Tuesday, 8-9-16

That shopping service sounds cool! I would be afraid they wouldn't pick out what I would like though - especially with produce! Is there much of an extra charge for the service?

I haven't really had issues with not getting what I like and you can specify things like "half green bananas".

The service is free if you spend over $125, with a family of five I alway**** that mark!  But under that is $5 or $10.  Well worth it as I hate to shop, especially after a day of work and dragging grubby post-camp kids around the store!

Good morning everyone.  

I am not a mechanic today.  My goal (as it has been the last 3 days) is to put gas in the car.  If all else fails, I shall uber.  I don't know what happened, I come from a long line of people that have Dave's can-do DNA, including being crafty/artsy. And, they can all make a killer pie crust without getting fat.  

127 today.  Food choices better yesterday tho not quite where I would like them to be.  My energy level rebounded in large part and got a respectable amount of steps in.  Busy day ahead with appt's for MIL, DD, myself and then DD again.  

Off to the races, 

Shel

Glad you are feeling better and have some energy! 

I am home. I hemmed and hawed about getting on the scale. I seriously thought about following Lesa's lead taking a week to get back on track and allow myself to do so without the pressure of the number on the scale. However, I chose this morning to step on the scale and accept my truth. After all, the scale is simply a tool of measurement. It does not pass judgement. 

After 9 days of off plan eating and a 5.5 hour flight yesterday I am up 3.4 pounds. Completely acceptable in my book. 

As I mentioned in one of my sporadic posts while on the east coast, I had to do some thinking about how to incorporate the new information I gleaned from reading The End of Overeating. One of the suggestions made by one of the CBTs the author interviewed was adopting rules that are simple, black and white and easy to follow. Rules that do not allow for negotiation, because when a person with conditioned hypereating begins negotiations, it's a done deal - the food will be consumed. (Sound familiar? Does to me!) The rules are not lifelong and can be flexible as the response to food in the brain changes, but during the initial phases of rewiring the brain's circuitry it is recommended that abstinence is the road to follow. Sure, there is more to it than just the rules, but it is a good place to start. 

I easily came up with three rules that will take care of my "rewiring". I have to say I am pleased to know myself so well now that I can easily pin down my foods that produce the almighty chemical and hormonal reaction in my brain. I have an appt. with the shrink today so I will talk about my rules and get some feedback.

There is also the "fear factor" to reckon with. The thought of completely eliminating a food/food group from my eating is always anxiety producing. Having been on and off some type of diet for that past 45 years and the food control imposed upon me in my childhood probably have a great deal to do with that. Anyway, I need to get comfortable in the next few days so that I may begin.

Okay.... Gonna keep going.... I've been away... so.....

The scale is neither friend nor foe. It is simply a tool of measurement. The scale does not pass judgement. We do that ourselves. The scale reflects our food lives over time, sure, but not so much on a day to day basis. Notice that Linda has a three pound range in which she works comfortably. That is a normal, flexible, fluctuating range.  Notice, too, that my trend has shown a steady increase in weight for well over 4 months. What both our scales reflect is our eating behavior over time. Linda owns her eating behavior and I own mine.

Where the difference lies is that Linda's scale is reinforcing that she has found a style of eating that is working over time for her. My scale shows me that my style of eating over the past months is not working for me to maintain my weight and I need to continue to evaluate, soul search, learn and MODIFY my eating behaviors and my internal dialog about food. 

Use the scale to understand what is going on with your food life. If you've gained 5-7 pounds (or 20 like me!), or maybe continued to lose when you really didn't need to, examine how that came about. Don't be like me a few years ago when I would say to myself, "You know what to do, so just do it." Honestly, for most of us when we are near a normal weight that just won't work. I encourage you to look at the driving forces of your eating. I'd bet 10 to 1 that, like me, most of us fight no win chemical and hormonal battles - those once you start, it's hard to stop eating episodes. If your battles are social and habitual, what can you change to help you navigate those situations? 

Hey, maybe it's also a matter of saying, "You know what? I'm happy right here." If you can say that and mean it, own it. 

My cousin-in-law took this pic of me with my cousin, her daughter, and my aunt (the sane one) on Sunday. I used this picture to help me understand how the scale translates into my appearance. Yup, I'm heavier than I want to be, but I'm not obese and I look healthy. We are all works in progress and always will be. 

So take what you like and leave the rest, my friends. Happy to be back and checking in with my WLS family! 

Great photo!

Greetings Prolific Poopers

Seems to be the theme of the day. Wish I could join you. Up a half to 130.5 Seems like I gotta gain and lose the same half pound about 15 times before it goes away. Like shutting the door in the salesman's face over and over until they get the message. 

Well dog Chip is getting "fixed" today and I am getting fixed at the chiropractor and then at the DMV. Not much fun on tap but oh well. 

Welcome new members. I think its wise to start learning about maintenance while still in the losing phase. Many of us got to goal and then felt like we were dropped off the bus in the middle of nowhere and left to find our way home.  Its good to anticipate the issues and scope of maintenance and firmly establish the new habits now. I totally got rid of bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and such and pretty much adhere to that. 

Good on you Dave for being Mr. Fix-It.  My DH has all the tools but doesn't get around to using them.  

DH has the puppy out for a walk. He will soon discover what a wild child she really is.  Tee Hee.   Diane S

Sticking at 114 so all is well. Another great day with DD and DH - bought a sweet little casual travel dress, which is something I didn't have in my wardrobe (gasp). We're off to Fairmont to spend some time in the hot springs and take a look around town.

I treasure the level of disclosure and insight here.  I love each and every one of you.