So I read this article in Essence about how writing out lists of your goals helps you to accomplish them. I am all about lists. I have several post it notes on my desk at work listing what I need to do for the day. I have lists of the ideal qualities I want in a man (we're almost at 100 now). I have lists in my head of my top 5 movies or the best singles of the 1990s. But what I love most about lists (even beyond how fun it is to create them) is how good it feels to check something off of one. So I put together a list of 31 things I want to do before I turn 31. Unfortunately, I didn't create this list until December . . . which means I have less than a year to get many of these things done. I recognize some of them will take me longer than even a year to do, and some I was able to accomplish over the weekend. Nonetheless, I have this list at home, it's in my Blackberry and now it's in cyberspace . . .
If anyone is reading this, and can help me accomplish any of these goals, please let me know! For example, if you want to go see an independent film (yes, I still need to see "Slum Dog Millionaire") or you know a place to get a good bicycle, desk or large mirror, HOLLA!
THE LIST (in no particular order)
1. Find a physical activity I enjoy doing
2. Write a book
3. Do sit-ups nightly
4. Eliminate credit card debt by 50%
5. Get 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times/week
6. Make one home improvement
7. Lose at least 20 lbs
8. Get a passport
9. Go to New Orleans
10. Watch more documentaries and independent films
11. Get a bicycle
12. Balance my checkbook weekly
13. Buy a desk
14. Find a side gig
15. Take vitamins daily
16. Drink more water
17. Get carpets cleaned - DONE!
18. Learn more about football
19. Stop wearing so much black
20. Read more
21. Increase balance in savings account
22. Cook one major meal each week
23. Buy a pair of designer jeans
24. Reduce junk food and fast food intake
25. Buy a large mirror for the dining room
26. Pay off car!
27. Get a physical
28. Complete family tree and send to family
29. Achieve more physical satisfaction
30. Eliminate negative relationships - platonic, familial and romantic
31. Get more involved in church
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Office
(NOTE: I think I lost 3 lbs! I attribute that to a serious increase in physical activity this week. Yay!)
My sorority sister and I were chatting today about the challenges of being healthy in your work environment. She told me how the "pink box" stared at her menacingly from the office kitchen while she was in there putting hot water on her natural oatmeal.
"I came around the corner and even before I walked in the room, I saw it," she told me, "The pink box."
I totally echoed her sentiment. Sometimes it can be hard to eat healthy at work. Sometimes it can be hard to eat unhealthily at work. Either way, for those of us that spend most of our time in an office, it is amazing how much it influences our eating habits.
I have worked in a variety of jobs and I think I've seen the gamut. One job, I worked with a bunch of foodies. Foodies are annoying. They are those people who take a bite of something and say, "Is that cinnamon? No, it's definitely vanilla." These are the people who will not go with you on a run to Wendy's and who frown when you bring in a Big Gulp. I appreciate a healthy work environment, but not when it is STIFLING. And foodies at work are totally stifling.
On the other hand, it sucks when you work with people who don't pay attention to what they eat. One internship I had in graduate school, every Friday we had doughnuts (the freakin' pink box). Boy was it hard to diet when you had the doughnut fairy visit your desk every Friday . . .
Then there are places where you "celebrate." It doesn't matter what it is - birthdays, weddings, promotions, boob jobs - they celebrate EVERYTHING. And celebration usually equates to CAKE. This isn't the worst kind of environment, but it does promote the idea that dessert/unhealthy food = rewards. And that is problematic thinking for someone like me.
I try to avoid Cake Time, as we call it at work, these days. Normally I'd be first in line next to the birthday girl/bride/new father for a slice of whatever. And technically, sweets every now and then aren't bad. However, I recognize that I'm not good with the self-control.
So for now, I hope my coworkers are not offended when I don't celebrate their escrow or new kitten with them and some cake.
My sorority sister and I were chatting today about the challenges of being healthy in your work environment. She told me how the "pink box" stared at her menacingly from the office kitchen while she was in there putting hot water on her natural oatmeal.
"I came around the corner and even before I walked in the room, I saw it," she told me, "The pink box."
I totally echoed her sentiment. Sometimes it can be hard to eat healthy at work. Sometimes it can be hard to eat unhealthily at work. Either way, for those of us that spend most of our time in an office, it is amazing how much it influences our eating habits.
I have worked in a variety of jobs and I think I've seen the gamut. One job, I worked with a bunch of foodies. Foodies are annoying. They are those people who take a bite of something and say, "Is that cinnamon? No, it's definitely vanilla." These are the people who will not go with you on a run to Wendy's and who frown when you bring in a Big Gulp. I appreciate a healthy work environment, but not when it is STIFLING. And foodies at work are totally stifling.
On the other hand, it sucks when you work with people who don't pay attention to what they eat. One internship I had in graduate school, every Friday we had doughnuts (the freakin' pink box). Boy was it hard to diet when you had the doughnut fairy visit your desk every Friday . . .
Then there are places where you "celebrate." It doesn't matter what it is - birthdays, weddings, promotions, boob jobs - they celebrate EVERYTHING. And celebration usually equates to CAKE. This isn't the worst kind of environment, but it does promote the idea that dessert/unhealthy food = rewards. And that is problematic thinking for someone like me.
I try to avoid Cake Time, as we call it at work, these days. Normally I'd be first in line next to the birthday girl/bride/new father for a slice of whatever. And technically, sweets every now and then aren't bad. However, I recognize that I'm not good with the self-control.
So for now, I hope my coworkers are not offended when I don't celebrate their escrow or new kitten with them and some cake.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
They're Calling Me . . .
It's a little after 6 pm and I have just wrapped up work at the office. I could probably stay for an hour more working, but I realize I cannot. Because the Fast Food Monsters are calling me . . .
It reminds me of this commercial I've seen where this woman is working late and she gets a call on her office phone. It's the doughnut calling her from the lobby, asking her to come eat it. I hear that call right now.
It's not even that I'm super hungry (I had a snack of fruit that was surprisingly filling). It's that it's already dark, I've got an 1.5 hour drive ahead of me, and I already know I have only leftover chili in the fridge (despite spending $80 at the grocery store a little over a week ago). These are times that fast food is like, "C'mon, J . . ."
Before my coworker left I told him I was strongly tempted to pick something up on the way home. Even as a type this, I am thinking of ways I could possibly justify a #6 (the spicy chicken sandwich meal) at Wendy's in Cordelia. It's late. I have no food at home. I worked out the last few days. One meal won't hurt.
I am lying to myself. I have some salad fixings in the crisper (they look unappetizing). I already had my cheat meal this week (a chicken salad tostada yesterday after step practice - although I skipped the shell). And yes, one meal, will hurt. I am not skinny. I do not have fast metabolism. So yes, one meal is going to make a difference for someone like me.
Meanwhile, the beaches of Jamaica call to me. As do my tight-fitting pants. As do the pictures of myself I was recently looking at. I also have to acknowledge that for some reason getting fast food is like a reward to myself. For working late. For enduring a commute. For being a Black woman in America. I don't know, but I am pretty good at finding ways to reward myself for even the smallest things. And that is legitimate. I have had some tough times, really tough times, that I didn't even realize I had the strength to endure. Yet, rewarding myself with fast food is no reward. I'll regret it later. When I feel like a whale in Jamaica. When my pants are cutting off my circulation. When I take some more horrible pictures.
Obama got inaugurated today. Everyone is saying it's a new day. "CHANGE," the streets chant.
Perhaps I should too.
Oh well, guess it's leftover chili (hey, it's just beans, tomatoes and lean ground beef and some seasonings) and wilted salad for me tonight.
It reminds me of this commercial I've seen where this woman is working late and she gets a call on her office phone. It's the doughnut calling her from the lobby, asking her to come eat it. I hear that call right now.
It's not even that I'm super hungry (I had a snack of fruit that was surprisingly filling). It's that it's already dark, I've got an 1.5 hour drive ahead of me, and I already know I have only leftover chili in the fridge (despite spending $80 at the grocery store a little over a week ago). These are times that fast food is like, "C'mon, J . . ."
Before my coworker left I told him I was strongly tempted to pick something up on the way home. Even as a type this, I am thinking of ways I could possibly justify a #6 (the spicy chicken sandwich meal) at Wendy's in Cordelia. It's late. I have no food at home. I worked out the last few days. One meal won't hurt.
I am lying to myself. I have some salad fixings in the crisper (they look unappetizing). I already had my cheat meal this week (a chicken salad tostada yesterday after step practice - although I skipped the shell). And yes, one meal, will hurt. I am not skinny. I do not have fast metabolism. So yes, one meal is going to make a difference for someone like me.
Meanwhile, the beaches of Jamaica call to me. As do my tight-fitting pants. As do the pictures of myself I was recently looking at. I also have to acknowledge that for some reason getting fast food is like a reward to myself. For working late. For enduring a commute. For being a Black woman in America. I don't know, but I am pretty good at finding ways to reward myself for even the smallest things. And that is legitimate. I have had some tough times, really tough times, that I didn't even realize I had the strength to endure. Yet, rewarding myself with fast food is no reward. I'll regret it later. When I feel like a whale in Jamaica. When my pants are cutting off my circulation. When I take some more horrible pictures.
Obama got inaugurated today. Everyone is saying it's a new day. "CHANGE," the streets chant.
Perhaps I should too.
Oh well, guess it's leftover chili (hey, it's just beans, tomatoes and lean ground beef and some seasonings) and wilted salad for me tonight.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Father Figure
I could write a BOOK, much less a blog entry, about the intersection between my family and my healthy living. Perhaps I will someday, but for now I'd thought I'd start with one aspect: my dad.
I had a pretty awesome father and it's not until this whole process that I've realized that he, probably more so than anyone else in my family (surprisingly since I have a mother and a sister who are big on dieting), had a big influence on my eating and physical activity habits. For better or worse.
It was 1998, the end of my sophomore year of college, and I had vowed to be a vegetarian. It was going great - up until school ended and I went back home. My mom was pretty supportive of it - even experimented in non-meat dinners. My dad regularly grumbled like the Wendy's lady, "Where's the beef?" Around late June/early July, I was helping my dad out in his office. It was lunchtime. He said, "Hey, Mi, you want to go get us some KFC for lunch?" I told him, "Dad, I'm not eating meat, remember?" He looked at me for a minute, a bemused expression on his face. Then he proceeded to pass me a $20, "Really? No meat?" I, paused, took the $20 and promptly went and got us both 2 piece meals and strawberry sodas. I think he let me keep the change. (Note: to anyone else who is considering leaving vegetarianism, do not make KFC your first meat-filled meal. Bad move.)
My dad was also the first person to introduce me to the gym. He regularly went to swim or sauna, sometimes lift weights. I would tag along, try the machines out. My dad was also usually the first person to say, "Hey, you're getting chubby." Man, did that make me go on a diet. He didn't harp on it, he just would mention it and once was enough for it to be effective. At the same time, he was supportive when he saw I was trying. I once lost 10 lbs and excitedly told my parents. My mom was not impressed. "Only ten pounds? That's nothing!" My dad rolled his eyes at her and said, "Good job, Mila."
When I was preparing for my organ donation, the surgeon told me I needed to drop 10 pounds in about a month. It was incredibly stressful - when you're preparing for major surgery the last thing you want to think about it your diet - but it was for my dad, so I did it (I totally lost more than that too).
Motivation is a helluva thing.
I had a pretty awesome father and it's not until this whole process that I've realized that he, probably more so than anyone else in my family (surprisingly since I have a mother and a sister who are big on dieting), had a big influence on my eating and physical activity habits. For better or worse.
It was 1998, the end of my sophomore year of college, and I had vowed to be a vegetarian. It was going great - up until school ended and I went back home. My mom was pretty supportive of it - even experimented in non-meat dinners. My dad regularly grumbled like the Wendy's lady, "Where's the beef?" Around late June/early July, I was helping my dad out in his office. It was lunchtime. He said, "Hey, Mi, you want to go get us some KFC for lunch?" I told him, "Dad, I'm not eating meat, remember?" He looked at me for a minute, a bemused expression on his face. Then he proceeded to pass me a $20, "Really? No meat?" I, paused, took the $20 and promptly went and got us both 2 piece meals and strawberry sodas. I think he let me keep the change. (Note: to anyone else who is considering leaving vegetarianism, do not make KFC your first meat-filled meal. Bad move.)
My dad was also the first person to introduce me to the gym. He regularly went to swim or sauna, sometimes lift weights. I would tag along, try the machines out. My dad was also usually the first person to say, "Hey, you're getting chubby." Man, did that make me go on a diet. He didn't harp on it, he just would mention it and once was enough for it to be effective. At the same time, he was supportive when he saw I was trying. I once lost 10 lbs and excitedly told my parents. My mom was not impressed. "Only ten pounds? That's nothing!" My dad rolled his eyes at her and said, "Good job, Mila."
When I was preparing for my organ donation, the surgeon told me I needed to drop 10 pounds in about a month. It was incredibly stressful - when you're preparing for major surgery the last thing you want to think about it your diet - but it was for my dad, so I did it (I totally lost more than that too).
Motivation is a helluva thing.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Top Ten . . .
. . . Reasons that Living Near Lake Merrit is Good for My Diet
10. Trader Joe's: I think sometimes TJs tried to pass itself off as a health food place, but beware of the many prepared foods and their high calorie content. However, I think they have inexpensive produce - small section though - and a lot of healthy snack options (like dried fruit, nuts, flavored water, etc.).
9. BART: Almost ironically (although I don't think it's the proper definition of ironic) the Lake Merrit BART station is pretty far from Lake Merrit. It's much closer to Jack London Square. The 12th or 19th St. BART stations are closer to the Lake. It's about a mile away from my house, but a much better option than driving into SF and dealing with parking, the bridge and hills (I have an unnatural fear of driving up a hill).
8. Lack of Parking: There is no parking in my neighborhood. Like you visit me, you might as well park in Emeryville or San Leandro because you sure won't find a spot on my street. This means also that I am encouraged to walk when I have somewhere to go to nearby (for example #7).
7. Gold's Gym: Like many, I had this stereotype of GG as the place where the bodybuilders go. I mean, they have a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger in there. And though I want to get toned, I don't want to have more muscles than my man. But I like it! It's near my house, I like their group exercise classes and best of all they have little TVs on the treadmills! I can jog and watch "King of Queens." AWESOME.
6. Safeway: It has a decent produce section and they are open late. So I have no excuse to go to McDonald's if I'm hungry at night. Oh, and Safeway has the best tomato and mozzerella salad.
5. Lack of Fast Food: So there are not a lot of fast food choices in the area. McDonald's, Taco Bell, Cheesesteak Shoppe, Ahn's Burger, etc. Fast food is the downfall for me because I am in my car a lot and sometimes I get home late and just don't feel like cooking. But when my only options are McDonald's or Taco Bell because everything else is closed, I am motivated to eat some cereal and call it a night. Plus, I found a hair in my Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell once. It was BAKED in so I know it wasn't mine. Man did that discovery turn me off from all things South of the Border.
4. The Stairs: I discovered these last year, though I've lived in the area since 2003. They are great! There are about 7-8 flights near the Lake that you can get an easy quick workout (Kenyatta, when are we doing the stairs?????). And I seriously feel it.
3. The Farmer's Market: The Saturday morning farmer's market is not only walking distance from my house, but I get the best strawberries from one of the vendors. So I get my exercise and I get fresh fruit for a good price (support local farmers!).
2. Whole Foods: Or "Whole Paycheck" as my friend Kisha calls it. It's expensive but it has so many CHOICES!
1. Lake Merritt: The Lake is beautiful, it's walking friendly and it's down the hill from my house. I have no reason for not taking a 3.5 mile walk at least once a week. Plus, there are always cuties walking around the Lake. Eye candy always helps with almost any activity . . .
10. Trader Joe's: I think sometimes TJs tried to pass itself off as a health food place, but beware of the many prepared foods and their high calorie content. However, I think they have inexpensive produce - small section though - and a lot of healthy snack options (like dried fruit, nuts, flavored water, etc.).
9. BART: Almost ironically (although I don't think it's the proper definition of ironic) the Lake Merrit BART station is pretty far from Lake Merrit. It's much closer to Jack London Square. The 12th or 19th St. BART stations are closer to the Lake. It's about a mile away from my house, but a much better option than driving into SF and dealing with parking, the bridge and hills (I have an unnatural fear of driving up a hill).
8. Lack of Parking: There is no parking in my neighborhood. Like you visit me, you might as well park in Emeryville or San Leandro because you sure won't find a spot on my street. This means also that I am encouraged to walk when I have somewhere to go to nearby (for example #7).
7. Gold's Gym: Like many, I had this stereotype of GG as the place where the bodybuilders go. I mean, they have a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger in there. And though I want to get toned, I don't want to have more muscles than my man. But I like it! It's near my house, I like their group exercise classes and best of all they have little TVs on the treadmills! I can jog and watch "King of Queens." AWESOME.
6. Safeway: It has a decent produce section and they are open late. So I have no excuse to go to McDonald's if I'm hungry at night. Oh, and Safeway has the best tomato and mozzerella salad.
5. Lack of Fast Food: So there are not a lot of fast food choices in the area. McDonald's, Taco Bell, Cheesesteak Shoppe, Ahn's Burger, etc. Fast food is the downfall for me because I am in my car a lot and sometimes I get home late and just don't feel like cooking. But when my only options are McDonald's or Taco Bell because everything else is closed, I am motivated to eat some cereal and call it a night. Plus, I found a hair in my Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell once. It was BAKED in so I know it wasn't mine. Man did that discovery turn me off from all things South of the Border.
4. The Stairs: I discovered these last year, though I've lived in the area since 2003. They are great! There are about 7-8 flights near the Lake that you can get an easy quick workout (Kenyatta, when are we doing the stairs?????). And I seriously feel it.
3. The Farmer's Market: The Saturday morning farmer's market is not only walking distance from my house, but I get the best strawberries from one of the vendors. So I get my exercise and I get fresh fruit for a good price (support local farmers!).
2. Whole Foods: Or "Whole Paycheck" as my friend Kisha calls it. It's expensive but it has so many CHOICES!
1. Lake Merritt: The Lake is beautiful, it's walking friendly and it's down the hill from my house. I have no reason for not taking a 3.5 mile walk at least once a week. Plus, there are always cuties walking around the Lake. Eye candy always helps with almost any activity . . .
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Levels of Singlehood
As much as I would like to blame all my weight problems on men, I realize that it's not only men, it's my level of singlehood that influences my diet. Yes, I totally believe there are different levels of being single. And I was thinking that I've noticed they totally influence my diet.
Level One - "I'm SINGLE, SINGLE"
This level can either be disastrous for your diet or great for it, depending on when it occurs. This is when you're super single. You're not engaged in some sort of text-based relationship or be e-mailing someone or involved with any sort of booty call. This is when you are dating YOURSELF. There is no man in your life, and you're not looking for one. In fact, at some point you forget what it's like to get your door opened for you or have a 2 hour make out session. This usually occurs when you get out of a relationship. If I'm too close to my break-up, then I spend this level eating taquitos or strawberry cheesecake ice cream, and justifying it in some way. Like, "He treated me so bad, I totally deserve this extra [slice/piece/leg, etc.] of [insert food here]." So, of course I gain a few pounds at the SINGLE, SINGLE LEVEL. And then at some point, I become disgusted with myself and get all into the Monday night Abs class at Gold's Gym and the Lake Merrit Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. And that is when SINGLE, SINGLE is great for my health.
Level Two - "My Dance Card is Almost Full"
I have noticed that when I am single, but I am open to dating, I am still very health-conscious. I usually start going out with friends and smiling back at strangers on the street. I think I am motivated by the positive attention I receive from men (rather than avoidance of it that occurs in Level One) and I attribute it to my newfound healthy habits. I also have free time to devote to myself because I'm not necessarily seeing one person regularly. It's like being asked to dance enough to know you look pretty good, but not too much so that you hair is sweated out (or your dance card is full). I think I am probably at my happiest at this level because I'm very ME focused.
Level Three - "Uh Oh, I like Someone"
Okay, this time is when things start to go south for me. I've met someone that I'm very interested in and I start becoming less ME focused and more HIM focused. Regardless of whether or not the guy is a High Metabolism Guy or a Workout Guy (it's doubtful a Diet Guy would make it to this Level with me), we're engaging in the getting-to-know-you activities which usually involve dinners, drinks or long phone conversations. Plus I'm usually tired because I'm trying to figure out the best way to incorporate this man into my life. It's not the worst level though, because although I've met someone I like in Level Three, I'm not 100% sold on him, so I still do take time for myself.
Level Four - "Jamila and [insert name here] Sitting in a Tree . . ."
This is the WORST for me - depending on the kind of man I'm involved with of course. But the point is, I notice that when I am "technically" single (like I'm still checking the Single box on my 1040 forms), I am so into my relationship and doing things for my new man, that I totally forget about myself. Not that any of the men who I've been involved with would ever tell you, "Yeah, that Jamila really took care of me. Did my laundry, washed my feet, rotated my tires." I'm not one of those kinds of chicks. But when I like someone I LIKE them and it makes me happy to make them happy. Unless the man has good eating and physical activity habits, I totally do not. Plus, all that time I spent on myself and working out, I now spend on him. Not okay.
Level One - "I'm SINGLE, SINGLE"
This level can either be disastrous for your diet or great for it, depending on when it occurs. This is when you're super single. You're not engaged in some sort of text-based relationship or be e-mailing someone or involved with any sort of booty call. This is when you are dating YOURSELF. There is no man in your life, and you're not looking for one. In fact, at some point you forget what it's like to get your door opened for you or have a 2 hour make out session. This usually occurs when you get out of a relationship. If I'm too close to my break-up, then I spend this level eating taquitos or strawberry cheesecake ice cream, and justifying it in some way. Like, "He treated me so bad, I totally deserve this extra [slice/piece/leg, etc.] of [insert food here]." So, of course I gain a few pounds at the SINGLE, SINGLE LEVEL. And then at some point, I become disgusted with myself and get all into the Monday night Abs class at Gold's Gym and the Lake Merrit Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. And that is when SINGLE, SINGLE is great for my health.
Level Two - "My Dance Card is Almost Full"
I have noticed that when I am single, but I am open to dating, I am still very health-conscious. I usually start going out with friends and smiling back at strangers on the street. I think I am motivated by the positive attention I receive from men (rather than avoidance of it that occurs in Level One) and I attribute it to my newfound healthy habits. I also have free time to devote to myself because I'm not necessarily seeing one person regularly. It's like being asked to dance enough to know you look pretty good, but not too much so that you hair is sweated out (or your dance card is full). I think I am probably at my happiest at this level because I'm very ME focused.
Level Three - "Uh Oh, I like Someone"
Okay, this time is when things start to go south for me. I've met someone that I'm very interested in and I start becoming less ME focused and more HIM focused. Regardless of whether or not the guy is a High Metabolism Guy or a Workout Guy (it's doubtful a Diet Guy would make it to this Level with me), we're engaging in the getting-to-know-you activities which usually involve dinners, drinks or long phone conversations. Plus I'm usually tired because I'm trying to figure out the best way to incorporate this man into my life. It's not the worst level though, because although I've met someone I like in Level Three, I'm not 100% sold on him, so I still do take time for myself.
Level Four - "Jamila and [insert name here] Sitting in a Tree . . ."
This is the WORST for me - depending on the kind of man I'm involved with of course. But the point is, I notice that when I am "technically" single (like I'm still checking the Single box on my 1040 forms), I am so into my relationship and doing things for my new man, that I totally forget about myself. Not that any of the men who I've been involved with would ever tell you, "Yeah, that Jamila really took care of me. Did my laundry, washed my feet, rotated my tires." I'm not one of those kinds of chicks. But when I like someone I LIKE them and it makes me happy to make them happy. Unless the man has good eating and physical activity habits, I totally do not. Plus, all that time I spent on myself and working out, I now spend on him. Not okay.
I think it's important that I'm recognizing my habits. That's the first step in making changes . . . I did okay today. I did take a walk at lunchtime, and I had a healthy lunch. I also tried Diet Coke for the first time in a while again. I prefer water. Bleh. I have to be better with eating breakfast though!!!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Get With the Program
Okay, so what IS my program? Well, it's tailored to what I've noticed my problems are, and what I've had success with in the past.
- If I absolutely must have a soda, make it diet
- Eat fruits/vegetables with every meal
- No more Betty Crocker - stop baking cupcakes, cookies and brownies for people!
- Exercise every day I am not in Sacramento
- Take the stairs whenever possible
- Drink water constantly
- Significantly reduce refined sugar intake (goodbye steak fries!) and switch to all things whole grain
- Whenever possible, choose grilled or baked over fried
- Bring lunch to work
- No more fast food
- Skip the bread at Kincaid's, the chips at Chevy's and the coffee cake at my department meetings
- Do sit ups nightly
- Take multivitamins daily
It's kind of a simple program. Let's hope I can follow it . . .
Adventures in Fad Dieting
I have found that when I announce I'm on a diet, people like to be helpful and tell me how their sister or their cousin lost 30 pounds only eating grapefruit for a month. Now in no way, shape or form do I have an RD or any kind of letters after my name indicating that I am an expert in weight-loss. I've never lost SERIOUS weight like Oprah. But I have had 15+ years of dieting experience and I have been on several fad diets. Before anyone starts telling me that I should do the Lemonade Diet or the Cottage Cheese diet, I think I should explain my history with Fad Diets so you know where I'm coming from.
Weight Watchers (2000, 2006): I first tried it with my mom in 2000. We were steadily counting our little points, and we went to a meeting. My mom even bought the Weight Watchers cookbook. But when I kept losing the little post-it notes that had my daily points on them, I said, "F--- it." I'm not real good with the eyeballing amounts. Like a large apple is 2 points, but a medium apple is 1 point. WTF? And when it's the end of the day and you're trying to decide if you can eat that cookie (because it is worth 6 points but you can only eat 5 more points that day), whether or not you ate a large apple or a medium apple really makes a difference. I went back in 2006 and tried it but I think I made it 1 week.
Atkins (2002): After urging from my brother in law and reading the famous book, I embarked on the 2 week induction period where you eat NO carbs. At first it was fun eating cream cheese on celery and butter drenched steak. I lost about 10 lbs after 2 weeks but I promptly went back to carbs after the 2 week period. Why? After a week eating only cheese and meat and veggies, I was tired. I mean, I just DREADED every meal because I had to make sure it did not have one, single carb in it. So eventually, I just didn't want as much food. It was too much focus on food. Plus I don't trust a diet that doesn't let you chew gum. I mean, come on, GUM?
Lose 10 lbs in 3 Days (2007): I have done this one a few times, the most successful in 2007. I make it to Day 2 and am usually like, "Bleh." Yet another diet where you lose weight because you're not eating. It's very strict. You can have like 1 cup of beets, 2 oz of meat and 1 slice of cheese for dinner on Day 1 and a banana and grapefruit for breakfast on Day 2 and some other crap like that. Way too restrictive for me (I'm a free spirit) and I was RAVENOUS in between meals. Plus, I really do not like beets.
Calorie Counting (2004): Like Weight Watchers, this is just a concept where you eat what you want but you make sure you stay within your calorie allotment. I actually liked this program. Again, I had problems keeping track of calories though. Considering I just started regularly balancing my checkbook, obviously keeping a running calorie tab is a challenge; I'm just not detail-oriented by nature. But what I like about it is that it encourages you to read labels more. I hear they have some calculators that can keep track of it for you now . . .
Slim Fast (1997, 2001): The time I lost the most weight of my life was the summer of 1997. I can't attribute it to Slim Fast too much, because that summer I worked out every single day. (I was home for the summer from college and my parents had moved away from my high school friends to the boondocks and I was bored. So bored, I started working out.) I tried the meal replacement bars in 2001 when I was teaching. I told my students, "Miss Edwards is going on a diet so don't bring her any candy, okay kids?" They were very supportive. Problem was Miss Edwards was a bit crabby when she was on Slim Fast because she was hungry. At one point one of my students said, "Miss Edwards can you stop dieting? You're nicer when you're not on a diet." Needless to say, I stopped dieting.
Diet Pills (1995): Now, I didn't pull a Kelly Taylor (90210 fans, stand up!) and start taking any uppers to make me act all crazy. I tried Dexatrim I think and it totally worked in deflating my appetite. I remember getting full off of a large sprite one time. However, in my post-organ donation/blood clot life, there are certain things I'm just not going to mess around with. Hello, Anna Nicole?
So, how am I doing?
Sunday was pretty bad, I won't event talk about it. But today (Monday) is going better so far. Have had a lot of water and fruit and brought my lunch. My afternoon snack will be some salad.
Weight Watchers (2000, 2006): I first tried it with my mom in 2000. We were steadily counting our little points, and we went to a meeting. My mom even bought the Weight Watchers cookbook. But when I kept losing the little post-it notes that had my daily points on them, I said, "F--- it." I'm not real good with the eyeballing amounts. Like a large apple is 2 points, but a medium apple is 1 point. WTF? And when it's the end of the day and you're trying to decide if you can eat that cookie (because it is worth 6 points but you can only eat 5 more points that day), whether or not you ate a large apple or a medium apple really makes a difference. I went back in 2006 and tried it but I think I made it 1 week.
Atkins (2002): After urging from my brother in law and reading the famous book, I embarked on the 2 week induction period where you eat NO carbs. At first it was fun eating cream cheese on celery and butter drenched steak. I lost about 10 lbs after 2 weeks but I promptly went back to carbs after the 2 week period. Why? After a week eating only cheese and meat and veggies, I was tired. I mean, I just DREADED every meal because I had to make sure it did not have one, single carb in it. So eventually, I just didn't want as much food. It was too much focus on food. Plus I don't trust a diet that doesn't let you chew gum. I mean, come on, GUM?
Lose 10 lbs in 3 Days (2007): I have done this one a few times, the most successful in 2007. I make it to Day 2 and am usually like, "Bleh." Yet another diet where you lose weight because you're not eating. It's very strict. You can have like 1 cup of beets, 2 oz of meat and 1 slice of cheese for dinner on Day 1 and a banana and grapefruit for breakfast on Day 2 and some other crap like that. Way too restrictive for me (I'm a free spirit) and I was RAVENOUS in between meals. Plus, I really do not like beets.
Calorie Counting (2004): Like Weight Watchers, this is just a concept where you eat what you want but you make sure you stay within your calorie allotment. I actually liked this program. Again, I had problems keeping track of calories though. Considering I just started regularly balancing my checkbook, obviously keeping a running calorie tab is a challenge; I'm just not detail-oriented by nature. But what I like about it is that it encourages you to read labels more. I hear they have some calculators that can keep track of it for you now . . .
Slim Fast (1997, 2001): The time I lost the most weight of my life was the summer of 1997. I can't attribute it to Slim Fast too much, because that summer I worked out every single day. (I was home for the summer from college and my parents had moved away from my high school friends to the boondocks and I was bored. So bored, I started working out.) I tried the meal replacement bars in 2001 when I was teaching. I told my students, "Miss Edwards is going on a diet so don't bring her any candy, okay kids?" They were very supportive. Problem was Miss Edwards was a bit crabby when she was on Slim Fast because she was hungry. At one point one of my students said, "Miss Edwards can you stop dieting? You're nicer when you're not on a diet." Needless to say, I stopped dieting.
Diet Pills (1995): Now, I didn't pull a Kelly Taylor (90210 fans, stand up!) and start taking any uppers to make me act all crazy. I tried Dexatrim I think and it totally worked in deflating my appetite. I remember getting full off of a large sprite one time. However, in my post-organ donation/blood clot life, there are certain things I'm just not going to mess around with. Hello, Anna Nicole?
So, how am I doing?
Sunday was pretty bad, I won't event talk about it. But today (Monday) is going better so far. Have had a lot of water and fruit and brought my lunch. My afternoon snack will be some salad.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
When in Rome . . .
So, I realized (a while ago) that there is a relationship between my diet, my level of physical activity and men. I call it the "When in Rome" Factor, as in "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Example #1: Sporty Guy and Workout Guy. Sporty Guy is the guy who stays in shape by playing a lot of sports. I am really attracted to this guy. In college, I was with a great basketball player; I LOVED watching him on the court. I would go watch him play at the gym and would get in a workout. I was very fit that year because he played a lot of basketball. Workout Guy is the dude who is just big on the gym in general. He takes vitamins and drinks protein shakes, too. When I'm with him, I'm big on the gym and vitamins. The last Workout Guy I was with, I worked out so much I dropped a size in pants in a couple months. (I also discovered that when you live with someone and they get on your nerves, the gym is a great place to escape to. So perhaps my level of physical activity in that situation was somewhat related to the fact that the last Workout Guy REALLY got on my nerves)
Example #2: High Metabolism Guy. Those are the bastards who can eat whatever they want and not gain weight. They usually have HORRIBLE diets, which usually means they eat REALLY GOOD food. And they also make me want to cook for them. When I am dating High Metabolism Guy, I am constantly making him cupcakes or brownies, and we are usually going out to eat a lot. Naturally, I GAIN weight with High Metabolism Guy.
There are exceptions to this theory. For example, Diet Guy. I HATE this guy. I usually do not date him for very long. In fact, I find a man who watches his weight VERY UNATTRACTIVE. I went on a date not too long ago to a soul food restaurant with a man I thought might be a Diet Guy. Here's how the conversation went:
HIM:I wonder how their salads are . . .
ME: You're going to order a salad at a place that specializes in fried fish? Are you serious? You better not order a salad.
HIM [after a pause]: I wonder how their shrimp is . . .
For some reason, I just think a man who orders salad for dinner (unless we're at Fresh Choice) or asks for a lemon in his water because it will speed up his metabolism, is just not really a man. Diet Guy doesn't encourage me to eat healthier, he just disgusts me.
I think that in the end, it's important for me to be with a man who is supportive of my healthy lifestyle, without being critical of it, and who practices a healthy lifestyle of his own. Oh yeah, and he cannot have attended a Weight Watchers meeting or own a Diet book.
Oh yeah, how did I do today?
Good:
Bad:
Example #1: Sporty Guy and Workout Guy. Sporty Guy is the guy who stays in shape by playing a lot of sports. I am really attracted to this guy. In college, I was with a great basketball player; I LOVED watching him on the court. I would go watch him play at the gym and would get in a workout. I was very fit that year because he played a lot of basketball. Workout Guy is the dude who is just big on the gym in general. He takes vitamins and drinks protein shakes, too. When I'm with him, I'm big on the gym and vitamins. The last Workout Guy I was with, I worked out so much I dropped a size in pants in a couple months. (I also discovered that when you live with someone and they get on your nerves, the gym is a great place to escape to. So perhaps my level of physical activity in that situation was somewhat related to the fact that the last Workout Guy REALLY got on my nerves)
Example #2: High Metabolism Guy. Those are the bastards who can eat whatever they want and not gain weight. They usually have HORRIBLE diets, which usually means they eat REALLY GOOD food. And they also make me want to cook for them. When I am dating High Metabolism Guy, I am constantly making him cupcakes or brownies, and we are usually going out to eat a lot. Naturally, I GAIN weight with High Metabolism Guy.
There are exceptions to this theory. For example, Diet Guy. I HATE this guy. I usually do not date him for very long. In fact, I find a man who watches his weight VERY UNATTRACTIVE. I went on a date not too long ago to a soul food restaurant with a man I thought might be a Diet Guy. Here's how the conversation went:
HIM:I wonder how their salads are . . .
ME: You're going to order a salad at a place that specializes in fried fish? Are you serious? You better not order a salad.
HIM [after a pause]: I wonder how their shrimp is . . .
For some reason, I just think a man who orders salad for dinner (unless we're at Fresh Choice) or asks for a lemon in his water because it will speed up his metabolism, is just not really a man. Diet Guy doesn't encourage me to eat healthier, he just disgusts me.
I think that in the end, it's important for me to be with a man who is supportive of my healthy lifestyle, without being critical of it, and who practices a healthy lifestyle of his own. Oh yeah, and he cannot have attended a Weight Watchers meeting or own a Diet book.
Oh yeah, how did I do today?
Good:
- Drank a lot of water (no soda!)
- Ate breakfast
- Snacked on fruit
- Skipped the fortune cookie
- Did the stairs at Lake Merrit
- Had a vigorous step practice
- Took the stairs and not the elevator in my building
Bad:
- Chinese food for lunch
- Wine with dinner
The journey continues . . .
Friday, January 9, 2009
My Pants Don't Fit
I have been a yo-yo dieter probably since puberty. It's been a cycle of self-acceptance to self-hatred to self-deprivation to self-acceptance again. At some point, maybe in my late 20s I decided that I wasn't the fattest kid on the playground, so I would stop the vicious cycle and just concentrate on being healthy, maybe working out. In fact the times in my life when I haven't focused on dieting but just eating better and working out more are the times I have lost the most weight. And then 2008 happened . . . it was a tough year full of personal challenges and MUCH weight gain. Some of it I didn't have a lot of control over and rather than start the vicious cycle again, I found excuses to not seriously do something about it. I told myself I was too tired from my 1.5 hour commute to go work out. Or it was too cold outside to take the stairs. Or one meal with french fries wouldn't make THAT much of a difference. I tried briefly doing a crash diet before I went to South Beach this past September. But my heart wasn't in it and I found yet another reason to justify NOT trying to live healthy. I think that time I figured if I could still get a date, I probably wasn't THAT much of an oBEAST (as my friend Kisha calls it). Plus, frankly, the year had taken too much out of me and I just wasn't in the mood for self-deprivation. LIFE had deprived me of enough in 2008 and I just wasn't in the mind state to count calories, weigh myself, or focus on strength-training.
Something happened in the early winter of 2008 though. Actually, it could have been several things -
Something happened in the early winter of 2008 though. Actually, it could have been several things -
- Not fitting into my pants
- Noticing that I had spent way too much money on drinks and appetizers at Happy Hour
- Being disgusted by recent pictures (and normally I LOVE picture time)
- Not fitting into my pants
So, in my list of "31 Things to Do Before I Turn 31," I slipped in "Drop 20 pounds." I will probably need to drop more although to be honest, I don't want to be a slave to the scale, but it's a good start. Including it in that list also represented, for me, a true commitment to doing something about fitting into my pants (I have already accomplished some of my 31 Things). Plus, my homegirl invited me on a trip to Jamaica for her 40th birthday. Even worse than not fitting into my pants would be being mistaken for a beached whale . . .
I anticipate it will be a struggle. I anticipate I will fall off the wagon sometimes. I anticipate I will seriously investigate plastic surgery. But I also anticipate I am actually going to try. Because it is just not a smart fiscal decision to buy a new pair of pants just because I can't fit into any of mine.
Let the journey begin!
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