Babette - I think you are making a wise decision. Eating with the tv on (contributes to fast eating and also no communication, another issue altogether), and leaving the serving dishes off the table are a good idea.

We made is a rule when our kids were young to never have the tv on when we eat. It was the time we spent talking to each other and telling everyone the important things that were happening in our lives. We did have the occasional treat where we ate in front of the tv - like hockey play-off games, or a special movie - but there were not very often. We have actually gotten rid of the family tv since the family is gone and we don't watch it anymore.

Another thing that you might want to try, when it comes to the second helping thing, is to not make second helpings. I started with the lean cuisine skillet sensations (which are 2 servings) and augmented that with a salad and ff dressing, and maybe some additional vegetables. There were no second helpings to go back for :D, therefore no temptations. I have transferred that into my own cooking now, so that I cook only what we are going to eat. If anyone is still hungry when finished eating, there are always lots of vegetable or fruit snacks around to munch on.

The smart thing, though, is that you are making changes that will affect your lifestyle, your health and as a bonus, your weight. The most important thing is to try different ideas, keep the ones that work and discard the ones that don't. You keep goin'. Now you have a weight loss buddy to support you right at home. Congratulations. I think it will be interesting to see where we all are next year at this time. :)

Day 1
 

Thanks, Peggy, for the input! The idea of not making extra servings is a terrific one. I usually make HUGE salads and don't think twice about having more, although I don't usually take more of the main dish. And I don't need more as a rule - just eat it because it's there. And sometimes when I am serving from a container, I leave everything out on the counter, as if I'm leaving it there in case I want more. Makes it much too easy to go back and scoop out a bit more. Those calories add up too. Funny how much of this is second-guessing your inner child, huh. My inner child could definitely use some discipline, at least when it comes to food. :o

Yea, though I am on Day 1 again, and still trying to get around the block, I am making progress - my aberrations are smallish, consisting of eating more than I need or eating when I'm not really hungry. I haven't had an actual binge in weeks, and that feels good. :D I feel much more like a normal, healthy eater. Even if that includes (as it usually does) the occasional little lapse, I haven't felt the need to binge, perhaps partly as a result of allowing small indulgences. All in all, I feel pretty optimistic. The weight is coming off, even if it is sloooooow, and my habits are improving. My exercise is very good. This is going to work! And some sweet day, I'll get around block #1! :rolleyes:

I succumbed to the impulse to have some baklava last night - it was sitting on the kitchen table (mistake! AHA!) because we'd had people over for dinner before going out to a movie. I hadn't thought of how much the fact of it sitting out there factored in, but now I'm thinking "Hey - if I'd put that away, that probably wouldn't have happened." I did have kind of a stressful day, which was a contributor, but I think if the darned stuff had been in the freezer, I would have been safe. Next time!

Have a wonderful day, All!
xo
babette
1/211/1

Day 2
 

DH leaves today for a week. Looking forward to the time alone, but i know that i've got to plan my time to make it work well for me. Plus i've got a lot of work to get done :( I feel pretty good and optimistic, though. I will do my best to have a great "vacation" :lol:

The plan: I'm going to try to see how many perfect days I can string together. :rolleyes: Yeah, I know that's the whole point of this exercise, but it could be either easier or more difficult with DH away, and I intend to make it easier, through application of due discipline.

DH and I walked around the harbour this morning and I will squeeze in some tai chi through the day. I'm having dinner with an old friend tonight.

Let's make this a wonderful day, Blockettes!

xo
babette :wave:
2/211 (-4)/1

a blockhead returns...
 

Sheesh. Day 1 again.
 

Okay, it's not like i didn't know better. I had one of those days yesterday where my day gets highjacked and I end up feeling crummy. Started out great - I was quite happy in the morning and felt like I was ready for the day. I had to drive out to the country to pick up my nephew who was going away with DH, and I invited my Mom along for the drive because she likes to get out. And then, I just didn't quite allow myself enough time to do it comfortably, and ended up driving like a maniac and fretting about DH being pissed because I wasn't back when I said I would be. I actually made it - just 5 minutes later than I said. And DH hadn't called to be picked up, so all my fretting was for nought. Then I started to make the sandwiches for the trip that DH had coerced me into doing. He was an hour later than he expected so everything was actually ready by the time he got home, but it was not the kind of day I would have spent for myself. I know I sound like a spoiled brat - lots of women do more than I do with a glad heart, but sometimes I feel like I'm in servitude! :mad: And I don't like it! By the time they left, my good mood had evaporated.

And my friend cancelled dinner. By that time, I was in that frame of mind where nothing sounds like fun anyway (except i did sort of consider shopping, which might have been an idea). And decided to have dinner watching TV. :nono: So of course I ended eating a really big dinner and then munched cheese and crackers through the evening. Stayed up late, even though i was tired early and wasn't enjoying myself :shrug: Bleh. I think that the whole thing could have been avoided if I'd just gotten out of the house 15 minutes earlier to pick up DN.

Okay. I'm ALONE here for the week and can organize my days to suit myself. So I am putting a renewed effort into enjoying myself (while also being productive :rolleyes: )

Kat, great to "see" you again! :D I keep up with you on the other thread, but it's always nice to have you in here, too! Thanks for the reminder about spending time wisely - yesterday was a real example of how my time is what I make it. And life is just too freakin' short to waste with that kind of foolishness. Like throwing away time that could be precious! Ah.I think I've got myself talked around this thing enough to recover. Plus, the overeating (not quite a binge, but not good) could have been avoided if I maintained my rule about only eating at the table (and not reading :( ) when i'm alone. That really works for me. Maybe I should do it, huh? :shrug:

Peggy, hope your gigs are a blast! Now, THAT sounds like a LOT of fun, playing in a band. One of my fantasies, but uh.. i can't even play air guitar...

Let's make this a great one, Blockettes! I am going to put a major effort into doing just that. I'm getting my grandson today and keeping him overnight and will see about getting my son over.

xo
babette :wave:
1/211 (-4)/1

Day 1
 

Felled by chocolate cheesecake yesterday. I did okay on the weekend, followed all my rules. Ate a light dinner yesterday and then had a piece of cheesecake for dessert later. And then I had more, when i definitely was not hungry. :o

Today I feel like I got the sugar craving out of my system -- now I just want to get the darn sugar out of it!

Let's make this a great day!

xo
babette :wave:
1/211 (-4)/1

Day 1 -- I think it's a Monday thing
 

"now I just want to get the darn sugar out of it!"

Truer words were never spoken.

I find that sugar begets sugar begets depression begets more sugar. So why do we do it ? Why aren't the government Drug Czars out there helping the American (and Canadian and whomever else) public figure out how to kick their Moon Pie habits?????? I think there's a sugar lobby in congress that is hatching an insidious plot to keep us all hooked.
:devil:

It's the same folks who invented 'Fried Cheese". Let's face it; only fat has more fat.

Anyway, yes, I'm back to day 1. It's like I have the little angel and devil people on my shoulders. Monday-Friday the little angel wins. Saturday and Sunday the little devil wins.

I'm looking into blowing large $$$ on one of those Precor cross-trainers. With a toddler at home, I cannot usually get time to go to the gym. And I'm often home alone with no back-up in the evening, so going out for a walk isn't even an option. (I can't leave the baby alone in the house asleep; I know other people do it, but I just can't) I really like eliptical cross-trainers. So the reason I bring this up is to ask if any of the rest of you have taken the plunge into home gym equipment and can give me some feedback on how your experience with Precor (or any of the other major manufacturers) has been.

OK. I'm going to stick with it this week. Leaving town for a couple of days on business (so I'll be able to go to the gym while travelling -- I get my best workouts in hotel weight rooms!). I'll check in for a pre-weekend confession and pep-talk on Friday.

Hugs,

Beanie

1/-1/1

And for the record
 

No; I didn't eat Moon Pies or Fried Cheese this weekend. They were just for illustration

Strawberry-Rhubarb pie (yep, complete with ice cream)......now, that's another story........

.......Oh, yeah, and the Bridge Mix....can't forget the Bridge Mix.

Beanie

Day 1
 

Even if i have to post a week of day 1 I refuse to quit. I did poorly yesterday. Not feeling well, which I used as an excuse to allow myself to eat sitting on the couch. That - as I know from a LOT :eek: of experience - often leads to trouble. I intend to frequently remind myself of that fact repeatedly today, so I know why I must prohibit it.

Beanie, I am so with you on the sugar thing (but....strawberry rhubarb pie with ice cream and bridge mix...mmmmm). I'm just about ready to try one of the sugar busters plans. Someone posted a link to a good site a while ago, which I forgot to save. I know that sugar is bad for me, makes me feel less well, and so on and so forth... But I seem to be in a phase of eating it almost every day, which I would really like to stop. I AM depressed today, and I'm sure that part of that is that I didn't take care of myself properly yesterday. Excess food NEVER helps me - when will I learn? :rolleyes:

I will WORK at this thing today. Let's make it a good one!

xo
babette
1/211 (-4)/1

BABETTE,

Just wanted to give you a heads up that we have a SUGAR BUSTERS board right here on the 3FC'S site that we all would welcome you to come and check out and join us at any time. Our link is below, just click on the link and find our most current WEEKLY SUPPORT BOARD, where we mostley post:


http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/foru...php?forumid=62

Continued success to all!

Debbie
194/12?/129
Sb since 3/22/00
Reached goal 6/10/01

Well, it has been a while since I posted (almost a week), but the time that I took off was spent wisely. I think another small weight gain for me last week, made me sit down and reflect on all this weight loss stuff.

This past weekend was a long weekend in Canada, so I spent the weekend reflecting and making some key decisions about my weight. I am definitely having trouble losing the last 10 pounds and wonder if I really am in a frame of mind to lose it. When I started this journey, I wanted to be about a size 6. Consequently, I guessed that, for me, a size 6 would be about 120 pounds. I went to Walmart a couple of weeks ago because I needed a pair of cheap jeans really quick. Sooo I settled on a pair of size 6 jeans, simply because they didn't have anything smaller. When I really thought about the whole issue, I realized that I have accomplished the size goal that I was striving for - it just doesn't match the weight goal that I set for myself. The final decision that I have made is that I am going to be happy at around the 130 mark (size 6), let my body adjust to this weight and then decide in a few months whether I want to lose the extra 10 pounds. The thing I need to do now is to stay on a maintenance program and make sure that I don't gain. Consequently, I started with Day 1 last Monday, on a less rigid program, but one that will still allow me to maintain the weight that I am presently carrying.

The long and short, is that today is Day 4. Unfortunately, the stress, plus the work load that I am carrying, have been so high this week that I haven't had time to eat even the minimum required on my weight loss plan. My official WI is tomorrow, so I am expecting a bit of a loss. Starting Saturday, I will need to manage the maintenance plan very rigidly.

Hope everyone else is having a good week. How is the weight loss coming?

Tomorrow is the start of your holiday weekend. For those who are driving out of town, drive carefully and have a happy and safe holiday. Take care.

Cheers,