Down another 1.5 lbs today! Woo-hoo! And I had some awesome NSVs (that's non-scale victories, doncha know?) this week also.
The first, of course, is the great shopping miracle of 2010 that I shared about in my last post. I wore one of my new shirts today to church and got lots of compliments on it, which was nice.
The second happened yesterday as well. We went out to eat for dinner, and I got a meal that I had gotten before, but this time... I wasn't able to finish it. I only ate about half of it, and then I was full, so I... wait for it... STOPPED EATING. And yes, I know some of you may not understand how amazing this was, but trust me. It was a victory!
Finally today, we drove through McDonald's after church, and I ordered a grilled chicken salad. It crossed my mind briefly to go ahead and get the hamburger and fries, since I had just weighed in and I had a whole week before I had to hop back on the scale, but I didn't. I got the salad, and I ate the salad, and I enjoyed the salad.
They're little things, sure, but I'll take 'em! :)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A "Minor" Miracle
A couple of weeks ago, I was given a Kohl's gift card for my birthday. (Thanks, Dad and Jennifer!) So today I decided that I had put it off long enough, and I was going to go do some shopping for... GASP... me!
I'm going to be real honest with you... I was not looking forward to it. Did I need some new shirts? Yes. Desperately. But I hate, hate, hate clothes shopping for myself.
I'll give you three guesses why.
I hate clothes shopping for myself because I hate the way I look. The clothes may look all cute and stuff on the hangers, but for some reason once I put them on me they look hideous. Or maybe it's just me.
But today was the day and I was bound and determined. So Steve and Nate dropped me off in the Women's (aka Plus Size, aka Fat Lady) section, and then they ran for the hills. Yeah, they know how I am.
So I found some shirts that I liked. And I found the size that I am (I'm not going to tell you what size... but let's just say there was a number in front of an X). I found some good deals and I found some cute shirts and I made my way to the fitting room.
And once I was safely locked behind that fitting room door, I looked at myself in the mirror. Hands full of clothes, eyes full of dread. And I just did not want to try on those clothes only to be disappointed again.
So what's a girl to do?
I prayed.
I really did. I stood there and I prayed that this would not be a horrible experience and that I would be able to find SOMETHING that actually looked good on me.
And then I started trying on shirts.
And an amazing thing happened.
I put on a shirt and thought to myself, "Hmmm, it's cute... but kind of baggy."
So I tried on another shirt, and thought the same thing.
(And just so you know, I do not like fitted shirts. My friend D accuses me often of trying to hide my bulk by dressing myself in circus-tent-like clothing, but these shirts were even too baggy for me! And that's saying something!)
By this time I was feeling a bit confused, but I kept trying on clothes, and the next shirt fit me pretty well. But then I tried on one just like it but in another color and it was way too baggy on me again.
At this point, I was just baffled enough to start my own investigation, and I noticed that the one shirt that had actually fit, that had not been too baggy, was mislabeled. The hanger said the size that I usually get. But the shirt itself was a size down.
My moth dropped open when I realized that my usual size was too big, and the right fit was actually a size smaller. Still an X... but one number down.
So I went back out and got smaller sizes in all the shirts and tried them all on and
THEY ALL FIT!
I was able to buy 5 shirts that I really liked and that actually didn't look too bad on me.
It was a shopping miracle!
And it was also a much needed reminder that even though the scale has been moving down S-L-O-W-L-Y, I am still making progress and I just need to keep it up!
I'm going to be real honest with you... I was not looking forward to it. Did I need some new shirts? Yes. Desperately. But I hate, hate, hate clothes shopping for myself.
I'll give you three guesses why.
I hate clothes shopping for myself because I hate the way I look. The clothes may look all cute and stuff on the hangers, but for some reason once I put them on me they look hideous. Or maybe it's just me.
But today was the day and I was bound and determined. So Steve and Nate dropped me off in the Women's (aka Plus Size, aka Fat Lady) section, and then they ran for the hills. Yeah, they know how I am.
So I found some shirts that I liked. And I found the size that I am (I'm not going to tell you what size... but let's just say there was a number in front of an X). I found some good deals and I found some cute shirts and I made my way to the fitting room.
And once I was safely locked behind that fitting room door, I looked at myself in the mirror. Hands full of clothes, eyes full of dread. And I just did not want to try on those clothes only to be disappointed again.
So what's a girl to do?
I prayed.
I really did. I stood there and I prayed that this would not be a horrible experience and that I would be able to find SOMETHING that actually looked good on me.
And then I started trying on shirts.
And an amazing thing happened.
I put on a shirt and thought to myself, "Hmmm, it's cute... but kind of baggy."
So I tried on another shirt, and thought the same thing.
(And just so you know, I do not like fitted shirts. My friend D accuses me often of trying to hide my bulk by dressing myself in circus-tent-like clothing, but these shirts were even too baggy for me! And that's saying something!)
By this time I was feeling a bit confused, but I kept trying on clothes, and the next shirt fit me pretty well. But then I tried on one just like it but in another color and it was way too baggy on me again.
At this point, I was just baffled enough to start my own investigation, and I noticed that the one shirt that had actually fit, that had not been too baggy, was mislabeled. The hanger said the size that I usually get. But the shirt itself was a size down.
My moth dropped open when I realized that my usual size was too big, and the right fit was actually a size smaller. Still an X... but one number down.
So I went back out and got smaller sizes in all the shirts and tried them all on and
THEY ALL FIT!
I was able to buy 5 shirts that I really liked and that actually didn't look too bad on me.
It was a shopping miracle!
And it was also a much needed reminder that even though the scale has been moving down S-L-O-W-L-Y, I am still making progress and I just need to keep it up!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Moving on DOWN!
Finally!
After a couple weeks of gaining, I finally saw the scale move in the right direction today! I lost 2 1/2 lbs this week and I am so grateful! I had been expecting a gain after our weekend trip to our college town, but when I gained again the next week I was surprised and frustrated. Maybe it just took a couple weeks for my body to get on board with what I'm trying to do here. Who knows? But, I am thankful that the scale is starting to move on down!
My goals for this week are:
1. Drink my water.
It's been so hot, so you'd think I'd have no trouble getting all my water in each day... but you'd be wrong. For whatever reason, I am having a real hard time drinking water, so I'm making it a goal this week to drink at least 64 fl. oz. of water each day. So far, so good.
2. Move my body.
Again, it's been so hot that I have not wanted to get out and take a walk, or do much moving in any way, shape, or form. But, I have been doing some in-home walking with Leslie Sansone (Walk Away the Pounds DVDs), and I walked in the church gym with a friend this week, so I'm working on it. I'd like to do some form of exercise AT LEAST 4 days this week.
3. Journal my eating.
I want to continue learning this new way of using food for my body's benefit. I'm discovering what works for me, and what doesn't. So I want to journal my food choices this week so I can see clearly what I'm really eating. You can't change what you don't know, you know? :)
Here's to a great, HEALTHY week. Who's with me?
After a couple weeks of gaining, I finally saw the scale move in the right direction today! I lost 2 1/2 lbs this week and I am so grateful! I had been expecting a gain after our weekend trip to our college town, but when I gained again the next week I was surprised and frustrated. Maybe it just took a couple weeks for my body to get on board with what I'm trying to do here. Who knows? But, I am thankful that the scale is starting to move on down!
My goals for this week are:
1. Drink my water.
It's been so hot, so you'd think I'd have no trouble getting all my water in each day... but you'd be wrong. For whatever reason, I am having a real hard time drinking water, so I'm making it a goal this week to drink at least 64 fl. oz. of water each day. So far, so good.
2. Move my body.
Again, it's been so hot that I have not wanted to get out and take a walk, or do much moving in any way, shape, or form. But, I have been doing some in-home walking with Leslie Sansone (Walk Away the Pounds DVDs), and I walked in the church gym with a friend this week, so I'm working on it. I'd like to do some form of exercise AT LEAST 4 days this week.
3. Journal my eating.
I want to continue learning this new way of using food for my body's benefit. I'm discovering what works for me, and what doesn't. So I want to journal my food choices this week so I can see clearly what I'm really eating. You can't change what you don't know, you know? :)
Here's to a great, HEALTHY week. Who's with me?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Baby Steps
After a wonderful/horrible weekend in our college town (wonderful in all ways, but horrible as far as my diet was concerned!), it's been a pretty good week so far. I did gain a couple pounds after our weekend away, but we ate at our old college haunts, went to a rehearsal dinner at an Italian place, had wedding cupcakes and those awesome hand-made cream cheese mint things, and basically I did not follow my diet AT ALL. So, I deserved the gain. But, I'm hoping it will be gone when I step on the scale on Sunday.
I'm learning more and more what this new eating plan looks like day in and day out. I've stocked up on some protein options (though I can't find soy nuts at Walmart to save my life!), and I'm focusing this week on counting those carbs and balancing them with proteins. I haven't gotten it perfect, but I'm taking baby steps.
One big "ah-ha" moment I had this week is this: My breakfasts do not have to look like typical breakfasts. I'm realizing that normal breakfast foods are not going to work for me. Sure, I can have eggs or sausage or turkey bacon, but I'm not going to eat that every day. I can eat cereal like Rice Crispies with milk, but it takes A LOT of milk to balance those carbs. Or, I can eat a slightly modified breakfast.
Take yesterday, for example. I had a toasted English muffin with deli turkey and cheese on it. Basically a turkey and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Maybe a bit odd, sure. But healthy and balanced and delicious and within my plan. So, it works!
Another thing that has been a challenge for me is the fact that fruits are carbs. It's not healthy for me to mindlessly snack out of the bowl of grapes. I have to count them out, and then I have to have a protein to balance them. It's a new mindset, but I'm starting to think this way and it is getting more natural.
I do need to get more veggies in. I have never been a huge veggie-eater, so this has always been hard for me. But a friend just gave us some cucumbers and zucchini, and I bought salad greens this week too, so I am trying.
Whew! There is a lot to keep straight.
But I'll keep on taking these baby steps and I'll figure it all out... eventually!
I'm learning more and more what this new eating plan looks like day in and day out. I've stocked up on some protein options (though I can't find soy nuts at Walmart to save my life!), and I'm focusing this week on counting those carbs and balancing them with proteins. I haven't gotten it perfect, but I'm taking baby steps.
One big "ah-ha" moment I had this week is this: My breakfasts do not have to look like typical breakfasts. I'm realizing that normal breakfast foods are not going to work for me. Sure, I can have eggs or sausage or turkey bacon, but I'm not going to eat that every day. I can eat cereal like Rice Crispies with milk, but it takes A LOT of milk to balance those carbs. Or, I can eat a slightly modified breakfast.
Take yesterday, for example. I had a toasted English muffin with deli turkey and cheese on it. Basically a turkey and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Maybe a bit odd, sure. But healthy and balanced and delicious and within my plan. So, it works!
Another thing that has been a challenge for me is the fact that fruits are carbs. It's not healthy for me to mindlessly snack out of the bowl of grapes. I have to count them out, and then I have to have a protein to balance them. It's a new mindset, but I'm starting to think this way and it is getting more natural.
I do need to get more veggies in. I have never been a huge veggie-eater, so this has always been hard for me. But a friend just gave us some cucumbers and zucchini, and I bought salad greens this week too, so I am trying.
Whew! There is a lot to keep straight.
But I'll keep on taking these baby steps and I'll figure it all out... eventually!
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