad habit, developing a good habit, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night. We can lose points for things such as unauthorized snacking or conspiring with another player (i.e. "If we both eat a brownie, it'll be OK."). The only time actual weight loss comes into play is for the weekly bonus. If you lose at least 1% of your total body weight, you can earn a lot of bonus points for the week. I'm really excited because this seems like a fun way to stay motivated, especially for competitive people like myself.
Joseph and I are already on the right track for a strong first week. During lunch today, we planned out our meals for the whole week. Then we went to the grocery store and purchased everything we would need. After that, we came back to my apartment and prepped everything. We portioned out some of our food to ensure we're eating a proper serving. Check out my refrigerator:
The cheese and salsa are even portioned out into little cups so they're easy to toss into a lunchbox. (Lunches will include a southwest chicken wrap.)
If you'd like a thorough run through of the diet, you can go to http://www.thegameondiet.com/. Basically, we earn points for doing things like eating healthy meals (we're doing a different meal plan than the one outlined in the book), exercising at least 20 minutes daily, drinking 3 liters of water daily, breaking a bad habit, developing a good habit, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night. We can lose points for things such as unauthorized snacking or conspiring with another player (i.e. "If we both eat a brownie, it'll be OK."). The only time actual weight loss comes into play is for the weekly bonus. If you lose at least 1% of your total body weight, you can earn a lot of bonus points for the week. I'm really excited because this seems like a fun way to stay motivated, especially for competitive people like myself.
Joseph and I are already on the right track for a strong first week. During lunch today, we planned out our meals for the whole week. Then we went to the grocery store and purchased everything we would need. After that, we came back to my apartment and prepped everything. We portioned out some of our food to ensure we're eating a proper serving. Check out my refrigerator:
The grapes are counted out and in plastic containers so they're easy to toss into a lunchbox. The yogurt is already portioned out so that it just needs the frozen fruit added in the mornings.
The cheese and salsa are even portioned out into little cups so they're easy to toss into a lunchbox. (Lunches will include a southwest chicken wrap.)
Even the chicken for the wraps is portioned out into little baggies. :O)
I couldn't leave out a picture of the freezer. It looks so nice and organized! Joseph did that for me. He really is the BEST boyfriend EVER! I'm looking forward to doing this diet/game with him. I know he'll be a great partner.
This is us, totally excited about starting our diet/game. I'll keep you posted on how we do. Please keep us in your prayers as we make some much-needed changes in how we approach eating. Alrighty, I must go to bed in the next few minutes if I'm going to get in my 7 hours of sleep! Gotta get those points!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
The Challenge of Saturday
OK, I did it yesterday ... I got in 100 ounces of water before bed! I need to do that again today. The challenge: it's Saturday! I get so distracted doing things on Saturday that I don't pay attention to what I eat or drink. OK, mini game plan: consume 20 ounces of water before I walk out of the door for Rachel's shower in 35 minutes. I can do it!
Friday, August 28, 2009
White Trash and Water
I am really struggling with the white trash in the kitchen.
HAHA! I knew that would get your attention!
White Trash is a snack/dessert that consists of Chex cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. You may know it as Puppy Chow. I’ve already had 2 servings of it! I threw my plate away to remove the immediate temptation of helping myself to a 3rd serving. Here’s hoping that actually works! I love that stuff!
Now, moving along from my temptation to my goal.
I’ve been struggling all week (insert my whole life) with drinking enough water each day. My goal is 80-100 ounces daily. Ultimately, I would like to hit the 100 ounce mark each day. One day, my work day was almost over, and I realized I had only consumed 4 ounces of water! That left a mere 96 ounces to consume before bed. Needless to say, I did not reach my goal that day! I haven’t reached it a single day this week.
I will reach it today!
I’m trying to break it down throughout the day:
20 ounces by 10:00
40 ounces by 12:00
60 ounces by 2:00
80 ounces by 4:00
100 ounces by bed
I put this plan together around 11:00, so I’m trying to get in 40 ounces within an hour. Hey, I can do it! I just have to make myself do it! Ah, I just finished off the first 20. Only 37 minutes left to finish 20 more! I’ll keep you posted! (Because I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat wondering if I’ll meet my goal today!!)
**UPDATE** I finished 40 ounces by 11:56! I had 4 minutes to spare!!! Do you think I can finish 20 more by 2:00? I do!
**UPDATE** I finished 60 ounces by 1:57! Gotta go ... hehe ...
**UPDATE** I finished 80 ounced by 3:25!! Not to sound boastful, but I'm really proud of myself! I think I just needed to make drinking water a challenge - rather than just challenging. (Yes, I see a difference in those two things!)
I feel I must also confess: I had a 3rd serving of white trash. It was right there when I went to get my water out of the refrigerator, and I gave into the temptation. Sigh ... you win some, you lose some. :O)
**UPDATE** I did it! I got in the 100 ounces of water before I went to bed!! YAY!!
HAHA! I knew that would get your attention!
White Trash is a snack/dessert that consists of Chex cereal, chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. You may know it as Puppy Chow. I’ve already had 2 servings of it! I threw my plate away to remove the immediate temptation of helping myself to a 3rd serving. Here’s hoping that actually works! I love that stuff!
Now, moving along from my temptation to my goal.
I’ve been struggling all week (insert my whole life) with drinking enough water each day. My goal is 80-100 ounces daily. Ultimately, I would like to hit the 100 ounce mark each day. One day, my work day was almost over, and I realized I had only consumed 4 ounces of water! That left a mere 96 ounces to consume before bed. Needless to say, I did not reach my goal that day! I haven’t reached it a single day this week.
I will reach it today!
I’m trying to break it down throughout the day:
20 ounces by 10:00
40 ounces by 12:00
60 ounces by 2:00
80 ounces by 4:00
100 ounces by bed
I put this plan together around 11:00, so I’m trying to get in 40 ounces within an hour. Hey, I can do it! I just have to make myself do it! Ah, I just finished off the first 20. Only 37 minutes left to finish 20 more! I’ll keep you posted! (Because I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat wondering if I’ll meet my goal today!!)
**UPDATE** I finished 40 ounces by 11:56! I had 4 minutes to spare!!! Do you think I can finish 20 more by 2:00? I do!
**UPDATE** I finished 60 ounces by 1:57! Gotta go ... hehe ...
**UPDATE** I finished 80 ounced by 3:25!! Not to sound boastful, but I'm really proud of myself! I think I just needed to make drinking water a challenge - rather than just challenging. (Yes, I see a difference in those two things!)
I feel I must also confess: I had a 3rd serving of white trash. It was right there when I went to get my water out of the refrigerator, and I gave into the temptation. Sigh ... you win some, you lose some. :O)
**UPDATE** I did it! I got in the 100 ounces of water before I went to bed!! YAY!!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Comfort Food
What is it about comfort food that makes it so incredibly tempting? OK, I know the answer is in the question: comfort food is comforting.
I've been doing semi-OK with my diet this week (I'm going to write a separate post for that), but I fell off the wagon today. I felt YUCKY, and I found myself justifying purchasing two different kinds of cookies from the Walmart bakery and a slushie from Sonic. (With the slushie, I felt like I was making a somewhat better choice over ice cream, and I chose the apple juice slushie, which at least gave me some Vitamin C! HAHA!)
There's a chance I've set myself back a couple of days just because I felt I had the right to consume extra calories. Did I? Maybe ... but probably not. It's all a matter of getting myself to the point where I'm thinking of the big picture. Today as I was walking around Walmart and driving toward Sonic, I was only thinking of the pain and discomfort I was feeling. I wanted something to help soothe those feelings, and food is my longtime friend. If I had stopped and thought about my goal of losing 20 pounds by the time we fly out to Montana in mid-October, maybe I would have only purchased 1 box of cookies instead of 2 (hey, I'm not perfect!), and maybe I would have purchased a Route 44 water instead of a slushie AND a Diet Dr Pepper with vanilla.
So, here's hoping I can learn to find some balance between my desire to consume comfort foods and my desire to lose weight!
I've been doing semi-OK with my diet this week (I'm going to write a separate post for that), but I fell off the wagon today. I felt YUCKY, and I found myself justifying purchasing two different kinds of cookies from the Walmart bakery and a slushie from Sonic. (With the slushie, I felt like I was making a somewhat better choice over ice cream, and I chose the apple juice slushie, which at least gave me some Vitamin C! HAHA!)
There's a chance I've set myself back a couple of days just because I felt I had the right to consume extra calories. Did I? Maybe ... but probably not. It's all a matter of getting myself to the point where I'm thinking of the big picture. Today as I was walking around Walmart and driving toward Sonic, I was only thinking of the pain and discomfort I was feeling. I wanted something to help soothe those feelings, and food is my longtime friend. If I had stopped and thought about my goal of losing 20 pounds by the time we fly out to Montana in mid-October, maybe I would have only purchased 1 box of cookies instead of 2 (hey, I'm not perfect!), and maybe I would have purchased a Route 44 water instead of a slushie AND a Diet Dr Pepper with vanilla.
So, here's hoping I can learn to find some balance between my desire to consume comfort foods and my desire to lose weight!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Splitties
One of my new favorite things to do with Joseph (a.k.a. the love of my life) is "splitties". This comes in two forms: 1) We share one entree, split in half or 2) We order two entrees and each eat half. We're working on choosing the former more often so that we're eating less food, but the latter option is GREAT! I love being able to choose two items from a menu. :O)
We shared one entree from Oriental House the other night, and it was perfect. Typically, we both order our own entrees, and they're typically the same entree. We both end up being SO full afterward, and we've said several times that we should just order one entree and split it. So we finally did. We both enjoyed our dinner, and we didn't feel over-full afterward. We'll definitely split entrees more often.
And for those of you who might be wondering about my cheesecake, Joseph and I split it, too! Again, perfect! If I had eaten the entire piece, I would have likely felt sick because it is so rich. Instead, I shared the joy of my cheesecake with the one who brings so much joy to my life. You certainly can't go wrong with that. :O)
We shared one entree from Oriental House the other night, and it was perfect. Typically, we both order our own entrees, and they're typically the same entree. We both end up being SO full afterward, and we've said several times that we should just order one entree and split it. So we finally did. We both enjoyed our dinner, and we didn't feel over-full afterward. We'll definitely split entrees more often.
And for those of you who might be wondering about my cheesecake, Joseph and I split it, too! Again, perfect! If I had eaten the entire piece, I would have likely felt sick because it is so rich. Instead, I shared the joy of my cheesecake with the one who brings so much joy to my life. You certainly can't go wrong with that. :O)
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Vanilla Bean Cheesecake and a Possible New Dieting Strategy
There is a piece of vanilla bean cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory sitting in my refrigerator. When I got up this morning, that was one of the most exciting things on my agenda (birthday cake was high up there as well ... yes, I do know I'm on a diet). Oh how things can change in just an instant. On the way to The Cheesecake Factory, I got really upset about something, and I've been upset since then. So I haven't touched my cheesecake.
Typically, I'm an emotional eater. If I'm sad, lonely, depressed, joyful, celebratory, or pretty much any other emotion, I want to eat. So it always catches me off guard when I lose my appetite completely, especially for something I wanted so badly and had been looking forward to for a couple of weeks. I usually know that means I'm upset for real (you know, as opposed to all of the other times when I'm upset for fake ... ).
Perhaps this could be a new dieting strategy for me. Every time I really want something I shouldn't eat, I'll just have someone upset me tremendously. Then I won't want to eat it. I'm not sure what this strategy will do to my emotional health, but I sure will look good.
Typically, I'm an emotional eater. If I'm sad, lonely, depressed, joyful, celebratory, or pretty much any other emotion, I want to eat. So it always catches me off guard when I lose my appetite completely, especially for something I wanted so badly and had been looking forward to for a couple of weeks. I usually know that means I'm upset for real (you know, as opposed to all of the other times when I'm upset for fake ... ).
Perhaps this could be a new dieting strategy for me. Every time I really want something I shouldn't eat, I'll just have someone upset me tremendously. Then I won't want to eat it. I'm not sure what this strategy will do to my emotional health, but I sure will look good.
What is That?!
This made me laugh a lot, so I just thought I would share. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up around 5 to roll over or something. I moved my left hand a little and realize there was a "ball" of something sticky between two of my fingers. What is that?! I wondered. Hehe, it was a gummy bear!! Do you think I have a problem? haha! :O)
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Numbers
I went to the Bariatric Clinic today for my first appointment. Overall, it went pretty well, and I'm feeling hopeful that I can reach my goal of a healthy weight.
**Side note: For those of you who think it's wrong to use weight loss medication, I challenge you to rethink your position. What if I told you I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and I found a doctor who could prescribe a medication that would cure me of the illness? It's very likely that you would encourage me to pursue treatment. Well, I do have a terminal illness: obesity. I need treatment before carrying around essentially what equals to a second person kills me.**
So, here are all the numbers as of this morning around 10:30:
286 - my weight in pounds. Hmmm ... I'm wondering if you just gasped because of my weight or because of the fact that I just posted my actual weight on the internet. I'll admit, I was pretty shocked when I heard the number. I had a ballpark estimate of my weight, but that number exceeded my estimate. Well, there's no point dwelling on the enormity of the number, or the fact that it immediately made me think of all the "fat people" in the before shots on Slim Fast commercials. I simply will acknowledge the number as my starting point for success and move on toward my goals.
49.1 - my BMI
53.9 - my percentage of fat
140/90 - my blood pressure that has started creeping up and up ...
20 - the number of fat grams I am allowed in a day
1200-1400 - the number of calories I am allowed in a day
80-100 - the number of ounces of water I must drink in a day
2000 - the maximum milligrams of salt I may consume in a day
5-7 - the number of days a week I must exercise for at least 30 minutes at a time
20 - My first goal: the number of pounds I would like to lose by the time Joseph and I leave for Montana on October 11th. I can do it!
2 - the number of Krispy Kreme donuts I ate as I drove away from the Bariatric Clinic ... Hey, this blog is all about honesty! I am a work in progress!! :O)
9/18/09 - the date of my next appointment at the Bariatric Clinic ... I can't wait to see how much progress I've made in 4 weeks! I should probably lay off the Krispy Kreme donuts ... hehe.
I covet your prayers and encouragement as I embark upon this journey! Thank you in advance!
~ Chubby Chelley ~
**Side note: For those of you who think it's wrong to use weight loss medication, I challenge you to rethink your position. What if I told you I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and I found a doctor who could prescribe a medication that would cure me of the illness? It's very likely that you would encourage me to pursue treatment. Well, I do have a terminal illness: obesity. I need treatment before carrying around essentially what equals to a second person kills me.**
So, here are all the numbers as of this morning around 10:30:
286 - my weight in pounds. Hmmm ... I'm wondering if you just gasped because of my weight or because of the fact that I just posted my actual weight on the internet. I'll admit, I was pretty shocked when I heard the number. I had a ballpark estimate of my weight, but that number exceeded my estimate. Well, there's no point dwelling on the enormity of the number, or the fact that it immediately made me think of all the "fat people" in the before shots on Slim Fast commercials. I simply will acknowledge the number as my starting point for success and move on toward my goals.
49.1 - my BMI
53.9 - my percentage of fat
140/90 - my blood pressure that has started creeping up and up ...
20 - the number of fat grams I am allowed in a day
1200-1400 - the number of calories I am allowed in a day
80-100 - the number of ounces of water I must drink in a day
2000 - the maximum milligrams of salt I may consume in a day
5-7 - the number of days a week I must exercise for at least 30 minutes at a time
20 - My first goal: the number of pounds I would like to lose by the time Joseph and I leave for Montana on October 11th. I can do it!
2 - the number of Krispy Kreme donuts I ate as I drove away from the Bariatric Clinic ... Hey, this blog is all about honesty! I am a work in progress!! :O)
9/18/09 - the date of my next appointment at the Bariatric Clinic ... I can't wait to see how much progress I've made in 4 weeks! I should probably lay off the Krispy Kreme donuts ... hehe.
I covet your prayers and encouragement as I embark upon this journey! Thank you in advance!
~ Chubby Chelley ~
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thank you, Krispy Kreme!
I'm sure I can credit Krispy Kreme with at least a few of the extra pounds I need to shed. Gosh, I love Krispy Kreme! To celebrate that I'm going on a diet, Joseph and I just went to Krispy Kreme and got hot 'n ready glazed donuts. So good! The diet hasn't begun officially, so the donuts were completely sanctioned. I was still rather amused, though, and thought I would share. :O)
One Bite at a Time
I've been on this journey more than once - the journey toward "a better me," "a healthier me," "a sexier me." Yes, I just said sexier. If you found that offensive, you may need to get over that. This blog will be a tad bit different from my other blog (rachelleville.blogspot.com). I plan just to shoot it straight and share how I'm feeling.
So why a blog for this journey? Because I need something different this time, something public. I also thought it might be helpful just to get it off my chest when I'm craving a whole box of Swiss Cake Rolls, the thought of going to the gym makes me angry, or I'm in tears because I can't button my jeans.
What led up to this point? My insatiable appetite and hunger. I got here one bite at a time. Some people have health problems or big bones. Not me. I just like to eat. I really like to eat. OK - I really, really like to eat. I always have. I've been chubby since I was a child.
I don't want to be chubby any longer. For many reasons:
1) Being so terribly overweight is dishonoring to God.
2) I'm starting to notice at the ripe young age of 28 that my weight is affecting my health.
3) One of these days, I want to wear a certain white dress, and I want to look HOT in it!
4) I'd like to be able to walk up a flight of stairs and still be able to carry on a conversation when I reach the top.
5) I'd like to be able to stand next to my gorgeous little sisters and not feel ginormous.
6) I really want the man of my dreams to be able to give me a piggyback ride some day ... and to be able to carry me across the threshold of our dream home.
There are more reasons. I'm sure I'll share them throughout this journey.
I'll also share my progress and my plan(s) of attack.
I became Chubby Chelle one bite at a time. I'm determined to lose the chub one bite at a time ... they'll just be healthier bites (with a Swiss Cake Roll here and there ... You don't really expect me to give those up, do you?).
So why a blog for this journey? Because I need something different this time, something public. I also thought it might be helpful just to get it off my chest when I'm craving a whole box of Swiss Cake Rolls, the thought of going to the gym makes me angry, or I'm in tears because I can't button my jeans.
What led up to this point? My insatiable appetite and hunger. I got here one bite at a time. Some people have health problems or big bones. Not me. I just like to eat. I really like to eat. OK - I really, really like to eat. I always have. I've been chubby since I was a child.
I don't want to be chubby any longer. For many reasons:
1) Being so terribly overweight is dishonoring to God.
2) I'm starting to notice at the ripe young age of 28 that my weight is affecting my health.
3) One of these days, I want to wear a certain white dress, and I want to look HOT in it!
4) I'd like to be able to walk up a flight of stairs and still be able to carry on a conversation when I reach the top.
5) I'd like to be able to stand next to my gorgeous little sisters and not feel ginormous.
6) I really want the man of my dreams to be able to give me a piggyback ride some day ... and to be able to carry me across the threshold of our dream home.
There are more reasons. I'm sure I'll share them throughout this journey.
I'll also share my progress and my plan(s) of attack.
I became Chubby Chelle one bite at a time. I'm determined to lose the chub one bite at a time ... they'll just be healthier bites (with a Swiss Cake Roll here and there ... You don't really expect me to give those up, do you?).
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