Yes, yes, yes, this has been my greatest length of time between posts. And despite the appearance that I may be loosing interest or worse yet,not loosing weight, neither assumption is true. If you have been following my entries you may have noticed the presence of the grandson. This is the actual explanation of the lack of posts. He is a wonderful child, but an active and demanding one, as most 2 1/2 year old are. Most often,he runs around until, beyond fatigue, he simply falls over and I, finally with time for myself, also fall over. I find this the case despite the fact that his daddy is actually the one looking after the little one.
He has also been my excuse for not beginning a formal exercise program. No wait, he is a formal exercise program. But I digress. In case you are wondering how the actual weight loss is going. Very well and thank you for asking. I weighed in this week at a total loss of 21 pounds after only 4 weeks. Another plus, I not only was able to wear a pair of shorts I purchased 3 years ago, I didn't mind being seen in public wearing them either. At the Medifast center you go into little offices to talk to your counselor and weigh in, then discuss your diet log and any questions you may have about the previous week. There's a door to the hall and directly opposite it a small desk with a chair next to it. When you are sitting in the chair next to the desk you'll see a digital scale against the wall to your right. A shelving unit of product samples stands in the corner just beyond and there, next to the door, and directly in front of you is a narrow, full length mirror. The first day I sat with Janie for my initial interview, I was so uncomfortable starring at myself in the mirror, I had to move. Today, I felt different about the lady I saw across the room. I was proud of her. Way to go!
this has not been easy, but it has definitely been worth it. I wish I could say this alone was enough inspiration for the next phase of my journey, but that would be too easy. Every day I have learned a little more about what it takes to get through this and what I have to do to change my attitude about eating and food. First is to understand that everything I put in my mouth is a choice and if I am going to make exceptions, I will pay the consequences of those decisions. There was day 19 and the Jello cup with whipped cream, then there was day 23, my first Service Organization Banquet since starting the plan. It was the Annual Rotary Instillation Banquet, which just happened to be at Brady's Landing, one of my favorite restaurants. I had planned ahead and eaten my 'lean and green' meal for lunch. I could eat the salad and that would be all. I had it all figured out. . . . . . . . Then the salad came. It was a Cesar Salad, dressing included, in a Parmesan cheese shell. So much for the salad. I manage to pick at it to give the appearance I had eaten some of it. When the dinner plate came I quickly ate the buttery green and wax beans and stared at the steak nestled in a pile of mashed sweet potatoes. I looked at my husband and watched as he cut into his juicy steak cooked to perfection, seared on the outside, dark grill marks, the inside a warm red. My mouth began to water. I stared at his steak as he stopped to comment to the gentleman sitting next to him. It didn't take long for me to throw everything away and make the decision to cut open my own steak. It too sported dark grill marks like my husbands. I drew the knife across the 2" thick medallion, laid back that first piece revealing a warm pink inside. Not even close to the red one on my husband's plate. Oh, nuts! I was not deterred. The decision had been made and I was not giving in. If you think I ate my medium-well steak you are wrong. My husband supports my weight loss 100%, but once he realized I meant business, he was more than happy to trade steaks with me and tell me how he really liked the look of my cut better anyway. I immediately began working on my meat, removing as much fat as possible and enjoying every bite I was able to glean from it. Not three bites into it I knew what I had been craving for the last three days. This was it and it was goooooood! I know there are some who thrive on a vegetarian diet, but I am not one of them. I read somewhere that there exist in the muscle of a cow an enzyme found nowhere else except the muscle of man. This enzyme can not be reproduced in some people and I have to assume I am one of those people. I immediately felt better than I had in days.
The consequences of this decision was two days without any weight loss followed by a new surge of greater weight loss. And while I know that not following the plan closely could have a negative effect on my weight loss. This time it worked out for the best. I know I can't always count on this, but I'm holding a few cards up my sleeves for then.
I hope this helps you on your journey to reaching your goals and God Bless You.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
My Medifast Diet - Day 20
I didn't realize I had let myself go so long without an update. Goodness, I've been busy. Nevertheless, I have made it through some really tough days. Day 18 was Saturday, July 4th and it was the first day I wanted to chunk my family's eating habits and maybe my family, too. I have tried diligently to stay on schedule with my meals, but this day I was at the total mercy of my family. They had decided to travel south to lovely Galveston Island for the fireworks display. I remember telling my husband what time I needed to eat dinner. I guess he didn't understand I meant that exact time, he thought I probably meant about that time or some time later, or whenever. What's more, being a special event, I wanted to eat somewhere nice, he suggested Golden Corral on the Seawall. Talk about a communication problem. Fortunately, I had brought my last meal replacement of the day, a packet of Cream of Broccoli Soup. Thirty minutes after I was scheduled to eat and only 20 minutes before the start of the anticipated event, we stopped at Kroger for snacks. My beautiful husband found a Starbucks inside. I love Starbucks, they are always so accommodating. When I made it up to the counter, and ordered a Tall Hot Water, the young man gave it to me at no charge. But here's a tip if you ever try the soups. Don't just dump them in water and stir, because they don't mix easily. The only way I have found to make the soups is to slowly add the hot water to the powder while mixing with a mini-whisk or fork. It works perfectly.
So, I spent Saturday evening sitting on the seawall sipping clumps of Cream of Broccoli Soup as it floated in hot water. The sky was filled with bright colors and loud sounds. Soon the cup was discarded and I joined my husband, grandson and daughter (the baby's aunt) in the oohing and ahing. What became my final meal was 7 out of 8 ounces of delicious grilled Mahi Mahi with steamed broccoli and a dry salad instead of the rice. Everyone at our table requested their vegetables dry and my husband and I had a side of Cocktail Sauce for Salad Dressing. A giant thank you to Landry's on the Seawall in Galveston, Texas for a meal not only prepared as requested but flavorful as well. And a very big thank you to our waitress, Tatiana from Romania, for all her efforts to make our dining experience so wonderful.
Sunday, day 19, was another difficult day for two reasons. While I had regained control of my eating schedule, I found myself hungry during the middle of the day. This was becoming a regular thing and it didn't matter what I had eaten or how long ago. Reading some of the materials Janie gave me when I signed up for Medifast, I found it was OK to eat your vegetables at different times of the day. And at our last meeting, Janie had suggested adding real broccoli to the Cream of Broccoli Soup. So I ate a serving of leftover broccoli and it helped to curb my appetite until my next meal. Later that evening I found myself suffering the kind of hungry that isn't caused by the 'rumbly in the tumbly'. It began as moments of pacing past the refrigerator. I had already eaten my one extra optional snack but I had visions of chips and dip or soft, sweet, delicate cupcakes running through my head. I wanted to try some of the snacks my daughter was eating, but they WEREN'T ON MY LIST!!!!
. . .ummm . . . . . . sorry. . . . . . .
So I paced and I prayed and I stuck my head in the frig and stared at its contents. Directly in front of me was a sugar free strawberry jello cup. It was on my list but not really what I wanted. I spied the can of whipped cream in the door and acquiesced. I heard a small still voice in my head, "If you give in this once it may be too difficult to go back." Acknowledging and ignoring the voice, I reached for the jello and whipped cream can. I peeled back the foil from the cup and looked at the front of the can as I picked it up. It didn't say 'lite' but then I knew that already. I tipped the can over and, beginning my circles along the outer edge, covered the jello cup with the white fluff, then, shoved the spout into the middle of the cloud on top of the jello and pressed the trigger again. The mound doubled in size. I lifted the can out of the pile on top of the jello and rinsed it under the tap (ri_i_i_ight). Thank you, Lord! That little guilty sin was all I needed to satisfy my rebellious nature and continue on the diet with renewed resolve.
The other problem that developed Sunday was a sense of all-over ill-feeling, probably why I so desperately needed the indulgence mentioned earlier. I was not only tired but also felt dizzy and lightheaded. It also marked the third day of irregularity. . . and a condition my southern ancestors would have referred to as '"tha' vapoa's". Actually, I didn't come from any kind of high society families so my ancestors would have called it what it is, but I will refrain from using that language personally, thank you very much.
Day 20, today, has been much better. I have begun to split my vegetables servings on a daily basis. I couldn't eat all those veggies in one sitting anyway. And thanks to Over the Counter Drugs, other things are better, too. I have had more energy, much needed since I have spent some of my time chasing my two and a half year old grandson. And I have not been as hungry.
I have added a few tips of my own to the advice of Miss Janie at the Webster Medifast Center.
The first is to make positive affirmations regarding God's assistance with my weight loss. For instance, I believe that God is rewarding my efforts toward self-discipline causing the fat stores in my body to melt away. I say this repeatedly through out the day and praise God for his faithfulness. You may think this doesn't have anything to do with my weight loss, but you have to understand I have done all this before and I couldn't do it on my own. Besides, I makes me feel better to believe He's rooting for me.
Tomorrow I go into see Janie and will report on my progress. I can't wait to tell you how it went.
God Bless You.
So, I spent Saturday evening sitting on the seawall sipping clumps of Cream of Broccoli Soup as it floated in hot water. The sky was filled with bright colors and loud sounds. Soon the cup was discarded and I joined my husband, grandson and daughter (the baby's aunt) in the oohing and ahing. What became my final meal was 7 out of 8 ounces of delicious grilled Mahi Mahi with steamed broccoli and a dry salad instead of the rice. Everyone at our table requested their vegetables dry and my husband and I had a side of Cocktail Sauce for Salad Dressing. A giant thank you to Landry's on the Seawall in Galveston, Texas for a meal not only prepared as requested but flavorful as well. And a very big thank you to our waitress, Tatiana from Romania, for all her efforts to make our dining experience so wonderful.
Sunday, day 19, was another difficult day for two reasons. While I had regained control of my eating schedule, I found myself hungry during the middle of the day. This was becoming a regular thing and it didn't matter what I had eaten or how long ago. Reading some of the materials Janie gave me when I signed up for Medifast, I found it was OK to eat your vegetables at different times of the day. And at our last meeting, Janie had suggested adding real broccoli to the Cream of Broccoli Soup. So I ate a serving of leftover broccoli and it helped to curb my appetite until my next meal. Later that evening I found myself suffering the kind of hungry that isn't caused by the 'rumbly in the tumbly'. It began as moments of pacing past the refrigerator. I had already eaten my one extra optional snack but I had visions of chips and dip or soft, sweet, delicate cupcakes running through my head. I wanted to try some of the snacks my daughter was eating, but they WEREN'T ON MY LIST!!!!
. . .ummm . . . . . . sorry. . . . . . .
So I paced and I prayed and I stuck my head in the frig and stared at its contents. Directly in front of me was a sugar free strawberry jello cup. It was on my list but not really what I wanted. I spied the can of whipped cream in the door and acquiesced. I heard a small still voice in my head, "If you give in this once it may be too difficult to go back." Acknowledging and ignoring the voice, I reached for the jello and whipped cream can. I peeled back the foil from the cup and looked at the front of the can as I picked it up. It didn't say 'lite' but then I knew that already. I tipped the can over and, beginning my circles along the outer edge, covered the jello cup with the white fluff, then, shoved the spout into the middle of the cloud on top of the jello and pressed the trigger again. The mound doubled in size. I lifted the can out of the pile on top of the jello and rinsed it under the tap (ri_i_i_ight). Thank you, Lord! That little guilty sin was all I needed to satisfy my rebellious nature and continue on the diet with renewed resolve.
The other problem that developed Sunday was a sense of all-over ill-feeling, probably why I so desperately needed the indulgence mentioned earlier. I was not only tired but also felt dizzy and lightheaded. It also marked the third day of irregularity. . . and a condition my southern ancestors would have referred to as '"tha' vapoa's". Actually, I didn't come from any kind of high society families so my ancestors would have called it what it is, but I will refrain from using that language personally, thank you very much.
Day 20, today, has been much better. I have begun to split my vegetables servings on a daily basis. I couldn't eat all those veggies in one sitting anyway. And thanks to Over the Counter Drugs, other things are better, too. I have had more energy, much needed since I have spent some of my time chasing my two and a half year old grandson. And I have not been as hungry.
I have added a few tips of my own to the advice of Miss Janie at the Webster Medifast Center.
The first is to make positive affirmations regarding God's assistance with my weight loss. For instance, I believe that God is rewarding my efforts toward self-discipline causing the fat stores in my body to melt away. I say this repeatedly through out the day and praise God for his faithfulness. You may think this doesn't have anything to do with my weight loss, but you have to understand I have done all this before and I couldn't do it on my own. Besides, I makes me feel better to believe He's rooting for me.
Tomorrow I go into see Janie and will report on my progress. I can't wait to tell you how it went.
God Bless You.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
My MediFast Diet - Day 17
Yesterday and today have been my worse days yet. And my best!!
I was hungry off and on for the first fifteen days. I expected to be hungry. You can't take a 1500 to 2000 calorie-a-day diet, change to an 800 calorie-a-day diet and not expect to be hungry. But the hungry was easy to manage. The tummy started its minor discomfort about every 2 to 3 hours. Since I was supposed to eat every 2 to 3 hours, everything worked out great. It was like having a built in alarm clock telling me when to eat next. And the shakes and bars were just enough to satisfy my hunger. They taste really good. But that was before Day 16.
Day 16 and Day 17 have not been so easy. The alarm clock has lost its timing and I find myself hungry much more often than every 2 hours. I used to eat my optional sugar free popscicle or sugar free jello cup just for something sweet after dinner, Lately, its become a way to keep from eating everything portioned out for the day in one sitting. The tips in the MediFast diet materials have helped me get through this. Tips like splitting my vegetable up. The diet allows three servings of vegetables a day. So I have taken 2 of the servings and created a additional meal. I eat this extra meal close to lunch, since I reserve my main meal for dinner with the family. But the hardest part of the last two days is going to bed hungry. My 22 year old daughter wants to spend July 4th in Galveston and I'm just not sure I can stand the heat and a 'rumbly tumbly'. We'll have to see.
I have also starting drinking more water. Today I had 6 half liter bottles of water and a 16 ounce glass of water at dinner. I normally try to keep my intake between 4 and 5 liters, but it has been unusually hot and humid here in Houston Texas.
But, . .all this said . . . . I just stepped on the scales to check my progress, something I do often to reasure myself the weight-loss program still working and that I am actually still following the plan (this is actually not recommended by by MediFast, I'm just sort OCD about this), and I was excited to find I had finally broken 220, wieghing in as 119.2. Oh, I think I forgot to mention that I started this journey at 234.5 pounds. The ladies at the MediFast office in Clear Lake, near BayBrook Mall, Janie and Jamie, have been so wonderful to me. I am grateful for all their encouragement.
Well, it's time to go to bed now, hungry but happy!
God Bless You and Be With You on your journey for self improvement.
I was hungry off and on for the first fifteen days. I expected to be hungry. You can't take a 1500 to 2000 calorie-a-day diet, change to an 800 calorie-a-day diet and not expect to be hungry. But the hungry was easy to manage. The tummy started its minor discomfort about every 2 to 3 hours. Since I was supposed to eat every 2 to 3 hours, everything worked out great. It was like having a built in alarm clock telling me when to eat next. And the shakes and bars were just enough to satisfy my hunger. They taste really good. But that was before Day 16.
Day 16 and Day 17 have not been so easy. The alarm clock has lost its timing and I find myself hungry much more often than every 2 hours. I used to eat my optional sugar free popscicle or sugar free jello cup just for something sweet after dinner, Lately, its become a way to keep from eating everything portioned out for the day in one sitting. The tips in the MediFast diet materials have helped me get through this. Tips like splitting my vegetable up. The diet allows three servings of vegetables a day. So I have taken 2 of the servings and created a additional meal. I eat this extra meal close to lunch, since I reserve my main meal for dinner with the family. But the hardest part of the last two days is going to bed hungry. My 22 year old daughter wants to spend July 4th in Galveston and I'm just not sure I can stand the heat and a 'rumbly tumbly'. We'll have to see.
I have also starting drinking more water. Today I had 6 half liter bottles of water and a 16 ounce glass of water at dinner. I normally try to keep my intake between 4 and 5 liters, but it has been unusually hot and humid here in Houston Texas.
But, . .all this said . . . . I just stepped on the scales to check my progress, something I do often to reasure myself the weight-loss program still working and that I am actually still following the plan (this is actually not recommended by by MediFast, I'm just sort OCD about this), and I was excited to find I had finally broken 220, wieghing in as 119.2. Oh, I think I forgot to mention that I started this journey at 234.5 pounds. The ladies at the MediFast office in Clear Lake, near BayBrook Mall, Janie and Jamie, have been so wonderful to me. I am grateful for all their encouragement.
Well, it's time to go to bed now, hungry but happy!
God Bless You and Be With You on your journey for self improvement.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
My MediFast Diet - Day 15
So ends day 15 on this journey. No one told me this would be easy, not that I every thought it would be, and it isn't.
For dinner this evening, I grilled a couple of split chicken breast for myself and my family. It was so nice to have everyone eating dinner together again. After dinner I was so tired. I had to lay down until I regained my strength, about an hour. I am also struggling with the balance of the immediate sacrifice for a desired end result and the immediate gratification of things of the past with no thought of the long term outcome. In other words, should I eat the cookie or not! I am proud to say I still haven't eatten the cookie. And actually it isn't really a specific cookie, its every cookie, every piece of cake, every ice cream bar, and every little peace of sushi. My daughter has been craving sushi and misses our lunches to resturants my husband doesn't care for but we love. Actually, I'm missing those lunches, too!
I did make a great discovery today. I found that, upon request, the Baristar at Starbucks was willing to add one of the MediFast Shake Packets to a Tall Iced Coffee and it was pretty good. Yeah! I have regained one of my previous pleasures, coffee at Starbucks, even if it isn't a 'Venti Vanilla Toffeenut Nonfat Latte'. This is a frequent family outing at my house, one I have avoided up until this evening. Thank you to all those resturants who are willing to assist all of us working so hard to lose pounds.
I am also learning which MediFAst products fit within my own lifestyle. In the end, I still feel that the MediFast Diet is the best thing I could have done for myself and my family. I am also happy to say some of my friends have also shown signs of the desire to make the changes necessary to reduce their own excess weight. That helps encourage me too.
I hope that you will also consider taking the necessary sacrifices to make a difference in your own life.
Until tomorrow. . . .
For dinner this evening, I grilled a couple of split chicken breast for myself and my family. It was so nice to have everyone eating dinner together again. After dinner I was so tired. I had to lay down until I regained my strength, about an hour. I am also struggling with the balance of the immediate sacrifice for a desired end result and the immediate gratification of things of the past with no thought of the long term outcome. In other words, should I eat the cookie or not! I am proud to say I still haven't eatten the cookie. And actually it isn't really a specific cookie, its every cookie, every piece of cake, every ice cream bar, and every little peace of sushi. My daughter has been craving sushi and misses our lunches to resturants my husband doesn't care for but we love. Actually, I'm missing those lunches, too!
I did make a great discovery today. I found that, upon request, the Baristar at Starbucks was willing to add one of the MediFast Shake Packets to a Tall Iced Coffee and it was pretty good. Yeah! I have regained one of my previous pleasures, coffee at Starbucks, even if it isn't a 'Venti Vanilla Toffeenut Nonfat Latte'. This is a frequent family outing at my house, one I have avoided up until this evening. Thank you to all those resturants who are willing to assist all of us working so hard to lose pounds.
I am also learning which MediFAst products fit within my own lifestyle. In the end, I still feel that the MediFast Diet is the best thing I could have done for myself and my family. I am also happy to say some of my friends have also shown signs of the desire to make the changes necessary to reduce their own excess weight. That helps encourage me too.
I hope that you will also consider taking the necessary sacrifices to make a difference in your own life.
Until tomorrow. . . .
My MediFast Diet - Day 14
Well, my coach at MediFast has requested that I journal my days on this diet. so I decided to take her up on that and add my comments here. So far everything on Medifast has worked better than planned. Forteen days into the Medifast diet and I have lost 13 pounds. Woohoo!!!
The great part about that is I lost 9.5 pounds the first week, and the down part is that I only lost 4 the second. I should note that I am still way above average for this diet program. I do get hungry off and on through out the day. And some times I am a little gittery, most likely becaust I am not yet at the point where I am supposed to begin exercising. My grandbaby comes next week to spend a little time with us, so that will most certainly change.
I remain up beat with a subdued sort of excitement. I've been at this place in a diet so many times before only to fail. I feel confident that Janie, my counselor at Medifast, will be able to help me through the tough times when they come. And I know they will come.
I jope you will follow along with me and you can offer ideas (for support only, please) and let me know if the journey I have begun might help you to begin your own.
God Bless You and Good Health Too
Lisa G. Unfried
The great part about that is I lost 9.5 pounds the first week, and the down part is that I only lost 4 the second. I should note that I am still way above average for this diet program. I do get hungry off and on through out the day. And some times I am a little gittery, most likely becaust I am not yet at the point where I am supposed to begin exercising. My grandbaby comes next week to spend a little time with us, so that will most certainly change.
I remain up beat with a subdued sort of excitement. I've been at this place in a diet so many times before only to fail. I feel confident that Janie, my counselor at Medifast, will be able to help me through the tough times when they come. And I know they will come.
I jope you will follow along with me and you can offer ideas (for support only, please) and let me know if the journey I have begun might help you to begin your own.
God Bless You and Good Health Too
Lisa G. Unfried
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)