Hey guys, happy new week! Grrr... I've been eating off plan for a few days, and it's getting on my nerves. I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow night and challenging myself to one week on plan. I should probably expect a gain this week - but I'm still hoping for a maintain - which probably means falling short of my May Day goal. Grrr. It's okay, it's okay - it happens, right?

Yes jenicra, it DOES happen, unfortunately. (-; But we know how to move on & do better the next time, right?
I hope you all are looking forward to a great week! It's my late week at work (we 3 take turns being the one to close up at 5:30), which isn't my favorite, but my DH is off tonight so I'm excited for that! It's always a treat to have him home in the evening, since he started this goofy 2nd-job thing.
Here's a question of curiosity--have any of you ever read the book, "The Fat Fallacy"? I think it's by a guy named William Crowell or something like that. It's about the way the French eat, and how they eat "real" everything (non-processed foods, full-fat dairy, etc) and they don't have nearly the obesity rate that we do. It's got me very interested, and I'm on the hold list at my library so I can read this thing. I'll let ya know what I find out!
Have a great Monday ya'll!

Jen - I've heard of something LIKE that, but not that book. It sounds very interesting. A lot of people are heading towards a "raw food" diet - where they limit the amount of processed and even cooked food that they eat. They tend to eat a lot of raw fruits and vegetables. They say that foods lose a lot of their nutrient value when they're processed in any way. Most raw foods diets call for atleast 80% of your diet being raw - I've simply tried to eat more raw fruits and veggies and I know that makes me FEEL better, I have no idea if its helping lose weight (other than the fact that is replacing potato chips, chocolate, and ice cream )

Hi everyone! The weekend was sure busy for me (all school work) and this week is not looking any better.
So today I started the south beach diet. I checked out the book at my local library and read it this weekend. I think it makes sense for me, but we shall see how well it works since I don't have much to lose.
Have a great day everyone!

Good luck on the SBD tonic! My mother is currently on Atkin's and I'm trying to get her to switch to SB (seeing as how she hasn't lost ANYTHING despite being on it for almost 10 mos. - although she hasn't gained, which we both do if we do nothing, at about a rate of 10 lbs./year - plus our family's medical history), so you'll have to let me know how that goes.

I've decided that everytime I get on the treadmill to run, my goal is to run for 30 min. If I can't do that, then I double the time I ran walking. Like today, I ran for 20 min. but wasn't feeling up to 10 more minutes, so I continued to walk until I hit 20 min. walking too. I needed a plan to keep on the treadmill even if I wasn't feeling up to the run. Hopefully, this will help.

BTW tonic - when is your wedding?

Oh, and another reason why I'm still kicking myself for flubbing up food-wise the last few days: I'm only 2 lbs. away from being OVERWEIGHT as opposed to obese! Grrr! I could have been there Wednesday, but that's not happening now. Oh well, I'm on Day 1 of being OP and it's going great. Let's aim for next week, eh?

The raw-foods thing is bit extreme to my way of thinking. This french-eating book idea is definitely about both raw AND cooked foods, but fresh foods, and about eating unprocessed foods (like, cooking from scratch). I'm afraid it's going to turn me into a food snob! (-; The other night I sauteed some mushrooms in a bit of butter, olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper, and it was SO tasty that my more-processed meal later just tasted like crap in comparison. I can't wait to get this book so I can check out the idea more! I'm just so frustrated lately with being hungry every TWO HOURS (at minimum) when I'm "on track" and eating "light!" Not sure if that's the answer, either. Hmmm....

Jen - Thanks! I also tried Atkins when I first started losing weight and it worked great for me.. just was not something I could keep up long term. I don't think low carb works for everyone though.. so maybe for your mom she would lose better with low fat/ low cal.

You can lose those 2 pounds!! Just be patient!

Oh and my wedding is August 28, 2004. I'd like to lose 10 pounds by June though...
When is yours?

Major run-in with a dozen bakery chocolate chip cookies today (eaten over the course of the entire day, but still).....something's gotta give here. I'm so tired of thinking about food all the time--whether it's "good" food, or "bad" food, I can't seem to find a way to do this without it being SUCH an unhealthy, obsession-like focus. Any thoughts ladies? I'm at a pretty high frustration level right now!

Oh, boy, Jen - I'm sure they were at least tasty. Obviously, I can't be of much help when I'm drooling over the idea of a dozen cookies, but I can give it a shot... Do you plan your food everyday? I personally don't do this normally, but when I just can't seem to get into gear, I sit down the night before and plan everything that is going into my mouth and when for the next day. If I've got this schedule (usually I only do this for a day or two, to get my mind back into gear, I'm just too busy for this kind of planning) I find it easier to say no - it's not on the list, I don't get to eat it. As far as food obsession goes, I imagine that most of us here ARE obsessed with food (what we put into our mouths, weighing eat option, the cost of eating this now kind of thoughts that I know I have every single day), but there really is such a thing as a healthy obsession - as long as it stays positive. It sounds like you're feeling like it's definately NOT a positive right now, and I think the cookies are just one way of making that more obvious to you.

I honestly don't know exactly what to tell you. Maybe take a couple of days "off" of dieting per se, and by this I mean eat as though you were in maintenence, because you soon will be and it's something that you're going to have to deal with forever if you want to stay where you are (and I know you do). And of course, keep exercising - that's key. Do your best to stop thinking about food, about carbs, calories, fat... just try to enjoy food in a reasonable way as you might imagine other "normal" people do.

I know Holly attends OA meetings - maybe that's something that might fit you? She'd definately be the person to ask. Or maybe TOPS or some kind of eating issues support group where you can share with others face-to-face your attitudes toward food.

Jen - First.. its perfectly naturally to get frustrated. I did and its probably part of the reason I took a sabatical from focusing on weight loss. Just take it one day at a time.. and if you want a cookie.. have one now and then. Its when you have them every day that becomes a problem. Have you ever thought about having a free day? I believe Body for Life has that and people still are successful losing weight. Otherwise.. I dunno what to say. I don't want to have to think about food the rest of my life.. but unfortunately I will to some degree. But if you keep exercising.. you afford to be less focused on your diet.

Thanks jenicra & tonic, for your kind words & encouragement. That support is the reason this board is so great! I have lots to think about, based on your suggestions. Right now I do know that planning my day's food down to the last detail, is not for me. That would probably only serve to intensify my focus/obsession with food. But one day, that might be a good tool for me! I so desperately want to be a "normal person" with food--I want to eat when I get hungry, and stop when I'm full. I by & large want to THINK about food, only when I'm getting hungry, and then in terms of "what should I eat? I'm hungry." I guess you could say that I'm resenting having to think about food (for losing weight's sake) right now! It's silly, if you think about it. I'm resenting an inanimate object! And having my TOM right now is probably not helping matters. (-;
If anyone else has thoughts/suggestions on this matter, please let me know! I'm trying to get in an "eating-like-a-regular-person" groove, we'll see how it goes.....

College is a real diet killer - between having ZERO time to exercise to needing gallons of caffeinated beverages to get you through late night study sessions - its enough to make me crazy. If I can maintain where I am right now through finals week and graduation (18 days away!!!!) then I'm going to be happy.

And Jen, don't worry about the cookies. Every single time there is a package of cookies in my house, I eat them ALL within 1 or 2 days. You're definitely not alone on that one! I'm getting tired of having to obsess about food, too. I even slacked off on my fitday.com account for almost a week. Its hard to come to terms with the fact that I'll probably never just be able to eat whatever I want whenever I want it. I kind of compare it to addiction - an alcoholic can't simply have a drink now and then after they become sober. And someone who has given up smoking can't go back to smoking just once a week after they quit. I don't know - just my weird way of rationalizing things with myself.

Jen - I agree that it totally sucks that when losing weight you have to almost obsess about what you are puting in your mouth. I do think that when you are at your goal weight that you will pick good food choices without even thinking about them, and your metabolism will have increased so that the occasional dessert and bad food choice won't be as big of a deal. Its just getting to that point is not a short road.... its long and hard. But you are doing so great! No worries about the cookies.

spillthebeans - Its very hard to be a college student and lose weight. Does your school not have a gym you can use? Usually they include that in your extra fees and don't let you get out of paying it.

Emily - Stop talking about cookies!!! You are killing me! hehehe.. just kidding. Congrats on your upcoming graduation! I can't believe its been 4 years since I graduated from undergrad.. it freaks me out how old I am

Emily: Everything you said is right on! Food is defn. something that many people are addicted to. Your comparison was great to alcohol or nicotine, food can be a great addiction...the wrong foods anyiways. You really hae to make a change as far as your thoughts and habits to get the right balance as far as not obsessing about food, and not falling of the wagon and eating all the wrong things. Ying and Yang = Balance

Tonic: Time flies when your having fun! Believe me I had too much fun, and that is why I'm still plugging away at the whole college thing at the age of 26