Goal for the Holiday Season

Hi everyone. I hope you enjoyed your recent Halloween evening. My husband and I love the holidays and it starts with Halloween for us. We are big “kids” at heart and decorate our home for all the young children in our neighborhood.

As far as my weight loss goes, I’m down 20 lbs. It has been slow going and I’ll admit that I have had a few more carbs in my diet in the last month. My goal during holiday times is to hold on to my current weight loss. This is not a race for me. I’ll lose the other 20 lbs after the first of the year. I have a vacation planned in the near future and Thanksgiving/Christmas is right around the corner. 

I remain in faith with the Lord knowing he will strengthen me during times of weakness….and we all have times of weakness. One of my weaknesses is that I love to bake this time of year. I modify the recipes as I can…but I’m not the “Food Police” during the holidays. I will continue to do the best I can and you should as well. Don’t worry if you overeat during a party, etc. Just try to do better the next day. 

I’m thankful for the 20 lbs I lost in 4 months and I know God helped me to find my path. He will continue to grant me grace day after day for as long as I need it. That’s the wonderful thing about the Lord….his love and help are limitless.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas season this year. I look forward to all new possibilities in 2015…and you should too!  

Daily Reminders

I’m back with another update on my journey. The last time I told everyone about the lower carbohydrate and low sugar diet I was following. Well…..it works! I’m down 11 pounds in 5 weeks. I’m still exercising daily…either in my pool or on my recumbent bicycle. I try to do at least 20 minutes per day. Some days I break it up and am able to do 30-40 minutes. The main thing is to be consistent. 

I went to Everman’s to see if I could find less expensive lower carb products. I did find soybean pasta….have not cooked it yet. I will report back on it after I get in the mood for spaghetti. The bagels I could not find at Everman’s. Nor could I find the blueberry muffins and brownies that I like. So, I will continue to order from Linda Diet Delites website as I mentioned in a previous blog. The bagels are only 50 calories (for ½ bagel); the blueberry muffins are 40 calories each; and the brownies are 45 calories each. All are low in carbohydrates which make them perfect for snacks. The muffins are heavier than regular muffins but that’s because they have 8 grams of fiber.

Throughout this journey, there are some things that I remind myself on a daily basis:

1. Nobody is perfect. God did not create us to be perfect. He created us to be whole. Slip ups are bound to happen.
2. Position myself for good things to happen --- surround myself with positive people; products that help me stay on course; learning more about how the body processes foods, etc.
3. Be flexible with my goals --- I don’t need to be a specific size. I just need to be healthy and happy. Healthy is reflected through good lab results and overall radiance. Happy is reflected in my mind and through my spirit. I truly believe happiness is a choice. We can’t move forward if we are always looking back and dwelling on past failures. God doesn’t dwell in the past. He is God of our present and of our future.
4. Dream big, but focus small ---  I know that losing 40 lbs will keep me healthy as I continue to age but that number can seem overwhelming. I break it down into 5 pound increments.  Small steps in the right direction will achieve a goal just the same as a large leap….plus I get more positive feelings along the way just from achieving my smaller goals. 
5. Be patient but persistent --- I didn’t regain the weight overnight and it won’t come off overnight. The main thing is to not be discouraged on the weeks that weight loss does not show up despite doing everything right.
6. Be grateful ---  Every morning I thank God that I’m awake, I’m alive, and I have another chance to help others and fulfill my own goals (i.e. personal goals and professional work goals). I always try to remember that someone, somewhere, passed away the night before and would love to be in my shoes. That puts my day in perspective pretty darn quickly.
7. Make “my mess my message”. I heard that quote from ABC news anchor woman, Robin Roberts (she is currently battling cancer).  I am doing that with this blog….I just never thought of putting it like that. My struggle (or mess) has become my message to others.
8. And finally, God has 3 answers for prayer: yes; no; and I have something even better in mind. Despite my weight struggles, I believe the best is yet to come. God’s dreams for me are so much more than this….but this struggle is preparing me for his future plans. 

So until my next posting, I hope everyone is dreaming big dreams but achieving their goals one small step at a time! Stay positive; choose happiness; and stay in faith. Until next time….

Back to Basics

Hello everyone. I’m recently back from a trip to Nevada, and it’s time to check in again. I’m happy to report that I have lost 6 pounds over the last 10 days. In the beginning, I was trying to follow a lower calorie diet with exercise, but I’ve struggled with it. I’m sure many of you know what I mean. You do well for a few weeks, and then you give in to temptation. I was resistant to the one way that I knew I could lose weight because I would have to give up carbs. I finally took a real assessment of my situation and realized I was getting nowhere fast. So I made up my mind (after praying for God’s support) to go back to basics – meaning I gave up sugar and restricted my carbohydrate intake to 40-45 grams per day. That’s how I lost the 6 pounds. I’m sure my body is in shock. I know I am, now that I’m finally seeing significant weight loss.

I won’t say it’s been easy, but it hasn’t been as hard as I thought. I checked out some low-carb food sites online and found one that has really helped me. It’s Lindadietdelites.com. I found some zero-net-carb bagels, which taste good! They delivered the product quickly. Per the site’s instructions, you put the bagels in the freezer until you are ready to slice and defrost one. Once defrosted, you can place it in the toaster. I toasted it and then put 2 tbsp of peanut butter on it for a snack. I just ordered another batch (cinnamon), and I’m going to give them a try. The bagel has 7 grams of carbohydrate and 7 grams of fiber (which totals out to a net of zero carbs). It’s not quite as chewy as a regular bagel, but I’m thrilled to have bread at all on a low-carb diet.

I also ordered their fettuccini pasta. I cooked it for 14 minutes (I like mine soft and not al dente), then I placed a previously cooked and sliced-up chicken breast in a Tbs of olive oil and heated it. I mixed it with the pasta and presto! What a great dinner! In the past, I really missed bread and pasta on a low-carb diet. Now that I have found these products, I can have it a couple of times a week.

The bagel and pasta become a bit pricey once you add tax and shipping/handling. I’m going to check out Everman’s this weekend to see if they have something comparable.

I have been exercising in my pool, as well as following a lower-carb diet. Sometimes I really miss the crackers and chips, but I’m not going to cave when I’ve found things to help me on my journey. Looking back, I realize that this is how we tell our patients to eat after they have had their weight-loss surgery. Looks like the tried-and-true method is the best method after all. So wish me well, and I’ll continue to share any new finds that help me along the way. Until next time, blessings to all J

Discipline: Easier Said than Done

Hello dear friends - lovely weather for the last week. I’ve been enjoying getting outside in the sunshine.  Since my last message, I’ve lost 2 lbs. The key to weight loss is perseverance. There will always be obstacles and things that will take you off track…but success comes as long as you stay focused on the long-term goal and don’t let short-term issues discourage you. I have to remind myself of that daily.

I also have to remind myself that transformation comes from training, not trying. Trying to do something is vague and without a true plan. Training requires patience, discipline, and a willingness to “stick with it.” To lose weight, there must be more than a desire to change. There must be a willingness to change, and a process is required. My process is minor changes in my diet; increasing my exercise; getting more sleep; decreasing stress; and prayer. I know that God is eager to help in times of need and that I can do nothing apart from Him. I also know that God wants me to be strong physically, as well as spiritually. All of this requires discipline.

Discipline is easy to say, but hard to put into practice for food addicts. But discipline will enable me to be the person God wants me to be so that I can fulfill his vision for my life. So I must step outside of my comfort zone and take on the challenges that are required to live my life at a healthy weight…with exercise being my hardest challenge. However, on the days that I fit extra exercise into my schedule, my body feels good; my mind knows I have the strength I need for tougher challenges in the future; and my soul feels more alive, energized and joyful knowing that I’m becoming the person I’m meant to be!

Treat Tip: I found a new no-sugar-added popsicle, Budget Saver Monster Pops, at Walmart this past week. It has 40 calories and is very refreshing. It’s a combo of strawberry, orange, and banana and the package states it’s a “slushed” popsicle….the only thing I know is that it tastes good and is refreshing. Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments! J

Diet and Exercise Challenges

I can’t believe 2 weeks have gone by and it’s time for another update on my progress. So far, I have lost 6 lbs since I began this journey.  It feels slow but I have made very positive changes in my diet. I have decreased my carbs to 135-140 grams per day; I have kept my diet to no more than 1500 calories per day; I have added more fiber and calcium to my diet; and I have decreased my night time snacking. When I was younger, this would have been at least a 10 lb weight loss but alas, age does take a toll on the metabolism...so I remain patient and continue to manage my food intake.

Food is my addiction and I recognize it for what it is & how I use it...and as with any addiction, it can be left alone or I can choose to challenge the addiction by changing my behavior. I believe that striving to heal an addiction is striving to achieve one of the highest goals in life. It’s an obstacle that requires commitment and faith to challenge on a daily basis. God has promised that if we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. I have complete faith in God’s ability to help me move this particular mountain. My addiction is not stronger than the person that I’m becoming. I believe God is using this particular challenge to help me become a better version of myself so that I might continue on the path he has laid out for me.

The next challenge I face is adding exercise to my daily routine. Now anyone who knows me understands that I dislike exercise. I have never felt any endorphins when I exercise although I accept this as a medical fact. The only time I feel anything close to an endorphin release is when I first bite into a warm Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut. There is a rush of satisfaction and pleasure so intense that my whole brain must light up (if I could view it on a PET scan at that particular moment)! Thank goodness I don’t live near a Krispy Kreme. It might be the only time I would want to exercise….walking to and from Temptation Island! 

As much as I dislike it, I recognize that exercise is necessary if I want to remain fit as I age and also to help speed up my metabolism. I have a recumbent bike that I can ride while watching my HGTV shows. If the pounds go slowly then maybe the inches will go a bit quicker. Anyway, I’ll let you know how it goes in the next posting. Until then, here’s hoping we all see beautiful warm days and lovely spring breezes. J

Commitment

This is NOT Jan enjoying her yogurt.

It’s time for another biweekly update on my progress. It’s been 4 weeks since I began this journey and I’m down 4 pounds. Of course, I was down 4 pounds two weeks ago. I can’t say I’m not a bit disappointed in the slowness of the process. Part of me wants to be upset over this but I refuse to go there. This is a learning experience and I have to re-learn what makes my body burn calories in the most efficient way. I don’t have gastric bypass malabsorption going for me anymore. In the 15 years after weight loss surgery, my body has adapted and learned how to reabsorb calories….and very efficiently I might add. However, I can say that I have maintained a healthy diet and basic exercise since the previous 2 weeks.

My next dietary adjustment is going to slightly decrease my carbohydrate intake. Just once I wish I could sit down and say “I love cauliflower” or “more broccoli please”…but that’s not going to happen. Carbs have always been the sabotaging factor for my diets (before weight loss surgery). Even after surgery, I love thin-crust pizza; I love cheeseburgers, crackers, chips, and rice. These foods call my name….even when I’m not hungry….because I want that euphoric rush that I get after taking those first few bites---and that my friends is the definition of addiction….but one I intend to control. 

If I’m going to be successful, I have to have these in small amounts and stick with our basic tenant of protein first, then vegetables/fruits, and then small amounts of carbs. I also have to make a serious commitment to doing this.

Our Pastor says that we only truly commit to the things we value. If I say I value good health and then don’t fully commit to behaviors that support the ability to obtain good health, then it won’t happen. Our Pastor believes that everyone wants “The Good Life.” We want and value good looks, good health, and even value “getting the goods” (i.e. being successful monetarily).  Instead of valuing “The Good Life” we should be valuing “The God Life.” We all need to commit to loving God, loving each other, and loving ourselves as God loves us. It’s my belief that I can honor God by maintaining the healthy body He gave me. So, I’m committing to decreasing carbs in the next two weeks…we will all find out if that made a difference at the next posting.  

Until then, here is another tip:

Dannon’s Light & Fit Greek Yogurt ---Only 80 calories, 12 grams protein; 9 grams carbohydrate; 8 grams of sugar; and 0 grams fat. I use it as a snack in between meals.  Place it in the freezer for 10 minutes prior to eating and you will have a thick, creamy, and refreshing pick-me-up dessert!