Christine's Get Healthy Journal (Definitely Want Comments!)

[Christine]

Well, it is January 2nd and today is my first "official" day of trying to do better. I really started about two days ago; however, I was still trying to "clean the refrigerator" out of my mom's homemade lasagna and my birthday cake, which was spectactular. I just couldn't throw either of these things out since they are once-a-year type items.

I'd love any comments/critiques on my food choices. I'm not really on any program because I find them too overwhelming. Just trying to eat better. If you see something really bad, let me know PLEASE...

A little background. I am 41 years old (as of a few days ago), married with 2 kids. I work full-time with a long commute. Finding time to exercise is my BIGGEST problem. I have not exercised since August '04. I work in a very crime-ridden neighborhood, so I cannot walk at lunch or anything like that. I am very sedentary during the day. When I get home around 4:00, I start cooking dinner, and then it is dark. If I don't start doing dinner right away, then the kids miss their meal if they have an activity. I'm trying to work around this but it is hard this time of year.

So, I started doing a written journal of my exercise and food. My starting weight is 154 lbs and I am 5'7". I would like to lose 10 lbs minimum. Fifteen would be great. I know you guys who have a lot to lose are probably rolling your eyes at my goal, but you know, those final pounds are the WORST. It is very hard to get motivated with a diet/fitness plan when the scale doesn't budge for weeks.

Yesterday, I pretty much ate everything in sight trying to clean out the junk.

Today, I started off with some hot tea with skim milk and equal.
Two Kashi Go Lean Waffles. I took some fresh raspberries and blueberries and made a compote/syrup out of them with some sugar and water (this was probably "iffy" but much better than pancake syrup). I then had about 6 oz of vanilla soy milk. I walked 2 miles and did about 10 minutes of stretching. I had about 16 oz of water. That was 2 hours ago. I am starving again. Can't wait for lunch.

I have to say that I have started walking again. I've only done it for 3 days because our weather has been beautiful. The anxiety and depression that I have been battling is really lifting. But I am worried. The cold snap is coming and I don't know what I will do. I'm not a big exercise video fan, but I guess I will have to try those. I am contemplating buying an in-home elliptical trainer. But the decent ones run about $2500. Uuuuggghhh.

So this is my battle!

 

[Christine]

Well, I'm a little disappointed at the end of my day.

I was SOOOOOOOOO good today with my food. Right before dinner, I was at about 1,065 calories. I was starving too. Then I guess I blew it. I had two smaller helpings of whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce and two plates of salad with low fat dressing. When I went to FITDAY and added it all up, I am now over 2,000 calories and I haven't had my evening snack, and I'm hungry. I guess pasta isn't the way to go.

I guess the good news is that despite the fact that I am still eating more calories than required for weight loss, I'm probably eating TONS less than before. I mean, I must be eating 4,000 calories a day. WOW!!!

It will be interesting to see how I do at work tomorrow.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Christine!

Welcome to WISH journaling! You will find a lot of support and encouragement here.

You dinner tonight doesn't sound too bad. The pasta was whole wheat and you had two salads as well. Sounds low carb and yummy to me. Maybe for a snack tonight, you can have a piece of fruit and some water as well.

Have a great evening and a wonderful Monday!

Tracy

 

[geetey]

Hi Christine!

Welcome to the journals of WISH!! I hope you find the support you are looking for here. There is a great group of WISHers journaling away and learning from each other each and every day.

Sorry about the hunger pangs yesterday. It might take your body a couple of days to get used to the fewer calories. More protein might help keep those pangs away as well. Think a piece of string cheese.... Some peanut butter on an apple... just a couple of options.

I know you don't like video but check out the Walk Away the Pounds tapes. I *really* like them (www.lesliesansone.com) and they are inexpensive options for those days you can't get out. You can find them at Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc. etc. etc.. At $10, they are a good tool. I just did the 4 mile Super Challenge last night.

Welcome again!

 

[Christine]

Thanks!

I already actually have some WATP tapes. As usual there are always challenges in my life when it comes to exercise. If I try to do a tape at home, I am constantly interrupted by the kids or the dogs!!! I try to keep them out but I have a hard time ignoring the kids after I've been at work all day. It's always a bit easier if I can just leave the house!!!

Today wasn't too bad, food-wise. I went from breakfast to lunch with not too much effort, but I was VERY hungry right after lunch. I had some leftover Ma' Po Tofu that I had made myself. Good levels of protein vs. carbs and over some brown rice, but I guess it wasn't enough. I then immediately had an orange and cheese stick. It helped but I still kept obsessing about food. Funny though, once I got into my car and headed home the obsessions seemed to go away.

I also managed to get in 30 minutes of walking, albeit in the dark!!!

So, my biggest challenge is to find the "perfect" foods to keep me happy all day. With me, it is a challenge because so many things bother me--apples being one of them!

 

[sarahsmom73]

Hi Christine! I'm newbie like you! I'm doing Atkins so as you probably know it is a different type of program... I know that when I start out I need to add a small snack especially in the morning!

I understand the finding the time to exercize, but boy am I going to try hard!!!

You can do it!

 

[geetey]

I have found the trick for the kids...

I tell them to join me! I tell them if they can't wait 30 minutes, then they can WATP with me while they ask their questions. Sometimes they go ahead and walk with me, sometimes they walk in the room and walk out, sometimes they walk the whole time and we chat. I started this when my youngest was 7, but I think kids of any age can march in place and it certainly won't hurt them. Just a thought.

Hmm... apples are bad. Okay - what about nuts? Almonds? Pistachios? Your lunch sounds perfect to me! Maybe something with more volume? Have you tried Glenny's Soy crisps? I like the lightly salted and the bar b que flavors. They look like little rice or popcorn cakes and have 10 grams of protein. They are nice and crunchy but help keep the 'munchies' away for me. Good luck with your perfect food hunt!

 

[Princess Michelle]

Hi Christine! Welcome to the Journal Board. I just wanted to stop in and wish you the best in reaching your goals.

 

[Christine]

Well, after one week, I am down about 4 lbs!! Very happy. I've been doing very well with my eating and using Fitday.com.

I even carried out from our local Italian restaurant and managed not to do too badly--eggplant parmesan and pasta ! I skipped the "iceburg" salad because it wasn't worth the dressing and skipped the bread too.

My lifesavers have been Skinny Cows in the evening.

Today I bought some Laughing Cow Light Gourmet Cheese Bites. YUMMY! These are MUCH better than the stupid mozzarella sticks. And you get 5 for 35 calories. Very creamy and they satisfy the old fat tooth.

I tried to have some diet root beer and nonfat frozen yogurt tonight in place of the Skinny Cow. Saves me 40 calories. But, it was a disappointment. Need to find better diet root beer and better nonfat frozen yogurt I guess. It was just very artificial tasting.

My other great discovery today was the new Lean Cuisine "Spa" selections. Very good. I had the Basil Salmon over Orzo (260 calories or 5 WW points)today and will be trying the Rosemary Chicken tomorrow. They have much less sodium than the regular Lean Cuisines and have a more "natural" taste in my opinion.

 

[plutosmyfav]

WOW down 4 pounds is AWSOME!!! Congratulations!

Have you tried the Waist Watchers Diet root beer? Its made with Splenda and tastes alot better (to me) than the aspartame versions. I haven't tried the Laughing Cow cheese cubes, now I will! Thanks for the tips

Sundie

 

[sarahsmom73]

Great Job!!!

 

[Christine]

I have never even seen this. I wonder if they even sell it in my area.

 

[Desiree]

Wow! 4 Pounds! That's awesome! Keep up the good work!

 

[geetey]

Hey Christine!
I am back from the marathon and just read about your 4 pound loss! WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!! I love using fitday.com! It's a great tool and free too!

 

[Christine]

Well, I'm into this about 11 days now and have lost about 5 lbs total. Still going well with the food and keeping my calories at 1600-1800 per day.

Did have a bit of a set back yesterday. I have just been feeling SOOOOO tired. I guess it is the combo of diet and exercise (I've been doing about 30 minutes a day/5 days a week). I just felt really bad after lunch yesterday--exhausted in fact. I came home and did not exercise last night and went to bed at 8:00 p.m. I still feel kind of tired today. Also very irritable. It's actually kind of awful. I also noticed that my bowel movement was very dark green (sorry!!!). That kind of freaked me out because I'm not really eating anything different, just less.

I guess it's also time to get my thyroid levels checked. Maybe I'm taking too much thyroid hormone which would explain the irritability.

Can you really get this wiped out? I felt great the first few days.

 

[Desiree]

I guess it does all catch up with you! So just rest up and get back in business tomorrow! I racked out last night myself. I was asleep by 8:30!

Have a great day today!

 

[geetey]

Sure, you can get that wiped out! Especially if you are catching a bug. Rest, rest, rest your body and drink lots of fluids. You haven't had anything 'blue' to drink, have you? Gatorade or Powerade? That will give you that nice fun color in the bathroom.

 

[Christine]

Sure, you can get that wiped out! Especially if you are catching a bug. Rest, rest, rest your body and drink lots of fluids. You haven't had anything 'blue' to drink, have you? Gatorade or Powerade? That will give you that nice fun color in the bathroom.

Nope, it's either water, Diet Coke, or Tetley/Lipton Hot Tea for me. "Things" were looking more normal today, but not quite there yet. I also felt a little less tired because I did not exercise last night. Tonight, I just did some light weights so hopefully I won't fall apart tomorrow!

 

[Lizzydoll73]

Hi Christine - Congrats on your 5 lbs. Keep it up and you will reach your goal in no time.

 

[plutosmyfav]

Hi Christine,

You are doing great. If you are taking thyroid medication and have changed your diet exercise, you probably need to check with your doctor to be safe.

I hope you are feeling better real soon so you can enjoy the weightloss

Sundie