So it is only 6pm so I can't say the day is over. But I am happy to say I have followed my meal plan perfectly. And I just left the gym. Unfortunately I only did 30 mins of treadmill. The stair master was full and I got tired of waiting. The negative part about having to go to the gym...Sometimes it is full sometimes not. I have to find a time that is not too busy but bad thing is that it is so easy to go after work because I still have energy and it is 2 mins from my workplace. I am going to be so excited to get through the day bring that I been on a binge for almost two weeks and haven't been successful on a full day since then.
So I made it through my first day. That was huge since I haven't been able to do a whole day for almost 2 weeks causing me to gain an additional 6 pounds. I really think that having a buddy and being accountable works. I am nervous but at the same time a little excited to weigh in. I was going to weigh in friday morning but I would be home that morning so I won't have my scale. I will weigh in first thing saturday morning. Saturday will probably be difficult but I am going to try my best to make it. How are you doing? How are you feeling?
Hello. Sorry for not getting back in touch sooner - it has been one of those days. However, despite being hugely busy and having a filling at the dentist, you'll be pleased to know that I started and have stuck with my diet/exercise plan for the day. I did a 30 minute interval run on the treadmill followed by an upper body toning circuit. I was really pleased with myself and proud that I'd made a good start. Food wise it has been a good day too, no snacking and making healthy choices. My weight this morning, so my start weight, is 155.4lb. But I am looking at it this way....today is the last time I will EVER see that weight on the scales. Things can only get better.
How has your day been? I agree with what you said yesterday about planning being the key to success - I have planned my exercise and food for tomorrow and have allotted 30 minutes in the afternoon for some 'me time'.
That's great!! You are doin amazing!!! Yeah the snacking in between is the hardest for me. I had a headache yesterday night because I am so used to snacking on sweet stuff. I even forced myself to go to sleep because I didn't want to get tempted. When I woke up in the morning I felt so happy to know I had one day behind me. Keep it up!!! You are making it happen!!
For today I had:
Oatmeal
1/2 grapefruit
Snack:
Large nectarine
Lunch:
Chicken with bellpepper and onions and home made salsa
Dinner:
Salmon
Mixed veggoes
Low carb vanilla yogurt (always need something sweet at the end of the day)
I brought my gym clothes to change at my office and go to the gym right after work. The exercise is the hard part for me. I am always on the move but it's not actual exercise so getting it in there is rough...but doable!!!
Hi again. You did absolutely brilliantly yesterday, both with your food and exercise. Don't knock yourself for not getting on the stair master, you still did 30 mins on the treadmill which is fantastic. I'm nowhere near being able to run for 30 minutes straight - I am doing a 'couch to 5k' plan which I found online. Today's session involved a 90 seconds run followed by a 2 minute walk, repeated for 30 minutes. I got through it without too much difficulty but I was ready to get off the treadmill when the time was up! I much prefer weight training/circuits, always have. At my fittest, a couple of years ago, the majority of my training was based around timed weight/circuit challenges. I am nowhere near fit enough to do those at the minute but I'm thinking that if I stick with the running and cycling intervals for a month or so, with some weight training too, I will soon be able to tackle my old challenges again. I like the timed aspect of challenges as it stops me from slowing the pace. Do you go to the gym alone or with a friend?
It's lovely that your husband loves you just the way you are. I know what you mean though about him not therefore being able to push you and hold you accountable. Did he find it quite easy to do the weight loss challenge? My hubbie is a real fitness fanatic. He trains heavy weights 5/6 times a week and has amazing willpower when it comes to food. He doesn't bat an eyelid when he turns dessert down in a restaurant and he can make a box of chocolate last forever - he literally has one small square of chocolate if he fancies some then puts the rest back in the fridge. How on earth he can do that I have no idea - if I start I just can't stop. I have had really terrible binges for the past few months and felt very out of control. Thankfully now I feel like I am taking back control of my life through my diet and exercise and I feel better for it even though this is only day one.
What helped me enormously this morning with both the weigh in and my exercise was knowing that I'd promised to check in with you. The thought of letting you down spurred me on to stick with it and see the first day through. Likewise, when I read that you've done so well, it encourages me even more, knowing that it is doable.
Your meal plan for today sounds great, again. You certainly seem to have a good idea of what a healthy and balanced diet looks like. Have you had any hunger pangs in between meals?
Day 2 gone and going strong. Yay!!!!! I went to the gym and did 45 mins of treadmill due to the stair master being packed again. I feel good. Couldn't sleep last night but didn't snack which was great. Day 3 today and I am feel strong and motivated. Going to the gym again after work.
Meal plan for today:
Toast with organic jam
Oatmeal
Sliced strawberries
Snack:
Boiled egg
Half grape fruit
Dinner:
Ground turkey
Green beans
Je-llo pudding sugar-free
Exercise: 45 mins of treadmill
What's on your schedule?
How are you doing?
How are you feeling most importantly?
Also 155 is not bad at all!!! Wish I was there. Eager to weigh in Saturday morning. I sure hope my sacrifices have been worth it.
If you only knew all I ate before you would gasp!! Yikes!!!!
Well done on your achievements and brilliant determination. You're doing really well and seem to be super motivated. 45 mins on the treadmill is great. This morning I did a HIIT interval on the bike followed by a lower body weights circuit. It was hard but I felt great for sticking with it.
I'm just on my way to bed now so that's day 2 completed. No snacking again today and even though I had massive cravings mid morning and a feeing of missing out, I didn't give in and I feel all the more strong for it. Tomorrow we are heading over to York to look at a new bulldozer that we wish to buy so I will have to think carefully what I will be eating seeing as I won't be at home.
Hello buddy.
I must be honest when I say I am feeling a little down and discouraged today. I had such a hard time yesterday. My mood turned down and mean and I was short with my husband and only halfway there with my kiddos. I apologized to my husband last night and he just hugged me and told me not to stress so much. I am sad to say that I didn't follow my meal plan as I planned. I ended up eating a slice of lite bell cheese...45 calories and a piece of caramel chocolate. My husband made me sit down and think about something positive and because I was moody and wanted to be a brat I refused for a long while. Then I said, "usually when I mess up, I take it as the day is ruined and I think to myself if I ruined it might as well ruin it all the way. Then I would open up a pack of cookies, a pint of ice cream and a family sized bag of chips and eat it all up and more. This time I didnt. I stopped myself which is very hard for me. There, you happy!? I said something positive." He smiled and said, yes you did stop yourself and that was awesome. I guess he is right...if I want to look at the bright side. It is just hard for me to do that. I am usually really strict on myself. It is what helps keep me motivated.
Today's another day and I need to continue
Yesterday is gone and it is time to get focused again. I have a big meeting outside of the office with breakfast and lunch being catered by this fancy place. I am going to be very selective and plan to go to the gym after the meeting and after I drop off my coworkers.
For now, 1/2 a grapefruit, toast and coffee.
I hope I didn't let you down or uninspire you any. I promise to work extremely hard to make it through the weekend.
Really sending you lots of strength and faith to make it through too.
Oh and absolutely no excuses but I think what was different is that we stay at my moms for the night where it is like dessert central. Snice everyone always comes visit she always has soda, snacks, chocolate...all the bad stuff that is just so good. So now I know when I am there I need to be extra focused.
I am super proud of you for not turning to the ice cream and chips last night. It sounds like you had a really tough day yesterday and to come through it with a positive outcome and a willingness to make today a positive and focused new day is excellent.
We all have bad days but what I have learnt only recently is that it is how we 'self-talk' about the situations that cause us to give up and binge. You said in your previous message that I'd be shocked about your binges in the past but I get the impression we were very similar. Like you, I have previously had a very 'all or nothing' kind of attitude. I am very strict on myself and have extremely high expectations - to the point where I considered myself worthless and a failure simply for not being perfect with my eating. It's strange because I certainly don't hold anyone else to the extreme high standards that I expect from myself. Just like you, if I was to eat even something slightly 'bad', I would be really harsh with myself about what a let-down I was and how much of a failure that made me as a dieter, a wife, a mother etc. I would then get in the car (i have never admitted this to anyone) and drive to the local shop where I would buy a family size Dairy Milk bar, 2 cans of Red Bull, a cake and biscuits. Devouring them all in a kind of frenzied state, hiding the wrappers at the bottom of the bin and then spending the rest of the day feeling depressed and disappointed. The thing is, I always took it a step even further - I could never mess up mid-week and simply get back on track the day after, I would give up for the entire week and start again the following Monday. Even just typing this now I can see how ridiculous it sounds but when you're gripped in the never-ending self-destructive cycle that I was, I just couldn't make logical choices.
As I mentioned earlier, we've been out this morning looking at a potential new bulldozer. I knew there was a chance we wouldn't be home by lunch time so I quickly threw a packet of chicken and an apple in the car with us. I'm glad I did as, on the way home, hubbie suggested we call at McDonalds for a coffee - I was tempted to order food while I was there but I resisted and told myself that the chicken would satiate me until we got home - which it did. Then, when we arrived home (and probably because I still felt a little peeved at not getting a McDonalds meal) I had an overwhelming desire to eat the remainder of my daughter's chocolate. However, (and this is the eureka moment), on my way to the cupboard where the chocolate is, I thought about what I would tell you and how disappointed you would be with me if I caved in so easily. The thought of letting you down was enough to make me opt for some tomato soup with 3 plain rice cakes instead. So I really do owe you a debt of gratitude for giving me the inspiration to stick with my plan.
We are very fortunate to have found each other on this site. We seem to have a lot in common in our personalities and eating styles and it makes a huge difference knowing that if I am struggling I can log on and speak to you - and hopefully you feel the same way.
Another positive is that you have acknowledged that the issue was probably being at your mum's house with all the temptations. By recognising this trigger point you will be in a far better position to resist the next time you find yourself in that scenario.
Keep me posted on how you get on today at the meeting. Sending you lots of warm wishes and encouragement
Oh my God Coco...we sound like twins!!!! Still at my meeting but I will explain later. For now, stay strong my friend. You are rocking it!!!! We are and will do great!!!!!!
I say we are twins because I too have always been hard on myself. I come from a hispanic old fashioned fathER and mother. My father showed/shows me so much love, my mom hasn't learned how with her words but I know she loves me by her actions. My mom gave me tough love in which others would interpret as extreme mental abuse. However, I always knew it was out of love aND fear and lack of knowledge. Long story short, I was 1 of 11 children. 5 beautiful, thin, radiant daughters, 5 tall, fit and handsome sons and me. The only heavy set child...the fat one. She had no worries with her other daughters because they would find men/husband with no problems but me...who would love me. So I was taken away from my childhood and play time to learn how to cook, clean, wash, sow because I needed other things that men could learn to love me for because It wasn't going to happen with my looks. I also needed to be extra nice and never say no because I needed people to like me. As a child you don't know how to interpret it all and I grew up being taken advantage of by people and men. And no matter the abuse or pain, I felt lucky that anyone even wanted to deal with me. Sounds like a cruel mom but trust me when I say it was out of love and I understand it now. Wasn't right, but she tried.
Needless to say I grew up really hard on myself, never feelING worthy, never giving myself any credit or confidence or love. To date, I find it hard. But I have come a long way. No matter how hard my mom tried she couldn't get me skinny. Not even me Asking at the age 8 if I was ugly and getting a quick "yes, very!" Couldn't "fix" me either. It was until I was 27 years old and woke up one day with my 31 year old 650 pound husband laying next to me dead of a heart attack that I became fearful of my health and life. Then it still took another 2 years for my current husband to come into my life and fill me full of love, wOrth and confidence that I transformed myself physically. I am still learning and fixing the inside but as I have said I have come so far and I am so grateful. Every day is a struggle as a daughter, as a wife as a mother of 3 yr old twin boys, a 2 year old and a 1 year old. But i have an amazing, supporting husband who i feel saved my life and continues to do it every day. And I am more transformed from the inside than the transformation of my body after losing 275 pounds. Me in a nutshell.
So I made it through another day. It was a rough one but I made it. I am exhausted but I think keeping busy helped keep my mind off of food. I went to the gym after for 35 mins on the treadmill.
I decided to wait until Tuesday to weigh in. I feel excited about seeing the numbers it is actually motivating me to extend it. I hope thats okay.
I am glad I can be of motivation to you too. I feel grateful for meeting you. And all the way from here I want to give you a high five for staying strong and focused. Lets keep it going!!!
Hi my truly amazing friend. I don't even know where to start in reply to your last message. I had no idea you had been through so much in your short life. To come through the death of a husband so young and what sounds like a really tough childhood yet still be such an awesome person is incredible. You seem to be able to look back on your childhood and how your mum treat you with quite a clear and balanced mind, I really don't think I would be able to do the same. I wonder about your mum's own childhood and her relationship with her parents. It almost sounds like she was transposing her own worries and fears onto you through fear of you experiencing something she herself had, if that makes sense? As we both know from being mums ourselves, we all want the best for our children - some of us are just better at handling the practicalities of that.
Your husband sounds like a lovely man - you always speak of him in such warm and grateful terms. However, if he is such a truly wonderful man (which I believe he is), then that obviously makes you a truly wonderful woman as, let's face it, he wouldn't be with you otherwise. When you met, he obviously saw a glimmer of the real you, which I too can see from the messages we have exchanged. You have been so supportive of me this week while at the same time working through your own battles with food etc. Your kindness really does shine through - you are always upbeat in your messages (despite having had a bad day or two) and you really do bring out the best in me too. In my opinion, your husband is just as lucky to have you in his life as you are to have him, a perfect match. I hope you mum now sees that you have a million brilliant attributes and that you are a wonderful person. She should be very proud of her daughter. I hope that you can start to show yourself some much needed love. In fact, I think you should tell me 3 things that you love about yourself in your next message - and I won't take no for an answer!
How did you get on during the meeting with the food being provided by outside caterers? Did you stick with the healthy options? You did really well still going to the gym after work. You must have felt awesome afterwards though as it would have been very easy to give it a miss after a hard day at work.
What do you have planned for this weekend?
I went in the gym again this morning and did an interval circuit on the treadmill followed by an upper body weight circuit and then a stretching session as my legs were aching from the other day.
Last night, while watching TV after dinner, I allowed myself a couple of handfuls of dried tropical fruit. It tasted so good as a treat and all the while I knew it was a good choice, especially compared to the chocolate, crisps, cakes etc I would have had in the past.
Let me start off with those 3 things you asked for before I lose my courage...lol
Well 1. Would probably be courage. No matter how hard things get, I never get scared. I face things head on. Especially when it comes to my family, I feel like a warrior when it comes to protecting them. And I think with what I have gone through, I wouldn't have made it without courage.
2. I love my fairness. I love being equal and fair to everyone and every situation. I think that is what has put a lot of blessings in my life. People have a lot of respect and admiration for me and thus has opened many doors and opportunities in which I have been blessed to have taken and thrived. I treat everyone with respect at my job whe the they are the janitors or the vice president and I stay consistent every day regardless of what I am going through.
3. I love my determination. People don't doubt me when i say I am going to do something. When I am determined I make things happen. Even my mom who has been my biggest critic has admitted That I actually did it with my weightoss like I said I was 5 years ago. She now believes this is a forever change and not just a temperate change. Not matter how difficult things get, if I have promised something I come through.
Hope those 3 things are what you were asking for.
Well, with regards to my meeting, I decided to serve myself a salad no dressing and some chicken and I took it back to the meeting room in order not to get tempted with the rest and dessert. I drank lots of water which I hardly drink...I know that's bad. I also volunteered to help so That I could stay busy. They day went by quick. The night was rough but I madeit. This morning I had my coffee and oatmeal. For lunch two pieces of chicharones in which I made for my in laws. It's their favorite and have been askin for it. Now we are on our way to a play with my brother and sister in law then dinner after. I plan to order a salad with tomato, feta cheese, olives, Brussel sprouts and no dressing. May add a pice of my husband's grilled chicken for protein. Water for drink. I am so eager to make it through the weekend.
I am so proud of you for making it through yesterday. It sounds like you are doing great. I truly appreciate your encouragement and faith in me.
As for what I went through, I know it seems rough...and it was...but reality is it actually got me where I belong and has transformed me and helped me obtained my courage, determination and appreciation and true friends.
Thank you for helping me remember the good things.
I will keep you in mind tonight to give me extra strength.
How did your evening go with your brother, did you enjoy the play? More importantly, did you order the salad that you had planned? I am very impressed with how focused and strict you were with yourself at the meeting, keeping yourself busy, moving away from the tempting food after you'd made your selection - you're a pro at this
Like you, I am not a huge fan of water so I make up a 1.5 litre jug of weak cordial in a morning and aim to drink it all by the end of the day. It's surprising how much of a difference it makes to how much I drink if there's a touch of flavour to it. When hubbie came home from work last night, he fancied a takeaway so we ordered an Indian. I chose lamb tikka massala but only served myself half of the rice and half of the sauce so I am very pleased with that.
I am taking a day off the gym today, give my legs chance to recover before my session tomorrow.
We seem to have the same moral compass when it comes to our values. Like you, I strive to treat everyone equally and fairly and I will stand up to inequality and injustice. Until the last year or two I was always quite determined, whether that was to gain a personal best in the gym or to master new challenges at work and I always used to strive to be the best version of me that I could possibly be. Since gaining the additional 2 stone though I have felt that determination ebb away in all aspects of my life. Looking back at the last year with my now more positive mindset, I can see that I had started to approach all aspects of my life with trepidation and despondency - if I went in the gym, I would beat myself up for not running far enough, for being out of breath, for having cellulite, for not looking model-like etc etc, instead of praising myself for actually making it to the gym. My self-esteem has really taken a nose-dive this past 12 months.
Now that I have started losing weight steadily and have your support to keep me focused, I can feel positivity and determination creeping back into my life - it's like a glimmer of light poking through the darkness and it is making me feel very hopeful for the coming months.
What do you have planned for the coming week? Any social events or visits to your mother's house?
I really think that having a buddy and being accountable works. I am nervous but at the same time a little excited to weigh in. I was going to weigh in friday morning but I would be home that morning so I won't have my scale. I will weigh in first thing saturday morning. Saturday will probably be difficult but I am going to try my best to make it. How are you doing? How are you feeling?
