Hi,
I take lots of supplements every day. I have even made a chart of them so when I go to the doctor's office I don't have to spend ten minutes reciting what I take while the nurse writes it down.
I have said that, in order to say this: If the supplements matter.... why would the food not matter?
If we truly believe that ingesting a pill prescribed by our doctors, or a supplement recommended by them, will have a beneficial effect on our physical well being... why does it not follow that the food we eat affects our physical well being, also? After all they are going to the same place: our bodies.
What we put in our bodies matters. What we eat, drink, take, and swallow will eventually do something, either good or detrimental, to our body in both small and large ways. Water quenches our thirst, while sweet beverages only seem to coat the tongue. Food nourishes us, or irritates us.
What I consume will affect my body in some way. Why must my desire be for food that I know will do me harm? Why do I not have a craving for fresh raw veggies instead of frozen yogurt or mac and cheese?
I must admit that I have, on occasion, craved a salad or some raw veggies -- especially when I have not had any for a while. After my body feels stuffed and bloated and out of sorts from eating processed food for a period of time, then I do actually crave the light healthy satisfying feeling of fresh raw salad.
Sometimes I wonder why I need to be reminded of these things so often. Why do I seem to wake up every day in a rut? Is it the fog of addiction? Or is it simply the fog of being human?
What is discipline and how do you do it? Why do you do it? What keeps you doing it?
Asking questions is a way of thinking. I'm not looking for "answers" like on a test. I am attempting to wake me up from my most recent stupor.
I logged into my blog tonight with the thoughts about supplements and food on my mind but when I pushed the "view blog" button, it seemed to randomly choose to take me to an old post which I read as if it were from some other author. What a reminder. What a slice of my own life it was. It was the entry for "Day 53" and it was refreshing to me.
I don't know what it is like to be someone else. I envy the people I read about or see on a TV program who always eat right and always exercise right. Or are they not telling us something? I envy those who have successfully lowered their weight and no longer struggle, because they have really incorporated a new lifestyle of eating right and exercising into their daily activities.
Someone who does the same healthy routine every day.
I do have a routine but it feels like it is born of habit rather more than purpose, yet I do have a purpose. But is it not the "habits" that define a lifestyle and bring us to our purpose?
I'm glad to have the habit of recording my personal statistics every day. I check my weight. I test my blood sugar. I take my blood pressure. I examine my ankles for swelling. I look to see how much pain I have in my neck and head or in my low back. I have a simple system of recording this information daily. I take my supplements and then the day begins.
I also have the exercise habit going pretty well, now. I really do aquatic exercise three times a week for at least 30 minutes and often for 40 minutes and if some holiday is going to interfere I make the adjustments needed to get there the three times I believe is good for me. I like the exercise. I like the water. I crave it.
So I do have those two things going for me currently. I just need to get back on the proper food band wagon again. I got off it with the "7 day" program I tried. For the first six days I ate properly (veggies and protein) and on the seventh day I ate two high carb meals. That was it for me. I have had a really hard time getting back to the Six Day Program and have been seeking to include carbs nearly every day. Wow. Strong Addiction!!
Well... I do have a salad in the fridge at this very moment. I have eaten two salads today. Tomorrow is the day before Thanksgiving and I want to eat right. Thanksgiving is going to be whatever is at my friends' house that I've been invited to. I am bringing the dressing. It is the only time in the year that I make it, and I want it to be special. I don't want to waste a high carb day on carbs that I don't really like, but crave when I see them, anyway.
What a system. The plan at the moment is that the day after Thanksgiving I go right back to the raw veggies and protein. After having read another one of my posts, and thinking about the condition of my body after having done a higher amount of protein than normal and not liking the results, I have decided to cut back some on the protein and increase the veggies. I think 80/20 will be a better ratio for me.
When focusing on this stuff, I need to be reminded of all the things I am thankful for and that this matters but it is not the "Main Thing"
God is the Main Thing. Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Marcia
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Right Actions Matter.
I did not used to really trust that God was looking out for me. I know better now. He has looked out for my finances, and my safety, and my health, and He has blessed me. I am thankful for all He has done for me and all He has given me. We plant, but God gives the increase!!
I used to do the stuff that gradually allowed me to put on weight. Now I do the stuff that gradually takes weight off of me, and strengthens my body and my soul. I can actually see myself getting smaller in width and am liking the very real possibilities of this. I actually had a thought today that began with, "When I get to 299." Praise the Lord!!
Day by day. Choice by choice. Experiment by experiment I am not only learning but living in a different direction. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? God has given me a new destination. Thank you, Lord!
I think the best part of this new direction is that I am no longer doomed to obesity. It used to be an albatross around my neck that I could not get rid of. It is so odd that doing something different has given me a different view point. I had not realized that "actions speak louder than words" could mean a new direction for my life. Taking the actions has given me new hope. I always thought you had to have hope to take action. But that was wrong. It is the action that gives you hope. Amen!! Actions always produce results of some kind, and new actions produce new results that can give you new ideas and new destinations. Right actions matter.
As I drove down the road today I noticed a young heavy set woman walking across a grassy yard with a toddler by the hand. I thought about my reaction to the scene before me and realized that I had not judged the young woman for being over weight. It simply had not happened. She was alive and taking care of the little one. I immediately felt a connection with her and empathy for her. She reminded me of times in my own life when I had done similar things. The word "pretty" never entered in. It just really did not matter. In fact it was some how relevant to maturity that the superficial had fallen unnoticed out of the picture. Pretty had become irrelevant. I'm glad!
I'm not sure I can convey what the difference was, but there was definitely a difference in how I "related" to her. She was young. She was normal. She had a moderately large belly. She appeared healthy and she was simply walking along with the little one as he looked all around himself at the scene before him. She guided him and protected him. She was a lovely life and picture of womanhood. She was responsible and walking towards whatever goal or destination she had in mind. She mattered. The child mattered. Nothing else mattered.
Later, when I realized I'm living in a new direction, I thought about how Paul, the Apostle, always kept his eye on the prize of the upward call of life in Jesus Christ. It seems that that is part of what made him able to accomplish all that he did for Christ and in Christ. He kept his eyes on Christ.
I thought about the words that I had written on a post-it and stuck to the edge of my monitor that say: "Keep your goals in front of you. Sometimes to reach goals you have to do very difficult things." I heard that as I watched an episode of the TV show "Heavy" as one of the trainers talked to one of the participants and I wanted to remember them because they are relevant to me. I get it.
My Pastor always air hugs me and tells me he loves me. Every time I go to church. It does not matter that he says that to everyone -- when he says it to me, my heart is always touched. I want to start giving back by pointing out something from his preaching that touches me. I'm usually too rushed, too shy, and too tongue-tied to say anything more than "thank you." (It is always easier for me to write than to do unprepared or spontaneous speaking. I'm horrible at toasts.)
It may sound weird but I think that one of the main things that has been keeping me on track -- and allowing me to get back on track when I fall off -- is the daily journaling about what I eat and the exercise that I do -- or don't do. That written record keeps it real for me. I love my charts because they remind me what to look at.
I read recently about a study that proved that even if a dieter has no specific goal in mind, if they keep a daily diary of what they are eating, they are more successful at weight loss.
It works for me.
For what it is worth... Just wanted to record these thoughts and share them with you.
Be back soon,
Marcia
I used to do the stuff that gradually allowed me to put on weight. Now I do the stuff that gradually takes weight off of me, and strengthens my body and my soul. I can actually see myself getting smaller in width and am liking the very real possibilities of this. I actually had a thought today that began with, "When I get to 299." Praise the Lord!!
Day by day. Choice by choice. Experiment by experiment I am not only learning but living in a different direction. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? God has given me a new destination. Thank you, Lord!
I think the best part of this new direction is that I am no longer doomed to obesity. It used to be an albatross around my neck that I could not get rid of. It is so odd that doing something different has given me a different view point. I had not realized that "actions speak louder than words" could mean a new direction for my life. Taking the actions has given me new hope. I always thought you had to have hope to take action. But that was wrong. It is the action that gives you hope. Amen!! Actions always produce results of some kind, and new actions produce new results that can give you new ideas and new destinations. Right actions matter.
As I drove down the road today I noticed a young heavy set woman walking across a grassy yard with a toddler by the hand. I thought about my reaction to the scene before me and realized that I had not judged the young woman for being over weight. It simply had not happened. She was alive and taking care of the little one. I immediately felt a connection with her and empathy for her. She reminded me of times in my own life when I had done similar things. The word "pretty" never entered in. It just really did not matter. In fact it was some how relevant to maturity that the superficial had fallen unnoticed out of the picture. Pretty had become irrelevant. I'm glad!
I'm not sure I can convey what the difference was, but there was definitely a difference in how I "related" to her. She was young. She was normal. She had a moderately large belly. She appeared healthy and she was simply walking along with the little one as he looked all around himself at the scene before him. She guided him and protected him. She was a lovely life and picture of womanhood. She was responsible and walking towards whatever goal or destination she had in mind. She mattered. The child mattered. Nothing else mattered.
Later, when I realized I'm living in a new direction, I thought about how Paul, the Apostle, always kept his eye on the prize of the upward call of life in Jesus Christ. It seems that that is part of what made him able to accomplish all that he did for Christ and in Christ. He kept his eyes on Christ.
I thought about the words that I had written on a post-it and stuck to the edge of my monitor that say: "Keep your goals in front of you. Sometimes to reach goals you have to do very difficult things." I heard that as I watched an episode of the TV show "Heavy" as one of the trainers talked to one of the participants and I wanted to remember them because they are relevant to me. I get it.
My Pastor always air hugs me and tells me he loves me. Every time I go to church. It does not matter that he says that to everyone -- when he says it to me, my heart is always touched. I want to start giving back by pointing out something from his preaching that touches me. I'm usually too rushed, too shy, and too tongue-tied to say anything more than "thank you." (It is always easier for me to write than to do unprepared or spontaneous speaking. I'm horrible at toasts.)
It may sound weird but I think that one of the main things that has been keeping me on track -- and allowing me to get back on track when I fall off -- is the daily journaling about what I eat and the exercise that I do -- or don't do. That written record keeps it real for me. I love my charts because they remind me what to look at.
I read recently about a study that proved that even if a dieter has no specific goal in mind, if they keep a daily diary of what they are eating, they are more successful at weight loss.
It works for me.
For what it is worth... Just wanted to record these thoughts and share them with you.
Be back soon,
Marcia
I'm still here. I'm still going to the pool and exercising three times a week. I've lost about 30 pounds now and I am still learning. My blood pressure is slowly coming down and I'm also employing some relaxation moments to help my BP readings.
The relaxation exercise done just before taking my reading has really helped to get my BP down lower than it was. I'm finding numbers like 148/85 again, and I'm glad. What I do, is close my eyes and "look" inside my body with the idea of relaxing in mind. I take a few slow deep breaths, and let my shoulders drop. I am usually holding them up. Then I let my jaw un-pry itself and drop down enough to relax and let go. Then I look kind of deep inside the trunk and let go the abdominal muscles. I can feel the relaxation spreading. Most of the "holding" that I do is in the jaw, shoulders, and trunk and it really feels good to relax for a space of time. I can see that I need to do this periodically throughout the day... and it always feels good.
Today I've been reading and listening to some expert bodybuilder-types named Joel Marion and Craig Ballentyne who have some very interesting things to say about fat loss, when to eat carbohydrates, and the best way to exercise to keep your body burning fat for 24-48 hours after your workout. (If you are interested, the link to their free download is here: http://247fatloss.com/rptdwnld.html)
As usual they are selling their workout videos, but they are also sharing some interesting information that might make a difference on a fat loss program. One of the things they talked about, that really perked up my ears, was about the hormone called leptin. If my understanding of what they said was correct, Leptin is the thing in the body that allows you to burn fat because it affects your metabolism. When you have an adequate supply of leptin, your body will burn fat and you will lose weight, with the opposite also being true that without it, you won't burn fat because your metabolism has slowed down.
They gave an example of how the loss of leptin shows up when you are on a diet -- and they also have a surprising way to restore your leptin and increase your fat loss. The example they used was one that every dieter is familiar with. When you first undertake to reduce your weight and go on a diet, the first week is always a very good fat loss week. The second week you still lose weight, but not as much, and by the third week things begin to slow down to a crawl. As time passes you may even hit a plateau and the frustration that comes with it from still following the program you are on, but not getting any results.
They said the problem is that as you diet, and reduce calories and carbs, your levels of leptin (and your metabolism) begin to go down also, meaning the ability to burn fat is getting weaker. They have a very surprising solution to replenish your leptin and keep your fat loss metabolism at its optimum. They suggest that once every seven days you have an "overfeeding" day on which you eat pizza, cake, cookies, whatever carbs you like and this fills up the leptin tank. When the leptin tank is full, you then get back on and continue your weight loss program the next day, and this time, you will lose weight, again because your metabolism has been cranked up.
This one is a carbohydrate addicts dream. I guess you would have to actually to try it out in order to find out if it works in your body or not. And they were not talking about diabetics, so I might think a diabetic would have to do this in a sensible way, too, because I'm not sure it is good to suddenly have a huge blood sugar spike like this. I think the addict (like me) would have to be reminded that this can only be done on the seventh day -- which means it would have to be the same day every week. You could not do it on Monday, then again, on Thursday, then on Monday again -- that would most likely get you really off track.
I think it would really put an ease on social gatherings, too, if you chose, say, Friday as your feeding day. If you are already in the habit of going out with friends on a Friday and eating decadent food with them, you could still do that, then get back on the program and still lose weight over the next six days. You could even eat the donuts at work on a Friday and not bat an eye. How flabbergasted would your friends be to watch you eating like a pig on Friday and still having optimum weight loss each week on your program?
This is still such a strange idea. I have actually heard of this before and used the idea to explain away (to myself) having a high carb day once in a while, but I never really planned a program that included it. Wait... I have a memory from long ago, of reading a book by a very obese man who did this. He lost weight, but when I tried it, it did not work for me. Perhaps this method works differently for the two genders. For men, they may be able to eat wildly the whole day long, but we women may have to be a bit more modest and only eat wildly for one, maybe two, meals on the seventh day. But, hey, if it works, it works. On the other hand, if you try it and it does not work, well then, you have your answer.
I am ramping up to try this out and have chosen Sunday as my Carb day. I chose that day, because that was the last day that I "overfed" and I know I need the six days of eating right in between to make it work. I am a little leary of over feeding for the whole day so I am going to start off with just two meals with carbs on that day. I also think I need to do it more like a "reward meal" from the Carbohydrate Addicts' program than simply bellying up to the macaroni and cheese trough. The CA program suggests eating thirds of veggies, protein, and carbs -- and if you are still hungry to have more of all three. I am not sure if that will defeat the metabolism response that I am going for... it is just so hard to let the guard down and do the carb overfeed for the whole day.
I know, from experience, that one day of high carbs also wants to repeat itself the next day (like it was in charge!) so I don't want to run into that trap either. I'm thinking that it might be better for me if I plan restaurant or fast food meals so I don't have to buy the carbs and have them in my house the rest of the time. Not having the carbs in the house really supports me. I already know that if they are in the house I will reach for them first. Not kidding. I'm an addict and I know it. If I find this new twist does not work to help me maintain and increase my weight loss then that will be bagged as easily as any other bad prescription. The main point is that you just have to try it, if you want to know.
Here I go, again.
Hope all is well with you.
Be back soon,
Marcia
The relaxation exercise done just before taking my reading has really helped to get my BP down lower than it was. I'm finding numbers like 148/85 again, and I'm glad. What I do, is close my eyes and "look" inside my body with the idea of relaxing in mind. I take a few slow deep breaths, and let my shoulders drop. I am usually holding them up. Then I let my jaw un-pry itself and drop down enough to relax and let go. Then I look kind of deep inside the trunk and let go the abdominal muscles. I can feel the relaxation spreading. Most of the "holding" that I do is in the jaw, shoulders, and trunk and it really feels good to relax for a space of time. I can see that I need to do this periodically throughout the day... and it always feels good.
Today I've been reading and listening to some expert bodybuilder-types named Joel Marion and Craig Ballentyne who have some very interesting things to say about fat loss, when to eat carbohydrates, and the best way to exercise to keep your body burning fat for 24-48 hours after your workout. (If you are interested, the link to their free download is here: http://247fatloss.com/rptdwnld.html)
As usual they are selling their workout videos, but they are also sharing some interesting information that might make a difference on a fat loss program. One of the things they talked about, that really perked up my ears, was about the hormone called leptin. If my understanding of what they said was correct, Leptin is the thing in the body that allows you to burn fat because it affects your metabolism. When you have an adequate supply of leptin, your body will burn fat and you will lose weight, with the opposite also being true that without it, you won't burn fat because your metabolism has slowed down.
They gave an example of how the loss of leptin shows up when you are on a diet -- and they also have a surprising way to restore your leptin and increase your fat loss. The example they used was one that every dieter is familiar with. When you first undertake to reduce your weight and go on a diet, the first week is always a very good fat loss week. The second week you still lose weight, but not as much, and by the third week things begin to slow down to a crawl. As time passes you may even hit a plateau and the frustration that comes with it from still following the program you are on, but not getting any results.
They said the problem is that as you diet, and reduce calories and carbs, your levels of leptin (and your metabolism) begin to go down also, meaning the ability to burn fat is getting weaker. They have a very surprising solution to replenish your leptin and keep your fat loss metabolism at its optimum. They suggest that once every seven days you have an "overfeeding" day on which you eat pizza, cake, cookies, whatever carbs you like and this fills up the leptin tank. When the leptin tank is full, you then get back on and continue your weight loss program the next day, and this time, you will lose weight, again because your metabolism has been cranked up.
This one is a carbohydrate addicts dream. I guess you would have to actually to try it out in order to find out if it works in your body or not. And they were not talking about diabetics, so I might think a diabetic would have to do this in a sensible way, too, because I'm not sure it is good to suddenly have a huge blood sugar spike like this. I think the addict (like me) would have to be reminded that this can only be done on the seventh day -- which means it would have to be the same day every week. You could not do it on Monday, then again, on Thursday, then on Monday again -- that would most likely get you really off track.
I think it would really put an ease on social gatherings, too, if you chose, say, Friday as your feeding day. If you are already in the habit of going out with friends on a Friday and eating decadent food with them, you could still do that, then get back on the program and still lose weight over the next six days. You could even eat the donuts at work on a Friday and not bat an eye. How flabbergasted would your friends be to watch you eating like a pig on Friday and still having optimum weight loss each week on your program?
This is still such a strange idea. I have actually heard of this before and used the idea to explain away (to myself) having a high carb day once in a while, but I never really planned a program that included it. Wait... I have a memory from long ago, of reading a book by a very obese man who did this. He lost weight, but when I tried it, it did not work for me. Perhaps this method works differently for the two genders. For men, they may be able to eat wildly the whole day long, but we women may have to be a bit more modest and only eat wildly for one, maybe two, meals on the seventh day. But, hey, if it works, it works. On the other hand, if you try it and it does not work, well then, you have your answer.
I am ramping up to try this out and have chosen Sunday as my Carb day. I chose that day, because that was the last day that I "overfed" and I know I need the six days of eating right in between to make it work. I am a little leary of over feeding for the whole day so I am going to start off with just two meals with carbs on that day. I also think I need to do it more like a "reward meal" from the Carbohydrate Addicts' program than simply bellying up to the macaroni and cheese trough. The CA program suggests eating thirds of veggies, protein, and carbs -- and if you are still hungry to have more of all three. I am not sure if that will defeat the metabolism response that I am going for... it is just so hard to let the guard down and do the carb overfeed for the whole day.
I know, from experience, that one day of high carbs also wants to repeat itself the next day (like it was in charge!) so I don't want to run into that trap either. I'm thinking that it might be better for me if I plan restaurant or fast food meals so I don't have to buy the carbs and have them in my house the rest of the time. Not having the carbs in the house really supports me. I already know that if they are in the house I will reach for them first. Not kidding. I'm an addict and I know it. If I find this new twist does not work to help me maintain and increase my weight loss then that will be bagged as easily as any other bad prescription. The main point is that you just have to try it, if you want to know.
Here I go, again.
Hope all is well with you.
Be back soon,
Marcia
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