The 180s Are Halfway Beat
10 Nov
I weighed in at 185 lbs today, registering a loss of 1.5 lbs over the past week and 18 lbs since I started eating less and exercising more. That’s great news, because it means that I have the 180s halfway licked! I’m satisfied with my progress and excited about the possibility of reaching my unofficial short-term goal of 175 lbs by New Year’s Day.
I got to feeling down toward the end of last week, and the feeling lingered through yesterday. When I feel that way, my heart seems to weigh an extra 25 or 30 lbs, and my body tends to drag. I had to summon up lots of determination to work out because of this perceived extra weight on me, but I did it. I didn’t feel motivated, but I did it. Which in a way, is one definition of motivation in action. Huh.
Foodwise, I have to admit I’m getting slightly bored with my standard (often pre-packaged) choices, but I’m irrationally stressed out by the idea of cooking. My boyfriend and I discussed the idea of trying one new recipe per week, to break down my mental block against cooking bit by bit. I think I’ll start scouting for easy healthy recipes with a small number of ingredients for potential dinner entrees to try out.
From a weight-loss blogging standpoint, I keep wanting to reach out to others and leave comments, but I feel like I don’t have anything valuable or worthwhile to contribute, so I end up clamming up. I read lots of your blogs and silently cheer you on, but I know how much an actual comment can mean sometimes, so I am going to work on sharing the comment love a little more.
I am the same way with cooking. I work full time and just plain don’t feel like cooking when I get home. My husband does most of the cooking or we eat out. So, I’ve made it my personal goal to cook at least one meal per week because I recognize that if I want to be in control of my food then I need to prepare more of it. Congrats on getting halfway out of the eighties!!!!
Josie: Sounds like we have similar challenges when it comes to cooking—I like your goal of cooking at least one meal per week. Keep me posted on how it goes!
If you like to keep things simple while trying a stab at cooking have you ever looked at a Hungry Girl cookbook? She has some decent recipes that are easy, tasty and low in calorie count.
Your progress is great, I am envious. :) I always look forward to seeing how you do each week, it motivated me to start Sparkpeople! You express yourself very well and should comment more. People would love to hear from you!
Tina
Tina: Thanks so much for the cookbook suggestion! I’ve definitely heard of Hungry Girl but I haven’t checked out any of her books yet. Thanks for cheering me on, also! And you can do this too, one day at a time :).
Halfway through the 180s, that’s great!!
I sympathize with your feelings on cooking and the boredom of pre-prepared meals. When I started up my weight loss program I was all gung ho about cooking dinner every night and making grocery lists, and and. . . Now, I’m lucky if I go food shopping every other week. The hubby and I eat out far too often (in my best interests, I created “healthy” menu food lists from these places and put together a couple of meals from each place).
Singingforasmallerme: I think every now and then it’s necessary to change things up a little bit, even for a creature of habit like me. I think it’s pretty clever how you created healthy menu food lists for your fave eat-out places!
Funny thing how it works! I am irrationally stressed about using packaged foods! I am trying to get over it so I could enjoy them once in awhile!
Beth: You are me Through the Looking Glass, it sounds like! I love the idea of eating all non-processed foods, but the reality of it always overwhelms me.
So, if the majority of us share that same “irrational stress” about the idea of cooking, does that mean WE are the normal ones, and those who cook are the weirdos? If only! Actually, I’m right there with you, babe. It’s is a struggle to get my butt in the kitchen — even though I’m a good cook and a great baker. I just have no real desire to “do” the cooking thing anymore. Okay, it’s true that I don’t eat very much, but what I do eat needs to be fresh — AND EASY. And there’s the key to the whole thing. I have learned to find shortcuts and work-arounds to make the kitchen a more palatable (pun intended) place to be. Essentially, I only like to labor in the kitchen ONE TIME PER YEAR (which would be Thanksgiving, thank you very much), so every OTHER day must be low-stress. The way I do it is by using things like mason jars (so I don’t have to measure, the food is portable, and I can readily throw something tasty together). Example: I use the little 1/2 c. mason jars with plastic screw on lids (I hate the stupid metal rings and inserts — too much work!) — that I bought from WalMart. Let’s say I want to have nachos for lunch: I just put my black refried beans into one mason jar, black olives into another, my greek yogurt (instead of sour cream) in another, some amazing salsa (Trader Joe’s Chipotle is like CRACK for me) in another, count out 7 Trader Joe’s Soy Flax Corn Tortilla Chips in a ziplok bag, and throw it all in my insulated bag to take to work. At lunch time, I simply throw the jar with the beans into the microwave and spread out the other jars like a mini-nacho bar on the counter. People are work say it looks totally gourmet. I think it’s just planned, but if it makes their mouths water, I must be doing something right. Same thing with a fresh salad — I use those mason jars for liquidy stuff (like premeasured servings of salad dressing), or rice-vinegar-marinated cucumber slices (persian cucumbers are THEE best) with sliced grape tomatoes and feta cheese. The more you can plop into little ziplok bags and jars, the better. You can prepack for the week, or just do it the night before. The reason I love doing it this way is that I hate to measure. So, these are PREMEASURED — yet fresh. I don’t know if this makes sense, but it sure has worked for me. Congrats on making it midway through the 180’s and keep fighting the good fight.
Cari: Thanks so much for this tip! I had never thought of using mason jars like that. I am going to check out the availability at our local Walmart when we go grocery shopping this weekend! Your nachos sound yum, btw ;)
The greek yogurt is the key to the whole thing — trust me!!! Have you ever had REAL Greek Yogurt? The best brands I know of are: FAGE (pronounce FAH-YEH), Oikos and Chobani. The plain (0%) version works in place of sour cream (like on a baked potato, if you do those), but it also works well as a dessert! Slurrrrp. I add dried cranberries and sugar free cheesecake flavored jello (not too much) for a tasty afternoon snack. (Trust me, it’s to DIE FOR). Oh my gosh!
There’s another idea I have for you — if you like rice pudding. I make an incredible “mock” rice pudding, where cottage cheese is substituted for the rice. If you don’t tell anyone, they really don’t think too much about the fact that they aren’t even eating rice.
If you email me, I can give you the recipe.
Another great thing to consider adding to your day would be protein shakes. They aren’t just for breakfast anymore (ha ha). I make some BOMB shakes and am constantly picking up new tips and recipes from my friend, Allie (at Pimp My Protein Shake — http://pimpmyproteinshake.blogspot.com/ )
You will never look at protein drinks the same way again — trust me!!!
Good luck!
WOOHOO, you are kicking booty! I knew you could do this girl!
I think we all struggle with the weighted down feeling during weightloss. It is hard to get out of that slump, but you did it!
I can only dream of the 180’s right now………
Kristine: Thanks, lady! The 180s may just be in your dreams now, but you totally can make them your reality. I have faith in you.
Everyone has something to say – speak up! We’d love to hear your voice!
Hooray for the 185! Looks like you are doing great! Is it that you don’t know how to cook, or you don’t know what to cook?
I have a bunch of recipes on my blog – I am in the process of figuring out the nutrition on some of my older posts – that may help?
My pumpkin pancakes I made yesterday were so good, I had them again today – and only 116 calories each!
Hang in there!
Hi, biz319! I think my biggest cooking challenges are: 1. I don’t really know how and 2. I am lazier than I’d like to admit. I’m going to cruise over to your site and check out your recipes—those pumpkin pancakes sound yum!
I love to hear what you have to say. And 185!! Fabulous and definitely check out biz319’s blog. Another good one for recipes is AndreasWellnessNotes. She has a lot of nice, easy recipes.
Take care!
Thanks, Diane :). Sometimes I just get all obsessed with the idea that my comment has to be incredibly earth-shattering or something, and it keeps me from jumping into the fray. I appreciate the recipe site tip!