Eating out

Thursday: I was gone all day so Bob brought home dinner. We had a Ceasar side salad (with Ranch dressing), a baked potato, chili and a double cheeseburger from Wendy's. I took everything off my burger and just ate the meat patties. [I didn't have to eat all this food at once, but I did. Didn't THINK about it first.]

Friday: I was restless, so I left home to run some errands. Drove through Taco Bell and ate a bean burro and a soft taco. Later drove through McDonald's and had a vanilla cone, an oatmeal raisin cookie and half of a chocolate chip cookie. [I was given the largest cone I have ever seen! Looking back I wish I would've asked them to take at least half of it off the top. I ate it all]. I didn't make dinner so Bob brought home Mexican take-out. I ate two small carnitas tacos,one (fried) fish taco and several bites of a bacon, egg, potato and cheese burrito. [Bob made all the selections. I didn't stop and THINK about what I would allow myself to eat, first].

Saturday: I brought dinner home. We had chicken, refried beans, cole slaw, corn cobblets, and corn tortillas from El Pollo Loco.

Today's is Mother's Day. I don't know what's planned for me (as far as eating out). I'd like to know, so that I can mentally plan, but I don't want to ruin any possible surprise plans that someone may have made.

Saturday, May 10

Once I get up for the day, I KNOW it's time to put on my shoes and go for a walk. Lately I've been lingering in bed, until I'm ready (in my head) to walk. Today I stayed in bed longer. I read a book and fell asleep again. I didn't get up until almost noon. It was too late (too hot) to walk, so I didn't.

I scrapbooked with my mom in the afternoon. We have a good time together sharing our newest photos and coming up with creative ideas for our pages. It had been too long since our last crop (when scrapbookers get together to scrap).

I didn't walk in the evening.

I rode the exercise bike for 30 minutes before I went to bed.

This was the second day (not in a row) that I haven't walked during these 3 weeks. Hmmm ....I'm behind again in writing out what I've eaten, I haven't journaled my emotions lately, AND I've neglected my time in God's Word.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33

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Friday, May 9

I didn't walk until evening. I thought about just riding the bike but remembered what Chris had told me. "Walking is your priority. If you only do one thing, WALK."

It was 7:30 PM when I left my house. Perfect temperature to be outside! Lots of people at the park near my house. No stray dogs running around.

I recognized a man far across the park. I knew his stature and his gait. What a thrill and a lift to my spirit. It was my dear husband.

We walked toward eachother. He was smiling and swinging his arms. He thought I was finished and ready to come home but I was only halfway through my 30 minutes. He said he'd keep walking with me.

It blessed my heart for several reasons:
Bob usually walks slowly but he kept up with my pace.
He had just finished a long day of work (he's in construction -- his work is labor intensive), and I knew he was tired. At the end of our walk he told me that he doesn't like walking (for exercise) and didn't think he could ever do it on a regular basis. I've always admired his ability to get up and go to work day after day whether he's very tired, not feeling well, it's too hot, or he'd like to take a day off. He just goes. It felt good to know that in my own way I was committed to doing something day after day too.

Indoor walking

I set my alarm to get up early. I was outside and ready to walk by 7:15 AM (early for me). It was nice and cool, bright and sunny, and there was a police helicopter overhead. When I got to the corner where I do my stretches I noticed two large dogs running in a yard down the road.

Dog anxiety was high today. I went back home and decided to drive to a nearby shopping mall to walk inside.

I walked for 30 minutes. Mall walkers come in all shapes and sizes but most of them were older than me. They have their strides down! Some of them were walking much faster than I was. A group of three ladies were walking and carrying on a conversation (not walking fast enough according to Chris). I check to make sure I'm walking fast enough by talking to myself out loud. I can't get through a whole sentence without having to stop to take a breath. That's fast enough.

I felt like I was on the verge of pigging out all day. Lots of emotional stuff going on. I ate more dark chocolate than I normally do at one sitting and I also ate some trail mix that I had been avoiding. I was disappointed to discover that all the peanut M&Ms were gone out of it (how could that have happened ? Julie?)

I will ride the exercise bike before bed tonight.

Some Trainer Tips

Whatever you can't seem to control yourself (when you eat it), don't have that in your house.

If you have to eat when you're out and about, order a kid's meal or share a meal with someone else.

Chicken soft tacos are a good choice when eating Mexican food. Beware of the chips. If they are a problem for you to stop, don't start eating them.

Cut your portions in half. It's better for your metabolism to eat several times a day versus three BIG meals. If you're going to eat a burrito, eat half now and half of it later.

Remind yourself you can always eat more LATER. As soon as you're hungry again you can eat more of ___ (whatever) if you want to.

When you start out to walk, don't start out fast. It takes about 5 minutes for your body to get warmed up. After 5 minutes you can probably walk at a faster pace. During your walk you will feel more energy at times and less at others. Pace yourself accordingly.

Your priority is TO WALK. Walking is the VERY BEST exercise you can do. It works and tones every part of your body. If you can only do one thing ... WALK.

For a few years Chris could not keep ice cream in her house. Now she can. She said when she wants to eat some she just eats a spoonful at a time from the freezer. She doesn't dish it out into a bowl to eat it.

You can eat anything you want, you just can't eat all of everything you want. For instance, if you want to eat something sweet (that someone brings to the office or some function) cut a sliver of it or eat half of it. Just don't eat a whole one.

Have the mindset that you don't need to have your "own" portion of something. You can take a drink or two of someone's drink or a bite or two of their food. (I told her about me ordering a large Horchata without even thinking about it). She suggested that if I want some in the future, I can just drink some of Bob's or share one with Julianne. I don't HAVE to have my own.

You should be drinking enough water that you have to go to the bathroom alot.

Binge eating

I just discovered how to set the correct date and time that I'm posting a new message. I went back and tried to change the dates as far as I could rememeber. From now on they will be right on the dot. Just an FYI.

I told Chris that several of my friends and family members have asked about having her work with them. She told me that she just doesn't have time right now but she's feeling like this will one day be a ministry for her. She said she has such compassion for people and since she has struggled with her own weight since she was 9 years old, she can understand what others are going through. She said she already knows me ... inside my head, because she knows herself.

When we were teenagers we used to binge eat together. One of the things we'd eat was saltine crackers with butter, peanut butter and then jelly on them. We'd sit and make little sandwiches over and over again until we were about to puke.

Hmmm, must have been a poor teens phase. That would never tempt me now.

Then there was the chips and salsa phase. Tortilla chips still tempt me. Especially with some good salsa. I'm so glad that I no longer crave hot fudge sundaes and french fries (another phase we went through). I think I got over that one when I worked at Dairy Queen. You really can get sick of eating ice cream dipped in chocolate (or covered in hot fudge).

Back to the subect at hand .... EATING SENSIBLY and LOOSING WEIGHT, Chris said I could share the tips she gives me with you.