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!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Firsts
This year has been one of many firsts; starting nursing school and ALL the firsts that entails, participating in a triathlon (at the end with my sis --->), getting a trainer, dating (it's been a LONG time, so we're counting it as a 'first'), trip with my mom and sis, and finally: roasting my first chicken.This was a whole, young chicken complete with 'pieces' still inside. Yum :( I'm not afraid of the jiggly bits, but it did take some time and in the end, I left some pieces and didn't wash it out. Oh well. Moving on. It was a terrific Rosemary Chicken WW recipe from a book Debcat bought. I added some potatoes, carrots and onions as well as some red wine to the roaster and it was divine! I was channeling Fall into this meal. So Cal has been hotter than blazes with actual blazes all around us lately. I'm over summer and smoke and ready for fall and crispness. This roasted chicken was just the ticket!
While I goofed a bit on the chicken by not removing all the pieces and washing thoroughly (no salmonella though!), I learned a lot! Debcat also showed me how to carve it! Who knew carving was so simple? Granted, a chicken is a lot different than a Thanksgiving turkey, but we're making baby steps here! I was a bit apprehensive as I removed it from the oven but once we carved into it, the juicy, flavorful meat was all my mind and body needed to be at ease. I can now say that I've successfully roasted my first chicken and am now not afraid to a) do it again, b) roast another member of the fowl family and c) which may include a turkey at some point. 
The finished product!
Change
"I will change...gradually" is the monthly mantra from September's issue of Shape magazine (thank you for the subscription, btw, mystery gift giver!). I agree with this statement, for the most part.
When I first embarked on this journey for the ump-teenth time in 2007, I had to make small changes. My personal mantra was "Do more today than yesterday". I would park farther away at the shopping center, bring my lunch to work or take the stairs. I would do more today than I did yesterday and eventually, it worked it's way into a normal part of my lifestyle. With that said, I also believe once you've made substantial changes and you fall off the wagon, you don't need to start with baby steps again. You've proven to yourself that you're capable of change and therefore, you should jump right back in and get on with it!
When it comes to food, the same holds true. I didn't' start off buying fat free (FF) cheese (which I still refuse to purchase), FF ice cream, high fiber bread, etc. There were small changes; low fat (LF) cheese, WW chocolate snacks, WW yogurt and my new favorite Better N' Peanut ButterThere is NO WAY I could have sustained weight loss and lifestyle changes if I made these dietary changes at the same time. They had to evolve. My friend, Debcat, and I were discussing how over time your taste buds change. Don't get me wrong, I still love high fat foods and the occasional In-N-Out, but they are too rich for me now. I had In-N-Out last week with my mom and sis and boy, was I paying for it! The overall message here is that it takes time for your body to change too and accept the different tastes of the new foods you're introducing. I would take chocolate cake made with yogurt or applesauce over one with eggs and oil now. I can't believe I just said that either!
Do more today than yesterday and start filling your fridge and cupboards with LF, high fiber items. Slowly. . . but steadily and consistently!
When I first embarked on this journey for the ump-teenth time in 2007, I had to make small changes. My personal mantra was "Do more today than yesterday". I would park farther away at the shopping center, bring my lunch to work or take the stairs. I would do more today than I did yesterday and eventually, it worked it's way into a normal part of my lifestyle. With that said, I also believe once you've made substantial changes and you fall off the wagon, you don't need to start with baby steps again. You've proven to yourself that you're capable of change and therefore, you should jump right back in and get on with it!
When it comes to food, the same holds true. I didn't' start off buying fat free (FF) cheese (which I still refuse to purchase), FF ice cream, high fiber bread, etc. There were small changes; low fat (LF) cheese, WW chocolate snacks, WW yogurt and my new favorite Better N' Peanut ButterThere is NO WAY I could have sustained weight loss and lifestyle changes if I made these dietary changes at the same time. They had to evolve. My friend, Debcat, and I were discussing how over time your taste buds change. Don't get me wrong, I still love high fat foods and the occasional In-N-Out, but they are too rich for me now. I had In-N-Out last week with my mom and sis and boy, was I paying for it! The overall message here is that it takes time for your body to change too and accept the different tastes of the new foods you're introducing. I would take chocolate cake made with yogurt or applesauce over one with eggs and oil now. I can't believe I just said that either!
Do more today than yesterday and start filling your fridge and cupboards with LF, high fiber items. Slowly. . . but steadily and consistently!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Running Start
Hello! Well, this is a first! I NEVER thought I would have a blog! I suppose most people say that though. This isn't so much a blog for others as a reminder for me of how much I love food, how wonderful food can be and most importantly, how delicious it can taste even when you're losing weight or watching what you eat. I'm also interested in seasonal, colorful cooking as well as nutritional balance.
I'm a firm believer in moderation: wine, cheese, pasta, ice cream! As a member of Weight Watchers (WW), I've learned a lot about food, nutrition and health. WW prides themselves on not having any foods that are 'off limits'. Rather, they assign a value to each food and you make the choice. I like choices. I'm a bit of a Type A control freak, so I like to be in charge and you better believe that if I'm going to eat a rice crispy bar, then it better be ooey-gooey delicious. Not hard as a rock like the one I took a bite of and threw away the other day.
If you're anything like me, you like to cook for other people. I'm not talking about catering here, but let's face it, I'm more apt to prepare an entire meal for my family or friends than if it's just me. I don't cook for the praise, "OMG! This is AMAZING"! Don't get me wrong, the compliments are nice, but it's a nurturing issue. I like to take care of the people around me (hence, nursing school) and if I prepare a meal for them that leaves them satisfied, comforted and nourished, then I've done my job!
I'm sending this off into the blogging world, not sure who's out there, but again, I'm doing this for me and if you want to join the journey, let it begin!
I'm a firm believer in moderation: wine, cheese, pasta, ice cream! As a member of Weight Watchers (WW), I've learned a lot about food, nutrition and health. WW prides themselves on not having any foods that are 'off limits'. Rather, they assign a value to each food and you make the choice. I like choices. I'm a bit of a Type A control freak, so I like to be in charge and you better believe that if I'm going to eat a rice crispy bar, then it better be ooey-gooey delicious. Not hard as a rock like the one I took a bite of and threw away the other day.
If you're anything like me, you like to cook for other people. I'm not talking about catering here, but let's face it, I'm more apt to prepare an entire meal for my family or friends than if it's just me. I don't cook for the praise, "OMG! This is AMAZING"! Don't get me wrong, the compliments are nice, but it's a nurturing issue. I like to take care of the people around me (hence, nursing school) and if I prepare a meal for them that leaves them satisfied, comforted and nourished, then I've done my job!
I'm sending this off into the blogging world, not sure who's out there, but again, I'm doing this for me and if you want to join the journey, let it begin!
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