Fit Frame of Mind

Low Carb

2011-11-13T12:19:00.001-05:00

So I am trying an experiment in low carb. The whole idea of going back to eating a ton of meat freaks me out, so I am reading and following Rose Elliot's Low Carb Vegetarian book. It makes so much more sense to me. I have also been surprised to find the Atkins website has a number of sources on how to follow the "Atkins Nutritional Approach" as a vegan or vegetarian. I am not one to go in for those labels, so I am doing a full combo approach and following my gut on the protein. I have returned to eating eggs for sure.

I am on my fourth day of Low Carbing it. I have a terrible leg cramp that won't go away, but other than that I am feeling okay. I wouldn't say I have desperate carb cravings, but I would love to have a banana!

The Post where I start writing again

2011-08-23T20:04:00.000-04:00

So for my job, I now have to get up at 5:30 am. For some, this is no big deal, but for me I think it comes right in the middle of deep sleep cycle. I hate it. I really hate it. I generally am not getting home until around 5:00 pm...my day is just all screwy and if I am not vigilant about having things ready it all falls apart and results in massive amounts of take out food.

Long story short, I decided to try to "Cook Once Eat All Week" kind of like this, but vegetarian or vegan.

It all starts with a plan.
Step one: Clean out fridge and take note of what is around.
Step two: ~~Play on Facebook for hours~~ Diligently pour over new cookbooks and healthy eating blogs and choose recipes that seemed workable.
Step Three: List mania--General Menu list, Grocery list by recipe, reorganized recipe by grocery store categories.
Step Four: SHOPPING

Recipes I chose (and will link sites tomorrow):

Chickpea Tacos (Happy Herbivore)
Cheezy Brown Rice and Kale Souffle (VegNews)
BBQ Seitan, Corn, Salad
Goddess Nicoise (Appetite for Reduction)
Baked Falafel (See above)
Hoppin' John Salad and Kale (PCRM)
Red Lentil Pasta Sauce

Tales from the Scales: Oh the horror!

2011-07-14T23:03:00.001-04:00

So I am doing a monthly team challenge over at LoseIt! which is a great app for your iPhone or iPod Touch and a great website if you are without those devices (they are working on an Android app and are beta testing!!). Back to the story, tomorrow is our weigh in day. I would like to say give myself a pat on the back and say that I have been killing it this week with eating well. I could be getting more activity, but MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL I have only had one beer this week. Wow.

So I am a little nervous about what the scale will say tomorrow. I don't want to get all hung up on the numbers when I DO feel so much better. I have been eating mostly plant based meals and did not eat out save for one trip to Subway. These things are huge for me and I know they will be the way that I lose and keep the weight off.

Oh, and I started my first official week of C25K. Pretty excited about this. I have a running "partner" who I met on Lose It. We started at the same time with a couple of weeks of walking. We exchange emails every couple of days to just check in and encourage each other. That is nice since I don't have anyone here to do this with.

I just want to be THERE now. Feeling very impatient.

And there you have it...

2011-07-13T10:02:00.000-04:00

So we went to St. Louis last week. I had some lovely craft beers at dinner and kind of monitored what I ate. Made decent choices, honored my cravings and health by eating when I felt full and satiated.
The results? 5 - 6 pound "gain" on the scale.
Since then? I have been chugging water like it is my job and no alcohol.
The results? Down one pound from my prevacation weight.
The verdict? I need to cut out alcohol.

Dealing with Setbacks

2011-06-30T10:02:00.000-04:00

Last week I spent a week at my parents. Some stress

The week before that, my mother in law was here. A lot of stress.

Today, I got on the scale and half of my progress was gone. HALF.

Part of me wants to throw in the towel and say "well, if I have gained that weight back, then why bother with all this healthy eating crap?"

But the rational part of me says "You didn't actually eat 17,500 extra calories in order to gain five pounds in a week. It is water and it will go away. Stick with it. You deserve and need a change. You need your life back. Reclaim your happiness."

So today, I will pack my lunch with foods that make my body feel good and taste good. I will walk 20 minutes. I will smile. I will laugh with my son. I will enjoy the sun and the time I have off work.
I will love myself.

Things to do besides eating

2011-06-24T09:33:00.000-04:00

Play with my son
Take a walk
Look up the caloric values of the crap I want to eat
Log on to the message boards for WW or LoseIt!
Read a book
Look at my fat pants (ie, the pants I currently wear) and compare to my thinner pants
What else?

Fit or Fat Frame?

2011-06-23T22:46:00.000-04:00

Today was a fat frame of mind day. I knew it would be. Going home to see my parents is always a challenge, even with my mom being a WW Lifetimer. We ordered out my favorite pizza, and how did I indulge. It was my choice--I knew it was coming and I went with it.

Tomorrow is a new day. I will drink lots of water and I am going to boot camp with my mom.

I am looking forward to Saturday. I have an appointment with a neuromuscular massage therapist to work on my knee. Many years ago I was in a series of car accidents (three I think) and none of them were my fault. Each resulted in my pounding on the brake and sliding forward hitting my knee on the dash underneath. Ever since and compounded by all this weight I am carrying around, it has a dull ache. Apparently this person can work wonders. It is my dream to "just go jog five miles" as my exercise. I hope that sooner than later this dream can come true.

Tomorrow, I will be in a FIT frame of mind.

A(nother) New Beginning

2011-06-22T21:08:00.000-04:00

Why am I here (again)? This time more overweight than I have ever EVER been. I have all the tools I need to accomplish my goal of losing 100 pounds.

I am getting in my own way.

Move over, FatGirl.