Kim’s Journey to a Healthier Place

Tomorrow I leave for a 3 day continuing education convention. These types of events always have candy bars, cookies, and goodies at every turn. Plus I’ll have to eat out most meals. So I need a plan because otherwise I’ll go and indulge, not enjoy myself, and be unhappy. So here are a few thoughts to get me focused.

1. For breakfast, take my Fiber One Cereal and use reduced fat milk from the continental buffet at the hotel. (Oh, so hard to pass up bagels w/ cream cheese and waffles.)
2. Take along apples to toss in my bag for a snack.
3. When eating out, order grilled chicken and veggies or a salad using the dressing-on-the-fork method.
4. Of course, no desserts! It’s Lent! (Poo, I’ve been CRAVING sweets!)
5. Take bottles of water in case it’s not easily accessible.
6. Get in some walks to take in the beautiful university campus. (And imagine that you’re actually still young enough to attend!) Ha!

I think that should do it. If I stick to that I think I’ll manage just fine. Sometimes you just gotta right these things down to put in the front of you mind. Otherwise, bad things happen. At least for me!

It never fails. I start to eat right, get my water in, and what do you know…. insomnia gone. Ahhh… This past weekend I felt like I slept more soundly than I ever did before. It was amazing, and I got in as much of it as I could. It’s amazing how not eating well and eating too much keeps me from sleeping. The funny thing is that I’ve never read anywhere where the 2 are linked.

Do any of you have trouble sleeping if you’re not eating well, or have you noticed that you sleep better OP?

Sweet dreams…

I heard this great tip at one of my weekly WW meetings and wanted to pass it along.

How do you eat your salad?

a) I pour the dressing all over my salad.

b) I order the dressing on the side and dip the salad on my fork into the dressing.

c) I order the dressing on the side and dip the fork into the dressing before putting the salad on my fork.

Since WW, I’ve always done b) and dipped my salad into my dressing. I never considered that if I dip my fork into the dressing first, I always get the taste of the dressing while using so much less. I’ll be doing c) from now on! So the next time you order a salad, consider how you eat it.

Okay, so a lot of self-talk this week. No lie I read those posts about 5 times both days. Sometimes I just have to beat it into my head. Things are better. I didn’t binge after the Dr.’s appointment like I normally do. In fact he said some good things like I can get off this medication when the bottle is empty, and we’ll see how things go. Hopefully I stop with the fainting and we can move on to more important things.

 Don’t you hate when you get one of those colds that just lingers? By tomorrow I will have had this cold for 2 weeks! The symptoms keep changing and it’s nothing serious enough to warrant prescription meds (I don’t think). It just sucks that it keeps on and on. Late morning, early afternoon I usually feel the worst. It’s mostly just the annoying cough/sneeze/nose-blowing/ stuffy head kind of stuff. It’s constantly changing and I don’t think those over the counter meds do anything. Anyway…enough about that.

 Busy day tomorrow… chili cook-off, boat show, and professional bull riding competition. Strange combo, I know. Should be loads of fun! Have a happy weekend!

Note to self: Yesterday was so much better but there is still room for improvement. Remember small steps will get you where you want to be. Today, drink more water, cut back on picking at left-overs. Today you have another doctor’s appointment. You know what happens those days… you usually binge. Recognize that this is an emotional situation for you, and take control. Binging only makes it worse. Lunch is in the fridge. That’s all you will eat while at work today. No stops for fast food or drug stores for candy. We want to be healthy and we have the tools we need to do just that. Be honest with yourself. You slept better last night but not as well as you’d like. You’re tired this morning and a bit moody. Keep your chin up and remember the thing that will make you feel the best today is staying OP. You can do this. Stay in control.

Note to self: Hey, Dumb-dumb! When you eat everything in sight, sugar-laden, dripping in fat, and mass quantities, IT MAKES YOU FEEL TERRIBLE! You can’t sleep, you’re tired, you’re clothes are tight, you’re moody, YOU’RE JUST PLAIN MISERABLE!!! Don’t you want to sleep well tonight? Get with the plan! Right now there’s 1/2 a bag of mini Reese’s cups in your desk drawer, and you’re NOT going to eat any today! In fact, they’re going to the break room for everyone else. Stop torturing yourself and make some good choices today. Last week felt so good at WI. You really want to get into a size 8, and you really want to be healthy. This yo-yo maintenance thing is NOT healthy, and you know it. Be kind to your body. You’ve already planned out your food for the day. Stick with it. You’re worth it. You’ve come so far and worked so hard. This is for life. No slipping up and gaining 30 pounds. You’re committed, strong, and very capable of making this your lifestyle. Don’t be distracted by sweets and restaurant food. Remember, it feels so much better to say NO than to regret eating it later. You can have “it” some other day. But today you don’t want it. It’s your choice each and every time. Losing was the easy part. You were rewarded most weeks with a loss. Now get used to seeing the numbers only wiggle a little. Push through. You’ve got it in you. You want to be healthy. Next time you’re tempted, remember how badly you want a good night’s sleep. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF BY TAKING CHARGE!

First of all, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! 

This week we’ve been having an open house at work. And open houses mean cookies, candies, yogurt covered pretzels, sodas, pastries, etc. Thank heavens for the Feb. Freedom Challenge and Lent. I know that if I weren’t avoiding sweets right now, I’d take one piece or one taste or one bite and it’d be over for me. I have a real hard time giving in just a little bit and stopping there. My intentions may be good at first, but the sweets would just end up calling my name all day, and I’d be in there for seconds, thirds, or fourths. But fortunately knowing that I can’t have any has been a God-send. I haven’t given in at all…mostly because I know if I did I’d be breaking “the rules” of Lent and the Challenge. I’m so proud! Now I know the easiest way to avoid splurging/binging on the sweets. Just say NO!

I didn’t really gain at Christmas; it was the month or so after. January was my weak point! I know, it’s strange, but the extra pounds are now off. My home scale got back up to a scary 165.5 during January/early February. I weighed in at WW at 157.0 last night.  Go Me! Back to the -50 pounds!

I’ve had to start reminding myself that sweets and red meats are off limits (I gave them up for Lent). Sometimes I just flat out forget, but I haven’t slipped up yet. I ate very well this weekend and stayed within points. Yesterday I woke up with the husband’s head cold, and this is the busiest week I’ve ever had at work (except for the past 15 minutes which gave me time to get on here). (c: Gotta love the timing! Tomorrow I’ll WI at WW. The home scale is back to pre-holiday numbers so hopefully the WW scale will say the same. Hope everyone has a great day and I’ll try to update this when I get a chance this week. Thanks for stopping by!

 ****STAY AWAY FROM THE VALENTINE’S DAY CANDY!****

 And when I say “old self” I’m referring to the active, happy, weight-losing old self. The old self from about 6/16/07-12/15/07. The old self that loves her new way of life, feels incredible, is full of energy, is in control, has self-confidence, and feels like she can conquer anything! Ahhhhh… it feels so good to be back.

The morning scale reading again is headed in the right direction. Tonight’s plans are pretty quiet. WH hasn’t been feeling well so we’ll probably go out to eat (my vote is for Cracker Barrel so that I can plan my points) and maybe a DVD at home snuggled up on the couch. Tomorrow we’re going to a friend’s house for a grill out. (Sorry to all you snowed-in folks! Our forcast is for 75 degree weather this weekend!) Grilling is good news. They’re planning on chicken and shrimp. Perfect for WH and I who gave up sweets and red meats for Lent! Later we’re hitting up a night spot downtown because her husband will be playing/singing. It’s his first paying gig (he’s an engineer by day- not really an aspiring musician)! He was going with a buddy on amateur nights to play his guitar and sing, and they booked him for a real paying gig tomorrow night! I hear he’s nervous which I find it kind of comical.

Here’s wishing everyone a fabulous OP weekend! Remember… you’re new lifestyle doesn’t end at 5:00 on Friday! Much love! (c: