Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Weekly update, 4/14/09

I sure do appreciate everyone's feedback on the scale thoughts! Like a lot of other things in life, there doesn't seem to be a single right answer. Except, maybe, 42. Or perhaps, "Put down the chocolate egg and step AWAY from the basket." Unless, of course, you don't like chocolate...then it might be, "Put down the Peep", etc.

Going without the daily weigh-in turned out to be a pretty good experiment. I found that I really do like to be more in touch with the scale-compass more often than weekly. I think there were only 2 or 3 times that I felt tempted to step on it, but the urge wasn't terribly strong. But not knowing didn't make me feel uneasy, either. I felt a little too at-ease, actually, and relaxed my vigilance quite a lot. (Being a HUGE Harry Potter fan, I usually imagine Mad Eye Moody barking "Constant vigilance!" at me...dude seems to have been on hiatus this week....)

So there was a pretty substantial gain this week, and of course I can't blame it on how often I stepped on the scale. Yes, some of it totally worth it items I rarely have: Easter food, work tea party (lavender scone, *swoon*!), daughter's birthday. But then, some of it was not totally worth it, bad-habit-creep items: Oh, sure, a couple of sugar-free candies during the commute is okay, but the amount kept getting a little bigger every day. *sigh*. Really, what was the matter with a nice piece of gum? And why did I keep eating the very bland Go Lightly candy? I overate, I didn't write anything down from Friday night through Monday morning in my health log (other than blood glucose numbers, which did quite well, considering), and I exercised less. The usual culprits.

This got me thinking. So many of us who struggle with developing healthy bodies long to feel "normal," to not have to be vigilant about food and exercise. The thing I'm finding, though, that this perception of "normal"? Isn't. Those that never have to keep an eye on their eating and activity--and still have good health--are rare marvels of nature, with their super metabolisms. Most people I'd look at and feel a twinge of envy about probably are as concerned, or perhaps even more so, with their habits. How are they different from me? Maybe they are back on track a little sooner, or perhaps haven't let the good habits go for as long, or maybe even have had a lot longer practicing good habits. Maybe they worked out more and/or ate healthier, lower-calorie choices the rest of the week so that they could splurge at lunch. That sort of thing.

So...*sigh*...(pause to gird self)...back to normality. I've got a shiny, fresh health log printout for the new week, and it's ON!

On the plus side, I roasted a whole bunch of veggies over the weekend and we've been using them in different ways: roasted beets in borscht and in my leftover grilled peppers/beets/sweet potato/roasted garlic/black bean dish for lunch yesterday. Roasted Brussels sprouts weren't as tasty as I'd hoped, but the eggplant was heavenly. And good news about spin class: you really do get used to those horridly hard bike seats if you go regularly.

Progress last week

7-day blood glucose average: 94 (met goal of less than 120)
7-day fasting average: 95 (met goal of less than 120, 100% of days)
Weight goal: +3.2 lbs (did not meet goal)
Food goals:
- Consumed 6 meatless, low-fat meals and 0 fish meals. (met meatless meal goal; did not meet fish meal goal)
- Ate >=40 grams of fiber 2 days last week, >=30 grams 1 day, and >=20 grams 4 days. (Not exactly progress, but met goal partially.)
- Met goal of scaling back coffee, but splurged on Easter weekend with real 1/2 and 1/2.
Exercise goals: Partially met goals. Had 3 workouts >=30 minutes, 2<=30 minutes. Did 2 runs, and one spin class + 18 minute treadmill run after class. Only 1 day strength training. Misc. goals: Got adequate sleep all but one night.

Goals for this week

7-day blood glucose average goal and fasting numbers: below 120.
Weight goal: Maintain or lose.
Food goals:
- 4 or more meatless, low-fat meals and 2 or more fish meals.
- Keep the good coffee habit going on week days: 1 coffee/day, with 2T fat-free half-and-half and 1/4-1/2 cup almond milk. Switch to tea and plain water after that first cup.
- Limit commute-time sugar-free candies to 2 pieces/day. Stick with the hard candies and not the taffy-based ones.
- Track fiber. Minimum 25 grams fiber/day and work up to consuming 50 grams fiber/day. (Include both insoluble and soluble sources.)
Exercise goals:
- 5x30 cardio (include 1 run and 1 spin)
- 2 strength training
Misc. goals:
- 7 or more hours sleep/night.
- Brush and floss teeth right after dinner!

12 comments:

MizFit said...

suzie sunshine here in a way :)

For some reason I love when it is the usual culprits (for me).
in that they are glitches I KNOW and I KNOW how to get back on track.

small choices which can add up to pounds gained---sure but ones you already know how to overcome!

Juice said...

How about put down the peeps AND the chocolate?

The lavender scone does sound lovely. I'm really enjoying my lavendar salt that I picked up at the farmer's market while out there.

Back on track, you'll see the loss in no time!

PS Loved the literary refs - is 42 from hitch hikers? :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your BSL even with unusual eats!

If I don't log what I eat, that's my biggest downfall. Way too many licks and tastes get in the way then!

Glad you had a nice Easter and happy belated bday to your daughter!

debby said...

I enjoyed your thoughts on vigilance and wanting to feel 'normal.' Well, I think its just the same way someone with a chronic illness or permanent disability sometimes longs for normal. That is normal to want normal. But real life is that I am broken, and will always have to live with this chronic disability or disease, whatever you want to call it. It will cost me something in time (food prep, exercise, etc.) and probably money (gym dues, etc.) And that is okay.

Crabby McSlacker said...

Thats so great that you're figuring out what works for YOU.

And that's a really interesting observation about "normal" still meaning some self-restriction, unless you have an amazingly super-fast metabolism. I think we just live in a society with too many delicious temptations for very many people to actually get to have "all they want."

Tom Rooney said...

I just wanted to thank-you for the wonderful comment on Miz's site today. I feel like I've found a club member. :)

Jessica @ Pudget: Losing Weight On A Budget said...

Good luck getting back on track. I know you can do it. I don't know about you but I am finding it harder then usual this week to eat healthy because I ate so much chocolate last week. I am craving it so bad. :) I hope the cravings go away by next week. I just need to stay away from the stuff.
Thanks for the comment and link on my blog. I checked out the swim suits and they are really cute. I think the prices are reasonable also. $45.00 isn't bad for a swim suit. Of course the one I really want is on back order but I will have to check back next week to see if they have any. Thanks Again!

Christie O. said...

that is exactly right, they are freaks of nature, er, i mean, not the norm. most people have to be at least somewhat vigilant about their health habits, i've found this out myself. some people aren't stuck with the crap metabolism that i am, but so what, they probably have a wart somewhere. just kidding. anyway, way to look at it! and you're right with the scale thing, whatever works for you is what works! and like miz says, when you know the usual culprits, it's that much easier to get back on track!

ps. my issue wasn't even the peeps or the chocolate. it was the cookies!

MizFit said...

thanks for all your comments this week. especially on toms post on thursday.

hope all is ok with you?

Miz.

dhimas130184 said...

thats great, so helpful keep going.
see my blog please

Seth Simonds said...

Wow, I'm so impressed with how much attention you pay to detail! This past week, for reasons of its own, was a hard one for me as well. Here's to delighting in progress even if its not in the areas we'd choose first.

Best to you!

Pubsgal said...

Goodness! Gotta catch up here....

Miz: Thanks! That is a good way to look at it. I'm happy about what I'm doing right, but there's so much room for improvement, and those small choices turning into habits are only going to hold me back. (And yes, all's well and going better this week, just really busy with spring break & all!)

Juice: Hee hee! Yes, that works too. Not a big Peeps fan myself. There's enough trouble around with chocolate eggs. And Coffee Rios! Ack! The sugar free ones are terrific, but I eat them way too quickly. And yes, 42 is from Hitchhiker's. I'll have to re-read that series; I love absurd humor.

Biz: Thanks! Yes, I'd gotten really slack about writing down what I eat, but did better with it this week. Glad you had a great Easter, too!

Debby: Thanks! And you're right, it's exactly like that. I remember going to my sister-in-law's birthday party when I was newly diagnosed and still running higher than normal blood glucose levels. They blended up some margaritas. Oh, how I longed to be "normal" again and be able to drink one! I'll never be cured, but on the other hand, making daily sacrifices for good health does enable me to have the occasional "normal" thing. (It's kind of goofy to write this, but I nearly cried when I realized I could have one See's candy without my blood glucose level getting out of whack. I'll never be able to eat a whole bunch at once anymore, but happily, I don't want to.) (Wow, it feels good to have said that last sentence and actually *mean* it rather than be in fake-it-'til-I-make-it mode! ;-)

Crabby: Thanks! And, *sigh*, too true...for better and worse!

Tom: You're welcome. I loved your post on MizFit. Thanks for writing such a great article; I loved it. I believe that the more people see others in a similar situation changing deeply-rooted habits and sincerely LIKING the changes, the more they will believe it is possible for themselves to do so also. And likewise, of course! Thanks! :-)

Jessica: You're welcome! And thanks for the encouragement--right back at ya! At least after Easter, we have nice, spring weather to inspire us to get outdoors and move around. (As opposed to Christmas, where one is hit with the double-whammy of New Year's Resolutions and the January winter doldrums...)

Christie O.: Hee hee! Everyone seems to have a life-struggle of some sort. Mine is just a little more "visible" than those who are less metabolism-ly challenged.

Thanks, dhimas! Welcome to the blog!

Seth: Thanks! Thanks! I went from pretty much zero attention to detail to tracking just about everything, mainly because I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last summer and was seeing a doctor, a nurse educator, and a nutritionist. I had to make a lot of changes at once, so a health log was the best way for me to remember things for my appointments. And yes, to progress in its many guises, and hope this week is better for you!