The Weigh I Was: May 2009

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Yesterday I was leafing through a stack of old magazines at the gym. Looking for some entertainment on the elliptical. (A lot of the ladies at my Y take in reading material to recycle and share and I do too, from time to time).

The January 2009 issue of Shape had an interesting article about six people who'd collectively lost 300 pounds. I didn't recall it: it looked new to me, and maybe a source of a few new ideas or tips. So I picked it up.

But there it was inside the front cover -- my handwriting. My notes. Clearly made in May 2009 when I'd joined Spark People!

What had I written down?

My username: WATERMELLEN. And password. The sparkpeople.com website address.

The two teams to which I'd been assigned on registration: SP class of May 10-16/09, and people over 50 with 10-24 pounds to lose.

I remember what I then weighed: 172. That's not written down. But the SP goal weight is noted: 155. And the target date: September 6, 2009.

I'd also jotted down my starting measurements:

Neck 14.5 inches.
Waist 32.5 inches.
Hips 40.5 inches.
Thigh 23.5 inches.

And: I'd written down "Spark People's Nutrition Tracker". Which was probably the key piece of information, because that's been the most important tool to lose the weight. (Other than the SP community, of course: the wonderful people here. But I didn't know that then!)

In May 2009, I had a record of successful weight loss and weight loss maintenance. I had taken off 80 pounds between June 2001 and February 2002, going from 230 to 150. Susan Estrich's "Making the Case for Yourself" was the inspiration that time.

And up until late 2008 I'd kept the 80 pounds off pretty steadily for some six years. Maybe never going below 150, but never going above 155 either. (My blip up in early 2009? Comfort eating, my old nemesis, triggered by a serious health scare). So: 155 should be doable, I remember thinking in May 2009.

What about the time frame? In May 2009, I also remembered that the first 60 pounds had come off pretty quickly. I had got down to about 170 by November 2001. But after that it took four months to lose the last 20. So: losing 17 pounds by September 6 was about right.

And I did. Reaching goal weight by August 15.

Yesterday I weighed myself after my workout on the Y's professional scales: just a smidge over 137. Holding steady. And I measured myself when I got home:

Neck: 12.5 inches.
Waist: just under 28 inches.
Hips: 37 inches.
Thigh: 20.5 inches.

There have been some ups and downs, of course, since May 2009. I was back at 163 in January of this year.

And with the help of the Beck Diet Solution (thanks SLENDERELLA61) tackled learning to think like a thin person . . . which has made a difference. Is 137 what Beck would call my "lowest maintainable weight"? That remains to be seen, but I've been there without more than a little swing for several months now. And I'm not looking to go lower.

This is the weight I was in high school and university.

The January 2009 issue of Shape magazine? An heirloom, obviously. So I tucked it into my gym bag and brought it home again!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JOHAL52 8/26/2011 1:12PM

That is fabulous Ellen!! Really inspirational! Report Inappropriate Comment

VALERIEMAHA 8/24/2011 10:02AM

RIGHT there with Chris (who I followed over here!) on how WONDERFUL (and provocative) this blog and story is, Ellen! You are one of my MAJOR inspirations here in this SCommunity! Thanks for all you are and all you offer, Maha Report Inappropriate Comment

PUDLECRAZY 8/24/2011 8:54AM

Wonderful blog,wonderful story Ellen! What a coincidence finding a magazine with your notes on it - a reminder of where you've been, where you are now, and the journey in between. You are the ! Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 8/23/2011 9:03AM

You are my inspiration - trite as that sounds, it absolutely is true! Report Inappropriate Comment

KALIGIRL 8/23/2011 9:00AM

What a marvelous journey - for sharing! Report Inappropriate Comment

DBCLARINET 8/22/2011 7:48PM

Oooh, that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside! And with that, my brain just took a left turn. Speaking of fuzzy, have you ever seen a woollybear that was all a light-golden color? I saw one the other day, and it made me wonder if it was really a woollybear or not. Having said warm and fuzzy, I remembered some posts of yours in the past about woollybears, so I thought I'd ask! Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDAJ0621 8/22/2011 4:16PM

Great motivational story!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLUESKY_321 8/22/2011 7:55AM

wow ... kismet! finding that magazine certainly seems fortuitous ... I can't imagine a better piece of motivation for helping to keep you on the path that you've forged for yourself! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLENDERELLA61 8/21/2011 8:29PM

Wow, Ellen!! Great story. Some of it I knew, but this blog fills in some of the history. You are an inspiration. So glad you have achieved that tight maintenance range you wanted. You have done very, very well, and your head is in the right place to keep it up, too. Love those measurements!! Thanks for this great blog!! I "like" it very, very much!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MTP717 8/21/2011 4:04PM

Congratulations! You are truly an inspiration! Report Inappropriate Comment

DDOORN 8/21/2011 3:00PM

Wonderful accomplishment! What a vibrant addition you have been to our SparkFamily! Thank you for being there and keeping on with your support and sharing your success! Don Report Inappropriate Comment

NANCY- 8/21/2011 11:57AM

Wow! Sweetie you are such an inspiration. You show me that our goals can be achieved and maintained. I know you came to SP for you and that is the best way to do it. Report Inappropriate Comment

WATERMELLEN 8/21/2011 10:59AM

PS Went back and checked my old blogs: actually reached goal weight July 18, 2009. What a site!! Wow!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Late Summer Friday Afternoon

Friday, August 19, 2011

Left work early . . . wanted to get home and see Charlie before heading to the golf course.

The cicadas are singing, the sun is warm, the sky is blue . . . . now where's that husband of mine??

Time to get started on the weekend!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PHEBESS 8/20/2011 8:47AM

YAY for Friday afternoons!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRYINGHARD1948 8/20/2011 6:00AM

Enjoy! Report Inappropriate Comment

SMILEYBEE 8/19/2011 4:45PM

Sounds nice! Have a great weekend! Report Inappropriate Comment

Cajun Sweet Potato: This Week in Soup!!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Checked out my fridge last night to see what needed to be used up: and found 5 large organic sweet potatoes, half a large bin of baby spinach, celery, carrots, a green pepper, a red pepper, and half a yellow pepper.

In the cupboard: a can of crushed tomatoes, a can of black-eyed peas, a can of black beans. Dried onion. Cajun seasoning.

So . . . I slow roasted the sweet potatoes last night, slipped off the skins this morning (Charlie loved them) and pureed the potatoes with the tomatoes in the food processor.

Simmered 5 stalks of the celery with the half bag of baby carrots, some of the dried onion, and lots of the Cajun seasoning until soft. Briefly steamed the baby spinach in the same pot, then pureed all of this.

Mixed the simmered veggies with the sweet potatoes/tomatoes and returned to the pot to heat and mix the flavours.

Finely diced the bell peppers. Thoroughly rinsed the black eyed peas and black beans. Added to the pot and brought back to a simmer. Added a little water, adjusted the seasonings (some more Cajun, a little salt).

It's delicious! And: gotta be nutritious. That will be my soup this week, a generous serving for supper every night.



Now: to the gym!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DIANEGLORIA 8/27/2011 11:03AM

Love it, emptying out the fridge, clearing out the pantry. And wonderful flavour profile, for sures. Hard to miss when you have healthy flavourful options in your home at all times. I am about to cull thru every cabinet here and donate to the local food bank, as I can not eat it all and it may just go to waste, get old or rancid, whatever. Defluffing ftw! Report Inappropriate Comment

TEENY_BIKINI 8/17/2011 4:19PM

Wow!!! That sounds delish! I have some sweet potatoes on my table right now.... Totally creative. Report Inappropriate Comment

FROSTIERACES 8/15/2011 5:54PM

We should open up a kitchen together Ellen! You cook like I do...a little of this...a little of that, an extra ZaZ of TADA! and I just made something AWESOME! Repeat? I'm not sure how I did it...but quick I must write it down! :) Sounds delicious! Great for using up those veggies in the fridge too! YUM! Report Inappropriate Comment

JOHAL52 8/15/2011 3:13PM

yum! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLUESKY_321 8/15/2011 5:34AM

I'm always amazed at folks who can look at an array of ingredients and put together something delicious! What a wonderful talent to cultivate... enjoy! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLENDERELLA61 8/14/2011 10:25PM

Very creative! I'm sure it is absolutely luscious and very, very nutritious. Report Inappropriate Comment

DBCLARINET 8/14/2011 10:24AM

Wow, that sounds awesome! Sounds like that would be delicious with shrimp or chunks of fish thrown in (if you're into that sort of thing). Report Inappropriate Comment

DDOORN 8/13/2011 11:28PM

Yum! LOVE sweet potato, LOVE hot & spicey...wouldn't think to combine, but bet it works nicely! Don Report Inappropriate Comment

TRYINGHARD1948 8/13/2011 5:44PM

Delish! Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 8/13/2011 3:00PM

Sounds like a few servings of vegs in each bowl! Report Inappropriate Comment

NANCY- 8/13/2011 11:06AM

What a creative way to tickle the taste buds with healthy fare. Report Inappropriate Comment

ALICIA214 8/13/2011 10:34AM

Sounds delicious Report Inappropriate Comment

Mind Over Mood

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

I'm really enjoying "Mind Over Mood" by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky. It's sold over 750,000 copies so clearly I'm a late fan . . and there have to be lots of people here on SP who've discovered it before me.

The intro is by Aaron Beck, father of cognitive psychology AND of Judith S. Beck of "The Diet Solution: Train your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person".

Basic process to uncover the thought/mood connection:

1. Identifying the situation in which you experience the strong mood, eg while at work and speaking to an employee, or while at home and receiving a phone call from a friend etc. etc.;
2. Identifying the mood (one word: sad, mad, anxious, excited, ashamed, etc.) and rating how strong it is;
3. Identifying the automatic thoughts that give rise to the mood, including especially the closely linked "hot thoughts";
4. Identifying the evidence that supports the "hot thought";
5. Identifying the evidence that DOES NOT support the "hot thought" . . . or the mood;
6. Identifying the alternative of balanced thoughts that challenge the mood;
7. Rerating the strength of the mood.

So: not just "power of positive thinking" but more along the lines of actually changing how you feel by changing what you think.

I'm thinking: not a "moody" type, particularly, but this will still be a valuable tool for me. By training and by personality, I'm all for examining the evidence!! No question, the Beck Diet Solution approach was very effective for me, and continues to be effective, in managing weight loss . . . and so why not broaden the cognitive psychology approach to other areas of my life?

Anyone else who's tried this and cares to comment??

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TEENY_BIKINI 8/16/2011 6:17AM

Wow. What a great resource! I love stuff like that. I will have to look it up...Thanks!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JOHAL52 8/11/2011 11:44PM

I have tried it but haven't mastered it Report Inappropriate Comment

TRYINGHARD1948 8/11/2011 5:40AM

Interesting! Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 8/10/2011 5:14PM

I was noticing today that just the SMELL of food triggers a desire to eat - so mind over nose (or other senses) as well as mood would be a huge help! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLENDERELLA61 8/10/2011 1:03PM

No, I haven't tried it, but like you I found the Beck Diet Solution powerful. I'll look into this book. I like evidence. Occasionally I'm moody. Probably would help me. Thanks for the recommendation. -Marsha Report Inappropriate Comment

KALIGIRL 8/10/2011 12:35PM

Seems like a great way to deal with multiple life issues – identify the trigger, accept how it makes us feel and find a way to let it go. Here's to "examining the evidence"! Report Inappropriate Comment

NANCY- 8/10/2011 11:57AM

CBT can be used for many aspects of our life that we wish to change. I used CBT and medication to assist me in quitting smoking. (Smoke Free for 2.5 years now) For me it is a matter of my perspective and my reactions to them. For me The Beck Team on SP is the closest thing to a support group. If Dr. Beck's office was closer, I'd be inclined to schedule a visit. Hmm, I should see if I could find the text that was being used for that group I attended. I'll check out "Mind Over Mood". Being a late fan, if it benefits you, is better than never being one. Report Inappropriate Comment

DDOORN 8/9/2011 10:06PM

Have "known" about Beck's work for some time...going to have to dig deeper into this...thx for flagging it for me! Don Report Inappropriate Comment

GROEDER 8/9/2011 6:59PM

Sounds like one I will read!!!! I was a psych major in college, so this is very interesting to me. I will probably learn some valuabe things too!!! Thanks for the review. Report Inappropriate Comment

"Body of the Year": Age 66

Friday, August 05, 2011

ca.shine.yahoo.com/photos/who-won-bo
dy-of-the-year-you-might-be-surprised-
1312299014-slideshow/

Oh my: there is hope!! Yeah!! Six more years to work on it . . . . .

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MEEBELO 8/16/2011 12:21PM

Helen Mirren is AWESOME! Report Inappropriate Comment

TEENY_BIKINI 8/16/2011 6:14AM

Love, love, love Helen Mirren. Report Inappropriate Comment

_LINDA 8/10/2011 12:27AM

Lots of good looking seniors right here on Sparks -Marsha comes to mind, but wouldn't want to be guessing who is a senior and who is not, people are taking good care of themselves here and looking fabulous! Report Inappropriate Comment

FROSTIERACES 8/8/2011 3:24PM

She is beautiful. I love Elle Macpherson too...that beauty tho is like unattainable! I love it when there are seemingly *normal* looking women that look stunning the older they get. I think Helen Mirran was in the movie RED? Funny movie. Thanks for sharing! Report Inappropriate Comment

PHEBESS 8/6/2011 8:09PM

I want to look like her in 9 years!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

TBANMAN 8/6/2011 3:25PM

She does look fabulous. So does Kate Winslet. It gives us all hope - and something to look forward to! Report Inappropriate Comment

JOHAL52 8/6/2011 11:32AM

She looks like a healthy woman! And that smile does wonders too!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

NANCY- 8/6/2011 10:35AM

What a different vision of getting older is now! No more buns, babushkas or baggy house dresses. WE are hot stuff!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JIBBIE49 8/6/2011 12:14AM

I'm sure she has had cosmetic surgery to get there, but more power to her! Sally Field is 64 & she looks great. She's 5'2" and 100# & runs 35 miles per week. Denise Austin is 54 & 5'4" and 112#. I know at 66, she'll look great. Joyce Vedral looks wonderful and she's about 68 now. Love her videos. Report Inappropriate Comment

PENNYAN45 8/5/2011 9:05PM

I'm a big fan of Helen Mirrin. She looks terrific!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CMRAND54 8/5/2011 8:31PM

Wow, she does look great! Report Inappropriate Comment

DBCLARINET 8/5/2011 8:28PM

Wow, she looks AMAZING. I aspire to age that gracefully. And I liked how several of the top spots were snagged by women who weren't 25. Aging is not the end of the world! Yeah! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRYINGHARD1948 8/5/2011 6:57PM

Yes, there was a photo of Helen Mirren in a bikini not so long ago. I have too many scars and stretch marks to even contemplate that!!!! She does look great and I'm sure you are looking fantastic too. Why wait until 66! Admit that you are one beautiful person now, I sure do think you are in mind, body and spirit. Report Inappropriate Comment