I have been deeply effected by the recent death of a childhood friend and classmate. In trying to lighten my mood yesterday after I learned of my friend's passing, Billy tried to joke that we were "getting into that age group." I told him I didn't know how old he thought I was, but 43 is NOT "that age group."
But he meant well and said it out of love so I let it go.
My friend died of heart complications arising from weight gain. He died at 375 pounds. At age 43 or 44.
It has really hit me, for a lot of reasons, but mostly because THAT is the whole reason I started this journey I'm on.
I did not want to be that person. Worried about my heart. Wondering what damage I was doing to my body.
Cutting my life short.
I will probably never share the number on the scale that was staring back at me that first day. The one that scared me so badly. No one knows it except the lady at HealthQuest and she won't tell.
But it was so much higher than I ever thought I could weigh. My 6 foot 4 inch husband no longer outweighed me by much.
It terrified me and shook me to my core.
That was the point that I realized I had to do something.
Apparently my friend had encountered some of Life's difficulties and handled them the way we all do sometimes - turning to food for comfort, withdrawing from our friends and coworkers, convincing ourselves that we're handling it when we're really handling nothing.
I have been saddened by his passing - the wondering what ifs and so on, but I'm also resolved to keep going with what I started. Keep pushing myself to make the healthy choices - even when I don't want do or they aren't as much fun. I did indulge myself a little last night, bit of a pity party after a rough day, but today the day dawned brighter and I remembered that I don't have to end up like that. I have the power to control my choices and my responses to what Life hands me.
I may end up making a lot of lemonade with the lemons I get handed, but I don't have to drink it.
It's all up to me.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Having a Plan
I've been a little disappointed in myself lately.
Not necessarily because of what the scales do or don't say. But in my approach to things.
See, when I set out to lose the weight I did so like I do everything else in my world - organized, planned, thought out.
I set alarms so I would get up and go walk at the local mall in the morning. I did research on how much I should eat at a meal and devised methods of tracking it. I attacked the "problem" like I do anything. I developed a plan and I executed it.
Well, I might add.
Then came maintenance, though. I got pretty haphazard. And, let's face it, maintenance is really the biggest part of the whole overall plan. I mean, really, what is the point of losing the weight if you aren't going to work to keep it off.
So, after a year of just "doing" I have started back on developing a plan. I am an extremely organized person but I don't want to take this to the extreme. It is still my life and still supposed to be fun. I'm not looking to obsess about anything, either. (Very often, though, I envy Martha Stewart and her need of only 4 hours of sleep. I could get so much more done with just a few more hours in my day!) I have worked out a fitness calendar for the next few months to follow. It doesn't leave the day's workout to my whims and how I feel. It is on the To Do List and should be checked off accordingly.
It will mix the different tools I have on different days - some days cardio or strength or yoga or a mix, with 3 Friday nights a month off for a break. Hopefully, that will shake my body up a little.
Get it back jump started.
Because as much as I love my games, and I do LOVE my games, it is easy to get complacent or de-prioritize the fitness piece of the puzzle or just do the really fun ones and skip the ones that may actually be doing the most good.
And I know that for me, exercise is really the key to keeping the weight off. Not so that I can eat more but so that my body will always be surprised and keep using the fuel I give it efficiently. So that really is the area that I have to focus on the most.
I know that every body has its "happy place" that it settles into. I'm fine with that. But I know that it settles there when I'm doing all I can to be healthy. So if I'm not doing my part I can't reasonably expect my body to hold up its end of the deal, now can I?
So, I'm on Day 3 of my plan. Today will be a bit of challenge to get in since it is bunco night, but I'll figure it out. Somehow.
Because I love checking things off the list!
Not necessarily because of what the scales do or don't say. But in my approach to things.
See, when I set out to lose the weight I did so like I do everything else in my world - organized, planned, thought out.
I set alarms so I would get up and go walk at the local mall in the morning. I did research on how much I should eat at a meal and devised methods of tracking it. I attacked the "problem" like I do anything. I developed a plan and I executed it.
Well, I might add.
Then came maintenance, though. I got pretty haphazard. And, let's face it, maintenance is really the biggest part of the whole overall plan. I mean, really, what is the point of losing the weight if you aren't going to work to keep it off.
So, after a year of just "doing" I have started back on developing a plan. I am an extremely organized person but I don't want to take this to the extreme. It is still my life and still supposed to be fun. I'm not looking to obsess about anything, either. (Very often, though, I envy Martha Stewart and her need of only 4 hours of sleep. I could get so much more done with just a few more hours in my day!) I have worked out a fitness calendar for the next few months to follow. It doesn't leave the day's workout to my whims and how I feel. It is on the To Do List and should be checked off accordingly.
It will mix the different tools I have on different days - some days cardio or strength or yoga or a mix, with 3 Friday nights a month off for a break. Hopefully, that will shake my body up a little.
Get it back jump started.
Because as much as I love my games, and I do LOVE my games, it is easy to get complacent or de-prioritize the fitness piece of the puzzle or just do the really fun ones and skip the ones that may actually be doing the most good.
And I know that for me, exercise is really the key to keeping the weight off. Not so that I can eat more but so that my body will always be surprised and keep using the fuel I give it efficiently. So that really is the area that I have to focus on the most.
I know that every body has its "happy place" that it settles into. I'm fine with that. But I know that it settles there when I'm doing all I can to be healthy. So if I'm not doing my part I can't reasonably expect my body to hold up its end of the deal, now can I?
So, I'm on Day 3 of my plan. Today will be a bit of challenge to get in since it is bunco night, but I'll figure it out. Somehow.
Because I love checking things off the list!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The BLTS
Wish I could take credit for thinking of this one, but I am not quite this creative.
I have written a few times about one the tools that has really helped was to write everything down that I ate.
If you bite it, write it.
On more than one occasion that process has stopped me from eating something. I simply didn't want to have to write it down and see it staring back at me.
I am no good at inserting links into these things but I'll try, separately, to see if I can link up to a blog that my aunt passed along to me. On this particular day, the author was talking about all the decisions we have to make all day, especially when it came to weight control.
She said it wasn't the things she was actually eating that were causing her problems, it was the BLTS.
Bites
Licks
Tastes
Sips
The little things that we do, sometimes out of habit, that can add up when you aren't looking. I mean, really, who doesn't want to lick the beaters if you've made a cake? Any good cook will tell you that you need to taste the food as you're cooking, to adjust the seasonings and all.
But it is that unconscious behavior that can be the most damaging.
Every bite counts. Every bite of everything, pretty much, has calories so if you're watching and keeping track of what you're eating, you've got to include those as well.
Notice, I didn't tell you not to do it. Would not dream of that. Life is to be lived and cooking and eating is fun. No doubt about it. People love to eat and it is very much a social activity.
But I am reminding you to be aware. Trying to keep your calories under a target goal is a tough challenge in and of itself. Trying to convince yourself you've stayed under that target when maybe you're being less than honest with yourself about what you have truly eaten that day is an even tougher challenge. We can sometimes easily look for excuses for failure, reasons to give up trying, without really looking honestly at the situation.
So, go have a wonderful day, and try to save those BLTs for the summer. When the tomatoes are homegrown and the bacon is turkey.
I have written a few times about one the tools that has really helped was to write everything down that I ate.
If you bite it, write it.
On more than one occasion that process has stopped me from eating something. I simply didn't want to have to write it down and see it staring back at me.
I am no good at inserting links into these things but I'll try, separately, to see if I can link up to a blog that my aunt passed along to me. On this particular day, the author was talking about all the decisions we have to make all day, especially when it came to weight control.
She said it wasn't the things she was actually eating that were causing her problems, it was the BLTS.
Bites
Licks
Tastes
Sips
The little things that we do, sometimes out of habit, that can add up when you aren't looking. I mean, really, who doesn't want to lick the beaters if you've made a cake? Any good cook will tell you that you need to taste the food as you're cooking, to adjust the seasonings and all.
But it is that unconscious behavior that can be the most damaging.
Every bite counts. Every bite of everything, pretty much, has calories so if you're watching and keeping track of what you're eating, you've got to include those as well.
Notice, I didn't tell you not to do it. Would not dream of that. Life is to be lived and cooking and eating is fun. No doubt about it. People love to eat and it is very much a social activity.
But I am reminding you to be aware. Trying to keep your calories under a target goal is a tough challenge in and of itself. Trying to convince yourself you've stayed under that target when maybe you're being less than honest with yourself about what you have truly eaten that day is an even tougher challenge. We can sometimes easily look for excuses for failure, reasons to give up trying, without really looking honestly at the situation.
So, go have a wonderful day, and try to save those BLTs for the summer. When the tomatoes are homegrown and the bacon is turkey.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Too Good to Be Real
This is kind of a crazy society we're living in. I've been thinking about how to best approach this subject.
You see, I'm a little mixed on some of it.
A recent cover of People Magazine showed a young (23) television personality who underwent 10, yes 10, plastic surgeries at one time.
And this was not her first time under the knife.
Nor will it be her last. She still wants bigger breasts.
Ten surgeries.
This, to me, is 1) having more money than sense, and 2) such a sad commentary on how people (male and female) can view themselves.
Who, at 23, truly and honestly needs 10 plastic surgeries? She had her ears pinned back, chin reduction, liposuction, nose job, breast enhancement, you name it. And y'all, she looked wonderful to start with.
She was already a television celebrity.
I don't get it. But she said she wanted to feel "perfect".
I say perfection starts on the inside.
And there are no surgeries for that.
But it shows you some of the issues that we all face. She has a career that many people dream of, she is newly married (for the record, her husband was very much against the surgeries but supported her right to do it), and is living a life that many would envy.
Yet she wasn't happy.
Now, what part of this am I mixed about?
I don't agree with what she did, but I respect her right to do it.
I understand what it's like to want to look different. I wish I were taller, but there is no surgery for that. High heels are the best I can do on that front.
I do color my hair when I get dissatisfied with it.
I'll try every product that Oil of Olay can make to try and get rid of bags under my eyes or wrinkles.
And while the impetus for me to work on losing the 50 pounds I've dropped (so far anyway) was for health reasons I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the way I looked.
But I have never suffered from the confidence problems that this young woman obviously does. I never really associate what I look like with who I am.
I am me. Wife, daughter, sister, friend, "mother" to the puppies, CPA, partner. Doesn't matter if I'm blond, brunette, short, tall, whatever. All of these I accomplished because of who I am on the inside, who and what I was raised to be (thanks Mom and Dad!), how I view myself.
Unfortunately, though, that kind of self-awareness doesn't always translate. So, I actually feel sorry for this young lady.
Sorry that she can't see how beautiful she was before. Not that she isn't beautiful now, but it just isn't the same.
Sorry that she didn't opt to work on the inside first, before spending all that time on the shell.
Because, in reality, our bodies are simply that - shells. Delicate, fragile shells that hold an even more fragile and delicate soul on the inside.
And, like so many other things in this world, it is only the inside that counts.
You see, I'm a little mixed on some of it.
A recent cover of People Magazine showed a young (23) television personality who underwent 10, yes 10, plastic surgeries at one time.
And this was not her first time under the knife.
Nor will it be her last. She still wants bigger breasts.
Ten surgeries.
This, to me, is 1) having more money than sense, and 2) such a sad commentary on how people (male and female) can view themselves.
Who, at 23, truly and honestly needs 10 plastic surgeries? She had her ears pinned back, chin reduction, liposuction, nose job, breast enhancement, you name it. And y'all, she looked wonderful to start with.
She was already a television celebrity.
I don't get it. But she said she wanted to feel "perfect".
I say perfection starts on the inside.
And there are no surgeries for that.
But it shows you some of the issues that we all face. She has a career that many people dream of, she is newly married (for the record, her husband was very much against the surgeries but supported her right to do it), and is living a life that many would envy.
Yet she wasn't happy.
Now, what part of this am I mixed about?
I don't agree with what she did, but I respect her right to do it.
I understand what it's like to want to look different. I wish I were taller, but there is no surgery for that. High heels are the best I can do on that front.
I do color my hair when I get dissatisfied with it.
I'll try every product that Oil of Olay can make to try and get rid of bags under my eyes or wrinkles.
And while the impetus for me to work on losing the 50 pounds I've dropped (so far anyway) was for health reasons I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the way I looked.
But I have never suffered from the confidence problems that this young woman obviously does. I never really associate what I look like with who I am.
I am me. Wife, daughter, sister, friend, "mother" to the puppies, CPA, partner. Doesn't matter if I'm blond, brunette, short, tall, whatever. All of these I accomplished because of who I am on the inside, who and what I was raised to be (thanks Mom and Dad!), how I view myself.
Unfortunately, though, that kind of self-awareness doesn't always translate. So, I actually feel sorry for this young lady.
Sorry that she can't see how beautiful she was before. Not that she isn't beautiful now, but it just isn't the same.
Sorry that she didn't opt to work on the inside first, before spending all that time on the shell.
Because, in reality, our bodies are simply that - shells. Delicate, fragile shells that hold an even more fragile and delicate soul on the inside.
And, like so many other things in this world, it is only the inside that counts.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Motivational Monday Get an Appetite for Life!
This post is from Denise Austin's newsletter this morning. Thought it was worth sharing.
When you take the focus of your life off food, it sometimes leaves behind a big (doughnut-shaped!) hole. So much of life revolves around meals and eating - shopping, cooking, entertaining. In a given day, you might go to a restaurant for lunch, meet your sister for coffee (and cake), then plan a special dinner for your kids.
Suddenly, when you can't eat all the goodies you'd normally buy or make, it's hard to know what to do with yourself. It's difficult to make fried chicken for everyone but not have a piece yourself. When the aroma of your cobbler or cookies fills the house, how can you not break down and take a taste?
Challenge yourself to get out of the way of temptation! You need to decide that until you meet your fitness and weight-loss goals, you'll let someone else whip up the goodies (even if they won't be as great as yours!). Furthermore, it's all right if you bring fruit salad instead of layer cake to a family cookout, or a plate of cut-up veggies and some light dressing instead of a baked macaroni and cheese to a party. You have the power to take charge of every situation, so use it! Don't be afraid to suggest buying coffee to go instead of sitting near all those muffins and scones at the coffee shop. Your sister or friend will understand and support you - she might even thank you!
There's no time like the present! What healthy choices will you make today?
- Denise
My favorite line: You have the power to take charge of every situation, so use it!
I have a hard time getting others to understand that and it wears me down sometimes. I control my insulin problem through both diet and medication. I don't know how many times I've declined birthday cake at work or a dessert at a family function only to be told "one little piece won't hurt you". You know what, its my call not theirs. I try to be polite. I never want to offend my host. But it is my health and my body and no one else can take care of it like I can. So I have to stand firm.
You can also. Don't let anyone bully you into making a less than perfect decision for you. Take charge!
When you take the focus of your life off food, it sometimes leaves behind a big (doughnut-shaped!) hole. So much of life revolves around meals and eating - shopping, cooking, entertaining. In a given day, you might go to a restaurant for lunch, meet your sister for coffee (and cake), then plan a special dinner for your kids.
Suddenly, when you can't eat all the goodies you'd normally buy or make, it's hard to know what to do with yourself. It's difficult to make fried chicken for everyone but not have a piece yourself. When the aroma of your cobbler or cookies fills the house, how can you not break down and take a taste?
Challenge yourself to get out of the way of temptation! You need to decide that until you meet your fitness and weight-loss goals, you'll let someone else whip up the goodies (even if they won't be as great as yours!). Furthermore, it's all right if you bring fruit salad instead of layer cake to a family cookout, or a plate of cut-up veggies and some light dressing instead of a baked macaroni and cheese to a party. You have the power to take charge of every situation, so use it! Don't be afraid to suggest buying coffee to go instead of sitting near all those muffins and scones at the coffee shop. Your sister or friend will understand and support you - she might even thank you!
There's no time like the present! What healthy choices will you make today?
- Denise
My favorite line: You have the power to take charge of every situation, so use it!
I have a hard time getting others to understand that and it wears me down sometimes. I control my insulin problem through both diet and medication. I don't know how many times I've declined birthday cake at work or a dessert at a family function only to be told "one little piece won't hurt you". You know what, its my call not theirs. I try to be polite. I never want to offend my host. But it is my health and my body and no one else can take care of it like I can. So I have to stand firm.
You can also. Don't let anyone bully you into making a less than perfect decision for you. Take charge!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Easy Come, Easy Go....
NOT!
Still struggling to get back down to my "fighting weight", as my daddy would say. It is just amazing to me that letting loose for only a couple of days - and that is all it was - has taken me almost a month to get over. I exercised over the holidays. I didn't seriously overeat.
Couple of extra little pies here and there that my body wasn't used to, but not like a whole pie anything like that!
And this is my toughest time. With busy season it is so hard to get up early and really exercise and I'm often too tired when I finally get home at night. And it is a constant battle not to snack.
But I know I really have to try and stay on top of my healthy habits. I will ultimately feel better and get more done if I'm staying on track.
I did walk home for lunch today and back so that helps a little. Breaks the day up, gets the mind working for the afternoon and all of that. Billy isn't crazy about me walking to and from work when its dark so I may have to just reserve that for lunchtime.
So I am trying, and I am chipping away at it. I can see the arrow going down a little bit every day but I really thought it would go much faster than this!
Billy picked up the new Jenny McCarthy's Your Shape disc for the Wii and I've been trying it for the last couple of weeks.
It is a very good workout and somewhat customizable. I'll report back after I've done it a little longer and give a review.
Have a great week everyone!
Still struggling to get back down to my "fighting weight", as my daddy would say. It is just amazing to me that letting loose for only a couple of days - and that is all it was - has taken me almost a month to get over. I exercised over the holidays. I didn't seriously overeat.
Couple of extra little pies here and there that my body wasn't used to, but not like a whole pie anything like that!
And this is my toughest time. With busy season it is so hard to get up early and really exercise and I'm often too tired when I finally get home at night. And it is a constant battle not to snack.
But I know I really have to try and stay on top of my healthy habits. I will ultimately feel better and get more done if I'm staying on track.
I did walk home for lunch today and back so that helps a little. Breaks the day up, gets the mind working for the afternoon and all of that. Billy isn't crazy about me walking to and from work when its dark so I may have to just reserve that for lunchtime.
So I am trying, and I am chipping away at it. I can see the arrow going down a little bit every day but I really thought it would go much faster than this!
Billy picked up the new Jenny McCarthy's Your Shape disc for the Wii and I've been trying it for the last couple of weeks.
It is a very good workout and somewhat customizable. I'll report back after I've done it a little longer and give a review.
Have a great week everyone!
Monday, January 18, 2010
A Shout Out!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Is This Too Big?
Billy had to smile this morning, which, in turn, made me smile.
I broke down the other day and bought two new suits and a sweater dress. Belk was having a really good sale. They are also remodeling the store so they've cleaned out a lot of the areas and I could actually see the clothes for a change and it was not an overall unpleasant experience.
Some of you will remember that I have said on more than one occasion that I hate to shop. Always have. It just isn't fun for me.
Anyway, I went in looking for the sweater dress. I wanted just a plain black dress, preferably turtleneck, to go with several new scarves I got over Christmas. Sounds simple enough but that has been the task for the ages.
Spotted one, not a turtleneck but it would do.
As I was headed to the register I saw all these two-piece pantsuits.
My standard work attire.
And they were on sale.
I bought two.
I am very short so I almost always head for petites.
One of the suits didn't come in a petite so I got the regular. The jacket was just too gorgeous to pass up at least trying it.
Needless to say, there was more than enough extra material in the pants. I had them all scrunched up and they still fell below the bottoms of my high-heeled boots. But, as Billy pointed out, the pants were black and there is no shortage in my house of black pants so I just swapped them out and wore the jacket.
Which I thought also looked a little big.
Today, I have on the sweater dress. I bought a large because I don't want it to be all tight and clingy. I just wanted to hang nicely.
For the second morning in a row I walked into the kitchen and asked "Is this too big?"
After assuring me that it wasn't Billy just looked at me and said "You always used to ask if something was too tight. Now you're worried about too big."
I realized that I have come a long way in the last 3 years (January 2007 was my start month for this quest for fitness). I saw some of my charts earlier in the week and I could see the progress that I'd made.
And it makes me smile.
Am I where I want to be? No. I'm still not back under my ceiling weight that I thought I could reach so easily. I'm closer - more in the attic than on the roof, but one day this week I was on the top of the chimney so it has been a struggle but I am headed in the right direction.
But sometimes you just have to step back for a second and appreciate what you have accomplished to date. Doesn't mean you give up on your ultimate goal or get complacent with where you are - you just take a minute, or more, and recognize those accomplishments and milestones you have already made and then go from there.
Maybe you do it in a new black sweater dress.....
I broke down the other day and bought two new suits and a sweater dress. Belk was having a really good sale. They are also remodeling the store so they've cleaned out a lot of the areas and I could actually see the clothes for a change and it was not an overall unpleasant experience.
Some of you will remember that I have said on more than one occasion that I hate to shop. Always have. It just isn't fun for me.
Anyway, I went in looking for the sweater dress. I wanted just a plain black dress, preferably turtleneck, to go with several new scarves I got over Christmas. Sounds simple enough but that has been the task for the ages.
Spotted one, not a turtleneck but it would do.
As I was headed to the register I saw all these two-piece pantsuits.
My standard work attire.
And they were on sale.
I bought two.
I am very short so I almost always head for petites.
One of the suits didn't come in a petite so I got the regular. The jacket was just too gorgeous to pass up at least trying it.
Needless to say, there was more than enough extra material in the pants. I had them all scrunched up and they still fell below the bottoms of my high-heeled boots. But, as Billy pointed out, the pants were black and there is no shortage in my house of black pants so I just swapped them out and wore the jacket.
Which I thought also looked a little big.
Today, I have on the sweater dress. I bought a large because I don't want it to be all tight and clingy. I just wanted to hang nicely.
For the second morning in a row I walked into the kitchen and asked "Is this too big?"
After assuring me that it wasn't Billy just looked at me and said "You always used to ask if something was too tight. Now you're worried about too big."
I realized that I have come a long way in the last 3 years (January 2007 was my start month for this quest for fitness). I saw some of my charts earlier in the week and I could see the progress that I'd made.
And it makes me smile.
Am I where I want to be? No. I'm still not back under my ceiling weight that I thought I could reach so easily. I'm closer - more in the attic than on the roof, but one day this week I was on the top of the chimney so it has been a struggle but I am headed in the right direction.
But sometimes you just have to step back for a second and appreciate what you have accomplished to date. Doesn't mean you give up on your ultimate goal or get complacent with where you are - you just take a minute, or more, and recognize those accomplishments and milestones you have already made and then go from there.
Maybe you do it in a new black sweater dress.....
Monday, January 11, 2010
Simple Substitutions
This process doesn't have to be an all or nothing. With a little effort you can actually find foods that can stand in for some of your favorites but save you some serious calories, fats, or carbs.
For instance, did you know that substituting ground turkey for ground beef can save you almost 40 calories a serving (and the turkey serving is one gram larger) and 4 grams of fat? Now, if you eat ground sirloin the difference is less significant, but no everyone grabs the ground sirloin.
Whole grain pasta instead of regular enriched pasta saves another 50 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, and adds 3 more grams of fiber. (Having the protein-enriched pasta doesn't really change things too much from the regular spaghetti but makes a good choice if you don't have a meat sauce.)
Now, I wouldn't share that if I didn't eat it. Although my family tree doesn't show it, there HAS to be some Italian in there somewhere! I love a good bowl of pasta (had one tonight as a matter of fact) and I wouldn't eat it with whole wheat pasta and turkey if it wasn't good.
And I almost didn't. The very first time I was served whole wheat pasta it was disgusting. It was cooked to absolute and complete mush! But it made an overall negative impression so it was a long time before I tried it again. Yes, it does taste a little different. But it isn't intolerable and with a really good sauce you don't even know the difference!
Now, Billy and I have not (knowingly) eaten red meat since the mid-90s. We gave it up for humanitarian reasons and didn't look back.
At all.
With ground turkey you may need to season it a little more during the browning process, but you're really adding another layer of flavor. And that is a very good thing.
If you're not into meat at all or want to cut down on it, there are veggie alternatives out there. Morningstar Farms makes meal started crumbles - regular and sausage style that stands in for ground beef or Italian sausage. Only 90 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates, no fat and tons of protein! (I will say that we found them to be a little bit on the salty side so we had to make some adjustments when making tacos or chili or other dishes where we needed a seasoning packet of some sort.)
Like I said, I'm trying to toss out ideas that I've actually tried and like. I'd be more than happy to get your suggestions for simple substitutes that don't make us feel like we're giving anything up.
Getting, and staying, healthy doesn't have to be a chore or a pain or an unpleasant process. We've just to look around, do a little research, make some better choices.
And be willing to push our envelopes and get outside our comfort zones and try new things.
So, add your thoughts and help me branch out! I'm ready!
For instance, did you know that substituting ground turkey for ground beef can save you almost 40 calories a serving (and the turkey serving is one gram larger) and 4 grams of fat? Now, if you eat ground sirloin the difference is less significant, but no everyone grabs the ground sirloin.
Whole grain pasta instead of regular enriched pasta saves another 50 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, and adds 3 more grams of fiber. (Having the protein-enriched pasta doesn't really change things too much from the regular spaghetti but makes a good choice if you don't have a meat sauce.)
Now, I wouldn't share that if I didn't eat it. Although my family tree doesn't show it, there HAS to be some Italian in there somewhere! I love a good bowl of pasta (had one tonight as a matter of fact) and I wouldn't eat it with whole wheat pasta and turkey if it wasn't good.
And I almost didn't. The very first time I was served whole wheat pasta it was disgusting. It was cooked to absolute and complete mush! But it made an overall negative impression so it was a long time before I tried it again. Yes, it does taste a little different. But it isn't intolerable and with a really good sauce you don't even know the difference!
Now, Billy and I have not (knowingly) eaten red meat since the mid-90s. We gave it up for humanitarian reasons and didn't look back.
At all.
With ground turkey you may need to season it a little more during the browning process, but you're really adding another layer of flavor. And that is a very good thing.
If you're not into meat at all or want to cut down on it, there are veggie alternatives out there. Morningstar Farms makes meal started crumbles - regular and sausage style that stands in for ground beef or Italian sausage. Only 90 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates, no fat and tons of protein! (I will say that we found them to be a little bit on the salty side so we had to make some adjustments when making tacos or chili or other dishes where we needed a seasoning packet of some sort.)
Like I said, I'm trying to toss out ideas that I've actually tried and like. I'd be more than happy to get your suggestions for simple substitutes that don't make us feel like we're giving anything up.
Getting, and staying, healthy doesn't have to be a chore or a pain or an unpleasant process. We've just to look around, do a little research, make some better choices.
And be willing to push our envelopes and get outside our comfort zones and try new things.
So, add your thoughts and help me branch out! I'm ready!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Meltdown
OK, I had a bit of meltdown yesterday. Not proud of it, but facts are facts.
I was pleased as punch yesterday morning that 2 of my unwanted pounds had dropped off. Moving me from the roof to the attic, so to speak. One step closer to my ceiling.
Back in December I bought several bags of candy for the office. We keep a candy dish on the front counter for our clients and we all will occassionally take one from the dish. I liked having to walk all the way to the front of the office, in full view of everyone, to get one small piece of candy. Felt like it was keeping me honest.
For reasons that I have yet to understand I decided to keep one bag in my desk drawer. It was the bag with all my favorites in mini size. You know the size - less than 1 inch square.
Should have moved it after my post about the 3 Ds, but I didn't.
Anyway, we had a bit of a rough weekend with Seizure Dog and Billy told me that he would not go to Arkansas as scheduled yesterday if Riley wasn't doing better. I would have thought that having a completely unexpected seizure on Sunday afternoon and the period of blindness and pacing 6 hours later to qualify as "not doing better".
Side note - the blindness and pacing are considered part of the post-ictal phase and do typically signal the end of the whole seizure episode, which in this case had been since Wednesday last week. But we'd had a much smaller similar episode on Saturday morning which is why the Sunday afternoon seizure was such a surprise to us. So, in Billy's defense all indications were that there would be no more seizures, which would qualify as "doing better".
So when I called home to check on everything mid-morning yesterday and found out he was planning on leaving, I turned to the chocolate. This got progressively worse as the financial statement I was working on yesterday just refused to work.
I was really not doing well.
A serving size of these mini candy bars is 5. 5 pieces, 210 calories.
I counted 17 wrappers in my trash can last night.
17.
Half my daily calories yesterday came from candy bars.
I tried to salvage the day by eating soup for supper but I was still over on the day by 300 calories.
And it showed on the scale this morning. Back up 4/10th of a pound.
On the bright side - and there is always a bright side, you just sometimes have to really search for it - I am still down a net 1.6 pounds from Sunday morning; today dawned much brighter after a good night; and I actually have gotten things accomplished and off my desk so far this morning.
There. We all have set backs. No I haven't moved the candy, yet, but I think I need to leave it there as a lesson. A reminder that the answer is not wrapped up in that little square of chocolate. Might make me feel better temporarily, but won't actually solve anything.
Only I can solve my problems.
Now, go have a wonderful day!
I was pleased as punch yesterday morning that 2 of my unwanted pounds had dropped off. Moving me from the roof to the attic, so to speak. One step closer to my ceiling.
Back in December I bought several bags of candy for the office. We keep a candy dish on the front counter for our clients and we all will occassionally take one from the dish. I liked having to walk all the way to the front of the office, in full view of everyone, to get one small piece of candy. Felt like it was keeping me honest.
For reasons that I have yet to understand I decided to keep one bag in my desk drawer. It was the bag with all my favorites in mini size. You know the size - less than 1 inch square.
Should have moved it after my post about the 3 Ds, but I didn't.
Anyway, we had a bit of a rough weekend with Seizure Dog and Billy told me that he would not go to Arkansas as scheduled yesterday if Riley wasn't doing better. I would have thought that having a completely unexpected seizure on Sunday afternoon and the period of blindness and pacing 6 hours later to qualify as "not doing better".
Side note - the blindness and pacing are considered part of the post-ictal phase and do typically signal the end of the whole seizure episode, which in this case had been since Wednesday last week. But we'd had a much smaller similar episode on Saturday morning which is why the Sunday afternoon seizure was such a surprise to us. So, in Billy's defense all indications were that there would be no more seizures, which would qualify as "doing better".
So when I called home to check on everything mid-morning yesterday and found out he was planning on leaving, I turned to the chocolate. This got progressively worse as the financial statement I was working on yesterday just refused to work.
I was really not doing well.
A serving size of these mini candy bars is 5. 5 pieces, 210 calories.
I counted 17 wrappers in my trash can last night.
17.
Half my daily calories yesterday came from candy bars.
I tried to salvage the day by eating soup for supper but I was still over on the day by 300 calories.
And it showed on the scale this morning. Back up 4/10th of a pound.
On the bright side - and there is always a bright side, you just sometimes have to really search for it - I am still down a net 1.6 pounds from Sunday morning; today dawned much brighter after a good night; and I actually have gotten things accomplished and off my desk so far this morning.
There. We all have set backs. No I haven't moved the candy, yet, but I think I need to leave it there as a lesson. A reminder that the answer is not wrapped up in that little square of chocolate. Might make me feel better temporarily, but won't actually solve anything.
Only I can solve my problems.
Now, go have a wonderful day!
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