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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Pictures of a Previous Me

Yesterday I was looking through a stack of pictures that were taken about 8 years ago. During that time in my life I was going through a 'skinny' season. Six years previous to the taking of these particular pictures, I lost about 75 pounds and had regained only about 10 pounds. I hate to brag.....but I looked good in those pictures. Yep, no doubt about it. Weighing less is definitely a positive thing for me.
Seeing those pictures also reminded me of how I felt about myself during that time. Self confidence has never been something I have had an overabundance of, but during that time, that 'skinny season', I really did like myself better.
I selected my favorite photo from the pictures and put it on the mirror of my vanity table so that I can look at it as I put on my makeup each day. It is eight years later. Will I look exactly the same? Of course not, but, hmmmmmm, maybe close to it!!! That will be great!!!
I am a Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics. As such I have a 'director suit' which I purchased at the beginning of this seminar year. It is a wonderful suit, well designed and well sewn. I just love the suit, but it is beginning to get 'roomy'. I think my seamstress will be able to alter it, but eventually, I'll have to buy a new size altogether! That will be great!

Saturday, August 25, 2007

There are many positive aspects to losing weight besides just being able to wear the 'skinny sizes'. I am once again realizing the ways healthier eating is making me, well, more healthy!
I am diabetic, but by eating no processed carbs and no processed sugar, my blood sugar has stabalized within a very normal range. This means that my body is not going to suffer the complications that accompany diabetes (retinopathy, kidney disease, infections, etc) for a long time and perhaps never! No pills, no shots. I can live with that!
I also have IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. OK, so some of you may think this may come under the category of T.M.I. (too much information). However, I also know that others of you may be fellow IBS suffers. It is not fun, is it? I could get real graphic here, but I won't. Those of you who know what it is like to deal with IBS on a daily basis, don't have to be told the details, and those of you who don't, would not want to know them.
IBS has been part of my life since late elementary school. About 12 years ago a doctor finally prescribed a medication, Bental, that finally brought this condition under control. Yea!!!
However, after about 3 weeks on this eating plan, I have discovered that I no longer need this medication. IBS is not a problem for me as long as I am eating correctly!
If you suffer from IBS, please understand that your condition may not be like mine, and healthy eating may not make any difference for you. But then again, it might! You won't know until you try.
I also have GERD, Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease, and am still taking medication for that condition. However, I can tell this health problem is getting better as well.
There are many benefits to downsizing our size. Some of these benefits are external; benefits that everyone can see. Some are internal. Those benefits affect our emotional and physical health.
Now that is what I call "win-win" when we 'lose-lose'!!!!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

One Month

It has been a fast month! Yes, I have completed that first month of my new life long healthy eating plan. My weight loss has been slow, but that is really fine as long as the scales continue to stay 'pointed in the downward direction'. So far I have lost about 7 pounds!
I think I am entering a dangerous stage of my diet. I have become secure, comfortable, perhaps about complacent about my new way of eating. My previous cravings are barely a temptation now. It would be easy to think that I had this 'compulsive overeating thing conquered', and from now on I will be in complete control of 'my addiction lion'.
Years ago, perhaps twenty or more years ago, I lost quite a bit of weight, perhaps 45-50 pounds. I felt good. Enjoyed wearing 'skinny clothes'. Had more energy. More confident. All those things. I told my father, "I have this weight thing conquered. I will never be fat again."
Wrong. I believe this line of thinking was for me one of the sources of my defeat. By thinking I had totally won the victory and that I would never fight this battle again, I began to let my self eat small amounts of those 'trigger foods'.
Why not? I could control this? I can eat just a little bit and then be done with it. Oh, yes. Just like an alcoholic can drink just one beer and be done with it.
This is not a time to let my guard down and sabatoge myself with "'stinkin' thinkin'", but to strenghten my reslove and to even more earnestly keep my 'lion' on a tight leash or in his cage.
Boy, do I look forward to wearing 'skinny clothes' again!

Sunday, August 19, 2007

No Processed Carbs, No Processed Sugar, More energy!!

Yes, I am realizing that by eating the the no processed carbs, and no processed sugar diet, my energy level has increased. Occasionally I do feel tired in the evenings, but that is because I have been 'on the go' all day. There was a time when I needed a 'power nap' after lunch, just 15 minutes to recharge and prepare for the rest of the day. Recently I have found that nap to be unnecessary and I will just keep on goin' after lunch.
The scales are showing a slow but steady weight loss for me. I have lost about 8 pounds in the last month. The slow rate of loss doesn't bother me. I am already feeling better and my clothes are fitting better! Yea!!!!

By the way, I did make the turkey chili/soup that I mentioned in another post. It was great! My husband and I enjoyed it tremendously. It was as filling as it was delicious. Check out the recipie on previous posts.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Weight Loss Victories

How do you define victory when you are trying to 'downsize' your size? Is it reaching your target weight? Is it being able to wear that outfit in that particular size?
All my life I have struggled with my weight. Well, struggled off and on all my life. There were times when I wasn't struggling, when I should have been. Then I would have had less weight to struggle with when I did struggle.
I digress. For years I had a particular weight, a certain number on my scales (no, I'm not going to tell you) that represented victory for me. It didn't matter whether the number on the scales were up or down. I was not happy with my weight unless it was that perfect number.
The problem? I can only remember a couple of times when I actually achieved that weight, and never did I remain at that target number for even a month. Therefore, in my mind, I was always failing at dieting, never succeeding, never happy or satisfied with my weight loss.
After joining Overeaters Anonumous, I began to realize that for me victory must be defined differently if I was going to ever feel successful at this weight loss thing.
Victory is glancing (no, not looking, too dangerous) at the dessert table during a church dinner and walking away. Victory is wanting to snack on Cheesits, but eating an apple instead. Victory is eating one of something instead of two or three.
Weight Loss Victories are small decisions which will make you stronger the next time you face a temptation. They are empowering and motivating. These small decisions, made over and over, will have a cumulative effect on your weight and your self confidence. It is small weight loss victories that will ultimately lead you to your desired weight and size! Let's hear it for small vicotries!!!!
Perhaps you have a Weight Loss Victory you would like to share. We can all be encouraged by your experience. Please tell us about it by commenting on this blog. Thanks for sharing!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Spaghetti and Cheesecake

Lisa and her husband, along with another man own a private school and have just this week had an influx of new students. They were involved in all the tasks related to enrolling students while their annual book fair was going on and while their partner in the school was on vacation! Needless to say they were 'swamped' with busyness last week.
Lisa and I were instant messaging last night. I asked her how the diet was going during this stressful week. She said that had she not been on the diet, she could not have 'made it'. This type diet has given her more energy that she previously had, and therefore she could handle much more activity and stress.
However she did have her 'moment' of weakness. This is what she wrote:

On Wednesday evening, Adam and I were at the office late for the second day in a row after two nights of poor sleep on my end. I wanted to go to "spaghetti warehouse" and order a Dr. Pepper and a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. But I didn't. Went to IHOP, had half an omilet, half a bowl of fruit, and a glass of milk

Her commitment to her eating plan was greater than her moment of weakness, and she experienced a victory that will make her stronger, not weaker when the next challenge comes.

Yesterday afternoon they attended a wedding. It was a Christian, Indian (as from India) wedding. Their partner in the school is Indian and it was one of his relatives getting married. Lisa said it was quite interesting. I'm sure it was.

She said that she ate cheesecake during the reception. This is what she wrote me:

Today's Cheesecake was not an impulsive thing. I chose to eat it and know that it does not affect my diet past the moment I took the last bite (which was not all of the cheesecake I might add)


I wouldn't have been able to do that a month ago either


I would have panicked half way through that it wasn't enough

Because she her commitment was in place, she was able to handle the cheesecake and not allow it to permanently destroy her diet.
Yea, Lisa, I am so proud of you!!

Commitment.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Stress and Weight Gain

It's alright. If I can admit it, you can too. For those of us who are compulsive eaters, during times of stress, crisis, and trama, food is our comfort, our friend, our drug of choice. Even though we may have great faith in God and recognize His Presence in our difficult situation, we still cling to food for release and escape.
During the months of turmoil and anguish when my parents both had stage 4 cancer and were in the hospital for weeks at the same time. Food was never far from the ''front burner' in my mind. Many days, by 10:00 a.m., I had already decided what I was going to have for lunch even though it was less than who hours since I had had breakfast. As soon as I finished lunch, I started thinking about dinner. And there ya go. Day after day. Week after Week. Month after month. The pounds kept on coming.
After Daddy passed away, the major stress was over, but the bad eating habits were, well, habits and I did not have what it took to change them. Till now.
I'm not sure why now, except that my daughter gave me hope and inspiration about a month ago when she began to tell me about the diet she and her husband had started. I was ready to embrace this new way of eating with commitment from my head and not emotion from my heart.
In Mary Kay I have learned that working from commitment will keep you focused on a task even when your emotions make you want to quit. Making a decision to change your eating habits is no different.
There are, there will be times when you just don't feel like eating right. It is in those moments, and that is what they are --moments, that the strength of our commitment will take charge over our emotions, pull us through and give us true victory.
Our emotions then will be in charge when we step on the scales and see the numbers going down or when we put on that previously tight outfit and WooooooHoooooo! it is not tight any more. Yea! Cheers!
I write this last paragraph not as one who has allowed this commitment concept to be the dominating control in my life during times of stress. I write instead as one who is a fellow struggler, as one who still gives in to emotional eating from time to time. My charge and challenge to all of us is to, during times of stress and crisis, allow our commitment to becoming a healthy person be in control of what we eat. Yes, again, easier said than done, but we WILL reap a harvest of benefits by being stronger the next time we have a difficult moment, as well as being able to shop for clothes in a smaller size!

Thursday, August 9, 2007

My Sister and Diabetes

My sister, I'll call her Susan, has just been diagnosed with diabetes, Type 2. Apparently she had been diabetic for quite a while, because she is bleeding behind the retinas in her eyes. The retinologist said that she had classic signs of retinopathy, damaged caused by diabetes.
This diagnosis is not surprising because diabetes runs in our family. What is stunning is that she maintains that she has had not symptoms.

My thoughts about this diagnosis and lack of symptoms for Susan come in the form of a lesson for all of us. You see, I believe the symptoms were there and had been there for a long time. For the last several years, Susan has been totally focused on caring for Daddy and Mother, and other personal things in her life. Because of her ‘tunnel vision’, she either was completely unaware of the symptoms or pushed them aside because they seemed unimportant compared to the other concerns with which she was dealing.

The lesson? It is those quiet nagging things in our lives which are so easy to ignore that will one day become an all consuming crisis for ourselves and those who love us. We need to pay attention to what is going on with our bodies and deal with our own health issues in a timely manner, even while life seems to be swirling around us in a chaotic fashion. Easier said than done.

Alli, Relacore, and other Weight Loss Products

When I walk down the aisles of my local Walmart and see all the various weight loss products, it is sometimes tempting to purchase a 'short cut' to a smaller size dress. Yep, I have even taken them off the shelves and checked out the ingredients and directions. Then I put them back and continue with my shopping.
From time to time you hear about health problems that taking one of the products can cause. That doesn't scare me. That is not the cause of my hesitation when it comes to taking a weight loss products.
For me personally I really have two concerns. First, many of these products cause a dullness in appetitie so that you don't feel hungry. As a compulsive overeater, my desire for food has nothing to do with whether or not I am hungry. I can eat just because there is food in front of me. And eat I will. So I doubt that these products would actually make a difference in what or how much I ate.
Secondly, if by chance they did work and dull my appetite, and I did lose weight, unless I stayed on these products for the rest of my life, the weight would return once I quit taking them because my appetite would return.
When we use an external source to control our appetite instead of an internal source, that is our own strength, then we will begin eating again just as before the external control is gone.
In my opinion, for compulsive overeaters, dealing with our addiction, putting a leash on our lion, and locking him in a cage, is the best, most long lasting method of attaining the weight loss we desire.
I am sure there are a considerable number of people who have lost a lot of with with the assistence of Alli, Relacore, Slim Fast, and many many others. They are just not for me.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Low Carb Recipie!!!

Yesterday, my nail lady gave me a recipie, a soup, that sounds wonderful and I just had to share it with you!. It is very low carb, low fat, and low sugar. I haven't made it yet, but I will as soon as I get to the store.
In her words, "It makes a bunch. And you can eat as much as you want."
You begin with 2 cans of Wolfe brand turkey chili, fat free, and 2 cans of chicken broth. Put both on your 'soup pan'. Add a can of tomato sauce, or a can of diced tomoatoes. From this point you can add whatever veggies you like. Mixed vegetables, cabbage, broccoli. They can be canned, fresh, or frozen. Just limit the amount of corn and potatoes you put in your soup, because those vegetables add carbs. Other than that you are free to fix it according to your own taste.
She said it is very filling and tastes wonderful!
I'll let you know my opinion when I get this soup made.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Slippery Things

In previous posts I wrote about "Slippery Places" and "Slippery People". Today I am writing about Slippery Things.
But first, I wish to talk about my grandmother. She is definitely one of my slippery people. Visiting my grandparents, "Mom" and "Pop" as we called them, was one of the joys of my life. I could write a book, just about those visits. We would go and stay for two or three weeks at a time and loved every minute of it. I don't know how they put up with us for that long, but they did.
Food, was never a problem for me there. I ate everything I could for the entire visit. Mom's cooking was always wonderful and she always cooked large quantities. Therefore I always ate large quantities. I had no control over my eating. She always had candy and ice cream. Yep. I couldn't, no didn't, resist those goodies as well.
Pop passed away almost 13 years ago, and Mom is now 96. I go to see her as often as I can and even though she can't cook for me any more, being in control of what I eat is still a big challenge for me. I was with her today; took her to the doctor and then out to eat. I didn't break my diet the entire time I was with her, but it was a major challenge.
Slippery things, for an overeater would be first of all, something we called Trigger Foods in Overeaters Anonymous. These are foods that will trigger a desire to eat more and more when you eat them. You know those foods. "Can't each just one!" More likely, "Can't eat just one bag!"
If you are a recovering compulsive overeater, you know what your trigger foods are, and you know you can never safely those foods again. Ever. They will always be a temptation for you. If you think that you are over your obsession for that food and you can get by with just eating a small amount, then most likely you have lost the battle with that food. Eventually it will get you!

Slippery places, slippery people, slippery things. They will always be in our lives. They will not go away. However, they can be controlled. People are doing it every day and we can too. There is no room for self pity or whining here. Those are not constructive activities and they do not change reality.

Our job it to hold our heads up, be strong and proud. We are living our lives with major challenges. With God's help, we will control our 'lion', our overeating addiction.
As Mom says, "Count your blessings, not your pains!"

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Finding Low Carb Foods While Traveling

I am back home again. Yes, still somewhat in my pink Mary Kay bubble, but gradually getting back into the real world!
Lisa asked me how the dieting went while I was in Dallas, and I replied by saying that it went very well, with a few bites of 'slippage', but nothing I couldn't recover from.
At every meal I ate the things I could and then carried with me peanuts to snack on during the training classes and general sessions, and I really didn't get hungry! Example. For lunch one day we had pastrami slices in a kaiser bun, cole slaw, baked chips, and an ice cream bar for dessert. I ate the pastrami and the cole slaw, and decided to be 'happy'! I was fine until dinner that evening.
I weighed when I returned home and found that I had lost a couple more pounds which bring my total weight lost to about 4 pounds. Yes, that is not much, but I am fine with it.
Even though no one can tell that I have lost any weight at all, my jeans zip up with much less difficulty! Yea!!!
Fact: Every 5 pounds you lose shows more than the 5 pounds before it!

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

So Far, So Good!

This is the end of my second day at Mary Kay Seminar and what a wonderful day it has been! Yes, I am in my "pink bubble" just floating along, enjoying all the training, the excitement, and the friendships of other directors.
It has been fairly easy to eat the right foods today. At breakfast we had fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, and toast. It was served buffet style which enabled me to only take the foods that had no processed carbs and no processed sugar. No pancakes and no toast.
There was really no time for lunch today, but I did snack on peanuts. You know, I have found that when my 'lion', my overeating addiction is under control, then so is my appetite. I just don't get very hungry.
This evening we ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. I had a Texas Caesar Salad with grilled chicken and NO croutons. It tasted wonderful and was very filling.
Tomorrow will be more of a challenge. Seminar officially begins and the meals served will be placed on the tables for us.
I plan on just taking it one meal at a time, eating what I can, and carrying nuts to snack on if I get hungry.
Tomorrow evening, --one meal at a time!

Dieting While Away From Home

It is my first day at Mary Kay Seminar and dieting in the presence of wonderful rich desserts was not too bad. On our drive from Big Spring to Dallas, we stopped at Burger King for lunch and I had a grilled chicken salad. It really was great! I had some peanuts with me in the car and I snacked on those a few at a time if I got hungry during the drive.
We had a Director's Dinner this evening. I ate cheese, cut fresh veggies, pork tenderlion, and, oops, a small helping of a pasta dish. Not too bad. It didn't make me feel like I had completely gone off my diet.
Tomorrow we will have breakfast and I am not anticipating any problems with my dieting plan then.
I'll let you know tomorrow.