Still here

The news is I am still gluten and sugar free and I am not keeping up on my commitment to walk every day.

I'm back........I Ate French Fries.

Ugh.

Horrendous weekend and I am just now (Thursday) able to write about it.  Warning:  There is nothing uplifting about this story and I am going to whine....a lot!

The story starts on Friday afternoon which is when I intended to start the four to five hour drive to Richmond, Virginia.  To do this, I am going to have to drive through our nation's capital, Washington, DC.  Absolutely daunting at any time of the day or night.

I found out that our very first baseball game will not be until 9 p.m. Saturday night!  I immediately postpone the trip to Saturday morning, fully knowing too many people will be driving South of DC to the beaches.  I will deal with it, I think.  This move saves us a night in a hotel room and we can sleep in our own beds.  I'm doing well.

On Saturday morning, we skated through DC to Northern, VA, .....uh-oh.  Now we are stopped in bumper to bumper traffic and people in the HOV lanes are flying by us.  Frustrating.  We finally make it to Richmond at about 2 p.m.  My son's team wins all of their games and are in the championship game scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday night!  We finish at 11:30 p.m. and I think it will be a good idea to drive two hours to get north of DC to avoid Monday morning rush hour.  We will stay on Kent Isle, Maryland, Garsonville.

However, my GPS refuses to take me through Washington DC toward Annapolis!  It just couldn't find it's way.  After the third time around the Washington Monument, I ignored the GPS, turned North on 495 and drove home for the next three hours, angry, tired and upset.  We arrived home at about 4:30 a.m.

Food:  Over this grueling, physically demanding chaotic weekend (did I mention the heat?  95 degrees 100% humidity?) I was trying to stay on my food plan, but after the late game Saturday night I ate french fries from McDonalds, I had no resistance to ordering them.  That is one of the items I promised not to eat for my 96 day reduction effort.  I am so disappointed in myself.

Exercise: I have not been able to exercise this week because I am completely wiped out physically by this experience.  I can't wake up in the morning and when I do I am in physical pain.  And, the heat is unbearable.

Trying to keep positive.......

BAD night.

I have to report a very bad night.  There was nothing I could do to stop the food thoughts last night.  I think it's biological (hormonal).  I came very, very close to eating something not on my food plan-refined sugar! Candy!  I-wanted-CHOCOLATE.  I thought maybe if I had some dark, dark chocolate in the house, I would have allowed myself to indulge.  To soothe the craving, I over ate on things I am allowed.  Very dangerous behavior.  But not as dangerous as sugar and refined carbohydrates.  There was just nothing to satisfy my craving, finally I went to bed.

Many people would say "What harm's a little piece of chocolate going to do?"  I can tell you that at my weight and with my history, it is always the start of the next year-long binge.  I just can't have it.  I know my body.

Exercise:  Nice fast paced walk yesterday.

Food:  Well, NOT good.

More exercise!

There are some great work out moves at this link:

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/you-can-do-it/tighten-it-up-workout/?page=1

I hope to add them into my routine this week.  It's been raining so much here, I need to have an alternative to going outside for my walk.  And when winter comes, an indoor workout seems like a good plan.

All of the moves in the article seem very workable with the equipment I have at home.

Finding inspiration!

Add a Bicyle

I really beat a craving for sugar the other night by eating dried apricots.  I have to remember that one!  They do have a lot of sugar, but at least it's not refined sugar and has some redeeming nutrient value.

Things are good.  I walked again on the beach yesterday, came home and hopped on a bicycle for a nice ride. Great!!!   I love the shore.  The Jersey shore.  It's home.

Food is good.  I could be eating a lot more fresh vegetables.  But I have managed to stay away from sugar, flour and fried foods.  It's going well.  The weight is not falling off, but this is all I promised myself - to cut out the junk.  Let the scale fall where it may, I can only be true to a food plan that is not too restrictive.  It won't work otherwise.  I like to eat!

It was raining this morning, I was groggy and achy, and had a funeral to sing.  I didn't walk yet today.  I should do it....still raining.

Back At It!

Holidays can be very hard on my schedule.  When I am trying to stick to a routine, holidays throw me for a loop.  Routine and schedule are really helpful when I am trying to lose weight.  In fact, losing my  routine is usually what makes me fall off the wagon, give up, then gain weight.

So, it has been five days since I last walked.  Friday - early baseball, Saturday - I don't  walk on the weekend.  Monday- a real story!  4:00 am wake up call to take hubby to the airport.  Only a few hours sleep because I let my son's friends sleep over - and I use the term "sleep" loosely!  Monday was a mess.  So, I used that as an excuse not to walk.

Today, I am again at the beach!  I am so lucky to have access to a beach house that let's me take advantage of a change in my walking routine.  Their was no hard sand today because it was high tide.  That makes walking a little more challenging!

Food:  Good.

Not Losing Fast Enough

I am at THAT point.  24 days into the new eating plan and my psyche says "Is this over yet?  Have we lost all the extra weight?"  NO, we haven't, not even close.  So, no - body, - you cannot start eating the bad stuff you are craving like a crack mama.  Keep eating whole, natural foods and you will reach the goal you have set for yourself.  So, you're feeling a little bloated.....DON'T GIVE UP!!!!

Exercise:  NONE.  Maybe this is why I am feeling a little frisky about food?

Food:  A little too many complex carbs yesterday.  Maybe this is why I am feeling a little frisky about my food?

In just 24 short days, I am already feeling and looking better.  I will not give up now.  Imagine the transformation come September?  It will be awesome!

Feeling guilty

I didn't walk yesterday and I am feeling a little guilty about it.  This is where my obsession kicks in and self defeat can take over.  I went to my son's early baseball game and missed my regular walk time.  I told myself it was too hot and muggy and I was too busy to walk any later in the day.  Was that really true?

So, I need to let it go.  I need to trust I will pick up on Monday right where I left off, no harm, no foul.

Food:  Good.  I chose 2 hard boiled eggs and a banana when I picked up my morning coffee at the local convenience store. Later that day we BBQ'd.  I had 2 hot dogs and a salad and roasted peppers.  I had two ounces of Swiss Cheese while I prepared dinner and one serving of apricots earlier in the day.  I was going to have my cereal with blueberries at night, but I passed out while watching tv and woke up at 3:30 a.m....

 Exercise: see above : (

Just Keep Plugging Along

Day 20........76 more to go.

I have not eaten sugar, flour, tortilla chips or potato chips or pizza, cake, ice-cream, well you get the picture.  And, IT'S WORKING!!!!  My stomach is definitely a more comfortable size.  Shorts I bought two weeks ago ......the dreaded size 16 ....are too big and falling off.  Please God let me continue to have the grace needed to follow my plan and be successful.

Food:  1/2 C oatmeal, 2 eggs, 1/2 large apple and 1/2 C milk;  salad with lettuce, tomato, chicken, peppers, rice, sour cream and salsa;  tilapia, broccoli with cheese and tomato for dinner.  Cheerios milk and blueberries for snack.

Exercise:  Walked in the pouring rain.  I will do this!!!  I cannot be stopped.

My 16 year old son got his driving permit yesterday.  Eager to take me on all my errands : )  I was in the passenger seat when I felt an itching sensation on my neck, I reached back and found what I thought was a skin tag, I pulled on it and tugged it from my skin......A TICK!!!!!!!!  Ugh, watching for a bullseye, but hoping my doctor will give me a round of preventive antibiotics for Lyme's disease.  I am freaking out.  It was so disgusting.  Do not want Lyme's!   Praying.

On the Road

Exhilarating!  Wow, what a weekend.  Side note:  My son plays competitive baseball.  We live in the Northeast.  Not a baseball powerhouse like the south and the west, but we have fun......  We travel a lot and we spend a lot of money to do it.  This weekend finally paid off.  My son joined a new team after four years of frustration with an organization that just did not appreciate him.  Traveling and spending money for him to play is fine, but, traveling and spending money and winning a championship - priceless!  Five come-from-behind games, including a heart attack championship.  I am exhausted.

Back on point:  My food.  I managed to eke it out and stay on my plan.  It was not as pristine as prior weekends.  Eating out for 6 meals in a row is quite a challenge when you are not eating sugar, white flour and trying to eat more fresh foods.  But, I did do it and probably had too many complex carbs like baked potato, rice and oatmeal.  I was most proud of my choices at the hotel breakfast buffet:  Egg omelet and oatmeal (plain), both mornings.  The smell of freshly minted Belgian waffles was a little distracting to say the least.

Exercise.  None on the weekend, and I feel headachy this morning.  But, I will force myself to take that 20 minute walk.

Compliment

My middle daughter noticed that I've shed a little weight.  Thanks Alex, that's encouraging.

I have very far to go.......  what she is noticing is that I'm not as bloated as two weeks ago.  I am a far cry from even making in a dent in as much as 30 - 40 lbs that I need to lose.  I really should step on the scale.  But, I run the risk of becoming overwhelmed by the numbers.  That has been a de-motivator in the past.  I never feel as if I am losing weight fast enough and I become discouraged, worried, hopeless......then I inevitably eat over it.

Exercise: yep 20 minutes briskly paced walk.

Food:  Good. 1/2 large apple, oatmeal, 1/2 c milk and 2 eggs for breakfast.  Lettuce, tomato, chicken, rice, salsa and sour cream for lunch and tilapia, rice, cauliflower for dinner.

Travel day today.  Hotel stay through weekend.  Breakfast included.  Brought almonds (portioned out), dried fruit, pineapple and cottage cheese.  These things help me through the hungry times.

Have a great weekend.

Inspiration

Where can I gather inspiration?  I am mentally committed to this new way of eating.  Where the spirit is willing, is the body weak?  I have found the grace to stay on plan for fourteen days.  My test usually comes at about the two-week mark into a new healthy eating effort.  This is a critical day for me and a critical weekend coming up.

I am less enthusiastic about my food choices.  I need to plan out new combinations.  My food is getting boring.  What can I do to find inspiration?  How about a trip to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's?  I bet that would work!

Traveling again on this weekend to Reading, PA.  Baseball tournament, eating out, staying at hotel.  (And, outlet shopping!)  I've done great the last two weekends, bringing nuts and fresh fruit.  I will do this again.  It really helps in weak moments

Exercise:  Tried to add a a little distance to my daily walk to get the whole effort up to about 20 minutes.  I landed at 18 minutes.  I'll add more tomorrow.

Food:  Tummy issues last night.  Don't know why.  Hmmm.  Yesterday was a fine food day.  No breaks in my do's and don'ts.  I'll keep on truckin'

The Beach

Went to the shore last night.  That's "down the shore" if you are from my parts.  Woke up to a glorious and already hot day.

Exercise: I bumped up my walk this morning to a full 20 minutes and it was a walk on the beach next to the glorious ocean.  I feel most alive by the water.  It beckons me.  Walking in the soft sand slowed me down, but what a great workout!  No aches and pains from walking at all any more in the legs.  Yay.  Should I add a little weight resistance?

Food: Stayed on the food plan so far.  Breakfast was Kashi and milk.  Then, pineapple and cottage cheese for lunch.   A cheeseburger no bun, tomato, a wedge of lettuce with a little dressing, pickles and olives for dinner. Tonight I'll end with blueberries, corn chex and milk.  YUM.

 I am going to Book club tonight.  Book club is a gauntlet of yummy foods for indulging.  I won't.  I can't.  I have too far to go.  My clothes are already getting loose.

This is day 13, 83 to go.....  I will be in a  size ten, I know it.

Numbers-2

I finally remembered to time my walk today..... 13 minutes.  I thought I had been walking 20 minutes every day.  Ooops, I will add another part of my neighborhood into the walk tomorrow and bump it up.

Exercise:  No shin splints today!  Hooray!!!!!  My legs are getting used to the exercise (5 days in).  I have been sedentary for about a year (due to the pain I was experiencing when I exercised with a trainer.)  That pain on top of the pain I had because of my accident injuries was too much.  I chose to put the money into massage therapy.  Now, I am ready to conquer this weight!!!!

Food:  Had a salad yesterday with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo.  That's a little heavy, but what a treat!  I find myself grabbing a bag of pre-portioned almonds when I am hungry before dinner.  Better than chips, but, I must watch that.  Yesterday was just ok food-wise, but I didn't break my food plan.  And, that's a win!

Numbers

Yep, it's been ten days on the new eating plan.  It feels comfortable and healthy.  No drama. No draconian limitations on food, so I am not mentally fighting the change....yet.   I know this is going to take a while.  But, I am already feeling the results of eating less junk food.....a little less bloated.

I don't weigh myself.  The numbers play with my head unless they are going down.  If the number in my head doesn't match the number on the scale, I can become so self-defeating.  For now, I am avoiding it....the scale, and  may never get on it.

I can say this.  I am a size 16.  Three years ago I was a size 10.  It makes me so mad.  I have great clothes in my closet that I won't be wearing anytime soon.  But I keep them in my closet, always with the hope that some day.........

I am 5' 5", and my figure is such that at about 145 lbs., I look like I weigh a normal weight, even on the slender side.  I am curvy and at 145, the curves don't bulge... if you know what I mean.

I will do my little power walk today.  I had intended to walk 7 days per week.  I spend each weekend at a baseball tournament, so I thought I would walk around the fields.....I sat in my chair.  I guess five days will have to do.  My legs were hurting at the end of last week.  The rest did me a world of good.  I am ready to go!

Made it!

Made it!  Another weekend has come and gone and I stuck to the plan.  Weekends are usually my downfall.  I can pretty much follow a regimen during the week.  But, making it through a food weekend is a major victory for me.

I was traveling this weekend.  Overnight travel for a baseball tournament in Lancaster County, PA....Amish Country!  The area is really lovely, with bucolic scenery and shopping outlets, too!

I will be traveling almost every weekend for the next six weeks, so it is important I learn how to eat well on the run.  I am blessed to live in an area with many food options.  All you have to do is decide to eat well and you pretty much have all the necessary options.

I brought with me  pre-portioned bags of almonds for weak moments and they are working.  The bananas, tuna and fruit cup in natural juice did not get used. (But it was only an overnight trip this time.)  I'm going to keep bringing them with me to avoid picking up off-limits foods.

Wendy's is my favorite go-to place for getting a less-than-processed meal on the run.  Caesar Side salad and a baked potato give a lot of food energy, good nutrition and to me it's satisfying.  I do not feel deprived when my companions eat their french fries and not feeling deprived helps me stay on track.

Here's my set of rules for my 95 day clean eating ritual:  No fried foods, no white sugar, no wheat flour, no tortilla or potato chips.  No pizza and no bread.  Only whole foods.  Plenty of veggies and fruit and lean meats and fish and whole grains.  I mean the basics, right?

I have also started to walk in the morning.  Not too far, but at a good pace for twenty minutes.  It's not kickboxing, but it's a start, right?

The Journey Begins Anew

The journey begins anew.  Welcome to my blog and incidentally, I don't expect anyone to be reading this, but for the poor schlub at the NSA who is assigned to infiltrating my online life : ) Hi Schlub.

I have just embarked on a new weight loss journey and I feel the need to write about.  Thus, this blog.  It started 7 days ago today.  I cannot believe it.  That went fast! I did it without the usual mental resistance I throw at my weight loss efforts.

I won't bore you with the details, but three years ago I was involved in a major auto accident.  I was on my way to a kickboxing class.  Did I mention I am obsessed with kickboxing?  I have not been able to exercise with that kind of intensity and vigor since that fateful day.  I am in mourning over the loss of the only exercise that ever interested me.

In my recovery, I also lost the ability and will to deny myself food at any time, in any portion and of any type.....mostly junk.  I FEEL AWFUL.  I have gained weight.  I have no idea how much because I am afraid to step on the scale.  My reaction to the accident was to freak out on the inside and cover it up with food.  Three years is enough.