I have decided I am no longer going to be a slave to the scale. For so long I have weighed myself every morning..sometimes before and after my shower. When I get home from work, and when I go to bed. That's just not healthy...in more ways than one.
Thanks to some clear goal setting support from Thomas, and a solid plan for working out (written in my new planner!), I haven't weighed in since Monday morning when I did to document my starting weight. I know that's only 4 days, but for me it seems like an eternity!
My goals for the next 3 weeks are as follows (started this past Monday):
1. No stepping on the scale until March Monday March 15
2. Lose 7 pounds
3. Stick with my written work-out plan, as closely as possible. It is quite difficult so far!
4. No fried food.
Outside of those health related goals, I also have the following goals this past week:
1. Select one bible verse each week. This week I have selected: Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I thought that was appropriate given some of the struggles with organized religion I've had over the past 12 years or so. Glad I've found my way back!
2. I need to finish the book "Breaking Dawn" - the 4th book in the Twilight Saga. I've been reading this - or should I say it's been sitting on my nightstand for months. Time to finish it! Only 250 more pages or so to go! I also have a reading list that is stacking up pretty quickly. I've never been a big reader, but I'm working on it. Here are the books I've got waiting in my queue:
Wuthering Heights
Three Cups of Tea
Stones into Schools
Anyway, I've combined so many things into this one update. Sorry about that...I haven't had time to post all week, so I crunched a lot into this one. I have more to say, but I will have to give that another post very soon. Have a good weekend!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A near miss...
I had a near miss today. I had a really rough day at work..very stressful, was barely at my desk, I didn't have a minute to even eat my apple and orange I brought for my mid morning and mid afternoon snacks. I ended up leaving work about 7pm after putting in 12 hours. I was exhausted.
So what did I do... my thoughts immediately turned to my good friend Ronald McDonald. I made every justification possible to get myself there... it was late, I was tired and didn't want to worry about what I had to eat when I got home, I worked out yesterday, it was just one trip to McD, it wasn't the end of the world.
On my drive home my thoughts turned from trying to justify going to asking myself why the heck would I let that happen? I was clearly turning to emotional comfort eating when I knew deep down I shouldn't do it, and didn't want to do it.
My thoughts turned from justification to repulsion. I thought about how groggy I would feel after I ate it (let's be honest, 1 cheeseburger just doesn't cut it for me), I thought about how that one meal would undo all of the good eating and working out I did over the past week.
I had a breakthrough! I decided not to eat it! I mean, I've had these cravings and blogged about it once before, but this one was different. I clearly realized I was turning to emotional eating. Would I feel any better about my bad day after I had this meal? NO. In fact, I would feel much worse. What a good feeling to realize this and overcome it!
I just reinforced my decision. McDonald's has a "bag a meal" feature on their website - click here My typical meal in this situation would have consisted of the following:
2,040 calories (950 from fat)
106 grams fat (36 grams saturated, 4.5 grams trans fat)
270 mg cholesterol
3,750 mg sodium
Wow... those are crazy amounts! No wonder America is so unhealthy! Thank you McDonald's for offering this valuable tool to the public (probably from a government mandate, not by volunteering). Maybe more people can start using it!
What gets me again is that McDonald's says they offer only the best ingredients. If you've seen Food, Inc. you may think differently (I highly recommend you watch this) Thanks Heidi for recommending this to me!
Ok, I've rambled on enough already...it was only one small decision I made. Best wishes on the choices you make every day, I know it's not easy! (And as much as I've ranted about McDonald's on this blog I'll probably have it again at some point.)
So what did I do... my thoughts immediately turned to my good friend Ronald McDonald. I made every justification possible to get myself there... it was late, I was tired and didn't want to worry about what I had to eat when I got home, I worked out yesterday, it was just one trip to McD, it wasn't the end of the world.
On my drive home my thoughts turned from trying to justify going to asking myself why the heck would I let that happen? I was clearly turning to emotional comfort eating when I knew deep down I shouldn't do it, and didn't want to do it.
My thoughts turned from justification to repulsion. I thought about how groggy I would feel after I ate it (let's be honest, 1 cheeseburger just doesn't cut it for me), I thought about how that one meal would undo all of the good eating and working out I did over the past week.
I had a breakthrough! I decided not to eat it! I mean, I've had these cravings and blogged about it once before, but this one was different. I clearly realized I was turning to emotional eating. Would I feel any better about my bad day after I had this meal? NO. In fact, I would feel much worse. What a good feeling to realize this and overcome it!
I just reinforced my decision. McDonald's has a "bag a meal" feature on their website - click here My typical meal in this situation would have consisted of the following:
2,040 calories (950 from fat)
106 grams fat (36 grams saturated, 4.5 grams trans fat)
270 mg cholesterol
3,750 mg sodium
Wow... those are crazy amounts! No wonder America is so unhealthy! Thank you McDonald's for offering this valuable tool to the public (probably from a government mandate, not by volunteering). Maybe more people can start using it!
What gets me again is that McDonald's says they offer only the best ingredients. If you've seen Food, Inc. you may think differently (I highly recommend you watch this) Thanks Heidi for recommending this to me!
Ok, I've rambled on enough already...it was only one small decision I made. Best wishes on the choices you make every day, I know it's not easy! (And as much as I've ranted about McDonald's on this blog I'll probably have it again at some point.)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
3 Cups of Tea
So I've been attending St. Mary's Episcopal Church for about a year now. I have never felt a group of strangers could have such a profound impact on my life. One year later, I now consider this group of strangers my friends, my extended family.
This community has been so welcoming, and so comforting during my transition from Texas to Minnesota. It offers me a home, a place to become involved, to share my talents, and learn from others, to help those who need help, and to make a difference, making the world a better place.
One of the groups I'm involved in is "Global Outreach." This group focuses on needs of the larger global community and how we can make an impact and help make a difference, from right here in St. Paul, MN. We meet monthly at a different ethnic restaurant. Last month was a Tibetan/Nepali restaurant (yes, I ate yak and goat and lamb) and this month we will be eating at an Ethiopian restaurant - I've been forewarned that they do not provide eating utensils, but instead provide flat bread for assistance. I will let you know how that goes.
So anyway, as a group we are working with our church community to read the book "3 Cups of Tea" which is about one man's story to make a difference in the world by building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He does not do it however by coming in with a bunch of money and dictate to the locals what to do, how to do it, and what to teach. Instead, he befriends the locals by using the custom of having 3 cups of tea. The first cup of tea you have with someone, you are strangers. The second cup you are friends, and the third cup you are family. This has helped him understand their culture, customs, and what they really need.
To bring this idea of listening and understanding right to our daily lives, we are working on the principles of 3 cups of tea...we are encouraged to have tea and go through this process with someone we don't know, or who are different from us. The goal is to gain a better understanding of each other, and a respect for any differences we may have.
This is exciting to me. You all know that I have differing opinions and differing ways of looking at things. I look forward to exploring ideas with someone else, and helping me to learn more about myself, and others through this process. There is one gentleman at church I have talked to several times, but would really like to get to know better. He has lived a full life, and there is much I can learn from him. He's 87 years old (I never would have known that), he's healthy, smart as they come and a downright good person. I'm going to ask him to have tea. There are many lessons I can learn from him, and hopefully I can provide him some insight as well.
If you'd like to listen to the sermon from today kicking off the program, you can listen by clicking here.
Click on the sermon titled 3 cups of tea. Feel free to listen to any others as well.
Think of the difference we could make, if everyone made an effort to better understand others. Beyond any differences we may have, there is common ground, and things we can agree on to help build a better tomorrow.
I ask you, who are you going to have tea with?
This community has been so welcoming, and so comforting during my transition from Texas to Minnesota. It offers me a home, a place to become involved, to share my talents, and learn from others, to help those who need help, and to make a difference, making the world a better place.
One of the groups I'm involved in is "Global Outreach." This group focuses on needs of the larger global community and how we can make an impact and help make a difference, from right here in St. Paul, MN. We meet monthly at a different ethnic restaurant. Last month was a Tibetan/Nepali restaurant (yes, I ate yak and goat and lamb) and this month we will be eating at an Ethiopian restaurant - I've been forewarned that they do not provide eating utensils, but instead provide flat bread for assistance. I will let you know how that goes.
So anyway, as a group we are working with our church community to read the book "3 Cups of Tea" which is about one man's story to make a difference in the world by building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He does not do it however by coming in with a bunch of money and dictate to the locals what to do, how to do it, and what to teach. Instead, he befriends the locals by using the custom of having 3 cups of tea. The first cup of tea you have with someone, you are strangers. The second cup you are friends, and the third cup you are family. This has helped him understand their culture, customs, and what they really need.
To bring this idea of listening and understanding right to our daily lives, we are working on the principles of 3 cups of tea...we are encouraged to have tea and go through this process with someone we don't know, or who are different from us. The goal is to gain a better understanding of each other, and a respect for any differences we may have.
This is exciting to me. You all know that I have differing opinions and differing ways of looking at things. I look forward to exploring ideas with someone else, and helping me to learn more about myself, and others through this process. There is one gentleman at church I have talked to several times, but would really like to get to know better. He has lived a full life, and there is much I can learn from him. He's 87 years old (I never would have known that), he's healthy, smart as they come and a downright good person. I'm going to ask him to have tea. There are many lessons I can learn from him, and hopefully I can provide him some insight as well.
If you'd like to listen to the sermon from today kicking off the program, you can listen by clicking here.
Click on the sermon titled 3 cups of tea. Feel free to listen to any others as well.
Think of the difference we could make, if everyone made an effort to better understand others. Beyond any differences we may have, there is common ground, and things we can agree on to help build a better tomorrow.
I ask you, who are you going to have tea with?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Winter blues...
I have the winter blues. I'm tired of wearing bulky sweaters and jackets. I'm tired of getting my shoes and pants wet by snow, slush, salt, and a bunch of other nasty stuff. I'm tired of it being dark when I leave work and when I wake up. I want to bust outside and smell the fresh spring air, wear flips and shorts, and get out and exercise! I want to soak up some rays of sun and increase my energy level!
I don't recall last winter being this difficult to get through. I guess the end is within reach, I just need to try to stay positive and sane until then.
I think this is affecting my mood all around me. I get upset about things at work, I snapped at one of my employees today when I'm normally very level-mooded (is that a word?) I got upset about a car with extremely loud music today at the gas station... I was mad, until I saw that there was a toddler in the back car seat. That child doesn't need to hear things that loud!
Argh.... ok, time to get focused on my positive thoughts for the rest of the night. Tomorrow is a new day, hopefully a happier one. :)
I don't recall last winter being this difficult to get through. I guess the end is within reach, I just need to try to stay positive and sane until then.
I think this is affecting my mood all around me. I get upset about things at work, I snapped at one of my employees today when I'm normally very level-mooded (is that a word?) I got upset about a car with extremely loud music today at the gas station... I was mad, until I saw that there was a toddler in the back car seat. That child doesn't need to hear things that loud!
Argh.... ok, time to get focused on my positive thoughts for the rest of the night. Tomorrow is a new day, hopefully a happier one. :)
Monday, February 8, 2010
A Baby Step
So, I've been trying for a long time to eat better. Well, more-so lose weight however I always fail. I'm so focused on a number and if I don't see that number on the scale go down I get discouraged and then run to my favorite vice - McDonald's. Oh how I love those golden arches, the BigMac combo meal - large sized with diet coke, a double cheeseburger, McChicken, and a side of tartar sauce for my fries. Oh yummy. Wait, that is my problem! I keep going and going and going. I watched that documentary "Supersize Me" once, but that didn't seem to last long after my initial disgust.
So, it is cold and snowy today. I stayed late at work to let the traffic clear so I wouldn't be sitting pointlessly in traffic. On my way home I started craving McDonald's. I could taste it, and as I was driving it seemed that was all I could think about, nevermind the slippery roads and driving.
My car seemed to be on auto-pilot headed right to the closest McDonald's on my way home. At the last minute, I crossed 3 lanes of traffic (very dangerous in the snow) and exited one exit before the one that has McD! Apparently I had made a sub-conscious decision to skip McD and go home and eat the healthier groceries I spend good money on.
Yippee! I have overcome my addiction to fast food! ...not so fast. It is just one small success, but none the less it is a success and a place to start. If I can build on that momentum and string a few of these breaks from "madness cravings" I can maybe, just maybe one day not crave all of that crap all the time!
Now, I must have an orange.
What have you done today to make a difference?
So, it is cold and snowy today. I stayed late at work to let the traffic clear so I wouldn't be sitting pointlessly in traffic. On my way home I started craving McDonald's. I could taste it, and as I was driving it seemed that was all I could think about, nevermind the slippery roads and driving.
My car seemed to be on auto-pilot headed right to the closest McDonald's on my way home. At the last minute, I crossed 3 lanes of traffic (very dangerous in the snow) and exited one exit before the one that has McD! Apparently I had made a sub-conscious decision to skip McD and go home and eat the healthier groceries I spend good money on.
Yippee! I have overcome my addiction to fast food! ...not so fast. It is just one small success, but none the less it is a success and a place to start. If I can build on that momentum and string a few of these breaks from "madness cravings" I can maybe, just maybe one day not crave all of that crap all the time!
Now, I must have an orange.
What have you done today to make a difference?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Welcome
Welcome to my first ever blog post. Bear with me while I learn how to manage this blog, do updates, and organize all of my thoughts. My sisters seem to be quite good at it, so hopefully I can learn a few things.
"Project Metamorphosis" I will at some point list some goals of what I hope to achieve over the next year or so. I don't think of them as new years resolutions, because that term in itself implies failure, or at least gives the impression that "there is always next year" if you fail. This is about making every day count. I'm not expecting miracles, or to be some saint or something, but small things every day can make a huge difference.
I'm ready for this journey, are you?
"Project Metamorphosis" I will at some point list some goals of what I hope to achieve over the next year or so. I don't think of them as new years resolutions, because that term in itself implies failure, or at least gives the impression that "there is always next year" if you fail. This is about making every day count. I'm not expecting miracles, or to be some saint or something, but small things every day can make a huge difference.
I'm ready for this journey, are you?
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