Tropez's Wellness Journal

T

tropez1

New member
Hello.

I'm 28 years old and have always felt overweight. I think the main source of that is because I do not exercise enough. It's the same old excuse - not enough time or 'I do not feel like it'. Lame, I know.

On the positive side I've adopted some good eating habits in the past year. I've noticed that eating well in America is a huge challenge. I credit my successful eating habits and recent weight loss to the Food Pyramid and learning my Food Groups. From this I also learned that I don't eat enough vegetables.

I am extremely skeptical of 'diet' foods because there are a lot of chemicals in their ingredients list and if I can't pronounce it, then I'd rather not eat it.

For the past year I've been eating my Food Groups and will continue to do so. However, I know from experience that I'm the type of person who must continuely track and think about their diet otherwise I'll stray and become unhealthy again.

So, to kick this off and start my community interactions... I'll list what I've eaten so far today - which is only breakfast, but if I don't want to wait to begin this.

*** FOOD ***
Breakfast:
2 Slices of Wheat Bread
1 tbsp Smart Balance
1 tbsp Strawberry Jam
1 cup 2% Milk (part of my Latte)
-- p.s. many of you will come to realize that I am a coffee junkie and those of you who live in/near Chicago and have tried Intelligentsia coffee will understand my addiction. :)

Morning Snack (planned) :
1 cup oatmeal

Lunch (planned):
1 cup V8 Juice
1 Banana
1 serving Celery
2 tbsp Peanut Butter
2 servings Wheat Thins

Afternoon Snack (planned):
1 cup 2% Milk (part of my Latte) -- see, I'm addicted. :)
2 Slices Wheat Bread
1 tbsp Smart Balance
1 tbsp Honey

Dinner (planned):
[ Roasted Pepper ]
1 Green Bell Pepper
2-3 oz Ground Turkey
1 oz Cheese
1 cup brown rice

Evening Snack (planned):
1 Apple

GOAL:
2 Fat/Oil
3 Milk/Dairy
2 Meat/Bean
3 Vegetable
2 Fruit
8 Grains

*** EXERCISE ***
30 minutes Bicycle Riding (indoors)
 
Welcome and congrats on starting your own journal. Dont feel bad about always making excuses not to exercise...because in reality, many feel the same way, but there is things you can do to push yourself into the exercise realm. If your feeling lazy and don't want to go, just tell yourself "only 10 minutes" because 10 minutes is better than none. Most of the time telling yourself that will get you in the gym for more than 10 minutes, and if it doesn't, you still got something in, which is better than nothing. Remember to keep your exercising fun, and not the same thing over and over. I always switch up my cardio and weights because i dont want to get burnt out on the same routine.


Dont be afraid to ask questions!

Trevor
 
Hi and welcome to the forum!
Good job on planning the meals, I do it too and I think it helps A LOT.
Very few people like exercising so don't be too hard on yourself! I for one sure did use the "I don't feel like it" excuse zillions of times!
I hope you will reach all your goals and that you'll have fun doing it!

India
 
. many of you will come to realize that I am a coffee junkie and those of you who live in/near Chicago and have tried Intelligentsia coffee will understand my addiction.
Click to expand...
There's an Intelligensia on my way home from the gym to my front door and oooooh boy is it good coffee.. you might want to consider switching to 1 percent instead of 2 percent -will save you a bunch of calories :)
 
Welcome! :hurray:

For the past year I've been eating my Food Groups and will continue to do so. However, I know from experience that I'm the type of person who must continuely track and think about their diet otherwise I'll stray and become unhealthy again.
Click to expand...

I'm the same way buddie. Welcome to the forum and Good Luck!


Later :seeya:
Veronica
 
I feel I did pretty well yesterday on my food consumption. The Roasted Bell Peppers tasted great. I modified it a little bit by including a diced Portabella mushroom with the ground turkey. I am also proud of the fact that I took the time to exercise - 30 minutes on the stationary bike.

Today I foolishly forgot to pack some cheese to have with my triscuits. I always feel a bit 'slow' on Tuesday mornings.

*** FOOD ***
Breakfast
1/2 cup Cheerios
1/4 cup Milk
1 cup Milk (morning latte)

Morning Snack
1 cup of Cheerios

Lunch [ there was food in our office kitchen, so I ate some of it ]
2 small sandwiches (4 servings of bread, 2 servings of meat, 1 serving of cheese)
1 small slice of pizza (1 serving of bread, 1 serving of cheese)
1 Mountain Dew

Afternoon Snack
[ too full from lunch ]

Dinner
2 cups pasta
1/2 cup (1 serving) pasta sauce (tomato based)
1 cup V8

Evening
1 serving strawberries

Food Groups so far:
2 Vegetable
1 Fruit
3.5 Dairy
2 Meat
7.5 Grain

*** Exercise ***
I did not exercise today.
 
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I just wanted to say hi and thanks for posting this.

I just decided yesterday to do the Mypryamid.gov stuff and it was nice to find someone on here who is also doing it :)
 
I'm happy to hear that you also follow the food pyramid. I found a ton of useful information on mypyramid.gov as well as other government websites. I personally would rather listen to something assembled by a bunch of doctors and nutritionists rather than the latest 'fad' or pill.

I hope your pursuit of learning the food groups is as useful as mine. It's amazing to me how automatic it is now. When I go grocery shopping my list is divided by food groups. When I eat out I base my decisions on which food groups I've already eaten, or how many food groups I need to eat.
 
Today I did a little better and did not eat the leftover food in our office kitchen. I swear that is a killer when free food is available. I blame that old saying... 'finish your dinner, there are people starving in China.' although a colleague of mine recently told me that his Mom used India instead of China, so it could be a regional thing.

*** FOOD ***
Breakfast
1/2 cup Cheerios
1 cup Milk
2 slices Bread
1 tbsp Jam
1 tbsp Smart Balance

Morning Snack
2 Eggs
1 Wheat Tortilla Wrap
1 Banana

Lunch
1 cup V8

Afternoon Snack
2 slices Bread
1 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp Smart Balance
1 cup Milk

Dinner [not planned yet ]
2 slices bread
2 servings of Tuna
1 tbsp mayo

Evening
1/2 pear

Totals:
7.5 Grains
1.5 Fruits
1 Vegetable
2 Meats
4 Dairy
3 Fat/Oil

*** Exercise ***
Disappointed again - no time to workout.
 
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Thank You!

I want to start today by extending a big THANK YOU to this site. I wasn't expecting a lot when I first joined, but over the past few days I've rediscovered a few things about myself.

By reading and responding to others I remembered how important it was for me to attend exercise classes at my old gym. I've encountered others that like and appreciate following the food pyramid. I also feel like there are others here that are a lot like me.

So, to all members, especially the 'leaders' (you know who you are) thank you for building and maintaining such a great site.
 
Pizza Problem

I was driving around before dinner and stopped by a local pizza shop. I got two slices of pizza and a Mountain Dew. The worst part is the pizza didn't even taste that good. But, I felt compelled to keep eating the second slice. I didn't finish it, but I realized that even though I was eating something that tasted bad and was bad for me I couldn't stop. Hopefully I'll remember this for next time and not do it again.

*** FOOD ***
Breakfast:
1 cup milk
2 slices bread
1 cup cheerios

Morning Snack:
1 egg, fried
1 cup V8

Lunch:
1 cup Oatmeal
1 serving cheese
1 serving triscuits

Afternoon:
1 cup milk

Dinner:
2 large slices of pizza
1 mountain dew

FOOD GROUP Analysis:
Fat/Oil (1.2) 43%
Milk/Dairy 2.5 183%
Meat/Bean (1) 52%
Vegetable (2) 33 %
Fruit (2) 0%
Grain (0.5) 93%
Sweet 3 400%

*** Exercise ***
None - again. :(

Ultimately I feel horrible right now after eating the pizza and Mountain Dew.

I'm also starting to notice a general stomach ache in the late afternoons - around 5-6pm.
 
Dont let the 2 pieces of pizza and mountain dew get in your way. Nobody is perfect and every once in a while, things like that you can enjoy. Just don't make it a habit...tomorrow is a new day, use that guilt you feel to power your determination and i promise the results will be worthwhile.

Keep your chin up!
Trevor
 
I read in a magazine somewhere once that if you're going to cheat on your diet (which we all will sooner or later. We should all be enjoing the great things in life, and sometimes that includes food) save it for something fabulous.

Burgers and pizza are great and sure, we miss them, but try to hold out for award winning pie or the blue plate special at the best restaurant in town or a glass of fine wine.

That way, even though you may feel the guilt of going over your daily limits, you at least have a great meal to look back on, rather than pizza. Great job, though! Keep up the good work!
 
tropez said:
Ultimately I feel horrible right now after eating the pizza and Mountain Dew.

I'm also starting to notice a general stomach ache in the late afternoons - around 5-6pm.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about that pizza! I've been on a diet for 2 moths an a half and I've been eating out every single sunday. If you keep on track 90% of the time and exercise regularly you'll keep losing the weight.
You just can't resist all your cravings. Sometimes cheating a little avoids binging a lot!

I used to have little stomach aches as well when I first started to diet. It was usually hunger. Try and save some cals for an afternoon snack. It may help. :)

ttyl!

India
 
Thanks to everyone who replied and reassured me that pizza will not kill me. :)

CNNSarah said:
I read in a magazine somewhere once that if you're going to cheat on your diet (which we all will sooner or later. We should all be enjoing the great things in life, and sometimes that includes food) save it for something fabulous.

Burgers and pizza are great and sure, we miss them, but try to hold out for award winning pie or the blue plate special at the best restaurant in town or a glass of fine wine.

That way, even though you may feel the guilt of going over your daily limits, you at least have a great meal to look back on, rather than pizza. Great job, though! Keep up the good work!
Click to expand...

I agree with you and India that it's OK to cheat a little and indulge in things that aren't considered healthy.

I'm actually thinking of starting the 'Snob Diet'. Here's how it works - you only eat ultra rich, high fat, premium food and drink delicacies. But, it is so expensive that you can only afford minuscule amounts and therefore eat less and lose weight! :D

In case the sarcasm didn't come through, I was only kidding. However, if you do try the 'Snob Diet' and it works, then please let me know so I can copyright and market it. :)
 
There's somethign to be said for eating real food that you enjoy in moderation.. rather than packing yourself full of overly processed diet foods that you don't enjoy...

You shouldn't be on a diet - because - if there's one thing that most people have learned over time - diets do not work - what does work is a lifestyle change -and into each life - pizza does fall... so as long as it's not yuckky pizza - then enjoy it and keep going.

It's when people have the pizza - then go on a major guilt trip and that turns into 3 days of welll i screwed up 3 days ago so i can eat whatever I want that it's trouble - enjoy the pizza and keep going..

the french women don't get fat diet - is fairly similar to the "snob" diet -where it's really food should be enjoyed :)
 
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