Just 4 Today, I’m NOT going to eat between meals and I’m NOT going to take seconds. And I’ll walk at least 3 miles, take my fiber supplement and drink 2 liters of water.
New Commitment, Day 2
Long time readers might have noticed that I haven’t mentioned weighing myself. That’s because the scale is tucked under the guest bed and I don’t have immediate plans for taking it out.
One of the things I worried over during the months when Eat4Today was mostly dormant was the fact that if I’m not totally obsessed with my weight I gradually gain it back. Here I am a person that has every portion size and associated calorie memorized and if I let my guard down for 5 minutes (OK — 5 months) I’ve gained 10 or more pounds!
What kind of a health-blogger (I thought) am I? Well, I came back because I think I found my answer.
I’m a health-blogger who doesn’t want to die an early death from diabetes. And it turns out that the things diabetics worry about are pretty much the same things that dieters worry about. With the one difference being that instead of the (direct) goal being a new dress or bathing suit my goal is staying out of a coffin for as long as I can.
So, I might be dragging that scale out from under the bed. But, for a month or so I’m going to experiment with seeing if I can focus on healthy eating, regular exercise and daily routines. IF I do that then wouldn’t the result almost have to be a healthier me?
Carolyn said (in the comments yesterday) that she’s doing something similar – she’s not going to count calories. And I think (I think) I’m going along with that too. But, I think this issue really deserves it’s own post. Which happily gives me something to think about on my walk today!!
xxoo
Katiebird
16 Comments
Go Katie Go!
Thanks you for inspiring me.
I am losing weight and improving my diet at my own speed post two surgeries on my foot. I now have on my Merrell tennis with adjustable straps (foot is still swelling) and walking. I am doing some yoga stretching and will start my Wii yoga tonight.
I will check in and and see what you are posting.
WV
{{Woman Voter}} Thank you for stopping by & commenting.
I think the effect of physical injury causing long-term health problems because of the resulting lack of exercise is TOTALLY underestimated in the health care field. We have a couple of regular commenters who are in that situation. And I’ve been in it myself in the past.
It’s really something that has to be addressed regularly here…. And now I’ve got a couple of things to dream about on my walk (already thinking)
Yeah, physical injuries can make it hard to exercise… and then the lack of exercise exacerbates the problems related to the injury. Vicious cycle.
A (very) overweight guy at work recently had knee surgery, the result of coming off a set of RV steps a little too soon. He said they’re putting him through physical therapy, and it’s torture. I guess I was lucky, not needing PT after knee surgery, the orthopedist just said to do as much as I could stand (no pun intended). In other words, just do what I could to lead a normal life. It hurt to walk on normally for a couple weeks, but it did get better.
I really need to get on the exerbike. I’ve only done it once or twice since we took down the Xmas tree over a month ago & I dragged it back inside. Sheesh.
But getting back to the topic of the post, the batteries died in our scales some time ago and nobody has exactly rushed to replace them. I’m not sure I want to know, and like KB it’s really not the weight I’m focused on anyway. Losing weight is a nice side-effect of keeping the blood pressure & cholesterol under control.
KB, I didn’t know you were blogging about weight issues. I am now going to put you on my regular blog stop list. I too have weight issues. Mine started with becoming a young mother with an semi-abusive husband and hormones which never recovered. I absolutely use food to get “high” and shut out my problems. Unfortunately food is the one addiction you can not quit cold turkey.
Unlike you and woman voter, I have to watch my calories. I have to lose 30 lbs (but no more) by June so I can have surgery. I have scoliosis (probably since childhood..undiagnosed) and enough degenerative disk disease from an old injury that I have to lose weight soon or I may spend the rest of my life unable to get around or to work.
teresainpa — I’m so glad to see you here! Eat4Today has been pretty dormant for a while. I don’t know what sparked my enthusiasm for it again but, I seem to be ready to go….
I’ve used a couple of WONDERFUL programs for tracking calories (and other nutrient information) The one I’m using now is called Nutribase — they’ve got a range of products making it affordable for just about everyone. The one I’m using now is the Personal Edition.
I should clarify — I’m not tracking my weight right now but, it’s an experiment. I’m wondering if I can sneak some of this weight off without the activities that trigger obsessive interest.
The problem for me is that when the obsession dies so does my healthy lifestyle.
I’m going to be doing more thinking on it. Obviously.
So you have a little less than 4 months? That is VERY doable without resorting to starvation (which might show you where I’ve been at other times in my past)
Can you distance walk? or does your illness limit that?
FARfetched — it always makes me smile to see you here. Thank you for this comment — I like the “nice side effect” idea . . .
Thanks for this site KB. I will be stopping by for inspiration and an occasional push. I know they say that weight is just one important way to measure progress but there it can be such a downer. I was caught by your statement about how the scales can be an obsession and the progress they show an addiction and then the obsession fades and so does the progress. I wish I had never heard the word diet. Common sense tells me that if I eat healthy, I will be ok. I actually find that when I do keep a healthy balanced diet I don’t have food cravings. And the exercise seems to help keep the balance. Why can’t we become addicted to what is good for us and what in fact makes us feel good?
Jangles, those are the questions and thoughts that haunt me… I don’t pretend to know the answer. But, this site is my attempt to trick myself into something that works.
This sounds like the topic for tomorrows thought piece, if that’s OK?
I put this site on my opening tabs so I will see something every morning that says I’m not alone in this effort to change eating habits and increase exercise. This is so much friendlier and supportive than most of the diet sites
Love all the supportive posts! As far as the scale and calorie counting go, I think I’ve tried everything else, so I’m trying those. Problem is, I started the diet before Thanksgiving…through Christmas…then New Year’s Day…then birthday (with a cruise thrown in for good measure)…
So, the scale says I’ve made not much progress. The good news is, I haven’t fallen that far behind. More bad news: Used only the stairs on the cruise, so hips got mad and wouldn’t cooperate in new exercise regimen. Good news: I don’t miss exercising
! So we’ll see what happens.
I’m sticking to my 1200 calories a day, except on Sundays, which is “Junk Food Day.” I try to reign it in somewhat on that day, rather than pigging out totally. The calorie counting is essential because I don’t know when to stop eating! I eat ’til I’m stuffed – that really seems to be the point of eating at all to me, which is probably (?) dysfunctional. So now my little list of foods/calories eaten tells me when to stop. I’ve resisted this approach my whole life, but I can’t see any other way. My best intentions aren’t good enough.
Happy Valentine’s weekend to everyone, and thanks for this friendly blog!
Alex
What jangles said, and KB quoted, is exactly what I find on the Southbeach-style eating….healthy carbs and fats. Don’t we have two triggers though: the one that says we need nourishment/fuel, and the one that says we need comfort? I haven’t figured out, though, if I’m punishing or comforting myself when I eat for emotional purposes.
{{gweema}} (what time do you get up — I’d better have something new for you in the morning!)
I think I do comfort reading – and habitual eating. I’m not sure about it though. (<em>after thinking for a few minutes</em>) It’s funny that with all the talk of “comfort food” that I’ve never really thought about it.
Let’s talk about this more after I’ve thought about it. Anything I say right now would just be babbling.
Alex, I’m going to be talking about The Hacker’s Diet – if not tomorrow then VERY soon. I think he’s got some ideas that would interest you. (about calculating how many calories you are burning and figuring how many calories you can eat to reach your goal)
And, I’d say that if you haven’t GAINED weight with all you’ve had going on then you’ve done VERY well!!
I’m on the west coast….and up at 5:00 AM (7:00 AM your time)….I’m really, really looking forward to the progress of your new blog, KB!!
In an effort to accomplish my entire weight loss goal in 2 weeks or less, I own almost every diet book ever published, I believe
Thanks, gweema! I should have something going about then. If it’s not my official Commitment piece – it’ll be something else . . .
(your 2 week goal reminds me of a commercial a few years ago about a guy at a gym: he weighs himself, runs around the gym – once, weighs himself again and sighs)
Thanks, KB. I can’t wait to see the Hacker’s Diet. And I can completely relate to the reading AND eating for comfort. I actually won’t eat unless there’s something around to read. And that never happens :-J.
Oh, and good morning, all!