Good day Coaches!
It has been exactly one week since I posted last. However, I have spent about an hour reading the seven pages of posting from all of you so I can 'catch up' on how you all are doing.
First of all, I had "planned" on posting sooner but I got the influenza this past Sunday and I slept 12 hours that day and 10 hours today. That doesn't leave much computer time after I factor in light "straightening up" and a surprise need to clear off our open front porch so our property management can power wash all exteriors. My mini-rant is: this is a dumb a$$ idea-mid January and it is supposed to be below 32 degrees(freezing) tonight. In spite of being sick, last night I bundled up and swept the porch floor of any residual winter dried leaves from our woods since I didn't want those frozen to the floor when I put all of our outdoor furniture back on there.
BBE, you are having 60 degree weather, really? It is in the mid-40s here in GA. WTH?
Credit: I am sticking to my word about being honest about my weekly weigh ins with one of the other online diet support groups that I have belonged to for nearly three years. Reporting a re-gain of 0.8 lbs. sucked. If there is a reward in being honest I fail to see it at this point. I just felt more disgusted with the "re-gain" than the honesty in reporting it.
Credit: I joined
gardnerjoy's monthly exercise challenge in January. I have always loved being active so this is not much of a personal challenge for me BUT I will admit that I am most proud of doing the Leslie Sansone Walk dvd with my DH last night. He
really needs to work out (high stress, high cholesterol in spite of eating healthy and very sedentary) and now he is telling me that he
wants to exercise. Just saying that almost brings me to tears. I want him in my life "forever" and so I worked out with him last night in spite of the fact that my legs felt like limp spaghetti. I am more proud of last night's efforts than all of the days previous.
Credit: Two months ago a friend of my DH's gave him a surrender
novena (a prayer mantra said 9 consecutive days ) and it has revolutionalized my inner life! My ever-present anxiety has all but disappeared and watching miracles coming out of "nowhere" is just plain amazing! Now, to keep working on being patient.
Speaking of which;
nationalparker and
onebyone, I hear you so loud and clear on where you are because I am there too! I have been working out daily, staying within my caloric range, eating healthy and "nothing, absolutely nothing!" I even changed the battery on my "bells n whistle" scales --trying to eliminate all possible causes for this lack of loss.
Onebyone, at least, you can point to the candy. I can't point to anything except "possibly" some added sodium.
Onebyone: I have been using the Beck strategies for two years and what I have finally come to the conclusion is that it seems that I needed to get one of the skills down at a time and then just go down the list. It does mean that I am at this longer than some (and that totally bums me out) but I will say that once a pound is gone it usually stays gone. I remember when I had difficulty with late night snacking. I did the same thing that
FMG did, staying up and playing online games (cards), just cheating myself out of a decent night's sleep. Well, I also got into the habit of late night snacking as well. I killed two birds with one stone by both having a cut off time for bedtime and with that went the snacking. I am sure that you will find something that will work for you. You are very resourceful when it comes finding solutions to your life problems. Just don't put yourself down while you are searching for it.
P.S.
STRESSED is DESSERTS spelled backwards. Just a thought.
One of the things that I have taken away from Dr. Beck that I think is not often mentioned is:
just because we do or did things a certain way in the present/past doesn't mean that we always have to do that. Bill and his oranges was the most recent example of memory but I remind myself more that "just because" I did it one way doesn't mean I can't do it another way. Sometimes, just reminding myself that helps me to see the situation for what it is and then a certain clarity comes from that.
bethfromdayton: on your one year with the Beck system. I agree with the others: your strength is your organized pre-planning. I am amazed that you managed to lose 50 lbs without any exercise. Did I understand that correctly? I know that both are essential for me. It is like having a right and left hand. I need both to get the "job done". It also looks like you are close to maintenance.
I see that there is an ongoing discussion about calories, food plans and such. My DH said to me yesterday, "You eat normally" and "I see you are conditioning your body." Thank you, DH, for noticing. I really needed to hear those words. I have always said that the food plan that I wanted "forever" would be one that I could stick with day in and day out. There are many things that I have "given up" that I honestly don't mind. After awhile, I just even forget that I once liked them. Although, Dr. Beck would say that is "drawing a line", I would say that one day I realized that I didn't "need" (nor want) those same foods any more. This year is the "Year of No Pizza". Considering this is equivalent of putting my only born on e-bay; this is a major deal. Now, how to explain that to my food-centric family when they arrive will take some doing but I will come up with something. Maybe, I will be
"pizza-intolerant" when they come.
ForMyGirls: Thank you for sharing about how things are going on your family vacation. I have mentioned before that my sister et al are coming for a visit and I have already thought through how I am going to handle food pushers, people who eat "like crap" and just upsetting my general routine.
AZtricia: Good Job on the 4 lbs. gone forever!
nationalparker: Several days in the pink book are dedicated to both dealing with disappointment as well as the definition of a plateau. I am where you are at. I took a siesta from daily working out this past fall and now I am back hammering away at it. I also have reminded myself that inactivity is what puts pounds back on. My spin on why the elderly eat less is because those people who are chronically inactive have less of an appetite plus a lot of the elderly are on so many medications that also suppress the appetite. Since I have a history of being active (except this past fall, for some odd reason) I have been advised to eat according to the calories I burn. I can't slash my calories too much because I run the risk of too low blood glucose. Like most things in life, it is a balancing act. My best wishes to you uncovering what is the block in your life as well. Just know, I am there myself.
It just plain sucks!
BBE: potassium can also be found in some vegetables like
. Off the top of my head I can't remember which other ones do but my guess is that most really dark leaved vegetables also have some potassium. So you don't have to eat all of that fruit. Also, remember to check your calcium intake.
It is the combination of sodium-potassium-calcium that keeps your heart healthy. Again, many of the darker leaf vegetables also have traces of calcium in like
:
seadwaters: My condolences regarding your co-worker's stroke. I am wondering though how this man's stress level was. The CEO of a company I used to work for gave a speech about stress when he had a heart attack even though he was the "picture of health". Hence, my concerns for my DH. TG we are praying the surrender novena. It has made a world of difference for me. Short of moving to the Mediterranean (a food plan I so happen to love), I have seen the value is
"stressing less".
Moebug: WTG on the
cake test. You passed with flying colors.
maryann: Loved your tip on releasing your personal "baggage". I have an empty box that I am working on filling. I too have done this and I am doing a first for me: we are planning on moving within the next couple of months and I am starting packing now but with the same idea as yours---don't box up what I don't want to unbox once we get there. So it is sort of a "purging" as I go project. When taking down all of the holiday decorations, I decided that I would also edit what I owned and donate the rest. It took longer but now next year when I unpack all of this (also thanks for color-coded plastic bins as well-thanks to Home Depot recent sale) I can just put it all up in jiffy. Well, in theory anyway.
gardenerjoy: loved your French restaurant story as well as pix. Great Job on the continuing of exercise streak. I agree that most foods have way too much salt although it is quite easy to steer oneself around it.
Less is best in almost every department.
AZtricia and seadwaters: Loved the photos of the cute dogs. Mine are in doggie heaven. I do not currently own pets although I do miss having a cat until I read that the two main reasons for older people falling (and breaking something) is 1) cats (under foot) and 2) clutter. So, since I am working on the later, I have decided to forego the former since I just rebroke the same toe that I broke last year this time when I accidentally hit it with a metal folding chair I was putting away. (sigh). I am a danger to myself sometimes.
Losetoall and
systemsaddict: Hey!
Loving thoughts go your way.
Lexxiss: I always think of the car when I see your name. Sorry but that is how word association works with me. Gosh, you sound even more organized than I think I am.
Great Job in juggling all of those balls and making it look so simple. I know it is not.
Still experimenting with the half-portion of a single serving. It is eye-opening and I find myself quite comfortable with these smaller portions. Life is interesting, isn't it? When we relax and instead of resist, things become easier.
Love, Pam