Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Yet another bad weekend

I am working on some plans for the future regarding my diet plan because I did not have a good weekend at all. I’m not going to list the foods that I ate, but it’s worse than the last time this happened. The worst part of having a bad day, weekend, week, month, etc. is the enormous shame and guilt that I feel afterward. It’s funny how doing well makes me want to brag, but when I don’t do so great, I want to run away and give up.

I wish I could segment all of the different elements (work, home, diet, etc.) of my life. Currently, when I am not doing so hot in one area, I let that perceived failure bring down the other elements. Right now my diet is not going so great, and I let this bum me out all day long. Today, I did nothing but mope and feel sorry for myself at work. Combine my diet with my work doing terrible, I haven’t been feeling so hot.

I did fine today, and the personal trainer is going to call me back in the morning. We will probably schedule Tues and Thur workouts. Then Mon/Wed/Fri I will swim. She also has a diet plan that she wants to share with me.

I feel the two biggest problems with my current plan are:
1. No food/meal variety.
2. No meal planning

I have eaten the same crap now for 3 months now. If you have a good low cal/low fat/low carb recipe, please share it with me.

I will share more tomorrow.

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20 comments:

  1. Hi Stephen--I just started reading your blog. I was happy to see someone from Alabama--my family and I lived in North Alabama for three years and feel like it is our second home. You are not alone in your feelings. It is too easy for one bad day or even one bad meal to make us think of giving up. So glad to hear you have a trainer who can help. Don't be discouraged! Sometimes when I get stuck I just try making the next right decision, instead of thinking about everything that is ahead of me. Menu planning helps a lot!!! Blessings on you--hope your day tomorrow is much better!

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  2. Yeah, you gotta spice it up a bit. I know the lack of variety is what usually gets me off plan because I get comfortable eating the same 3-4 things, then I revolt. It sucks. Maybe try creating a weekly meal plan where you eat a different protein every day. There's tons of low-fat options out there if you're willing to put in the time. I hope you find a plan that works for you because you've been doing so awesome and now's no time to quit.

    Also, I hope Jack Sh*t isn't too mean to you this time.

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  3. You are right about that - planning and variety. Big keys. I read in an Atkins book a good idea is to keep low carb items around all the time, "at the ready." Then when hunger strikes, the better choice is at hand!

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  4. Stephen, I wanted to share a website with you called Sparkpeople.com. It helps you track your calories and fitness, but it also has recipes on it. I think the site might be a really good tool for you.

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  5. Hey Stephen, the great thing is that just like when one thing is going wrong and pulling you down in all aspects of life (and you are not alone, this happens to everyone), when you make just one thing go right it starts pulling you right back up! So just make one good decision, and then it will be easier to make another one.

    About the food, sparkpeople is a great tool and there are lots of recipes, so I 2nd Karen's suggestion. Another option is to go to whfoods.org and only eat foods from that list. You will be giving your body the nourishment it needs and the foods on that list on either low calorie or have good fats that you need.

    (Oh, and with no offense to Tricia, I personally didn't think Jack Sh*t was being mean. I thought he reached out to you as a brother would, and spoke to you as someone who truly cares about your well-being.)

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  6. Thank you everybody for your comments. I signed up for the sparkpeople site, and it's pretty cool. I really liked the food suggestions. Also, Jack Sh*t is a cool guy. Sometimes I'm just a wuss and get defensive.

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  7. Stephen, you stupid son-of-a-b*tch!!!!

    Sorry, that was just to get your attention (and for the folks who were saying I wasn't being mean before).

    I had a bad feeling when you weren't blogging that you'd fallen off the wagon, but I'm glad you're owning up to your actions.

    I'm no nutrionist, but I'm guessing that variety isn't really your problem. After all, I suspect that your "bad" diet doesn't mix things up all that much. You need to find some healthy (or semi-healthy) choices you can live with and start living with them.

    And you need to blog more often, just so you can stay accountable for what you're doing. This is going to get harder before it gets easier. Focus in on that sh*tty feeling you were wallowing in all weekend; your brain may be fighting you, but your body really wants to win this fight, Stephen. But it's gotta have some help...

    Stick with it. Better days are ahead.

    Now quit f*cking up.

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  8. Wow, now I'm awake. You are correct Jack Sh*t.

    I had a sh*tty weekend!

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  9. Stephen,

    You can do this! I started at 505 and have lost nearly 170 pounds so far. I write everyday and have since day 1. Please come and read my weight loss blog from day 1. I've discovered some wonderful things along the way that has really made this journey fairly easy. It has been a real education.

    You can find my blog at:
    www.losingweighteveryday.blogspot.com

    For people like us Stephen, we can't afford for this to be another failed attempt...We want to live and enjoy life right? You can do this Stephen. I'm adding your blog to my blog list so I can keep up with you. Take care man,

    Sean Anderson
    The Daily Diary of A Winning Loser

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  10. Hi Stephen! I just saw a link to your blog on twitter. Congrats on all the weight you've lost so far! I am excited to read about your journey while I go through mine.

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  11. Good work so far. The first steps are usually the hardest. One thing that I would suggest is start thinking of this as a marathon not a sprint. Don't try cutting your calories too much or you wont stick with it.

    I agree with jack that you should keep yourself more accountable for what your eating. I use fitday.com to keep track of what I'm eating each day, it also shows you what the percent of what nutrients your eating.

    When I was first losing my weight I also gave myself a day during the week where I could indulge myself of some bad food that I'd been craving. It gives you something to work towards and helps keep the cravings at bay.

    I'll deffinatly be adding you to my blog roll and hope to see you keep it up and drop the weight! Good luck!

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  12. Good work so far. The first steps are usually the hardest. One thing that I would suggest is start thinking of this as a marathon not a sprint. Don't try cutting your calories too much or you wont stick with it.

    I agree with jack that you should keep yourself more accountable for what your eating. I use fitday.com to keep track of what I'm eating each day, it also shows you what the percent of what nutrients your eating.

    When I was first losing my weight I also gave myself a day during the week where I could indulge myself of some bad food that I'd been craving. It gives you something to work towards and helps keep the cravings at bay.

    I'll deffinatly be adding you to my blog roll and hope to see you keep it up and drop the weight! Good luck!

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  13. Stephen, Don't let the guilt kill your progress. I'm so proud of what you are doing. In choosing to be open and sincere about the daily struggle, you're going to be helping lots of others too. Just as more will come here to help you. Keep it up. Look for healthy recipes at health.com and cookinglight.com. That should help with variety.

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  14. hungrygirl.com!

    i swear by this site. I love so many "bad" foods and this website takes those foods and "remakes" them into delicious and satisfying substitutes that hit the spot! and it shows calories/fat/etc.

    also dwlz.com

    its mostly focused on groups doing weight watchers, buttt it has so many restaurant choices and their calories. you may be surprised! just click under dwlz restaurants.

    youll love these! they have helped me lose 20lbs and counting!

    good luck!

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  15. hey Stephen, i concur with everyone above me, dont give up. and, as trite as it sounds, tomorrow is *always* a new day.

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  16. Fuck that. Less bad weekends starting now. What do you think is triggering the problems specifically related to the weekend?

    As far as food. Eat some vegetables man! I grill a ton. Grill and grill some more. You don't even have to have a big grill. Just a little one would be great. I grill my meats, but also every vegetables that dont fall through the grates or that fit on skewers. I have been munching down on artichokes lateley. Steamed or BBQ.

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  17. Forgiving yourself is really important. It is so easy to get into the trap of negative feelings about yourself leading to giving up. A lot of us have been there. What's done is done, so just forgive yourself, move on, and resolve to do a little bit better next time. Make small changes - baby steps - like not cutting your calories too much, and not changing the foods you eat too drastically, at least to start.

    I mostly eat the same type of foods as I did before, but I cut down on the fat in them, use whole grains & lean meats, and I measure/weigh my portions.

    I agree with you about meal planning. It's more of an incentive to stay on plan if you know what you are having for dinner. Those nights when I haven't planned lead to take out, and I don't manage that entirely sucessfully yet ;)

    Good luck.

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  18. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I am overwhelmed with comments. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You-

    I am visiting all of the sites that y'all have recommended.

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  19. I can definitely see the difference in your pictures Stephen. And you are already encouraging and supporting others!

    I still find myself in awe of the friendship and support I see with bloggers. It is almost magical.

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  20. Happy weekend! A great time to plan how you will keep on track for the week. Celestial Seasonings makes intensly flavored tea (all of the "Zinger falvors"). Mix with sparkeling water, no need for ANY sweetners, lay off soda. Peel a bunch of ripe bananas, freeze. Tasts like ice cream! Use with frozen strawberries and oj and yogurt and flax meal, in a blender. Singel serving popcorn. Sprinkel with garlic, red pepper and oregano! ( Or even cinnamon and real sugar)Subway sandwitches! Use Kens Steakhouse lite dressings as chix, fish marinade, griil or indoor George Forman grill. Cut large broccoli head, Red onion, asparagus, carrots, garlic. Place on large cookie sheet season and add 2 TBS olive (YES OIL!) oil. under broiler aprox.30 min. Make alot of all of the veg and chix, fish and eat all week! Cold veg over greens, top w/ chix. EASY! Add beans and corn tortias with salsa! YUMMY!

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