Saturday, June 30, 2012

Amazed....

Today is the 9th day that I have not had a sweet treat.   That in itself is amazing enough.  But, two other things are now happening that I find equally amazing:

1) I could care less about food.  I am literally eating half of what I used to and only care about food when I get hungry.

2) Realizing now that in addition to giving up sweet treats I also need (for health purposes) to give up dairy.  I am noticing that when I eat dairy I don't feel that well.  I've known that I have needed to do this for a while but couldn't make myself to give it up.  Now, I just don't care about cheese.  I would rather have a black belt than cheese.

Whatever weird emotional attachment I had to food seems to be disappearing.  I am intensely grateful for this freedom and ability to focus in on what I really want for my life.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Day 7-No sweet treats

Today is day 7 of no sweet treats. 

I am pretty amazed that I have gone this long without any.  I am feeling so much better without all that extra sugar in my system.  And, yesterday the scale showed that a few pounds have come off.  I am feeling pretty happy overall.

The question now becomes will I ever allow myself to eat a sweet treat again?  I've been thinking about this for the last few days.  Having given up on all that sugar I can now clearly see how eating sweet treats sets you up to feel hungrier over all.  Sugar just makes your blood sugar drop which makes you feel hungry, so you eat again taking in more calories than you really need.  I definitely don't wish to start that cycle all over again.  I love being able to eat so much less food overall.  It is nice not to be constantly thinking about food.  But, I don't want to set up strict food rules for myself that I then stress over.  So, today I think I figured out my answer.  I will eat sweet treats only if they look really, really good.  Like if my mother-in-law bakes a gluten free treat for me on Christmas or Easter.  Her baked goods are worth it.  But, regular store bought items or regular chocolate doesn't seem worth eating any more.

Once again, thank you Slimpods for creating great products that really help to support working towards my goals!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

5 days and counting

Today is the 5th day in a row that I have not wanted or had a sweet treat.  This is causing some interesting things to happen to me.  The first is that due to very stable blood sugar, I am eating much smaller portions.  And, I don't miss my sweets nor do I miss my large portions.  I am also craving vegetables and small amounts of fruit.  Today, I was in the grocery store and came across some fresh berries that I could not pass up.  That has never happened to me before.  I am also in such a better mood.  I just feel more positive and content.

Now, in the spirit of complete honesty, I will admit that I am still having a very small amount of sugar/honey.  I have one or two cups of either coffee or tea every day.  Over the last year I have gradually limited the amount of sweetener I put in my morning beverage to only about a teaspoon.  So, I am still having that on a daily basis but that is it.  I am not drinking soda or any other sweet beverages.  I just don't want them.  But, I am not giving up my tea and coffee.  To me, they make life really enjoyable and I only partake in moderation.  I will tell you that my herbal tea consumption in the evening has increased.  Still only having one cup in the evening though.

The other thing is that I am craving Asian food like mad.  I am making myself stir fries and having the occasional sushi.  When I was a kid my dad made me these foods because, as he said, that was the only thing that kept me healthy.  So, hopefully without the focus on sweets I am reverting to my natural healthy self.

Again, I want to thank Sandra and everyone at Thinking Slimmer for creating the "Beat that Sweet Tooth " pod.  It is like a miracle for me!!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

No more sweets

I got to qualify for the study that Thinking Slimmer is doing for the National Health Service in England this week.  The study is about what happens to people's sugar consumption if they listen to a hypnosis program to curb the consumption of sugar.

Well, folks, let me tell you what happens.  I started listening to the program on my ipod on Thursday afternoon.  I haven't eaten a sweet treat since then.  And, I am not even craving it.  Sweet treats are my total downfall.  I will eat really healthy in every way and then blow it by eating chocolate all day and not realize it. 

It feels really good to have more control over what I decide to eat.  I am really grateful to Sandra and all of the people at Thinking Slimmer!  You really should check out their program.  They all work so well.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Weekly review

This week actually went pretty well. Got my exercise, Slimpod, and proper eating in.  There was lot of stress but we got through it.  I also had a very interesting experience related to weight loss techniques this week.  Problem is, I am not really sure how to write about it.  Give me a day or two to think on it and I will share it with you all.  Have a great weekend!

Monday, June 18, 2012

No Tia Chi tonight

Due to money issues that suddenly appeared last week we won't be going to Tai Chi for a while.  This is so frustrating to me because every time I start to get going some weird thing comes along and side lines me.  I know Sensei always says that nothing gets in the way of his martial arts but I am not sure how to get around this issue.

On the other hand, this money issue has gotten me very focused on what I can control.  Right now I can control my food intake (helps the grocery bills and saves money),  my exercise schedule for T-Tapp, listening to Slimpod, and practise the kata I do know. 

So this is how this week is starting for me.  Hoping that you are having a great week.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

weekly review

To be honest, this week was just emotionally draining.  There is stuff going on with my husband's work that will effect his pay check -yet again.  This was a week where I put my time into surviving this economy instead of improving myself.
Hoping that now things are settling down and I can focus on my health again this week.
Hope you had a good week!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Food

I am having one of those weeks in which exercise is going well but food is my biggest issue.  Due to all my allergies, intolerance, and other dietary complications, nothing I am eating appeals to me or seems like the right thing to eat.

For example: Usually I love eating salads at lunch.  But, right now lettuce totally grosses me out.  So, I think about making myself some stir fry for lunch because at least that has vegetables in it.  But, then I feel guilty for not eating fresh veggies (I usually get the frozen, bagged veggies for stir fries).  In the end, I am holding off eating (due to my food confusion) until I am so hungry that then I pick up the first thing I can grab which is usually junk.

Like I always say, if I never had to eat again I would be a very happy person.

People have offered me recipes and meal ideas but this doesn't help either.  Eating for me is something where no matter what I eat I always chance getting sick. For example: I ate a slice of gluten free cheese yesterday.  I have no idea why but for the next four hours I was sick as a dog from it.  And, this is why I have begun to get weird about food. 

Anyway, I am not complaining.  Just sharing the journey with you all.  Hope that your food week is going better than mine.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Weekly review

This was not a great week for me in terms of diet and exercise.  I had a headache/migraine that lasted about five days.  Today was the first day I didn't have it.  At the beginning of the week I forced myself to exercise but by Wednesday I was over trying to do anything and just laid down till this morning.  So, I think I only did my T-Tapp on Tuesday and today.

But, now that I feel well again I am going to get back to doing my workout since I really miss it.  I am also back on the healthy eating/appropriate portion bandwagon.  I am ready to make some major progress.

A quick message to my karate friends, something might be going on with Mike's work that will take us both away from Tai Chi on Monday.  We are still not sure yet what is going on.

Have a good weekend all!!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Tai Chi and Cheng

I went to Tai Chi last night at my dojo. There is just something about the dojo that always feels like home.  We went over our traditional Tai Chi form and I was surprised by how much of it I remembered.  My Sensei has been using the Tai Cheng program and talked to us a little bit about it.  He seems to be getting a great deal from it.  So, now I have more of a desire to save up and get the Tai Cheng program.
At any rate, now I have some extra martial forms to work on daily.  Between doing my Tai Chi and T-Tapp I should start to improve physically-I hope!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Inspired

My husband and I spent the morning at a karate tournament.  Being a black belt, my husband was a judge.  I was a score/time keeper.  I had a really great time for some reason.  I was nervous and tense most of the time because being a score keeper involves math -not my favorite.  But, it was really great being around all those black belts from various schools.  Observing all of the different styles of martial arts and learning so much. 

Having had this experience really got me drawn back to karate again.  I think I have tried to forget about it for the last month or two.  Not being able to go to class is very frustrating and discouraging to me (even though I get that my weight is an issue).  For the last month or two I have been trying to convince myself that it is a really silly thing for a 40 something, 300 pound woman to want to go back to karate.  Today's tournament made it very clear to me that I don't really have a choice.  I love martial arts and it makes me incredibly happy.  I have to try to get back to it.  At the moment my only option is Monday night Tai Chi class at the dojo.  So, Monday I will start back.