I've decided to take more drastic measures in my health and fitness journey. Trying to take "small steps" and focus on overall health and going easy on myself is not working. I think I'm so strong. I think I can do everything by myself. The reality is, I'm not. I'm not strong when it comes to weight loss. I'm very, very weak.
I have a drastic amount of weight to lose. So I need to do something drastic to get it off.
I'm not at the surgery point yet---but the main reason I haven't seriously considered that is that I don't have health insurance that covers it or the money to have it done. But I do want to try every option before I work to make surgery doable.
So I'm researching ways to get this weight off using prepackaged meals and counseling/coaching, such as NutriSystem, Medifast, Jenny Craig or one of those kinds of programs.
I am realizing I can't do this alone. I'm so far gone, I need professional help to get out of it. I can't get control of this myself for whatever reason. So I need to figure out how to come up with the resources to get professional and medical help.
Trying not to let it get me down, but it's tough. I hate being this huge. It effects me every minute of every day. People judge me. I haven't had a date in years. I'm lonely. I can't even walk a block without being winded and needing to sit down.
It's just miserable. I have to take drastic measures to save my life. I have to take drastic measures to fully LIVE my life.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Calories in soup
So I just calculated all the calories in the Vegetable Soup I make that I love so much and feels like comfort food, but is actually a pot of vegetables. (See recipe below.) It keeps me full for hours.
The total calorie count in the huge pot is 2,700 calories. The pot is at least 8 huge servings ---probably more like 10-12. So divide 2,700 calories by 8 (the lowest number) and that is 338 calories per serving. For this pot of soup, I will count how many servings we go through, so I'll have a more accurate serving number.
I also did a "fat gram" count and the whole pot of soup has 14 grams of fat. So, assuming 8 servings (when it's probably more like 10-12 servings), that is only 1.75 grams of fat per serving.
The key for me is going to be finding meals like this. This meal:
1. Doesn't feel like diet food at all
2. I love the taste
3. Keeps me full for several hours (why I add the black beans)
4. Very little preparation work needed---I throw a bunch of stuff in a pot one day, refrigerate and then just reheat for several days
5. Low calorie and low fat
6. Very cheap to make
The total calorie count in the huge pot is 2,700 calories. The pot is at least 8 huge servings ---probably more like 10-12. So divide 2,700 calories by 8 (the lowest number) and that is 338 calories per serving. For this pot of soup, I will count how many servings we go through, so I'll have a more accurate serving number.
I also did a "fat gram" count and the whole pot of soup has 14 grams of fat. So, assuming 8 servings (when it's probably more like 10-12 servings), that is only 1.75 grams of fat per serving.
The key for me is going to be finding meals like this. This meal:
1. Doesn't feel like diet food at all
2. I love the taste
3. Keeps me full for several hours (why I add the black beans)
4. Very little preparation work needed---I throw a bunch of stuff in a pot one day, refrigerate and then just reheat for several days
5. Low calorie and low fat
6. Very cheap to make
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Posting
I don't really have anything new or interesting to say. Just want to be committed to this blog, so I'm trying to post something.
Hmmm...just heard the newscaster in the background say, "Get ready for the coldest winds we've had in a decade!" I knew I should have bought that majorly discounted coat I liked so much at Ross a month ago. But then I thought, "You know, Texas never really has cold enough winters for a coat."
Guess I was wrong.
As far as my weight loss journey goes, I'm making progress. I need to get myself a scale that I have here at home. That's on my list to buy with my next paycheck. A scale and measuring tape.
Last year, I was all about "oh, I just need to focus on making healthier choices and the weight will come off eventually." Uhmmm....no. That is a load of crap. I really did make a lot of progress in creating habits that were more healthy, but the scale did not reflect that.
So this year----it's about the numbers. Get that weight OFF (in a healthy way). If the numbers aren't going down, then I need to work harder and do more. Period. It's about the numbers.
No matter how many fruits, vegetables and water I'm taking in, I will never be healthy until I lose this weight.
Making my favorite huge pot of vegetable soup again now (see post below)! It will last me the rest of the week!
Hmmm...just heard the newscaster in the background say, "Get ready for the coldest winds we've had in a decade!" I knew I should have bought that majorly discounted coat I liked so much at Ross a month ago. But then I thought, "You know, Texas never really has cold enough winters for a coat."
Guess I was wrong.
As far as my weight loss journey goes, I'm making progress. I need to get myself a scale that I have here at home. That's on my list to buy with my next paycheck. A scale and measuring tape.
Last year, I was all about "oh, I just need to focus on making healthier choices and the weight will come off eventually." Uhmmm....no. That is a load of crap. I really did make a lot of progress in creating habits that were more healthy, but the scale did not reflect that.
So this year----it's about the numbers. Get that weight OFF (in a healthy way). If the numbers aren't going down, then I need to work harder and do more. Period. It's about the numbers.
No matter how many fruits, vegetables and water I'm taking in, I will never be healthy until I lose this weight.
Making my favorite huge pot of vegetable soup again now (see post below)! It will last me the rest of the week!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Stop the EXCUSES
Wow...another year. Another decade.
My life is far from perfect, but every other area of my life is on a good course. I'm making progress and growing everyday. Every area---but one.
Again, the area that needs the most work (by far) is my health. I am severely overweight and it will kill me if I don't do something about it now. I am 37 years old and need to lose 140 pounds to be at a healthy weight for me. That is a whole other person.
I've been carrying all this extra weight for 7-8 years now.
What is so frustrating is that I KNOW what to do to get it off. I need to get off my ass and MOVE and I need to eat healthy foods in moderation.
Instead of doing what I need to do, you know what I do? I *talk* about making changes (like I'm doing now--I'm very good at that) and I MAKE EXCUSES.
I am the QUEEN OF EXCUSES.
I can't work out today, I'm too busy. I'll workout tomorrow. It's too early. I'm just too tired. I need to spend time with my son. I'll start Monday. I'll go thru the drive-thru one last time. Just one more bite. My work consumes me. I have no clean workout clothes. None of my workout clothes fit. My workout shoes make my feet hurt. It's raining. It might rain today. It's too hot. It's too cold. I will be embarrassed. My favorite show is on TV. I have too much work to catch up on. Once I get caught up at work, I'll start working out. I don't have time to eat healthy. I hate cooking. Eating healthy is too expensive. I'll make my next meal a healthy one.
The list goes on.
Excuses paralyze me. Excuses keep me locked in this prison.
So my 2010 New Year's Resolution: STOP THE EXCUSES.
My life is far from perfect, but every other area of my life is on a good course. I'm making progress and growing everyday. Every area---but one.
Again, the area that needs the most work (by far) is my health. I am severely overweight and it will kill me if I don't do something about it now. I am 37 years old and need to lose 140 pounds to be at a healthy weight for me. That is a whole other person.
I've been carrying all this extra weight for 7-8 years now.
What is so frustrating is that I KNOW what to do to get it off. I need to get off my ass and MOVE and I need to eat healthy foods in moderation.
Instead of doing what I need to do, you know what I do? I *talk* about making changes (like I'm doing now--I'm very good at that) and I MAKE EXCUSES.
I am the QUEEN OF EXCUSES.
I can't work out today, I'm too busy. I'll workout tomorrow. It's too early. I'm just too tired. I need to spend time with my son. I'll start Monday. I'll go thru the drive-thru one last time. Just one more bite. My work consumes me. I have no clean workout clothes. None of my workout clothes fit. My workout shoes make my feet hurt. It's raining. It might rain today. It's too hot. It's too cold. I will be embarrassed. My favorite show is on TV. I have too much work to catch up on. Once I get caught up at work, I'll start working out. I don't have time to eat healthy. I hate cooking. Eating healthy is too expensive. I'll make my next meal a healthy one.
The list goes on.
Excuses paralyze me. Excuses keep me locked in this prison.
So my 2010 New Year's Resolution: STOP THE EXCUSES.
Monday, December 28, 2009
My favorite healthy meal
Here is the recipe for the best soup ever! It's extremely healthy and it lasts for DAYS. It also feels like comfort food. I haven't counted the calories, but it's all vegetables, so I'm sure it's relatively low.So I get out my big pot from Ikea that I love so much. And I just start dumping the following things in:
3 cans chili-ready diced tomatoes--I use cheap Great Value brand from Wal-Mart
4 cans of water (using one of the tomato cans)
2 packages of taco seasoning
1 can mild Rotel (use spicier if you like spicy)
3 cans black beans
1 bag frozen corn
1 bag frozen green beans
1 bag frozen carrots
1 bag seasoning blend of chopped onions and green peppers
Once everything is in the pot, put the stove on medium to high and stir every 10 minutes or so. It takes about 45 minutes for it to be ready. However, it's even better if you put it in the refrigerator overnight after it's been cooked, then take it out the next day and have it for lunch. All the flavors have come together by then and it's excellent! So I usually have my first bowl the following day.
To make it even more hearty, you can add a little bit of low-fat grated cheddar cheese and have it with a few crackers. I've never counted the number of servings, but it's at least 8 or so.
If I have this soup in my refrigerator, it is soooo easy to bypass fast food because nothing sounds as good as this soup! I made it last night and had it for breakfast and lunch today! Yummy!
New attitude
I am changing my attitude.
For the past couple of years, I've had the attitude that in order to lose weight, I must NEVER put into place habits that I'm not willing to keep forever.
This philosophy came about for very good reason. Many years ago, I lost over 100 pounds by killing myself working out everyday and being extremely active and eating VERY healthy 90 percent of the time.
Once I reached my goal weight, I began to slack off on the working out and I gradually started eating more and more crap again. I never completely went back to the terrible diet I had before I lost all the weight, but just slacking off and not being as strict caused me to pack the pounds back on QUICKLY---plus about 50 EXTRA pounds.
Therefore, I created the new philosophy that to lose weight again, I would never do anything that I wasn't willing to do for the rest of my life because I never wanted to gain the weight back again (plus more), once it was lost.
That has really hurt me.
For example, when I think, "Man, I should really try to work out a couple of times a day to get this weight off." I immediately think, "Wait a minute. I don't want to work out twice a day for the rest of my life, so I shouldn't get my body used to that now. I'll just gain it all back."
Another example: I think, "I should really stop eating fast food while I'm trying to lose weight." I immediately think, "Wait a minute. I don't want to not ever eat fast food for the rest of my life. So I shouldn't start that now. I'll just gain it all back."
Therefore, it's always "okay" in my mind to eat fast food or eat junk food because I never want to completely give that up. It's never a "bad thing" in my mind, when in reality, it is a bad thing because it's too much a part of my regular eating habits right now.
I feel like I'm rambling and not making sense.
Point is--I'm changing my attitude. Watching the Biggest Loser and hearing Biggest Loser winner Danny Cahill talk---he talks about two different modes. There is "losing weight mode" and there is "maintaining mode".
It wasn't the "losing weight" mode that failed me before. I had GREAT success there!! It was the "MAINTAINING MODE" that failed me. That's what I didn't do right. I slacked off too much, too soon.
And why am I so worried about the "maintaining mode" when I am still 150 pounds overweight!!?? I need to be focused on the "losing weight mode"!
So my new attitude---do what it takes to get this freakin' weight OFF now. I'm not talking about taking pills or doing anything extreme. I'm talking about healthy eating and exercise. I'm giving myself permission to totally cut out fast food for now. I'm giving myself permission to work out several times a day for now. Do what it takes to get the weight off now.
Worry about maintaining when the time comes. Focus on losing weight.
For the past couple of years, I've had the attitude that in order to lose weight, I must NEVER put into place habits that I'm not willing to keep forever.
This philosophy came about for very good reason. Many years ago, I lost over 100 pounds by killing myself working out everyday and being extremely active and eating VERY healthy 90 percent of the time.
Once I reached my goal weight, I began to slack off on the working out and I gradually started eating more and more crap again. I never completely went back to the terrible diet I had before I lost all the weight, but just slacking off and not being as strict caused me to pack the pounds back on QUICKLY---plus about 50 EXTRA pounds.
Therefore, I created the new philosophy that to lose weight again, I would never do anything that I wasn't willing to do for the rest of my life because I never wanted to gain the weight back again (plus more), once it was lost.
That has really hurt me.
For example, when I think, "Man, I should really try to work out a couple of times a day to get this weight off." I immediately think, "Wait a minute. I don't want to work out twice a day for the rest of my life, so I shouldn't get my body used to that now. I'll just gain it all back."
Another example: I think, "I should really stop eating fast food while I'm trying to lose weight." I immediately think, "Wait a minute. I don't want to not ever eat fast food for the rest of my life. So I shouldn't start that now. I'll just gain it all back."
Therefore, it's always "okay" in my mind to eat fast food or eat junk food because I never want to completely give that up. It's never a "bad thing" in my mind, when in reality, it is a bad thing because it's too much a part of my regular eating habits right now.
I feel like I'm rambling and not making sense.
Point is--I'm changing my attitude. Watching the Biggest Loser and hearing Biggest Loser winner Danny Cahill talk---he talks about two different modes. There is "losing weight mode" and there is "maintaining mode".
It wasn't the "losing weight" mode that failed me before. I had GREAT success there!! It was the "MAINTAINING MODE" that failed me. That's what I didn't do right. I slacked off too much, too soon.
And why am I so worried about the "maintaining mode" when I am still 150 pounds overweight!!?? I need to be focused on the "losing weight mode"!
So my new attitude---do what it takes to get this freakin' weight OFF now. I'm not talking about taking pills or doing anything extreme. I'm talking about healthy eating and exercise. I'm giving myself permission to totally cut out fast food for now. I'm giving myself permission to work out several times a day for now. Do what it takes to get the weight off now.
Worry about maintaining when the time comes. Focus on losing weight.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
New blog title!
I love my new blog title! It was "Fat to Fit in 2009", however, that was not practical. It's going to take lots of small steps for me to become fit. I've made great progress in 2009. But, if I do it the way I really want to do it, it's going to take a much longer time for me to get to the "fit" category.
Therefore, I changed the title of my blog.
"FIT BEFORE 40!"
I love it! I turned 37 years old last month. That gives me almost 3 years. Does it mean I'm going to slack off for 2 years, then try to cram it all in? No. That gives me time to continue to make the small changes I've been making on my road to health.
I am determined to get fit without the assistance of surgery. I have several friends who have had the lapband or gastric bypass done in the last couple of years and they have had HUGE success. Good for them! I have been rooting them on the whole time and have been super excited for them. But I really feel like this is something I need to do without surgery, although I haven't ruled out surgery as an option later on down the road if I'm not making real progress on my own.
One way or another, I WILL be fit before 40.
Therefore, I changed the title of my blog.
"FIT BEFORE 40!"
I love it! I turned 37 years old last month. That gives me almost 3 years. Does it mean I'm going to slack off for 2 years, then try to cram it all in? No. That gives me time to continue to make the small changes I've been making on my road to health.
I am determined to get fit without the assistance of surgery. I have several friends who have had the lapband or gastric bypass done in the last couple of years and they have had HUGE success. Good for them! I have been rooting them on the whole time and have been super excited for them. But I really feel like this is something I need to do without surgery, although I haven't ruled out surgery as an option later on down the road if I'm not making real progress on my own.
One way or another, I WILL be fit before 40.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
