Weight Loss Challenge: Week 2
May 5th, 2008 by kitliz
Previous Weight: 128
Current Weight: 126
Goal Weight: 115
Confession #1
First of all, I just have to say that I still get the cringies the second before I type in my weight into a post that I know is going to be broadcast across the Internet. I put pictures of myself up all the time, and in half of them I look like a gender-indeterminate dirt-covered gremlin, so you would think posting one simple body-related statistic wouldn’t be an issue. (You might think I’m saying the “gender-indeterminate dirt-covered gremlin” thing to be funny… perhaps you’ve never browsed through the Badass Pergola Saga, or else you’d know.)
I flout all kinds of social norms every day, and yet, as a woman, there seems to be something inherently unacceptable in discussing the actual number that corresponds directly to the size of my ass. I have no idea why. I’m not particularly skinny or particularly heavy, and I never have been. (Okay, I did top out at around 140 my freshman year in college.) I might feel a little bit that where there are people out there that are changing their lives and losing more than my total body weight, that my 18 pounds feels a little insignificant. Possibly even insulting. I don’t mean it that way.
Confession #2
This week I ate lots of macaroni & cheese, peanut butter & honey sandwiches, tomato soup, and some fettuccine Alfredo, a hamburger, and chocolate cake. Oh and Cheerios. (Sorry MysteryMan, if you’re wondering why the box is half empty.) That doesn’t sound like a diet, because it’s not a diet. I’m not going to try and lose weight if I have to give up butter, cheese, or, god help me, carbs.
Hara Hachi Bu
What I amdoing fairly diligently is adhering to the Okinawan principle of Hara Hachi Bu, which is to eat until you are only eight parts [out of ten] full. I have become a grazer… and though I refuse to calorie count obsessively, I know that in general I don’t eat more than 300 calories at a time during the day. (Except for the occasional hamburger splurge.)
The Okinawan cultural habit of calorie control called hara hachi bu, which means eat only until you are 80% full, plays a role as well as their habit of eating an antioxidant rich plant-based diet. Stopping at 80% capacity is actually a very good strategy to avoid obesity without going hungry because the stomach’s stretch receptors take about 20 minutes to tell the body that how full it really is and 20 minutes after stopping you will really feel full.
I also started using my measuring cup as a food scoop. So instead of pouring a huge bowl of cereal, I just scoop out 1 cup. The same with pasta. It’s fairly amazing that I used to eat at least 2-1/2 times that amount in one sitting, but I find that 1 cup is just as satisfying except that I don’t feel like immediately laying on the couch and going into a coma after I eat.
Exercise
I’ve lived a pretty sedentary life for the last year-and-a-half and I hate it. I turned down a job four months ago because when I walked into their office for the interview the employees were literally chained to the desk by their phone headsets. I sat in a glass conference room for more than an hour and a half and did not see one person stand up once. Welcome to Hell.
My mom and I have recently started walking 3-4 miles on the weekends, and maybe 2 times a week I will go to the park by myself and do my run-a-mile, walk-a-mile routine.
I’m also trying to convince MysteryMan that we need activities that focus less on beer-drinking, more on doing something other than sitting on our butts. He agrees, although we just can’t think of anything good to do. I suggested he teach me to play football, but I think he believes that one of us might get injured in that process.
Everybody’s Doing It
Here’s a shout out to another blogger in a Weight Loss Challenge: Julie at aahcoffee. Good Luck!
Recycling Cabinet
DIY Wine Rack
Good for you! I feel ya on the whole “not gonna give up butter, cheese or carb” thing. If I ever had to do something that MADE me give up anything I wanted….well, let’s just say that it wouldn’t last long. I am one stubborn chica, and when someone tells me not to do something, I just want to do it more.
I AM following Weight Watchers count point system. Basically I can eat whatever I want, but I have to trade off during some other meal….So if I REALLY want a piece of pizza, then I can have it, but I have to eat healthier the rest of the day. You learn to “budget” your points. And I am trying to get in all of the fruits/veggies/dairy that is recommended.
The team that is doing the weightloss competition here had to reveal our “secret number” to each other. That was hard. I’d rather tell someone I pooped my pants than admit to my number. But it was good because it really makes me be accountable. And knowing that there are otheres out there who look at me and KNOW my number means that I am going to try even harder to make that number smaller. At least I don’t have to weigh myself in their presence, wearing only a sports bra and spandex shorts. (Those poor Biggest Loser people….can’t they at least find them supportive bras?!?!?)
Could you guys take up raquetball? Or go walk at Wildwood Park? Or even the waterfront. Or maybe join a volleyball or softball team somewhere.
Now I’m off to google the Okinawan food principle.
Have you ever read “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole (or something like that)?
You might find it interesting reading. It’s basically about the concept of STOPPING when full, and eating what satisfies you… eat that macaroni and cheese you want, and stop when full, or you will eat 800 calories of rice cakes trying to stop the mac and cheese craving!
thinking of cutting back on my beer and chocolate makes me break out in hives….
Self sabotage is a common problem when you like to loose weight.
Your subconscious mind is telling you there is something wonderful in the fridge, your conscious mind says stay away from it… however your feets move you closer and you end up opening the fridge just to have a look if this great jammy ??? is still in there,… just taste a bit to see if it is still Ok, NO says your conscious mind…
Then your subconscious mind goes on you eat it, then you have a bad feeling…
Do you get the story?
Most weight loss program are based on exercises and diet, unfortunately to often our programs in our subconscious mind are not influenced from this programs which leads to immense struggle and motivational problems.
In short a wast of energy between your conscious and subconscious mind…
I am an expert in reprogramming your mind to success whatever your goal might be.
We could have a free success coaching session together on the phone or on Skype
and analyse where you are at. Interested? Send me an Email when you would be available and what time zone you are in. I am from Perth Western Australia