sunnyside

  I have been terribly distracted lately. I had the flu and I have discovered Facebook. While I was sick I ate whatever was brought to me and I didn’t hardly move at all, so I gained back a little of what I had lost. And catching up with my friends and family on Facebook has kept me so busy that I haven’t been keeping my food journal. But I’m getting it back together. I didn’t give in to any junk food today and I have reached my exercise goals for the past two days.

  I’m going to get personal here (and upon editing myself it appears this will get dramatic too. Sorry, that’s how I’m feeling right now.). This was a tough week for me. Not only was it that “special week of the month” (I don’t get them every month but when I do it is two special weeks of the month) but work was HELL. I’m talking evaluations and auditors and complications and messes and complaining.  But, you know what?  I did not eat out of emotional termoil. Not even one time.  Even Friday after work. That is the toughest day at my job and usualy when I get home I eat everything in sight. But I didn’t. Maybe I handled Friday so well because even when things were chaos around me I kept a song on my lips (new fave -”In Your Atmosphere”- John Mayer). Maybe it was the new page I’ve added to my daily food log -”Times That I Made Unhealthy Choices” (thanks to Peter Walsh’s book ”Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat”). After last week’s four large cookies with whole milk incident I didn’t have to use those pages at all this week.

  I don’t know what it is but amazing things are hapening to me right now.  After work Friday instead of eating myself into a stupor I went to visit a friend that I hadn’t hung out with since high school. This is a BIG   STEP for ole Homebody, here! We had soooo much fun. Our kids played together and we talked and I got to hold her precious babies and it was wonderful. Why don’t I leave my house more often?! ( fear, depression, complacency) No more excuses!!! And instead of lounging on the couch in front of the TV for hours after work I picked up my guitar. My beloved guitar for which I hadn’t had time since I went full time at work! Excuses!!! Oh how I have missed it! What was I thinking?! And you know how I said it was that time? Well I don’t know about you all but I have never been able to loose weight during that time. I usualy gain a couple of pounds. Not this time! 136, baby!!!

   Last week along with working my full time job, I got close to 10,000 steps a day, and Thursday and Friday after work I baked and decorated birthday cakes for my nephew. I got only restless sleep Friday night due to having to sleep in my daughters room. I worked Saturday morning, went immediately from there to my nephew’s party (11 screaming 6 year olds!) and immediately from there to dinner and a concert with my brother and my dad for his birthday. The concert (Andy McKee) was wonderful BUT he didn’t take the stage until 10:00pm. That’s my normal bed time. I got home around 2:00 the next morning and had to get up at 7:00 am to got o church.  So, by Sunday night guess what I had? That’s right, a cold! Sore throat, stuffy and runny nose, aches and pains. I called in sick Monday and slept for thirteen hours! Did I learn my lesson? You bet.  Something has got to give and next time it’s not going to be my health.  

  I have joined this site because I know that having support can improve a person’s chances of reaching their goals. I have had difficulty finding support from the people in my daily life.  My husband is not supportive because I could weigh 300 pounds and it would be allright with him. While some of my co-workers are on a fitness kick right now, I do not find them to be supportive at all. I have considerably less weight to lose than they do and I guess they feel that I do not need to lose more. My closest friends do not live close.  

  I didn’t have a problem with my weight until I had my babies ( 2, fourteen months apart).  After that, I went from 160 to 143 by watching what I ate and walking every day and cutting out soft drinks. But I have been stuck at around 140 for the past 5 years. It took me a while but I have finaly realized that what I have been doing isn’t going to work for those last 15 or so pounds. I’m trying some new tactics.

1. I weigh every day first thing in the morning and last thing at night so I can see the impact that the days choices have made.

2. My food journal is by the hour and I log what I am “hungry” for ( things like food, water, sleep, sex, quiet, physical comfort, excitement, physical activity, friends, affection, fresh air, information, emotional release) and when I do eat I log what it is. This has really helped me curb my emotional eating.  

3.  I walk at least 10,000 steps a day. I have a desk job so I wake up early in the morning to do some walking, I walk a little on my lunch break, and I walk while I am watching my shows at night, (and I take the long way around the office when I have to get up for something). 

4. I sweat every day either by exercise or in a sauna.

5. I get 8 hours of sleep every night.

6. I thank God for my progress every day (even if the progress is in the form of a lesson such as “yes, I will gain weight if I eat three cupcakes in one day even if I do exercise.”)

7. I take a green tea bath and do a clay belly wrap every few days.  My size and weight do not bother me as much as the flab around my middle. It’s awful when you lay down on your side and your belly puddles like a curtain. The tea baths and belly wraps keep my skin tight. No more skin puddles! 

8. I meditate every day on prayer, deep breathing, and chi.

9. I have been hula-hooping a little every day. It’s fun!

10. And I have joined this site so that I can connect with other people who might be experiencing the same things as I am.

I am optimistic that these changes are permanent.  These things just feel so easy.