I know I'm the only person in the world who struggles with stress eating. I know no one understands my plight and I'm alone..... right. Needless to say, I'm not the only one. I wasn't the first and I certainly won't be the last. I'm not sure where in my life food became connected to emotion. Happy, sad, lonely, ecstatic, depressed, overjoyed, angry, hurt, overwhelmed...am I missing any? :) If it can be felt, I have eaten because of it.
But what did it get me? More sadness, more loneliness, more depression, more hurt, more anger...you get the picture. It was a sad downward spiral. Finally one day, I had had enough. It wasn't so much that I was ready to get my life on track, rather, I didn't want it to go where I was leading it. So I changed. That's the right mental place to be.
This past year has been racked with nursing school, long hours at the hospital, stressful exams, late nights studying, post-test celebrations, failed dating relationships (I know, I know, I shouldn't be dating during nursing school, but hello? I needed to have some fun too!), super-stressful boards and finally, celebrating the reward I've worked so hard for. RN. From the beginning of last year, I'm at the same weight. Yes, it's fluctuated a bit all year, up no more than 15 and down no more than 10. So basically, I've kept it within 25 lbs. Which sounds like a lot and it is, don't get me wrong, but I've maintained to a certain extent, too. That's what I have to keep telling myself. I didn't gain it all back.
Goals work well for me. I need to have something to work towards. I've talked about that before. In the past it was the Bay to Breakers race or the Triathlon. Now, it's changing a bit. I'm visiting a friend out of state in a few weeks. While I don't have to run across the country, it's a trip I'm looking forward to and a manageable goal. After that, I have a small race in April, then Bay to Breakers again in May and then who knows what? I can work that out. When I have a goal in mind, I'm less likely to stress-eat. I'm more focused. More driven. Aren't we all that way though? When you have a goal in mind and set yourself to it, you can't be moved.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
We receive Cooking Light and WW magazines. It's like Christmas morning when they arrive! I grab my stickie post-it tabs and settle in, ready to start the salivating process!
These magazines have broadened our horizons and palates in amazing ways! I like both magazines for different reasons: WW gives NI and Points right there, but sometimes the portions are too small or the tastes just aren't quite there. Cooking Light gives NI as well, no Points, but you can figure it out. Their downfall is the Points value may be too high but their flavor is really good. We also have several WW cookbooks that we use. Between the magazines, cookbooks and our old faithfuls, we're set!
Like I said a few weeks ago, during this process, your taste buds may change. WW came out with a great Mac N Cheese recipe that we're in love with! My mom made it last week with lackluster results, but she had some extra help that may have negatively contributed to the Mac N Cheese outcome. I no longer crave the emptier 1/4 cup calories of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Instead, I can have a FULL cup (!) of WW Mac N Cheese!
Don't start the taste changes immediately. Try them gradually. One recipe a week. . .one new product a week. . . one day at a time.
These magazines have broadened our horizons and palates in amazing ways! I like both magazines for different reasons: WW gives NI and Points right there, but sometimes the portions are too small or the tastes just aren't quite there. Cooking Light gives NI as well, no Points, but you can figure it out. Their downfall is the Points value may be too high but their flavor is really good. We also have several WW cookbooks that we use. Between the magazines, cookbooks and our old faithfuls, we're set!
Like I said a few weeks ago, during this process, your taste buds may change. WW came out with a great Mac N Cheese recipe that we're in love with! My mom made it last week with lackluster results, but she had some extra help that may have negatively contributed to the Mac N Cheese outcome. I no longer crave the emptier 1/4 cup calories of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Instead, I can have a FULL cup (!) of WW Mac N Cheese!
Don't start the taste changes immediately. Try them gradually. One recipe a week. . .one new product a week. . . one day at a time.
Preparation
Isn't the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared"? It is actually. Thank goodness for Google!
It's such a simple motto to think of but difficult to put into practice. Preparation requires time, forethought, time, shopping, time. . .you get the picture. Who has time to do all this?
You will have to find time if you're on this journey for life. Granted, some weeks are better/worse than others, but I do believe that once you get into the habit, it becomes easier and just like second nature. And, just like a few days ago when I posted; baby steps. Small, significant changes daily.
I typically eat the same foods with little variation. We had chicken three nights in a row last week! Granted, they were all very different recipes, but good 'ol chicken, nonetheless. I've gotten into the habit of making a little extra dinner so there are leftovers for lunch the next day and a little extra for later in the week when the thought of making another meal is too much to handle. By Thursday or Friday, the kitchen is the last place I want to be. so we pull out the fridge contents and dig in! It's been very effective in numerous ways!
Even though we may eat similar foods weekly, we still need to plan, shop, chop, cook and eat! There are many ideas about 'once-a-month-cooking' styles. I haven't quite gotten there yet, but I was raised by a woman and now live with one who did this years ago. Every few weeks veggies get chopped and either frozen or placed in the fridge for lunches. Chicken gets pounded, boiled, weighed, bagged and frozen. Recently tomatoes were dried and canned as well as frozen. These simple steps save a lot of time later in the week. But again, it comes down to menu planning. I can't decide Sunday what I'll want to eat on Thursday (leftovers apparently). Debcat has taken to writing out a weekly menu that I take liberties with. Schedules change, tastes change, but we have a map to get us where we need to go. We can plan out Points and work-outs accordingly. It has helped us SO much! I may not feel like chicken on Monday, so I'll pull the pork from Wednesday and fix that instead. As long you have a PLAN, you're setting yourself up for success. I stole that from Starbucks! But it's been the motto the past 2 weeks.
Set yourself up for success. Plan for it. Envision it. If you mess up one day, that's okay. Get back on the wagon and move on. You plan for a trip. You don't just show up in Greece and expect it to be wonderful. You save, plan, research, get informed and then make the leap. Same with this area of your life. Plan. Save, research and make the informed changes. You can do it!
It's such a simple motto to think of but difficult to put into practice. Preparation requires time, forethought, time, shopping, time. . .you get the picture. Who has time to do all this?
You will have to find time if you're on this journey for life. Granted, some weeks are better/worse than others, but I do believe that once you get into the habit, it becomes easier and just like second nature. And, just like a few days ago when I posted; baby steps. Small, significant changes daily.
I typically eat the same foods with little variation. We had chicken three nights in a row last week! Granted, they were all very different recipes, but good 'ol chicken, nonetheless. I've gotten into the habit of making a little extra dinner so there are leftovers for lunch the next day and a little extra for later in the week when the thought of making another meal is too much to handle. By Thursday or Friday, the kitchen is the last place I want to be. so we pull out the fridge contents and dig in! It's been very effective in numerous ways!
Even though we may eat similar foods weekly, we still need to plan, shop, chop, cook and eat! There are many ideas about 'once-a-month-cooking' styles. I haven't quite gotten there yet, but I was raised by a woman and now live with one who did this years ago. Every few weeks veggies get chopped and either frozen or placed in the fridge for lunches. Chicken gets pounded, boiled, weighed, bagged and frozen. Recently tomatoes were dried and canned as well as frozen. These simple steps save a lot of time later in the week. But again, it comes down to menu planning. I can't decide Sunday what I'll want to eat on Thursday (leftovers apparently). Debcat has taken to writing out a weekly menu that I take liberties with. Schedules change, tastes change, but we have a map to get us where we need to go. We can plan out Points and work-outs accordingly. It has helped us SO much! I may not feel like chicken on Monday, so I'll pull the pork from Wednesday and fix that instead. As long you have a PLAN, you're setting yourself up for success. I stole that from Starbucks! But it's been the motto the past 2 weeks.
Set yourself up for success. Plan for it. Envision it. If you mess up one day, that's okay. Get back on the wagon and move on. You plan for a trip. You don't just show up in Greece and expect it to be wonderful. You save, plan, research, get informed and then make the leap. Same with this area of your life. Plan. Save, research and make the informed changes. You can do it!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Inspiration
In Pslams David ponders "Where does my help come from?". Rightfully so, he discovers his help comes from the Lord. I agree that my/our strength does also, but there are other sources as well.
My friend, Elizabeth, has been with WW for as long as I have. She had much earlier success though and looked amazing! I drew inspiration from her.
My grandmother who is 40+ years older than me was losing weight and getting in shape better than me! She was an inspiration to me.
My old roommate, Kate, has been inspired by my new lifestyle and has started training for and participating in races and now I'm re-drawing inspiration from her!
My mother who has been on this journey for a long time, too and refuses to give up, gives me inspiration.
My aunt drew inspiration from me and now, in the midst of coming out of my valley, I'm drawing inspiration from her!
Those Gazelle and other various sports equipment infomercials were inspiration!
The Biggest Loser is weekly inspiration. WW meetings are inspiration. In Love Actually, Hugh Grant's character says during the opening monologue that "Love, actually, is all around". I prefer "Inspiration, actually, is all around".
In CA food establishments are now required to post nutritional information (NI) for their patrons. Use that as inspiration! Draw it from your kids, animals, friends, family, strangers, co-workers. You need these little inspirations daily and sometimes hourly to keep going and make it on this journey. In addition to inspiration, you need encouragement. Debcat, Elizabeth, grandma, aunt, sis, mom, dad and Kate among MANY others have been super encouraging to me from the beginning. My sis's ex-grandmother-in-law didn't recognize me at my niece's birthday party this year. As I began conversing with her, there was a blank stare and while she was engaging, I knew something was amiss. It wasn't until later when my sis mentioned that ex-grandmother-in-law didn't recognize me, that the pieces fit together. That was inspiration AND encouragement!
Look for inspiration and encouragement all over. It is all around.
You can do it! You're amazing! You rock! You're beautiful! Look how far you've come! Keep at it! You inspire me! You're doing it! Atta girl!
My friend, Elizabeth, has been with WW for as long as I have. She had much earlier success though and looked amazing! I drew inspiration from her.
My grandmother who is 40+ years older than me was losing weight and getting in shape better than me! She was an inspiration to me.
My old roommate, Kate, has been inspired by my new lifestyle and has started training for and participating in races and now I'm re-drawing inspiration from her!
My mother who has been on this journey for a long time, too and refuses to give up, gives me inspiration.
My aunt drew inspiration from me and now, in the midst of coming out of my valley, I'm drawing inspiration from her!
Those Gazelle and other various sports equipment infomercials were inspiration!
The Biggest Loser is weekly inspiration. WW meetings are inspiration. In Love Actually, Hugh Grant's character says during the opening monologue that "Love, actually, is all around". I prefer "Inspiration, actually, is all around".
In CA food establishments are now required to post nutritional information (NI) for their patrons. Use that as inspiration! Draw it from your kids, animals, friends, family, strangers, co-workers. You need these little inspirations daily and sometimes hourly to keep going and make it on this journey. In addition to inspiration, you need encouragement. Debcat, Elizabeth, grandma, aunt, sis, mom, dad and Kate among MANY others have been super encouraging to me from the beginning. My sis's ex-grandmother-in-law didn't recognize me at my niece's birthday party this year. As I began conversing with her, there was a blank stare and while she was engaging, I knew something was amiss. It wasn't until later when my sis mentioned that ex-grandmother-in-law didn't recognize me, that the pieces fit together. That was inspiration AND encouragement!
Look for inspiration and encouragement all over. It is all around.
You can do it! You're amazing! You rock! You're beautiful! Look how far you've come! Keep at it! You inspire me! You're doing it! Atta girl!
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