Here's my plan for Thursday: B: hi fiber cereal and skim milk S: watermelon and cran juice L: veggie burger with fixings D: trying a mushroom strog. recipe. 2/3 C white rice (I prefer white rice with strog.) and broc.
<<lots of spontaneous stuff and lots of socializing over food>>
This used to be me too Peg and still is to a large extent.
I've done a couple of things that really did work for me. I don't know if this would work in your circle but I figured I'd put it out there.
1. I've been very clear with my friends about my weight loss/maintenance goals.
In the beginning it was hard because people who knew me for a long while had seen me on/off diets my whole life but once I stuck with my mantra, the pressure of having dessert or sharing an appetizer disappeared (at least external pressure from friends/family ; ).
2. I do lots of non-food socialization.
I walk or hike with friends, meet for tea at someone's house (and we just drink tea and nothing else), we get together after dinner.
3. I'm selective about where I will go out to eat with friends. I thought it would bug some people but in reality my friends are really supportive of me in my efforts to stay healthy and don't really care if we go to lunch at the local place who will make my salad and veggie wrap just "right" vs TGI Fridays.
4. I have really embodied Cathy's (Cobismom) mantra from years ago - that get together are about getting together and not about the food.
Hope you don't mind me sharing what works for me.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Wednesday actuals: B: Autumn harvest, blueberries, milk, chai S: None L: Veggie chili, whole grain crackers, grape tomatoes S: Popcorn (a couple of handfuls that didn't pop up well, threw the rest away), had some tomatoes and cucumbers w/a splash of balsamic when I got home because dinner wasn't going to be for at least an hour D: Basically stuck with my plan except they ordered an appetizer and desserts. I only had 3 pieces of the appetizer and two small bits of dessert (lots of pressure to join them). I also had salad instead of soup because he just assumed we all wanted salad. Only 1 breadstick since I had the appetizer and I brought 1/2 the meal home. Exercise: No, just got back home, service was reaaaaaly slow tonight Water: Good Good/Better/Best: See dinner...one giant exercise in good/better/best. Me time: Really nice to connect with the friends
4/5 day 17/20 week
Thursday plan: B: Autumn harvest, blueberries, milk, tea S: Fruit if I want it L: Veggie chili, big spinach salad w/tomato, carrots, cucumbers, whole grain crackers S: Veggies and hummus D: Going out again. This one has been on the calendar for a few weeks.They have small plates there so I'll try to keep it to a dull roar but nothing looks very light on the menu. It's a nicer place though so portions will probably be more reasonable. Exercise: Really must get out for 30 min at lunch I guess. Going straight to dinner after work.
Now I'm remembering how I got so off course. This is the way my life is and the way I really do want it to be...lots of spontaneous stuff and lots of socializing over food. I don't really enjoy feeling so constrained like I did tonight although I didn't dislike the things I chose to eat. It's just the feeling of being so conscious of everything and really being deliberate. It's socially uncomfortable to be the only one that doesn't order a dessert or something like that and it's just something that doesn't sit easily for me. More to think about and keep trying new strategies.
Have a change for dinner and I'm posting here for accountability. A friend called and wants to go to Olive Garden. I want to see her and her mom, not so crazy about the restaurant choice but she didn't ask, they had their plan. went online and decided I could do either the chicken or pork dish off their healthy menu w/minestrone soup or salad w/dressing on the side and no more than 2 breadsticks although one would be better.
B: Autumn harvest, blueberries, chai S: none L: Friends were willing to do something besides pizza so we went to the soup/salad place. I had a shrimp salad flatbread sandwich and a cup of veggie broth based soup. S: Light popcorn D: Sweet potato veggie chili w/a bit of light sour cream, small blueberry muffin Exercise: None Water: Ok Me time: Going to read a magazine for a bit Good/Better/Best: Got something besides pizza for lunch, had snack in afternoon so I wasn't beyond starving on the way home 4/5 points 13/15 week
Wednesday plan: B: oatmeal with flax and yogurt S: raspberries and cran juice L: last of the leftovers! S: skim milk tea D: 1 c peanut noodles and 1 cup veggies. (I am trying to make the spicy peanut noodles with far less fat and lots of flavor... we'll see.)
My calories are looking better today- they were too low Tuesday.
Monday actuals: B: Autumn harvest, blueberries, tea S: None, was running around L: Spinach, yellow pepper and tomato frittata w/frozen hashbrowns, tea S: Ate a bite of the Lara bar I was carrying around D: Of course, we went out. We went to a great Cuban restaurant. I had a cuban sandwich (beef, ham, cheese) that I ate 1/2 of and had fried plantains. It was yummy...it was indulgent. Exercise: Walked around the botanical gardens for 3 hours. Water: I need to get at least one more glass down before bed I think...no sweat Me time: An afternoon of leisure with a friend Good/Better/Best: No alcohol with dinner even though I LOVE mojitos, made sure there were 3 servings of veggies w/lunch by measuring, really wanted a chai this morning but didn't stop for one when I was out and about
5/5 day 9/10 week
Tuesday plan: B: Autumn harvest, blueberries, chai S: Probably none L: Going to bail out on pizza and take lunch. Veggie chili I made today, whole grain crackers S: Cucumbers/Baby Carrots w/sesame dip D: Veggie sandwich: Hummus, carrots, avocado, cucumber, roasted pepper in whole wheat pita, fruit, sunchips Exercise: Commute day...usually not but might try some yoga tomorrow night
Sunday actuals: B: Autumn harvest w/blueberries, milk, tea S: 1/2 Lara bar, tea L: Almond butter and jelly sandwich, chips, iced tea S: A little dessert bowl of the chinese leftovers from last night D: They served Qdoba taco bar. I had 2 bean, rice and chicken soft tacos w/some lettuce, cheese, pico, guac and sour cream, a few chips, and the hostess handed me a melting piece of ice cream cake without really offering an option to skip it so I ate it. Exercise: I felt really rushed for time between events and didn't get the walk in. Good/Better/Best: Didn't eat a whole bunch of chips and guacamole, only 1/2 the Lara bar, drank water not wine at the party Me time: Definitely need to go do that right now. Sort of a stressful day but probably not really, just feels that way Water: In good shape 4/5 point day
Monday plan: B: Autumn harvest, blueberries, tea S: I have a ton of fruit to choose from L: Spinach and tomato frittata, slice of toast S: Will be out and about with a friend so not sure. Will think about if there is a good snack to bring. D: Going to put a vegetarian chili in the crockpot but might wind up eating out with the friend. She won't eat this chili with me. I intentionally set up the plans to happen after lunch so I wouldn't wind up with 2 meals out. I'll eat the chili the rest of the week though. Exercise: Going to do at least 30 min in the morning
Saturday actuals: B: Autumn Harvest, craisins, milk, tea S: Chai L: We went to Red Robin and we split a BBQ chicken wrap thing and I had fries w/that. Better than eating the whole thing which I'm sure I would've done if it had been put in front of me. We were all starving and scarfing down our food. S: None D: We ordered chinese. I ordered their 'healthy rice' dish which I don't know about being healthy but it is probably better than avg. It is brown rice with chicken and a fair number of veggies w/a really spicy seasoning. I had that and a little wonton soup, 2 crab cheese wontons, an almond cookie and a fortune cookie. Didn't eat myself too full. Exercise: We took a walk...I didn't look at my watch but I'm going to count it. I think it was about 15 min or just under. Water: In good shape Me time: Time with my best friend for the first time in tooooo long Good/better/best: Split the lunch @ my suggestion, skipped the fried chicken dish that came with the Chinese, stopped eating dinner when I wasn't feeling quite full and waited before having more and I was full afterall. 5/5 day 33/30 week Reward earned!
Sunday plan: B: Autumn harvest w/blueberries, milk, tea S: Lara bar, tea L: Almond butter and jelly sandwich, chips, carrots, iced tea S/D: Going to a family baby welcome function. Will try to stick with best/better choices and skip dessert unless it is something homemade (unlikely given other occasions) S: If dinner wasn't too complete (not at all sure what they are serving) will have a scrambled egg with spinach when I get home Exercise: 5k or 10k walk depending on time (going to do another volksmarch)
B: Autumn harvest, banana, tea S: None (I'm out of chai at home so I'm not going to buy any for a while) L: Bean soup, blueberry muffin S: None D: Salmon burger on ww bun w/film of mayo, 1/2 serving of baked beans, big salad with a serving each of carrots and cucs Exercise: Going to do yoga as soon as I'm done Water: In good shape Me time: Good healthy living processing today Good/Better/Best: Measured my veggies out to make sure I really had 3 servings at dinner.
5/5 point day 28/30 point day
Saturday Plan: B: Autumn Harvest, craisins, milk, tea S: Chai between soccer and baseball games I'm going too. I'll need the caffeine for the baseball game! LOL L: Out somewhere with friends. She's trying to eat healthy too so hopefully that will help us pick something sort of healthy that the 10 year olds will eat too. S: Probably none D: Not sure if I'll still be with friends but if not, I'll stop at store, do my shopping and pick up a roasted chicken, a roll and some sort of veggie side to go with it. Exercise: Hope I can get my friend to take a walk with me. If not, at least a short walk when I get home.
Not a good day food wise with snack - had chips and chocolate. I did get in a 4 mile run, a 3 mile hike and mowed the lawn though. I need to get back to eating healthy snacks!
Tomorrow's plan: B: whole wheat bagel with cream cheese L: halibut cheeks and salad S: YOGURT!!!! D: out at the ball game. I'll be looking to do a salad and appetizer, 1 beer max.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Thursday actuals: B: Autumn harvest, banana, tea S: None L: Quesadilla w/refried black beans, cheese, lots of salsa, a little sour cream, tea S: Edamame D: Mahi Mahi, rice, roasted carrots, piece of chocolate for dessert Exercise: pried myself off the couch to get a 15 min walk in but glad I at least did that Water: In good shape Me time: Vegged out on couch for wayyyyy too long Good/Better/Best: I desperately wanted something else (namely fried chicken sandwich and fries) for lunch but managed to convince myself to stay put. I think I really just wanted to get out of the house and away from my job...I settled for lunch on my deck.
5/5 day 23/25 point week
B: Autumn harvest, banana, tea S: Chai L: Bean soup, blueberry muffin S: Baby Carrots D: Will have to go to the store and get something. I see pork chops are on sale so maybe I'll do that. need to menu plan and get a grocery list together and should probably go after work tomorrow night because the weekend is looking a little crazy Exercise: <sigh> Will get 15 min of something in at some point in the day but not sure what/when right now.
I feel sort of out of steam on this stuff tonight. Woohoo...a whole 11 days and I'm already chafing. This is not a good sign...hopefully some sleep will help.
On plan day today with just a minor substitution which was a wash calorie wise.
Plan for Friday: E: run and a walk (weather permitting) B: usual eng. muffin L: veggie sandwich S: lf yogurt D: soft shelled crab if they have it or another type of fish, green beans and a tomato salad.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Jill, I was thinking that exact thing last night. I only do that commute 2x per week so I just have to get my groove going and make sure I have something I'll actually eat. Thanks for the thought.
Wednesday actuals: B: Kashi autumn harvest, 1/2 banana, chai (I swear the car drove itself there! LOL Old habits die hard!) S: None L: Teriyaki Chicken, rice, salad S: None D: Almond butter and jelly on ww, sunchips, baby carrots S: 2 molasses cookies Exercise: 20 min of yoga Water: I'm good Me time: Going up to listen to a podcast when done here Good/Better/Best: Exercised when I REALLY didn't want to and didn't drive through when I seriously thought about it
5/5 day 18/20 point week
Thursday plan: B: Autumn harvest, banana, tea S: Pineapple L: Teriyaki chicken 'taco' S: Baby carrots D: Mahi Mahi, rice, green beans Exercise: would like to say I'll get up but who am I kidding? I'll plan a bike ride before dinner instead.
Peg
eta snack I had after I logged off.This message has been edited. Last edited by: p7eggyc,
Wednesday was better but not perfect. I had a 100 calorie snack after my run. I ran 7 miles, 1 more mile than planned so I'm considering it a wash in terms of calories in/out.
My plan for tomorrow is similar to today's with the addition of a low fat yogurt for snack and dinner of another salad but with a hard boiled egg added.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
S: none, too busy...was STARVING on way home. Must stop doing that
Peg
Peg-try keeping granola bars, nuts, whole grain tortilla chips, or maybe some of those Stacy's pita chips or something non-perishable in your car. I used to always keep sunflower seeds or granola bars in my car for those after hours times when I was starving. I now stop at home when I drop my dd off after school and grab a snack.
Jill
I have no specific goal(s) right now. I am trying to find the spiritual side of myself that I lost somewhere along the way.
