The first day of our "serious diet" went well. Of course, by evening, my stomach thought my throat had been cut - kidding. I've been on some sort of diet all my life, and I actually have rather good eating habits. I've heard people say, "I gave up soft drinks and lost ten pounds." Great, but I don't drink a lot of soft drinks. For years I have drunk one diet drink a day - if that, but I gave that up to see if it would help - nada. Mostly, I drink water through out the day. I've heard people say, "Don't eat after 7 PM." I rarely eat at night while watching TV. People say how they love sweets and hate to give them up. I rarely eat candy like chocolate bars and such. We do occasionally have dessert, but even that is rare. Yogurt and strawberries is one of our favorite desserts - not so bad really. I do have some bad habits - chips are my downfall, although I do not sit around eating them by the bag fulls. My point is that comparatively we eat pretty healthy, but it is going to take getting "serious" - really changing some thangs to make a big difference. Dang it.
Yesterday I did a Wal-Mart trip to buy lots of rabbit food (lettuce, celery, carrots, etc). I happened to run into my old aerobics instructor who has also struggled with her weight, but is now looking very fit. She told me her secret (besides having her own personal trainer who put her on a big diet last year) was not to eat processed foods. She said, "Look in my cart. See I can eat bacon..." Bacon? Is that not processed? What the heck does processed mean? I think the word processed is the new buzz word that has changed in meaning over the years - like the word organic did several years ago. Organic used to mean noting or pertaining to a class of chemical compounds that formerly comprised only those existing in or derived from plants or animals, which would mean anything grown in the ground. But now, organic means grown chemical free - as if there were not chemicals in the ground. Anyway, the word processed has changed too. I looked it up to find out what it is suppose to mean now. By that definition, I would think bacon would be processed unless my aerobics instructor is butchering her own pigs. I really like this woman - she is a hoot, but I'm thinking she does not know any more about nutrition than I do. And I'm tellin' ya, just because I'm over weight doesn't mean I don't know how I got this way or what to do about it. It means that I have not been willing to do what it takes for me (ME being the important word) to be thinner. This aerobic instructor spends hours each day working out, teaching exercise classes, jogging, etc. I'm just not willing to do that. There are things that I am willing to do, but age, metabolism, body shape, genes, bad attitude, etc. will keep my at my fighting weight. It will take some serious change, though.
Example: Back in junior high, my brother, who is one year older than I, lived in the same house, ate the same things, did pretty much the same stuff. Yet, he was so thin that he worked at eating more, took all sorts of vitamin - pro packs - to gain weight and be able to play football. And there I was over weight and having to watch what I ate. Life is not fair.
In fact, life is part of the problem. I have lost all sorts of weight and gained it back - fluctuated big time. Someone told me once that "fluctuating weight" was not good for you. I replied, "So you think I should stay fat?" It is not like I want to gain my weight back. When I look back on my ups and downs, I see a pattern where I lost lots of weight, kept it off for a few years. But then some life change happened - like moving to a new place and job - and my diet and exercise would go downhill. It only takes a slight change in lifestyle to alter my body. Dang it.
And so, I'm whinin'. And I need to get serious. I need to make some lifestyle changes - however serious or slight. I do want to be healthier. It just pisses me off that I cannot be like the Bucks of this world or like my mother who has always been thin (and tall). Those changes are not just in my food intake, but also in my activity schedule. But I do love sitting here, playing on my computer, drinking my coffee....
9 comments:
You can do it! I hear more blogging is always good for your health. . .
Thanks NavyOne, you are an encouragement. I wanna blog like you.
...but age, metabolism, body shape, genes, bad attitude, etc...
Genes. It's ALL (or mostly all) in the genes. As ya know, I'm like yer brother and believe me, that bugs us skinny people, too. I gave up trying to put on weight and have just accepted that it is what it is, or as Popeye sez... "I yam what I yam."
Thanks for the linky-lurve... AND your comment on that post. Good advice, that was.
This was great! Especially as I sit here drinking a glass of wine and eating a string cheese which is soooo processed! And, since we share genes (other than the tall/short part), I can relate to everything you said - particularly fond of the sitting here, playing on the computer and drinking coffee, well, in the mornings. Swith to wine in the evenings :) It is, what it is! But we have great laughs . . .
One thing that has really helped me is to keep a food diary. I couldn't understand why I couldn't lose weight, until I started recording everything I ate. I was shocked at how much I was really consuming. I use the nutrition tracker at www.sparkpeople.com. I like it because I can save my favorite foods, and next time I eat them, I just check the box and it adds it.
Buck,
My brother is still thin, but has gained a bit of weight since he has a woman in his life - which leads us to the second part of your comment.
Barbara,
We do share some genes - especially the laugh gene. And our gums show when we smile. I love cheese, too.
Becky,
Those are some good tips. I was doing an online food tracker, but they recently changed the site. I don't like it as much now. I will check out your suggestion.
Daughter Joanna lost sooo much with a food diary type thing, too, on Loose It, no, no, I mean loseit.com I have been trying it since last August, but I forget to write it down and then think what the heck, it is the same food written down or not. So I haven't done as well. Used the fire for an excuse, but now?? Joanna eats lots of soups when we go out. I have gluten problem so soups are often thickened with flour. She drinks water, water, water.
Wishing you the best in your endeavor.....
Good luck, Lou. I know what you're talking about. My sister and I were fat kids, and our two brothers were rail thin.
Funny thing is, now they're pudgy & we're the slim ones.
I was on a diet most of my life until I was about 28 years old, and stopped eating red meat, or fowl. Dropped about 80 pounds, and never gained it back. But, I certainly understand how it is to struggle.
My beloved wife struggles with her weight. I think it's harder for women in so many ways.
Good luck. Be healthy, regardless of what that "healthy weight" is.
Go, Lou!
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