I say that because this is the 3rd time I'm writing this week's post. Not because of some internet mistake, but because I just can't seem to say what I want to say. So, I'll try it one more time!
I had a little pity party this weekend and nearly fell off the wagon. No, actually... I nearly leapt from the wagon, screaming for chocolate and Doritos. Long story short, I thought I would've lost more weight by now. I'm down 7 pounds over the last 6 weeks, which I find frustrating. I thought I'd be swimming in a pair of size 10 jeans by now! Why is that? Where did I get that idea? My 1/2 pound loss for last week left me confused and frustrated. But, why? It's still a loss, right? Where did I get the impression that I would drop so much more?
-The Biggest Loser, where contestants drop double digits each week consistently.
-Valerie Bertonelli and Marie Osmond, who seem to get skinny overnight "eating delicious food".
-All those diet pill ads in magazines, showing a pudgy "before" and slender "after".
That's when it dawned on me...
The fine print that appears in every single diet pill/diet food/exercise program advertisement.
*Results not typical.
DH and I need to erase those atypical results from our brains. We are doing the right things: Drinking water, counting calories, and exercising (almost) daily. We are experiencing other small victories that we should be celebrating!
-He's lost 15 pound in the last 4 weeks.
-His resting heart-rate and blood pressure have both dropped significantly.
-I have dropped 3 inches in my hips and 3 inches in my waist.
-I can wear clothes I haven't touched in years again.
-We are both running, something he hasn't done in 15 years and I've never done my entire life.
-Working on this together has given us a shared "hobby", and encouraging each other through this has added a layer of commaraderie and togetherness to our marraige.
-We're learning to cook (and try) new foods and sharing more meals at home. Possible saving money by eating out less often, and definitely getting creative when ordering a pizza! (Did you know that Domino's has a calorie counter as you build your pizza online? So helpful! And grilled chicken on a pizza is really, really good!)
Which leads me to the other reason why I wanted to edit this post. I want to share some of our favorite "pleasant surprises" from our new diet. If you're playing along, maybe one of these will work for you, or maybe you have a fave that you'd like to share in the comments?
- Quaker Oats Weight Control Oatmeal. There is added protein (7g) and fiber (6g) to help make you feel fuller for longer, and you just can't beat a hot breakfast!
- Speaking of a hot breakfast, DH has a new love: turkey bacon! Even the Little Man likes it! Along with a couple of eggs (only 80 cal. each), you'll feel full 'til lunch!
- Fresh fruit. We are burning through a big bunch of bananas every couple days. Along with apples and seedless oranges and bags of salad mixes... We sneak these in as snacks between breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it helps keep hunger at bay to eat small meals more often.
- Uncle Ben's Brown Rice bags. They heat up in 90 seconds, and while the package says 2 servings, we can usually get 3 out of it. Good variety of flavors and grains, and not too bad on sodium.
- Yogurt and Granola = Nighttime Snack! We've taken a liking to the Bear Naked Chocolate flavor (gotta have a little chocolate everyday, ya know?) and the Dannon Light n' Fit (80 cal.). The granola is a little high in calories, but mixing it with the yogurt helps make you feel like you had a really great snack without cheating. DH loves the 100 cal snack cupcakes, too, for when you just need a twinkie fix!
Oh, and here's my "Fun Find" of the week: Crock Pot Recipes for Dieting! Easy and Good for You!!!
17 comments:
Don't just look at the weight loss, look at the size difference. You say you've lost a lot of inches...be so proud of that! You're working out so don't be surpised if the scale doesn't show a marked drop. Keep it up! If it's any consolation I jumped screaming from the wagon this weekend too! I'm climbing back up and just try to remember you need to indulge once in awhile and it won't kill the diet as long as you get back on the wagon.
ahem. It's me, the Other Kristine.
Ok, so here's me being all jealous because YOU LOST SEVEN POUNDS IN SIX WEEKS. That is a very good loss (like, one pound more than good, which generally is considered to be .5 to 1 pound per week). I say "Congratulations!" and also you look great. So there.
Google "raw food lifestyle/recipes" for health and rapid weight loss. Eating only raw fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds will cure many ailments and give you unbelievable energy.
Cutting out toxins and cooked food gives your body more energy to repair itself.
Raw food lifestyles can reverse diabetes in 30 days and can help with auto-immune and chronic illnesses.
Don't take my word on it. Everyone should check it out. Testimonials abound.
6 inches?!?!? That's amazing!! You are doing great!
You ARE doing amazing... I know I'm dating myself by quoting Richard Simmons, but he used to talk about the difference between a DIEt and a LIVE-it! You're not just focusing on changing a number on a scale, but on improving your life, which it sounds like you're doing a great job of! I enjoy reading your posts about this journey!! Keep 'em coming!!!
You are doing well. You put it on probably a pound a week. Taking it off the same way will help you keep it off more successfully. Keep up the good work!
7lbs is incredible! I did 3 months of bootcamps and couldn't lose even 5. You are doing fantastic! Just keep going!
You look amazing. Try not to let the numbers get under your skin. And also remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you are building muscle thanks to all the exercise, you can be losing the fat and yet not showing a big difference on the scale. BMI is really a better indicator than scale weight.
Hang in there - you're doing great!
Hugs
Ann
Woohoo! I think 7 lbs is awesome! You already know you're my inspiration. :)
I LOVE the Uncle Ben's brown rice baggies! I've been using those since I found them last summer. Awesome. Have you tried to saute it with some cut up veggies & garlic and a TBS of olive oil (or you favorite "good fat")?? SOOOO yummy. And, if you like some protein in your stir fry, you could even throw in shrimp (I buy the precooked frozen variety, because I can just take out what I want, and pop them back in the freezer) or grilled chicken, etc. It is my favorite quickie dinner because it goes together so fast and tastes so amazing. (You can add low-sodium Teriaki or soy sauce too if you like that).
And DITTO on the Valerie Bertinelli, et al occupying so much ad space on my tv. NO ONE can live on Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem frozen dinners forever. What are they going to eat when they go "off" the plan? They won't know what to eat!!
Your seven pound loss is wonderful but even better than that are the changes in lifestyle. This will so payoff. DH and I love to walk and did 5-6 miles nearly every day until cheap health care called me back to work. I so envy the time you and DH have together getting healty. I really miss that. Keep up the great work.
I think you are doing amazingly well, nothing to be disheartened about at all. As inspiring as the Biggest Loser can be, it does set up unrealistic expectations I think. You sound really positive about your new lifestyle, good for you!
I agree with the other posters - be happy that you lost the inches and that you can fit into clothes you haven't been able to in years. That's the more important thing - not the number on the scale. Keep it up!
I work out at the gym 3-4 times a week, but I don't feel that it's particularly effective, so I started a running plan this week. Running is hard! I'm encouraged to hear that you are a new runner too. I've never ran before, either.
Woohoo! That is a great loss - the size loss is more important than the scale loss.
I have a favorite snack that keeps you full but may not be for everybody. I mix yogurt with cottage cheese - it increases the protein and keeps you going plus yummy, creamy goodness!
Congrats to you for continuing to stay motivated when the numbers on the scale don't go down as fast as you want! Trust me, I have been there, and I have now lost 40 pounds, though it took 9 months (I had a baby). Now I am at a healthy weight, and I still maintain thru eating and exercising. You look great! Keep up the good work!
You're doing great! It's normal to drop pounds and then hit a plateau. And as far as Biggest Loser - dont forget that they are working out for HOURS a day, and don't have to worry about things like their jobs, getting food on the table every day, etc. Not dissing them at all, just pointing out that what they do on the show doesn't have much to do with real-life. Also - you are building muscles, which take up less room per pound than fat - so as Kim pointed out - look a the the inches to keep your spirits up.
And thanks for the crockpot recipes!
I'm going to ditto the others and say that you're doing so well. Seriously. Even if the scale is being a brat, the fact that your clothes are fitting better and becoming too big is a huge accomplishment. The fact that you are doing this the healthy way is really key and you are much more likely for these changes to stick than that folks that lose a huge amount of weight in just a few weeks and then put it right back on.
I really happy to hear that you're sticking with it, even though there has been some frustration along the way. I'm still cheering for you m'dear. :)
Hi :) I have been reading your blog for a few months now. I love it. THANK YOU :) I am a professional seamstress :) I am also a slender woman but I DO notice when I gain a couple of extra pounds. The fact that you have lost INCHES is the GREAT thing about your diet/exercise regime.
The POUNDS don't really matter as much. The LOST INCHES...DO :) I'm sure you feel GREAT from the exercise too :)
Keep up the good work. Best wishes from Cheryl
PS. Those celebrities on the commercials/ads are being PAID....AND they OFTEN re-gain their weight when their contracts expire....
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