Sarah's got her groove back!

Status
Not open for further replies.
ok...Im out on the mumu talk



Don,t sweat the flashback to the painful memory of your mom. You havent had time to develop a new body image for yourself. Over the next few weeks you will be doing so many things that you couldnt do when you were fat that you will begin to get a positive self image and associate the skiiny you in the mirror with health and vitality.


How about this mental exercise...Imagine you drop your car keys....you bend down to get them....a lot easier now right? thats the new you girl!!
 
:iagree:with Brawny. It takes quite a while to adjust to the new you. I think it took me a whole year before I could see myself anywhere near how others saw me. I'm sorry that a vision of you in the window triggered a memory of your mother at such a sad time Sarah, but it is not how you are. You have chosen to lose weight to be healthy & fit. You're not sick. Maybe it would be good for you to get out some photos of your mum when she was well, even if it means having a little cry. I think it would be helpful so that you can change your memory of how your mother looked.

Many people who lose lots of weight have found benefit in writing 'a good-bye letter to the old you.' I think it's quite a good idea as it would reinforce the reasons that we do lose weight.

The new you is healthy & very fit & active Sarah. You are doing such a great job of sticking to your plan. Cheers, xo Cate
 
Thank you Cate and Brawny77,..


I really needed what you both said...I know this weightloss is a choice and I'm very happy with the results, and certainly will keep going to my goal! I already do feel so much better and yes, I can touch my toes and pickup keys etc..so yes, yes, yes, it is so worth it! Cate, I think the photos look and especially the letter are great ideas...I'll do both. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!


Today I did my usual routine and did my 60 min on the elliptical for 867 cal, then breakfast of 2 fried eggs, 5 slices bacon, sauteed chicken bits & bones, leafy green veggy and walnuts, cheese and dried cranberry mix.

Lunch: sweet & sour pork, chinese veggies, fried rice and 3 miniature mandarin oranges

Dinner: hot green tea.


So, this weekend, is Chinese Lantern festival and we've been invited by 2 families to have a big traditional dumpling dinner at their homes, then set off some more fire crackers etc and go to the snow and ice festival and see the ice sculptures...I'm sure it will be fun, but I'd really rather just stay in the apartment and recoup!


See ya'll tomorrow!

Sarah
 
Nice job on the workout and good luck with the dumplings. Sounds like it'll be a very nice winter festival and being invited to share the festival with a couple local families sounds like quite a privilege.


Sorry to hear that passing by that window triggered the painful memory. I'd have to agree with Cate and Brawny's thoughts as well. Dropping 70lbs is quite an accomplishment and at this point it's probably still going to take time for everyone, yourself included, to adjust. Flipping through your progress pictures frequently might also help let you see how much you've changed over the past months as well.
 
Have a great weekend Sarah. Good luck with all those festivals and partys and toasts and dinners and lions and tigers and bears oh my.
 
Thanks Brawny77 (my favorite red bird), and feelinggooder (I love that name by the way!)


I talked to my husband about the reflection/death thing today and then I decided today to clean out my closet again and instead of getting old clothes taken up again, I'm just going to donate the slacks and just move on. I'll go to the fabric market today and make an order with the tailor for new slacks ( I still can't find pants to fit me at the stores here in China...these people are for the most part, really petit!). I'll also get some of my oxford work shirts taken up and tailored to fit me now...I can always tuck them in, but the shoulders are almost down to my elbows now (well, almost!). This is a big step for me...it really is like shedding the old me and letting the new me come out! I have to admit, I'm still not adjusted to the new me look yet...I still focus on the fat roll when I look in the mirror (gotta force myself to remember that the good news is there is only 1 now...there used to be 4!).

I also talked to my sister (who has last 110 pounds) and is on a similar journey...she started out at 350 lbs + and she's now in the 200's...on her way to 150. She has inspired me and motivated me along the way, and I think I do the same for her.

So between my ramblings on this forum, my new wardrobe, the goodbye letter to the old me and my supportive family, I'm going to pass through this little mental dip and keep on keepin' on to my goal and let the metamorphosis happen to this 51 year old lady..(yes, I'm going through "the change of life" too!) and see the fit new 51 year young lady shine!


Today, I got up and did my 60 min on the elliptical for 870 cal...it was really a push to go to the fitness center today...I didn't sleep well and just wanted to curl up and hibernate...but I didn't, I pushed through it and went on down...and as always I felt better once I got going! I knocked out 30 crunches on the incline board and a few repetitions on the weight machine on my arms.


Then onto breakfast and had 2 fried eggs, 3 slices bacon, sauteed cabbage and bean curd , leafy green vegetable, stir-fried mushrooms and stirfried green beans and my normal walnut, cheese and dried cranberries mix. Big breakfast...really felt like I needed it to give me a boost of energy. I may regret eating all of that when faced with the dumplings later today!


Sarah
 
Well, the rest of the day was interesting to say the least...this is the first day of "Spring" on the Lunar calendar (mind you it is now showing a balmy +18F on the computer weather site for Shenyang right now!) We went to our chinese friends apartment for lunch..it was a classic Chinese family with the matriarch 85 year old woman who you could tell ruled the roost living in a modest apartment with her son (who is my driver, Mr. Sun). Lots of other family members came to the mamma's apartment today and all the women made dumplings (a type of ravioli type food made of rice flour and filled with an assortment of things..pork, shrimp, onions, leeks, leftovers...you name it they can put it in a dumpling! I tried my hand at making them (not very good at it mind you!). Then we ate...and they kept bringing out more food...all of it filled with garlic I'm sure (because I have tasted it all afternoon long!). It was very special to be brought to their home. I can speak enough mandarin now to express my gratitude and some basic phrases, but not enough for a good conversation yet...that will come with time!


Then I went to the market to get the clothes ordered, but they were closed...I guess it's still a holiday so some of the markets are closed. I'll go tomorrow morning and try again. Tomorrow afternoon it's another family meal deal...it just keeps on coming...I'm sure I'll look back on this and laugh and cry at the same time...one of these days!


Sarah
 
AHeya sweetie :)

Sorry, i have been rubbish and very neglectful :(

I'm so sorry you had that awful moments thought when you caught a glimpse of yourself in the window. I can't imagine how that would feel but i totally understand that moment of freaking out about how totally different you look. I had it once when i had bought some new clothes and stood in front of a ful length mirror. I didn't look like me, i actually couldn't see me at all and it really freaked me out, i can actually say that i didn't like it, it really really scared me, i didn't know who that person was or who i was. It is weird how such a drastic change can affect us mentally, it really isn't something we think we will have to deal with. I think we just assume that we are going to be blissfully over the moon with our new bodies as we have dreamed about being slimmer. What Cate sugested is just brilliant, such a great idea. Anyway, sending you lots of hugs :grouphug:

Clearing out your old clothes is a great idea, i have done it twice now! It really helped me come to terms that i am a different shape and that i have to move with it (i don't know if i am making sence, nothing unusual there then lol) You will get thru this mental dip my lovely. I did :) I too look at myself and see the fat bits instead of seeing how much small i am and cant remember what i looked like before. Checking out your old photo's is a great idea.

Sending you more hugs sweetie :grouphug:
 
Sarah, what an honour for you to share the making of the dumplings amongst the family. They must think very highly of you! You have the determination & the means to not let this socialising set you back, weight-wise. I have not used an elliptical machine but they sure must be hard work & you seem to blitz it! I checked out different exercises yesterday on My Fitness Pal & the elliptical rates way up there for calorie burning!

I liked your use of the word metamorphosis for your journey as I think our journey is similar to that of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. There is much to adjust to & I think getting used to the new you is one of the hardest things. Learning to love & accept change does not happen over-night. Like you, I also went through "the change" at the same time. We are not the same person when we come through it all as we have also made big changes to our life-style & our attitudes to ourselves.

De-cluttering your wardrobe (all of your possessions really) is such a freeing act. It is another way of saying goodbye to that 'old you' that you will never be again. I have only kept one very large outfit, & significantly it has elephants on it! :blush5:

You have me wanting to find out more about these elliptical machines now! xo Cate
 
Hey Kate & Cate!

Thanks for your kind words of encouragement! Yes, Cate, it was an honor for me to help in making the dumplings... Here's a photo that I won't get every day!



That's me on the rolling pin and the dumplings lined up in front of the matriarch!




The family sitting on the bed, with the table of food right in front of us. (my husband Rod sitting beside me. My driver, Mr. Sun is the man in the black shirt.


That was yesterday...then today, we went out again for lunch with another chinese family..ate dumplings, deep fried pumpkin, lotus root with pork,and I don't remember what else. ...we were supposed to go out to the ice sculpures but it's snowing and foggy today so we decided to wait until another day. Good for me as I am now, happily back in the warm apartment and no more obligations...and eating!


This morning, I got up early, did my 60 min on the elliptical for 905 cal + 25 min on treadmill for 250 + 10 min on rowing machine for 60 cal...felt good, so I worked it out! Breakfast was 2 fried eggs, 3 slices of bacon, sauteed eggplant, boiled kale, walnuts, cranberries and cheese mix and topped it off with a banana.


Then we went to the fabric market and I bought material for 5 pair of slacks for work, and did take some baggy ones to get them retailored to fit. Just had to be rid of them and let the non-baggy pants person come out! I have a grand total of 3 pair of pants + 2 pair of knickers right now that fit me well...so until the new ones get made, I'll have to be creative in my wardrobe choices...but I really just needed to do that to give me that little boost! For the first time in a long time, I'm actually getting slacks without pleats, and thin legs...that will be interesting...sure hope they fit!


That's about it for today...I'll just stay in this evening and veg out...ready for a long week coming up!


Sarah
 
Hey Sarah!

your workouts are awesome...you must really work hard on that cross trainer thats an amazing amount of calories to burn!! I see the benefits of going to the gym in the morning and then you have just done it. I think its a good idea to sort out a new wardrobe, i need to take a lot of my clothes to a charity shop of a time when i was actually smaller and they just remind me of an unhealthy past and i need to get rid and move on and stop looking back and start looking forward!! I think its great too that you have your bigger meals earlier in the day and dont eat at night, i bet that helps with weightloss and sleeping better too. Do you not eat anything then before you go to the gym?

thanks for coming by my diary,

Tink :)
 
Sarah, Your exercise routine is awesome! You are so committed! The way you throw yourself into your exercise in the morning must have your metabolism running on all cylinders & those dumplings wouldn't stand a chance of hanging around. Good idea to get pants without pleats. I would love to see a photo of you in them when they arrive. I'm sure they will look good. I love your photos. You look really radiant & happy. xoxo Cate
 
Thanks Tink & Cate as always for stopping by and writing in my diary! It really is nice to see people other than me writing in this diary!

Tink, I don't eat before I exercise...I live in a hotel, so I get up, go to the bathroom, change clothes and within 15 minutes of the alarm going off, I'm on that elliptical giving it all I got! I do a "ramdom" exercise routine for 60 minutes, set the resistance on 15 and off I go. I listen to either music or Chinese language lessons to keep my mind off the workout my arms and legs are getting. The fitness center in the hotel is located where I can look out on the street and watch the traffic to change the scenery.

Cate, I will get some photos when I get the clothes...they won't be done until after the 15th of Feb, so I'll get some then...that will be right around when I do my monthly measurements, so it will be a good excuse!


So today, Monday...I got up, did my 60 minutes on the elliptical for 850 cal, then stretched out my back on the rowing machine. skipped the crunches on the incline board today because I was later than normal so I ran out of time.


breakfast: 2 fried eggs, 5 slices bacon, sauteed eggplant, stirfried green beans, walnuts, cranberries and cheese mix.

Lunch: fried rice, sweet n sour pork, chinese veggies and 1 mandarin orange and 1 banana.

Dinner: hot green tea


Today is the Chinese lantern festival and also the last day/night for fireworks ..which means it is just a constant roar of fireworks...hopefully that will be done by a decent hour tonight...then done for another year! It's typically the 1st full moon of the 1st lunar month, so that's tonight..we're supposed to eat sweet dumplings tonight with family and the round sweet dumplings, like the round full moon are to be eaten together with family...those that eat them together will stay together forever...well...I'm going to take a chance and not eat the sweet gooey dumplings...guess I'll have to stay together with my family the old fashion way...just love them!


Care care ya'll!

Sarah
 
More killer elliptical sessions. Think you're going to wear that machine out before you leave China?


Maybe they'll probably keep it as a souvenir and tell all the future guests of the tall skinny american lady who busted up their gym equipment...
 
Maybe they'll probably keep it as a souvenir and tell all the future guests of the tall skinny american lady who busted up their gym equipment...
Click to expand...




I Know..They will start a new festival...The "sarah elliptical wearer outer festival" and they will drink peach nectar and eat dumplings!
 
great work on that elliptical machine. wow 850 calories thats alot. great work! your clalorie count looks low to me but if its working for you just ignore me ;) keep up the good work your one step closer!
 
Thanks feelingooder, Brawny77 and size32someday!

I doubt I will wear out the elliptical...or get a festival named after me...but it's fun to think about!! I'm also sure that some days my cal. count is probably low...and other days, I'm also sure it's high...so far, it seems to even out. Thanks guys for your support!


So, today...I took a break! Yep, I slept in...after a night of fireworks going off all night and feeling the hot sweats at night...I just didn't sleep well at all...until it was time to get up! So I took a rest day today! Yesterday was the last night of fireworks for awhile, so I should be able to get a good nights sleep tonight and hit it tomorrow morning...hopefully!


Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, 5 beef tips, 5 or so chicken pieces, stirfried baby cabbage, stirfried kale and my normal walnuts, cranberries and cheese mix.

Lunch: Sweet n sour pork, fried rice and chinese veggies, 1 mandarin orange and 1 banana

Dinner: Hot green tea
 
Perfectly fine to take a day once in a while to recharge the ol batteries.


By the way your breakfast and lunch look way better to this fatboy than your dinner...ha


When are you gonna weigh in again? Seems like I remember you are once a month person. I bet you push way away from that 200 mark by the end of Feb.
 
Hey Sarah!


You're doing great, sorry I've neglected your diary a bit. I've really only had enough time to write a little bit in mine and then start on my homework. Seeing you get through a tough patch makes me know I can do it too. I've just got to keep pushing.


I think chinese lanterns are so neat! That must have been quite the sight! I'm glad to see your meshing well with the culture, learning the language and making dumplings. I can't remember if I asked before,but does your husband also work for the same company as you?


I'll try not to be a stranger anymore, promise! :)
 
Hey Brawny77 & Munch! Thanks for stopping by!

Brawny...you are right...breakfast & lunch is alot better than dinner...but I'm used to it now, and really the green tea does taste good after a long day! By the way, your memory is right..I only weigh once a month, so I've got a couple more weeks before that verdict is in. I will do measurements this weekend though, so that will be some feedback.

Munch, I think I'm almost through my rough spots...I've still got to get my "goodbye letter" written, and I'm still waiting on the clothes I ordered to come in...so I'm really looking forward to that!


Today, Wednesday, back up and at 'em at 5:00am for the 60 minutes on the elliptical for 865 cal then a few minutes on the rowing machine to stretch out my back, then 30 crunches on the incline board.

Breakfast: 3 slices bacon, 2 fried eggs, stir fried kale, sauteed green beans and the walnuts, cranberries and cheese mix.

Lunch: Fried rice, sweet n sour pork, chinese veggies 2 mandarin oranges, 1 banana

Dinner: Hot green tea


Already looking forward to relaxing this weekend...2 more long work days ahead...then some down time! Really looking forward to that!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top