| |
|
SEAWAVE's Recent Blog Entries
|
 
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Ok, so today is day 1 (take 2) of the Spring Bootcamp for me, and of the 5% Challenge. I’m a StarFish!
One of the prep assignments (#4) for the 5% Challenge addresses triggers, and it’s had me thinking all week because I’ve never really identified my triggers. They define trigger food as “the one that gets you off course for the next hour and you are not eating because you are truly hungry” and a trigger situation as “where you are, who you are with and what you are doing this happens”.
I’m not sure I have a particular binge food. Some days, I can resist just about anything in the kitchen or elsewhere. In the past few months, though, I’ve had binges on raisin bread, cookies (not even good ones, at that!), ham, almonds ... there’s no rhyme nor reason to it. It can be sweet or salty, crunchy or smooth, carbs or proteins, hot, cold, room temperature. The only common characteristic seems to be that it’s edible LOL!
It’s ok to binge with my husband. Huh, that’s a surprise. No actually, I had never realized that. My son is aware of nutrition due to some courses he’s taken and where he wants to be (eventually, a fireman), and binging around him would be embarrassing somehow. I don’t binge around other people; most of them are accepting of a simple “no thanks” when it comes to food, and there’s no pressure to eat more, taste something, etc. But for some reason I’m ok binging with my husband. Example: last night, I say “I feel like a dessert” and he pulls out not one, but four boxes of cookies. Yeah, I binged.
Part of it is boredom. I’ve been home mostly alone and mostly secluded for the past 1.5 years while I had and recovered from cancer treatments and their side effects. Part of it is some days I’m just tired of fighting, so I just give in. I also think he’s tired (he’s been my main support during this whole cancer experience), and I don’t think he wants to be the one to convince me not to do something I seem to want to do (in this case, eat dessert). I don’t even know that he has the words because, frankly, I can get pretty stubborn. I also notice that when I binge like that, so does he so it’s not healthy for either one of us!
There are elements of boredom and of feeling sorry for myself in there, but when it’s happening I don’t see that at all. All I see is the bread, or the almonds, or whatever. It doesn’t even feel that good; mostly, it just feels like filling time.
Convenient access definitely makes a difference. I can’t walk or bike to the grocery to get anything I’m craving (although most times my husband is willing to go get it).
So the big question is how do I better manage so that I don’t surrender to my triggers?
I’m holding on to the fact that this is a temporary situation I’m in. My last hurdles are being addressed, my toe (although still bandaged) is healing and should be ok by June. I will be returning to work in a week, after having been delayed by a viral infection. There’s also some issue with my B12 vitamin level – I’ll find out more in about a week.
In the meantime, this is what I need to do:
• Keep fruit and veg chopped and handy, so that when I do face triggers I have something healthier to eat
• Keep really unhealthy foods out of the house, or at least away from me (i.e. don’t tell me it’s there, and don’t put it where I see it). This is more difficult, as my son plays soccer and burns off calories like nobody’s business and, as mentioned, my husband isn’t very good at saying “no” (or I’m really good at convincing him LOL!)
• Measure other foods (e.g. almonds), so that I am eating a serving not binging, and savor each and every bite. Really take notice of how it feels in my mouth, what it tastes like, how it makes me feel. Maybe I’ll get to the bottom of some other stuff here (boredom, feeling sorry for myself?) and learn to deal with it better.
• In the words of our fearless leader Kaliswalker, “record it in Spark Nutrition before I eat it and if I still want it after I see the calories, I will still eat it, but I will be mindful of what I am doing.”
• When I do feel triggers coming, make myself a nice cup of herbal tea.
• (ETA) When my head is full of negative voices, drown them out with my I-Pod!
So here I go, starting Day 1!
The plan for today is to do the Bootcamp video, 30 minutes on my stat bike, and to log my food in SP.
Friday, May 06, 2011
This follows my blog of April 26th, where I outlined my plan to take up a four-week challenge (the Spring Bootcamp), an eight-week challenge (the 5% Challenge) and a longer-term 50-lb Challenge (to Sept 24th). I was starting it all on April 30th, but a viral infection has come to interrupt my plans. My return to work was also postponed for two weeks because of the infection (which might be mono... still waiting for bloodwork to come back!)
Therefore, I am starting this Saturday, May 7th. Given the situation, I won't be going hog wild with the exercise, but I also don't want to just sit here feeling worse for not doing anything.
Since I've had to be quiet this week, I've been working on sorting through recipes, getting rid of those that are not healthy and trying new recipes that are healthy. It's been working out quite well, and I feel like I've been advancing on my goals even if I haven't been able to exercise. Part of me feels like it's all just a game, really, until I can really get moving, but it gets me through the day LOL!
Thursday, May 05, 2011
"When there's no getting over that rainbow
When the smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you"
Thank you SparkFriends for all the support as I struggle with this stupid non-health!
Monday, May 02, 2011
It just seems I've been in cycle through cycle of illness, my entire life. I was just getting over the cancer treatments, fatigue had been abating, then started up again last week. This morning, I've started exhibiting symptoms of mono (my son just got over it) -- haven't been able to stay awake for more than 30 minutes at a time, sore throat, sore ears, coughing...
I have an appointment with the doctor late today, and I'm hoping it's nothing but it's hard to keep that optimism going at this point. I was supposed to go back to work tomorrow and now that's in question. They obviously don't want me back if I'm not up to par, and/or if I'm contagious.
At this point, I'm telling myself by the time I'm 50 (in September), all will be good and the second half of my life will be full of health. It seems a very, very long time away right now...
Sunday, May 01, 2011
I've amended this a bit from MEOWMAMA3 blog to fit myself; she doesn't recall her source for it. It pretty much says it all for me, so I would like to thank whoever came up with it in the first place! (ETA traced through DUFFYDYER, who if I understand correctly got it from "Jen" in the 2011-Twelve Months of Healthy Habits Team. )
I want to find it again easily when I need it, and of course Spark is the best holding spot for things like that! And yes, of course it's being printed up for the fridge door, my vision board, and my purse!
MEAN IT IN MAY!
M = Motivation … motivate a team member daily, and find my own motivation
E = Exercise … get in at least 30 minutes per day
A = Accountability … hold myself accountable, report to my teams and my buddy!
N = Nutrition … Stay in calorie & sodium ranges
I = Inspiration … read something inspirational every day
T = Time out … take time for relaxation and appreciation every day
I = I can do it!
N = “No!” … just say “no” to temptation, to excuses, to negativity!
M = Make it happen … push myself beyond!
A = Affirmation …begin my day with one!
Y = “Yippee!” … Celebrate when I've reached at least 80% of my goals today!
YOU CAN DO IT TOO!
PS: I also added a table at the bottom of my page to remind myself of my DAILY TARGETS
8 glasses of water
7 servings fruit/veg
6 servings grain
2 servings milk & alternatives
2 servings meat & alternatives
Calories 1200-1550
Fat: 32-56 g
Carbs: 163-236 g
Protein: 60-127 g
Cholesterol: 0-300g
Sodium: 500-1500 g
Dietary Fibre: 25-35 g
Do 30 minutes of cardio daily
Do 10-minute Bootcamp video daily
Burn 1980 Calories per week
There! Now if my computer ever crashes, I have a record!
First Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Last Page
|
|
Get An Email Alert Each Time SEAWAVE Posts
|
|
And I think the second half of your life WILL be full of health and many miracles! You are a trooper and these things happen for a reason so don't beat yourself up... take good care. I'm amazed at all you've been through and how strong you are!! You are 
Member Comments About This Blog Post:
Thanks for sharing this and also for your blog comments. :)
