DAY 273 -- Tied to be fit.

Sometimes I eat out of sheer habit rather than hunger.  Habits call out, "Time to eat!" when in reality I need to let hunger make that call.

Tied...to be fit.

Habit wants to reach out and open the fridge when I walk by, so in order to achieve my goal for stickK (to eat only when physically hungry--not heart hungry), I realized I needed a reminder to make me stop and think before reaching for food. I decided to tie a bow around the handles of the refrigerator. (The "bow" is actually a clever crocheted scarf someone gave me.)  Now, untying the bow gives me a chance to reflect, Am I actually hungry?  


Seeing the scarf has stopped me in my tracks more than once as I headed to the fridge.  The tactic works...so far!

DAY 272 -- A line in the sand.

Overeating continues to be a problem for me, and after watching Dr. Oz the other day, and watching Biggest Loser, I realized I needed to draw a line in the sand and knuckle down to put a stop to this.  So I went on-line and put a contract out on myself (so to speak) using stickk.com.  I mentioned stickK in a previous post (click here).


Previously when I set goals on there, I did not commit to any monetary loss, I just did it on my own.  I did fine with my other goals, but not with my overeating.  So this time I put my money where my mouth is:  I will lose $5.00 for each week that I don't make my goal (I set the duration for 4 weeks... which means I could lose up to $20 if I don't mind my Ps and Qs).  For any week that I don't meet my goal, StickK will donate my money to the anti-charity I selected (I won't tell you which charity I chose--they have several options).  Every week that I keep my goal, I keep the money.


StickK is free of charge to register, and as I mentioned, you don't have to do a contract involving money.  You can set any kind of goal that you want when you choose "custom" -- and you can make it for a one time thing or an ongoing thing, plus set how many weeks, or your own deadline.  It's fantastic.  Here's a link to the website... (stickK)  (I learned about stickK.com through Reader's Digest.  It's a reputable site.)


I am really hoping the thought of losing money to a charity I dislike will keep me on track.


I've drawn the line in the sand and I'm determined not to cross over!  

DAY 271 -- Dr. Oz's challenge

Yesterday I was flipping through channels (something I rarely do -- watch television, especially during the daytime) and I happened across the Dr. Oz show.  He was talking about his challenge called Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You.  Anyone can join the program to compete for a million dollars.   


Weight Watchers is offering a complimentary weigh in and certificate (required to compete) until early next week (I'm not sure of the dates).  I don't think a person has to join Weight Watchers (unless they want to), but they are required to have the starting weigh-in certificate and an ending certificate.   Here's the link for more information:  Transformation Nation

I don't plan to compete, but I wanted to pass this information on, in case anyone is interested.

DAY 270 -- Full day, late night.

Just a quick note to let you know I am doing much better.  I'm sorry I don't have a better blog post for today, but I was gone almost all day, arriving home late.  I'm plum tuckered out, but in a good way.

DAY 269 -- Struggles

Today was tough.  It started when I saw a birthday reminder on Facebook for one of my living brothers.  For some reason, that made me miss my deceased brother and I burst into tears!  Crazy how some little thing can trigger those emotions.  The day went downhill from there with me spiraling out of control with overeating.

Tomorrow:  NEW DAY!

DAY 268 -- Food Matters Documentary

"Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine, And Thy Medicine Be Thy Food." - Hippocrates

That is the theme of the documentary "Food Matters."  My husband and I finally watched the video on Netflix.  I found the documentary informative and interesting, and I highly recommend it.   (Here's a link to their website, where you can watch the trailer.)  Those interviewed in the film recommend vitamins, and eating a diet of mostly raw foods.  They claim that most diseases can be cured by good nutrition (which I agree with).  They cite research to back up their claims.

As a student of filmmaking, I want to clarify that information can still be presented in a biased way in a documentary -- especially when they don't give interview time to anyone with an opposing view (which this film is guilty of).  However, with that said, I appreciated when the documentary stressed that people need to be proactive about their own health, and that people are smart enough to figure out what they need, and what will work for them.

In the film, it seemed like most of those interviewed were of the opinion that medical providers do not discuss nutrition with their patients, and that if patients knew about nutrition and health, they would choose that alternative rather than go with a prescription.  That does not seem to be the case, at least not compared to what my husband experiences.  He is a health care provider, and strongly suggests nutritional and natural alternatives to his patients, but they refuse.  They tell him, "Just give me a pill."  They admit they don't want to exercise, and they don't want to bother with meal preparation (making healthy meals).

So, people might be smart enough to figure out what they need, but will many have the motivation or desire to even find out?

DAY 267 -- Best laid dinner plans...

Tonight was a special mother/daughter evening for me.  We rode TRAX (light rail train) to downtown Salt Lake City where we attended a conference (for women).  I planned to treat her to dinner, before the conference, at a trendy cafe called The Blue Lemon; however, when we got off the train and walked to the cafe, we were dismayed to find a tremendous long line coming out the door and down the sidewalk.  We felt we didn't have time to wait that long... and started searching elsewhere for food.  Found a Subway, but it was closed.  Found another sandwich shop, also closed.  (It was 4:30 on a Saturday with a big event going on.  Why would these places be closed???)

My daughter is in the early stages of pregnancy and gets nauseous when she's hungry... things were looking desperate.  I began to wonder if we would have to settle for some chips from the Rite-Aid, but we happened to pass a couple women sitting at a sidewalk table, eating sandwiches.  We looked longingly at their loot and inquired, "Where did you find food?"

"In the bookstore!" They responded, pointing nearby. We scurried inside, only to discover the sandwiches were sold out.

So... we bought a couple large dinner rolls and some bottled milk, then went outside to join the two ladies at the little table.  Bread and milk and conversations with strangers, it really was the beginning of a lovely evening.

DAY 266 -- No leftovers served tonight.

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."    -- Calvin Trillin




My husband has eaten a lot of leftovers lately it seems, yet he hasn't complained, so tonight I am making a surprise for him... rib steak (local grass fed beef), a salad of organic vegetables, and a baked organic potato.  He'll think he's at a royal feast!  

DAY 265 -- Organic milk.

For several years I've been cautious about purchasing milk that is not from cows treated with hormones, which we could usually find at a decent price at the local supermarket as well as Walmart.  Then recently we took a step towards drinking organic milk.  An expensive step -- ouch!  I almost hoped we would not notice a difference in taste, so I could remain content with what we were already drinking.  But nooooo, the organic milk tastes sooooo wonderful!  Now it's hard to go back.

Dang.  What did we start?  :-)

DAY 264 -- "Exhaust"-ed

Taking public transportation is supposed to be healthy for the environment, but after my experience today, I am wondering if it is healthy for me.


I had a doctor appointment today (routine yearly checkup) and decided to take the bus. Walking to the bus stop was healthy, especially since I got to the stop and realized that due to construction, I needed to walk even farther to a different stop so the bus could actually pull over.  


Extra walking.  That's healthy.  


The bus took me to a transfer point, where I boarded another bus, which sat and idled for about 10 minutes before departing.  I breathed exhaust as we waited.


Same thing on the way back home.  Took one bus to the transfer point, sat in an idling bus breathing exhaust for 11 minutes.  Then we got caught in construction traffic and I inhaled even more exhaust from the traffic around us (as well as the bus).


By the time I got home I was feeling ill and had a headache.  


The rest of the day I felt "exhaust"ed.  

DAY 263 -- Food Matters

My niece recommended I check out the website for Food Matters. I've had the documentary by that title on queue with Netflix for several weeks now, but haven't had a chance to watch it.  Now I am even more anxious to view the film.  


I registered on the site to get their newsletter.  Today they had an article about how to kick the sugar habit and avoid cravings.  It was an interesting read, and of course I can relate to what they have to say about sugar addiction.  Here's the link.

DAY 262 -- Hot flashes and the soybean.

Night sweats, hot flashes.  I used to have no problem with those while I was taking an herbal supplement to prevent them, but like a nincompoop, I stopped taking the supplement to see if I still needed it.  


Well, I do!  And even though I started taking the tablets again, I cannot seem to get the flashes back under control.


"Try drinking soy milk," a friend advised.


So I tried.  That stuff tasted nasty!  (Probably because I needed the unsweetened version.)


Then last week while I was at my son's place, I noticed he had edamame in the pod.  Hmm, I thought.  Rather than drink the soy milk, maybe I should just eat the actual soybean!

Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Tammy Green (aka Zesmerelda)

I purchased some over the weekend, and today I tried the edamame, then sent a text to my son complaining about how tough the pod is...I could hardly chew it.  He responded, "We don't eat the pod, just the beans inside."

Oh.

*Embarrassed Grin*  (which triggers a hot flash).

DAY 261 -- White bread woes.

I needed to provide some white bread for someone.  Since I only have whole grain, whole wheat bread, I decided to try the bread maker and make a loaf of white bread to give away.  I bought a package of organic unbleached white bread flour and made a loaf last night.  It didn't turn out very well.  I think it rose too high, then collapsed, then baked.  It tasted wonderful, but was misshapen and unsightly.  I couldn't give it to anyone!  So I made a second loaf, using a recipe for a smaller loaf (1.5 pounds instead of 2) and used less yeast than the recipe called for.

Now I have the first loaf of bread that didn't turn out.  Did I mention it was very tasty?  How do I know this?  Because I've eaten almost the whole blasted thing!!!

From now on, if someone needs white bread I better march to the store and buy a loaf.  No more Mrs. Nice Guy!

DAY 260 -- R.I.P. Herb Plants

On DAY 131 (click here) I reported purchasing a couple herb plants with high hopes they would survive my care.  They did great initially, and I even added a couple more.  Sadly, due to traveling (being gone), the plants were neglected too often and I think they are beyond repair now.  *sniff*  

R.I.P. my little herbs!




(P.S.... I've been way behind on responding to comments, but I think I'm caught up now.)

DAY 259 -- The road ahead.

Today as I drove through Wendover, Nevada, heading east on I-80, I reached a peak where I could see the long road ahead.  Not just any long road, but the highway through the Bonneville Salt Flats.  I felt a twinge of dread.  That straight stretch of road can be soooo boring, and when one is already feeling some fatigue, it can be a drudgery to drive.

The Bonneville Salt Flats 

I reflected on how sometimes when we see the long road ahead in other aspects of our life, it can fill us with doubts, fears, or discouragement.  For some, the thought of starting a diet, or an exercise program, can seem daunting.  It might seem like a long road ahead.  When I started abstinence from sugar, I looked at only one day at a time.  The long road ahead appeared overwhelming or impossible.

There are some roads we would not even take if we could see the end; and some long roads bring us to a point we never dreamed possible.

The long stretch of highway is behind me now.  I made it home, only to discover my house key was not in my purse.  So now I sit at a different long road... the long wait until my husband comes home.

DAY 258 -- Color me hungry.

I recently read The People Code by Dr. Taylor Hartman, which explained how all people have a core motive that drives their decisions and actions.  He identified four motives, each with a color:

Red: power

Blue: intimacy (relationships)

White: peace

Yellow: fun

Every person has one primary core motive, and usually a secondary color influences their personality as well.

The book was extremely insightful and I learned a lot about myself.  Sometimes it was eerie how close he described my personality and quirks!

Dr. Hartman insisted there are only the four motives, but I wondered, could food be a fifth motive?  I swear sometimes I think food is a strong motivating factor in my life.  Invited to a party?  Hmmm.  What are they serving?  Kim’s spicy-peach cheese ball?  Oh yeah, I’m down for that!  Invited to go out to dinner?  What restaurant?  Mandarin House?  Count me in!!  Bored?  Hmmm… what sounds good to eat?  Need to concentrate?  Maybe I should eat first.

In reality though, he's probably right about the four motives, after all, he’s done the study and research.  Food, though, often gets associated with motive.  The winner gets a treat.  (Power!)  Grandma loves you.  Here, have a cookie.  (Intimacy.)  If you two behave, I will give you a treat!  (Peace.)  And… Let’s go to the carnival!  We can get some cotton candy!  (Fun!)

My primary color is Blue (intimacy), and coming in a very close second is Yellow (fun).  I’m thinking perhaps I’ve replaced “fun” with “food.”

But if food could be a fifth motive, I wonder what color it would be?  Today, I’m thinking Green (as in leafy greens) but ten years ago I would have selected Chocolate Brown.

Day 257 -- After things settle down.

Remember when I longed to stay put for a while?  (click here)  Well, right now as I type this I am on a plane bound for Sacramento.  *Sigh*  I will drive back to Utah in a vehicle we purchased from our son.  (We sold our one and only car as a mechanic's special, and we've been using a pickup borrowed from our sister-in-law.)

Sometimes life just doesn’t go exactly as planned, and it really messes with my eating routines.  I find myself living in an “after things settle down” mode.  I will get back into my routines “when things settle down.”  I will pay attention to hunger and fullness “after things settle down.”  My exercise will be consistent again, “when my life gets back in order.”


It amazes me.  Haven't I already learned that lesson over and over and over... that life never settles down?  I have a little sign on my computer that reads:

Write While Under Fire

It's supposed to remind me that I need to make writing a priority, even when things are crazy.  (I struggle with that!!)  I need to apply that to eating healthy too.  It needs to be a priority no matter what.

After things settle down.  Yah, right.  Be gone stupid phrase!  It ain't gonna happen!  Replace that mode of thinking with:

Eat Healthy and Exercise While Under Fire

DAY 256 -- Full plate.

Life is hectic right now, and, sadly, when I have a lot on my plate (so to speak) I usually end up with a lot on my plate (literally).  Overeating rears its ugly head during these times.

Please bear with me.  I hope I will have more time to write tomorrow.

DAY 255 -- Another neglected post.

I've never claimed to be perfect, and these neglected posts confirm that.  Some days just slip by me.

DAY 254 -- Finding Peace

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and I've spent time reflecting on past events... not only of what happened ten years ago, but other times throughout history too.  I recall when my daughter was in high school, she came home one day and asked me what it was like to live in the sixties, with the Hippie movement, the protests, the campus riots, the Vietnam war.  She wondered what it was like to live during that time, and wondered how we kept from being fearful and discouraged.  I pointed out that each generation seems to have, at some point, a horrendous event to deal with.  The bombing of Pearl Harbor.  The assassination of President Kennedy.  Wars.  Rumors of wars.  I assured her that we can find inner peace.  Each generation survives and moves forward, just like her generation will always remember where they were when they heard about the 9/11 attack, but they will also remember how they rallied and moved forward.

This world is full of turmoil and distress, and "world peace" seems impossible at times.  It can bring out the best, or the worst, in us.  So where do we find peace?  I think the following hymn sums it up appropriately:

WHEN FAITH ENDURES

I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God's love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.

(Text: Naomi W. Randall)

DAY 253 -- "Master Chef"

Years ago, I worked part-time in the accounting office of a Country Club.  I remember when I was hired, the office manager gushed over one of the perks for working at the country club: we could eat lunch for free, eating from the buffet prepared by the "Master Chef."

This did seem like a perk at first, until the pounds started accumulating.  And after awhile, I noticed the entrees seemed to taste the same, day in and day out.  Then I began to notice the food deliveries... frozen entrees delivered to the country club kitchen.  Master Chef?  I think "Frozen Food Coordinator" would be a more appropriate title.

It opened my eyes, and made me realize that most restaurants are not serving freshly prepared foods, but are just coordinating the frozen meals, shipped from who knows where.  

Now I wonder about the "Master Chef."  I picture him graduating with honors, full of dreams of opening his own restaurant and receiving rave reviews for the delightful delicacies he creates with the finest, freshest ingredients, then finds himself working as a "Frozen Food Coordinator" at a country club, (or any major restaurant, actually), thinking, "I went to culinary school for this??"

DAY 252 -- Use monotony to eat less? Really?

There are lots of diet tips available and some ring true to me while others make me smack my head and wonder, are you kidding me?  Today I read an article that was a real head-slapper on the Real Age website titled Control Appetite with Repetition.  The author recommended eating the same foods for breakfast or lunch every day.  That's right.  The same meal every day, day in, day out.  The theory is that the monotony brings a reduction in appetite.  So does being slugged in the stomach, but I don't think that's a good diet plan either.

Here's some flaws in the monotonous system:  

• Eating the same foods every day does not give a person the variety in nutrition needed.  We need a wide variety of foods to get the vitamins and minerals our bodies require.  Eating the same foods over and over can actually lead to illness.
• I find it doubtful that a person could continue eating that way the rest of their life.  So what if you lose a few pounds by eating monotonously, as soon as you stop eating that way the pounds will come back on.  
• Mealtime should be an enjoyable time, not a drudgery of repetitive meals.  

As a compulsive overeater, I am all for eating less at mealtime, and all for little tricks that help me push the plate away, but this is one "diet tip" I will not bother with.  

I would love to hear your opinions.  (Check out the article on the link I provided above.)

DAY 251 -- Recommendations for energy.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend Education Week at the BYU campus.  They offered a wide variety of classes/lectures on topics ranging from parenting, to art appreciation, to scripture study, to physical health...

One class I selected dealt with creating personal energy, taught by E. Jeffrey Hill.  He had a bullet list of various things we can do to get, and maintain, energy; and I found it interesting that food was one of the first things he mentioned.  He feels strongly about eating healthy balanced foods, and told the class how he used to never concern himself with eating vegetables and fruits or eating healthy in general.  Then he lost his wife to cancer, and when he began to study about nutrition he learned that people can reduce, by 50%, their chance of getting cancer just by eating vegetables and fruits.  He admonished us to please eat healthy so that we can perhaps prevent leaving our loved ones behind prematurely.

I know this post is a little long, but I figured if you are like me and want (or need) more energy, you might want to read the bullet list of advice given during his lecture:

• Eat energy creating foods at energy creating times.
• Start your day with breakfast.
• Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods (esp. fruits and vegetables).
• Don't drink soda.
• Eat regular meals with the family.
• Make mealtime a pleasant time (not a time to talk about problems).
• Watch portion sizes.
• Avoid heavy, late-night meals.
• [And I add "drink plenty of water"]
• Get more energy-renewing sleep.
• Avoid exercise, stimulants, heavy meals, and bright lights before bedtime.
• Don't go to bed hungry.
• Have a regular bedtime routine (such as, check the doors, brush & floss teeth, put out your clothes for the next day...whatever you do to prepare for bed, do it routinely each night).
• Keep regular sleep hours: go to bed and get up at the same time each day.
• Sleep in a dark, cool, quiet place.
• Don't try to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes.  Get up and do something until drowsy, then do the bedtime routine over again.
• Engage in more energy-enhancing exercise.
• Start by warming up.
• Remember that exercise energizes.
• Do something that you love that raises your heart rate.
• Variety is the spice of life.
• Exercise with a family member.
• Set a time, and set a goal.
• Laugh more frequently: It generates energy.
• Humor disarms tension.
• Laughing together improves relationships.
• Play with children; it often begets laughter.  (Children laugh 400 times per day, vs. just 15 times a day for adults.)
• Jokes at the dinner table aid digestion.
• Do something unusual, outlandish.
• Remember:  Calamities + Time = Humor (learn to look back and laugh at incidents -- or better yet, learn to find the humor in current situations)
• Think your way to energy.  Our thoughts have more influence than environment when it comes to energy.
• Choose to think grateful thoughts.  Look for the good.
• Think slightly, unrealistically optimistic thoughts.
• Positive mind reading in your thoughts, give others the benefit of the doubt.
• Think of negative situations as...
• Opportunities for growth
• Stepping stones
• Temporary
• Avoid A.N.T.s (Automatic Negative Thoughts.)
• Always/Never type of thinking (... that always happens to me, I never get to...)
• Focusing too much on the negative
• Fortune telling/terribilizing (thinking we know what lies ahead, and it's terrible!)
• Negative mind reading (assuming others think badly about us)
• Thinking with negative emotions
• Tyranny of the "shoulds" (I should do this, I should do that) [gulp...guilty!!]
• Labeling/blaming
• Personalizing (taking things personal)
• Engage in more energy-enhancing social interaction.
• Greet people by name.
• Be courteous and friendly.
• Engage in conversations about the other person.
• Cultivate friendships.
• Partake more frequently of energy-creating spiritual renewal.
• Pray
• Ponder
• Study scriptures
• Fast
• Meditate

H

DAY 250 -- Fresh peaches.

We went to my sister-in-law's to borrow a vehicle, and while we were there, we snitched a few peaches off her tree!  (I fessed up later, though!)  Kurt and I shared a peach tonight for a snack and I recalled a roommate who had never eaten a fresh peach in her life (to that point).  My other roommate and I decided to give Jeannie her first taste of fresh peaches.  She didn't like them.  She was so used to canned peaches that the fresh ones tasted strange to her.


I wonder if she ever learned to enjoy the fresh version.  I still think she's missing out!

DAY 249 -- Chewing over car problems.

I don't have anything to post today.  I've been chewing over car problems and can hardly think of anything else.

DAY 248 -- Staying put...I hope.

I just returned from yet another road trip, and now I'm ready to stay put for awhile.  Made a trip to Reno and Sacramento over the weekend.  I'm bushed.

Did pretty good with my eating, initially, then it all fell apart.  Let's just say I'm looking forward to going to Zumba tomorrow morning.  I need to work off some food, and get my blood flowing (after sitting in the car for so long!).

DAY 247 -- Fun Quote

Quoting Jay Leno:

"Scientists say they have isolated the obesity gene and that this will lead to new drugs to combat obesity.  Thank God.  I was worrying I would have to eat right and exercise.  Whew."   

DAY 246 -- Comparisons

This morning as I used a treadmill at the fitness room, someone was using a treadmill next to me.  Usually I am alone.  I found it hard not to peek over at her panel and see the incline (lower than mine) and her speed... a constant run.  I was walking, with running intervals.  Her speed was .5 higher than my run.  Her age about 30 years younger.

I laughed inwardly at my desire to glance at her panel.  I cannot compete with young whipper snappers, nor do I want to.  I hoped that my pace helped her feel good about herself.  I hoped that she would feel determined to keep exercising and staying fit so she would not be an overweight middle aged woman on a treadmill taking glances at her neighbor.

I applaud myself for being there at all, in a fitness room with other people.  There was a time in my life that I would not exercise in front of others.

Reflecting on how it's easy to compare myself to others, I thought of how it's taken me years to get comfortable with myself.  Years to learn what works for me... what foods... what exercises... what routines.  There's freedom in letting go of comparisons, finding that niche, and competing only with myself.

It worked again.

Just a note to let you know it worked again.  Realizing I needed to post success or failure on here helped me push my plate away when I reached "full."

DAY 245 -- It worked before...

Once again I am posting about a social eating situation.  It worked before...me posting prior to attending functions, helping me feel a stronger desire to eat with caution so I could report success.  Tonight we are attending a dinner with friends we have not seen in a long time. Their daughter is getting married tomorrow and their family and friends are gathering tonight to eat a catered meal.

It's tougher to go into such situations since I have no idea what will be served, or how it will be served.  Brought to the table?  Buffet style?  I have to mentally prepare myself.  I don't need to sample every single item.  And I don't need to eat beyond the feeling of full.

I will not overeat.
I will not overeat.
I will not overeat.

DAY 244 -- Anniversary

Today marked our 32nd wedding anniversary.  Kurt and I have been together through thick and thin... literally.  I'm so grateful for a spouse who did not ridicule me even when I was at my thickest.  I'm grateful for a spouse who supports me in my endeavors, and even agreed to try My Healthy Eating Challenge for "one month" (then when he saw the benefits, he was hooked!).  Even more grateful he wants to continue eating this way for the rest of our lives.

Here's to our anniversary!  And hoping we have many, many healthy years ahead to celebrate!