Return to Routine

Back on track after vacation. I should reach the 140's next week-- actually the high 140's. Soon to reach 140! I have lost almost 15 pounds! I am still determined to get there. The good thing is that I have gotten into a routine and I don't mind the routine.

Aloha!

I am happy to share that I did a good job on my eating plan while in Honolulu! I would give myself a 90% score. Of course I had several Mai Tai's during the week and then I switched to red wine. Breakfast was the most difficult meal for me and that is where I cheated twice. One time we were at a really popular breakfast spot (long wait, rave revues) so I decided to try their french toast--it was delicious and I did not eat all of it. Another breakfast I ate an English muffin with bacon. That day I felt hungry soon after we ate, it might have been the several cups of regular coffee that also made me feel hungry. I enjoyed dinner every night and was easily able to stay away from the bad carbs. When we ate something at lunch time it was also easy to stay away from carbs. Someone needs to make up a breakfast salad that sounds good in the morning(sans eggs). Matt??

Hawaii

Thank you Kate and Matt for all of your encouragement! It definitely helps. I love you guys! Have a good week!

Tortoise like

I was able to resist all kinds of temptation this week---Valentine's candy everywhere. What helped me to resist at the class party yesterday was that there were enough adults standing around and somehow we got to talking about healthy eating habits. It felt good to be able to share my weight loss and several others were working on healthy eating as well. It also helped that one parent knew of Primal Blueprint. Also, I don't like pineapple on pizza! I am close to 152 pounds so I lost another pound this week. My plan for next week while on vacation is to stay on the plan, walk, walk, walk and enjoy several Mai Tais while I am in Hawaii.
People are starting to notice and that is also an incentive for me as well. My short term goal is to weigh in the 140's when Diane arrives on March 4th. I can't remember the last time I weighed in the 140's. Probably when I was in my 40's! I am finding that if I think ahead and do some pre-planning on what I am going to eat helps. It also helps that your dad is on the plan with me too.

It's all about stress and emotion management...

I have really struggled the last few weeks with cutting out flour and sugar - namely cookies, candy, ice cream, pizza, etc. It's been frustrating, upsetting, daunting, etc. I always wonder how I got through law school, but I don't have the willpower to stop eating junk? Probably because I soothed my law school stress with junk.

Despite the setbacks, I realize that I have gained a lot of perspective and insight since January 1. For me, eating and exercising right consistently is directly and primarily linked to stress and emotion management. I am focused, thoughtful, deliberate, and smart with my food choices and exercise when my life is in balance and calm. As soon as I get busy, stressed, anxious, upset, tired, overwhelmed, or anything remotely off balance then I start to make poor choices. I eat a cookie and then that cookie turns into 5 because my body starts craving sugar.

I realize that I spend a ton of time reading and researching how to eat and exercise right, but I don't spend enough time focusing on my mental and emotional well being. I could know everything there is to know about being "primal", but it makes no difference if I'm letting my stress get the best of me.

So, what do I do? I plan to finish reading a book about emotional eating I bought last year. It is a great book and is filled with exercises to help overcome emotional eating. I've also created a list of ways to "self soothe" without food when I'm feeling stressed. Maybe I shouldn't have chosen such a stressful profession? However, some stress is inevitable in any profession and better I learn to deal with it then try to run away and hide. As much as I try to keep my life in balance there will be days when a ball drops - I don't get enough sleep or work is busy etc. I can't avoid these times, but I want to better deal with them without food.

Do you have any suggestions for ways I can stop turning to food (especially bad, sugary carbs) to make myself feel better?

Slope!

I am now heading in the right direction. Lost 2 this week (one of them has been lost twice now)!
I added a work out at the gym and kept on track with my eating. Ensure for breakfast, taco salad every day, nuts for snack, salad for dinner or bbq flat iron, some veggies or cottage cheese and apple sauce, glass of wine, iced tea, water. I tried to get off diet drinks but instead switched to diet 7 up--tastes refreshing. For Super Bowl Sunday we are going to BBQ Hawaiian chicken, green salad (ala grandma), my secret dip with carrots and so far that is it. Any suggestions?
Have a great weekend everyone! Love you!