The New Me

The top down approach (an idea borrowed from Sandra Ahten, to learn more visit her website.) for me includes my mind and spirit. I like to use the podcasts to help me stay focused. I also visit Spark People frequently to stay abreast of what is going on the world of dieting. I also participate in some of the forums over at Cathe Friedrich's website. For my spirit, I do have a meditation practice.

Have you ever heard or read that idea, "Behave as if." I like it a lot. I apply it in different ways and situations to great effect. In the weight loss arena, I have decided to apply it to my weight loss plan.

I am adjusting my diet plan. For the month of August I followed the 4 meals at 400 calories per day style of calorie allotment. That did work. I lost 2.5 pounds. However, come ttotm, I lost my resolve, and they came back. Since then, I have been battling a very high appetite and a low level of energy. I have decided to adjust my eating plan again. For the next two weeks I plan to eat like this:

Pre Workout Snack: 100 calories, 20 carbs.

Post Workout Meal: 500 calories, up to 20 carbs.

Lunch: 500 calories, up to 10 carbs.

Dinner: 500 calories, up to 10 carbs.

My rotation is designed to produce a 1 pound deficit per week.

6 days/week:

AM workout: 500 cal. burn cardio

PM workout: 100 cal. burn flexibility/strength training or low intensity cardio

My new rotation break down:

Sunday: off

Monday: Jog, Yoga

Tuesday: Cathe Step, Leslie Sansone 3 miles

Wednesday: Jog, Yoga

Thursday: Cathe MMA: Leslie Sansone 3 miles

Friday: Jog, Yoga

Saturday: Cathe Step, Leslie Sansone 3 miles

I am also setting boundaries on this thing. I don't want to become obsessed, I just want to be focused and to produce results. I will only allow myself up to 30 min./day to blog/ read about and think about weight loss. Other things in my life (career!) are equally important and must take precedence the rest of the day.

I would like to be back to where I was before the antibiotics started. Thats about 10 pounds from here. Thats my goal for this year. I would like to lose 10 pounds by Jan. 1, 2010.

Delinquent

Its been a long time since I posted a blog. I haven't been posting cause I figure no body is reading this anyway. But, here is the deal everybody needs some accountability more or less on their weight loss journey, I learned that from Sandra Ahten of The Reasonable Diet Podcast. She is a fabulous life coach and her podcasts have proven to be invaluable to me personally. She is the reason I got started on this journey at all. It is not easy to be at this point. I have been in a plateau for over a year and now with stressors in my life, the pounds have crept up. Well, like in 2007 its time to be honest with myself. Its time to put my calories down on paper. Its time to recognize that there are only 3.5 months left to 2010. I want 2010 to be another year of success on this weight management journey.

In the beginning, I thought I wasn't capable of losing weight at all. Then, once I began to lose weight (30 + in the first year.) I thought I would have attained my goal weight by now.

In the middle, at the 210 mark, I discovered IOWL, the C25K program and Cathe Friedrich. I also discovered calorie cycling. That worked really well for another 30 pounds. Then, that stuck until February of 2009. I became ill twice and was put on antibiotics, twice. I put on 8 pounds with the first round. I got that off. Then, I put on nearly 10 with the second round. That started to come off and they changed my medicine again, and voila, it all came back. Well, now I battle constant sugar cravings where I didn't used to have much. Now, I have to watch everything I put in my mouth. I wake up hungry in the middle of the night and force myself to roll over and go back to sleep. Now, every little bite of chocolate puts visible adipose back on my frame. The drive to eat is there before I am even really awake in the morning.

I must get back into my low carb lifestyle. I have over the month of August, successfully given up ice cream completely, even the ice cream fakes, like yogurt/ice milk etc. The self imposed challenge of Sept. 2010 was a bust. I was trying to give up nuts. I have a very hard time with following portion guidelines with nuts. I just love them too much. I also have a hard time with fruit. I used to be able to have a small serving and walk away, not so much now.

I do think it is my medications. But, could it be age? I am older by three years. nah. its just time to cleanse the old bugs and repopulate with good ones.

I can't forgo my jog. I discovered that without the running, I become depressed, and the weight just creeps up again in spite of being within limits on calories or carbs.

My spirit, my soul, my self all want to be slender now. I don't need that old security blanket anymore. But I find my body tired. I find my mind bored. It takes a lot of personal fortitude to even contemplate the physical work, stamina and emotional oomph to lose weight. Its not the bottom up that is so horribly difficult. The trick is staying on top of your behavior, your mind set and not settling into a momentum black hole.

Inspired by aprovechar

I just found a blog that is new to me, but not really new. Its called 'Aprovechar' and I have been inspired. The author is also on a gluten free diet and has lost a great deal of body fat. She is an excellent writer and very entertaining. Aprovechar

I haven't been posting much because I get the feeling that no one reads this. But, maybe I should just in case some person in need of inspiration finds it in the future. Maybe, if I post it, they will come?

My Diet Pyramid

At the top, pointy end, least amount: Sugars (never), refined carbs, starches, legumes.

Second to the top: Whole fruits, unrefined. Unsalted, raw nuts.

In the middle: Protein sources including fish, foul, and any red meat. Plain yogurt (only in moderation.)

Second from the bottom: Leafy greens, cruciferous (cabbage family), herbs,

At the bottom: Fats. Olive oil, coconut oil, cream.

Ok. So try eating like that for a week and get back to me. Let me know how it goes. By the way, don't restrict calories, you can cycle them if you want, but the idea is to stoke the fires of your metabolism.

Steak

Its whats on the menu when you are a low carber. I had steak and eggs for breakfast with a dash of hot sauce. It was so filling and a great way to start the day. I got lucky, it was a slightly older piece of meat and I got it at 97 cents a pound. It was so tender I could have eaten it raw with a fork, no knife needed. So, the next time you ask yourself, what am I going to eat on a low carb diet, just embrace the steak. Love it.

Do Not Eat!

I am constantly working on and refining the 'do not eat list.' I also have a do eat list which consists of foods which seem to aide or help me in my quest for a healthy body weight and physical fitness. My do not eat list is foods that put weight on my body. Seeing the cause in my journal and the effect on my bathroom scale helps me zero in on the culprit or to be honest with myself about what I'm eating. When you have a list you really can't lie to yourself. You know what to eat and what not to eat. Do keep in mind that physical activity, medications, and stress level can also effect the scale. Watch all your factors for a more comprehensive and reasoned approach to your personalized diet. The truth is that once you know what your eating and when you are or are not losing weight, everything becomes very clear. Thats why I really like the daily weigh in, it helps me know what is going on and when to correct it.

My current lists:

Do Eat:

Fats: Coconut oil, olive oil,

Fresh vegetables: leafy greens, cruciferous,

Fresh fruits: berries, avocado, squash

Chicken, pork, or beef

Chicken broth organic, low sodium.

De-caf herbal tea

Do not eat:

gluten

dairy

rice

nuts (sigh how I love thee, let me count the ways!)

balsamic vinegar

pickled foods

ice cream (any kind!)

snacks that come in a bag (a la chips)

caffeine

processed food

Owning all of my choices

Spark just sent out a journal suggestion. They ask, "When you site back and look at the decisions you've made in your life, are you happy with the route you've paved?" My answer is a resounding yes and no. I was able to try something that most people don't even attempt. I discovered it wasn't for me, at least not in the iteration as it exists now. I also am learning that I am not going to be content in a job that is 'dead end.' That idea has produced this never ending hunger which expresses itself as food hunger but really can't be satisfied with food at all. I am hungry for life and I don't know what to eat (purely metaphorically.)

There are doors that are closed to me because of my being human. I'm not cut out to work 20 hour days. I'm just not. I'm not 18 years old. I need to eat regularly, sleep regularly, and to actually earn a reasonable pay check.

There are personal relationships in my life that trouble me. I'm not always sure what to do or if I should do anything at all. I don't have the rudder I used to have. I always knew what I wanted and I don't have a simple or clear path anymore.

People often say, "We will cross that bridge when come to it." Well. Here is the bridge. Now what? I feel as though I've come across half a dozen forks and I have no idea which way to turn or if I should just turn around.

The intent I will set is that tonight I will sleep well, I will wake rested and assured of what steps to take next. Does that sound good to you?