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!







Friday, October 10, 2014

A little less?

Whoa!!!! I didn't finish my lunch and I don't want my after lunch chocolate. What's going on??? I almost can't comprehend not wanting chocolate. But ok!!!!

Last night I had to go to harp so I grabbed a few walnuts and a few (like 6) chocolate chips and ate them on the way. Then I came home and made dinner.

According to the book, that was a very smart thing to do. We've all heard that it takes 25 min or so for your body to start feeling full.  Well, Dr. Oz suggests eating a small amount of some healthy fat like nuts about 25 min or so before a meal. Then when you eat you're not nearly as hungry and can eat for pleasure. He claims this will make you eat less. I'm not 100% sold on that. My problem IS that I eat for pleasure--and if I eat for pleasure rather than hunger there is literally no brake, because I'm ignoring physical cues.

However, having said that---it seems to work! I made a delicious creamy ravioli last night, but I didn't overeat. I even "forgot" to have the roll.

Today, for breakfast I had the one banana plus 2 egg pancakes, and a glass of milk. Our sugar-free syrup is actually pretty good! No HFCS--unlike the fully loaded Mrs. Butterworth. I gave the Mrs. Butterworth to a friend at work.

Spent the morning talking to the bankers at Chase--so it was little stressful. Came to work at nearly 11, and soon began munching on peanuts. I ate nearly the whole bag (280 cal). But when lunchtime came shortly after, I didn't even eat 1/2 of the ravioli and I only ate 1/2 of a roll. Suddenly, I just realized that I was full! I munched on a few yam sticks and packed my lunch away. And here I am!  Not wanting chocolate---but thinking I might eat the plum I brought in a little while. If I feel like it later, I might finish the ravioli, and that's ok.


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