Sherri's Goal by Disney Trip Journal (Comments please!)

[swilphil]

Hi I'm new here, but not to the DIS boards and not to weight loss. I posted on on the regular WISH board, and a few people suggest I start a journal.

I lost 40 lbs last year, but I've been slowly gaining it back. I would like to lose 15 lbs. by my mid-March trip to Disney World. The good news is I have no problem exercising. The bad news is I've never met a fattening food I didn't LOVE. Last year I went on the Dr. Phil diet to lose weight--basically it's a low-fat WW type of diet. I'm trying not to have too many taboo foods because that sets me up for failure. I just want to eat healthy most of the time.

The last few days I've started out really well. I had a healthy breakfast, healthy mid-morning snack, healthy lunch, but then at about 3 p.m. it all goes to out the window. I reach for the teddy grahams, ice cream, crackers, etc. I have 2 sons under the age of 5, so it's hard to keep junk out of my house. I also have a husband who loves junk food but manages to stay in fairly decent shape. My son wanted Pigs in a Blanket (mini-hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls) for dinner, and I was going to my Moms' Group meeting and planning on taking the leftovers. Well, I ended up eating about 10 of those little suckers. Then probably 3 chocolate chip cookes at my Moms' Group. Who puts orange rind in chocolate chip cookies? That should be illegal.

I know I need to do a better job of planning ahead. I wanted to take some veggies and dip to my meeting, but DH was late getting home from work. I'm looking for some good healthy recipes, especially for vegetable dishes. I don't like broccoli and cauliflower, but I'm willing to experiment with some other things.

I know keeping this journal will help me. I lost weight twice before when I was part of on-line support groups, and I know that lack of support and accountability is what has been missing in the last few months. Today I'm planning on going to yoga class and body pump (weights) class at the gym. I may run a little on the tread mill too. I just signed up to run in a 5K race in 6 weeks, so I need to start getting ready for that. My problem is I hate running on the treadmill.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Sherri!

Welcome to WISH journaling!! It sounds like we are in similar situations. I love exercising, but have a problem staying OP with my eating. I also have two little ones at home (girls ages 2 and 4) and we have all of the little "snacky" things that kids love to eat. Which means that I snack on their foods too.

I WISH you the best as you train for the 5K and strive to reach your goal of 15 pounds by March. You CAN do it, Sherri!

 

[CarolA]

Welcome to WISH.

I have already found that just making myself "face" everyone daily or so is good for me.

 

[swilphil]

I went to a yoga class this morning, followed by a 60 minute body pump (weights) class. I hadn't done the weights class in a couple of weeks and I'm a little shaky right now. I had a Kashi Go Lean Bar and green tea for breakfast before I went to the gym. I absentmindedly started eating animal crackers when I got home because the kids left them sitting out, but I quickly grabbed a yogurt and banana instead.

Do any of you runners or exercise buffs know exactly what you are supposed to eat before and/or after you work out? I've never really gotten a good answer on that.

Thanks for the encouragement, Carol and Tracy!

 

[kayeandjim00]

Hi Sherrie! Welcome to the WISH Journals You are off to a great start! I'm so impressed by your 5K history - any suggestions for a newbie to 5K training? As for vegetable recipes I have found what DH and I like best is just cooking frozen vegetables - green beans, broccoli, winter mix, etc. in the usual way and then seasoning them with I can't belive it's not butter and a little salt and pepper. It's super easy and very good. I LOVE food - the more fattening the better so I know where you are coming from. I have really tried to find ways to make the foods we love more healthy by changing how I prepare and cook them. Cooking Light and Light and Tasty magazines are great sources for healthy, easy recipes. I have posted one of our favorite new recipes for example- potato salad on the Eating Healthy board here on WISH. It's I think 88 calories per serving and is SO good I will never make potato salad the way I did before. I have Dr. Phil's book and have looked through it a little and think the things make sense - especially the negative thinking. I really should sit down and really read it. I am not planning to follow the plan but would like some insight on the emotional aspect! Thanks for stopping by my journal!

 

[plutosmyfav]

Hi Sherrie,

Ditto, ditto, ditto!!!! I am an exercising nut, but when it comes to food I struggle BIG TIME. Especially late in the day. FOr me the struggle really begins around 6PM, or when I start to think about dinner. You may find that as you get more steady with your plan, that you find ways to substitute the kids snacks for more healthy ones that you can eat, too. I am trying to do that with my son (4.5 yo). I know in the long run he's better off with healthier snacks anyway. Boy is it hard, though!

So glad you joined the WISH journals!!!

Sundie

 

[swilphil]

Kay--The best recommendation I can make for running a 5k is to buy some good running shoes and possible some insoles to go in them. You also can start out really slow and do a combo of running and walking. Thanks for the veggie ideas and reminding me about Light and Tasty. I think I may have a few old issues floating around.

Sundie--I have a 4.5 year old son too. He actually likes fruit A LOT, but I find myself "saving" our fresh fruit for him. I guess I just need to buy mass quantities of fruit. I just hate it when I let it go bad. Does anyone else have a problem with this?

 

[Princess Michelle]

Hi Sherri! I just wanted to stop by and welcome you to the Journal Board, good to see you here.

 

[swilphil]

Thanks, Michelle. My son (4 1/2) loves your Tigger. He keeps wanting me to go back to it.

I made one of my favorite healthy dinners last night--Chicken and Zucchini in a dill/ff sour cream sauce. It's the only way I know how to cook zucchini. Tonight I'm thinking about making a whole wheat mac n cheese recipe that's in the Dr. Phil Weight Loss Solution cookbook. I have the low fat cheese and the whole wheat macaroni, but I need to look to see what else the recipe calls for.

I'm having a little difficulty with snacks? Does anyone have any good suggestions? Also do you have an after dinner snack? That's one time I REALLY crave one.

I went to spinning class this morning (45 min.) followed by 15 min. of abs. I'm hoping to get a walk in later today.

 

[Strings]

Hi Sherri,

Welcome to the wish journals. If it is suport you need, you've come to the right place.

Veggies can be tough. Have you tried spaghetti squash. You can just cut it in half seed it, and boit or steam it. Add marinara. Yummy! I steam zucchini then put olive oil spray on it. Sprinkle a little garlic powder and pepper. Add a tiny amount of parmesan cheese and broil it until the cheese melts. Stir frys are a great way to get veggies in.

Snacks are tough, especially in the evening. I try to do sugar free jello or berries with whipped cream in the evening. During the day, I usually do string cheese or celery with cheese or peanut butter. I'm on low caarb though.

My trainer at the Y said that you should eat avbout 1 hour before working out. A light meal that contains complex carbs and protein. Then 30 minutes after the workout have something with protein.

Hope that helps.

Have a great day,
Beth

 

[swilphil]

Beth--Thanks for the great veggie ideas. I used to make spag. squash, but then it went out of season. I'll have to look for it again. I also like the berries and whipped cream idea. Hopefully the berries will start looking better and be less expensive. I have some celery in my fridge now. I've been trying to think of what to do with my low-fat peanut butter before it goes bad.

Since I usually go to a 5:45 a.m. class, I can't really eat 1 hour before class. Sometimes I have something light on my way. I go to the Y too! Do you ever go to the classes there.

 

[Strings]

Sherri,

Spaghettis squash is easy to find now that the LC craze has claimed it for it's own. I also like it with margarine salt/pepper and a bit of parmesan.

I am not really a group exerciser. I also have to deal with really bad knees. I will have to have surgery within the ext few years, regardless of the weight I have lost. That said, their body blast class intrigues me. I mostly do the circuit and the arc trainer or treaddie.
Beth

 

[swilphil]

Beth--Body blast is one of my favorite classes. I went Saturday for the first time in over a week, and I was really sore. I have a hard time doing weights on my own for more than about 15 minutes. If you get a really good instructor, they should be able to help you do things that won't hurt your knees. The only thing I think would be a problem would be squats, and that should be easy to modify.

Sherri

 

[swilphil]

I am stealing Kaye's idea and creating a gym schedule. Thanks, Kaye!

I know I have a lot of either/or situations, but a lot depends on my kids, if I can wake up for the 5:45 a.m. class, and the weather (I hate running on the treadmill inside.)

Mon--spinning class (already done)

Tues--Body Blast (weights) class or Kickboxing class (maybe both??)

Weds--Running (I'll do the treadmill if I HAVE to, I guess)

Thurs--Cardio/weights combo class or an off day.

Fri--Off day (if not Thurs) or hi/lo aerobics

Sat.--Yoga and Body Blast

Sun--Off day or Running (probably will depend on the weather)

 

[swilphil]

Meals for the day:

B--Kashi cereal and 1/2 grapefruit, skim milk

Snack--fat free yogurt and grapes

Lunch--Veggie Soup and Salad

Snack--1/2 granola bar (fruit and nut) and some deli turkey

dinner--Whole Wheat mac and cheese (Dr. Phil recipe made with ff milk and low fat cheese), fresh green beans, and salad

I'll probably have to have an after dinner snack too. I'll to to make it healthy.

 

[Princess Michelle]

.

 

[sharoncity]

Hey Sherri - looks like you are doing pretty well over here with your journaling. I think a bunch of us are finding that planning is the key to managing this food thing. When we just "play it by ear" we seem to fall apart.

My snack items are Kudos bars, 100 calorie packages of cheese nips or Chips Ahoy, peanuts, carrot sticks, celery with ff or low fat cream cheese, popcorn (you can eat lots of this for very few WW points ), strawberries with whipped cream. I try not to eat 3 hours before bedtime. It is hard at first, but once you get in the habit, it really isn't too bad. Plus I think eating right before going to bed is one of the worst things you can do.

Also, make sure you really push the water! That also seems to make a big difference.

I admire you already because you are such an exercise person. That is my REALLY big downfall. But I'm heading upstairs right now to do my 3 mile WATP dvd! :jumping4:

Welcome to the journals and have a great evening!

TTFN- Sharon

 

[kayeandjim00]

Hi Sherri
I'm glad that my gym schedule idea helped you! I hope it's going to help keep me going when I should.
I'm on WW and for snacks I usually have either pretzals (I really like organic Oat Bran ones - 18 sticks for 2 points), soy milk shake (in the health food section of our grocery store you can buy them in a container premade and they are WONDERFUL - this is my first experience with soymilk and I'm in love ) - these are 3 points and include 2 g of fiber per cup, fruit, WW Ice Cream Bars (they have some really good ones but my favorite is the cookies and cream bar.) No Pudge brownies are really good - they have only 120 calories per serving, and I read on hungrygirl.com that No Pudge now also has an ice cream line that sounds wonderful but is very limited in its availability right now, another good snack is 1 Tbsp peanut butter on light bread with a cup of skim milk - very filling and yummy!
I always have a snack/dessert right after dinner only now it's a soy milkshake then later in the evening I will have an ice cream or some extra fruit. Hope these help! Keep up the great work - I am looking forward to hearing your experiences with running to keep me motivated to doing it myself.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Hi Sherri and welcome to the journals!
I am slowly getting back into running after many years of restarts. I used to run alot in my 20's and early 30's, went back to school and got out of the habit, tried to restart in my 40's several times but always had to stop due to knee or hip pain. This time I'm doing 1 minute of walking, alternating with 1 minute of running. I started in November with 10 minutes total, I try to add 2 minutes each week, now I'm up to 26 minutes total. I figure I'll get up to at least 30-40 minutes, then I want to increase the amount of jogging during the workout and see how it goes. I'm very impatient, but so far I've stayed injury free. This week will probably be a bust, since the snow and ice in my neighborhood will prevent me from jogging, but instead I am recommitting to my strength training and will try for 3 sessions this week.
Snacks...mmmm...my downfall for sure. I like Luna bars..lots of fiber. I have been having bran flakes with skim milk for a quick snack lately. I've been trying to avoid the fat free substitution snacks like ice cream treats, because I end up eating twice as many of them! Defeats the purpose, huh? Sometimes I grab a fruit cup or a banana or some fat free hot chocolate. It's tough. Sometimes I say screw it and I just go to bed a little earlier!
Good luck with your goals! We're all in the same boat and rooting for ya!

Jean

 

[swilphil]

Thanks for all the great snack ideas. I will definitely be trying some of your suggestions. My biggest problem is eating my kids' leftovers or their snacks--though they are big fruit lovers. I also have a problem with portion control in general. I absolutely LOVE Luna bars. I have to be careful not to eat more than 1. I really need to reserve them for just meal replacements or maybe a snack on the run.

Sharon--What are Kudos bars? I'm trying to get away from the meal replacement bars for snacks because they are so many calories. I think I have seen Kudos with the granola bars.

Last night I made the "low fat" whole wheat mac and cheese from the Dr. Phil cookbook. The recipe is also on the Dr. Phil website. I thought it was going to be a complete disaster because the skim milk and low fat cheese wouldn't melt together. But it tasted pretty good. My husband and youngest son really liked it too. You put in a few spices and I think that helps the flavor. I ate it with green beans and salad, so it was fairly healthy.

I went to the body blast (weights) class at the Y this morning. It's supposed to be 60 degrees here today!!! I'm going to try to run if my husband gets home from work early (as promised, but he's not always reliable). If nothing else, I'll take the kids on a long walk.