Losing weight in spite of myself.

I began this blog in February 2011 as a way to help me not quit trying to lose weight, and to learn a few things. It's been an interesting and powerful experience. It certainly confirms what I've long suspected--that although I am a genuinely happy cheery person in the main, I am NOT a happy cheery dieter. I DETEST losing weight. I resent being overweight in the first place and I am a virtuoso in the art of self-sabotage. And YET--I'm doing it! I'm fighting and kicking and EATING all the way down, but the weight is finally going down. The plan I was following in February was a half-baked one largely based on wishful thinking. I gained a little weight and decided to get real. I knew I couldn't just join weightwatchers or count calories or do any one plan and expect to be successful. I decided if I was going to bother to make the effort to lose weight I was going to throw everything I could think of at the problem. And so I do. My real "Day One" for this blog is April 1, 2011. I joined weight watchers, I joined caloriecount.com (awesome website), I read the blog losingweighteveryday.blogspot.com religiously, I keep this blog faithfully, I joined the health programs sponsored by my insurance, I use the principles from overeater's anonymous, I use my church's 12 step program as well, I subscribe--and use--Healthy Cooking Magazine.



The result of all this? Painfully slow progress (About 20 lbs in 10 months). But it IS progress and like the little engine that could I keep on trying in my rebellious way. I have no intention of quitting. This is by far the longest sustained weight loss effort I've ever made in my life. Successful I think, because for the first in my life I've done this MY way--which I've discovered, involves a lot of pizza and restaraunt food. I'm convinced this is the only way to lose weight. For me it must be MY way. For you it MUST be YOUR way. Not weight watcher's way, not your doctor's way, but YOUR way. Any plan or idea I use is only a tool.

The latest plan to lose weight my way began on Oct 29, 2013. It really is my own crazy plan. As you'll see if you read that post. I've implemented the best ideas of all sorts of eating plans and thrown out the scale. A couple of months in and I'm definitely healthier. I'm actually enjoying myself. I won't weigh until April 1, 2014, so I'll see then if this works the way I hope it will.

There is no magic weight loss bullet. But there IS a great deal of magic in the discovery of what I can happily live with (very different from what weight watchers tells me I can happily live with) and still have the body and health I want.

Good luck to all of us on this journey. It's quite a trip!







Tuesday, November 15, 2011

225 Chili

A very good day yesterday and I anticipate a very good day today too. I subscribe to "Cooking Light" magazine and they have terrific food. I have to be a little careful because sometimes the receipes are just "lighter" not actually light, but most of the time it's great stuff.  I made a big pot of sweet potato and black bean chili and had a good size bowl with some wasa crisps and laughing cow cheese.  I only had to count the cheese. This left me enough points to have a reeses cup for dessert.  I brought the same again for lunch today, and tonight I'll have mac and cheese with salad. The filling foods plan is a nice vacation from counting every morsel. (I only have to account for 7 extra points a day if I want them--this lets me have butter on my toast, or a dessert).  I wouldn't want to do it forever-I'd be bored silly, but for now it feels great. 

I think I might pass after all on my cheesecake factory orgy. This isn't due to virtue, but because I'm tired of driving to SLC or Provo all the time. Instead, I might take myself to see the new Twilight movie on Friday and have dinner somewhere around here. At the moment--probably because I'm full--I don't feel compelled to feast.  We'll see how it goes.

Exercise-wise, I'm a little worried. I've been ok walking to and from work, but my knees still aren't very happy with me. Now I'm paranoid that my left knee is going to blow out. They both feel equally rickety and I'm not sure what to do about it. Probably just keep icing and maybe wear the brace more than I do. That half marathon isn't that far behind me--I guess this will just take time. As always, far MORE time than I think it should.

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