Paula's Wish Journal.......

[DISNEYFANRI]

Today is the day that I have decided to join WISH.

Background:
I am 47 yrs old - hate exercise and a junk food junkie. Fortunately I have no major health issues although kidney disease does run in my family.
I am @ 5ft 1in. .....stepping on the scale....fuly dressed no shoes 126 - the highest I have been in a long time. I know it may not be that high but for me it is a very uncomfortable weight and I have never felt so old and frumpy.

I'm one of those classic "start the diet on Monday" people and it's over with by Tuesday afternoon...hate to use the cliche but yes I have no willpower. I'm looking for support and encouragement - tell me what to eat - make me accountable!!

What I do eat (and yes - I know all of this is bad but don't know how to fix it on my own):
Breakfast: Coffee ( 2-3 cups with light cream)
If I do eat breakfast it is something sweet (and of course by 10am I am hungry again).

Lunch: Sandwich and chips - diet soda

Dinner - sensible meal - small portion

**** bad times of the day that I want to snack:
4pm (I have coffee then too)
9pm - always looking for a snack.

Weaknesses - coffee, chocolate

**** I hate fruit

I am a work from home mom of 2 teens - I work nights and very rarely go out during the day (I let the kids take my car to school) -I have no activities or hobbies outside of my home.

Need to know what to buy at the market this week so Monday can be a "real DAy #1" for me.

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

What I hav eaten so far today:

Breakfast:
3 cups of coffee
Post cereal bar (cranberry)

before lunch - munchies
3 jelly beans
handful of garlic and butter croutons (bad,bad,bad!!!)

Lunch
peanut butter and banana sandwich
glass of milk

 

[lizdotcom99]

Hey Paula,
You are in good company here!! And a great big Welcome too!!! You will be happy to know there are some Yaya's here too....Lily, Kristy and mysef!! This is a great bunch of people who are here to help support you ......and give you a good kick in the pants when ya need it!!

I am sure you will get LOTS of healthy eating tips.....what kind of plan are you looking to follow....given that information, people will be able to help you with things that have helped them.....I personally go between Weight watchers and Atkins/Southbeach.....they seem to be the best for me...and I can stick with it easier.....for me, this is definately a lifestyle change..not a diet. I am quite surprized though....here is is almost Apil and I have stuck with it since the beggining of the year! If I can do it.....anybody can!!!

Don't be a stranger here!!! Come back often!! You can do it! I know you can!!

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Thanks so much Liz - that is exactly what I am looking for a lifestyle change!! I am hopingto find a way to be ehalthier - fel ebtter without being a slave to a diet.

Thinking positive thoughts.....

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Afternoon snack...

coffee and 2 oreos - gotta find a healthier sweet snack.....

 

[Lesli54]

Paula,
WELCOME to the WISH boards!

I think that you will find it is easier to change the eating habits when you write down what you eat. It sure helps me and I am becoming aware of why I eat and when. Read some of the other journals as you have time and you will find some others that have the same concerns as you. You'll probably also find some great tips on how to curb the refined sugar crave. Have you tried all fruits? Is it that you don't like them whole or do you not like them mixed in anything?

Good luck on your lifestyle change.

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Can't say that there is any fruit that I hate but it is an effort to eat it - I can't be bothered - I know that sound wierd - I honestly can't ever remember as a kid having to eat fruit either.
But - I will try.

 

[pearlieq]

Welcome to WISH!

You're doing a great job with journaling and it really does help! One tip that might help would be to eat a bigger breakfast. I know--no ever tells you how to lose weight by telling you to eat more, but it's really helped me. A good breakfast gets your metabolism going first thing in the morning and can help you stay energized all day. I see you've got some cereal bars--that's a good start. Maybe try adding a string cheese, some yogurt, or even a handful of nuts to beef it up and give you some protein for staying power.

Good Luck!

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Today is day #2 - still feeling optomistic.

For breakfast I had 1 slice of wheat bread - with peanutbutter and 1/2 banana - 3 cups of tea with 2% milk (no coffee - now that's something).

Going to work outside in the yard today.

Spaghetti and meat sauce for lunch.
Baked chccken breast and salad for dinner.

and lotsa lotsa water.

 

[Lesli54]

You're off to a great start today! Breakfast is a big key to getting the day going right.

I find that it is easier to get in fruit or veggies if I cut them up when I get home from the store and put them in baggies or storage containers before putting them in the fridge. Such as celery, cauliflower, melons, etc. Of course, you can't do it with everything, but it sure does cut out the hassle of preparing them when you want a snack.

Keep up the good work and water is excellent for you!

 

[pearlieq]

I find that it is easier to get in fruit or veggies if I cut them up when I get home from the store and put them in baggies or storage containers before putting them in the fridge. Such as celery, cauliflower, melons, etc. Of course, you can't do it with everything, but it sure does cut out the hassle of preparing them when you want a snack.

This is a great tip. I don't know about you, but I'm kind of lazy by nature. If something's in front of me, there's a good chance it's going to get eaten. So, if you can outsmart yourself and have the fruits and vegetables all ready to go and right in front of your face, there's a much greater chance that you will reach for them when you want a snack as opposed to something not so healthy.

Make sure you put them front and center--right at eye level--in the fridge. Let them be the first thing you see.

Hope you had a great day!

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

That is a great idea - I will try that!! Marketing tomorrow - hopefully I will make healthy choices.

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Had another revelation - I am definitely not eating the right type of foods - they are not filling me up - hence the need to snack - then snack on bad things which don't fill me either.

Hmmm.....maybe I should take that Dr Phil book out and read it again.

Anyway - today was another good day - ended up eating Schwans Pasta blend with tuna and no fat italian dressing (and a handful of croutons).

Dinner is cooking now and I an starving....posting instead if "picking" .

Only had 2 cups of coffee today.

 

[sarahsmom73]

Welcome Paula!

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Day #3 here
Last night - had the 9pm hunger attacks again - trying to figure this out - am I really hungry or is it psychological??

If I'm really hungry it's because I'm probably not eating enough to fill me up at dinner - if that's the case need to find a healthy 9pm snack.

If it's psychological then it's because I'm sitting at my desk (I work nights from home) and things have quieted down so I am just bored and a snack picks me up to be able to work till 11pm....

Could be either - will have to think more on that.

Went out to breakfast with a friend this morning - scrambled eggs - toast - ate less than 1/2 of the home fries - no meat....way too much coffee!!!

Till later.....

 

[lizdotcom99]

Paula, a little tric I learned a while ago...Protien, protien, protien!! I notice that if I eat mroe protien and fewer carbs, I feel so much better!! The most amazing revalation for me was cutting out white flour and sugar. Some days are better than others for that, but I find that when I carb out....I am often tired and hungry.....so I try for more protien.....It is not unusual fo rme to eat a left over chicken breast for breakfast....that really seems to hold me till lunch. I also find that peanut butter on a whole grain bagel does me a world of good when I have it with a light and fit smoothie! Ya just have to make choices.....for me, often I pick the higher calorie more protien item.....and find I end up eating less of the "bad" stuff later in the day!! Just my $.02. Sounds like you are doing great! Keep up the good work!!!

Oh, and one more thing that has really helped me.....walking! I never thought I would be the one to say I am traing for a 1/2 Marathon...but I am!!! The walking has totally changed my attitude on SO MANY things! It has also made me feel better about myself in SO MANY ways!!!

One day at a time, one step at a time!!!

 

[Lesli54]

You're doing good! Trying to figure out why you are eating at varoius times is a HUGE step in the right direction. I found that my late night snacking was from boredom and to keep me working on the computer later. Now I am going to bed earlier (which not everyone can do) and I try to break up the computer work by taking breaks to work on other projects. It keeps me from snacking because I am not bored. It has only been a few weeks, but now I don't have that voice in my head late at night that says "go munch".

Also, drinking lots of water througout the day helps. Self awareness is a good thing! Keep up the good work.

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Ok - I think I'm getting the hang of this - normally on days that I go out for breakfast I would have it in my mind - big breakfast/no luck - which really meant snack all afternoon.
I stopped to think - I didn't have that big of a brakfast - I guess when you notmally don't eat breakfast anything would be considered big - I had 2 scrambled eggs - 1 1/2 pcs toast and about 5 bites of home fries - that's not too bad - here comes lunch - I must be a "clock eater" because I'm hungry - first thought just have a snack - but I didn't - ate 1 pc. cheese pizza and 10 grapes - big glass of ice water - feel very satisfied!!!!!

Maybe I'm finally "getting it".

 

[Lesli54]

Your getting it!

Keep up the good work.

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Well - laast night was a bad night -a fter doing what I thought was pretty well all day - no one wanted to eat - I ended up at my desk and eating shack mix (Munchies).

Thsi morning - had 3/4 onion bagel for breakfast

Just ate lunch - 1/2 of a leftover subway chicken ranch sandwich - no chips (small steps)

Confession - I made brownies for the kids - only ate 1/4" square.

Marketing wasn't great - I didn't buy chips that is a good think buit lettuce was $1.99/head and I could not bring myself to buy that.

Till later...