I'm a sanguine, so unlike my uncle who diligently measures out his cereal in a weighing scale every morning, I get tired of routine in my meals pretty quickly. When I first started eating healthier, I had oatmeal for breakfast every single morning. I enjoyed it, at first, but then I got bored. I wanted variety but I wasn't sure how to get it while still eating things that were good for me. Here are some of the ideas I've come up with:
Rolled oats with unsweetened soymilk, berries, a few nuts, an apple or pear or banana, flaxmeal, wheatgerm, vanilla & cinnamon. Rolled oats are not broken down as much as quick oats, so they take longer to break down in your digestive system and keep your blood sugar more stable.
Mushroom, onion, polenta, bell pepper, spinach scramble with italian seasonings. It can double as a lunch dish as well.
Wholewheat pancakes with unsweetened soymilk, baking powder, a mashed banana if you like, vanilla, and a bit of maple syrup. Some recipes add apple cider vinegar, which thickens up the soymilk til it's like buttermilk, or throw in some oats. I love these with a fruit stew from frozen berries (try blueberries, strawberries, and mangoes) simmered in a pot on the stove with a bit of cornstarch, agave syrup, and a dash of nutmeg.
Muffins with soy yogurt or a fruit smoothie.
Wholewheat pita bread with slices of avocado, English cucumber, and a dash of garlic powder.
Grapenuts cereal (did you know they don't have any sugar?) with vanilla soymilk (best if it's the sweetened kind), berries, a banana, and perhaps some honey if it needs a bit of sweetening.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Making a Switch
Today I'm going to write just a little about eating healthy. Three months ago, after talking to my doctor, doing several fasting blood sugar tests, and finding out I had the beginning signs of insulin resistance, I got scared enough into eating healthy and exercising regularly. Diabetes runs rampant on my paternal side of the family, along with obesity, and I wasn't about to get sucked into the expectation that I should inherit those disease as well. Besides, I absolutely hate needles and the thought of having to inject myself several times daily with insulin, if I should happen to develop diabetes, was a frightening thought. I decided cutting out certain foods, while not my ideal way to live, was much better than poking myself full of hole tattoes.
I found it rather challenging at first. Because I tend to take things very literally and adhere to rules and regulations almost fanatically, I immediately dropped anything that had the slightest hint of sugar or oil from my diet, and cut out all things high glycemic. Somehow I was worried that if I didn't make this change, I would develop diabetes instantaneously (not exactly sure how, since my body had managed to survive on an unhealthy diet thus far!). This left me with very few things to eat, which frustrated me. I had a chart from my doctor, and there were 3 columns, one of "things okay to eat" which included greens and citrus fruit and rye bread, one of "things that may be okay" which included wholewheat pasta, berries, and nuts, and one of "probably will cause a problem" which of course was oils, sugar, bread, dried fruits, bananas, and other such things. I was determined to stick with the appropriate diet, so I ate only the things from the "okay to eat" with very few items from the "may be okay". After about three days I was discouraged.
When I went to see my doctor again, she cheerfully asked how I was doing. My downcast face must have spoken more than I was comfortable sharing, but I finally said, "I'm not doing so well. I don't know what to eat! Can I eat peanut butter and honey? What about bread? And fruit?" We had a very helpful discussion about what kinds of foods to eat, she handed me a book called "The 30-Days Diabetes Miracle" and off I went to try to figure out how to eat healthily and sustain it long-term.
I was raised vegetarian and ate a pretty healthy diet, I think. In Africa we had ground grains for breakfast, cooked into a sort of porridge. In Egypt we ate a lot of wholewheat baladi (like pita bread) and fruits and vegetables. In Lebanon we enjoyed olives and cucumbers and labneh (like cream cheese). Then we came to America, where our diet became vegan out of necessity. I still ate cheese and eggs whenever I had the chance, but usually that was limited to eating out. Unfortunately, once I started buying my own food, I began to stock up on high carb/high sugar/high fat/highly processed things. I started trying to eat healthier a couple of years ago, but was never faced with the reality that I had to make some serious changes until three months ago.
At first I thought it was impossible to cook with no sugar or oil. I absolutely love the smell of frying onions, and when I first steamed onions in a bit of water instead, it was absolutely not interesting. I started to look for recipes and came across Neal Barnard's books. I went online to my local library, put all three of his books on hold, and proceeded to try making foods that were healthy and still tasted good. My whole family came on board and has been graciously eating oil-free lunches, enduring experiments and enjoying the things that work.
I'm pleased to say that I'm finally starting to figure things out. I'm trying out new recipes, reading up on how to eat healthy, and learning a lot about how the body works. The more I read, the more I am amazed at how our bodies handle all the stuff that goes into them, sifting through to find the nutrients, and creating energy and red blood cells and all the other bits and pieces we need to function. We have amazing bodies and an amazing Creator!
I found it rather challenging at first. Because I tend to take things very literally and adhere to rules and regulations almost fanatically, I immediately dropped anything that had the slightest hint of sugar or oil from my diet, and cut out all things high glycemic. Somehow I was worried that if I didn't make this change, I would develop diabetes instantaneously (not exactly sure how, since my body had managed to survive on an unhealthy diet thus far!). This left me with very few things to eat, which frustrated me. I had a chart from my doctor, and there were 3 columns, one of "things okay to eat" which included greens and citrus fruit and rye bread, one of "things that may be okay" which included wholewheat pasta, berries, and nuts, and one of "probably will cause a problem" which of course was oils, sugar, bread, dried fruits, bananas, and other such things. I was determined to stick with the appropriate diet, so I ate only the things from the "okay to eat" with very few items from the "may be okay". After about three days I was discouraged.
When I went to see my doctor again, she cheerfully asked how I was doing. My downcast face must have spoken more than I was comfortable sharing, but I finally said, "I'm not doing so well. I don't know what to eat! Can I eat peanut butter and honey? What about bread? And fruit?" We had a very helpful discussion about what kinds of foods to eat, she handed me a book called "The 30-Days Diabetes Miracle" and off I went to try to figure out how to eat healthily and sustain it long-term.
I was raised vegetarian and ate a pretty healthy diet, I think. In Africa we had ground grains for breakfast, cooked into a sort of porridge. In Egypt we ate a lot of wholewheat baladi (like pita bread) and fruits and vegetables. In Lebanon we enjoyed olives and cucumbers and labneh (like cream cheese). Then we came to America, where our diet became vegan out of necessity. I still ate cheese and eggs whenever I had the chance, but usually that was limited to eating out. Unfortunately, once I started buying my own food, I began to stock up on high carb/high sugar/high fat/highly processed things. I started trying to eat healthier a couple of years ago, but was never faced with the reality that I had to make some serious changes until three months ago.
At first I thought it was impossible to cook with no sugar or oil. I absolutely love the smell of frying onions, and when I first steamed onions in a bit of water instead, it was absolutely not interesting. I started to look for recipes and came across Neal Barnard's books. I went online to my local library, put all three of his books on hold, and proceeded to try making foods that were healthy and still tasted good. My whole family came on board and has been graciously eating oil-free lunches, enduring experiments and enjoying the things that work.
I'm pleased to say that I'm finally starting to figure things out. I'm trying out new recipes, reading up on how to eat healthy, and learning a lot about how the body works. The more I read, the more I am amazed at how our bodies handle all the stuff that goes into them, sifting through to find the nutrients, and creating energy and red blood cells and all the other bits and pieces we need to function. We have amazing bodies and an amazing Creator!
Worth It
So now that I'm back in the regular world of blogging again (it's wonderful!) let's catch up to where I'm at with the whole weight-loss thing.
Back in August, I stepped on the scales to see my all-time high. I shan't say what it was, but suffice to say it was once again near the 200 pound mark, so close in fact, that it wouldn't take much to push me up and over, something I wasn't too excited to see. I had been working for several months with a health & lifestyle training program that was just about to train their first set of students, and one of the goals was to have regular exercise incorporated into the daily schedule. Students would not only learn how to train others to live healthfully, they would practice the principles themselves. So my friend, my mom, and I decided to join in and exercise as well.
At first I think I didn't think this would last long. I've started countless weight-loss programs in the past, diets, exercise plans, you name it, and while I've seen results just as many times, those results were not permanent. After a week or two, sometimes a month or two if I was feeling particularly diligent, I would get discouraged when I hit a plateau, a friend would come to visit and we'd catch up on old times and favourite snack foods, my work would get stressful, or it would rain two days in a row and I'd stop exercising. I'd find myself throwing everything healthy out the window, retreating into my "who cares" attitude, and soon the pounds would be piling back on.
This time it's been different, though. Somehow it helps to have a support group, and all three of us, while we'd love to quit any given day if we were doing this on our own, somehow have realized that it really is a good idea to be healthy and exercise regularly, and we encourage each other to keep going. And yes, it has rained, but we pulled out sturdy rain gear, zipped up our coats to our chins and pulled the hoods down tight, and sloshed through puddles, braving the torrential downpours in the dark. And yes, it got too dark to walk on the trails, but we amended our route and pounded cement by the light of flickering streetlights, as we joined other devoted exercisers before the sun had thrown back its covers. And yes, there were days we went to bed far too late to be waking up so early, but we stumbled out anyhow, marching our requisite miles before a day filled with challenges.
And there have been amazing benefits. Our clothes fit better, we're losing pounds and inches, and we're feeling better too. Did you know that 10 minutes of exercise will boost your mood for 2 hours? Imagine what a whole hour will do! Our endurance has improved and our speed has increased and we're not quite as out of breath going up those hills as we used to be. I remember the first time I walked the trails, I was right behind my boss and friend for the first 10 minutes, but then I began to lose ground. It didn't help that my boss had super long legs and the energy of an Energizer bunny on caffeine. I was having a hard time breathing by the end of that 3-mile route, and my legs were ready to quit whether I was or not. I was happy to finish it in 54 minutes and pretty convinced there was no way I could improve my time.
Six days ago we walked that same path. I found myself out of breath but in a healthy way, my legs confidently carried me along, even up that steep hill at the end, and I finished the walk in 47 minutes. 47 minutes!!!
So I'm here to tell you it's not going to be easy. You'll probably want to quit 99 out of 100 times. You may wake up and think, "I'm just going to take it easy today, I'll walk tomorrow" and then tomorrow seems to disappear. But it's going to be worth it. Why is it that things which are worth it often require a lot of extra effort? I haven't figured that out yet. But I do know that for me, if I want to realize my goals of becoming a healthier person, I have to keep at it. For the rest of my life. Because I'm worth it.
Oh yes, and as of today I've lost 15 pounds in 12 weeks!!!
Back in August, I stepped on the scales to see my all-time high. I shan't say what it was, but suffice to say it was once again near the 200 pound mark, so close in fact, that it wouldn't take much to push me up and over, something I wasn't too excited to see. I had been working for several months with a health & lifestyle training program that was just about to train their first set of students, and one of the goals was to have regular exercise incorporated into the daily schedule. Students would not only learn how to train others to live healthfully, they would practice the principles themselves. So my friend, my mom, and I decided to join in and exercise as well.
At first I think I didn't think this would last long. I've started countless weight-loss programs in the past, diets, exercise plans, you name it, and while I've seen results just as many times, those results were not permanent. After a week or two, sometimes a month or two if I was feeling particularly diligent, I would get discouraged when I hit a plateau, a friend would come to visit and we'd catch up on old times and favourite snack foods, my work would get stressful, or it would rain two days in a row and I'd stop exercising. I'd find myself throwing everything healthy out the window, retreating into my "who cares" attitude, and soon the pounds would be piling back on.
This time it's been different, though. Somehow it helps to have a support group, and all three of us, while we'd love to quit any given day if we were doing this on our own, somehow have realized that it really is a good idea to be healthy and exercise regularly, and we encourage each other to keep going. And yes, it has rained, but we pulled out sturdy rain gear, zipped up our coats to our chins and pulled the hoods down tight, and sloshed through puddles, braving the torrential downpours in the dark. And yes, it got too dark to walk on the trails, but we amended our route and pounded cement by the light of flickering streetlights, as we joined other devoted exercisers before the sun had thrown back its covers. And yes, there were days we went to bed far too late to be waking up so early, but we stumbled out anyhow, marching our requisite miles before a day filled with challenges.
And there have been amazing benefits. Our clothes fit better, we're losing pounds and inches, and we're feeling better too. Did you know that 10 minutes of exercise will boost your mood for 2 hours? Imagine what a whole hour will do! Our endurance has improved and our speed has increased and we're not quite as out of breath going up those hills as we used to be. I remember the first time I walked the trails, I was right behind my boss and friend for the first 10 minutes, but then I began to lose ground. It didn't help that my boss had super long legs and the energy of an Energizer bunny on caffeine. I was having a hard time breathing by the end of that 3-mile route, and my legs were ready to quit whether I was or not. I was happy to finish it in 54 minutes and pretty convinced there was no way I could improve my time.
Six days ago we walked that same path. I found myself out of breath but in a healthy way, my legs confidently carried me along, even up that steep hill at the end, and I finished the walk in 47 minutes. 47 minutes!!!
So I'm here to tell you it's not going to be easy. You'll probably want to quit 99 out of 100 times. You may wake up and think, "I'm just going to take it easy today, I'll walk tomorrow" and then tomorrow seems to disappear. But it's going to be worth it. Why is it that things which are worth it often require a lot of extra effort? I haven't figured that out yet. But I do know that for me, if I want to realize my goals of becoming a healthier person, I have to keep at it. For the rest of my life. Because I'm worth it.
Oh yes, and as of today I've lost 15 pounds in 12 weeks!!!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Taking Care of Who's Important
Finally I have my own laptop again and the internet is actually working, and I have some time to write! Okay, so here's where we're at since my last post. I lost weight, I put it back on with a couple of pounds of reinforcements (what can I say? I'm a social person, even my fat loves company!), due to environmental stress and being a stress-eater. Then I changed jobs (still trying to move past the whole "loser" status of only working part-time to the "I'm proud of you for quitting and taking care of your health rather than allowing yourself to remain in an abusive situation" mindset). Finally decided to take advantage of the wellness program I was working with and get myself healthy physically as well. That was two and a half months ago and I'm really grateful I did. I've begun to lose the weight I put back on and am feeling healthier and more in control of my life not just physically, but also spiritually and emotionally too. Like most self-diagnosed and happily-professed British "basket-cases" out there, I still have aways to go, but I'm much happier with myself where I am now than where I was a year ago.
I'm learning that one's physical health really is important. About a year ago I started having muscle spasms in my shoulders and neck and head, headaches, rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy, extreme anxiety, difficulty sleeping at night, high blood pressure, and panic attacks. Unfortunately, being the stoic quarter German that I am, I attributed it to a period of high stress and figured it would all go away in a while. I had a low grade fever for about a week and thought perhaps my immune system was run down and with a bit of extra sleep I would be and running in no time. Three months later I was starting to get worried. I wasn't feeling better, and now my ears were ringing as well. I had no idea what was wrong with me, but the two doctors I saw happily placed the generic "stress" label on my file and sent me on my way with reams of lifestyle treatment suggestions. I tried them, but by this time I think it was a little late to have much of an effect. My period of high stress had extended and exacerbated and I was having more frequent confrontations at work which was difficult for me because I'm not a confrontational type of person.
One day I was watching Dr. Phil and he said, "the only thing worse than being in an abusive situation for a year is being in an abusive situation for a year and a day." I knew then that I was free to leave. So I left. Six months after the physical symptoms of stress had flooded my system, I got up and walked out. Again I figured that now I was out of the situation, things would calm down and I would start sleeping properly again and be just fine in a couple of weeks. I knew I had been slowly getting better, the headaches & dizziness were gone, the anxiety wasn't as bad, and the heartbeat had slowed down. I was wrong.
It's been a year, and only now can I sit on my couch in the middle of the day and not feel my shoulders shuddering continuously. Only now am I calm, knowing an anxiety or panic attack won't come out of nowhere, only now has the blood pressure returned to normal. It has taken a full year to reach the point that I feel confident that my health is on the right track again and that I will be back to normal again soon. It has also taken me that long to recognize the detrimental effects that stress can have on one's physical health, and to acknowledge that it is not worth it. It is better to live on a very small paycheck, or to work in a menial job, than it is to work in a situation where stress takes such a drastic toll on your health.
Being healthy has really helped me to regain my health. I walk an hour every morning, six days a week. I've cut oil and sugar down to a bare minimum and am eating as healthy as possible. I've had to make some dietary changes because my fasting blood sugar was edging past normal, but it has been beneficial for me all around. The most exciting part about getting healthy again is that now I'm learning to make it a lifestyle, instead of a diet. The most challenging part about it is that I'm learning to make it a lifestyle and not a diet! I'm taking time for me now, to journal, to prepare healthy meals, to get enough sleep, to spend time getting to know God (see my RandomRamblinz blog), to hang out with my friends regularly. I'm giving myself permission to say No to job offers that seem lucrative but I know would send me right back into a stressful environment and I'm learning to trust that God will take care of me, as I have seen Him doing.
As women it is easy sometimes to focus on making sure that everyone else around us is okay, and forget to make sure that we are okay too. We need to recognize though that we are as important as everyone else, and that it's okay to be sure that our needs are being met as well. I know I've learned a lot in this past year, and while I am still hesitant to place a priority on my health, I am recognizing the value of being healthy and learning that I can take care of me because I'm important too!
I'm learning that one's physical health really is important. About a year ago I started having muscle spasms in my shoulders and neck and head, headaches, rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy, extreme anxiety, difficulty sleeping at night, high blood pressure, and panic attacks. Unfortunately, being the stoic quarter German that I am, I attributed it to a period of high stress and figured it would all go away in a while. I had a low grade fever for about a week and thought perhaps my immune system was run down and with a bit of extra sleep I would be and running in no time. Three months later I was starting to get worried. I wasn't feeling better, and now my ears were ringing as well. I had no idea what was wrong with me, but the two doctors I saw happily placed the generic "stress" label on my file and sent me on my way with reams of lifestyle treatment suggestions. I tried them, but by this time I think it was a little late to have much of an effect. My period of high stress had extended and exacerbated and I was having more frequent confrontations at work which was difficult for me because I'm not a confrontational type of person.
One day I was watching Dr. Phil and he said, "the only thing worse than being in an abusive situation for a year is being in an abusive situation for a year and a day." I knew then that I was free to leave. So I left. Six months after the physical symptoms of stress had flooded my system, I got up and walked out. Again I figured that now I was out of the situation, things would calm down and I would start sleeping properly again and be just fine in a couple of weeks. I knew I had been slowly getting better, the headaches & dizziness were gone, the anxiety wasn't as bad, and the heartbeat had slowed down. I was wrong.
It's been a year, and only now can I sit on my couch in the middle of the day and not feel my shoulders shuddering continuously. Only now am I calm, knowing an anxiety or panic attack won't come out of nowhere, only now has the blood pressure returned to normal. It has taken a full year to reach the point that I feel confident that my health is on the right track again and that I will be back to normal again soon. It has also taken me that long to recognize the detrimental effects that stress can have on one's physical health, and to acknowledge that it is not worth it. It is better to live on a very small paycheck, or to work in a menial job, than it is to work in a situation where stress takes such a drastic toll on your health.
Being healthy has really helped me to regain my health. I walk an hour every morning, six days a week. I've cut oil and sugar down to a bare minimum and am eating as healthy as possible. I've had to make some dietary changes because my fasting blood sugar was edging past normal, but it has been beneficial for me all around. The most exciting part about getting healthy again is that now I'm learning to make it a lifestyle, instead of a diet. The most challenging part about it is that I'm learning to make it a lifestyle and not a diet! I'm taking time for me now, to journal, to prepare healthy meals, to get enough sleep, to spend time getting to know God (see my RandomRamblinz blog), to hang out with my friends regularly. I'm giving myself permission to say No to job offers that seem lucrative but I know would send me right back into a stressful environment and I'm learning to trust that God will take care of me, as I have seen Him doing.
As women it is easy sometimes to focus on making sure that everyone else around us is okay, and forget to make sure that we are okay too. We need to recognize though that we are as important as everyone else, and that it's okay to be sure that our needs are being met as well. I know I've learned a lot in this past year, and while I am still hesitant to place a priority on my health, I am recognizing the value of being healthy and learning that I can take care of me because I'm important too!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Little Bit By Little Bit
Stepped on the scales today and was pleasantly pleased to see that my weight has managed to keep within a certain range for the past month or so. A friend asked me yesterday if I was losing weight, I smiled and said, "trying to." In all honesty, I haven't been trying too hard the past few weeks, but what I have been doing is trying to revamp my eating habits. Unfortunately, I picked up really poor habits over the years; stress-eating, living on my own, traveling, and eating out regularly were some of the factors in my habits.
There really isn't any secret or magic key to losing weight, you know. It's basically a lot of hard work, patience, and persistence. If you have quite a few good days and a couple of bad days, it's easier to keep going. Keep working at it to find what works for you, because everyone is different. Learn to listen to your body and what it needs, but recognize that it may be screaming for the wrong thing (ie. sugar) and need to be retrained. Exercise and eat healthy, but don't make it a religion or you may find yourself quickly becoming a legalistic person who has no room for mistakes.
It's taken me, oh, I don't know, at least two years to get to the point where I am today. I know I can be healthier and I need to keep working on it, but I'm grateful that I'm moving towards health rather than losing myself in doughnuts and brownies. I'm not sure I'll ever reach "perfection" as the world defines it, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to value health and what it means for my future.
There really isn't any secret or magic key to losing weight, you know. It's basically a lot of hard work, patience, and persistence. If you have quite a few good days and a couple of bad days, it's easier to keep going. Keep working at it to find what works for you, because everyone is different. Learn to listen to your body and what it needs, but recognize that it may be screaming for the wrong thing (ie. sugar) and need to be retrained. Exercise and eat healthy, but don't make it a religion or you may find yourself quickly becoming a legalistic person who has no room for mistakes.
It's taken me, oh, I don't know, at least two years to get to the point where I am today. I know I can be healthier and I need to keep working on it, but I'm grateful that I'm moving towards health rather than losing myself in doughnuts and brownies. I'm not sure I'll ever reach "perfection" as the world defines it, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to value health and what it means for my future.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Don't Try This At Home
About a year and a half ago, I posted a recipe for vegan snickerdoodles, and included a handy tip: don't use wax paper in the oven unless you plan on igniting your oven in the dead of winter. Well, this evening I learned a couple more handy tips, ironically, also learned while baking cookies.
1. Always bake cookies on a proper baking sheet. If your baking sheet has holes in it, it is highly likely that the dough will drop into those holes when the refrigerator dough heats up, creating little lava pools on the bottom of your oven. Your kitchen will then fill up with smoke, as it pours out through the top of your stove and the sides of your oven, and you will have the joy of scrubbing that black-baked dough out of your oven later, when it is about as hard as lava rocks.
2. Do not bake cookie dough in the microwave. At least not for ten minutes at full power. Perhaps there is a recipe somewhere for cookies that can be baked in the microwave, but alas, I did not read one before doing so. Since my cookies were still slightly soft, after I hastily pulled them out when the smoke started to fill the room, I thought I should pop them in the microwave so they could cook a little longer. After all, you can cook vegetables and noodles in the microwave, so you should be able to cook cookies, right? Wrong. I looked up 7 and a half minutes into the 10 minutes I'd programmed before sitting down to watch an episode of Modern Family (I love Sofia Vergara!), to see a steady stream of white smoke headed in my direction. Being as my microwave is about 20 feet from my bed where I was sitting, it didn't take long to reach me. I dashed over, turned off the microwave, unplugged it, and threw open my apartment door. About thirty minutes later, I deemed it safe to return inside.
Here is a picture of my sorry looking plate of cookies and very yellow microwave. I'm adding "baking sheet" to my shopping list!!!
1. Always bake cookies on a proper baking sheet. If your baking sheet has holes in it, it is highly likely that the dough will drop into those holes when the refrigerator dough heats up, creating little lava pools on the bottom of your oven. Your kitchen will then fill up with smoke, as it pours out through the top of your stove and the sides of your oven, and you will have the joy of scrubbing that black-baked dough out of your oven later, when it is about as hard as lava rocks.
2. Do not bake cookie dough in the microwave. At least not for ten minutes at full power. Perhaps there is a recipe somewhere for cookies that can be baked in the microwave, but alas, I did not read one before doing so. Since my cookies were still slightly soft, after I hastily pulled them out when the smoke started to fill the room, I thought I should pop them in the microwave so they could cook a little longer. After all, you can cook vegetables and noodles in the microwave, so you should be able to cook cookies, right? Wrong. I looked up 7 and a half minutes into the 10 minutes I'd programmed before sitting down to watch an episode of Modern Family (I love Sofia Vergara!), to see a steady stream of white smoke headed in my direction. Being as my microwave is about 20 feet from my bed where I was sitting, it didn't take long to reach me. I dashed over, turned off the microwave, unplugged it, and threw open my apartment door. About thirty minutes later, I deemed it safe to return inside.
Here is a picture of my sorry looking plate of cookies and very yellow microwave. I'm adding "baking sheet" to my shopping list!!!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Of Cherry Pie and Late Night Suppers
It's been a while since I've posted something, so here's where I am at these days. Working on moving past the "definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions and expect different results." If you're wondering what I mean, or maybe you already know, let me spell it out a little clearer.
My challenge is that I have a certain mind set when it comes to being a healthier person, and I am very careful not to deviate from it. I get all geared up to go, usually starting on a Monday, and I am ready to exercise 5 miles a day, eat healthy meals, have smaller suppers, no snacks, and no desserts. I will do it for "x number of weeks" and see where I am at.
It's Monday, and I step on the scales so I have a benchmark to start from. If I'm extra ambitious, I might pull out my measuring tape and measure my waist, my elbow, my calf, etc. so I can see how many inches I will lose. After my morning exercise, I carefully prepare my healthy breakfast and march off to work with a full water bottle. At lunch, I am diligent to load my plate with mostly vegetables, at suppertime I eat fruit and some low-calorie things like crackers and hummus. I go to bed reviewing my day with satisfaction. Sure, I was hungry at about 11:00 am and had to wait another two hours till lunch, and sure, I didn't feel full after supper because my stomach was hurting from not having had enough to tide me over from lunch, but all in all, I think I did quite well.
It's Tuesday, and I step on the scales, pleased to see that I've dropped a whole pound (water loss). I march about the loop, getting my miles in, and go home to a nutritious oatmeal with fruit breakfast. The day, and Wednesday and Thursday, follow pretty much the same routine as Monday did. Friday I get a little out of schedule because I wake up too late for breakfast, but I have a granola bar to get me through till lunch. Sabbath, I'm feeling so happy with my progress and that I've lost 2.2 pounds by now that I treat myself to dessert, since it's Sabbath after all. Sunday, I skip breakfast, and grab a slice of pizza at Costco for supper.
Monday I step on the scales. That miserable slice of pizza, with its enormous sodium content, has pushed my weight back up so it looks like I haven't lost a single pound in a whole week. I'm feeling discouraged and only walk half my miles that morning. At work, I am extra busy and extra stressed, and by the time I get off work, later than usual, all I want to do is go home and eat. I rummage about in my freezer and find the chocolate cookies I hid there a week ago. I enjoy a supper that fills me but primarily consists of sugar, fat, and carbs.
Tuesday, I skip my exercise. I have thrown my nutritious meals idea to the wind and am scarfing down sandwiches and crackers, cookies and potato chips, as fast as I can. By Thursday I've given up, it's raining outside so I can't exercise anyhow, and I was hungry all last week and didn't lose a pound, so why even bother?
Sound familiar? I know it does to me, because I've done that, over and over and over again. Yet somehow, each time I expect a different result. I expect that after years of eating the same way and slowly gaining the weight and developing habits that don't contribute to a healthy body, I will overnight, or at the most in a week, be able to step out of my chrysalis and reveal a perfectly healthy vibrant person who has got it all figured out. I will look like Sandra Bullock, cook like Paula Deen, and exercise like Jillian Michaels.
Ahem, I think I'm seeing a bit of a disconnect here! Reality is that becoming a healthier person is not just about the journey to get there, it is a lot of really hard work! I think a lot of the time I give up because I really don't want to put the effort into it! I want to believe that it is 90% inspiration and 10% perspiration, instead of the other way around. I know intellectually what I have to do, but emotionally it is about as easy as giving up chocolate. It's about impossible.
Maybe that's one place I can start. I can change my "It's impossible to change" mindset to a "It is possible, and I am going to do it," attitude. I know it is, and I believe it is, and now I just have to set out to prove to myself that it is possible to become a healthier person. So tonight, well tomorrow because I shan't be eating anymore tonight!, I will return to the place I was two weeks ago, and get back into gear.
My little tips are really quite easy. Exercise an hour a day. Eat a full plate of food at each meal, but only one serving. Don't substitute low-calorie foods and don't count calories. Drink plenty of water. No snacks or added sugar (my major weaknesses). Sit down to eat and, if at all possible, plate your food and enjoy it as a meal, instead of an accompaniment to a TV show, busywork, or reading. Weigh once a week and measure inches once a month. Set a goal for each week that is reasonable (the usual, between half a pound and two pounds, depending on your body type) and write it on an index card and hang it in a prominent place. Keep your goal in mind, and set a deadline to reach your final goal. And finally, accept what life throws at you and learn how to deal with it in more constructive ways than eating.
Here's to success!
My challenge is that I have a certain mind set when it comes to being a healthier person, and I am very careful not to deviate from it. I get all geared up to go, usually starting on a Monday, and I am ready to exercise 5 miles a day, eat healthy meals, have smaller suppers, no snacks, and no desserts. I will do it for "x number of weeks" and see where I am at.
It's Monday, and I step on the scales so I have a benchmark to start from. If I'm extra ambitious, I might pull out my measuring tape and measure my waist, my elbow, my calf, etc. so I can see how many inches I will lose. After my morning exercise, I carefully prepare my healthy breakfast and march off to work with a full water bottle. At lunch, I am diligent to load my plate with mostly vegetables, at suppertime I eat fruit and some low-calorie things like crackers and hummus. I go to bed reviewing my day with satisfaction. Sure, I was hungry at about 11:00 am and had to wait another two hours till lunch, and sure, I didn't feel full after supper because my stomach was hurting from not having had enough to tide me over from lunch, but all in all, I think I did quite well.
It's Tuesday, and I step on the scales, pleased to see that I've dropped a whole pound (water loss). I march about the loop, getting my miles in, and go home to a nutritious oatmeal with fruit breakfast. The day, and Wednesday and Thursday, follow pretty much the same routine as Monday did. Friday I get a little out of schedule because I wake up too late for breakfast, but I have a granola bar to get me through till lunch. Sabbath, I'm feeling so happy with my progress and that I've lost 2.2 pounds by now that I treat myself to dessert, since it's Sabbath after all. Sunday, I skip breakfast, and grab a slice of pizza at Costco for supper.
Monday I step on the scales. That miserable slice of pizza, with its enormous sodium content, has pushed my weight back up so it looks like I haven't lost a single pound in a whole week. I'm feeling discouraged and only walk half my miles that morning. At work, I am extra busy and extra stressed, and by the time I get off work, later than usual, all I want to do is go home and eat. I rummage about in my freezer and find the chocolate cookies I hid there a week ago. I enjoy a supper that fills me but primarily consists of sugar, fat, and carbs.
Tuesday, I skip my exercise. I have thrown my nutritious meals idea to the wind and am scarfing down sandwiches and crackers, cookies and potato chips, as fast as I can. By Thursday I've given up, it's raining outside so I can't exercise anyhow, and I was hungry all last week and didn't lose a pound, so why even bother?
Sound familiar? I know it does to me, because I've done that, over and over and over again. Yet somehow, each time I expect a different result. I expect that after years of eating the same way and slowly gaining the weight and developing habits that don't contribute to a healthy body, I will overnight, or at the most in a week, be able to step out of my chrysalis and reveal a perfectly healthy vibrant person who has got it all figured out. I will look like Sandra Bullock, cook like Paula Deen, and exercise like Jillian Michaels.
Ahem, I think I'm seeing a bit of a disconnect here! Reality is that becoming a healthier person is not just about the journey to get there, it is a lot of really hard work! I think a lot of the time I give up because I really don't want to put the effort into it! I want to believe that it is 90% inspiration and 10% perspiration, instead of the other way around. I know intellectually what I have to do, but emotionally it is about as easy as giving up chocolate. It's about impossible.
Maybe that's one place I can start. I can change my "It's impossible to change" mindset to a "It is possible, and I am going to do it," attitude. I know it is, and I believe it is, and now I just have to set out to prove to myself that it is possible to become a healthier person. So tonight, well tomorrow because I shan't be eating anymore tonight!, I will return to the place I was two weeks ago, and get back into gear.
My little tips are really quite easy. Exercise an hour a day. Eat a full plate of food at each meal, but only one serving. Don't substitute low-calorie foods and don't count calories. Drink plenty of water. No snacks or added sugar (my major weaknesses). Sit down to eat and, if at all possible, plate your food and enjoy it as a meal, instead of an accompaniment to a TV show, busywork, or reading. Weigh once a week and measure inches once a month. Set a goal for each week that is reasonable (the usual, between half a pound and two pounds, depending on your body type) and write it on an index card and hang it in a prominent place. Keep your goal in mind, and set a deadline to reach your final goal. And finally, accept what life throws at you and learn how to deal with it in more constructive ways than eating.
Here's to success!
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