Amy's Journal: Comments Welcome!

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks everyone, sorry I was MIA yesterday, my two aunts and uncle were in town yesterday and that tied me up all day and night. Weigh in was okay, I was only down 1.2 pounds. I was really hoping for at least two. I kinda wondered, my wedding ring was tight (I can always tell I'm bloated by ring fit) and TOM had came again, this perimenopausal thing is wearing me down. Thats twice since Christmas. However, it was a day and half kinda thing ? But just what my weigh in did not need. Then I sat down, about to cry with my measley loss and this older lady sits down next to me. About my mom's age and so like my mom. Continued to repeat the same story about her Christmas ham through the whole meeting, while everyone stares at me wondering why this woman next to me is talking so loudly. I can not escape this! Bless her heart, but man I was about to go postal between the weigh in and her prattle. Then I came home, walked for only 20 minutes and got busy cooking a nice, big family dinner and cleaning the house. Right before everyone arrived, my cabinet that is full of Disney collectibles crashed. I had a candle going in there, guess it got too hot and one of the glass shelves broke, crashed down and had a cascade affect as it crashed on another shelf. I lost two beautiful snow domes, many figurines, including the Captain Mickey Dan bought me on the ship ($100 for that one). There was snowdome water and broken glass everywhere. The kids were sobbing because many of those things they had bought me for birthday's and mother's days and I was about to scream! Got that cleaned up, puppy has pooped all over the kitchen and dh calls and gives me my five minute warning that he is about home with a car load full of seniors who are hungry! But it turned out to be a nice evening. And when I kissed my ds goodnight he told me he would save his allowance to buy me a new Mulan just like the one he bought me a few years ago that is now smashed to bits. What night.

Food was okay. Did great during the day but then ate too much. But it was a lowfat healthy meal, just too big on my portions. And I did have a piece of cake with some Cool Whip on it. But lucky with that many people, there were no leftovers. Except for two rolls which I ate this morning.

Today's food:
Breakfast: Two rolls with butter (6)
Snack: Pudding (2)
Lunch: Lean Cuisine, Apple (7)

No workout yet, maybe later. I need to get to journals as well. Thanks for all your good wishes for my weigh in. A loss is always good, guess I just got overly optimisic that I had done better! But if I could just do that every week, it would really add up. My leader did tell me I lost 5 sticks of butter so that sounded pretty good!

Amy, I have watched Supersize Me. It did help somewhat. But I guess I am like a smoker, who sees a damaged lung at the science fair but still wants to smoke! Good news is that I hardly ever let the kids eat fast food anymore and never did much. Guess you could call me a closet Mcd's eater!

Anna; Shoveling is very satisfying. And dd and I had fun doing it together. Although she told me she will move to Florida when she's a grownup so she doesn't have to do that for the rest of her life!

Tracey: Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed for my weigh in. Don't uncross them, I need all the help I can get!

 

[toystoryduo]

Oh Amy,

It sounds like yesterday was a rough day for you. Please be sure and take some time just for you this weekend.... I hope today is a much better day!

That was such a sweet thing your DS said to you!

Thank you so much for the PMs you sent me... I sent you one back with one more question.

I hope your weekend is a wonderful one!

 

[lovinaz]

How awful to lose all of those precious things! What a sweet DS to offer to buy a new one, I would have been crying!

Sounds like you kept a good reign on your food even though you had an awful night. I think overeating healthy food is better than eating junk, don't you?

I think you need to buy SuperSize Me and watch it everytime you get a nasty McD craving. Eventually you'll be cured!

And be happy with the 1.2lb loss! It's better than my ZERO, I'll trade you if you want!

 

[Amy&Dan]

How awful to lose all of those precious things! What a sweet DS to offer to buy a new one, I would have been crying!

Sounds like you kept a good reign on your food even though you had an awful night. I think overeating healthy food is better than eating junk, don't you?

I think you need to buy SuperSize Me and watch it everytime you get a nasty McD craving. Eventually you'll be cured!

And be happy with the 1.2lb loss! It's better than my ZERO, I'll trade you if you want!

I was crying believe me. Talk about your basic emotional bloodbath of a night. You are right about that movie getting you out of the mood for McD's. Actually, I am happy to say that I have not eaten an adult meal at McD's in over a year. I've had a few Happy Meals but have gone from eating Big Mac's (always in my car never in front of the kids mind you) 3-5 times a week to never. I have really lost my taste for that. Ds came home recently from spending the night with a friend and told me that they had McD's and how much he loved his Big Mac (recommended by the friend's dad). Oh no! I told him how it tastes good going down but clogs the arteries etc. so hopefully he listened. I am now very happy with my loss. Slow and steady. Sometimes when I have a big loss I feel like I can eat to celebrate. Couldn't do that this week!

My back is thrown out again. I hurt it in the airport the day we got back from WDW last month, yanking a big duffle off the luggage carousel. Then it flared up again when I snow shoveled. Today I can't even stand up straight. So I have been taking it easy, laying on heat when I can. It feels better, I may try a slow walk later on the treadmill.

High today is 8 degrees. Wow, gotta love winter. I have been wanting to eat all day but have done pretty well. I had a big bowl of beef/veggie soup which helped fill me up. I was supposed to be with my mom but the weather and my back kept me home. So sort of a slow, long day. At least its Friday!

This week has been good. The novelty factor of eating right has worn off but I am still doing well and hanging in there. I put a recipe in WW online thing last night. This was the chicken casserole I made the other night. Doing it the Paula Deehn way, it was like 14 points per serving. I got it down to 8. And I couldn't tell a difference from when I made it fully loaded a few months ago. I like the WW online thing where I can plug stuff in and it computes the points. I may spend some time doing that this weekend to see what the damage is on some of the things I have been making and guestimating on. Time to get serious about points! I am also happy to report I have not had any oatmeal cookies, its amazing how much longer one batch lasts when they only go one at a time in the lunch boxes! I also have not been eating out. Normally dh and I go out on Wednesdays while the kids are at church but since they haven't had Wed. nites in two months we havent' been. However, it starts up this next week again. I told him we are back on for our little date night but that I pick the place and it has to be somewhere where I can get good, legal food. He agreed, he really wants me to succeed and is gotten on board with the whole thing. I am thinking Rumbi Grill, I love their chicken caeser salad and they don't serve cocktails there. If I get the dressig on the side its a 7 point meal. I need to just not put myself in situations where I have too much opportunity to fail and overeat/drink. Drinking kills me as I lose all my inhibition with food when I drink.

I hope everyone has a great (and warm) weekend, and I thank you all for your support!

Amy, maybe I'll buy Supersize me for my kids! Everytime they go to a friend's its fast food and they love the stuff. So even though we have cut way down, doesn't mean they don't still have ample opportunity which scares the heck out of me. Oh and the fact that the school cafeterias serve it. Which is why I pack their lunch most days. And we wonder why we have fat kids in this country.

 

[lovinaz]

I know what you mean about the school lunches! I let my kids get it once a week. And actually, DS was getting it MORE than once a week, so when his $$ ran out (they have an account) he was cut off until DD's money ran out (which it hasn't yet) because I gave them each the same amount. He would eat parts of his lunch I packed PLUS part of the school lunch. I can't believe he is all skin and bones the way he packs it in. NOT FAIR, is it?!? I think allowing your kids to get fast food every once in a while is not bad. That way they know that they can still have it in moderation and it won't kill them. We try to get Subway when we are short on time, at least it's healthier than a burger and fries!

That is cool that you can input your recipes and come up with ways to lower the points. You are still doing great, remember you are in this for the long haul!

I hope your back gets better soon, how awful to have to deal with that!

 

[CACruisin']

Amy, what a horrid day you had . It is so sad to lose sentimental things like that. Your DS was very sweet.

8 degrees?! What's the low?!

So sorry about your back. Take it easy and remember to keep the big picture in mind - losing the weight slowly and surely and keeping it off. You can do it

 

[Amy&Dan]

8 degrees?! What's the low?!

So sorry about your back. Take it easy and remember to keep the big picture in mind - losing the weight slowly and surely and keeping it off. You can do it

Anna, you don't want to know! Actually I think the low is supposed to be around five below. So not that much colder. This doesn't happen very often but when it does it reminds me how much I hate winter! We also got a couple more inches of snow and more to come this weekend. My back is killing me, I basically spent the afternoon grazing and watching Sex and the City. Such a wasteful but somehow very nice day for me and Daisy as we just hunkered down and snuggled up on the couch!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy
That is so sad about all your precious ornaments breaking, I was upset for you too!!!
Well done for losing the 1.2 lb's
Another one here with a zero!!
Glad your giving your back a rest, hope it improves soon, nothing wrong with my back but i'm planning to curl up on the couch & do nothing too
Have a great weekend
Tracey x

 

[toystoryduo]

Amy,

I'm sorry to hear about your back, sweetie. Please be sure, take it easy and see the doctor if it doesn't get better.

Did you say that you were expecting below ZERO temperatures? Stay warm this weekend!

Thank you so much for sharing your advice on the different resorts.... Being a Disney travel agent, DIS member, and a Passporter user, I've read about these resorts hundreds of times, but you really don't get a feel for each resort unless you stay there or know someone who has. Thanks for sharing! You should become a Disney travel agent too!

Hope you have a great weekend WISH sis! Stay warm!

 

[lovinaz]

I just wanted to say THANKS A LOT for sharing your cold spell with your southwesternly neighbor. It is gray and yucky and COLD here today! The high is only going to be 52, which seems like a summer temp for you, but is downright frigid for us!!!

How is your back feeling? I hope it is getting better.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I just wanted to say THANKS A LOT for sharing your cold spell with your southwesternly neighbor. It is gray and yucky and COLD here today! The high is only going to be 52, which seems like a summer temp for you, but is downright frigid for us!!!

How is your back feeling? I hope it is getting better.

Amy, I saw on the weather that AZ was getting chilly. Sorry to share! Its 78today in Orlando however which just adds insult to my injury!

Yesterday, I grazed too much. I didn't do awful, just ate too much out of sheer boredom. Still haven't exercised. My back is much better but still not there yet. I am just feeling very discouraged and not at all like I am doing this to my full potential. I really need to step back and evaluate what I am doing. Its completely unacceptable to have not lost any weight since June and in fact to have gained back almost a full third of what I lost the first half of 2006. Time for a heart to heart chat with me! But first, I'm off to catch up with all of you now!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Okay, I was just reading Tracy's (Toystoryduo's) journal and her idea of posting her progress on her New Year's Resolutions each month has inspired me! What a great idea since like posting my food and exercise, posting my progress on resolutions might just make me a bit more accountable. So here are my resolutions, I will post my progress around the middle of February:
Reduce debt/Stop charging!
Lose an additional 30 pounds by June 15
Get my mother's affairs in order and find some good facilities for Alz. patients

I have also made some decisons about my method of weight loss. This may be strange but I think I have been putting too much emphasis on exercise and not enough on food consumption. I was told once by my trainer (who had a degree in something, so she was an expert for real unlike some trainers I had worked with) that exercise is very important but food is the bigger part of the weight loss equation. I had been working out 60-90 minutes per day, five to six days a week for about five years and had not lost one pound. In fact I was up. She told me to be honest about my food, list a typical day and asked how much I ate out (which was a lot). She then told me after she looked all that information over, there was no way I could exercise enough to burn all of those calories. She told me to give up fast food, cut back to 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 times a week. That was years ago and obviously I ignored her. And I have seen this same thing happen with a friend of mine who is very active but overeats (esp. fast food) and has been unable to lose any weight. I know all of this and in fact last year decided I would only work out 3 times a week but faithfully track what I ate and stick to my points and go to my meetings. I did and I lost around 27 pounds in five months. As soon as I started focusing more on exercise I stopped losing. Its like I am just not disciplined enough to maintain both areas. Also when I exercise (as in more than 30 minutes at a time, more than four times a week) I sort of get this mentality that I can eat more. Heck, Weight Watchers even gives me extra points when I exerise. And I have been taking them and them some. So I guess my new approach will be to go back to the old approach. Exercise around 20-30 minutes at least three times a week and monitor my food like a hawk. What I have been doing for the past six months is not working. My food intake has been way too high and even with making most of the exercise challenges I have set, I haven't been losing. I can tell that if something doesn't change very soon, I will give up out of sheer disgust. And I know that my 700-900 minutes per month goals pale in comparison to others but for me its a lot. I also have been having a lot of problems with my back. Just the littlest thing can set it off. My doctor last year told me that at my weight, working out for too long, too strenulously, is bad because I am more likely to become injured. I love it: I'm too fat to exercise like a regular person! She told me I am morbidly obese and that my game plan is going to have to be tailor made for someone in my situation. I love it when people are honest with me .

So I think I am going to just delete the January exercise challenge out of my sig and instead just post my weekly exercise totals on my journal here. That will keep me accountable but lessen the pressure a bit on that area as I really focus on the food. I will exercise 4 times a week for at least 20 minutes but don't really want to put that measely total over on the exercise challenge. Often I just feel bad when I go over there to update myself and see how lame I am compared to others. And now it will be moreso. But if I start to lose again, then I'll know this is what works for me. If I don't then I will probably jump off a high cliff! Thanks if you stuck with my random thoughts on my weight loss journey. I just know something needs to change and its my food. I also need to get this back of mine some tme to heal. I really hope someday I can lose this huge amount of weight and take the classes and exercise more. I would love to jog and take yoga and join a gym again. But for now I think I need to allow myself to concentrate on my bigger problem of food addiction and overeating. Thanks for reading, wish me luck!

So here is my total for the day:
Breakfast: 1 egg, 3 egg whites (3), ham (2) veggies (0)
Lunch: McD's hamburger: (6), 10 ff's (2)
Dinner: Rumbi Grill Salad: (8)
Snack: 8 oz. of skim milk, 2 pts. bar (4)
Snack: Kashi Crackers (2)
Total: 27 (one point under but I am sure I munched on some "blt" I forgot about)

Exercise: 20 minutes
Water: 48 oz. Really need to step that up

 

[lovinaz]

I think your plan is great! That is not the first time I have heard that food is the most important part of the equation. When I went to the ND she was actually alarmed at how much I worked out. She told me that she would rather see me exercise less than eat more. And of course I ignored her... You need to do what works for you, and if your plan worked in the past, GO FOR IT!!!!!

You are doing awesome and you've come way too far to give up now. Don't feel bad about not completing the Jan exercise challenge. It's not helpful if it makes you feel like you are in a competition. I probably won't do the Feb one, I just had to do the Jan one to get me mentally back in the game.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Amy! I really do feel good about things. I walked 20 minutes last night and my back began to hurt so it was good to stop. Today, my back feels much better, I spent virtually all of yesterday sitting at the computer with a heating pad up against it. It really helped! I also feel good about just concentrating on my food. I think once I really get a chunk of this weight off, I will exercise more. I also love to walk outside but thats not an option now (high of 11 today plus more snow). Today has been so so with food. I haven't done bad but I have grazed quite a bit. I am really getting sick of this weather. Although, its nice to just have a great excuse to hang around the house and not get out!

Breakfast: protein bar, skim milk (6)
Lunch: Some fish fillets and some chicken qusedilla (10)
Snack: Bugles (4)
Need to have a salad tonight and drink some more water.

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy
I think we are all struggling at the moment, lousy weather, January blues etc are all contributing i think our bodies natural instinct is to eat lots more at this time of year!!!
I hope your new plan works out, remember we will be here for you so dont give up
Tracey

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Amy,

I think your plan is a good one! I know that for me, food is a major problem. I enjoy the exercising, but don't enjoy limiting my food choices. Maybe if I exercised 8-10 hours a day, I could eat what I want!

You CAN do this Amy! We are cheering you on to VICTORY!

Have a great Monday!

 

[lovinaz]

Good for you stopping walking when your back started acting up. I would have been stubborn and kept going...

I bet by the time you get your food firmly under control (to where you don't even have to think twice about eating healthy), it will be springtime and there will be plenty of opportunity to kick up your outside walking!!! With Daisy in tow, of course!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you Amy, Tracey and Tracy! I was reading a book by Bob Greene (the guy that has helped Oprah loose weight several times) and in it he said to exercise 20 minutes at the highest intensity you can do. Again, more emphasis on the food in his plan than the length of exercise. He says to do that 5-6 times a week. I doubt I'll make that initially but then again 20 minute routines are easier to do for me than the long ones.

I had a great day today. ONe of those nice days (that don't happen enough) where I got a ton done, did well with food and worked out (for 20 minutes ). I wish every day was like this. Being MLK day the kids were home and I had told them they could have friends over. Since both of these kids families have treated my kids to eating out lately I said they could pick a place for me to pick up lunch from. So Taco Bell was the consensus. I was a bit worried but didn't get one thing for myself. In fact I told them I would go get it and bring it home, that way I could eat my own lunch. It smelled good and I did have one bite of ds' taco but that was it.

Breakfast: protein shake (3)
Snack: cheese (3)
Lunch: Lean Cuisne (6), 2 cups salad greens with oil and vinegar (2)
Snack: 8 oz. skim milke (2) Kashi bar (3)
Dinner: 2 eggs, 2 egg whites (3) 2 slices of 99% ff ham (2) 1 cup cooked veggies (0) 1/2 Eng. Muffin with 1 t butter (2)
Snack: ff/sf pudding (1)
Total: 27 One point under
Water: 56 oz one diet coke, one cup herbal hot tea

I am hoping for another good day tomorrow before Wednesday's weigh in day.

I also remembered that this type of plan worked for me many years ago. I lost 30 pounds by doing Weight WAtchers and working out 30 minutes four times a week. At the time my kids were one and three respectively and I was doing home daycare. I had to get on the treadmill by 5:30 so I could be done by 7:00 to deal with four kids all day, no way was I able to work out more than that given that wacko schedule I had back then. Of course as soon as I stopped doing the food thing and bumped up the exercise for the next five years, I put it all back on plus another 20 pounds. I'm 9 years older this time but I a really hoping that just working out consistently and keepig track of what I eat can give me some good results!

 

[CACruisin']

Yea, Amy!!! It sounds like you did great today. I am also having a really hard time getting going right now. You are definitely not alone. I think your plan is really a sound one though. I bought "O" magazine last week and was reading the excerpt of Bob Greene's new book. It makes sense to me (except the no alcohol part - clearly the man does not have a preschooler or "tween" kids!)

Have a great week and - please, can you take your cold weather back? It is just wrong to have ice on the ground here and wear ski gloves to a swim meet

 

[toystoryduo]

Sounds like you had a great day today, Amy! Way to go!