2022: Become a priority in your life - today is your opportunity to build the tomorrow you want.
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Oh my gosh….IF ONLY!!!! Wouldn’t that be the best thing ever?!1
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If i was "oprah rich" that's the one thing i would have lol and it would be a very easy job cause i like almost everything LOL... any takers??1
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Suzy - there's a free webinar online on Feb 11th from some dieticians about anti imflammatory eating..
it says if i miss it it will be recorded so i'll let you know if i come across any tips after watching i
https://dietitianwebinars.ca/webinars/1559/anti-inflammatory-eating?fbclid=IwAR2bwwEuOLhVsWhLzQYZGVwqAtH8rCqipd3qm6uJmSLwMIk5uZQCX6LVHJ8
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Thanks so much!
I made a pretty tasty dinner tonight. Baked salmon with lemon garlic butter and zucchini noodles and gluten free spaghetti mix with lemon garlic sauce and a bit of Parmesan and a few cherry tomatoes. Even my husband liked it! I managed to not overcook the zucchini noodles for a change. Lol.
It’s funny, in my mind I think that I should still be losing a couple pounds a week like when I was in my thirties. It’s hard to accept that half a pound a week is fantastic progress but that’s where we are. I would LOVE to lose half a pound a week! You may be on to something though, Vail. We should do a show, “struggling with the oldies.” Remember the “sweating with the oldies” exercise videos from years ago? Lol.
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Richard Simmons !!! Sweating to the oldies in his head bands and very short shorts !1
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I've done some Richard Simmons videos on youtube - kind of fun!
That would be great if you could feed back about the webinar, Snoozie. I think inflammation has a role in some of my health problems, heart disease, kidney disease, IBS, etc. and I've also had some auto-immune stuff going on, so maybe I should pay more attention to that. It all seems very complex and although I've changed my diet a bit I feel I need to know if I should be doing more.
Love the idea of a private chef, who would cook things just to my taste, portion controlled, and I wouldn't have to think about it! I don't like grocery shopping either. At least on this diet it's fairly simple at the supermarket. I get my eggs, milk and yoghurt delivered so don't have to think about them.
The roast dinner sounds lovely, Snoozie. That's something I could have on my diet without the Yorkshires. My little halogen oven isn't very good for roasts I could do a small one and portion it up. I just haven't been eating red meat much so didn't think of it. Small portions and lots of veg sounds good. You probably want to build up your nutrients a bit at the moment rather than thinking about weight loss.
You are right about half a pound a week being fine. It was fine for me during the 60lb loss, so I shouldn't be worrying about it now. I'm only in about a 500 calorie a day deficit so should be expecting slow loss (even though it would be a crash diet for some people!).
I'm just a bit frustrated because I was so close to crossing that boundary into the next stone. But maybe I will next week. Or even tomorrow, as I have the dentist today so might not be able to eat much!
Anyway, I'm down 11 plus pounds at the moment, from when I started just after Christmas. It's not enough to see, but I think I can feel it a bit.
Sorry, this is a long post, but something that came to me this morning was the frustration of setting weight goals. Which is something you're always expected to do at the beginning of a diet. The trouble is I feel a goal like, say, exercise twice a week, or don't snack in the evenings is something I can control and achieve. But the weight loss seems to be in the lap of the gods! You can do all the right things, but still might not reach the weight loss goal in the time frame. It made me think that the goals should be something other than weight loss, for instance, more to do with behaviours that I can control rather than the results.
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Spot on, Vail!!! Yes!!! When we were much younger setting a weight loss goal was motivational. Now? Not so much. I think we’re much more concerned with our health and not the scale. Yes, we would love for the number on the scale to be lower every week but the numbers with our bloodwork are really what’s important. That being said, we really really want the benefits of seeing our shapes become smaller. Lol.
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Yes, have to admit I do want to see my shape change too! I'm just fed up with being fat/overweight. I work in health, and I have serious health problems so I'm setting a bad example too by letting myself stay this size. It's ridiculous buying "XL" clothes when you're as short as me! Not to mention that I've lost height recently as well (so my BMI has gone up!). Although it's about health, not vanity, I would much rather people saw a normal weight person, rather than an overweight, out of condition one. Sadly, I think my face will look worse without the fat to pad it out!
I think I mentioned that I visited my father just before starting this diet and he really inspired me. He's in his 90s and was overweight for most of his life, but has dieted down to the weight he was in his youth. He put on a bit of weight in lockdown, only because his kitchen scales broke and he couldn't measure his food. He has now dieted back to his goal weight again. He just counts calories and measures what he eats, and has quite a healthy diet, fish twice a week, mostly frozen and tinned veg, shops early in the morning when it's quiet to avoid covid, occasional small amount of chocolate. His indulgence is good black coffee, which is virtually zero calories.
It has made me think it's ridiculous for me to complain about how hard it is at my age, when my father is in his 90s and successfully lost and maintained! And it also made me think that maybe it really is worth going back to my original weight, rather than hovering at overweight just because it's easier to maintain. I think the secret to stopping yoyoing and maintaining must be recognising that you're always, always on a diet and just continuing doing whatever it is that works, if it's calorie counting or whatever (the second trick being not stopping ... ever!). It has actually given me a bit more confidence that it's possible.
Of course, the thought of dieting for the rest of my life has put me off, and still does. But we are doing that anyway, aren't we?! If we weren't constantly dieting now, then we'd be enormous, lol! I think we are always trying to moderate our intake, even when we're gaining weight, or if we're not, we're worrying about eating too much and wanting to lose it, and trying to make healthier choices and then feeling bad when we don't. So is it really going to be so much harder to do that at a lower BMI?
You inspired me to look more into inflammation and I've having some revelations, Snoozie! So will be very interested in what you learn at your webinar.2 -
Ooh, I'm not sure how I did that, but here's my MFP weight chart for the past year (with the weights not included because I'm always embarrassed about them!). I have to keep sight of the fact that although I haven't got far it's definitely progress compared to the rest of the year.2 -
back in a bit fora longer post (after coffee).. but maybe we just need to change our mindset about the word "diet".. instead of thinking omg im going to be on a DIET forever (meaning restrictive in some way)
maybe if we could instead remember the OTHER meaning of diet which is "the kinds of food a person HABITUALLY eats" it would help us remember a diet simply means we're aiming for eating healthier to become a habit?
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Oh, the power of words! Yes, so true that it just means what you are eating. I find the word "diet" helpful, just to remind me that it is about restriction, and particularly about controlling the quantity of food I eat.
I can pinpoint two particular points where I had a really big diet-related weight gain. One was when I was having some health problems and was advised to change to a high carbohydrate diet and eat six small meals a day. Ha ha! So I did and guess what happened? The next time was when I added in more heart-healthy foods and started eating more oats, nuts, oily fish, etc. I piled on the weight both times! Because what I was thinking of as healthy eating, was eating too much healthy food.
I know this, but I have to keep reminding myself that the "healthy" part of healthy eating does involved restriction as well! I suppose what I'm thinking now is that it's not like I've been going all out and just eating what I want for the past year, so there is restriction going on whether it's at my weight now, or at my goal weight. I've just always assumed it would be much harder at my goal weight, but maybe not? I'm going to have to restrict/diet for life either way, so why not choose a weight I'd prefer to be at?
Anyway, looking forward to your longer post, Snoozie!1 -
Vail sorry i only posted that cause i misunderstood - i thought you were kinda horrified at the thought you would kind of have to be on a "diet" forever lol.. but if you like having the restrictions as a help then disregard ha
i'll have to wait for the big one - we're going over to shovel the court after the snowstorm and before it starts again... easier to do it in between snow dumps lol
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Don't apologise - I think I've even confused myself with my stream of consciousness! But yes, I have always been worried that I wouldn't be able to maintain (call it diet or restrictions) at a lower weight, and you're right, I was a bit horrified at how low the calories would be - I just didn't think it would be sustainable, hence stopping at a weight I was settling at.
I think I've seen so many people getting to a low weight, then bouncing back up again. But because that's more dramatic, I'm probably missing the possibility that just as many people (probably more!) get down to a not so low, overweight weight, and still bounce back up again. That it might be just as hard maintaining the loss, however much you lose. So you might as well choose to try for a lower weight.
Edited to say: I read a book years ago about dieting it said that you shouldn't diet down to below a maintenance level of 1500ish calories. It said anything below that would be too hard to maintain longterm. (My goal weight maintenance calories would be about 1200). So the idea is, if you get to that maintenance level of calories, you should stop losing, even if you're still overweight. So for all these years, I've had that in the back of my mind, but thinking of it, I have no idea if there is actually any scientific basis for it! I can't even remember the name of the book or the author!
Snow shovelling is incredibly hard work! Watch your back! Where I live we have volunteer snow wardens who go out and clear certain areas, e.g. a street. I keep getting close to volunteering because nobody has volunteered for our bit of street. But I'm the oldest person here, I think, so it seems silly to have the older lady with the bad heart going out and doing it! Really impressed with you doing it!1 -
“Because what I was thinking of as healthy eating, was eating too much healthy food.” Oh my gosh, Vail. You are so spot on with this. I keep thinking that I should be dropping pounds since I’m eating healthier but it’s all about the quantity, isn’t it. Thank you for that eye opener.
Maintenance calories are like a unicorn for me. I can’t even imagine getting to that point. I guess I always thought that I’d still have to limit my calorie intake and that I’ll definitely go up by five pounds now and again but that I’d be able to scale back to get back to maintenance weight. I feel like that’s so far off that I just can’t worry about it now.You’re smart to be thinking ahead and coming up with a strategy.
I managed to lose my half pound this past week. I’m trying not to be discouraged because we just talked about how we would be happy with half a pound loss per week. Lol. I’m a bit under the weather. I caught my granddaughter’s sniffles. I’m indulging myself in some couch time and tv. I don’t have the patience for more than a couple days of this though. Lol.
Yes, shoveling snow is hard heavy work! I used to do that when we lived in Rochester, NY. Of course, I was only 22 back then. Be careful!0 -
Congratulations on getting rid of that half pound! I hope you're not too bad with the sniffles. Plenty of hot drinks needed!1
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Morning..
I read back thru the posts to remind me of everything but they're on another page now so i can't refer back and my little pea brain isn't good at remembering so if i miss anything forgive me.
Suzy congrats on the loss well done you! Vail - your dad's story is very inspiring thank you for sharing it!
i am one of those that made it to my goal weight, and did regain some of it over the following years.. I was looking back and realizing how long i've been on MFP.. I NEVER planned to be here this long to be honest.. I figured once I got to where i wanted to be I was done. On one hand its kind of depressing I'm still here and still trying to lose the weight after all this time.. on the other I wonder if being here has kept me from regaining all the weight i lost..
I'm finding myself in a weird situation now.. as you know i was tracking my weight loss during the gut problem... and since October when it started I lost somewhere around 22 lbs... but physically that big a loss in 3 months was horrible.. I had no energy and would often have to lay down for 1/2 hr as fatigue would hit very suddenly, and i can see what i call haggard looking in my face, and skin wrinkles i didn't have before on my arms and neck ...
once i realized it was getting better with the gut, i started eating more.. which was good because not getting any nutrition into me during that time played havoc with my entire system... and i was doing really well with sticking with veggies and proteins.. but the past 10 days or so i have reverted to not only eating MORE.. but eating crap again... i've even had chips and baked goods that i didn't really want - but it was almost like i was trying to "make up" for what i missed .. and eating everything i couldnt have then. As a result, I have actually gained weight for the first time in 3 months (hence the WEIRD for me.. I've never been in the position where i was worried about losing TOO MUCH weight before.. but i was there during the gut thing. Today i got on the scale and i'm actually up about 3 lbs.. and i thought ok WHAT are you doing... albeit it was a horrific way to lose the weight (and honest to god.. i would take back every ounce rather than go thru that again).. but in the end.. I'm 20 lbs down - and already now starting to creep back up.. because i'm not paying attention to what and how much i'm eating anymore. Instead of saying ok.. however you got here, you've lost weight so the goal will be to stay at this weight now that you're here.. NOT gain any back...
So as of today, I am definitely cutting out the crap again and going back to just focusing on veggies and protein and portion sizes... i refuse to fall back into the self sabotage mode i know i've done previously and the biggest part of that is simply going back to eating too much for the limited amount of energy i expend in a day.. as physically i'm not doing much of anything right now.. I'm hoping to get back to indoor pickle a few times a week, but until i start moving more and burning off cals, I will have to restrict myself to make sure I'm eating enough and eating well enough to nourish myself, but definitely recognize what I don't need are a bunch of extra calories from any source, good or bad. So that's going to be my "formula" for the next few weeks while i monitor my weight and watch for results, its def going to be more about remembering every day that any extra calories i take in are not going to be burned off... and will just turn to fat.1 -
Oh my goodness, Snoozie, I didn't realise you had lost that much weight! That's shocking! I was thinking just a few pounds or something. It seems not surprising that you would have a sort of rebound afterwards. There's probably some sort of drive to recover all the nutrients you've been missing, and instinctively going for some easy calories too.
Sounds like you are on it, with your plan for careful, thoughtful eating. Veggies, protein and portion sizes - it all sounds so simple when you put it like that!
"on the other I wonder if being here has kept me from regaining all the weight i lost.." I wonder that do and I think it probably does. I hear that a lot of people who lose weight end up fatter than when they started. That hasn't really happened to us. I do think there is something about logging in here, that maybe just keeps it in the back of your mind and stops you completely losing the plot.
I had a delicious one pan meal tonight, very simple. Just a little bit of chicken, some chestnut button mushrooms, lots of spinach cooked in a little chicken stock and then some fresh tarragon and creme fraiche. Served with cauliflower "couscous" with fresh parsley. It felt quite rich and satisfying. About 400 calories. Lots of cheats: powdered stock, frozen pre-cooked chicken slices and readymade microwaved cauliflower couscous, because I'm all about making it easier!
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Wow! I didn’t realize that you had lost that much either. That’s kind of scary, right? No wonder your subconscious was nudging you to eat more and even indulge in those things you missed. The real win here is that you realized what you were doing and have a plan on how to handle it going forward.
Vail that dinner sounds delicious! I’m throwing something together tonight with what’s in my pantry and freezer. Not quite sure what it will be but I just wasn’t feeling well enough to go grocery shopping. Hopefully it will be edible. Lol.
I have nothing on my calendar for next week so I’m really hoping that I’ll be feeling better and can get some exercise in.
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I was actually scared, I'm not going to lie.. I've never in my life been worried about the scale moving down so quickly .. but I basically gave up eating for those weeks as everything just went right thru me.. even water and soup... altho i always drank water.. and the gut wrenching cramping that came with it... anyway yes i was scared.. I still believe i had either salmonella or listeria... especially since after the colonoscopy is when it started to improve.. i think it flushed out the virus (along with everything else LOLOL. .sorry.. TMI!!)
BTW i hate grocery shopping too Vail.. but i'll be heading out tomorrow for more cauli and broccoli!!
Your dinner tonight actually sounded delish to me as well.. and there is absolutely nothing wrong with using frozen or pre cooked items at all! It's funny when you said a "bit" of chicken; I don't know about where you guys are but here the chicken breasts seem huge these days..? I usually buy boneless when they are on sale..and for 50 years I've been cooking "a" chicken breast for one person.. but when you consider a portion of protein is supposed to be the size of the inside palm of your hand, or 1/4 of a plate - seriously i could get 3 "real" servings out of one chicken breast these days because they seem so big?? Just curious if its the same there.. anyway I have some frozen spinach that is now going to be part of whatever is for dinner tomorrow so thanks to your menu share lol!
Suzy I hope you feel better soon... sucks that you're down and out but i hope you'll be on the mend soon!
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You were right to be scared: that sounds so awful! I didn't realise it was that bad. You were very restrained in your description of it. What a terrible few weeks! One of my friends had giardiasis a few years ago and it sounded a bit like that. She was ill for ages with it, and still had to be careful with her diet for a while afterwards - did get back to normal though in the end! Thank goodness you are out the other side now.
A bit of chicken was about 45g, to add some protein. (Actually I think I put 100g in the recipe so it would have been under 400 calories - i'm tending to overestimate to be on the safe side!). Yes, the chicken breasts tend to be on the big side here and if you buy them fresh from a supermarket tend to be in a pack of at least two (usually more) which have to be used up just after opening. Single person portion control is a pain! You are so right about the serving size. The advantage with the frozen pre-cooked stuff is it that's in little pieces so I can easily just take out the right amount.
Yes, no shame in using these ready made ingredients, I think (and with the fresh herbs, you wouldn't know!). It's more expensive, but I'm finding it key to keeping me on track. I don't know if I mentioned but I've been buying little deli packs of food, things like cooked flavoured meat, salmon and prawns. I usually write the calories on the front of the pack and they are only one or two portions so I don't need to worry about using them up, and they fit neatly into the fridge! I've also bought some occasional bags of pre-made salad. It's really helping me with the temptation after work when I'm tired, when it's so quick and easy to just put a packet of cooked meat and some salad on a plate and add a bit of dressing. I can't afford to do this all the time, but it's helping me keep on track for now. And I might buy more of the cauliflower couscous as it's such a faff making your own. It just came in a microwaveable bag and was easy. I added a lot of fresh chopped parsley and it was actually pretty good! I think the creamy sauce helped!
The creme fraiche was most of the calories (think I overestimated that as well), but it's such an amazing food that I think it's worth it, and a lower fat substitute would not have had that richness! I don't have enough free calories to use up the pot so am going to have to throw a lot away, but I need to learn do just do that rather than worry about waste.1 -
Vail - I totally agree with you on spending a bit more for the convenience when you can. and most of the time i waste less food that way as well; using frozen pre cooked chicken or the frozen couscous saves so much time and its THERE when you are hungry and fast.. as you said, it defnitely helps keep me eating better if its fast and easy. I do still sadly waste some food altho i'm really trying to do better there.. it is challenging cooking for one especially with things that don't keep well or freeze well... and i love the idea of the creme fraiche - that little touch of richness for sure would seem a treat and adds so much to the dish!
There's been a big jump in the price of all groceries here but especially veggies and dairy so its hard sometimes finding the balance between spending a bit more for convenience to win out over less waste.. you reminded me actually about that lovely chicken recipe with the creamy balsamic sauce that i love.. it uses chicken broth as the base and just 2 tbsp of cream rather than a cup lol.. so i may look at making that up at some point. i think tonite will be a piece of fish and some frozen squash and some green beans i splurged on (cause the price of those is crazy right now - thankfully they were selling them loose so i was able to only buy 10!)0 -
I was thinking of suzy's signs the other day and was trying to figure out something that would work for me right now... my biggest challenge at the moment is trying to move my parts more.. i said to my sister yesterday that those challenges i did for all of us during the lockdown were good for me, even if it was only guilt sometimes that made me do some kind of workout or video - and sometimes it was just trying to outdo one of our younger family members on the west coast lol.. but it worked because every single day i did something. Without that motivation I have slacked off big time... and i thought last night it really just boils down to "am i taking care of myself today".. moving more, eating better, getting enough sleep... all the things we need to prioritize to get the tomorrow we want for ourselves, right?? so easy on paper... not so easy in real life! But this is the one i printed and taped to my coffee pot (as that's the first place i go in the morning lol).. and that's what i am going to tell myself every morning.. today i am going to take care of myself!!
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I'm using my "take care of myself today" sign every day to include various aspects, physical, nutrition, social etc.. today i went to the lake for a walk since we had a nice break in the frigid temps.. and stopped to sweep off a light dusting of snow on the courts on the way down... so covered the physical with a 30 min walk and the sweep, had a salad for lunch and I'm going to my friends for 1pm to have a coffee and catch up and pick up the masks she ordered for me lol.... ticked all the boxes today!! I'll post a couple of pics of the lake.. was such a beautiful day with the temps up to around 1C so thank you Mother Nature!
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Beautiful!!! Great job today, Snoozie!0
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Those weren’t actually the ones I was going to share but I got interrupted midpoint. Anyway the one with the rocks covered on top with snow ?? All I could think of was they made me think of cinnamon rolls !!!1
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Beautiful pictures, Snoozie! You are brave going out in that cold - I feel chilly just looking at the photos. So funny that the rocks made you think of cinnamon rolls! Now that you mention it, they do!
I've found I'm really, really interested in watching programmes about high calorie food at the moment! Because I can't have it, it's a vicarious pleasure. It's amazing how often food comes up in conversation, in shop windows, on TV, etc. You can't get away from it. So not suprising if the scenery sometimes morphs into food, ha ha!
I need to get out more. I'm normally out walking a lot, not miles, but just to the shops and so on, but it has been cold, windy and a bit rainy here and I just can't face it! The wind is the worst. I'm looking back on photos from last year and thinking I really need to do more walking. I have been finding excuses to drive round to see my son who only lives about a mile and a half a way, and it's a nice walk scenic walk to get there too. I always think "Oh, I'll just take this round to him, or I'll pick up that from his, and so I'll have to take the car because it's too big to carry" or some other excuse. And I know I'm doing this, but still keep doing it!1 -
Vail - I can handle the cold as long as I'm dressed for it - but I'm with you on the wind! I actually always check the wind before i go out - i know my set point is 14km/h for comfort lol.. if its a windy day i usually head for the trails in the woods because it cuts down on the wind... a few times i've missed and gone to the lake - big mistake on a windy day lol. I am definitely going to have to up my walking as well i've been slacking off admittedly using the cold as a reason... but i'm trying to get out on the days when its not quite so bad. I've definitely lost endurance even there!
I saw a little sign somewhere on the net yesterday i quite liked "Eating well is a sign of self respect"
I made up a huge pot of cabbage, turnip and carrots last nite and had a huge bowl for dinner lol... my eyes were definitely bigger than my belly but it was soooooo good.. i had a 2" piece of ham to go along with but i found it terribly salty so i only ate 1/2 of it.. but i did go back for seconds in cabbage ha..
I have lots of leftovers for today so no cooking.. woo hoo.. yup that's a big win in my world.
Today's self care plan is healthy food choices, and either a walk or outdoor pickle if we have enough to play.. no social activities but i'm going to call an old friend who's hubby starts radiation treatment tomorrow to touch base... and i downloaded a new book from the library so this afternoon i will curl up and dig in
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Well I reached into the fridge to get out my veggies for dinner and knocked over a glass jar of pickled beets which hit the floor from about 3 feet high - my kitchen now looks like a crime scene.. AGAIN! this is the 2nd time I've had a jar of beets land on the floor - do you think someone's trying to tell me something??? hahahaha0
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Cinnamon rolls…yum. I can’t remember the last time I had one of those. Lol. I can take wind. Or rain. Or cold. But not any combination of those. I’m a weather wimp.
It was beautiful here today. We went for a walk around our tiny neighborhood and the road behind us. I’ll share a couple photos of that road.
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