Entries from August 2008
I love honey roasted peanuts. WHO DOESN’T LOVE FATTY THINGS COVERED IN SUGAR? Yeah, I know. But, in my reforming of eating habits I have become aware of the notion that not all things which are high in fat, are actually bad. So, this leads me to an early Sunday morning google search (because I am up blowing my nose, sneezing, coughing and sadly not running a race I trained for) to figure out ‘what are the healthy nuts?’
I came across this article ‘If You are Nuts About Health, Try the Top 6 Healthiest Nuts’
The tops healthiest nuts, according to this survey are:
1. Walnuts
Growing up I was never a huge fan of walnuts. I like cracking them in their shells at my grandparents house, but would much rather eat peanuts and/or cashews. However, I have come to enjoy them more in salads and even on their own. Still not a huge fan of them in baked goods…does that defeat the purpose of them? Anyways one of my co-workers swears that ‘11 walnuts a day lowers anxiety’…why not 9 or 12? Anyways, go eat you eleven.
2. Almonds
I actually just had about 8 on my cereal today. I love almonds. Whenever I get a crazing for something naughty I’ll eat twoish almonds and it usually does the trick. They aren’t good in baked things, like walnuts, but they are great in salad, yogurt, cereals, with dried fruit, on their own. They’re probably my favourite thing to add to other things. They add a depth to things which helps to curb my hunger. 
3. Cashews
LOVE THEM. They are dangerous though. My grandparents have a tin of them which is constantly full. I would have to say that perhaps the ones which are unsalted and ‘raw’ are the best for you. They’re a great addition into salads, chicken dishes, pasta dishes, Thai dishes, yogurt..or simply plain. I have even had a cashew date slice, vegan/gluten-free. Good, really intense though.
4. Pecans
Bring me some Peeee-cannnn PIE! That’s pretty much the only way that I’ve ever eaten pecans. Although I can imagine that they are good as a snack outside of being thrown into corn syrup, sugar, eggs, and butter.
5. Brazil Nuts
I don’t really like these. But, I suppose that there are people out there who do.
6. Macadamia Nuts
LOVE THESE. They remind me of Hawaii. They are so yummy. Again, great addition to anything (especially baking) and to have on their own. I haven’t cooked with macadamia oil, but I should try some out.
So go nuts!
Categories: thoughts
Tagged: almonds, baking, Brazil Nuts, cashews, cooking, diet, eating, health, healthy eating, insight, Macademia Nuts, nuts, Pecans, walnuts
Day 4:
Wow I struggled yesterday. I was fine…well I ate about 24 points..which is one over my alloted for the day. But then I went over to a friends house and had a little bit of dinner…but what I realised is that it ended up being about 9 points..so yeah 33 points. AHHHHHHHHHH! I was bored yesterday.
I play these games with myself ‘ok, you can eat a huge lunch lets say 12 points, because you wont be hungry for dinner’. NO, I’ll always feel as though I need dinner. What I have to do and not give into this weekend bordem thing…it’s horrible.
I am upset because I went over, but I am no upset becuase I tracked everything..so that’s good and I was honest.
Day 5:
Started off with a large brekky. Lunch will be eat whites/veggie scaramble and an orange. Dinner is going to be chicken, steamed sweet potatoe and salad. I am having people over, so I have to make sure that I don’t give into ‘oh it’s a dinner party’ eating 
.
I was supposed to be running a 12k race today, but I was up coughing all night, blowing my nose and sneezing. I would normally push myself, but I can’t afford to be sick the next couple of weeks due to work and it’s my birthday coming up. I’ve been sick on my birthday once…and I don’t want to induce that.
I am going to look up cross country running groups around where I live. I think that it would be something that would be of interest to me.
Ok, off to eat my brekky, do laundry, do a bit of shopping and get ready for the work week..it’s gonna be FULL ON!
~M
Categories: thoughts
Good news: I lost more weight. I am now 171.8lbs (77.9kg).
Bad news: I ate 40.5 points today. Just ate stuff all day long. It’s honestly only about 2025 calories according to my calculations..maybe even less. You see right now I am currently eating around 1100 calories per day. So, yes it’s a huge day for me. However, I also make sure that Fridays are my day where I watch what I eat, but I eat what I want if that makes sense. It’s actually good for me body as well. If you start to get close to your goal weight. Switch up your eating patterns a bit. Tomorrow I’ll eat about 18 points, which is about 900 calories and then bounce back to my normal amount. It just gives the body a bit of a jolt…keeps it thinking
It’s weird, because I have never been this close to my goal weight ever..except when I was getting fat. Usually, in these situations I self-sabotage myself. Meaning, I’ll go and have a horrible week, then try and bounce back for two, then have a great week, lose, and then the cycle continues. NO! I have to stay on track. My goal for my birthday, which is now 2 1/2 weeks away is to be under 170..preferably 168lbs. Honestly if I was under 170 I would cry. That would be awesome. I am so close I can taste it, no pun intended, but I need to be diligent.
Second, who am I if I am not dieting? What will I have to worry about? OMG..my identity is gone. JK. But in all honesty. Anyone who has dieted, seriously, or who has lost a large amount of weight knows that it becomes a real part of who you are and how you define yourself.
My new goal is to become a leader for weight watchers.
WOW! I can’t believe it..it’s pretty awesome!
~M
Categories: thoughts
WOMEN have sex drives…don’t tell anyone. Most women also feel as though there’s a constant need to lose weight, watch what they’re eating, and not give into the negative self-talk that riddles our minds.
When Reader’s Digest asked women when they feel sexiest, they said it was when they weighed less than they do now. In fact, 80% said that losing weight would improve their sex life.
Well, isn’t that great. Here we want sex, but don’t really want it because most positions aren’t flattering and quite honestly we want to feel ’skinny’. Which usually means, not after a huge meal, not during a bloated day, not after a tired day, not after eating chocolate to cope with a bad day..so basically once a month we’ll feel sexy, skinny, and horny. AWESOME!
Don’t fret, men are feeling the same way that women are about their bodies as well. According to the article “Sex and Weight Loss“
In our survey, 35% of men said they would love to have a body like Brad Pitt’s in the film Troy.
Men showed their own insecurities. A whopping 70% thought a slimmer waistline would lead to better sex, and 42% said they would go shirtless only in front of their partner.
It is interesting because what’s happening is that women are equating their ability to enjoy sex with being and/or feeling skinny and this mentality is in part rubbing off on men (no pun intended).
When it comes to sex, though, what do we know in regards to what is actually going on? There’s one aspect of people reporting that they would like to feel this or that, or look like this or that, but are they having sex?
Despite idealised images, men don’t really expect (or even want) their own wives or girlfriends to be supermodel-thin. And women aren’t looking for Brad Pitt in their beds. Yes, overweight people are having good sex. They know what researchers and scientists are beginning to uncover: a great sexual experience comes mostly from our minds, not from perfectly proportioned bodies.
We are all buying into the Brad Pitts, Heidi Klums (yes she is gorgeous)..but honestly it’s how we feel inside.
the biggest improvement in their sex lives came when they had lost just 10% of their body weight.
What’s more, having meaningful sex induces the release of the hormone oxytocin. “It makes a person feel love and empathy,” says heart surgeon Mehmet Oz, co-author of the You series of health books. “Meaningful sex can also lower blood pressure,” he continues, “and it tells the gut not to send signals to the brain to eat.”
There’s a bit to digest here and quite honestly every survey is going to have different insights into what causes people’s sex drives to increase and decrease. But what is interesting is that sex within a committed, mentally stable, affectionate and supportive relationship can actually provide the spark to get the weight removed. BUT, a women (or man) has to mentally feel as though they are attractive to their partner, regardless of size, in order to have healthy sex.
So, let go of the baggage that we all carry in our minds about what we should and shouldn’t be. What we should be is healthy. Healthy in what we eat, healthy in how we exercise, healthy in how we are in relationships and healthy in our sex lives. It’s takes a lot to be aware and discuss the ‘health’ level of our own personal and relational lives. But it’s worth it. Hey, you might even lose more while getting more..WINNER!
~M
Categories: health · thoughts
Tagged: enjoyment, fat, health, healthy, idealised image, losing weight, marriages, men, relationships, sex, sex life, weight, weight loss, women
Hey there,
Today I started at 175.3lbs..down . The lowest I’ve ever been was 174..I almost cried. But I hopeful that with tomorrow’s WI I’ll be ok…or maybe within a pound or so.
Anyways, was one point over my allotted 23..ended on 24 points today. I had otw small popsicles today to try and soothe my throat.
I went to the doctor yesterday and stayed home.
Today I went into work, even though I knew that I shouldn’t have. Well it was noon, sun was shining and I had goosebumps..I knew something was wrong. So, I scheduled another appointment, with the same cute old doctor, and low and behold I had a 101.7 (38.5) degree temperature and a throat infection. So I was given a powder form of amoxycillin … apparently 12 doses in one..or something ridiculous. Then I am on the same medication for a week . I am just glad that it’s over so I am no longer having to deal with the symptoms of being massively sick.
I am still working too much, but I don’t have a choice right now, I have to get things done.
Anyways, looking forward to weighing in tomorrow. I am a bit bummed because I wont be able to run the race that I’ve been 1/2 training for. I wanted to run it, but then again my health and not feeling like I am going to die is ultimately more important.
Here’s to a good weigh-in and not giving into eating toast and/or the frozen cookie dough in my freezer.
~M
Categories: thoughts
Today was a pretty crap day from the health standpoint. I stayed home today with a pounding headache (have one now the 3 ibprofeun are wearing off) and just feeling weak.) In my bordem, I actually did work today…stupid…and then decided it would be good to bake cookies. NOW THAT IS A TRIGGER FOR ME. However, I know that I spent a small meals worth of calories on ‘tasting’ cookie dough and the final product, but I tracked everything. I took my vitamins, but haven’t drank enough water yet (my weakness).
I went to the doctor and he said that I have a viral infection, yes I knew that, and put me on some nasal spray and anti-histamines. It hasn’t gotten my headache and/or what I suspect as a fever to reduce. BUT, he did say that if I was feeling ill come sunday, the day of my run, then I am not to run. I almost started to cry. BUT, the thing which I realised is: 1. I have no idea how I’ll feel on sunday so there’s no use in worrying 2. I can walk it.
So, DAY 1 was successful.
24 points (for those who know weight watchers)
Not enough water, but getting there
Starting weight of 176.7lbs. (wow..eating the crap I did last night wasn’t helpful)
I feel good..mentally
I feel horrible..physically
~M
Categories: thoughts
Tagged: aspirations, diet, exercise, goal, Goals, journey, sickness, tracking, weight, weight watchers
I was thinking about what I had written before: no sugar, not processes things…and perhaps that isn’t exactly something that I can do all the time.
BUT
One thing that I know I can say to myself and know that I can hold myself accountable to is
I have decided to stick true to the core values of the Weight Watchers program.
That means that I have to drink water, be accountable for what I eat, exercise, take vitamins, etc. I haven’t been accountable for this…so basically…it’s excatly what i need.
Categories: thoughts
I have 21 days, from today, until my birthday..when I turn 25. My goals for that day have changed, because my habits are not healthy.
1. I have never made it through a week on WW without binging on Friday and Saturday and then coming back together partially on Sunday, doing well on Monday, binging on Tuesday, well on Wed, Thur, Weighing in on Friday.
2. I am addicted to sugar and caffeine
3. Promising myself to start over.
So, I want to cleanse myself before I turn 25 because
1. I want to be below 169lbs..which would be amazing and totally do-able if I focus
2. I want to relinquish myself from my need from sugar
3. I want to feel accomplished.
HOW DO I CREATE GOOD HABITS?
I googled: How to create healthy habits and came across this great blog
Creating Healthy Habits
1. Talk is cheap..if you let it be
rather than holding a thought that you really ‘need to give up sugar’ or you really ‘want to give up sugar’, change your thoughts from those that sound obligatory or wishful to one of decision. ‘I have decided to give up sugar’.
2. Stop the suffocating thoughts
Change the focus from what you don’t want – in this case, sugar – to what you DO want in its place… healthier eating habits, for example
3. Visualise success
Everytime you think of sugar or reach for something sweet, go back to your new thought, “I have decided to eat healthily now.” Then notice what you are inspired to do in that moment. It may be to eat the sweets anyway; it may be to eat only a bite; it may be to bypass it altogether.
4. Keep it up
then come back to the new habit of thought you are creating, “I have decided to eat healthily now”. Spend another 30 seconds visualizing how it FEELS to be eating healthily and let it go. Keep repeating this process, being gentle with yourself in the moments you eat less than healthily, acknowledging the times when you ARE eating more healthily, and over time you will gradually change your habit for good!
5. Find a peace with yourself
ou can change a habit of thought such as “I rarely reach my goals in the timeframe I set, therefore I’m a failure” to “I know my goals are always reached in perfect timing, no matter what.” By being willing to change your perspective, you literally shift your energy from one of resistance to one of relaxation and allowing, and in that shift you become an open vortex for your goals to be realized much more easily, and truly in perfect timing!
It’s such an interesting time in my life right now. It’s a time when I am really focusing on what works for me and what doesn’t work for me. It’s a cleansing process throughout all aspects of my life. Not worrying about my relationship, not worrying about if my job is going to be a success. But the thing which I still struggle with, because I am not at peace with myself, is my eating and exercise.
So, what are the things which I can change?
- I have decided to give up anything with processed sugar
- I have decided to eat whole foods (meaning nothing white or processed)
- I have decided to drink at least 3 liters of water a day
- I have decided to focus on the results and not the excuses
These are things that I can do. Each day I’ll check back in..or update you about how I am doing. Basically it means being healthy. One thing that has inspired me in this is that one of my dear co-workers has found out that she’s pregnant. She hasn’t totally changed her diet, but she is more conscience of what she eats, ie. giving up chocolate right now because it has caffeine it in. WHAT IF EVERYONE ATE AS THOUGH THEY WERE PROVIDING THE MOST NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR SOMEONE ELSE? Yes, even men can think about this.
Here’s to deciding (water glass clink)!
~M
Categories: food/diet · health · thoughts · weight
Tagged: aspirations, cleansing, diet, exercise, Goals, habit, habits, insight, lists, thoughts, visualisation, water, weight, weight loss
This has been an intense week for me. I have left work, for a business trip, at a not so great time as I have a pretty big event that I have coming up in two weeks. I am trying to organise and mobilise students without making them feel like I am doing all of the work. I am doing it without tons of support from others…a lot of it is in my head..which is really my fault.
I had to say good-bye..temporarily to someone who I care about.
I am rebounding (lost weight) to some pretty crappy weeks.
But the thing which I have learned, deeply, is that I have to live in the moment. I was staying at girls house who is struggling with the ‘20 year old, OMG what am I going to do with my life’ issues (they never subside, we just learn how to deal with them more). Anyways, ‘The Power of NOW’ was on her bookshelf with a marker about 20 pages in…looks like she didn’t get too far in it. I started reading it, because I realise that I am a bloody s case. Here’s what runs through my head all the time
- I didn’t eat how I should have, tomorrow
- I wont be able to finish the race (that I am running Sunday week)
- What if he breaks up with me?
- What if I am not pretty/skinny/smart/sophisticated enough?
- Should I be living so far from my family?
- Just one more bite wont kill me…will it?
- Am I doing everything that I can for the big project?
- What if my big project fails?
- Am I pleasing him?
- BE IN THE MOMENT DAMN IT!
See…I am one of the crazies that can’t silence the voices inside of my head..pretty much like everyone else in the world. Here’s some interesting things that I think could be of help to people who are dieting, evaluating their life, etc. These are excerpts from ‘The Power of NOW: A guide to spiritual enlightment’ By: Eckhart Tolle 2005
Not being able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction, but we don’t realize this because almost everybody is suffering from it, so it is considered normal.
The good news is that you can free yourself from your mind. [...] Start listening to the voice inside of your head as often as you can. Pay particular attention to any repetitive thought patterns, those old gramophone records that have been playing in your head perhaps for many years.
When you listen to that voice, listen to it impartially. That is to say, do not judge. Do not judge or condemn what you hear, for doing so would mean that the same voice has come in again through the back door.
As I was plowing through this book on the train I had to hold myself back from 1. crying 2. not getting distracted by the thoughts which have consumed me throughout my life and have spawned up recently due to different changes in my life..all of which are great but have tapped into my thinking patterns.
Your mind is an instrument, a tool. It is there to be used for a specific task, and when that task is completed, you lat it down. As it is, I would say about 80 to 90 percent of most people’s thinking is not only repetitive and useless, but because of its dysfunctional and often negative nature, much of it is also harmful.
If I read the above bullets of the ‘thoughts’ which run through my mind I can not link on to anything positive. Nothing that runs through my mind is positive. It isn’t
- The big event will be great
- Even if there aren’t things that work people are going to enjoy it
- I am enjoying the relationship that I have right now
- I am happy with the way that I look
- I really enjoyed that chocolate piece of cake
- The race is going to be a huge success, because I am going to be doing something for myself regardless
- Wow, I am enjoying life right now
None of those above things are running through my head…never!
In order to find the peace, where you are in a state of being, which he defines in the book, where you are an observer of your thoughts and get to a place where you don’t put energy into the negative thoughts you can start by
taking any routine activity that normally is only a means to an end and giving it your fullest attention, so that it becomes an end itself.
For me that basically means my whole damn day.
- Waking up, being present in that moment of getting my body ready
- Being deliberate about my time with people
- Being deliberate about getting work done
- EATING
- Actually TASTING MY FOOD
- LISTENING TO MY BODY
-
- I am sitting here at the airport after eating a subway salad..good on me for not getting the nasty bread (but really it’s Subway so again low standard) and I am not all that hungry. I know that I am going to get ‘fed’ on the plane..but I need to listen to my body. The thing is that I would normally eat the food because I would think, OMG if I don’t eat I might starve…yes of course that’s likely. It’s changing how I think about everything.
I am not perfect. I never will be. But as I continue to read through this book, I’ll keep updating you. The power of living in the moment will impact all of our journeys in everything..its impossible to deny. It honestly scares me to let go of the thinking…it’s almost like a drug, a companion. I don’t want to have to be with me solely…but I have to to be with someone else, to achieve my goals and use my limited time.
~M
Categories: food/diet · health · thoughts
Tagged: books, diet, eating, food, happiness, health, healthy, journey, life, life style, living, moment, planning, present, thoughts, voices
Yes, I know it’s been WAY to long since I’ve last written. Don’t you worry I have been thinking about writing. I was going to be writing about ‘Afternoon munchies’ but wasn’t inspired. Honestly I haven’t been inspired in a long time..even with work. I have successfully fallen off of the diet regime and have made about 1 million excuses for why I should have another bite/glass of wine/hour of sleep, etc.
So, I am on a business trip today (spent 12.50 and hour to update this for you) and have been really challenged in my personal and professional life recently. My routine has changed a bit..no complaining, but it just means that i have to refocus on what I want. I don’t want to be on a Yo-Yo anymore!
How did this evolution start:
1. I told a co-worker that I was going away this weekend and that I needed to make a goal to stay on my point eating for my diet. So I have made a verablised promise to myself not to blow it..honestly if I can make it through this weekend it will be the first weekend in probably four months where I’ve stayed TOTALLY true to my diet. I’ve lost weight, but it’s getting to the point where I need to.
2. I bought the WeightWatchers magazine why? Because it was titled ‘Yo-Yo? Oh No!’ Yes, I am listening. Reading the article was interesting, because I think that all of us in life struggle with ’staying on track’ and have to deal with the ups and downs of everything. But for those of us who bounce back and forth with dieting here’s some interesting information:
most people who lose weight regain one-to two-thirds of it within a year, and nearly back where they started within five years.
Weight cycling also has an impact on our emotional health, we we feel like a failure when the kilos return.
(Those) who were educated about healthy eating, increasing physical activity and creating a supportive environment (were successful in maintaining weight loss)
‘Treat plateaus as a chance to practise maintenance, and be realistic about weight goals
This is from the Australian/New Zealand ‘WeightWatchers’ Magazine Sept/Oct 2008. I was reading this on the plane and thought to myself ‘OF course I should be HAPPY with my weight loss, and honestly maintaining is ok..it’s better than gaining!’ I instantly felt better about myself!
3. I went to this speech today, part of my business trip. Wasn’t really expecting to be all that moved by it honestly. Anyways, it was amazing. I was in tears about three times, trying not to look like a fool around people I didn’t know. One thing that I will never forget is:
FOCUS ON THE RESULTS: NOT THE EXCUSES!
I have been finding every excuse to not fulfill the results that I desperately want. I am too tired, I am on vacation, etc. NO. I want to be at 170lbs (73kg) in the next four weeks, I want to complete a race I am running. When I am feeling desperate to binge, to not wake up, to not run..my energy has to be on what I want at the end…not on making the excuse.
God, I feel good. I needed this break. It’s a constant battle. I didn’t eat the fatty dressing today, have the cheese, each the cheese cake and/or muffin. Instead I focused on the end result.
~M
Categories: food/diet · health · thoughts · weight
Tagged: dieting, excuses, focus, food, health, plan, resluts, travel, vision
