Doreen's New Way of Life (comments are welcome)

[Strings]

HI Doe,

It eems like you've got it figured out. The 3 goals thing really is a great idea. I'm really proud of you for looking at your life objectively and making a plan that works for you and what you want to accomplish. You are one of my inspirations.
Enjoy your walks today,
Beth

 

[DoeWDW]

My day yesterday was pretty good. I survived work. I shipped the package I wanted to ship. I did not get to the checkbook but I did spend some time working on the finances.

I ate on plan except for some yummy fresh cherries last evening. I did not do any binging or craving! HOORAY! I took the meds, drank the water, ate well and exercised.

My DD, who is going into 10th grade, has decided to try out for the tennis team at school. She has no clue how to play tennis, but I suppose she'll learn. DH and I took her to the courts last night. DH and DD hit the balls back and forth while Maya and I were the ball girls! It wasn't my usual walking but it sure was exercise! It was also a lot of fun and nice to do something together.

I tried to call DS in New Zealand this morning but their group's itinerary was changed. I have the number of the hotel they'll stay at on Monday, so I'll call him then. I'm bummed - was really looking forward to talking to him - but I'm sure he's fine and I'll talk to him in a couple days.

Today's goals - exercise, checkbook / bills, and laundry. My day is blissfully free of obligations so I can relax and take my time getting things done.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hello Doe,
Ahhh... a day without obligations sounds like heaven! I bet you are on today. Relax and enjoy because you deserve it!

Tennis is a fun sport! I bet that your DD will learn the "ins and outs" quickly. It sounds like you and Maya had a great time being ball girls. What a fun way to exercise!!!

I hope you get a chance to talk to your DS on Monday.

Have a Happy and safe Fourth of July weekend, Doe!

Tracy

 

[lulu202]

and for your new day, Doreen. Have a good day!
Any special plans? Whatever you do, treat yourself right!

Love,
Erin

 

[Strings]

Hi Doe,

Sounds like a perfect weekend with so few obligations. Good planning. I know that you are anxious to talk with your son. I know you are worried about him, but I am sure he is fine. I hope he has made a few friends, and is feeling better. Have a great day.
Beth

 

[DoeWDW]

Thanks Tracy, Erin & Beth! You all help me keep going!

Yesterday I took the meds and drank lots of water! We won't talk about the overload of carbs and lack of exercise. I met 1.5 of my 3 goals - did the checkbook and did half the laundry.

Today we have 2 picnics to attend. Two of my 3 goals are the picnics and the other is my training committment for the half marathon - I need to walk 3 miles. That should be plenty easy for me but I don't have a pedometer at the moment so I guess I'll just walk briskly for an hour.

I'm working on getting the replacement parts ordered for my eliptical trainer. DH helped me figure out what parts it needs. That will be one more way I can exercise when the weather isn't good for walking outdoors. I'm looking forward to using it again - it's been over a year since it has worked.

I'll be back on plan today, minimizing those carbs!

 

[CruisingCA2005]

Have a Happy 4th of July Doe!

Hope you have fun at the picnics while staying on plan! I know it's hard but you can do it.

 

[wilderness01]

Hope you have a nice time at your picnics.

 

[DoeWDW]

Yesterday's picnics went well - I stayed on plan for the most part. I didn't get my exercise in but have all day today to do it.

This morning I finally caught up with my DS in New Zealand. He was happy to hear from us. Their itinerary was changed because of snow - it's winter there. He's having a good time and sounded much better today, but he says he's ready to come home on Friday. We pick him up Friday night / Saturday morning around 2 AM.

Today's agenda - nothing!! DH & I have off. DD will be doing volunteer work at the community playground from 9 to noon and then playing tennis with a friend. Nothing else is planned but I'm sure we'll find stuff to keep us busy.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Hi Doreen,

Just wanted to say that you're doing great on the day to day healthy choices. Sounds like you're doing your best at keeping some order and control in your life, while allowing for the flexibility of the " unknowns" and "unexpecteds". That's about all we can do. Great job and very inspiring to read about. I'm always thinking of you guys while I'm pouring sweat on the Nordic Track!

Glad you heard from your DS. My DS had a wonderful time in DC last week; now he's down Cape Cod with my parents...all the dress clothes are sitting on his floor waiting to be done. At least he doesn't need them for a few weeks when we drive off to do college visits and interviews.

Where in PA do you live? I am a big student of the battle of Gettysburg and travel there every year to visit with an Internet group. I just love the area and I'm seriously thinking of retiring somewhere within an hour of the battlefield. My son is going to interview in August at Gettysburg and Dickinson Colleges, 2 of the 9 we are going to visit in 2 weeks!

I hope you have a great day!
Jean

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning Doe!
I am glad that you got a chance to talk to DS. I can't believe that their itinerary was changed due to snow! I tend to forget that our seasons are switched with theirs. I bet that he is looking forward to coming home on Friday.

Your post about tennis the other day inspired us to find our rackets and hit a few balls around yesterday. The girls had a great time chasing balls and even got a chance to hit a few. Thanks for the fun idea!

Have a wonderful, relaxing day today!

Tracy

 

[wilderness01]

I'm glad you had a nice time at the picnics. You must be excited that your son is coming home this weekend. Snow.....I almost forgot about that word! I guess it wouldn't be that bad seeing it now knowing I was leaving it in less than a week. Glad his spirits are up and he is having a good time. Have a nice day.

 

[lulu202]

Hee-hee! Snow!!! The world's an amazing place, isn't it?
I know that hearing his voice must've done your heart a world of good, Doreen. Soon he'll be safe and sound at home.

Glad you had fun at the picnics. Enjoy your day to hang around the house. A nice little nap, some reading, sitting in the sun. . .I can think of lots of suggestions in case you have any trouble on your own!

After my walk today, I started re-thinking our mileage goal for our next walk. . .why was it I thought 10 miles was a good goal for us???!!!! Oh, yeah, I know: 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT TO WALK 13.2!!!

Just a moment of panic there.

Oh, gotta run to the grocery store with DH. . .

Talk to you later,
Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

Yesterday was a lazy day. I did walk for an hour and 10 minutes. I took Maya and we both were pretty hot so we took some breaks to sit in the shade along the way.

I looked up some beginner tennis drills online for the girls and spent an hour on the court with them last evening. There are 6 tennis courts at our local college and no one else was there. We closed all the gates and let Maya, the ball puppy run loose! She was a happy but tired girl!!

Today is a new day and I've got some changes to make!

First, I will not be getting back on the scale for a while. I committed to the "no scale challenge" with Lisa (Zeraspride) and others on the main WISH board. I haven't been on the scale for a week (I started early!) and I have no desire to get on because I don't feel very thin at the moment and I'm afraid I wouldn't like the number I'd see. I'll be paying more attention to how my clothes fit. At this point my "heavy" pants are snug - not good but it means I'll be able to feel a difference soon!

Second, I'm changing the way I journal food. I am not going to write down my plan anymore. I hereby promise to myself that I will journal every morsel that goes into my mouth and WHY I think I'm eating it. I can have anything but it must be listed here. If it's purely emotional eating then I'll try to identify that and acknowledge it. If I NEED stuff from the EVM, then fine, but I have to journal what I ate and why.

I've been doing a lot of mindless destructive eating lately and this is my way of owning up to it and being honest with myself about it. There is a difference between a planned indulgence and mindless binge eating and here I'll have to be honest about my motivations.

So, there will be one post for each day's food and I'll just keep editing it. I know that's a pain for others who read my journal but it's the only way I know to keep good records for me.

Third, I won't be around to everyone's journal for a bit. I tend to hide in journals when I have an uncomfortable work assignment that I want to avoid. I'm behind in writing my report for work and would rather ignore it but I'm going to be a mature adult and face it! I'll be back to journals when I'm caught up on my work.

It's going to be a good day!

 

[DoeWDW]

7:45 AM
Apple w/ peanut butter
Meds & vitamin
- This was breakfast, eaten at work. I'm feeling a bit queasy - stress related I'm sure. I have a report to write and I'm one section behind on it. I'll have to be careful about binging today.

10 AM
24 oz water so far today
- No more food so far but I've been focused on my report for the past hour and its coming along!

12 noon
1/2 pound cheeseburger WITH the bun and some mayo
- I'm off to donate blood and wanted the extra carbs. Anyone know why they push carbs (like OJ and crackers?) after blood donation? I can't figure out why taking a pint of blood would cause my blood sugar to plummet???

1:30 PM
36 oz water so far today
Large fig newton courtesy of the blood donor center - they said it would keep me from feeling faint after donation. I really wasn't hungry but I have a history of feeling faint afterward so I picked the lowest carb thing there - only 19 carbs.

3:30 PM
48 oz water so far today
1 string cheese so I'm not starving when I get home.
- I got lots done on my report and am almost caught up - definitely in better shape than this morning! I was so focused on the report that I didn't have any cravings - YAY!

6 PM
more water
2 handfuls of honey roasted peanuts

8:30 PM
tortilla chips (a few) w/ salsa (a LOT!)
2 Dove dark chocolates
Carb Options Klondike ice cream bar
lots more water

Exercise: 1 hour brisk walking

 

[lulu202]

Good morning, Doreen! A new plan for you, I see. You're thinking about what will work for you and then blazing a new trail. Good for you!

So, you've got a new job as tennis coach! It sounds like fun! A new summer interest is good for DD, I think.

Get that report done right now. You'll feel better and more in control.

,
Erin

 

[septbride2002]

Good Morning Doe! I like your plan ! I try to always recap my days if I went away from my plan but I will admitt that I don't always count the 2 or 3 french fries that I eat off of DH's plate.

I know what you mean about work to - I tend to think that being on Journals is my work. Hmmm...somehow I don't think my company is really paying for that! We understand if you can't get to journals everyday - do what you can, when you can.

~Amanda

 

[Strings]

hi Doe,

I like your new plan. We all know what we should be eating, but it is what actually goes in our mouth that counts. Don't worry about journals for now. Get work caught up, and a ton of your stress and need for binging will go away. That is what I would prefer. A relaxed Doreen over a post in my journal anyday. I'm glad you were able to talke to DS. You will probably feel much better once he is home though. Have a good one.
Beth

 

[DoeWDW]

Yesterday went well! I got lots done on my report - still a bit behind but I'm catching up!

Today's 3 goals are work, exercise and my nails (they're getting too long and it's hard to type!! ).

Water so far: 36 oz

7:45 AM
apple with peanut butter
meds & vitamin

10:30 AM
1 string cheese

12:45 PM
minestrone
1 pack of peanut M&Ms
- I have managed to avoid work all morning. This has made me uncomfortable and anxious. It is amazing how I am able to sabotage my own success. My food at this point is comfort food, anxiety-medicating food. I am recognizing it and accepting it. I am also recommitting to working on this dreaded report!

2 PM
another pack of peanut M&Ms
- definitely anxiety-driven but I AM working on the report and making progress!

5 PM
2 Dove dark chocolates
4 handfuls of honey roasted peanuts (Maya helped me eat them )
Carb Smart Klondike ice cream bar
- "grazing" through the kitchen - definitely emotional eating, but I tried to make lower carb choices

7:15 PM
cranberry margarita
- DH & I were sitting at Outback, waiting for our take-out order to be prepared - emotional and social drinking

8 PM (Outback food!)
1/2 bbq'ed chicken breast w/ bacon & melted cheese
1/2 salad
a couple pieces of their bread with butter
7 - 10 bites of DD's mac & cheese
- more emotional comfort food. I didn't need to eat this much - was too full in the end - but it was comfort food.

 

[Strings]

Hi Doe,

I'm glad that the report is moving along. Keep going, and it will be done before you know it. Take care of yourself today.
Beth