Ah, To Be Lean Again... by keane_rocks - My Diary - Post Your Diary On-line - Individuals

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keane_rocks
New Member

Joined:	2 May 2007
Location:
Posts:	8

DAY 1
Women are expected to wax, pluck, shave, exfoliate, moisturize, and deep condition to keep their skin and hair in tip-top shape every day. Face it, perfection takes energy. On top of that, we're supposed to eat perfect foods, too?! I don't think so!

After a long day, all I have going for me is the fact that a nice big carton of creamy ice cream is waiting for me in the freezer (wow, my mouth just watered a little bit...). How can I find a way to derive pleasure from other things, not just food?

Welcome to my quest for good health! I almost think it would be easier to slay a dragon. However, I don't see any right now, so this will have to do.

I'm going to look at this as a lifestyle change, not just another failed New Year's resolution or Monday diet resulting in a nighttime binge. No, this time, it will be different. How do I know? I just do. I'm sick of feeling embarrassed about what I eat and how much I eat. I'm sick of going out with friends and getting a 'salad with no cheese, dressing on the side' and then going home to really eat. This is my life and my body, and I don't want to feel ashamed any longer. So, here goes!

I'll start out with some stats.

Height: 5'4"
Highest Weight: 184 (ack!)
Current Weight: 179
Goal Weight: 135

In this diary, I'll be tracking calories, exercise, and weight gain/loss. And I promise you, if I eat it, I will write it. Here's today:

8:00 (breakfast)
Apple w/ 1 tbsp of cottage cheese
1 cup soymilk
1/2 mini bagel w/ peanut butter and jam

10:00 (snack)
Kashi granola bar

12:30 (lunch)
Green Onion Thai soup

3:00 (snack)
milkshake

8:30 (dinner)
1/4 cup vegetarian chili
1 cornbread muffin

Exercise:: 30 minutes cardio (running/walking); strength training using 5 lb weights

Feeling:: Very motivated! Of course, who doesn't feel motivated on day 1 of a new diet? Well, I will use this to my advantage!!

Hisgal
Distinguished Member

Joined:	27 Mar 2006
Location:	Smalltown, Minnesota USA
Posts:	4247

Hi keane! Welcome to the :cph:

forums

We are a pretty friendly bunch, and tend to pop in to each other's diaries and chat and check up on each other.   Hope that's OK?

Your writing style is fun to read!   And it sounds like you've got a good attitude and a plan :thumbsup:

Go for it!

keane_rocks
New Member

Joined:	2 May 2007
Location:
Posts:	8

Thanks Hisgal! Yes, I'd LOVE all the support I can get, and any comments or critiques are greatly appreciated! Thanks for the welcome!

SmallerMe
Senior Member

Joined:	6 Feb 2007
Location:	Smalltown, Michigan USA
Posts:	476

Welcome aboard, it's nice to meet you and I wish you much success getting control over your health & your dreams. It's awesome that you have accepted losing weight as a need for a lifestyle change.. it took me years to figure that one out :tongue:

hee hee

I just returned from a 3mile walk so I am geeked :cool:

and enjoying my new found freedom :shooting_star:

balance foods with exercise and a GOOD outlook and you've got a winning recipe :tongue:

......I'll be checking up on YOU! :o)

~SmallerMe :shooting_star:

keane_rocks
New Member

Joined:	2 May 2007
Location:
Posts:	8

Hello again. Still day 1.

Well, I have a bit of a confession to make. I ate a little bit more than I said I did today. After dinner, I just felt like I had to snack! I've been working on a final paper for my english class for weeks now and I guess I just feel like I can work better if I have a bag of chips by my laptop. So, here's the damage:

2 servings of Lays potato chips
1 apple
1/2 cup of frozen yogurt
a few handfuls of grapes

That must be about 500 calories! I can't keep doing this to my body! In my last serious relationship (about four years ago and forty pounds lighter) I didn't feel this need to always snack at night. It had to end because I moved- I just don't do long distance. I've had other relationships, but all casual. I'm starting to think that I eat to fill a void.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

keane_rocks
New Member

Joined:	2 May 2007
Location:
Posts:	8

DAY 2

Well, today didn't start out so well. My power went out last night, and my alarm didn't go off this morning. I had to run out the door with no breakfast (gasp!), and I stopped and picked up a coffee. I was STARVING by lunch, but I stayed on track pretty well (I'm quite proud of myself for that :smile:

). Here's the run down:

9:00 (breakfast)
coffee w/ skim milk (10 kcals)

12:00 (lunch)
minestrone soup (200 kcals) with 3 croutons and 1/4 cup fat free mozerella cheese (120 kcals)

So, 330 kcals so far!

I'll need a snack before my ballet class tonight- I'll have a milkshake, because I'm getting a chocolate craving again. I make a very healthy variation on a milkshake, here's my recipe!

1 cup of Silk soymilk( (70 kcals)
1 packet of Insant diet hot chocolate mix (25 kcals)
6 ice cubes

Mix it all in a blender, and voila! A 95 calorie, chocolatey snack! I love these milkshakes.

I also find that Dove Singles dark chocolates are great for chocolate cravings- 1 individually wrapped chocolate is only 30 calories! So even if I have 3, I'm still only at 90 calories! These babies are lifesavers to me.

For dinner tonight, my roommate and I will probably cook a nice, healthy dinner- we're thinking sauteed scallops with steamed spinach, mushrooms, and onion on top of pasta. Why the nice meal? It's a celebration dinner!! My english paper is DONE, as of 4:00 am! I'm hoping this will make me feel like I don't need to snack as much (for some reason, studying and writing papers makes me always have a snack by my side).

I'll check in again with you tonight- hopefully my 'grazing' won't get the best of me this afternoon!

keane_rocks
New Member

Joined:	2 May 2007
Location:
Posts:	8

Me again!
I am happy to report that day 2 has been a success (much more than day 1). Here was the rest of my day.

2:00 (snack)
milkshake (95 kcals)

3:00 (snack)
salad- lettuce (5kcals) and 1/2 tomato (20 kcals)
apple w/ 2 tbsp. cottage cheese (100 kcals)

4:00 (snack)
bowl of cereal w/ skim milk (150 kcals)

7:00 (snack)
Kashi granola bar (180 kcals)

9:00 (dinner)
scallops w/ spinach, mushrooms, and onions (300 kcals?)
dessert: 1/2 cup cottage cheese w/ apple and cinnamon (140 kcals)

GRAND TOTAL:: 1,320 calories

Also, 64 total ounces of water.

My goal for tomorrow: EAT BREAKFAST! I think I'll try to keep it to about 1,200 calories tomorrow.

Hisgal
Distinguished Member

Joined:	27 Mar 2006
Location:	Smalltown, Minnesota USA
Posts:	4247

Keane,

    Just a comment.........most people on this forum have used the calculators to figure out their RMR, their maintenance calories, and their safe range of calories to eat, so they won't put their bodies into starvation mode.

   Have you tried the calculators to figure out yours?   I am 51 yrs, 5 ft 6.5", and 156 lbs.........I have mine figured for a few lbs higher (I did current weight at work, and don't have those figures in front of me right now) and my last unadjusted RMR was 1365 calories.......that's the figure I shouldn't eat less than, so my body doesn't go into starvation mode and start hanging onto the fat and weight.

   Several on this site, have found that after restricting calories for a long time (even staying above their RMR), they have stalled out or really, really slowed down.   They have had to slowly raise their calories back up to maintenance, and then reduce again to get their weight loss going once again.

   Of course, the decision is yours.    We all have to figure out what works for us! :tongue:

But, wanted to make sure you were aware of it, so you didn't stall out too fast.

Good luck at whatever you do!

keane_rocks
New Member

Joined:	2 May 2007
Location:
Posts:	8

DAY 3

Hisgal, I can't thank you enough for that comment! I just calculated my resting metabolic rate (RMR) and it's 1630 calories! I didn't realize it was so high. I'm starting to believe the reason my other diets failed is because I tried to go too low calorie-wise.

I've always been an inconsistent eater. In high school, I struggled with anorexia issues and was, at my lowest point, consuming less than 500 calories per day. At 5'3", I was 98 pounds (NOT healthy). Luckily, with therapy, I was able to recover from my body image issues, but the flip side of this is I became a binge eater. I put on 60 pounds in 1 year. I've struggled with it ever since.

My biggest problem is night snacking. I start out every day incredibly motivated, then by the end, my hand does NOT come out of that stupid bag of chips!

I said in my first post I accepted this as a lifestyle change, but deep down I was thinking 'I'll just restrict calories until I get to my goal weight and then let loose a little.' But I know how dangerous that could be!

I think now, I'll try to keep my calories at about 1,500, give or take 100 calories. Any thoughts? Does this seem like a safe range to you?

FOOD FOR TODAY
8:30 (breakfast)
a piece of french toast with strawberries (200 kcals)

10:00 (snack)
apple (100 kcals)

1:00 (lunch)
mozerella and tomato basil panini (500 kcals?)
1/2 cup of berries (50 kcals)

3:00 (snack)
salad (10 kcals) with low-fat dressing (60 kcals)
14 almonds (100 kcals)

9:00 (dinner)
8 pieces of sushi (240 kcals)
seaweed salad (200 kcals)

10:00 (snack)
1 cup frozen yogurt (260 kcals)

GRAND TOTAL: 1620

Exercise: walk/jog 1 mile

Feeling: Still motivated! And loving the support I get here on this website. I've tried keeping private diaries, but I really like how I can get input from anonymous strangers. Somehow, I think that helps me.

keane_rocks
New Member

Joined:	2 May 2007
Location:
Posts:	8

Finals are such a busy time for me! However, I have actually been doing pretty well on my diet. It's not perfect, but under high stress I usually eat way too much.

DAY 4:
GRAND TOTAL: 1710 calories
EXERCISE: none

DAY 5:
GRAND TOTAL: 1490 calories
EXERCISE: 1 hour on treadmill

DAY 6:
GRAND TOTAL: 2030 calories
EXERCISE: 1 hour swimming, 30 min. walk

DAY 7:
GRAND TOTAL: 1900 calories
EXERCISE: 5 mile walk/job, strength training (arms)

DAY 8:
GRAND TOTAL: 1385 calories
EXERCISE: yoga class

DAY 9:
GRAND TOTAL: 1675 calories
EXERCISE: dance classes

So there's the short version.

Aimless
Distinguished Member

Joined:	2 Apr 2007
Location:	London, United Kingdom
Posts:	778

Sounds like you're doing great! Keep it up :D

I had issues with eating far too little back at school, I was on the borderline of underweight, and then I too started feeling a bit better about myself, a bit more confident... and since then I've just been gaining. Now I'm undoing the damage!

Hisgal
Distinguished Member

Joined:	27 Mar 2006
Location:	Smalltown, Minnesota USA
Posts:	4247

Hey, your numbers look great! The zig-zagging of calories seems to really work well for some, to lose weight and keep the scale going down! :ribbon: