I'm having a really hard time staying on track this week. It's funny how my life circumstances keep lining up with whatever the current reading topic in the book is. This week while we are reading about choosing, I'm making terrible eating choices.
On Sunday, I let myself have a piece of birthday cake at a party. A normal, sane person would have been satisfied with that one piece, not felt guilty, and moved on. Not me. I felt guilty and less than "perfect" and allowed it to trigger more sugar eating. I've also been battling a cold and wanted comfort, so to food I've been a-going.
I think when I started this book, I hoped it would be six weeks of losing a whole bunch of weight and being fixed. Instead, I'm finding ah-ha moments where I'm doing things right and figuring stuff out, but there are also moments of making mistakes that I have to learn from also.
I'm hoping to take the opportunity to analyze my bad choices this week, see what's causing them, and work at stopping before I sabotage myself.
Here's some things I'm thinking:
I'm hoping to take the opportunity to analyze my bad choices this week, see what's causing them, and work at stopping before I sabotage myself.
Here's some things I'm thinking:
- a choice to have some sugar does not allow me to then go on a sugar binge. It should be a once in a while treat and end there. I need to enjoy it, not feel guilty, and then move on. I want to remember how much better I feel without sugar. I love the feeling of being free from it. It surprises me how much havoc sugar can reek on my life. It really is addictive and makes you feel gross. You don't notice it until you get rid of it for awhile.
- perfectionism is definitely my enemy. I need to pray about this some more. Whenever I stop being perfect, I tend to quit altogether. Help me conquer this Lord and just live a healthy life.
On to other topics....
Any Biggest Loser fans out there? I want to see Vicky go home so badly. Do you think it possible or does she still have too much power?
Wasn't it interesting and depressing to learn about how much our society has changed since 1980? Here were a few facts that stuck out to me:
- Obesity rates have nearly doubled
- Percentage of adults with diabetes has increased 300%
- The average size dress a women bought in 1985 was a size 8, today that average is a size 14.
- Women today eat an average of 385 extra calories a day as compared to the 1980's.
- Percentage of adults with diabetes has increased 300%
- The average size dress a women bought in 1985 was a size 8, today that average is a size 14.
- Women today eat an average of 385 extra calories a day as compared to the 1980's.
I found this all so disturbing. I know I'm right there with my culture. What has happened to us? What do you think is to blame for these dramatic changes?
Any predictions on who wins Biggest Loser?
Any predictions on who wins Biggest Loser?
My vote? Go Michelle! 
12 comments:
I am so glad you shared those, I don't watch biggest loser so I didn't see those stats. It is sad, but I'm right there too. I think the main cause is that we are moving so fast. If we just slow down, we won't rely on fast food as much. If we slow down we can actually think about why we want to eat the bag of chips or the king size chocolate bar. I think sugar and soda definately has a part. Caffeine and sugar are extremely addictive. I have been off both now. Caffeine for 2 1/2 weeks, and sugar about a week now and I feel so much better. I remember when I was a kid, eating out was a treat. My husband and I (before I started this diet) were eating out 3-4 times a week because we had too many things going on. Since I have been on this I have eaten out a little but I cook a lot now, and I do a lot of cook ahead things so that I have something ready to be thrown together for those last minute times. It has made a huge difference.
I'm with you Sally. I can be a perfect example of what restaurant eating does to you. I am now back from South Carolina and it sure feels great to be home in the cold crisp Pacific Northwest. During my two weeks I worked out in the hotel exercise room every day. I ate oatmeal and whole wheat toast (dry with my own all fruit jam), or poached egg and whole wheat toast and fruit for breakfast in the hotel, Smart Ones or Healthy Choice TV dinners for lunch, and only ate out one meal a day. Every time I chose a place like Applebees (so I could choose the Weight Watchers meal) Or Thai, or Salad. Over the weekend we went to Charleston and I did have a beer, one glass of wine, and ate what I wanted moderately (but not dessert unless it was sugar free). I expected to come home and lose a bunch. I gained! It was only a little, but when you eat in restaurants you just don't know what you're getting. Even the good choices must have more than you realize. Anyway the scale is again going down since I've been home, but I cringe to think what would have happened if I hadn't tried so hard.
I just thought about another thing. 1980 was approxamately when I got my first microwave. Who knows, maybe it does something to the food. Hummm, that would make an interesting experiment. I'll get back to you on that one.
Me again. I just discovered the best dessert/snack. Heat about a cup of pumpkin (from the can) and add Splenda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Eat like pudding. I read it in a health magazine. (to me it's so good it's like cheating :))
Yum, Mom, that sounds good!
I think you are both right- our society does move faster now (and the microwave represents the beginning of the convenience era) We don't know how to wait for the good stuff any more. We want to hurry, hurry, hurry, and fill up on fake food. We are more isolated, so people are lonlier, more depressed = eat more. Also, we are so much more sedentary and spend so much more time inside and yet we eat more calories, not less. I want to know how to reverse the trend so I don't pass it on to my kids. How do you REALLY have healthy habits in this day and age?
The best way to pass healthy habits on to your kids in my opinion is to model good behavior. Eat healthy food, and feed your kids the same thing. The better they eat, and the less sugar they eat, the less sugar they will want. Growing up we didn't eat fresh fruit or vegetables, we always had bananas and potatoes in the house but that was it. I have had to teach myself how to cook fresh vegetables and learn what to eat. We almost always ate food out of a box, whether it was hamburger helper or mac & cheese, at least 4 times a week it came out of a box. We never worried about eating a balanced meal, so these are things I am still learning as an adult.
Hi Becky,
I just wanted to say good luck with your fitness goals. I too am on a diet but am not brave enough to blog about it. I am finding it easier to make good food choices when I am eating withthe kids. I try to feed them whole, healthy food. In the past I would prepare for them and eat a yucko meal myself. Strange I know!
We just got back from Texas where the whole fitness quest was tough! We HAD to eat out everyday because we were stayin in a hotel room. I actually managed not to gain a pound by avoiding yummy southern comfort food!
Sally,
I think you're right. I was really lucky to grow up in a family that ate vegetables and was into sports/activity. It helps to have that background now that I've got to work on getting this extra weight off.
I'm trying to help my kids in the same way. It sure feels like the culture is fighting against me all the time though. I can't believe how much candy is given to them on a weekly basis- from bus driver, from AWANA, birthday parties, Halloween, from school as rewards, from Sunday School, friends' houses, etc.
Andrea,
WOW! I don't think I've ever gone on a trip and didn't gain any weight. Thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes I can't believe I'm blogging about it either. I'm always the open book...sometimes too much.
: ) Becky
Joel and I watched the finale. Wow! Michele looked amazing! Well, they all did!
Jen
Did she look great!??! I am so happy that she won. Now I'm inpsired to get at it again in the new year. : )
Oops...that was supposed to say, "didn't she look great"
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