The undiet

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I refuse to diet. Diets are about deprivation, and continual hunger, and wanting wanting CRAVING cheating guilt. That's no way to live, and with over 100 pounds to lose, I can't think if my life as on hold while I lose weight.

My vow is simple: never put anything into my mouth that isn't delicious. This can be a little tricky, if you don't like fresh fruit and vegetables, and if your palate is trained to love junk food. But if you like eating a variety of foods, and if you like experimentation and can be flexible, it is so much more satisfying.

That means a lot of thinking about what I'm going to eat, and a lot of monitoring myself for satiety. My biggest problem is that what feels like "enough" is really way too much and I have trouble knowing that I'm sated. So I'm trying to take the approach of eating what the books say is a proper portion, but promising myself if I'm still actually hungry later I can have more. That seems to be quieting the frantic panic in my head that says I'm going to be cheated out of something.

I'm not always perfect, but it does help.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUSAN134 10/24/2011 10:47AM

You've got it! Deprivation may lead to a fast weight loss, but it will probably lead also to a very speedy weight gain afterwards (and usually more than you lost). Lifestyle changes that one can live with are what is needed. Moderation and baby steps, win the day! Report Inappropriate Comment

MARTHASPARKS 10/23/2011 2:07PM

Diets and deprivation don't work. Moderation does! Report Inappropriate Comment

EUPHRATES 10/23/2011 1:31PM

Sounds like a good plan to me. :) I'm with you - deprivation is NOT in my eating plan. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

Staying on track

Friday, October 21, 2011

The day off was good for me. I worked out hard this morning and felt very good about it.

I'm still playing with the schedule of my workouts, trying to find the optimal approach. But I feel pretty good about it today.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

GREGSLUVBUNNY13 10/21/2011 11:31AM

Keep going! It will only get better from here!! Report Inappropriate Comment

TEAMMOM2585 10/21/2011 10:37AM

Way to go, keep it up. I know it can seem impossible to set time aside to work out, but you will figure it out. Keep it up!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Overdid it :-(

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Today is my first month Sparkiversary. How am I celebrating it? By having my first serious bout of soreness and miseries. I wouldn't worry about it much, but the pain is in joints.

Taking a day off from working out. Hoping a day of rest is enough to recover.

Grr

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

EUPHRATES 10/21/2011 1:33AM

Rest days are important too, lady! (Particularly when fighting off sickness) Hang in there! Report Inappropriate Comment

MISSG180 10/20/2011 9:28PM

I am also fighting a flu-type bug, so I think that's adding to the feeling of achiness. A day off was definitely a good idea. Report Inappropriate Comment

DHAYDEN91 10/20/2011 2:03PM

Don't get discouraged. If you are like me the pain comes and goes and you will be able to get back to it :) This is my time of year for joint pain, too. For some reason it always gets bad in October. However, I must say (and am excited to report) that I am feeling it much less this year and I think it's due to the persistent excercise and getting some of the weight off. One thing that I think is helping, too, is that I'm doing a low-impact cardio (BowFlex Treadclimber is gentle on the hip joints and actually seems to make them more flexible) and I'm stretching before and after every time. Keep up the good work! Keep us posted. Report Inappropriate Comment

Traveling on the Spark

Sunday, October 16, 2011

I traveled far this weekend, a driving trip from Ohio to Maryland. 6 hours of driving each way.

Now, long drives have always translated to junk food binges for me - you have to keep your energy up, right? Driving is hard work, right?

Well, not if you're honest with yourself.

On the way there, I didn't even consider junk food. But after a long weekend, not enough sleep, and an impending cold, the refueling stop presented me with serious temptation. I wandered in the convenience store, looking at chips and candy, determined that I "deserved" something salty and fatty and sweet.

Then I stopped and thought. I listened to my body. I wasn't hungry. I didn't need fuel to get home. I would be feeding the power of habit, not nourishing my body.

So I walked past the junk food. I grabbed a bottle of water, paid for it, and walked away from all that temptation. And I felt better about myself than a whole bag of Ghardettos would ever taste.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MISSG180 10/19/2011 9:55PM

Subway is a great idea. I will definitely keep them in mind next weekend when we go to San Diego for World Fantasy Con. I am hoping the hotel will have a workout room. I do love cons, but they are not great for the diet! Report Inappropriate Comment

COLEENCOLE 10/19/2011 8:27PM

I make a point of only stopping at Subway's and get the subs without any sauce and minimal cheese and lots of veggies. Report Inappropriate Comment

NANNIE4 10/17/2011 6:41PM

You are doing GREAT!! keep up the good work! Travel safe and have fun. Report Inappropriate Comment

EUPHRATES 10/17/2011 4:52PM

Didn't realize you were in Ohio! :) I also traveled this weekend (to Con on the Con in Hudson, OH actually) and made some very specific choices in terms of eating - particularly my mate's birthday dinner at Long Horn Steakhouse. For me the occasional intentional indulgence keeps me on track the rest of the time, actually. I would have liked to get more salad in over the past several days, but since we spent most of our time at a hotel for a convention, and the hotel salads didn't thrill me, I did the best I could. Happily there were TONS of carrots and celery in the con suite to munch on. All in all, a 4 lb gain when I was stuck without a gym or any real way to get in exercise and being away from home for 4 days isn't bad. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

MISSG180 10/17/2011 7:33AM

Thanks! I really feel good about it today. If I'd given in, I know I wouldn't feel good about that. Report Inappropriate Comment

GETSTRONGRRR 10/16/2011 9:16PM

Very very nicely done! I'm on the road a lot and have the same temptations. Every time we say is a victory, so give out a big victory cry, you deserve it! Report Inappropriate Comment

The race is only with myself

Thursday, October 13, 2011

I am kind of a geek for the Spark Points, and love to see myself get over 100 points each day. But I only give myself points for things I actually do, when I do them. So when I see the leaderboard for points starting the month with over 2000 points assigned on day one, I'm irritated by people gaming the system.

Then I happened to follow through to the leaderboard for fitness minutes. Apparently there are people who are working out for 3.5 hours every single day.

Every. Single. Day.

Pardon me if I'm just a bit cynical about this. I've had days with 3.5 hours of exercise. I've had days with more than that, on century rides.

But every day? I'm suspicious.

Then I realize: it's not really my business, is it? If they are working out that long daily, that's their business. And if they are gaming the system for the points, that doesn't impact my own progress, does it? I'm in this only for me. Other people aren't "ahead" of me or "behind" me. They are simply on their own paths.

My childhood sense of fairness and outrage at what I perceive to be potential cheating are immaterial here, because my journey isn't about that. I can't let such things get in my way or trip me up.

I'm always going to be somewhere in the mid-back of the pack. But as long as I'm making progress on my own goals, that's just fine.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MISSG180 10/16/2011 7:09PM

You have a good point about fitness instructors. I hadn't thought of that. But I still don't believe them all, either. ;-) Report Inappropriate Comment

THECOZE 10/14/2011 12:35PM

i too get kinda upset when i see people milking the system for points, but then again i can play devil's advocate. When my sister worked at Curve's, she was constantly working out. Employee's there get to know those clients that need a 'little bit of motivation' so she would jump up with them and work out right next to them. In her 6-8 hour shift, she would work out probably 6-8 times, usually working out and then taking a half hour break, etc. Do i think this is the case for everyone on here that is logging 3.5 hours a day, heck no, but as you pointed out, it's only about me and nothing about them... if it's meant to be, it's up to me! Report Inappropriate Comment

BHOLBY 10/13/2011 4:26PM

Great point! Totally agree! Hard not to focus on others when we need to focus on ourselves first! Great reminder. Report Inappropriate Comment