I got on the scale yesterday. I'll have to let Charlie know that I did not lose weight over Thanksgiving. But I didn't gain weight either. The scale read the same this Monday as it did last Monday. And in between I've been chowing down on carbs.
I'm finding it supremely difficult to balance my low-carb lifestyle with being a wife and mother. Honestly, I'm the only one in my household with a sensitivity to carbs. The rest of the gang seems to handle them just fine.
I'm having a tough time trying to maintain beloved holiday traditions, such as hanging gingerbread cookies on our Christmas tree, with eating low-carb. Once I sample the sweets, it's downhill from there. (Note: No one has noticed that I haven't made a Christmas countdown garland filled with M&Ms. I guess that's one carbilicious tradition that we can ditch.)
In the midst of this holiday angst, my husband came across a section in Neal A. Maxwell's book, "All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience" that hit home. Here are three quotes that resonated with me.
"How ironic it is to envy someone who has a pretty figure but who is a spiritual cripple."
"Think for a moment how different it would be if people took on that physical appearance which would reflect distinctly how well they are doing spiritually.... When the outer person reflected the inner person, whom would we applaud? And whom would we pity?"
"The faithful but perhaps plump woman whose nails are worn but who is a giving mother, wife, and neighbor has a queenly beauty and a regal way, if we would but see her as she really is; her beauty will not be taken from her by the passing years."
Showing posts with label oops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oops. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Leaving my status as Google's #1 Overweight Housewife behind
If you Google the term "overweight housewife," the first result on your screen will be my other blog, Belly Acre Farm. Or, now that I've written this entry, this blog may come up. I have to admit that I haven't been too ashamed that I'm the #1 overweight housewife on the web. I used to think it was funny. But not any more.
You see, I blew it last night. When you read my daily menu from yesterday at the bottom of this post, you'll notice that I had 10 frosted oatmeal cookies which yielded some 95 net carbs all by themselves. Urgh! That's no way to lose the 17 lbs. I want to leave behind. (Or, leave my behind, is more like it.)
Here's my excuse for last night's binge -- I'd been feeling a bit woozy/dizzy all day, and I wondered if some carbs might help. So I made the mistake of choosing cookies as my carbs. Once I started, I couldn't (didn't) stop. Until the remainder of the package was gone. (Note: The cookies didn't make the dizziness go away.)
After viewing MizFit's facetime post on Monday about her motivational boards, I came away wanting to be motivated. And since I've already made a board, now I just need to fill it with images and quotes that will help me focus on what I want to become.
I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but I've got to get MizFit on there somehow. Watching her facetime posts are motivating. Get a load of those shoulders and biceps! And she's a mom. Way to go MizFit!
I've spent so long as an overweight housewife that I've almost forgotten how to see myself as anything else. It would seem that some deep introspection and mental imaging is in order. To get me started, I'm going to think out loud about who I see myself becoming. Here goes.
First off, I'm going to become Google's #1 Healthy Housewife.
As a Healthy Housewife I take the time to prepare balanced meals -- meals that contain plenty of protein, vegetables, fruit and a carbohydrate side dish for my family that I don't eat until I've reached my weightloss goal and maintained it for 3 months. I also keep my fridge and cupboards stocked with low-carb foods that are easy to grab on the go. They're not just for me. They're for everyone in my home.
What am I going to do about treats/goodies for the kids? I'll try to buy snacks that don't appeal to me. I'll begin discussing with Hubby the challenges of having foods around that are temptations for me, and that aren't healthy for anyone in our household. I can also stop trying to show love by making/giving/buying my kids treats. There are countless other ways for me to show them love. Raising them to have good eating habits is more loving than passing on bad eating habits to yet another generation.
As a healthy housewife I find time for exercise. It's a priority for me. I don't put the needs of my family above my own needs. I realize that by taking care of myself, I'll be better able to take care of my family members. I relish time spent walking my dog. I find joy (and exercise) in taking walks with my husband and children, one-on-one or as a family. I try to find ways to play with my kids, do engage in the activities they're interested in. I go ice skating with Beans. I play golf with Bug. I pass the volleyball with Loula Belle and play catch during softball season.
I'm out of time for today, but I'm going to give the new me a lot of thought and prayer. (I need to do a better job of including the Lord in my weightloss efforts. His power and support is invaluable. Why do I keep forgetting that?)
-------------------
Daily Menu: October 28, 2008
7:30 AM
peppermint tea
12 pistacios = 1 Tbsp. (1.5)
2 eggs fried in 1 tsp. bacon fat (1)
large tomato, sliced thick (6)
sorbet made with 1 c. frozen triple-berry blend (10.5)
1/2 c. 2% milk (6)
packet Slenda
12:30 PM
1/2 c. low fat cottage cheese (5)
8 oz. non-fat Western Family yogurt sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame (15)
2:00 PM
homemade dill pickle (2)
12 pistacios (1.5)
2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter (4)
2 stalks celery (1.5)
5:40 PM
mozarella/promiscuto/basil roll, 2 1/2 oz. (.5)
salad with 2 bacon slice, diced turkey, ranch dressing (8)
homemade chicken vegetable soup (9)
small Empire apple (15)
7:30 PM
10 stupid, not-very-good, frosted oatmeal cookies (95.5)
==========
Total Net Carbs: 182
You see, I blew it last night. When you read my daily menu from yesterday at the bottom of this post, you'll notice that I had 10 frosted oatmeal cookies which yielded some 95 net carbs all by themselves. Urgh! That's no way to lose the 17 lbs. I want to leave behind. (Or, leave my behind, is more like it.)
Here's my excuse for last night's binge -- I'd been feeling a bit woozy/dizzy all day, and I wondered if some carbs might help. So I made the mistake of choosing cookies as my carbs. Once I started, I couldn't (didn't) stop. Until the remainder of the package was gone. (Note: The cookies didn't make the dizziness go away.)
After viewing MizFit's facetime post on Monday about her motivational boards, I came away wanting to be motivated. And since I've already made a board, now I just need to fill it with images and quotes that will help me focus on what I want to become.
I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but I've got to get MizFit on there somehow. Watching her facetime posts are motivating. Get a load of those shoulders and biceps! And she's a mom. Way to go MizFit!
I've spent so long as an overweight housewife that I've almost forgotten how to see myself as anything else. It would seem that some deep introspection and mental imaging is in order. To get me started, I'm going to think out loud about who I see myself becoming. Here goes.
First off, I'm going to become Google's #1 Healthy Housewife.
As a Healthy Housewife I take the time to prepare balanced meals -- meals that contain plenty of protein, vegetables, fruit and a carbohydrate side dish for my family that I don't eat until I've reached my weightloss goal and maintained it for 3 months. I also keep my fridge and cupboards stocked with low-carb foods that are easy to grab on the go. They're not just for me. They're for everyone in my home.
What am I going to do about treats/goodies for the kids? I'll try to buy snacks that don't appeal to me. I'll begin discussing with Hubby the challenges of having foods around that are temptations for me, and that aren't healthy for anyone in our household. I can also stop trying to show love by making/giving/buying my kids treats. There are countless other ways for me to show them love. Raising them to have good eating habits is more loving than passing on bad eating habits to yet another generation.
As a healthy housewife I find time for exercise. It's a priority for me. I don't put the needs of my family above my own needs. I realize that by taking care of myself, I'll be better able to take care of my family members. I relish time spent walking my dog. I find joy (and exercise) in taking walks with my husband and children, one-on-one or as a family. I try to find ways to play with my kids, do engage in the activities they're interested in. I go ice skating with Beans. I play golf with Bug. I pass the volleyball with Loula Belle and play catch during softball season.
I'm out of time for today, but I'm going to give the new me a lot of thought and prayer. (I need to do a better job of including the Lord in my weightloss efforts. His power and support is invaluable. Why do I keep forgetting that?)
-------------------
Daily Menu: October 28, 2008
7:30 AM
peppermint tea
12 pistacios = 1 Tbsp. (1.5)
2 eggs fried in 1 tsp. bacon fat (1)
large tomato, sliced thick (6)
sorbet made with 1 c. frozen triple-berry blend (10.5)
1/2 c. 2% milk (6)
packet Slenda
12:30 PM
1/2 c. low fat cottage cheese (5)
8 oz. non-fat Western Family yogurt sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame (15)
2:00 PM
homemade dill pickle (2)
12 pistacios (1.5)
2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter (4)
2 stalks celery (1.5)
5:40 PM
mozarella/promiscuto/basil roll, 2 1/2 oz. (.5)
salad with 2 bacon slice, diced turkey, ranch dressing (8)
homemade chicken vegetable soup (9)
small Empire apple (15)
7:30 PM
10 stupid, not-very-good, frosted oatmeal cookies (95.5)
==========
Total Net Carbs: 182
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Should've Stayed Off the Scale . . .
I got on the scale this morning. I shouldn't have. (I usually weigh myself on Sunday mornings.) The scale read 188.5, which is what I weighed before I went to visit my doctor at the end of August -- before I started reducing my carbs.
Instead of wallowing in despair and giving up on trying to gain better health through my diet . . . (Notice how I can barely even think about losing weight. It seems almost impossible lately.) I CAN:
Use the number on the scale as feedback. It's telling me that yesterday's Snickers bar, Laffy Taffies and eating in the evening aren't conducive to weight loss. It's also telling me that the limitless carb day of last week has caught up with me.
Weild the power of the pen. If I really want to lose weight, I need to write down what I eat. Every B.L.T. -- bite, lick and taste. It keeps me honest and in control.
Track my carbs. I do best when I'm tracking the net carbs I eat. My goal is to stay under 100 grams and to have those carbohydrates be mostly from dairy, non-starchy vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes and/or nuts and seeds.
Listen to my hunger signals. Instead of the 'head hunger' signals -- the ones that notice the candybars being offered at the PTA meeting and decide they sound good to eat. I need to listen and become atune to physiological signs of hunger and fullness. Then, I'll eat when I'm hungry and stop eating when I'm satisfied.
Enjoy the eating experience! When I actually take the time to eat slowly and savor the flavors, texture and smell of the food I'm eating, I eat less. Also, I need to stop multi-tasking while I eat. No more reading the paper during breakfast. No more munching while reading a book. Eating is a time to eat.
Avoid boredom. An an at-home mom who lives in a house with a great room -- a room that combines the kitchen/dining/living room all in one, I'm always around food. I can keep myself busy by writing, starting/finishing a sewing project, taking the dog for a walk, or calling a friend -- anything to keep me from mindlessly eating because I'm bored.
Forgive myself. No one is perfect. Especially not me. I'm not defined by my failures. If I keep trying, eventually I'll overcome bad eating habits. Dwelling on mistakes doesn't accomplish anything. Instead, I'll learn from them and move on.
And on. And on!
Instead of wallowing in despair and giving up on trying to gain better health through my diet . . . (Notice how I can barely even think about losing weight. It seems almost impossible lately.) I CAN:
Use the number on the scale as feedback. It's telling me that yesterday's Snickers bar, Laffy Taffies and eating in the evening aren't conducive to weight loss. It's also telling me that the limitless carb day of last week has caught up with me.
Weild the power of the pen. If I really want to lose weight, I need to write down what I eat. Every B.L.T. -- bite, lick and taste. It keeps me honest and in control.
Track my carbs. I do best when I'm tracking the net carbs I eat. My goal is to stay under 100 grams and to have those carbohydrates be mostly from dairy, non-starchy vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes and/or nuts and seeds.
Listen to my hunger signals. Instead of the 'head hunger' signals -- the ones that notice the candybars being offered at the PTA meeting and decide they sound good to eat. I need to listen and become atune to physiological signs of hunger and fullness. Then, I'll eat when I'm hungry and stop eating when I'm satisfied.
Enjoy the eating experience! When I actually take the time to eat slowly and savor the flavors, texture and smell of the food I'm eating, I eat less. Also, I need to stop multi-tasking while I eat. No more reading the paper during breakfast. No more munching while reading a book. Eating is a time to eat.
Avoid boredom. An an at-home mom who lives in a house with a great room -- a room that combines the kitchen/dining/living room all in one, I'm always around food. I can keep myself busy by writing, starting/finishing a sewing project, taking the dog for a walk, or calling a friend -- anything to keep me from mindlessly eating because I'm bored.
Forgive myself. No one is perfect. Especially not me. I'm not defined by my failures. If I keep trying, eventually I'll overcome bad eating habits. Dwelling on mistakes doesn't accomplish anything. Instead, I'll learn from them and move on.
And on. And on!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
The upside of falling down . . .
Since I started this new low carbohydrate lifestyle at the end of August I've had three days of limitless carb consumption. Yesterday was one of those days.
I'm not going to make excuses for myself, and I'm not going to fall permanently off the wagon. In fact, I'm learning that my occasional falls back into old eating habits are highly illustrative of why a low carbohydrate diet is so necessary for my health.
I've learned:
High carb consumption makes me retain water. Lots of water. And water retention makes my joints hurt. Water retention also makes sleep more difficult, not just because I'm a side sleeper and my hips are tender, but also because my hands go tingly and fall asleep -- which wakes me up during the night.
When I eat a lot of carbs I'm more tired and fatigued. When I'm tired and fatigued, I'm snappy and irritable. (I'm a nicer mom on fewer carbs.)
After a binge of carbs -- especially carbs from bread -- I wake up with a stuffy/runny nose. I used to think that I had an allergy to something, and now I'm wondering if it's to wheat in large quantities.
I have 'hot flashes' after a high carb meal and facial flushing. I don't have rosacea, I have high carb rosacea.
The day after a carb-fest I experience carbohydrate cravings. Bad!
There you have it. Learning from mistakes is the upside of falling down.
In other news, I've decided that reading about eating makes me want to eat. And whether it's carbs or protein and fats, eating too much isn't conducive to weight loss. So for the month of October I'm going to stop reading Dr. Phil's weighloss book and books about low-carb living.
I'll simply write down what I eat and count the net carbs. I'm going to try the Dr. Atkins approach and try to stay under 25 net carbs each day. I'm hoping that by jump-starting my weight loss I'll be able to feel energized to walk more and be more active all day.
Life is for living, not for dieting and obsessing about weight.
I'm not going to make excuses for myself, and I'm not going to fall permanently off the wagon. In fact, I'm learning that my occasional falls back into old eating habits are highly illustrative of why a low carbohydrate diet is so necessary for my health.
I've learned:
High carb consumption makes me retain water. Lots of water. And water retention makes my joints hurt. Water retention also makes sleep more difficult, not just because I'm a side sleeper and my hips are tender, but also because my hands go tingly and fall asleep -- which wakes me up during the night.
When I eat a lot of carbs I'm more tired and fatigued. When I'm tired and fatigued, I'm snappy and irritable. (I'm a nicer mom on fewer carbs.)
After a binge of carbs -- especially carbs from bread -- I wake up with a stuffy/runny nose. I used to think that I had an allergy to something, and now I'm wondering if it's to wheat in large quantities.
I have 'hot flashes' after a high carb meal and facial flushing. I don't have rosacea, I have high carb rosacea.
The day after a carb-fest I experience carbohydrate cravings. Bad!
There you have it. Learning from mistakes is the upside of falling down.
In other news, I've decided that reading about eating makes me want to eat. And whether it's carbs or protein and fats, eating too much isn't conducive to weight loss. So for the month of October I'm going to stop reading Dr. Phil's weighloss book and books about low-carb living.
I'll simply write down what I eat and count the net carbs. I'm going to try the Dr. Atkins approach and try to stay under 25 net carbs each day. I'm hoping that by jump-starting my weight loss I'll be able to feel energized to walk more and be more active all day.
Life is for living, not for dieting and obsessing about weight.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Old Habits Die Hard
These are the carb appliances that sit on my kitchen counter. That's two bread makers, a toaster and a rice cooker. I still use them to provide food for my family, but I'm trying hard to limit my carbohydrate intake.
Yesterday I didn't try hard enough. I bought treats for the student council my oldest daughter is on. I ended up eating the treats too (oatmeal cream pies and tootsie rolls -- in quantity). Sigh.
I'm not going to give up. I read/wrote too many quotes yesterday that said that despite my lapse, I only fail if I quit trying.
I learned that handling too many food temptations at once weakens my resolve. Next time I can plan ahead better and assign another mom to bring the treats. And if I do buy/make treats, I need to get one of my kids to hide them somewhere until the other family members come home. Yeah. That's what I'm going to do.
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