Enough is Enough ... No More Excuses!!!

MandyH

MandyH

0
Just as the title says, enough is enough… no more excuses! I’ve gotta do this. I’ve gotta get back on track!

I wanted to get back on track in October which turned into November which turned into December which turned into a New Year’s Resolution which turned into today. The issue with trying to get on track during the holiday season is that there are far too many temptations around and my will power was very much lacking. I cooked way too many goodies. I ate way too many goodies.

My RA aches and pains have returned, though not as bad as they initially were. My energy level is way down. I have a hard time getting out of bed for work as it is, let alone getting up an hour earlier to exercise. I honestly feel like I’m fighting a losing battle, but I have to get back to where I was. I have to dig deep and I have to fight to get out of this rut. I was doing so good until “life” happened. Too many curveballs thrown at me and knocked me off track. I’ve always been a comfort eater. Food has been my comfort. I have to find another source.

So anyway, I’m here today to take my first steps towards getting back on track. My goal for this whole month is to eat NO processed foods at all (batch cooking will be friend) and this includes no ordering out. My drinks will only consist of only water (I have been splurging on sodas again). No sweets at all… goodbye ice cream, cakes, candies, cookies… goodbye pretzels, chips, crackers, etc. My goal is to get back into exercise by doing Taebo at least 4 times a week while also walking as much as I can. I say this is my monthly goal, but in all honesty I need to just focus on today. One day at a time. So that’s what my immediate goal is. I’ll be logging every bite of food that I put in my mouth to hold myself accountable and I’ll also be logging my exercise with each day.

So here we go with day one…. starting my new journey at 228lb as of this morning.

Since we apparently can’t edit our posts anymore I’ll list my food/drink intake in a new post before bed and I’ll also include my exercise accomplished for the day as well.
 
Welcome back Mandy! I'm getting back into the swing of things again and I will be around here more regularly. I'm glad you'll be here too.
 
Good to see you back, Mandy, focusing on one day at the time sounds like a good start!
 
Mandy, welcome back! I admire your resolve but I'm a little nervous for the drastic changes you are trying to make all of a sudden. We all know how easy it is to fall into the trap of being 100% good and then turning one mess-up into a week full of mess ups. Just make sure you're giving yourself credit for all the good things you do even if you find its hard to keep up with the perfect diet and exercise plan. Not that I'm saying you'll slip up but you know how it is....but anyways, best wishes to you on the start of this leg of your journey!
 
Welcome back honey! I agree with all of the above (well put Oaks). I'm running late sweets, so had better skedaddle. MWAH!
 
Hey Q - It'll be nice to catch up with everyone. I hope you didn't stumble as badly as I did, but happy we're both back and ready to tackle this thing again. :)

LaMaria - I agree, one day at a time is best. It's much less overwhelming than thinking about a whole month all at once.

Oaks - I completely understand where you're coming from and I do agree, BUT I did do this once before. Last March I successfully did one full month of no processed foods. I was doing so good, but then I started slipping because of things life was throwing at me. I need to learn how to deal with life without turning to food. Anyway, I'm basically trying to go with a paleo lifestyle and I'm hoping to be able to be 80-90% paleo once I really get going with it. I think for now the focus for me has to be with learning to budget my time, money, and energy to this instead of pigging out junk food and turning to take out. I KNOW I can do it. I just need to stick with it.

Cate - Thanks! Happy to be back. I'm to stick around this time around. :)

Baboon - No excuses is the way to go. Gotta hold myself accountable for my choices. :)
 
Alright, so here's my food intake for the day. I still have about 2 hours before bed, but wanted to post this before I forgot to.

Breakfast: Homemade pork sausage patties with sautéed cinnamon apples.
Snack: Banana
Lunch: Chicken raisin meatballs with butternut squash and white potatoes.
Snack: Keilbasa and pineapple (kielbasa doesn't qualify as non processed, but it was better than reaching for a Snicker's bar!)
Supper: Steak and salad
Water: 4+ bottles

Here's my exercise for the day...
- 15 minute walk during my lunch break
 
hello Mandy, i see that you have a great attitude and a big motivation now! i hope that you'll reach your goal soon, don't give up.
 
We'll be here to support you! A little thinking and prep work ahead of time will go a long way. Take advantage of bursts of motivation whenever you get them.
 
Sophia - Thanks! I'm going to fight for it. I got down to below 200lb last year, but fell off the wagon. Hoping to stick with it this time! I just have to.

Oaks - Yup, planning ahead is the best way to do this. You'll see as I post my daily food intakes that I eat basically the same things all week for breakfast and lunch because I batch cook to get through the week. It's not the most exciting menu, but it works for me. :)

~~

So, I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm fighting the serious urge to just have a York Peppermint Patty right now! I want one so bad. Something sweet and delicious, but I won't give in. Instead I'm coming here to write about it as a reminder of what I'm doing and to keep myself on track.

I also wanted to say this. For the past several months, my eating... my main meals that is.... have been pretty healthy. I think that's the ONLY thing that kept me from gaining mega weight. My issue is the snacking and binge eating. Why have a handful of chips when I can have half the bag? Why have a regular Kit Kat when I can get a king size? Why have water when that bubbly soda is sitting right there. I could go on and on... I think once I can get the snacking under control and my motivation to exercise (failed again this morning.... *sigh*), I'll be golden!
 
I have to have a rule where I just don't buy them. Ever. Having chips and kit kats in your pantry is just putting temptation in your way. Think of chocolate bars as sugar & fat." Do I want a block of sugar & fat?"
You can do this Mandy xo
 
Cate - That's what I need to do for sure. Can't eat it If you don't have it, right?! A lot of it really is mind over matter and of course breaking old/bad habits!

---

Another successful day food wise.
Water: 6 bottles
Breakfast: Homemade pork sausage parties with sauteed cinnamon apples.
Snack: Banana
Lunch: Chicken raisin meatballs with butternut squash and white sweet potato.
No PM snack
Supper: Orange mustard glazed pork chops with scalloped potatoes.

Exercise
15 minute walk
 
Well done Mandy. A piece of fruit as your only snack for the day? :D Don't forget your greens :blush5: .....says Cate, sounding like a Mum again!
 
MandyH said:
Alright, so here's my food intake for the day. I still have about 2 hours before bed, but wanted to post this before I forgot to.

Breakfast: Homemade pork sausage patties with sautéed cinnamon apples.
Snack: Banana
Lunch: Chicken raisin meatballs with butternut squash and white potatoes.
Snack: Keilbasa and pineapple (kielbasa doesn't qualify as non processed, but it was better than reaching for a Snicker's bar!)
Supper: Steak and salad
Water: 4+ bottles

Here's my exercise for the day...
- 15 minute walk during my lunch break
Click to expand...

First of all, welcome back!!! Glad to have you again.

Secondly...CHICKEN RAISIN MEATBALLS? That sounds horrible. Like, horrible. Please tell me they taste better than they sound, HAHAHA
 
Cate, I hear ya! I had actually been eating salads for about 4 or 5 months straight for lunch. I needed a change. Plus I’ve been buying some really good cookbooks and have been trying lots of new things. Greens will be back soon. :)

Chef, thanks for the welcome back and yes, the chicken raisin meatballs are actually pretty good! It’s a new recipe I tried for the first time this week. I bought a few new cookbooks which are based around eating whole/non processed meals. My only complaint with them is that they’re kind of dry and there should be more raisins used for sure. I’m thinking of trying them again, but with cranberries instead. :)

--

For anyone curious, I mentioned new cookbooks above. The two that I’m working out of right now are The Healing Kitchen by Alaena Haber and Sarah Ballantyne and the other one is Against All Grain by Danielle Walker. Some of you may know that I have rheumatoid arthritis and my research has led me to try a non processed diet which has been proven to put a lot of autoimmune diseases into remission. My goal is to not only lose weight on this journey, but to learn how to eat wholesome, healthier foods so I can get off of these dangerous meds with horrible side effects. So anyway, if you have an autoimmune disease or if you’re just looking for new food ideas, definitely check these books out. They’re awesome with LOTS of really delicious looking meals. Also, look up the autoimmune diet and paleo (if you’ve never heard of them). Lots of great recipes out there!

--

So, I didn’t make it last night to post my food intake so here it is for yesterday. I had a couple of snacks that I probably shouldn’t have, but I’m still very proud of the choices I made considering how I’ve been doing. Yesterday was also VERY stressful at work. I was just nonstop and very stressed which has been my perfect time to grab a handful (yes a handful!) of bite size candy bars. Not yesterday! I wanted to… I wanted to so badly, but never gave in.

My breakfast and lunch were the same so I won’t post those again…

Water
- 6 bottles

Supper:
- Bacon and scrambled eggs (wanted something quick and easy!)

Snacks:
- Popcorn (air popped, very little butter, and pink salt!)
- Two sugar free chocolate pudding cups
 
Cate, it gets even better! Last night I did the unthinkable! I went grocery shopping with my mother and got myself all my healthy foods, no junk food at all. Then, my mother decided she wanted chilli from Wendy’s for supper. I LOVE the Asiago Ranch Chicken sandwich they offer. I got it a lot… way too much! My mind said to stick with the plan and have the pork chop with salad, but my stomach said get the Asiago Ranch Chicken Combo and fries. I was so tempted and thought for sure I’d change my mind and get the sandwich at the last minute, but I didn’t! After I had my planned, healthier dinner I felt very happy with myself and very satisfied knowing I made the right decision.

~~

So, my food intake yesterday was pretty much the same as it’s been all week. I didn’t stray and have any junk food snacks at all. Water intake was great too. Now I just need to get that exercise side of things under control again. I’m still lacking the motivation there. I’ll get there though…

I bought two new pairs of jeans over the weekend before starting this time around. Size 18 (some of you may remember my ORIGINAL jean size was 26 when I first joined). They were tight around the waist, but I refused to get up a size especially my plans of losing weight. I can already feel that they’re fitting a little bit better. Not as tight and uncomfortable.

My weight has been getting lower and lower, but I know at this point it’s likely water weight and inflammation that I’m losing not actual fat. It’s ok though because it has to start somewhere. My weigh in on Monday morning was 228lb even. This morning I was at 225.2lb.

With all that out of the way, I’ll be back in later tonight. That’s the plan anyway. I’m hoping to start catching up with everyone else’s diaries. :)
 
Well, one thing I learned over the weekend is that weekends are still my downfall. *sigh* I started out great on Saturday by having a sandwich. Not your typical sandwich. This one used romaine lettuce as the wrap and I had roast beef and tomato inside. It was surprisingly much better than I expected. The problems with Saturday came in when I made plans to go to the movies (to see 13 Hours - amazing movie!!). I can't go to the movies without popcorn! After the movies was dinner and I ended up chicken tenders and fries. I wasn't even hungry which is what is bugging the most. Why did I get chicken and fries knowing I wasn't hungry and didn't even need to eat? Oh well, it's done. Moving on...

Sunday was better. I had another lettuce wrap/sandwich for brunch and then we had bunless burgers, bacon, and salad on the side for dinner. Water intake was great on both days.

So here I am, the 2nd week is about to begin. I weighed in at 224.4lb this morning which was a 3.6lb drop from last week. I'll gladly take it!
 
Heya.
I've just posted my new journal (again) and after I did I thought i'd have a read of others and yours was first. OMG Thank you! Reading your first post sounded just like mine. The weight was even nearly the same. I really had forgotten how much help this site is.
Anyway, You go girl, you're an inspiration. :hurray:
 
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