Holding Steady

Another week gone by without doing my daily food journal.  Surprisingly, I have held steady.  Nothing gained, nothing lost this last week.  And, that my friends, is another success.   I am maintaining my healthy eating habits, adding fresh veggies and fruit into almost every meal, and taking advantage of the free gym I call nature.  Plus, I have YET to get food from the cafeteria which is quite amazing I might add.  Of course that means that nearly every day shift I go into work, I pack for 2 lunches just in case a double presents itself.  But, by golly, it has worked and I have not succumbed to the chicken strips or pizza that used to tempt me every meal.

My roller blading has taken a backseat since its cooler and leaves cover the trail, but I have been hiking whenever possible.  The other day, before work, I pushed myself and headed out for a "wake-n-walk" walk.  Sometimes I forget that I can go for a walk without the dogs.

Well, here's to another great week!

Good Week

Well, its another WWD.  I'm holding steady at 139 so that is great!  This past week of not writing daily in my blog was a test of my will power, and I wasn't sure if I could succeed without having that daily accountability.  I must say that the first day, I did sink into some bad mentality thinking "Hmmm, I don't have to blog about this so I can eat what I want".  However, I quickly corrected that thinking by first becoming aware of it, and second not listening to it.  So this past week was super successful (probably one of my most successful weeks in a long time).  I'm eating healthier than I have ever eaten, allowing tiny delicacies (I had one square of a Dove chocolate yesterday), and am keeping myself accountable.  I'm happy and proud.

See ya next week!

Weaning Myself, Maybe.

I'm thinking I might ease back on my blogging.  See how it goes.  Maybe just do the Wednesday Weigh Day entries and kind of just blog on how the whole week went.  If I get off track, I'll have to start back on the daily entries, but I'm going to see if maybe I can start to wean myself off the daily blogs.  I might sneak a few in there here and there, when I am particularly proud, or particularly ashamed, or just bored.  But, I think I have it pretty much under control for now and weekly blogs might work out pretty good.

I'm scared though.  Scared that not daily blogging will lead to unaccountability, but we'll see how it goes.

Food:
cereal with blueberries

bean and rice burrito
carrots

pudding

egg and cheese on toast
pineapple and melon (I went shopping today!)

bowl of frozen yogurt.

Doing OK

OOOOOOkkkkkk.  I did good today despite having an emotional kind of day AND 2 gatherings with lots of food. 

Food:
Cereal with blueberries

jello salad

cottage cheese
PB&J
handful of peanut M&Ms
yogurt
a few pieces of turkey

I ate nothing at the after funeral eat-a-thon including no dessert.  Quite happy with myself there.  Then the bonfire happened.  I did pretty decent considering what I normally would have consumed

chips and salsa (about 15 chips total)
2 S'mores (and it wasn't even really worth it to be honest.  They were disappointing)
Then I had 3 very small Special K bars.  They were very small and were the equivalent of maybe one regular sized bar. 
Plus I had a Mike's Hard Lemonade. 

So, yeah, not horrible, and definitely controlled eating!!  I'm happy with it.

Activity:
hike 60 minutes

Holding Myself Captive

Working afternoons SUXX.  It sucks so bad because I am held captive by mself to not leave my house.  Therefore, I don't get any exercise in on the days I go to work in the afternoon.  Now, of course there is the other side of the story that I am too tired to do exercise after work when working day shift, but I usually can pull myself out of that and do end up going for even a brief walk. 

Anyway, yesterday and today are sedentary.  I'd like to overcome this self captivity and emerge from the house to get in a little walk or even do bring myself to get my Richard fix before heading out the door.  Until then, I will just get in some surfing.....ya know, the Web.

Food:
cereal with blueberries

turkey sandwich
jello salad
veggies and dip

pudding

bean and rice burrito
jello 

yogurt

granola bar

Another WWD

Stepping on the scale this morning produced some anxiety.  That was quickly dispelled when I peeked down and saw that  the scale did not increase or decrease from last week!  I was so happy, and surprised.  Last week was not my best week food wise after having a malt and a few mini binges.  Couple that with decreased activity, which is why I was certain I would have put at least one pound back on.  But, happily, I stayed the same.

On to this week.  I am reminding myself that I am not invincible, reminding myself to make those healthy choices, while also reminding myself that an occasional indulgence is perfectly acceptable.  And I have proof to back that up! 

I work this afternoon so I will write food already consumed along with projected food to be consumed later on.

Food:
Cereal with blueberries

5 strawberries

turkey sandwich
veggies with dip
jello salad

bean and rice burrito
jello salad
carrots

granola bar

Buddy System

Having buddies who are going through the same journey as I am is so helpful to make for a successful journey.  Or at least having buddies who are supportive and know not to invite me out every day for ice cream (though I still want to be invited out for ice cream once in a while).  I spent today with a friend who is embarking on her own healthy journey, and to my delight, she invited me out for a hike today instead of out to lunch. 

Food just seems to be part of the culture, especially as you age.  What else do you do but go out to lunch with your friends?  Of course, there ARE alternatives.  And, of course, there are healthy options to get at the restaurant, but it isn't always easy.  More often than not, I end up eating more than needed even when going into it with an attack plan.

So I appreciate my buddies who support me and who encourage me to be better, healthier.  Those who understand when I decline an offer for lunch, or ice cream, or a simple snack.  Those who don't pressure me to "c'mon, have just one", or "one won't hurt you", or "you don't need to lose weight".  I know my own body, and I know when I CAN have just one, or when one WON'T hurt me, and the bottom line is that I am not even doing this for weight loss (well, yeah I am), but for overall personal health and well-being.

I appreciate my buddies who have spent painstaking hours listening to me talk about food, weight, health, my poop, and my journey.  And for those who read my blog.  I appreciate those who are honest with me when I happen to get get a little too focused and crazy and who do remind me that one meal of hamburger and fries in 3 months really is OK.

With that, I simply say "Thanks".

So Far So Good.....as Tonight Goes

Today has been a pretty successful day.  Decent exercise, decent eating, and now that I am actually IN the Danger Zone, I feel good.  I don't feel the need to eat so I am petty confident that tonight will be good.  Its a day-by-day venture and no two days are the same. 

By the way, tomorrow is WWD (Wednesday Weigh Day...now abbreviated).  I am fearful that I may have gained a pound or two.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.....

Food:
cereal with blueberries

nectarine

granola bar

salad
cottage cheese
jello salad

egg and cheese on toast
jello salad
peas and carrots with dip

pudding

Activity:
65 minute hike

Could Always Be Better

Hanging in there during this Danger Zone time, but it could always be better. 

Food:
Cereal with blueberries

grapes

salad
1/2 turkey sandwich
grapes

pudding

salmon patty which was very gross.  I have decided I will not eat them anymore.  It was painful!
peas and carrots

frozen yogurt

granola bar

Activity:
50 minute hike.

Agony of Defeat

Well, I didn't beat that evil snack drawer I blogged about last night.  I did not edit last night's blog and decided to give my wayward ways a blog all to itself.  I felt it was more honest and more accountable.  So, after I blogged last night, I faltered.  It wasn't Horrible, but it certainly wasn't good.  I rationalized it last night because I was 1.)  hungry 2.) tired 3.) anxious 4.) stressed 5.) sad and finally 6.) out of my routine.  However, today I know that even though I was feeling all of those feelings, it is no excuse to cope with food the way I did.  I knew going to my friend's house was dangerous with that snack drawer, and unlike last time, I had no intention of binging.  And, honestly this wasn't a huge binge.  Still it proves that weakness is ever present.  So here is the list of food I snaked on all after midnight last night.

piece of muffin toast with PB
gogurt (which I did blog on my other blog)
several handfuls of jelly beans (I opted jelly beans over chocolate......)
several handfuls of goldfish crackers
granola bar

and I think that is it.  Though it wasn't horrible awful, it was still out of control eating as well as emotional eating. 

My goal today is to simply not binge, or rather, to eat mindlessly, especially after 6:00 PM.  Here Goes!

I Win this Time

Back to work means back to working doubles which I did today.  I prepared and packed two lunches "just in case", but I also veered from my own food and helped myself to some snacks from the unit.  Haven't done that in a while, but I am being accountable and writing them down.  Here goes

Food:
Cereal with blueberries

watermelon

granola bar

turkey sandwich
carrots with dip
pudding

scooby snacks (like teddy grahams)

salad
yogurt
1/2 PB sandwich

more scooby snacks

gogurt

Activity:
not much, but I did play DDR with the kids at work. 

And now, after work, I am at my friend's house watching her kids sleep while she is at the hospital with her dying mom.  The Snack Drawer From Hell is faintly whispering to me, but I will NOT give in.  Tonight I win this fight!  I AM hungry though, and could go for something decent......but snacks will not do. 

So that was my day.  That is all she wrote.

The Munching Habit

The Danger Zone, for me, has been so real.  I wanna munch All. Night. Long.  Thankfully the past few nights I have been munching on grapes and peas.  Yes, that does call for lots of aromatic tooting, but it a relatively healthy choice.  However, the habit of mindless munching has resurfaced, and had there been alternative munchies around, they, too, would be in my belly.  Its always been my toughest time, my weakest time.  Not sure what it is.  The only conclusion I can come up with is that I am stuffing myself before bed so that I am not hungry and so that I can go 10 or more hours without being famished.  Its that whole feast or famine mentality, and though I know it exists, I can't dispel it. 

Food:
cereal with blueberries

few bites of  nectarine

turkey sandwich
grapes
peas (no dip)

granola bar

grapes

salad
7 shrimp
few pineapples with grapes

more and more grapes

large bowl of frozen yogurt

Activity:
Just a 30 minute walk around my block.

Taking a Day Off

Today was my last day of vacation so I decided to take the day off.  Kind of.  I came to the realization that I have not gone out to lunch with my mom since before June so I initiated a lunch invite today.  We went to Bridgeman's where we split a Club House and a Malt.  Oh yeah, and fries.  It was so nummy and so worth it.  Back to work tomorrow......overall I did a fantastic job with my food choices on my 3 week vacation and am proud of that!

Food:
cereal with blueberries

1/2 club house
1/2 malt
1/2 order fries

grapes

light dinner with cottage cheese
grapes and pineapple
peas and carrots (no dip)

pudding

Activity:
40 minute hike
50 minute walk along the lake shore.  So beautiful!  The water is "warm" by Lake Superior standards, and so calm today.  Plus I get the bonus free foot exfoliation which is very needed ;)

Knee Deep in Water

Another active day, but I think I counter acted it with some bad food choices.  Actually my food choices were really good with the exception of that fricken antioxidant mix crap.  Its all gone now though so it shouldn't be a bother anymore.  I guess I can't buy it anymore :(

Food:
cereal with blueberries

handfuls of nuts/chocolate

just a few grapes

1/2 turkey avocado wrap with fruit as a side

2 eggs scrambled
one piece of toast with PB&H
pineapple and grapes

the rest of the nuts/chocolate mix

frozen yogurt

more grapes

Still had the munchies so ate some peas (with no dip)

Activity:
Roller blade 40 minutes
hike 30 minutes
another walk on the beach 50 minutes (probably the best workout since I walked knee deep in the water for most of the way back.  I was huffing!)

Back Under the Magical Number

Another Wednesday means another day I step on the scale.  This week was a successful one.  I am back under that magical number of 140 and now am officially at 139.  Hopefully I can sustain it this time around.  I would like to lose just a few more pounds so that I have "insurance" and can officially say I lost 20 pounds (I have lost 19), but if I never went up or down from where I am right now, I'd be OK with that.

Today was a very active day, but I also gave in to the devil when I allowed myself to buy more of that anti-oxidant mix.  Damn, why did I give in to that?!? 

Food:
cereal with blueberries

nectarine

salad
cottage cheese
corn on the cob (Delish!)

2 handfuls of that antioxidant mix
pudding

egg and cheese on toast
veggies and dip

bowl of grapes and pineapple

more and more and more of that antioxidant mix :(

Activity:
roller blade for 25 minutes
mowed lawn for 45 minutes
about a 50 minute hike.

Strong for Now

Between my healthy eating/weight loss journey, my new novelty underwear fetish, my new hair-do, and having several people I care about struggle with health issues, this summer has certainly been a summer of self discovery.  Who knew underwear could have such an impact, but man, I love 'em. 

Also, I finally feel more comfortable in my own body and have a better appreciation for what a healthy and reasonable weight really is.  Its been over 3 months with only one huge slip up.  I'm really hoping this has been a change that will stay forever.  I finally feel confident and strong enough to go out to eat and make decent choices.  I also feel like I can treat myself every now and again and not have it lead into horrible eating habits again.  It is a fear, though, that my strength will subside eventually, but for now, I am strong.

Food:
cereal with blueberries

corn on the cob (so goooood)
bean soup
bowl of fruit

pudding

corn on the cob (not so good)
veggies with dip
turkey burger

bowl of fruit (soooo good)

Activity:
A pretty active day that started with an hour hike
add some gardening in there for about 1/2 hour
then add another leisure walk for about a total of 1/2 hour or so.

Falling Into Fall

Wasn't feeling top notch today, but still went out for a hike which was good.  Fall is my favorite time of year to be out, and seeing that I only have a few days left of my vacation, I want to get out and enjoy every chance I get.  Food wasn't horrible today either.  I turned down an offer for a malt and also mom's home cooking again.  It wasn't that hard to decline since I wasn't feeling 100%.  Oh, and I also went grocery shopping today which is always nice to know I have healthy munchies.

Food:
cereal with blueberries

nectarine

salad
bean soup (from a can)

granola bar

shrimp
another salad
yogurt fruit smoothie that I made

grapes
cherries

activity:
50 minute hike

Mom's Home Cooking

I had some of my mom's home cooking today which, I believe, is the first time I had it in over 3 months.  It tasted so nummy, and I did great with portion control which is what it is really all about.  I did eat more sugar and chocolate than I should have today, but now it is all gone from my house so it should be a bit easier to avoid.

Food:
Cereal with blueberries

PB&H
carrots, peas and dip
small portion of canned fruit cocktail

chocolate chips (the rest of the bag....it wasn't a whole bunch, but a good 2 handfuls)
3 Starburst candies (they are gone now too)

Mom's home cooked beef roast
mashed potatoes and gravy
corn
all appropriate portion sizes!

a bite size mini Heath bar (the tiniest size)
Frozen yogurt

Any more I eat tonight, I need to edit this blog otherwise this is it!

Activity:
10 minute bike ride (to fetch my car)
30 minute hike

Night Out

I am going out on the town tonight so am likely not going to list all that I eat and/or drink.  Thought I'd get down what I have consumed so far today.

Oh yeah, I haven't been entirely honest.  Sometimes after blogging, I eat another "snack", and I don't edit.  So my new rule is I either have to edit or not eat that snack.  So yesterday I had about 15 Starburst candies post blog.

So far today:
cereal with blueberries

handful of nuts/chocolate chips

turkey sandwich
salad
small portion of pineapple

pudding

Anticipating dinner at Clyde Iron
and drinks following

Activity:
 65 minute roller blade

Nervous Energy

A decent day with decent exercise and pretty good food control.  I'm a little more anxious than usual lately, and I don't know what to do with such nervous energy.  For some reason, food eases that anxiety if only temporarily.  If not the food itself, than the simple act of putting hand to mouth and repeatedly chewing provides some sort of relief.  Even with that, I have been doing not so shabby.

Food:
cereal with blueberries

bowl of fruit (melon, pineapple, cherries)
salad
cottage cheese

nectarine
handful of chocolate chips

turkey burger
veggies and dip
fruit (melon and pineapple)

pudding?  I can't remember if I had it or not....

large bowl frozen yogurt

Activity:
40 minute roller blade
45 minute hike

Chocolate is the Devil

A decent day today.  I'm hanging in there.  Barely some days, but hanging in there nonetheless.

Food:
Cereal with blueberries

bowl of fruit

turkey sandwich
veggies and dip

few chocolate chips

granola bar
nectarine

salad
bowl of fruit
cottage cheese

pudding
handful of chocolate chips

Those damn chocolate chips!!

Activity:
limited today, but I did hike about 30 minutes, plus I hoofed it at the mall today which counts for something....