Yet Another Diet and Exercise Thread - need help

Parent Cafe
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<p>I think that we should go to a spa together somewhere and fast :). I am working on figuring out the late-night snacking issue, which is actually the only issue I have, but has added 4 pounds to me this year. Fatigue and stress do not justify eating at night, patient :(. </p>

<p>There is a mindset corner that gets turned at some point in a diet, which is where you go from thinking about how much you can get away with eating and still lose weight, to thinking that you really don’t want to eat much because it feels so good being thinner and it actually becomes easy not to eat, and feels good (rather than threatening) to feel a bit hungry. I am currently in search of that second phase of the mindset, having gone back to the first phase in the last month. </p>

<p>Weight Watchers has a good linear expression of that balance where a line goes from sensations of “starving” to “stuffed” and you want to be mindful of how you are feeling, and want to stay always in the “a bit hungry to not hungry” middle of the line and not go to either extreme.</p>

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<p>Our WW at Work group started up again, which is good. I have 4 more weeks of maintenance to be “life time” which means I get money back since I had to pay for the 12 week session. So far, so good. I’m far from perfect, but I am doing well with my running and don’t need to lose any more weight. You just get to thinking if you eat one piece of cake (which I do) you’ll gain it all back! I have a tough business trip (flight at 5:40 am Sunday) coming up, which isn’t going to help. Ordered 2 cute new running skirts!
A good dinner for us is cold shrimp. Good protein, satisfying and sort of a luxury.</p>

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<p>Binx - hey, we all know what that is like. We tend to shoulder everyone’s stresses and there is nothing more exhausting than stress!!! I know that’s how I got so off track for a couple of years. Hang in there and just try to do one healthy thing for yourself each day. </p>

<p>NM - glad you made it to the group. I am impressed that your D got you into exercising regularly - will she nag YOU when she goes back to school? </p>

<p>Analyst - 9 miles? That is amazing. I am so proud when I do 5. I did find someone who has an interest in racewalking so she may join me occasionally on my walks. I think if she learns the technique she will kick my butt in a race, but that will be great. She may try to qualify for the National Seniors games & then we would have a great time in San Fran. Analyst - maybe you would be game??</p>

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<p>worknprogress, thanks for the invite but I avoid crowds, which kind of takes me away from enjoying race venues, much to my H’s disappointment since he often wants me to come watch his races. That’s why I love hiking. If you stay away from the AT, you can hike all day and rarely see another person. I’m not terribly competitive either, at least when it comes to exercise. The only reason I walk so much is I have all day on my hands now that I am retired and I just find it endlessly relaxing and rejuvenating. I think I have been depressed for the past 20 years and am just now appreciating how blue the sky is, if you know what I mean. </p>

<p>I don’t count my walking as exercise, which has to be hard to count, so I really only exercise for 30 minutes a day plus the weights 3 days a week. My walking is more of a stroll, just for hours on end.</p>

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<p>Back to my walking (which has no “strolling” qualities whatsoever). H and I were out of town for a few days, which also involved much walking, and walking with the hubster is rarely a stroll either, no matter where we are! It’s why we almost never shop together.</p>

<p>A nasty migraine took me out for a few days, but hopefully I’ve shaken it. Just when I think I have the silly things under control - I find out I don’t.</p>

<p>It is time to mind the calories as I’ve been a bit too free with the fork since the college kids have been home. I’m not a daily weigher, but will notice the jeans are suddenly a bit snug and will then step on the scales. Too much ice cream in the house and I do like ice cream (plus tiramisu while out of town - I REALLY like tiramisu). Just too much of too many good things in a short period of time!</p>

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<p>H and I went on a hike while on vacation–a 6 mile trail, uphill and down (went to the top of a mountain but the Blue Ridge aren’t anything compared to the Rockies, so it was very scenic but sort of a baby mountain.) Very rocky trail, however; much more taxing even on the level parts as you had to avoid twisting an ankle. Anyway, it was farther than DH had walked in a while and he was pleased that his exercise/weight loss plan has kept him in shape!</p>

<p>I just read an article that suggested people are no more sedentary now than 50 years ago–instead of TV, people used to read or knit, but spent as much time sitting down then as they do now, especially in the winter. The article said the big change has been in portion size…as in Supersizing everything. Interesting theory.</p>

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<p>So true re: the portion size, mommusic. When hub & I were in Paris several years ago, we laughed at the icecream cones–icecream the size of a golf ball, whereas in the US, a McDonald’s ‘small’ has at least 8 inches of icecream piled above the cone.</p>

<p>On our college tour, I asked for a large iced coffee at McDonalds. They gave me something that was, I swear, the size of a bucket you might use to wash the kitchen floor. And filled with cream (I asked for skim milk, no go). Never again! :-)</p>

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<p>LOL about the bucket, but so true. I remember my WW leader referring to restaurant portions as being “troughs” (as in feed the pigs in the trough). I think 1/4 of the country is now obese?</p>

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<p>I agree portions are huge. I dread going out to eat - I can have any food I want - and then have to limit how much of it I actually eat!</p>

<p>It was hard in Germany where you have to order every single thing separately - bread, salad, etc. I felt like I never got enough vegetables. A portion of meat is the same as here - it just doesn’t come with everything else!</p>

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<p>LOL at the troughs, patient…</p>

<p>binx, when I go out to eat, if there’s something I like (I’m mainly vegetarian), then I’ll usually order it in appetizer, then ask that it be served w/my companions’ entrees.</p>

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<p>We rarely eat out (I associate restaurants with client entertaining so never think of it as an enjoyable activity), but a weight watcher’s tip was to ask for the “to go” container before the meal and put at least half the meal in that container before you start eating. That way you can finish everything on your plate without mindlessly eating too much. </p>

<p>Of course, that doesn’t work if you are traveling so just ordering an appetizer makes a lot of sense too.</p>

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<p>is to inject a little levity.</p>

<p>But I just received the following email from a friend, which I feel is quite relevant to this thread. (If anyone is under 50, I’m sure you can speed up the transition to the larger sacks :wink: ).

</p>

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<p>Well, I am not yet seeing big results on the scale…but I am enjoying my walks with S#1…he has been introducing me to the BBC show Dr. Who as we walk and talk…now I have even seen a few episodes…so, there have been unexpected fringe benefits…he was unavailable yesterday and I even went on the jaunt alone…which is progress…</p>

<p>I still think my #1 advancement is getting a Brita pitcher so I am drinking a lot of water, without all the water bottles…and I no longer bring soda into the house. I still am craving it…but, a tall cold glass of H2O takes the thirst away…</p>

<p>I totally agree that the size of meals in restaurants can be out of control, and so are the prices as a result. I would be happier if a restaurant offered smaller portions for a manageable price…it might increase their volumes too? I did have drinks/dinner at a hotel/bar in near Times Square/Broadway once and they served Tapas…which was a great way to sample a great variety of items…all delicious…I still remember thinking it was all perfectly sized. </p>

<p>Jmmom, love the potato sack joke…</p>

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<p>Jmmom, LOL!!!</p>

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<p>Well, JM, finally a program we can all adhere to! :)</p>

<p>Binx, I have been delinquent providing soy related recipes. I am just starting to bounce back from the big move (parents move from their home to a temporary apartment>to retirement apartment). </p>

<p>One thing that is very, very easy but will take a little sleuthing in the grocery store. Keep in mind, walking up and down the aisles in search of a health food item counts as exercise. </p>

<p>Look for tempeh. It is often in a refrigerated or cool section of the produce department. It comes in a block and looks kinda funny. It is a fermented soy product (don’t ask me what that means, just go with it like you know what we’re talking about). It will sometimes have some blackened parts, but that’s okay, it’s not spoiled. </p>

<p>You can use this in any of your barbeque recipes. I saute onions and red peppers, & garlic in a pan that I have swiped a little canola oil. When the onions and peppers are limp, I add the tempeh and brown it for about 5 minutes. I mix hot water with small can of tomato paste, a tablespoon or so of apple cider vinegar, a little molasses, brown sugar or agave nectar for some sweetness, a tablespoon of brown mustard and pour over the veggies and tempeh. I let it simmer at low heat for at least twenty minutes, adding water as needed. </p>

<p>You can use any barbecue recipe that you like, but this tastes great as a substitute for a sloppy joe. I also use a marinara recipe if I want it to taste more like a meatball sandwich. This is a favorite for tailgating parties. </p>

<p>Got in a great walk yesterday. Four miles, nice pace. </p>

<p>Analyst - I NEVER wanted to compete when I was running. In my late twenties I did one 5K and 1 triathalon because I was so smitten with my soon to be H that I did things I would have normally thought were stupid. The race walking is an anomaly for me. I don’t race often, but I am so focused on bringing down my time. It is so out of character for me. Thursday is my race and I would like to finish the 5k in 34:30 (under 34 would be truly awesome, but I really don’t think it is possible). The weather here has been brutally hot and the race is at 7:30 at night. Oh, well, all I need is a time under 36:00 and I will qualify, so that is all that matters.</p>

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<p>Okay, question. (Your cooking style and ingredients are very different from what I am used to. Forgive me if my questions are stupid; I really am very inept.) What do you mean by any of my BBQ recipes? I have a recipe for beef BBQ that I do in the crockpot, then serve on buns. Am I supposed to add beef to this instead of my usual recipe? Or does this take the place of the beef, too? I have a feeling I don’t have the right kind of BBQ recipes.</p>

<p>Last night I told my H that for dinner I wanted a large popcorn at the movie theater. We went to see Mama Mia. We split a large buttered popcorn and a diet coke, and today I am down nearly a pound. None of it makes sense.</p>

<p>Hard part for me in going out to eat is that going out to eat is a treat for me, but it isn’t if I then have to eat a bunch of stuff that isn’t special. I could wash a bag of greens at home just as easily, and much cheaper. What I can’t get at home is the hot yeast rolls, waffle fries, loaded baked potatoes…</p>

<p>Now you see why the Atkins diet worked so well for me once upon a time. But I can’t live like that! I’m good for awhile, on any diet, and then I start feeling deprived. The diabetic diet I try to follow is the best for me because it doesn’t say “no” to anything, just helps me control portions. Or at least tries to.</p>

<p>Going to a friend’s for dinner tonight - I’m supposed to bring “appetizer/side dish” and decided to take a fruit plate. That way there will be something there that I can eat!</p>

<p>Our peach tree is loaded - overloaded - so I decided to try to make jam. I found a sugar free recipe and tried it the other day. Took me the whole day - told you I’m inept - managed to splash boiling water on my arm - burn isn’t too bad - messed up the kitchen big time - and now I have 3 lonely jars of sugar free jam on my pantry shelf.</p>

<p>Today I decided I will make the sugar kind - 'cause at least I will get 8 jars for the bother instead of three.</p>

<p>Boy this is one big whine, isn’t it? I don’t really feel as negative as I sound - it’s just the noises of plodding along.</p>

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<p>Binx - You don’t sound like you’re whining, in fact your comments would make a great stand-up routine. </p>

<p>I am glad your jars won’t be lonely. </p>

<p>Back to the b-b-q. I don’t follow recipes. I refer to them, browse them, etc., but I just start mixing. I stay away from baking anything because my approach does not work with cakes or souffles. I open jars of spices and imagine how they will taste in a recipe and I add at will. I try to write down how I have prepared something when I really like a recipe, but I don’t so that consistently. I will try to be more specific when I suggest something in the future, but you are dealing with someone who is hopelessly haphazard in cooking, so I can’t guarantee my success!</p>

<p>The tempeh is used as a meat substitute. You can coarsely chop and make it look like ground meat, cube it, etc. It has a bit of a nutty taste, so a bbq sauce helps until you acquire a taste for it. We use it pretty frequently. </p>

<p>You could use the recipe that you use in the crock pot and substitute the tempeh. You might want two blocks of tempeh, depending on how much liquid and how many people you are serving. The great thing is that the tempeh is forgiving. You could chop up one block in inch cubes (I forgot to mention the cutting part before) and if it didn’t look like enough, just add some more. The stuff is already cooked, you are really just heating it and as long as there is plenty of liquid, the tempeh won’t dry out. </p>

<p>I also use the tempeh to make tempeh reubens, but that is for another day!</p>

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<p>Binx, I’m convinced the key to dieting is to figure out a way to include those bad foods. I lost 35 pounds in six months and ate chocolate every day. (Just one square or a Hershey’s kiss.) It was enough to keep me from feeling deprived. I also ate waffles every weekend and allowed myself to eat desserts, bread and other carbs on weekends, while being strict during the week.)</p>

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<p>H and I did an 8.4 mile loop in Shenandoah National Park today. Our time was 10 minutes slower than when we had done this hike in July 2001. (H records these things, not me). However, I was in better condition in 2001, training for a week long hiking tour in Provence that October. (Went the week after 9/11; H had to drive me to Philly because flights out of Richmond remained cancelled. It was very nice of him since he wasn’t even going, but he knew I would swim to Europe if necessary rather than miss that trip.) My goal now is to get in good enough shape to backpack through Glacier National Park next summer with the Sierra Club and to take H this time.</p>

<p>Hang in there Binx. I agree with Mathmom that you need to figure out how to do this without feeling deprived. If you focus on positive steps, like making your fruits and veggies taste like treats and your daily exercise fun, you will see progress, despite some indulgences.</p>

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<p>Like mathmom, I have chocolate each day (although it’s usually in the form of a diet fudge popsicle or several diet hot cocoas/mochas). It does keep you from feeling deprived.</p>

<p>Great run, TheAnalyst–sounds like a beautiful location! </p>

<p>I got up at 5:45 today and ran w/neighbor for 1/2 hour. Had not run in about 2 weeks so at times I was so slow that at times she (more conditioned runner) actually started walking! lol. Noticed for the first time today a certain…impact…from not going to the gym in 2 weeks (w/vacation/college tour) – even though weight is, technically, down. Definitely will go tomorrow! Weight-training–>can’t be replaced by lower cals/cardio!</p>