Diet and Exercise Diary 2001

[bikerxena]

I just found this folder, and decided to confess and contribute. About a year ago I bought one of those mail-order Weight Watcher kits for $100. I took it out of the box, thought, "how cool," and put it back in the box, where it remains. The real reminder that it had been a year was when some patronizing WW telemarketer called this week to try and arm-twist me into renewing my subscription to their magazine. I told him I found it degrading to receive the magazine without a proper anonymous brown paper wrapper, like Playgirl or Playbody would use. I told him I found it humiliating to fish a WW mag out of my mailbox in front of all my neighbors, as we all have our mailboxes grouped together. To tell the truth, I never read a single WW mag anyway - just not my way of dealing with the weight issue. I abhor self-help groups (even after enjoying Fight Club immensely!).<p>
Part of this year, I was on the stressed and smoking cigarettes diet, which, though deadly, works. Then there was the "can't eat because I had my two front teeth pulled" diet. That one worked, too, but I can't recommend it! <p>
In general, I try to eat lower fat foods, healthier fats like the cholesterol-negating butter substitutes such as Benecol and Smart Balance, and choose the lowfat or non-fat alternatives whenever possible.<p>
Another thing - I got a good old-fashioned scare when my mom was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic about 6 months ago. Since I worked out with a trainer for a couple of years, I pretty much understand the physiology of what I *should* be doing, I just am not great about doing it! I don't exercise nearly enough - my condo is much too small for a Nordic Track, treadmill, etc., and outdoors it always seems too hot or too cold to walk. Yup, a cop-out! I got a Tai Chi tape, and am trying to do it often enough to benefit from it.<p>
Somehow, I've lost almost 20 lbs. in the last year (it fluctuates wildly) - probably mostly from the cigs - but hold your applause - I have *at least* 100 more lbs. to go. I do feel *some* better, though my Lands End 2X pants droop comically a bit now. LOL! I am trying to add fruits to my diet, and wish I knew a good hypnotist who could help convince me that veggies are food. Salads and greens make me feel like a cow grazing in the yard, plus they give me a belly ache, as do most veggies. Potatoes, however, are my friend! I try to bake, grill, or boil food, not fry, as much as possible these days. I definitely fall right off the wagon when I have stomach problems - then, comfort food is all that won't wreck my gut. I call that my "beige diet."<p>
I *must* exercise more, and am increasingly replacing soda pop with water. I've found it helpful (though not cheap) to buy .5 liter or 24 oz. bottles of water so it *feels* like I'm drinking a Coke or Sprite.<p>
I take a snack size banana applesauce and a .5 liter water to work every day for breakfast, with soda crackers when my gut is bad. I think it's the most workable breakfast I've tried yet. I dine out for lunch because I live so far from work, and generally eat something fairly healthy. I even eat fairly healthy home-cooked dinners most of the time, when I'm not making frozen pizza or some fat-drenched back-home hillbilly treat. <g> Exercise and more water would help me a LOT.<p>
Ok, I feel like I've been to confessional, and I'm not even Catholic! LOL! Hang in there everyone, and I'll try to do the same.

[LiamFan!]

{{{{biker}}}}

Something struck me right at the beginning of your post and, although I'm not a psychologist, I think it might be part of the problem. Not wanting anyone to see the Weight Watchers magazine...are you feeling shameful at getting the magazine or belonging to Weight Watchers?

I had that same feeling for a while, but this session that I belong to has been different. Now I carry my WW stuff with me in the open (even the magazine) and don't care who knows I'm going and who doesn't. I feel quite different this time, and I'm having more success.

If you took the stuff out of the box again ;-) and examined how the point system works and tried to stick to your points for a week or two, I think you'd see some success, plus you'd have an idea of the quantities of food you need to eat. Portion control is key.

Last year, WW started the 10% goal, wherein the first goal you work toward is to lose 10% of your current weight. Once you reach that goal, you work toward the next, etc.

Let us know how you're doing, biker!

[bikerxena]

{{{{{Les}}}}} Thanks for reading all that! As for your question, "are you feeling shameful at getting the magazine or belonging to Weight Watchers?," it must be at getting the magazine, since I don't (and didn't ever) think of myself as belonging to Weight Watchers. I just wanted to buy that WW kit, and even asked them *not* to send the magazine, which they didn't/couldn't honor. You're darn tootin' it's humiliating to be 100 lbs. overweight! I know it annoys you when really fat people brag that they lost like 20 or 30 lbs., but imagine losing 20 lbs. and *no one can tell.* It sucks! I know I'm fat, I know my neighbors know I'm fat, and I think it's a mark of civility that we don't acknowledge it in passing conversations. I think it's mightily awkward, shameful, and embarrassing to be carrying around a magazine that screams, "I'M GROSSLY OBESE, GONNA DIE YOUNG, HATE MY BODY, PLEASE STARE AT ME AND MAKE HATEFUL COMMENTS WHEN I'M OUT OF EARSHOT." I'd rather just get the helpful info anonymously, preferably online. Like I said, I'm not the support group type, at all.<p>
When I see what my one trainer buddy eats (he freely admits he eats a MUCH worse diet than I do), I know it's either genetics or exercise - that food isn't *irrelevant,* but it also isn't the key component. I truly expect to be vindicated (possibly posthumously) in thinking that weight is mostly genetically determined. That doesn't mean I don't think you can affect it - but it's like being dealt a good poker hand or a bad one - a lot is in the initial luck of the draw, and from there it's in how you play the hand. I entertain vain hopes that they'll find something in The Human Genome that will allow them to recalibrate metabolism so someone like me, who doesn't eat that badly, doesn't end up 100 lbs. overweight and in fear for her life. My anger stems from fear and rejection. I live in the land of the beautiful people, so it's rubbed in my face on a daily basis. Small wonder I hibernate a lot. <p>
It's a gorgeous day out, and I've been doing laundry - I haven't even been outside the front door. If I were "acceptably thin," I know I'd do more. What a vicious cycle. It's entirely possible that the main reason I missed the big boat party yesterday was as much due to not wanting to see all the skinny chics as it was due to the blisters. BTW, I am glad I tossed the dang sandals - the blisters have gone down already, so I caught them early.<p>
And yeah, maybe someday I'll open that WW box again, but it's not like I don't know what they tell you to eat, and I just can't eat most veggies. I really need to exercise most of all.<p>
Anyway, sorry if I sound angry, jaded, maybe even partially defeated, but...walk a mile in an obese person's moccasins, and you'd know the anguish. Not that I'd wish it on you or anyone, of course!<p>

[LiamFan!]

Well, I don't know what to say! I've never been grossly obese, and I truly can't know what a person who is 100 pounds overweight is feeling.

It doesn't irritate me at all when a person who needs to lose 100+ pounds brags about losing 20 pounds. Hell, I'm happy when I lose 1 pound! It's a one-day-at-a-time kind of thing, I think.

And, BTW, WW doesn't tell you what to eat at all. You can basically eat whatever you want, as long as you stay within your points. If you don't like the veggies...how about beans? Lots of fiber, fills you up, and you don't use up a lot of points. The point of pushing veggies is that they are typically 0 points, and satisfy the appetites of most people. I'm lucky...I love vegetables. While I was writing this very post, Rick came back from the store with a veggie tray for each of us. ;-)

If you'd like, I can send you some recipes from the site (ones without veggies ;-) Let me know!

[bikerxena]

{{{{{Les}}}}} Thanks, but I never could eat beans. :-( I remember quite vividly being forced to eat them anyway (in chili) at about 5 years old, throwing up, then being forced to eat more. :-/ Pretty much the same with other veggies. Small wonder I have food issues.<p>
I have lots and lots of healthy recipes. I need to drink less soda pop, drink more water, and exercise. And, I need to quit turning to food for comfort. Once again, I know your offer is sincere, and I really appreciate it, but recipes just aren't the issue for me.<p>
During the 2-1/2 years I worked out with the trainers and lost 80 lbs., I found that exercise is the key for me to lose weight. The daunting part is that it took working out at least 3 days a week for about 2 hours each session to see results. I'm fairly sure that's due to my slow metabolism - a result of being hypothyroid. And like I said elsewhere, my doctor feels the tests show I'm on the proper dosage of synthroid, and that a higher dosage would be detrimental. My doc's a hoot and quite succinct: he says in real estate, the most important things are location, location, location. In health, it's exercise, exercise, exercise! I think the trainer thing worked for me because I started with the guys at a small, private gym with lots of one-on-one attention, and very few of those in-shape women who put on makeup to work out. I needed the moral support of a trainer saying "one more set" and "good job." Sadly, I can't seem to provide that kind of "support" for myself, or haven't figured out how to. Also, they were gorgeous, and it pleased me to please them. It pleased me to *look* at them. Now, they're back at a small gym (trainers gym-hop a lot) but it's a long drive from home, and I can't really afford the drive, let alone the gym fees.<p>
Well, I've been raving and raging, crying and throwing things (even breaking things) for the last 2 or 3 hours. This topic really hit a nerve that needed to be hit. If I remain complacent and maintain the status quo, I *will* die young. So, even though it's probably been painful for you, too, I truly appreciate the genuine listening, the support, the suggestions, the offers, and most of all, your patience with me.<p>
And hey, I *did* lose 20 pounds in the last year! Even if I'm still technically "grossly obese," and I am, at least it's a step and a trend in the right direction!

[antiana]

{{{{{ All }}}}}


I don't know why... but I have lost 3 more pounds.
Yessss!!! Total now 14 lb.

Well, I did plateau... so I ate the same foods.. and added some goodies for a week. Then no goodies and back on chef salads. By goodies... I mean fudge, snackwell cookies... diet hoggie. More whole wheat bread also.

We have a nuked potato 3 times a week. Pasta is a must also. 1/2 cup on salads 3 times a week. Love my starches. And just to darn old to give them
up. Veggies are ok if they are not run of mill veggies. No corn! I remember being made to eat my veggies also... ewww. Not pleasant table memories for me in the early years. Oh, I never made my kids eat their veggies... I found out by trial and error what they liked and that is what I cooked or served raw. I was a short order cook for my family and I don't regret it at all. What I do regret is... all the alcohol I drank during a certain period of my life.
It put many many pounds on and it ravaged my body and mind. Oh, Well that is past.

I too love comfort food..
(sigh) don't we all?

[antiana]

{{{{{ biker }}}}}

I read your post.. boy oh boy are you mad at yourself. I was very mad at myself also and decided that doing something about it no matter how small is better than nothing.

And WTG!!! on the 20 pounds. I also have poundage to lose... And I am obese.. according to the charts and to myself.
But looks are not my goal at the minute.. mine is making my body stronger.

It is the pits... when I can't even clean my whole house. But each day I am getting stronger in body and in mind. In 2 years I want to be at 145 and totally toned. I don't want to be weak anymore.
I also will have to leave my house... to go to the dentist during this period and have my teeth refixed.
At the moment I can't get to the end of my sidewalk without total panic. But as in all things I will have to work on this too.
We all... even those skinny models... have problems. I really wanted to Hug you! And say, you do what you can. I saw your website, you are a very pretty woman! Don't give up and you are not alone.

One more thing... I have a Richard Simmons kit. I dust it off once in awhile. Guess I will donate it to someone that would like it. It just wasn't for me. And I do have a piece of equipment to glide on.... in the living room in place of the love seat. Its crowded but I don't care. I need my health back.

[kathe nichols]

I'm debating between buying a piece of equipment (I think I would lean towards a rowing machine) or joining a gym. The chiropractor says I'm (physically) strong enough now... but the thought of the gym just freaks me out. Maybe I will start with a stand-alone exercise class... I think there's a Jazzercise class not too far from my house most nights.

I remember *loving* doing weight training (I did aerobics only because I knew I "had" to), but I have to figure out why it freaks me now.. so I can feel safe when I go back to it. I <b>will</b> go back to it...!

For now, walking and the occasional swim. Physical therapy exercises from the chiro, and stretching. Trying to eat sensibly (not so much *what* as *how MUCH*!). It's not so bad when I can stick to a routine that includes these things, but anything that interferes with the routine really throws me off. Two weeks in a row of travelling, and I'm back to square one :::sigh::: Glad I'm not going anywhere till August now.

[shergo]

Hi again. I have been too ashamed to stop by as I have gained another 3 pounds. I now need to lose at least 35 (40 would be better). I'm in menopause, and it's even harder than before to lose weight. Also, I never know when my period will start, and I start having cravings and getting water weight, and I don't know if it's because of hormones or what. This is the pits! I have such chocolate cravings I nearly go crazy! At least I have been using my exercise bike, but all sorts of things have kept my friend and me from walking on a regular basis.

I have to make a point of stopping by here every day. I'm inspired by how well some of you are doing!

[antiana]

Welcome back shergo.
{{{{{ shergo }}}}}

Believe me its hard to come in here and confess to gaining or staying the same.

I think I do it to get myself motivated each week. Because if I come in and post... then I can't push it to the back of my mind. Like today I only went a half of a mile on my equipment.. but it was something. Heck it took me 6 minutes to do that. I think a turtle could move faster than I do.

Have you been to the doctor about your hormones? Or maybe you believe in a herbal treatment instead. Well, it's nice to see you here.
Even if it is slow going keep trying. K?

[shergo]

Thanks, antiana! I am going to make a point to check in here regularly for moral support. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow. I know she is going to fuss at me (fortunately, we have known each other for a very long time, so I take it). She will want me to exercise more. She also has me using soy and other herbs because she knows I can't take estrogen. When I get officially weighed tomorrow, I can really begin my new regime. I know my scales need to be replaced. I just ate some chocolate--BEFORE I came over here. Think I need to check in here when I feel that craving. And eat crunchy carrots! LOL

[shergo]

Aaarrrggghhh! It was much worse than I expected. I have slipped over into the obese category. I have to lose about 45 pounds. That will certainly get me motivated. I have to watch what I eat much more carefully and eat more fruit and veggies and less meat. And I need to exercise more faithfully. Laurie suggested that I walk every morning after I take my daughter to school, then ride my exercise bike. She also wants me to get my daughter to walk in the afternoons (I can use the excuse of exercising the dogs). I also have a long list of vitamins to take. It's going to take 20 minutes in the morning just to take the vitamins! LOL Laurie also scheduled a mammogram and colonscopy for the next month.

On my way home, I stopped and bought more fruit and veggies and fresh fish, plus all the vitamins. Then I came home and raked magnolia leaves for 40 minutes (I'll wait till they dry to bag them since I use the recyclable paper lawn bags). After raking, I took a brisk 18-minute walk, and I have just finished a nice salad for lunch. I'm going to get the fruit and veggies ready and put them in bowls in the fridge so I can snack on them. If I have to stop and prepare something, I will grab something less beneficial and more fattening. After I get the fruit and veggies ready, I am going to be spring cleaning in my office, moving furniture and washing woodwork. Then on to do the same in the kitchen!

If I could just keep this up, I would be svelte in no time! :-)

[LiamFan!]

You're on the right track, shergo!

The preparation of the veggies is a great idea...they'll be there when you're hungry.

At today's meeting, we talked about hunger, and how people eat out of habit, or because their appetite has been stimulated, not because of true hunger. The goal this week is to think before eating.

During the meeting, I was very hungry, to the point of a growling stomach, but I haven't eaten yet.

I was down 2.4 more pounds, too...a total of 13.6 so far.

[shergo]

LiamFan! Good going!

This time of the evening is a weak point for me. I had a good dinner--salmon, tomatoes, carrots and a salad--but I feel hungry again. I'm sure it's habit. I would munch something about now. But I think I will have another glass of water and head to bed to read. That should take my mind off eating! LOL

[LiamFan!]

Exactly.

Supposedly, it takes 4 hours for a person to become hungry again after a satisfying meal.

For me, emotional upheaval seems to work at killing an appetite, too. <g>