Friday, November 7, 2008

Maybe I Need a Chief of Staff to Keep Me Focused

Thank you, Lisa L, for the congratulations on my weight loss so far. As I may have mentioned, I'm a bit of an attention whore, and that kind of positive feedback might really help me right now. I'm at a point that I have reached in previous weight loss attempts, the point where I'm losing motivation and on the verge of chucking it all in.

I'm sick to death of my workout routine, and I dread getting out there and doing it. And it's been much harder lately, because I've had some on-going respiratory difficulties ever since my pneumonia incident in September. My knees ache, my back hurts, and I just don't want to jog. Good thing Thumper asks me most mornings: "Dog?" To the untrained ear, that may sound like he wants a puppy just like Sasha and Malia, but really, he's asking to get out into the world and see a few cordles (squirrels), dogs, carsh, tucks, bushes, and mosiles (motorcycles).

I'm sick to death of counting points, too. I think I'm done with that. I'm glad I did it, though, because it was kind of a shocker how over the top my portion sizes were before. I have a better sense of mealtime propriety, now. Without counting, and keeping track of every day's point totals, it's a lot easier to tell myself that it's a special occasion or an anomaly when I eat too much. But I'm certainly not going to count points the rest of my life, and overcoming that little voice in my head that says, "Go ahead, it's just this once," is part of winning the battle that will let me keep a reasonable weight. It's a lesson I'll have to learn eventually.

So, solutions? I'm thinking of getting a bike trailer to strap the boy into so that I can mix up my jogging with some bike riding. The best thing about jogging is that, with the jogging stroller, I can include Thumper in my workout, so that when he's napping, I can use that time for other pursuits. And I like to think that I'm providing him with a good model for physical activity by including him in my exercise routine. Aerie has expressed misgivings about strapping the boy into a bike seat because I have been known to wipe out on my bike now and again. Like the time that I broke my wrist. She feels like a bike trailer might be a little safer, and she may have a point.

As for diet, I don't know. Just keep slogging through, I guess. With the exception of some Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops around Halloween, I really have done a pretty good job at eliminating chocolate candy from my diet. I love M&M's, so this is no small feat. Weight Watchers did show me what a waste it is, when you have only so many calories per day, to commit such a high percentage of them to a nutritionally void treat that will not leave you feeling fuller or more satisfied. And I've demonstrated in the past my inability to engage in moderation when it comes to M&M's, Special Dark, Twix, Kit Kat, Reese's, Watchamacallit, Butterfingers, Milky Way, etc. etc. etc., so succeeding in stopping myself when I pass them in the grocery store is a dietary success. I just need to keep working on saying no when I want to eat that bag of popcorn at 9:30 at night, or to eat a small bowl of pretzels instead of half a bag. I also need to find more creative recipes instead of eating big bowls of pasta because I'm sick of raw sticks of celery and peppers and zucchini and cucumber.

So, onward ho! If I don't go completely off the tracks, and remember the success that I've had and how I did it, maybe I can weather the slump and come out the other side with a renewed sense of motivation. And stop thinking things like, "Only 50 more pounds to go!"

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that once you are aware of what the norm should be for eating habits, then it makes it easier to have control. I'm a mindless eater, so if I don't have the crap in the house, I can't mindlessly eat it. And it also keeps it out of the kids' view of wanting crap all the time. Congrats on the weight loss and keep at it. You've hit the plateau, and now it is time to just buckle down and push through it.

Lisa L said...

Yeah, what livinginagirlsworld said. I know what you mean about counting points..but it is illuminating isn't it? My downfall is the wine after work. Pure, empty calories. I've started walking at lunch time. Each and every day I try and talk myself out of it. But force myself none the less. Being o'weight sucks, and I can't wait to lose 20lbs. Can't wait.

Lisa L said...

Oh, I forgot to mention: Shockingly, I am only allowed 20 lousy poiints a day! The horror!

I, Rodius said...

Thanks, LIAGW! I'll keep at it.

Lisa L, I don't know how women do it at all. If I had to live on the # of points Aerie gets, I'd never make it. Good luck!

Steven Tyler's PJs said...

I concur on the bike trailer - scar on my forehead from riding with my mom will bear that out. Also, my mom stopped eating chocolate entirely, and she says that after a few weeks she stopped craving it. And that was her big weakness too. You might get a Cooking Light cookbook or subscription or a book I have called 1000 Low Fat Chicken Recipes or something like that. Sorry for long rambling note!

I, Rodius said...

Jennie, 1000 low fat chicken recipes sounds like a good idea. We eat a lot of freakin' chicken breast around here. I was given a Rachel Ray cookbook, but I can't bring myself to open it. I'm not sure if she's exactly known for lo-cal type stuff, though. Thanks for the tip!

anniemcq said...

Congrats, friend! you are an inspiration to me. I'm really struggling right now, and not doing very well in the healthy eating department.

As far as biking goes, I can't say enough about it. We had a seat on the back when JH was a toddler, and never had an issue. You ride differently when you are responsible for the fruit of your loins riding with you. He had a helmet, of course.

When he got to big for that, we got a half bike to attach to the bike, so he could "pedal" with us. We still use it when we do the Portland Bridge Pedal.

I agree that doing it with Thumper is a great way to model healthy living. You are such a fantastic Daddy!

I, Rodius said...

Thanks, Ms. McQ. I hope your infection and/or stones are giving you a break.

5.7% over 5 months is hardly Biggest Loser inspirational, but I appreciate the encouragement. I guess I best go jogging tomorrow so I don't keep having "0 of 3" on my goal list.

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