Lisa's Journal (Life on the "Beach" - Part 2 all the way to goal!)

[A1A1]

woowoo!!!!!!!!! Good job with the taco salad. These are bigger triumphs than I think we give them credit for being. You can see that you have broken old habits and have truly changed your lifestyle. That food stuff isn't important to you anymore. I am so happy for you today. You don't have to be the same person you were before. You can change as you please and be a different, stronger better person. My dear husband used to tease me on occassion when I really goofed something up by saying that I was like the bionic woman or the six million dollar man. He would say "we can rebuild you. We can make you better, stronger, faster than you were before!" He always had the confidence in me that I lacked myself. I am learning to have the confidence on my own. That's the hardest part about evolving---believing that you can and that you have a right to.

Thank you for your support as well. It's nice to have new friends that I trust. Okay......I want to cry now, too.

 

[lulu201]

Hi, Lisa! Wow, it sounds like you're doing great! Congratulations on that big fat cheat free clippie (that's the only things you have that can be fat anymore!).

Like A says, you're really changing old habits and creating a new lifestyle for yourself. "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got"--sure applies to cheese fries and onion rings. Old habits will only lead us back to where we were! You, though, are getting something new out of life and setting the healthy lifestyle bar higher for yourself than you did in the pre-SBeach days. You're looking those onion rings in the eye and are walking away from them without even a glance in their direction! Good for you, Lisa. You're creating a happy and healthy you!

Have a great weekend,
Erin

 

[Strings]

Hey Lisa,

I'm glad you enjoyed your lunch with your sister. My DS is too far away to do lunches. You are doing great. I'm really proud of you.
Here's something that will help keep your lettuce longer. WShen you get it home, rewash it. Put it in a 1 gallon zip-lock bag. Put a dry paper towel over it. (inside the bag) Close the ziplock 90% of the way. In the opening, put a straw. Suck all the extra air out of the bag, then seal it. Sounds ridiculous, but it works. I saw it on Alton Brown in foodtv.
Have a great date tonight.
Beth

 

[Castillo Mom]

Oh my, lot's to catch up on Lisa. I can see you're doing great, still cheat free! How nice of your mom to pay you that compliment. It does mean a lot when it comes from them, doesn't it? My mom is very supportive too. So you have a date night coming up tomorrow. I hope you have a wonderful and romantic time. Thanks for posting to my journal the other day, I appreciate your support, especially when I was venting. You guys have made me cry on more than one occasion, but good tears. Hugs to you Lisa, have a great weekend and I want to hear all about your date night on Monday.

 

[ZerasPride]

January 9, 2004 (Friday) Day 40 on the Beach

Hello to all my WISH buddies! Our internet friendship and support is so important to me and I want you all to know that I appreciate your being here for me so much that I probably can't put it into words properly. I still say one of the best things I could have done is to start one of these journals. When I finally reach my goal I know I will be able to look back and thank each and every one of you for your role in supporting me!

I was so looking forward to making fried fish for dinner tonight. It's the only fried food I allow myself. I always fry the fish (perch) in canola oil as allowed on SBD and it takes great. Unfortunately, they didn't have any perch at the grocery store. We tried catfish nuggets instead and uh, let's just say I am actually turned off from fish for the foreseeable future. It actually tasted like a wet dish sponge in my mouth and as hungry as I was, I couldn't finish my dinner. DH agreed with me - no more catfish for us!!!!

Food:
B: 2 scrambled eggs with a slice o lf cheese, 3 slices of bacon and hot tea with splenda
S: no snacks today
L: yummy taco salad from Fuddruckers
D: yucky soggy catfish and cole slaw - note to self never EVER buy catfish again! ff fudgesicle to wash away the taste of the nasty catfish

Execise/Water Gauge:
I ended up making today my rest day from exercise which means Saturday I will do the FIRM cardio tape. Didn't do too well with the water today for some reason so I'll give it a 3.0.

That's a wrap for Friday. I hope everyone has a great weekend and those of us on the cheat free challenge remain cheat free. The weekends can be really tough to remain true to plan but we all can do it!!!

A - you always speak so eloquently. You seem to have a lot of confidence in yourself to me (I think I'm the "beat yourself up queen") and by the way you post, I see your confidence growing mightily in the future!

Erin - thanks for the encouragement. I was okay with my choices (made in my head before I even stepped in the restaurant which I think helps) but I was almost done in by the smells. I forgot they bake cookies fresh on the premises and their bread too. But I keep thinking I've come to far to cheat now. Plus I knew I was going to report on my journal what I had eaten so I had to be true to myself or everyone would know!!!!

Beth - thanks for the tips about the salad. I told DH about it. We are always looking for money saving ideas. We spent way too much money at the grocery store last night. I always joke that one reason SBD is so effective is that you spend all your money on "healthy" foods and don't have any left for any food off plan!

Lisa - isn't it awesome to have people you have never met make such a powerful impact on your life? My sister was joking with me today that I don't know for sure my WISH buddies are actually women. She asked what if you all were men in disguise! I laughed and told her that I think men would flee from most of our topics as quick as they could! I assured her I get lots of support and try to give it to for other WOMEN going through the journey of weight loss. She looked at me like she normally would when I talk Disney to her. She just doesn't get it but I'm glad I do!!!

 

[DoeWDW]

Lisa, I'm glad you had a nice lunch with your sister! I can understand about family not getting our Disney or WISH addiction... . I adore Fuddruckers - the only place I can count on getting whole large lettuce leaves to use in place of a bun to hold my burger and all the toppings!

That fish sounds so gross! I'm GLAD you didn't finish it! I was surprised that you didn't whip up something else for dinner though - guess the fish made your tummy too sour for anything else, right?

Hope you had a great day today and best wishes for a fabulous time tomorrow evening with DH at the concert!!

 

[ZerasPride]

January 9, 2004 (Saturday) Day 41 on the Beach

It was a busy day today. Saturday's are always like that. Right now I am kicking myself because I almost had this post finished and hit the wrong button and erased my whole post! Urg!!!!

Anyway, I did weigh myself on Saturday morning. Not a good thing to do. The scale said I weighted the same and I had to do a lot of positive self talk to reinforce that the scale is not the master over me! I kept telling myself what is the alternative if I stop my woe now. Going back to eating the way I was before so my upset tummy can return, or the snoring or the sleepless nights? I don't think so. I have come too far to even consider looking back now. I am happy to say the scale was more cooperative on Sunday morning and I even am keeping track of my measurements. Want to know what the scale said? Tune in tomorrow folks!

Food:
B: 1/2 bowl of whole wheat cereal and 1% milk with 3 slices of bacon
S: 7 whole almonds
L: 1 cheeseburger (the teeny tiny kind from mcdonalds) with no ketchup or bun and a diet pop)
S: no evening snack
D: homemade chili with lf shredded cheese on top - no dessert tonight

Exercise/Water Gauge:
I rode my exercise bike for 20 minutes. Water was a 4.5. Not too bad but could do better. It's so hard on the weekends.

That's a wrap for Saturday.

I'm really looking forward to the concert tomorrow night, spending some time alone with DH and having some of that lc cheesecake!

Doreen - thanks for checking on me. I'll report tomorrow how nice my date was with DH. If you'd like a preview and have the time for a long read, I posted my feelings about our evening since it was totally weight related on the main WISH board. I do wish I would have just thrown that yucky fish away but it was pretty late so I just forced down enough so I wasn't starved and ate all my yummy cole slaw. I'll know next time - no catfish!!!! Take care and I'll check out your journal tomorrow.

 

[Strings]

Lisa, You have me on the edge of my seat to hear about your weigh in. You are probably enjoying that wonderful music right now. I hope you had a magical date with DH.



Lisa, I read your post on the main board. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time. I' m proud of you for realizing that you are a normal and sexy woman. You've been having trouble accepting compliments. Today, you saw yourself looking great, and realized that you deserve all these compliments. When the next person tells you how great you look, remember how you felt tonight. You are a confident, sexy, beautiful woman. I'm glad you felt that today. I hope the cloud 9 feeling lasts a long time.
Beth

 

[A1A1]

Good luck with your weigh-in, but remember, no matter what that blasted thing says..........you are amazing. The scale is only a temporary number. It will change. You will remain amazing!!!!!

 

[ZerasPride]

January 11, 2004 (Sunday) Day 42 on the Beach

Today was the day DH and I went to the jazz concert. I posted my feelings about it as soon as we got home so I wouldn't forget the details. I keep a journal that is one day delayed so I always post about the previous day's experiences but I didn't want to take a chance and forget something so I posted on the main WISH board. I'm going to copy my post here so I have it with my journal so please feel free to skip this part if you've already read it and been bored to tears with my story!

*****
Tonight I felt like a princess! (long story)
DH and I went to a jazz concert this evening (David Sanborn was awesome!) and had a lovely evening. On the WISH board we share our joys and sorrow regarding weight loss so I wanted to get this account down while it is still fresh in my mind.

First I had my eye on this beautiful form fitting black pantsuit in the back of my closet. You ladies know the type of outfit I mean. The type that is way to expensive but is marked down so low that you just have to buy it even though there is no way in God's green earth you can squeeze into it. That's this outfit. Once upon a time I could not even get the pants above my thighs. Well tonight it fit!!!! It was a snug fit but modest enough for me to wear out in public. The best part is that I was wearing a 26/28 when I started this weight loss journey and this suit is a size 20. I am not kidding and have the proof - the price tags were still on it even though it's been my closet for 5 years!

Anyway, I had my hair done yesterday (by my darling sister), my form fitting black suit with tiny silver shimmery pinstripes on and my high heels that I never wear because I am always afraid I'll break the heel. DH and I went to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner and I had delicious broiled tilapia with shrimp scampi in a light cream sauce on top with mashed cauliflower (sp?) and broccoli. The best part of the meal was the lc cheesecake (no sugary strawberry topping needed). It was worth every bit of the $5 a slice we paid!!

DH looked dashing in a pair of tan dockers, cream turtleneck and sport coat. I can't get over how handsome he looks. I've always thought he was good looking but it's almost like cheating on your spouse when you look at the person you love and they start to look so different. Strange sounding I know.

Anyway, we held hands and giggled through dinner, enjoying our alone time and our delicious dinners. DH had the burger wrap and a spring salad which he said was good and of course he loved the cheesecake too.

After dinner we made potty stops at Ruby's before heading to the concert. As I was leaving the ladies room I noticed a full length mirror in the corner. I rolled my eyes but walked over to it anyway just to make sure I didn't have tp on the back of my shoe or my shirt wasn't stuck in my pants. The reflection staring back at me caught me by surprise. For one split second I wished the lady standing in front of me would move so I could see my fat self in the mirror, then I realized I was staring at myself!!! I want to make sure I get down all the feelings that went through my head. First surprise, then fear and then this wonderfully delightful calm feeling came. I felt beautiful and dare I say it? Sexy. I walked out that ladies room feeling a sensation I have not felt in years. I felt like a normal person. Not a fat woman waddling out of the rest room. I noticed other women started at me too. Perhaps it was the way I was carrying myself, I don't know. But I felt and knew I looked good. Don't get me wrong. I am still a large woman and have many many pounds to lose but tonight I felt like a princess.

The way my husband glanced lovingly at me, the way I almost floated across the parking lot to our SUV in my heels and the way I fit comfortably in my seat at the concert just reinforced how confident and good I felt. Even now that I am home, I am still holding on to that feeling of being normal. I don't know if anyone out there can understand where I am coming from. Always being the largest person in the room, spilling over into the next persons seat at a concert or on an airplane makes you very self conscious. I felt none of that this evening.

I had to share my experience with all my WISH buddies. This was my night. I can't explain it any other way. It was so special. It reinforces that I am on the right path. This woe is so worth it! I don't know what plan you are on and it frankly doesn't matter. I am sharing my story with you so when you are tempted to cheat or give up, you won't. We all deserve to feel like princes and princesses every day of our lives! Let's not give food the destructive power over us to make and keep us fat. We each deserve to be the beautiful person on the outside that we are on the inside.

*****

Picking back up the account of Sunday, I weighed myself this morning and took my measurements and I am happy to say that I am down 2.5 pounds and lost 8 inches! I have lost a total of 22.5 pounds since I started SBD 5 weeks ago and today starts week 6. I am so grateful to have found this program. I love the delicious foods and am enjoying the benefits including weight and inch loss as well as the other benefits I have mentioned several times. I'm trying to take this journey one step and one day at a time and like I posted yesterday I don't want to let the scale be the boss of me! So whether I am able to post a loss each week or not, I don't want to give up on this woe! I enjoy it so much!

Food:
B: 1/2 bowl of wheat flakes and 3 slices of bacon
S: no snacks today
L: 1 quarter pounder with cheese (no bun and no ketchup) on a slice of whole wheat bread and 1 diet soda
D: Ruby Tuesdays - broiled cajun tilapia with jumbo shrimp in a cream sauce on top, steamed broccoli and mashed cauliflower with a slice of lc cheesecake for dessert

Exercise/Water Gauge:
Did my FIRM ab scuplt video this morning and water level was about 5.0.

That's a wrap on a lovely Sunday. I hope to have many many more days like this one in my future and hope all my WISH buddies will too!

Beth - thanks for the encouragement! I am still floating today remembering how wonderful last night was. I could kick myself that we didn't have film for our camera but that's okay, I hope to have other wonderful evenings just like this one and we'll have plenty of photo ops in our future.

A1 - Thanks to you for your support. I keep telling myself that no matter what the scale says, it doesn't define who we are. We both have to keep up the good work, even if the results don't come immediately, okay?

I hope we all have a cheat free day!

 

[ZerasPride]

January 13, 2004 (Monday) Day 43 on the Beach

I was still floating on cloud nine from me and DH's date night last night as I sailed into Monday morning. I didn't want to get up and exercise but I made myself do it anyway. I wonder if I will be able to reach my goal of 10% weight loss by February 1. I don't think so as I have 5.5 pounds to lose so I am doing my best to just accept that the scale will say what it says. As long as I stay on plan the weight will come off, even if it doesn't adhere to a date I have in mind.

Food:
B: 1/2 bowl of whole wheat flakes with 1% milk and 3 slices of bacon
S: 7 whole almonds
L: chef salad with lf ranch dressing
S: 1 chicken and cheese roll up
D: grilled sirloin bacon cheeseburger on 2 slices of whole grain wheat bread with mayo, lettuce and tomato (this sandwich was so filling, I didn't need to eat anything else - not even dessert)

Exercise/Water Gauge:
I did my FIRM cardio video for 30 minutes this morning with the medium weights. I'm afraid to use the heavy weights because I don't want to slow down my weight loss but I might be doing myself a disservice with this. Water was about a 4.0. Could do better with water (but what else is new?).

That's a wrap for Monday. I'll check back and revise my entry if I can think of anything else I feel I need to add.

 

[LAinSEA]

Your datenight story had me almost in tears too (not a good thing while at work.) Your health success is incredible! I'm sure you will meet your goal by Feb. 1st.

Weight training: I have some experience here. You need to keep increasing the weight slowly as you increase your strength or do more repititions with the lower weight to get the same results. You will continue to build muscle which will increase your metabolism and you will lose inches but may see an increase on the scale in the short term. Make sure that you stretch before and after using any weights - this will keep you muscles long and lean. Women rarely increase muscle mass so that it looks bulky - it takes intense training and protein supplements to get the "body builder" look. In other words, don't be afraid to add weight - it's very important for you bones too as you get older and will keep osteoporosis (sp?) away as well.

Keep up your terrific work! Thanks so much for your support and inspiration.

-Laurie

 

[Strings]

I'm proud of you for getting up to exercise when you didn't want to. You are right on track to reach your goal. Laurie is totally right about weight training. I just read an article in a nursing journal. Yhe decrease in osteoporosis is Dramatic with the addition of weight training. It also showed that long term these women were lighter, probably because of the metabolism increase. Go for it.
Beth

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Laurie! Hi Beth!

Thanks so much for stopping by to check on me. I feel almost like we are all neighbors visiting with each other for a bit. It is always a highlight of my day to check my journal and see that I have had a visit from my WISH buddies. You guys don't know how much easier you have made this journey. When people at work ask me how I can be so focused and have success so far, I always think fondly of each of you. Of course when I say a bunch of ladies on the internet encourage each other, I usually get funny stares but that's okay by me that they don't understand, all that matters is that we are here for each other! Thanks again, take care both of you!

Oh, and thanks for the advice about the weights!

 

[A1A1]

You are terrific! Another great day. Thank you for sharing it. Glad, also, that you are still feeling the effects of your "date".

Lookin forward to reading your journal tomorrow.

 

[DoeWDW]

Lisa, I also get those funny looks when I talk about a group of people on the internet who help and encourage each other! They just can't understand until they've seen it and "felt" it in action!

I'm going to have to listen for those early AM voices to help me get out of bed - I've been neglecting my Pilates!

Hope you have a great day!

 

[ZerasPride]

January 13, 2004 (Tuesday) Day 44 on the Beach

For some reason the star cheat free clippie isn't working so I'll just record that today is my 44th day cheat free! Yea me! I hope to have many many more. I am a bit concerned about my upcoming Disney trip but I've got a few months to go so I can strategize where I will eat and hopefully won't have a problem.

Menu:
B: 1/2 bowl of whole wheat flakes with 1% milk and 3 slices of bacon
S: 7 whole almonds
L: grilled sirloin cheeseburger and a salad with lf ranch dressing
S: 1 chicken and cheese roll up
D: grilled chicken sald with a ff fudgesicle for dessert

Exercise/Water Gauge:
I rode my exercise bike for 5 miles and water was a 5.0.

That's a wrap for Tuesday.

A - thanks for reading my journal. I've pm'd you this afternoon and the message was so long I had to break it into 2 pieces. Sorry but hope what I said helps you out my friend.

Doe - You are so right, one has to experience the power of an internet support group to truly understand it. Now listen to those voices in your head tomorrow morning - that Pilates tape is waiting for you!

 

[Castillo Mom]

Hi Lisa! Your date night has been in the back of my mind since Sunday and I've been dying to read your journal but hadn't had the time. I'm so glad you wrote down your thoughts right away so that you can look back whenever you need to for encouragement and as a reminder as to why you're on this journey.

I'm able to relate to everything you wrote 100%. That's how I felt the other night when we went dancing. When you mentioned feeling comfortable in your chair at the concert, it reminded me how giddy I felt at realizing I could cross my legs comfortably. Oh, and I especially related about the full length mirror. It does almost seem like another person looking back at you doesn't it? It's as if our psyche is still trying to catch up with our new and ever changing (shrinking) bodies. I also feel like my body has a shape to it instead of just rolls of fat, you know, one big blob. Well, I still have rolls (small ones) but my breasts no longer blend in with my tummy.

I'm very happy for you Lisa! I remember that you posted on my journal that you have a goal for the end of January like I do. We can do it, we can do it!

 

[littleducksmom]

lisa!!!!!!!!!!............i want to personally assure you that you in NO way will you slow down your wt loss with wt training........please take another look at my pic.......i am tellin ya i was 250# and pushing wts 3 days per week and made dramatic changes in my body pretty quickly.......trust me.........you will only increase your wt loss and increase your metabolism by lifting wt. do you know that aerobic activity increases your metablolism for only a few hours after working out and that lifting wts increases your metabolism for 36 hours after working out!!!!!!!!! go for the weights lisa!!!!!! do not be afraid......they are key to your transformation.

i loved your story about your date nite........i love it even more that you got unexpectedly into that size 20 outfit.......hooray!!!!!!

 

[Castillo Mom]

Lisa? Oh Lisa! I know you're out there somewhere. I hope everything is ok with you.