Sweetm's journal

[sweetm]

I'm a little shy to post this here cause everyone else seems so much more fit and disciplined. But everyone I've talked to here so far has been encouraging. Here goes..


Last weigh-in 11/2 309 lbs

11/7/03

Coffee w/ Splenda and skim
1 bowl Special K with skim
2 10 oz cups of water

[sweetm]

So far so good. I'm going to try for 20 minutes on the bike today. We'll see how it goes.

[sweetm]

Whew! I did the 20 minutes on the bike! It might not seem big to those who are more in shape but it was a serious effort for me! I'm sweating and all my muscles are tingling (you use your arms too with this one) but I feel good that I met my goal. I'd like to work up to 2 hrs a day on the bike. I plan to add time in 20 minute increments till I can meet that goal. I want to add other exercise, especially some strength training which is supposed to be a great help to people with rheumatoid but for now since I am so flared with the RA (which means limited mobility swollen painful joints and fatigue) and since I'm so overweight and out of shape I am taking it slow and steady. I plan to have hubby take some before pics tonight with our digital camera. I've never been serious enough about needing to make this change before to actually take before pics, because I was always afraid I'd fail and then the pics would only serve to depress me later. Something's different about this time though. Maybe I'm just finally ready to make the commitment and stick to it no matter what.

[cursor]

I'm glad to see that you've started a (in)formal journal. Congratulations on your resolve.

I think that increasing your aerobic exercise at 20 minute increases (to 2 hour sessions) just might be setting yourself up for failure. I would recommend shooting for 5 minute incremental increases. Once your sessions get to an hour in length, I think that you'll find that there are better ways to spend your time to get fit.

Looking forward to the pics so we can make sure that we're headed down the right path to success with fitness recommendations.

[sweetm]

Thanks Cursor.. right now, I just have the goal for more bike time cause it's something I can achieve regardless of what else goes on in my day cause it's here in the house and doesn't depend on the weather or anyone else being available, and doesn't cost anything either..

11/7/03

1 cup skim milk
1/2 boneless skinless chicken breast
green beans and corn

[sweetm]

11/7/03

Beef stew w/extra green beans added
baked sweet potato
water water and more water

I feel really full right now because I've actually almost met my water goal today. So far it hasn't been a bad day food wise but the day is not yet over. I'll have to keep on the busy side later cause late night is when I do most of the "bad" eating.
Thanks for all the support!

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by sweetm

Whew! I'm sweating and all my muscles are tingling

That is awesome. I love the tingling legs after a good cardio session. This will get addicting.

[rookie]

late nights when i eat bad too, u just have to find good tasting late night snacks, i eat 2 slices of low carb bread that i found at the health store, with soy cheese, and some tuna, and fat free cream cheese. mmmmmmm

[sweetm]

I do need to find some healthy late night eats. I had some microwave popcorn last night. It's not the best thing I could have eaten but I know there are much worse things (ie the meatlovers pizza or the chinese food I wanted to order)
Today wasn't the best cause I was out all day and didn't plan for that as well as I should have. I think I may have the food plan that I'm going to go with. It's in a book called "Strong Women (and men) Beat Arthritis" It's got a combination of a diet that is high in certain vitamins and omega 3s cause those help alleviate the symptoms of RA and several strength training exercises that are helpful for RA patients also.
Cursor, if I post the basics of the plan at some point next week, could you tell me what you think?
Tomorrow is weigh-in day. I'm not expecting any great differences cause I didn't really start being careful about my food till Friday of this week, but I told myself I'd weigh EVERY week so I will tomorrow whether I like what I see or not. I plan to go shopping at some point in the coming week so I can be stocked with all the good foods to start my new food plan by 11/16. Until then I'm just going to try to work in fruits, veggies water and exercise in as much as possible.
Thanks for all the support.

11/8/03

egg & cheese biscuit meal from BK
(I gave about 1/2 of the hash browns to my daughter)
sm lemonade

sm iced latte

2 soft tacos
med Mountain Dew


rice & beans
mixed veggies

water water water (haven't made 8 glasses yet cause I've been so bad with the pop today )

[sweetm]

I'm going to go do my time on the bike so I don't feel today is a total loss! Oh, well.. I think as long as I keep trying I've got to be better off than I was before, not trying.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by sweetm

I think as long as I keep trying I've got to be better off than I was before, not trying.

Yes, every little bit helps. You need to quit putting off the diet until some future date. It makes it so easy to never start, that way. START TODAY! We are here to support you.

[cursor]

Sure, I'll be happy to comment. It looks to me that you need to do a little preliminary study about what you should eat ... and on what schedule ... before you get too far into your meal groupings.

egg & cheese biscuit meal from BK
(I gave about 1/2 of the hash browns to my daughter)
sm lemonade

sm iced latte

2 soft tacos
med Mountain Dew

rice & beans
mixed veggies

This just isn't even in the ballpark for a day of responsible eating.

[waylander]

Another tip. Regular soda is possibly the worst thing for you on a diet. Basically you are drinking sugar water, all of which is "empty" calories. If you need to drink something flavored... I alwayd like a product called crystal light.

good luck,

--way

[sweetm]

Thanks guys for telling me what I need to hear. Cursor, I wasn't expecting you to think that anything I've posted so far to be in the realm of "responsible". I've got a lot of joint issues/family stuff going on and I've been irresponsible. I'm continuing to post even though I don't like what I see because I need to be reminded of it. It's too easy to eat what I want all the time and pretend that I can't help being fat and I'm not going to do that anymore. So if I have 1 or 2 or 10 bad days they will be posted because I'm not going to lie to myself anymore.
LadyC, I will start the diet as soon as I go grocery shopping. I have to wait till I get paid Thursday to go to the store. I don't have the foods I need for my plan here. Again, thanks for calling me on that about putting off the start because I know that that's real easy to do, I've done it plenty.

I'm in pain and very discouraged today, but I am not going to give up.

Weigh in 312
11/9/03

Coffee w/splenda and skim

Chicken ceaser salad
sprite

Banquet frozen country fried steak dinner
skim milk
rice & corn

No water/ no bike

[sweetm]

Today hasn't been much better.


11/10

Chicken sandwich combo from Wendy's w/ lemonade

So far no water/no bike...

I had a fight with my husband, I miss my baby and I just generally feel awful and alone. I just want to cry. I do appreciate all of you bearing with me. I'm going to go have a big cup of water and do my 20 minutes exercise.