Tag: Yesterday Morning

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General Weight Loss Tips

I Feel the Earth Move

Yesterday morning I woke up not feeling overly hungry. I had my usual glass of ice water and headed into work in the wee hours.

A couple of hours later the first thing I ate was a small bowl of Greek yogurt with Crofter’s blueberry spread, oats and peanuts.

Greek Yogurt Crofter's Blueberry Spread

This kept me full most of the afternoon.

And then there was an earthquake. A small one. I was in the living room with Josh talking when I said to him “why is our house shaking?” he went to check the laundry room to see if the washer was out of balance. No laundry. I stood at the window and said “this feels like an earthquake” but thought that was insane, because we live in Virginia, not California. It wasn’t for a good 30 minutes until we realized there was an earthquake. Surreal stuff. I was uneasy.

And then we had lunch. Which isn’t what I would call “health food”, but it was delicious and I genuinely hungry. The portions were not out of control either. I made a mini-goal at the beginning of the day that I would only eat when I was hungry, not overeat, and only eat what I truly love to eat.

A cheeseburger and sweet potato fries from a local drive-in. I was full for hours until about 11pm when I had a couple (3) of Wasa crackers with raw cheddar before bed. I also enjoyed 60 minutes of exercise in the evening.

Thoughts on the day:

I know that looking at my meals from an outside perspective someone would say “oh! you need more vegetables”  or “you shouldn’t eat red meat, buns, fries…” you get my point. But to me, right now, a successful day is not overeating. It’s eating when I’m truly hungry and stopping when I’m full. It’s owning and sharing what I’m actually eating, without worry of judgement. It’s eating what I want without all of the rules and guilt that I love placing on myself. I trust that some days I will order a salad instead of a burger, and others I will just want the burger. I want to own those choices and make them guilt free.

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General Weight Loss Tips

Feeling Normal

I had my first taste of what a normal day of eating could be like for me in the future. Yesterday was one of those days that had “balance” written all over it. And the elation I feel over something so simple, is hard to explain.

Balance over making the right choices, not over indulging, eating what I wanted, stopping when I was full, passing on dessert and being okay about it all. It feels normal to me. Just like breathing or sleeping, I want the ability to not feel guilty, moving on and not being consumed. None of that “tomorrow I will be better” stuff.

Here’s what I mean…

Yesterday morning I woke up and had two eggs fried in a little olive oil. Followed with my usual glasses of ice water. I was full and satisfied until a little after noon. It was exactly what I wanted. Just eggs.

When I came home I fought a small urge to eat out, but knew I had food at home to eat. I threw together a delicious salad filled with lettuce, feta, a whole avocado, chicken, salsa and onions. It was amazing, healthy, and cheap. I was also full.

When I got home around 4pm.  I was faintly hungry so I ate a few unsalted peanuts  to tide me over.

Knowing that I had friends coming over at 6:30 I threw together a quick goat cheese dip served with Mary’s Gone wheat free crackers. I ate a couple for quality control and out of hunger.

My friends arrived with a delicious array of food. I had a small slice of spanakopita made with kale, a lemon/poppy savory cheese muffin, a couple of wheat free crackers with goat cheese and habanero jelly. It was all delicious. I was hungry. I didn’t have dessert. I didn’t feel guilty for eating when I was genuinely hungry. And I didn’t mindlessly eat at the table or once everyone was gone. I didn’t even want to.

This on a day when I was slightly sleep deprived. Woke up at 5am to work. Then worked straight all day. But, I could handle my stress. The day didn’t gobble me up like I think they sometimes do. I didn’t feel a need to turn to food because I had a long day. And it’s weird to say that.

I calculated my calories for the day and was at around 1,400. Not bad. I also didn’t have the feeling of “well, I screwed up. Let’s eat!” that I normally default to. There was a brief concern that the dessert would be left with me, and I had a back up plan. I honestly didn’t want to eat it, I didn’t want to grogginess that comes with it.

I know all of this inner thought seems a little much for someone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about. And while I won’t be eating flour and sugar today because I did yesterday. It was nice to  have my first taste of what it will be like to have days like that. To feel the balance. Normal. Not out of control. But I don’t totally trust it yet. Knowing when to stop.

I couldn’t help but think  that this is how people do it. This is how they stay thin, lose weight, maintain…you get my point. It was a matter of playing my cards in a different way. It wasn’t all or nothing. It was a little of this and none of that and moving on.

And the weight is steadily coming off. I’m now down 9 pounds and it’s motivating me. Feeling good is motivating me even more. Knowing what the alternative is, is no longer appealing. The minutes of satisfaction from eating sweets and over eating does not make up for the hours of misery it causes. The bloat, the foggy head, the sickness. Not to mention all the stress that being obese causes in my life.

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Home Again

Yesterday (tuesday) we were back on our home schedule. We ate at home and did our usual insanity workout. As much as I love to eat out, it gets tiresome and is never as healthy (or as cheap) as eating at home. I like knowing exactly what’s in my food.

Yesterday morning was my usual banana nut muffin (a commenter asked if I make these and the answer is yes) 200 calories

Lunch was a boca burger with whole wheat bun, 1/2 t mayo, dark lettuce, and 1/2 oz. jalapeno cheese. 400 calories.

Dinner was a vegetable burrito: black beans, tomatoes with chili peppers, spinach, avocado. Used lots of cumin on this with a little sea salt on a spinach wrap. 570 calories (the wrap had 340)

snack: muffin with local/organic strawberries, 220 calories

Total calories for the day: 1,390

Exercise: 40 minutes of insanity workout (400-600 calories burned)

I went grocery shopping with a goal and budget in mind: all organic, as much local as possible and under $55 dollars. I spent about $48 on this:

1 pound local ground beef

2 organic avocados

bunch of organic/fair trade bananas

basket of local/organic strawberries

1 package organic/nitrate-free bacon

4 local/organic yams

2 lbs. organic basmati rice

1 package all natural spinach wraps (vegan)

1 bag local/organic spinach

1 bag local/organic lettuce

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