|
this is Day 101 of a personal 100 day challenge in which I have cut out all desserts and drinking. In the beginning I allowed myself one exception (Easter Day)on which I enjoyed( among other things) a martini, glass of red wine and carrot cake.
I've been on a diet since Feb 1 (101 days ago) that focused on clean eating and a sensible calorie limit ( and no drinking or desserts.) I eat a TON of veggies, like to use my juicer in the morning for crazy concoctions of fruits and veggies and eat wholesome food in general: mostly organic, some meat, whole grains. I consider myself a "flexitarian:" someone who is as likely to eat a vegetarian meal as one that includes meat. When I do eat meat is is "organic."
I know the importance of exercise and am a runner. (a SLOW runner). I am training for my 6th marathon. I also try to lift weights twice a week.
On Feb 1, 2013 I weighed 180.4
Today, May 12, 2013, I weigh 150.2
I am almost 55 years old and am 5'8".
I am married, the mother of three adult children and I am an Episcopal priest. I live in CT
My main issue is weight maintenance. Losing it ( obviously) is not a problem. I have an iron clad will. Except for Easter ( which I gave myself a "pass" on months before it arrived,) I followed my diet plan 100% from Feb 1-May 11. 100 days. No cheating.
The diet that I am on is not unsustainable- it is super healthy, in fact, and I believe that all of us have a "set point" of weight which we arrive at naturally with good clean eating and exercise. The issue is that I love butter and bread and wine and ice creamand gin and tonics and I have a very hard time eating them in moderation. Why boher with 1/2c. of ice cream? What is the point of 3 oz. of wine? I am not a glutton or a drunk, but I have a very hard time restricting these special foods to tiny amounts. I'd rather not have them at all.
In the past ( did I mention that I've lost these same 30 pounds about 7 times in my adult life?) I have tried allowing myself one "free" day during the week ( Sunday) and being really "good" the rest of the week. I know that is not ideal ( and it hasn't worked in the long run because one "free" day seems to morph into many "free" days)... and I am looking for weight maintenance help.
Did I mention that I spent 10 years working as a restaurant chef and that I consider cooking to be my gift and primary spiritual outlet?
Your wisdom, friends, please.
A
|
 Comments
I just sent you a buddy request. Then I read this. PLEASE be my buddy! This entry rings true for me in so many ways. Yes. Losing weight is not the problem; maintaining is. Yes. I know the importance of exercise - real exercise like running marathons. I'm more of a marathon walker, though. Yes, exactly: what is the point of one drink or one serving of ice cream?! Geesh. We eat just as many meals that don't have meat as do. Flexitarian. I'll go home tonight and tell the family I finally know what we are. I feel a connection, Revaudrey.
22 Jul 13 by member: dcwalker
|
dcwalker: glad to have you as a friend. I am back on track after a month off... and only gained 3 lbs in a month of no restictions, plenty of ice cream and gin. I have a two week vacation coming up beginning next Friday and I do intend on enjoying every day. That will include long runs and hikes and lots of restaurant meals. Swims in the icy cold ocean ( Maine) and baking in the sun and cold beer. Can't wait. Until then, I'm trying to hold steady!
23 Jul 13 by member: Revaudrey
|
Woo-hoo, it's Friday. Is this the Friday that your vacation starts or next Friday? I love your version of vacation, except the cold water swim. Growing up we vacationed on Cape Cod; now you can't get me into the ocean north of the mason-dixon. Anyway, let everyone else sleep in; I get up and GO GO GO. Walking, biking, swimming. Too busy during the day to eat much - maybe a coffee and a baked good halfway through. Then lots of eating and drinking at the end of the day. Then to fend off that hangover - gotta take a lo-oong walk again first thing the next morning. Repeat - until it's back to the old grind. Once I started vacationing this way, my way, I would be so sad when my vacation ended. Then I learned to pretend that every weekend can be a mini-vacation. The only difference is that when I'm home on a mini-vaca I cook and do laundry. The weekend/mini-vaca starts with pizza night. Luckily I have teenagers at home so everyone's on board with pizza every Friday night. I wash mine down with beer. Beer is my alcohol. I do tend to overdo the beer on Fridays. And because of that I overdo the pizza. I saw or read something recently - can't quite remember (all that beer killing my memory cells?) but something to the effect that a guy was in a McDonalds at 4am ordering 3 big macs, large fries, a milkshake, and his buddy says Dude! You're not hungry, you're drunk! So I try to tell myself that - not hungry; drunk - when I reach for my 4th slice of pizza. Let's see how that goes. Well, doesn't matter. In the summer it's all good. I'm compelled to use up every second of daylight with outdoor activity. A five mile walk after dinner (during the week when dinner is early). Too hot? OK - three miles followed by 20 laps before the pool closes. So here I am happily at my desk on a Friday afternoon daydreaming about my 2 day vacation. A swim, a long bike ride. Mellow to the endorphin experience. Cook up a big "flexitarian" meal for dinner. Enjoy a beer in the back yard before digging in. Ahhh - it's usually not really like that - the kids will have something that I have to get involved in - but close enough for my daydreams. Whether it's your vacation or not have a good weekend - a good run; good food.
26 Jul 13 by member: dcwalker
|
| |
|
|
| |
Submit a Comment
You must sign in to submit a comment
|
|
|
Other Related Links
Members
|
Revaudrey's weight history
|