tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38527097036142209082024-02-08T10:52:02.649-08:00Learning to Grow and ShrinkMystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-14358253497297077292013-07-23T06:28:00.002-07:002013-07-23T06:28:28.407-07:00Official Starting weight....againI weighed myself this morning: 224.2.<br />
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The last time I weighed myself it was 226.2, so I was happy to see that I was down 2 lbs, although I really haven't done much to earn it. As I have been mentally gearing up for the journey, I have been trying to be conscience of how much I am eating. <br />
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I will be officially re-joining Weight Watchers today. The last time I did WW, I went to the meetings and such. Financially, I can't do the $50/mon. So I will have to do it on-line. I am really looking forward to the phone app, as I think that will be my greatest asset.<br />
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I will have to read up on the new plan. When I first started WW in 2009, it was the Points plan. Then it changed to PointsPlus in 2011, and now we are at WW360. I understand the basics of the points system, so it is just getting used to the new system...what counts for what, etc.<br />
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One of the biggest challenges I am going to face right now is losing weight while trying to put weight on my son! He has a feeding tube, and a very high metabolism. The kid walks by the fridge and loses weight! We are trying to get him to gain 2 lbs a month right now. We were told to load up the fat! Load up the carbs! Get some meat on those bones.<br />
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So while he munches on his potato chips....I will just watch.<br />
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There are huge changes that I will need to make in my day to day life in order to be successful. The first of which....eating on a regular basis. Yes, I am guilty of not eating breakfast. Or lunch. Then by 2:30 I am starving and I eat everything in sight.<br />
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I have started taking my lunch to work (man, I hate packing lunch....), but I am noticing that I am not starving anymore. Who woulda thunk it?<br />
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So here we go.....Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-92189521783953539682013-07-22T07:50:00.002-07:002013-07-22T07:50:21.179-07:00Here we go again......this time for good!So, I fell off the wagon.....got dragged behind it....pretty banged up.<br />
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But I hit a point a few weeks ago where I just didn't feel good. Physically. Emotionally. Time to buckle down.<br />
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I will be 40 in May 2015....and for whatever reason....this is bothering me. I will not be 40 and be like this.<br />
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So....I decided that the day that the Royal Baby was born would be my official re-start date. I figured that I had no control over that date, and when the time came....well, that would be that. With the birth imminent....I guess here we are.<br />
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I will update more tomorrow....with my current weight and such. Some other things I will be doing now that I am restarting this journey is really being gritty honest about a few things. No sugar coating for me. <br />
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I am in debate about pictures. Those of you who have come on over from my main blog, Digging Out From Our Mess, know that I have NEVER shown a picture of myself. And I am still not ready for a face pic. But I am wondering if body shots would be helpful. I might take them and keep them for myself.....not sure if I am ready to share THAT much of me.<br />
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The basic plan at the moment is Weight Watchers on-line. Lots of water. Starting with (2) 30-min walks per week and increasing as we go.<br />
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Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-1071620075651699862012-08-13T06:55:00.000-07:002012-08-13T06:55:22.085-07:00Long overdue update!I didn't update last week because I was embarrassed. I had gained again. I am not sure what happened, but the scale showed a gain, and I just didn't want to share. <br />
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I took this week to make sure my portions were in control, I wasn't eating excess crud, and attempting to drink more water. So now my weight is back down, and hopefully we will continue that trend.<br />
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My water intake is low. I am averaging 30 oz a day, vs 48. I drink coffee, milk, an occasional soda. But I am just not drinking enough plain water. So I need to step up my game there.<br />
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Exercise...still non-existant. I would like to add in a walk each day with the kids. I know it won't be as vigorous as if I went alone, but at least it is something. Maybe after camp, when we get home. And then after school.<br />
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And there it is....a boring update.<br />
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Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-73091595442927088782012-08-01T05:38:00.000-07:002012-08-01T05:38:01.430-07:00August Mini GoalWith July behind me now, it is time to reset the Mini Goal. I learned a few things from July (both personally, and from a blog stand point). The biggest, it BE REASONABLE. Also, I have to have a better way of tracking things...which means I need to either blog more often, or have another way of remembering what I am doing.<br />
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August's goal is going to be drinking more water. From a health standpoint, water is the best choice for hydration and bodily function. Depending on what you read, anywhere from 6-8 glasses (48-64 oz) is ideal.<br />
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So my August goal will to be to drink 1500 oz. That is just over 6 glasses a day. I already know that some days I won't hit 6 glasses, and some days I will drink more. I am hoping to average it out.<br />
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Anyone else want in???Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-84629769904562926302012-07-30T05:37:00.001-07:002012-07-30T05:37:46.291-07:00That is what happens....when you aren't as careful as you should be! I gained 0.4 lbs.<br />
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I was really hoping that all the activity I have had in the past few days (cleaning) would counterbalance some of the mis-steps. But alas....nope. I had dessert THREE nights in a row (not alot, but I did have dessert). We had Brats for dinner over the weekend. And I ended up eating grinders (turkey) twice this week.<br />
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Lots of carbs. Lots of fat. And here we are.<br />
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New week....back up on the wagon.<br />
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<br />Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-32119634594946324382012-07-25T11:22:00.000-07:002012-07-25T11:22:26.933-07:00Dunkin DonutsAnyone who lives in New England, or at least in Connecticut and Massachussetts, KNOWS that Dunkin Donuts reigns supreme up here. I can only think of a handful of Starbucks ANYWHERE. But DD, you can't, as my friend puts it, swing a dead cat without hitting one.<br />
<br />Seriously, there will be 5 or 6 in a mile stretch. No idea why.<br />
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Anyway, I try not to stop often because of the financial piece of it. Coffee and a bagel will run about $4.50. It adds up. But for the purposes of this blog.....WOW, that is alot of sugar and carbs!<br />
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I have to pass 4 on my way to work (not counting the number of them I am actually passing while on the highway). It is soooo tempting to stop and get an iced coffee and bagel. I like my coffee to be flavored, so it is usually French Vanilla or something Seasonal. And I get an everything bagel, toasted, with "lite" cream cheese.<br />
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Yum.<br />
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It is hard some mornings to drive by. Yes, I have coffee at home (and I will bring it with me frequently). And I am working on the eating breakfast thing.<br />
<br />But coffee and a bagel......yummmmmm.<br />
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I just keep reminding myself that I don't need it. My wallet doesn't either. But my waistline certainly doesn't.Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-50595913540432015312012-07-23T06:56:00.002-07:002012-07-23T06:56:35.896-07:00Goin' DOWN!I was surprised and thrilled this morning when I weighed myself! I lost 2.6 lbs this week....making a total of 5.4 lbs in 3 weeks. YIPPEE!!!!<br />
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(Men....if you are out there....look away)<br />
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I have been bloated and dealing with "feminine" issues for the past 4 days, and was sure that the scale would show a minimal loss. I was hoping that next week I would see a drop since all of that feminine stuff would be over and done.<br />
<br />So I was thrilled to see a nice number. And so far, all I have done is cut back dessert, tried to cut back on portions, and make some better choices overall. I don't think that is all that needs to be done, but it makes the momentum ball start rolling.<br />
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I am already thinking about my August goal.....debating between drinking more water, or eating breakfast every day. Any thoughts?<br />
<br />Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-53731507897152514452012-07-22T04:50:00.002-07:002012-07-22T04:50:58.700-07:00Does Cleaning Count?I am on a major cleaning kick around my house. To the point where I work up a sweat. Does that count as "exercise"? The weather here is beautiful....I might go and take a walk! Of course, I will have 2 companions with me, so I am not sure this will be exercise either.<br />
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Trying to find time to exercise, and then actually DOING it....that is something I am looking at now.....<br />
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Stay tuned!Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-12172874001278955632012-07-18T04:36:00.001-07:002012-07-18T04:36:01.168-07:00Fat morningsDo you ever get out of bed in the morning, and just feel FAT, or just feel "THIN"?<br />
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I can tell what the scale will say as soon as my feet hit the floor. Some mornings, I just feel lighter, and I have a pretty good idea that the scale will reward me. And some days, I just know that this isn't the day to look (which is exactly why I should).<br />
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I am trying to see if there is a pattern related to what I ate the day before. If I eat better, do I have a thin day? In theory, I should. Basically, I am trying to build the momentum I need to keep going. See....if you don't have dessert, and had a nice salad....you get nice numbers!<br />
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Does anyone else experience this?Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-43229260920451210332012-07-16T05:34:00.000-07:002012-07-16T05:34:01.098-07:00Weigh-In!Yay! I lost 2.8 lbs!!! I don't think I lost that this week....I think it was partly last week, that was masked with water weight. Either way, it is still a loss, and I am happy.<br />
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I did have dessert last night though....basically it came down to the potential to waste food, and I caved. We cannot buy highly perishable desserts anymore, unless it is a small thing that is eaten in one sitting. Cakes, pies....no more. If I am only going to have dessert once a week, it needs to be something that can either last for a week, or is eaten and gone.<br />
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I am also noticing how many carbs I eat. Need to cut back on that.Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-77018366370594375262012-07-15T05:32:00.001-07:002012-07-15T05:32:17.585-07:00Had my Saturday Dessert....and while it was good....it wasn't AMAZING. I built it up in my head, since I hadn't had dessert in days. But today, I have no interest in it again. I am more interested in other things.<br />
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I am also finding that when I feed the cats, I am thinking about dessert less.<br />
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Maybe I am breaking the habit!!!Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-89408715893851736272012-07-13T04:25:00.002-07:002012-07-13T04:25:18.260-07:00Another Habit to BreakI have a feeling alot of people have this habit: Opening the Fridge.<br />
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Our house has a doorway next to the fridge, so I walk by the fridge ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME. And I have gotten into this habit of opening the fridge ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME. I am not hungry. I don't plan to get anything out of it. I already know what is in there (as I have already opened it 200 times). But I still open it.<br />
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The biggest problem with it is that it allows the power of suggestion. You open it....then you see something....then you snack. Now, my advantage here is that my fridge is largely empty of real food most of the time. I stink at keeping my fridge stocked. So unless I want condiments...usually it is a fruitless exercise.<br />
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However....It is amazing how you CAN find something to eat if you try hard enough. <br />
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Bread and butter<br />
1 piece of deli turkey<br />
Leftovers<br />
Milk<br />
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I need to work on this one. My electric bill will thank me. And my waistline too!Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-48622544916951701172012-07-11T04:26:00.001-07:002012-07-11T04:29:42.255-07:00July Mini GoalAs I stated, while I am figuring out what I need to do, I am starting some mini-goals. And while this is a little late for this month....I thought I would still address it.<br />
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This month's mini goal: No 10pm dessert.<br />
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This bad habit started at least 8 or 9 years ago. OK, technically it started 10 years ago, although the 10pm part wasn't there yet.<br />
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When I was pregnant with the kids, I wanted ice cream. Like CRAVED it. So every night, Hubby and I would have ice cream. Yum yum. This became our nightly ritual. He would go downstairs and feed the cats, and get dessert for us. After the kids were born, Hubby started working 2 jobs. He worked his typical 8am-5pm, then 6pm-10pm. This was every day. So at 10pm, we would continue our ritual....feed the cats, eat dessert.<br />
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Today, he still works 2 jobs (although the hours are a little different). Three nights a week he isn't home at all. Three nights a week he is home for the evening, and 1 night a week....he gets home at 10pm. On the nights he is home, we would still eat our 10pm dessert. And many nights when he isn't home....I would get dessert for myself, at 10pm, when I fed the cats.<br />
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There has rarely been a night in the past 10 years that we haven't had a cake, ice cream, pie, or some dessert item in our house.<br />
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This ritual was more than dessert. It was a way of Hubby and I bonding. We looked forward to our nightly dessert. Sometimes we would get a "larger" dessert at the store, and share. We would talk about dessert earlier in the evening. Hubby works part time at the grocery store, so he would pick up dessert if we were out. He would text me to ask what I wanted. <br />
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On July 1, after looking at myself in the mirror, I just couldn't eat it. I was FAT. And eating ice cream wasn't going to help it. I texted Hubby and told him I didn't want dessert when he got home.<br />
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At that moment, I should add that we had 1 piece of Key Lime Pie, and 1/3 of a container of ice cream in the house. And those items lasted over another week in the house before they were touched (more on that in a minute) I should have just thrown them out, but I felt like that was a waste. <br />
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Hubby is sad that I am trying to change our ritual. I said maybe we could compromise and say that Saturday night is our ritual.....and that way we still have our tradition, but it is modified. And of course, no one says it has to be some full fat, sugary dessert. I am trying to not feel guilty. But with him saying how sad he is, it isn't helping.<br />
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We compromised that Saturday night will be our special treat night. It will give us something to look forward to. As long as it is small (which will probably be half the size of what it usually was), I think it will be ok.<br />
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I will have a progress bar that tracks how I am doing. Since I have "agreed" to having dessert on Saturdays, that leaves 27 days this month to NOT have dessert. I did slip one night last week and had some Ambrosia Salad. But so far, of the 9 nights I could have had dessert....I have only slipped that once.<br />
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I just keep telling myself I am NOT hungry (which I am not)....this is just a habit. Changing habits is an on-going progress. Wish me luck and willpower!<br />
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<br />Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-52022929848798296192012-07-10T04:14:00.000-07:002012-07-10T04:14:12.664-07:00So, What's the Plan?When embarking on a journey, you need a plan. A road map. A compass. Some beef jerky. Something to point you in the direction of where you want to go.<br />
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Yeah, I don't have one of those........yet.<br />
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One problem that I discovered with my past weight loss attempts is that they gave you a plan...but didn't teach you anything. Well, Weight Watchers was a little better at that....but in the end.....I didn't learn what I needed to.<br />
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So, the first stage of my journey is research. Lots of research. I need to figure out my own road map. I know basic components:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Eat less</li>
<li>Eat healthier</li>
<li>Exercise</li>
</ul>
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But I am not sure what all of those will entail yet. Knowledge is power. And I am not full of knowledge yet. I need to figure out what MY body needs. I don't think a lifestyle change is a "one size fits all" kind of thing. So, that is part one.<br />
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Once I figure out what I need, then I will ACT. Now, that isn't to say that nothing will be happening during stage one. During stage one....I will have some mini changes. There are habits that I need to break, and habits I need to form. So the beginning will entail some of those.<br />
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Once I ACT, then I need to POWER THROUGH. That is where the real work will take place.<br />
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Here we go!!!Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-89682218010895760292012-07-09T05:30:00.001-07:002012-07-09T05:30:40.675-07:00Confirmation of What I KnewUnless you really work at losing weight....you won't. <br />
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I weighed myself this morning. And for the record, weigh in will be on Monday morning, before I get in the shower. Usually this will have involved drinking a half cup of coffee already (just I am doubtful that the 4 oz of coffee will have an immediate impact on my weight).<br />
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Last Monday I weighed myself....and recorded it. *sigh* I weighed myself this morning, and it was exactly the same.<br />
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While I am hoping some of it is water weight (I had more salt than usual this weekend), the end result is that in the past week I made minor changes. MINOR. Minor changes may add up over time....but that is a long time. MAJOR changes are needed.<br />
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So, starting off week 2....we are at a net of ZERO. Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-83694398670169375322012-07-09T04:40:00.000-07:002012-07-09T04:40:56.339-07:00This time is differentEveryone has that moment in their lives where the realization of something BIG happens. For me...that was about 3 weeks ago.<br />
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I saw my parents (I will talk more about them, and their impact on my weight another day). And they are OLD. Chronologically, they are 62 (Dad) and almost 68 (Mom). But they are OLD. They act old. They have so many medical problems I couldn't even begin to name them all. They look frail. They are OLD.<br />
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They "think" they take care of themselves. This involves a zillion and one doctors, and more prescriptions than a pharmacy fills in a day. This is taking care of themselves in their mind. What it is, is being reactive. Something goes wrong, and they go to the doctor, have a procedure, get some meds. This game they play....it is on-going. This is really all they do. They don't travel, they don't exercise, they don't do ANYTHING.<br />
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Well, I don't want to live my life like that. I am only 37, and I plan on living at least another 50 years. And I want to have a FULL life. I want to travel, and go bungee jumping, and have life experiences. Right now....I have none of that. While I am constantly busy, I don't have a LIFE.<br />
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So, this means an overhaul of many things in my life. Food.....exercise......and letting go of my past. My body needs to shrink....but my emotional health needs to grow. Some of these things are intertwined. It isn't going to be easy...but it is going to be worth it.<br />
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<br />Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852709703614220908.post-67539211183218218822012-07-04T15:20:00.000-07:002012-07-04T15:21:13.763-07:00Where to begin?<br />
I have started (and derailed) on this journey many times. I have tried various weight loss methods (Atkins, South Beach, Master Cleanse, and Weight Watchers, to name a few), and some have worked better than others. But eventually, I gave up on all of them. There was always an excuse.<br />
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I don't take excuses at work. I don't take excuses at home. I don't take excuses from the kids. So why did I let myself make excuses? Because I was scared.<br />
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What if I did it all "right" and I pushed, and I pushed....and I didn't succeed? What if I gave it all and then some....and I still didn't get to a healthy weight (which for the record....for my height....would be around 160).<br />
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I had nothing to fall back on. No excuse. So I almost insured that I had an excuse. Work was too busy....the kids....family....other obligations....I don't have the time!<br />
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Now, I don't have the time, to NOT have the time. I need to do this.<br />
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So why is this time different? Stay tuned!Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.com0