Earthlady's Journal, 25 March 2012

It seems to me that if the calories go over a bit the difference between gaining, staying steady or losing is in the amount of exercise. I know it's not rocket science! These past few days, the weight has been dropping off again and the only difference in my routine has been a long, brisk walk every day.

There seems to be a notable psychological and physical difference for me at 58kg so I'm mentally setting 58 as my personal bar to try not to go over. Then, although I'd like to lose another 2 or 3 kg, I'm not going to worry too much about it because I think the idea of "dieting" is beginning to have adverse effects on my mental approach.

I was lucky when I started this journey that I already ate mostly healthy, high nutrient foods. I rarely ate fast food anyway, I don't like cola or any other fizzy drinks (except beer or a good champagne :)) and I've never craved cakes or cookies, although I enjoy them occasionally. Even then, they're usually homemade and I know what's in them. I seem to have a natural dislike of processed, convenience foods and make nearly everything I eat from scratch. So, I didn't have to make major lifestyle changes in order to lose and I don't generally think of my eating plan as a "diet".

That's made it relatively easy to analyse and see what works and what doesn't. Firstly, I need to cut out or cut down the weekday evening alcohol, as I did in the first two months of my journey. Although one beer is only 64 calories and can be accommodated into RDI quite easily, the drinking of it seems to promote a desire for either chocolate or salty nuts to go with it! And those are much harder to fit into RDI, much better to save them for the occasional indulgence.

Secondly, when I fancy a slice of toast (as I frequently do) I should eat walnuts, dried fruit or fruit instead. I know from experience that those things can stop the craving for bread and they also contain essential nutrients. Once I start on bread or toast and marmite, I often have two or three slices and I still may not be satisfied! On the other hand, I really enjoy my sandwiches at lunchtime (so it's not bread per se), and rounding off lunch with a piece of fruit leaves me full until dinner.

Finally, exercise! I need to get it into my head that walking home from school or the shops is not an adequate substitute for a fast-paced "exercise" walk in a track suit and trainers. I'm keeping up with the fs yoga challenge and I even bought myself a yoga mat yesterday so I no longer have to use my children's outgrown jigsaw cushioned floor tiles! It's crazy that yoga is something I've been drawn to for about 30 years but never done until now. I'm really enjoying it.

It's beautiful weather here, which affects my mood hugely, and I attempted to sit outside for breakfast this morning, but there's a really chill wind despite the sun. Still, we changed to summer time last night and the longer evenings should be a boost to make the walks a regular thing. In my thirties, I regularly walked every morning, but it was easy because I could go out after my children went to nursery and before I started work towards midday. I've been in my current job for 10 years and I'm still mentally clinging to the idea of morning walks, even though I've proved to myself over and over that a 5 am walk in the dark is no fun (for me) and can't be sustained. Our evenings are rushed - home from school, children hungry right away - but they're old enough now to make a snack (or even dinner) and let me get out for an hour before I get into the kitchen. Let's do it.

126.8 lb Lost so far: 9.9 lb.    Still to go: 1.1 lb.    Diet followed reasonably well.

Diet Calendar Entry for 25 March 2012:
1203 kcal Fat: 31.94g | Prot: 51.55g | Carb: 187.65g.   Breakfast: grapes, banana, honey, dried cranberries, coffee, sunfllower seeds, yoghurt, granola. Lunch: mayonnaise, rocket, pesto, rye bread, tomato, egg. Dinner: wholemeal bread, steak, Kisir - Turkish tabouleh. more...
losing 6.2 lb a week

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Comments 
Earthlady, I feel badly that I haven't commented on your post here. I've actually read it 2 or 3 times since you wrote it:) I've just been incredibly busy with school...tests, and projects. I'm going away during spring break and there are two MAJOR projects due when I get back so those have to be completed before I go. Anyway, it was a wonderful post, full of personal insight. And I agree with you, as usual, about so many things there. I think your attitude about "dieting" vs lifestyle is right on! And you said it well, that it can get to you after awhile. Maybe that's what I'm experiencing when I said I just don't feel motivated enough to really dig in and keep going hard at it. 143 is not where I want to stay permanently, but I'll take it for now, as long as it doesn't mean slipping back to very bad habits. Your comment about the toast was what I've expressed, too, that there have been times when I just can't stop eating. That's what happened to me with the cookie debacle a couple weeks ago. And it proved to me that I just can't give in like that. That way of being has not died in me, and maybe it never will. The only thing for it is to just not start. I believe that eating reasonably will keep me from going backward on the scale, and I will pick up serious "dieting" again in the summer, when things aren't so crazy with school and deadlines...that's only about 8 weeks from now. So...let's keep our heads up and our mouths shut...well, not really shut, just not wide open, eh? ;)  
29 Mar 12 by member: Baxie

     
 

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