As most of you know I was supposed to have left on a Mediterranean Cruise December 28th.
Had the cruise actually happened we would have arrived back home last night.
I can't help but reflect on how different things likely are given that I didn't go.
Being at home for New Years really left me with no excuse for not re-kicking off the health regime.
Had I been on the cruise I would have done my best (and I think I would have done well) but I am pretty certain that this morning I would be sitting here typing a blog about how I need to get back on track and lose the weight I gained.
Instead, I can sit here and type about how I have actually made it to day 14 of the year with pretty near perfect healthy eating habits.
I am really happy with where I am, and as much as I love cruises, I think it is a good thing we didn't go on this one. It has ensured the year started right.
We went out for lunch with our friends Naoko and Albert yesterday. We had a great time and I ate extremely healthy. I had an organic Salmon Salad with Lentil Soup. I did allow myself one piece of bread and had one piece of Grilled Calamari and one Grilled Shrimp from the appetizer dish (it looked like it had some bread crumbs on it and was greasy so I didn't think I should eat more than one of each).
For me...going out to eat and being "good" is perhaps my best accomplishment this year. I am normally positively awful when I get to a restaurant.
Tonight we are having dinner with friends. Jamie is making Chicken Curry which I am sure will not be a "WW" approved meal, and alcohol will touch my lips for the first time this year, but I have planned for and deserve this indulgence.
Looking forward to it :-)
Be healthy!
Alan
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
It's Working!
Well...I made it to the gym (eventually) and to Weight Watchers yesterday.
I can now officially say my plan of syncing Holistic Nutrition with Weight Watcher's Simply Filling Technique is working!
I ate Holistic Foods from the WW "Power Food" list and only counted the points when I was eating a non "Power Food". I chose non Power Foods whenever the WW Power Food option was a low fat processed item. I had 49 weekly points to work with and I was able to add 40 exercise points.
I worked within these parameters, found it fairly easy, and was able to lose 2.4 pounds!
It wasn't anywhere near the 6 pounds I unofficially lost from my initial Saturday start date to the following Saturday, but this figure is more "real" as I was sick for part of that Saturday to Saturday evaluation. Besides, 2.4 pounds in a week is actually a much safer rate of weight loss and is more likely to be "fat loss" rather than a "muscle loss".
I am real happy. It inspires me to continue eating holistically healthy.
A special congrats goes out to Carolyn at Weight Watchers who attained lifetime membership at WW yesterday. That means she reached goal, has maintained it for the last six weeks, and can attend Weight Watchers free from now on as long as she doesn't go more than two pounds above her goal weight. I don't know Carolyn well but she really adds value to the meetings. I like her a lot and am REAL happy for her.
It was also great to see Pamela back. Glad you are feeling better :-)
So it was a good day all around yesterday.
Here is to continuing on the Road to Nutrition and Health!
Alan
I can now officially say my plan of syncing Holistic Nutrition with Weight Watcher's Simply Filling Technique is working!
I ate Holistic Foods from the WW "Power Food" list and only counted the points when I was eating a non "Power Food". I chose non Power Foods whenever the WW Power Food option was a low fat processed item. I had 49 weekly points to work with and I was able to add 40 exercise points.
I worked within these parameters, found it fairly easy, and was able to lose 2.4 pounds!
It wasn't anywhere near the 6 pounds I unofficially lost from my initial Saturday start date to the following Saturday, but this figure is more "real" as I was sick for part of that Saturday to Saturday evaluation. Besides, 2.4 pounds in a week is actually a much safer rate of weight loss and is more likely to be "fat loss" rather than a "muscle loss".
I am real happy. It inspires me to continue eating holistically healthy.
A special congrats goes out to Carolyn at Weight Watchers who attained lifetime membership at WW yesterday. That means she reached goal, has maintained it for the last six weeks, and can attend Weight Watchers free from now on as long as she doesn't go more than two pounds above her goal weight. I don't know Carolyn well but she really adds value to the meetings. I like her a lot and am REAL happy for her.
It was also great to see Pamela back. Glad you are feeling better :-)
So it was a good day all around yesterday.
Here is to continuing on the Road to Nutrition and Health!
Alan
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Do We Make Excuses?
I am sitting here contemplating whether or not I will go to the gym this morning.
We had a "snow storm" last night so there is the question of whether or not I will be able to get the car out from the back lane behind our house.
The truth is, however, as I look out my back window, the storm seems to be pretty much of a non-event. There is maybe 2 - 3 cm of snow on the ground.
It is true it might be a little icy, and that may mean a little extra effort is involved...but that little bit of extra effort so easily becomes an excuse to stay home.
Why do we find it soooooo easy to make the wrong choices but then find it sooooo hard to make the right ones? Sometimes I swear I search for excuses to take the easy route.
So I sit here contemplating whether or not I will go.
Theoretically, simply the fact that I am typing the reality of this situation should tell me to get up off my rump and go...but it isn't....I am sitting here thinking...."I don't want too!!!!"
I can only promise you one thing. I WILL get to the gym today, but it may not be until later. I feel like going back to bed. Maybe I am just listening to my body...but probably I am just making an excuse.
I WILL GO THOUGH!
Those caps were for my benefit...not yours :-)
I have made my decision....right now I am going back to bed.
The real question will be whether I can get to Weight Watchers tonight. I suspect Burlington, where the meeting is, got more snow than we did. Any advice from WW members out there in Burlington area?
Be healthy!
Alan
We had a "snow storm" last night so there is the question of whether or not I will be able to get the car out from the back lane behind our house.
The truth is, however, as I look out my back window, the storm seems to be pretty much of a non-event. There is maybe 2 - 3 cm of snow on the ground.
It is true it might be a little icy, and that may mean a little extra effort is involved...but that little bit of extra effort so easily becomes an excuse to stay home.
Why do we find it soooooo easy to make the wrong choices but then find it sooooo hard to make the right ones? Sometimes I swear I search for excuses to take the easy route.
So I sit here contemplating whether or not I will go.
Theoretically, simply the fact that I am typing the reality of this situation should tell me to get up off my rump and go...but it isn't....I am sitting here thinking...."I don't want too!!!!"
I can only promise you one thing. I WILL get to the gym today, but it may not be until later. I feel like going back to bed. Maybe I am just listening to my body...but probably I am just making an excuse.
I WILL GO THOUGH!
Those caps were for my benefit...not yours :-)
I have made my decision....right now I am going back to bed.
The real question will be whether I can get to Weight Watchers tonight. I suspect Burlington, where the meeting is, got more snow than we did. Any advice from WW members out there in Burlington area?
Be healthy!
Alan
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Boredom Factor
I really need to find new ways to enjoy myself. It seems everything in my life is centred around food.
We like to go out to eat with friends or have people over for dinner, but that usually involves bad choices and copious amount of wine.
I want to try to cool it for a while...but cooling it can be boring.
It is definitely healthier, and definitely better on the pocketbook...but not so much fun.
This, however, is a sacrifice I am willing to make for a while. Until I find stability at home, food-wise, I don't want to challenge myself in the outside world too often.
We are having a lunch with friends on Thursday and having a couple over for dinner Friday night so it is not like I am a complete hermit. Friday will be the first time my lips have touched alcohol in 2011. For those who know me I know what you are thinking....shocking! It is true though.
How sad my life has become when not drinking wine for a couple of weeks feels like it should be an entry in the Guinness World Book Of Records!
We do want to watch the pocketbook right now so I think it is a good thing.
I started tracking all my expenses on Quicken. It really is amazing how fast the money goes out the door. I want 2011 to be the year of being at least a LITTLE smarter.
So...healthy eating it is for now...but feeling a tad bored. I am 100% on track though and that makes me feel great!
Care to inspire me?
Be healthy,
Alan
We like to go out to eat with friends or have people over for dinner, but that usually involves bad choices and copious amount of wine.
I want to try to cool it for a while...but cooling it can be boring.
It is definitely healthier, and definitely better on the pocketbook...but not so much fun.
This, however, is a sacrifice I am willing to make for a while. Until I find stability at home, food-wise, I don't want to challenge myself in the outside world too often.
We are having a lunch with friends on Thursday and having a couple over for dinner Friday night so it is not like I am a complete hermit. Friday will be the first time my lips have touched alcohol in 2011. For those who know me I know what you are thinking....shocking! It is true though.
How sad my life has become when not drinking wine for a couple of weeks feels like it should be an entry in the Guinness World Book Of Records!
We do want to watch the pocketbook right now so I think it is a good thing.
I started tracking all my expenses on Quicken. It really is amazing how fast the money goes out the door. I want 2011 to be the year of being at least a LITTLE smarter.
So...healthy eating it is for now...but feeling a tad bored. I am 100% on track though and that makes me feel great!
Care to inspire me?
Be healthy,
Alan
Monday, January 10, 2011
Its working but I'm feeling hungry
I am eating a lot.
With my "Power Foods" list in hand (the list of foods I can eat until I am satisfied) I have eaten quite a bit of food.
The only time I get hungry, though, is late evening, and then because I go to bed hungry I wake up hungry in the morning. Fortunately I don't wake up hungry at night.
I usually have a good sized breakfast, a not so big (but filling) lunch, and a pretty big dinner. Dinner has been earlier than usual (around 5:30 - 6pm) and by 9pm I'm hungry.
I probably should eat something at that point, but eating what I think to be a lot of food during the day and then letting myself be a bit hungry at night seems to be resulting in weight loss, so I think I will stick with it a while longer. A cup of tea at around 9pm helps.
Perhaps when I re-reach my goal, in order to stop the weight loss I will add a light evening snack.
I haven't been eating any sugar either...well...about a tablespoon of brown sugar in a recipe and that is it.
I do crave sugar a little bit (not excessively) but I am going to stay away from it as I want to find out if there is any truth to the belief that if you stay away from something long enough your tastes will change and you won't want it. We will see.
Anyway...I am feeling a little hungry but otherwise REALLY good. More important than the weight loss I can see the body starting to transform back into a look I like much better.
It is going to be a great year.
Be healthy!
Alan
With my "Power Foods" list in hand (the list of foods I can eat until I am satisfied) I have eaten quite a bit of food.
The only time I get hungry, though, is late evening, and then because I go to bed hungry I wake up hungry in the morning. Fortunately I don't wake up hungry at night.
I usually have a good sized breakfast, a not so big (but filling) lunch, and a pretty big dinner. Dinner has been earlier than usual (around 5:30 - 6pm) and by 9pm I'm hungry.
I probably should eat something at that point, but eating what I think to be a lot of food during the day and then letting myself be a bit hungry at night seems to be resulting in weight loss, so I think I will stick with it a while longer. A cup of tea at around 9pm helps.
Perhaps when I re-reach my goal, in order to stop the weight loss I will add a light evening snack.
I haven't been eating any sugar either...well...about a tablespoon of brown sugar in a recipe and that is it.
I do crave sugar a little bit (not excessively) but I am going to stay away from it as I want to find out if there is any truth to the belief that if you stay away from something long enough your tastes will change and you won't want it. We will see.
Anyway...I am feeling a little hungry but otherwise REALLY good. More important than the weight loss I can see the body starting to transform back into a look I like much better.
It is going to be a great year.
Be healthy!
Alan
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Calendar - Time For Change
Do you need something a little different to try. Just to do SOMETHING different?
I have found that one of the biggest challenges with weight loss is getting bored with the same old same old. It isn't always necessarily food. Sometime it is just any change that is needed.
Every year or so I go back to a trick my mother taught me when I was about 10 - 12 years old. It is really stupid and really simple but for some reason it seems to work when I need a change.
I know this is going to be entirely too much information but seeing as I have this compulsive need to share my ENTIRE life with the world I will let you know that as a youngster I was a bed wetter. I wet the bed until I was about 12 years old.
After many doctor's appointments etc, it ended up being a calendar (Ok ...maybe it was just aging and coincidental timing) that solved the problem.
My mother bought a calendar and put it on the wall by my bed. Every day I didn't wet the bed she drew an "X" on that day on the calendar which stood for "success". It became a game to see how many days in a month I could get an "X". Damned if it didn't work. For some reason the visual really helped.
So every now and then I get a calendar out (the old fashioned kind...and not an online one) and place it where I see it all the time.
If I have been good I draw one line from the upper left hand corner to bottom right. If I have also tracked my points I draw a second line from the bottom left hand corner to the upper right. If I totally blew it the square for that day stays blank. As time goes by I get a clear visual in my face of how well I am doing. You can do this even if you don't track points. One diagonal line could represent a reasonably good day, and an "X" could represent a perfect day.
I know...it is silly...but if you do it I bet you will find it motivates you to get as many "Xs" as you can.
I pulled a calendar out this morning and am going to do it retroactively from January 1st. I have been on a quest to be "perfect" as long as I can hold out starting January 1st, and have tracked foods according to the "Filling Foods Plan" technique everyday so that means I get to start with 8 "X's". Yeah!
It is important to remember a perfect day doesn't necessarily mean you were perfect. It just means you stayed on your plan, whatever that plan may be. I had fried Fish Cakes and fried Sweet Potatoes the other day, but it was "on plan" and I counted it, so it is still a perfect day.
As Mikey says: "Try it...you'll like it"!
Be healthy!
Alan
I have found that one of the biggest challenges with weight loss is getting bored with the same old same old. It isn't always necessarily food. Sometime it is just any change that is needed.
Every year or so I go back to a trick my mother taught me when I was about 10 - 12 years old. It is really stupid and really simple but for some reason it seems to work when I need a change.
I know this is going to be entirely too much information but seeing as I have this compulsive need to share my ENTIRE life with the world I will let you know that as a youngster I was a bed wetter. I wet the bed until I was about 12 years old.
After many doctor's appointments etc, it ended up being a calendar (Ok ...maybe it was just aging and coincidental timing) that solved the problem.
My mother bought a calendar and put it on the wall by my bed. Every day I didn't wet the bed she drew an "X" on that day on the calendar which stood for "success". It became a game to see how many days in a month I could get an "X". Damned if it didn't work. For some reason the visual really helped.
So every now and then I get a calendar out (the old fashioned kind...and not an online one) and place it where I see it all the time.
If I have been good I draw one line from the upper left hand corner to bottom right. If I have also tracked my points I draw a second line from the bottom left hand corner to the upper right. If I totally blew it the square for that day stays blank. As time goes by I get a clear visual in my face of how well I am doing. You can do this even if you don't track points. One diagonal line could represent a reasonably good day, and an "X" could represent a perfect day.
I know...it is silly...but if you do it I bet you will find it motivates you to get as many "Xs" as you can.
I pulled a calendar out this morning and am going to do it retroactively from January 1st. I have been on a quest to be "perfect" as long as I can hold out starting January 1st, and have tracked foods according to the "Filling Foods Plan" technique everyday so that means I get to start with 8 "X's". Yeah!
It is important to remember a perfect day doesn't necessarily mean you were perfect. It just means you stayed on your plan, whatever that plan may be. I had fried Fish Cakes and fried Sweet Potatoes the other day, but it was "on plan" and I counted it, so it is still a perfect day.
As Mikey says: "Try it...you'll like it"!
Be healthy!
Alan
Saturday, January 8, 2011
One Complete Week of New Strategy Complete
I did it!
One whole week with the new strategy! Now all I have to do is do it for the rest of my life.
I managed to combine the "Simply Filling Technique" taught at Weight Watchers with a holistic approach to nutritional eating. It worked like a charm.
To be honest I was 9 points over my point allowance for the week, but it doesn't concern me because I was also 25 points short of my activity points goal. This was because I was sick at the start of the week and didn't go to the gym, and then eased myself back into it.
So...if I had been able to exercise the way I like, I would have had an additional 25 points to play with and then I wouldn't have been over "points-wise" at all. I would actually have been 16 points under.
According to my scale I managed to lose a whopping 6.6 pounds in the seven days of doing it. Yay! This puts me back in my comfort range of "under 190 pounds" but only with clothes off. It is supposed to be my comfort range with clothes on. Hey....stop visualizing!
I am really only going to say it "officially" works when I weigh in at WW next Wednesday and can say I did an entire week while healthy....but it is looking good!
I actually didn't have bread at all this week. This surprised me as I usually crave it, but making sure I got enough healthy whole grains seemed to take away the desire to eat bread...and that is a good thing. I really didn't think about it much.
I also had zero alcohol. That too is a good thing...but realistically...unlikely to continue.
If I had exercised normally, there still would have 16 points left over for wine, which is almost enough to allow me a bottle a week.
That is doable for me during the weight loss phase (why oh why am I STILL in the weight loss phase?) and after that I will be able to have a few more points so...bring on the wine...just not yet.
The most important thing though is that I am putting health first and weight second. I refuse to adjust my eating habits because I am going to step on a scale in the next 24 hours etc. etc. The only thing that does is start a cycle of starving and eating.
I really hope this is maintainable.
Be healthy!
Alan
One whole week with the new strategy! Now all I have to do is do it for the rest of my life.
I managed to combine the "Simply Filling Technique" taught at Weight Watchers with a holistic approach to nutritional eating. It worked like a charm.
To be honest I was 9 points over my point allowance for the week, but it doesn't concern me because I was also 25 points short of my activity points goal. This was because I was sick at the start of the week and didn't go to the gym, and then eased myself back into it.
So...if I had been able to exercise the way I like, I would have had an additional 25 points to play with and then I wouldn't have been over "points-wise" at all. I would actually have been 16 points under.
According to my scale I managed to lose a whopping 6.6 pounds in the seven days of doing it. Yay! This puts me back in my comfort range of "under 190 pounds" but only with clothes off. It is supposed to be my comfort range with clothes on. Hey....stop visualizing!
I am really only going to say it "officially" works when I weigh in at WW next Wednesday and can say I did an entire week while healthy....but it is looking good!
I actually didn't have bread at all this week. This surprised me as I usually crave it, but making sure I got enough healthy whole grains seemed to take away the desire to eat bread...and that is a good thing. I really didn't think about it much.
I also had zero alcohol. That too is a good thing...but realistically...unlikely to continue.
If I had exercised normally, there still would have 16 points left over for wine, which is almost enough to allow me a bottle a week.
That is doable for me during the weight loss phase (why oh why am I STILL in the weight loss phase?) and after that I will be able to have a few more points so...bring on the wine...just not yet.
The most important thing though is that I am putting health first and weight second. I refuse to adjust my eating habits because I am going to step on a scale in the next 24 hours etc. etc. The only thing that does is start a cycle of starving and eating.
I really hope this is maintainable.
Be healthy!
Alan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
