Lookitme! TOV's weightloss struggle diary (posters welcome)

[zakatak]

Hello there...

Do you mind if I make a small suggestion? I've been reading your journal entries and see an awful lot of hotdogs/hamburgers/chips. I think that might just be your problem, along with your sugar addiction (candy, sweets, etc...).

There's a book out titled, "Breaking the Food Obsession" by Dr. Neal Bernard. It's a great book about WHY we get hooked on the foods we eat and what they do to the body. He recommends to eat 10 times your goal weight, not going below 1200. For instance, if you want to weigh 145, your goal calories for the day should be 1450. He also talks about low glycemic foods, foods that take longer for the body to break down thereby keeping your blood sugar level for longer periods of time. That equals feeling good/less hungry/less crashes/shakes, etc...

If I were going to suggest a change in your diet to help you lose weight and fell better, I would keep the oatmeal (but switch to rolled oats instead of quick oats) and add fruit. Use pure maple syrup (1 tbsp) as a sweetener instead of sugar. For snacks, only eat fruit or veggies, low glycemic fruit if possible. Apples are great. Bananas are ok, but hi glycemic, I think. For lunch, have a deli sandwich on WW bread, or PITA. No chips. Snack again. Then dinner, switch up to WW pasta, baked chicken breast, lean meat if you must, rice, and use the hot dog as an occasional treat (on ww bun).

I guess that wasn't such a small suggestion.

Good luck. If you do anything, just start becoming more aware of what you put into your body, in terms of chemicals, preservatives, fat and sweeteners... it's rather eye-opening.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

That would be great but...(and it's a gigantic BUT)
I work in retail where I get MAYBE a single bathroom break per day. IF I'm very lucky. I have to eat when I get up after I feed the Bug and again shortly before I go into work (as in scarfing something in the car before I walk in to work) because I know it'll be a good 6-8 hrs BEFORE I'm allowed to have any sort of break or go home.

Also I know it's a VERY poor excuse but fruits and veggies are expensive. We only have a set amount of $$$ that we are allowed to spend on groceries every two weeks. Fruits/veggies spoil if they aren't used soon and so it's just easier to buy stuff that won't spoil if it's not consumed in 2-3 days. +

Thank you for the suggestion, but...I think I've got to change one thing at a time. It's been a struggle just to make myself exercise the last 2 weeks. I figure I've got to change that about myself first before I go changing anything else.


Oh I DID exercise today. I didn't yesterday and I didn't on Fri like I was supposed to. I've got to make myself do it even if I don't feel like doing it. I've got the schedule of what I'm supposed to do when on the fridge to remind me. I'm thinking about taping a supermodel collage to the OTHER door to remind me that's what I"m going for..thin thin thin.

Hell..if I weren't such a food addict, I'd be tempted to become anorexic. I've tried that but I can't go for more than 8-12 hrs without food. Plus..it's incredibly unhealthy. Look what it's done to Mary Kate Olsen, poor kid.
I wish there was a way t o get insurance to pay for that lapband thingie like so many people are doing now days. That would help too by limiting how much I can consume in one sitting, which I DEFINATELY need help with sometimes. I'll put a perfectly sized portion on my plate and end up going back for more because after 20 minutes or so I'm still starving.
Gah...I've battled my weight ever since I was in middle school and it's not going to be a war won easily.
TOV

 

[zakatak]

Two things: First, and foremost, you don't CHOOSE to become Anorexic. Anorexia Nervousa is a disease, not a choice. You can choose to fast, you can choose to diet, but you CANNOT choose to get a disease. I highly doubt you tried Anorexia out, but rather I think you tried to fast for a day.

Second, the fruit and veggie cost factor IS a poor excuse. How about Dried Beans and Rice. They last forever. Carrots don't go bad fast. Apples have a great fridge life. Buy, cut and freeze. I'm still eating my fruit pickings from last summer (Blueberries, strawberries and Cheeries ). I just walk down to the freezer, grab a bag and defrost. Yummm...

The break issue at work is probably illegal but there's nothing to say you can't grab a granola bar/energy bar in the restroom real quick (if they're THAT strict).

There are ways. Just stop the excuses. You'll win.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I know they're excuses but you can't change a lifetime of bad eating habits quickly. We are trying..I DO try to make Dh buy more fruits/veggies when he goes to the store but he complains about the high cost.

I AM exercising more, which can't be a bad thing. I made myself do my workout yesterday and I'm going to do my workout today when DS goes down for his nap in a couple of hours.

As for no breaks being illegal..well..it depends on what state you live in. I live in TX, where it's not illegal UNLESS your business is based in a state where there is a break law (like New York or Michigan or something). Our base is in Oklahoma, where I believe they have similar break laws as us. The break is up to the employer and he doesn't HAVE to give you one if he doesen't want to which totally sucks but you learn to live with it.

I've thought about takiing granola/energy bars to snack on d uring a bathroom break and that would work EXCEPT the place where we have to put our stuff is RIGHT next to the boss's office and you have to ask him whether or not you can take a bathroom break. Most of the time he's ok with it but there would be no way for me to grab my bar out of my bag without him seeing me. He'd ask me WHY I'm fiddling with my bag and then probably tell me I can't use the bathroom if I'm going to be using the time to eat. I don't know. I've never tried that before and I'm kind of scared to now.

I am trying to find another job less harsh than this one but the job search hasn't gone well, which sometimes leads to me overeating.

TOV

 

[kelyn39]

I'm right there with you in the food department! Our budget is pretty small and we have a lot of can foods, and things that last forever in our cupboards. We broke down last week and just added a couple vegetables that were on the cheap side. I got celery which I just eat with peanut butter and some cauliflower. I think both of those were only $1.99 LOL I guess that it helps that I only like the cheap vegetables. I don't see myself branching out and eating too differently. I just took out the soda and fast food, increased my water and excercise and I've lost 10 pounds since last month. I'm not depriving myself of carbs and the occassional sweet. I just think those kind of diets are unrealistic because most of the time people just get right back to their old bad habits and put the weight back on. Don't worry about changing everything in your life all at once. Just adding the excercise is going to do a world of good. If you can't really eat during work all day, keep some granola bars or some cereal in your car for the drive there and back every day. Hope this helps! Good luck

 

[sharoncity]

I think the idea of having a snack in your car is a great one. Have a little something to eat on the way home so you are not completely starving when you walk in the door. Then you have a chance to digest that and your brain to find out that you are a bit fuller. Then your dinner portion size should be a little easier to manage.

You are doing great and baby steps are the way to go. Reduced portions/calories and exercise is a great start!!! The healthier foods can be added in later (like summer time when they are lots cheaper!!!! ) Maybe you can plant a little garden even!

Keep up the good work! Take your measurements too because you may lose more inches than weight when you get going with your exercise.

Hope you have a great day!!!

TTFN- Sharon

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I actually can't WAIT for summer to come because I have not one but TWO neighbors with gardens and they are more than willing to give us the extra tomatoes, etc they don't eat (or that the rabbits don't get).

I'm going to see what kind of granola/energy bars are on sale this week when we do the shopping and buy some for my car. That way I have something to eat before I go into work (a must, as I never know when I'm gettting a break/lunch).

I have been REALLY good about the soda. I had my first Dr.Pepper in almost 2 mos yesterday but that was only because my blood sugar was SO low when I got off I felt very dizzy and was afraid to drive home until it came back up a bit.

TOV

 

[sharoncity]

Kudos bars are pretty low in WW points, so they might be an option. Watch the calories on some of the energy bars - they can get pretty high.

I hope you have a great day today!!!

TTFN- Sharon

 

[MelanieC]

Hi there,

I just read this page here and I can see you could use a lot of help getting on track.

One thing to remember is that you must DECIDE that you are going to succeed and then just do it and take the steps it takes to get where you want to be.

As far as food being expensive, yes it is. It all is. Potato chips, ice cream and all the unhealthy processed stuff that you are supposed to be able to keep on a shelf for a long time is too. You just mentioned that you had a Dr. Pepper the other day. Soda is not cheap either. It's what you make a priority. If you cut out the junk and add back healthy stuff you should see an evening of the food bill. Drinking DR pepper because your blood sugar is low only made it worse.

Some ideas for work. Talk to your boss and let him know that you are trying to make yourself healthier. Ask him what he suggests so that you can find a few minutes a day in the morning and afternoon between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner to eat a small healthy snack. Preferably something with a little protien and a little bit of healthy carbs (not sugar or other processed foods). Kuddos bars may be low points but they are not a healthy option. They are processed and loaded with sugar.

How about putting some almonds in a baggie in your pocket. You could snack on that even if you don't take a break. If you portion them out, you will only be eating the right amount.

If the overall picture is overwhelming you, you can try to do 1 new thing a week and add to it each new week.

I have faith that if you want to do this you can. You just have to DECIDE it's something your willing to do. Trust me, I can't do this journey till I'm ready to. You need to do some soul searching and hopefully some day in the future you will decide you want to do this for you.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Some ideas for work. Talk to your boss and let him know that you are trying to make yourself healthier. Ask him what he suggests so that you can find a few minutes a day in the morning and afternoon between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner to eat a small healthy snack. Preferably something with a little protien and a little bit of healthy carbs (not sugar or other processed foods). Kuddos bars may be low points but they are not a healthy option. They are processed and loaded with sugar.

He'd laugh me right out of his office, unfortunately. I know this for a fact. I had to *beg* to get breaks to eat when I was pregnant and it was ordered by my doc *even with a note and all!*.

It's hard to stay away from the soda since at work we can drink all the soda we can handle (as long as we provide the mug/cup/whatever). I think I"m doing pretty good on the whole Dr.Pepper thing since I used to drink the equivalent of a a 2 liter bottle EVERY DAY.

It's sad that veggies and fruit is actually MORE expensive than chips (if you buy store brand, like we do to save $$$. It's like $1.50 for a bag of chips and you can't even get a pound of apples for that usually).

DH hasn't bought any ice cream in a month, which is an improvement.

How about putting some almonds in a baggie in your pocket. You could snack on that even if you don't take a break. If you portion them out, you will only be eating the right amount.

I wish that was an option but with my job right now it's just..not. I work as a cashier in a fastfood joint and we aren't allowed to have ANY food on the front lines unless we are serving it to customers. We aren't even allowed to have water to drink which makes it a very tough day. Fortunately, I am working on changing that. Right now I am subbing one day a week with the local school system in Child Nutrition (aka Lunchlady). The director promises me that soon, within maybe a month or two she'll be able to find me a permanent spot in one of the schools and I'll quit the fastfood job. Which will be a HUGE improvement let me tell ya. Less work for more pay. And healthier food to snack on because at most of the schools I've worked at, the kitchen mgr allows the other lunchladys to snack on whatever the kids don't eat at the end of the day.

So..I'm working on it. I did my work out yesterday. I wasn't going to but I ended up doing it late last night while watching 20/20 on TV. I had been trying to get on the internet all evening and Netzero kept telling me EVERY SINGLE one of our access #s was busy. All 45 of them. I got so mad at one point I almost put my fist through the monitor but decided to get up and use that energy to work out instead.

TOV

 

[sharoncity]

Ya know TOV, it is just plain cheaper to eat the unhealthy food. Fruit, veggies, meat are all quite expensive. The processed foods, fast foods are all cheaper - no question! But if you make smart choices, you can still make it work. Lean Cuisine, Healthy choice - if these are on sale, pick up a bunch. Then you have them on hand for a quick lunch or dinner. Yes, they are higher in sodium than fresh foods, but they are better for you than a burger and fries! If you really want salty foods, try peanuts or other nuts instead of chips. If you keep it within reason, they aren't too bad for you. I certainly didn't mean to suggest Kudos bars were the end all, be all of nutrious food, but the they are a nice, sweet treat to curb your appetite once in a while. For the fruit and veggies, buy a little of whatever is on sale for the week. Don't buy so much that you can't eat it all. If need be, make a quick trip mid week just for a little extra fresh fruit. That way it doesn't go bad before you eat it.

Keep making the little changes. You don't have to do it all at once!!! Going from 2 liters of soda to an occasional soda is awesome! Keep it going!

I'm sending so that the lunch lady job comes through. It sounds like that would be a turning point for you. This other job sounds like it really doesn't allow you to make the best choices healthy living wise. But keep plugging along the best you can. One step at a time - you'll get there!!!

TTFN- Sharon

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Ugh..somebody PLEASE motivate me. I don't feel like doing my work out. I skipped it yesterday and I need to do it today to make up for yesterday and I just don't wanna.

TOV

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Well, ok..last week I totally slacked off but this week I"ve got to get back on the wagon. I'm going to buy a new scale tomorrow (or Sat..hopefully). DH has promised me that if I lose 15 lbs, he will buy me the Disney version of my favorite game, Scene It!
woohoo!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Today so far:

Breakfast
Oatmeal--200 calories
Snack--Caramel Apple Popcorn--20 calories (Light N Healthy)

Workout: Walked 30 min in the cold outside. With baby in stroller.

TOV

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Well, I did pretty good yesterday.

Breakfast:
Bowl of oatmeal--200 calories
Lunch: handful of croutons
Dinner: 1/4th cup Rice-A-Roni and one grilled chicken strip--300 calories(???)

Today:
Breakfast
Oatmeal-200 calories
Lunch: None
Dinner:
1 hamburger on white with chips--400 calories

I think I've got this caloric thing licked. All I have to do is continue to eat less than 1000 calories a day and I'm going to lose weight.

TOV

 

[TigerBear]

TOV, I am so happy to see you are still working at this!!!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I haven't posted to this journal in awhile because I've been busy with life and WPASADI over on the CB.

But it seems that I am losing weight simply by cutting calories. I wore a pair of jeans on Saturday that used to fit comfortably. Now I can almost pull them off without unbuttoning them.

Saturday was a tough day for me because we had to go visit my parents and we went to Golden Corral first for lunch. I did REALLY REALLY well though. I ate mostly salad and fruit. I did have a LITTLE ice cream, but it was a very small amount compared to what I normally get.

I've been trying to exercise but the last week was very difficult for me. I didn't have the time. I would get home from work and by that time it was time to make dinner, feed the baby, bathe him and get him ready for bed. By the time all THAT"S done, it's almost 9 pm and I'm ready for bed. So I'll have to try again this week. But I'll still be cutting calories..keeping it below 1500 per day.

TOV

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Gah. I'd been doing so well up until yesterday when I had horrible,terrible, no good very bad day.

Breakfast was ok..oatmeal and applesauce (290 calories). Lunch was a handful of croutons (90 calories). But then my asst mgr thinks it would be FUNNY to tell me I have to close last night when it wasn't true and I lost it. I had to excuse myself to the bathroom to get back under control, that's how bad it was.

And so when I finally did make it home a bazillion hours later, I went through 3 tacos (around 300 calories), 3 unfilled taco shells (180 calories) and half a box of Peeps bunnies.

*sigh*I am so tempted to give up. There are days when I don't think I"ll EVER win the battle of the bulge unless I go on a diet pill or something.

TOV

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Over the last two days I have done 300 crunches. Not all at once, of course. 100 straight up and down crunches and then 25 per side side crunches. Somebody told me that's the best way to flatten your abs.

TOV