Monday, June 9, 2008

One year of good health.

First of all, can I just say that I heart the gym? Not when I'm actually there. Not when I'm red-faced and sweating on the elliptical, convinced I won't make it through the last five minutes of my workout. Not when I'm on the stationary bike because the gym is tiny and all the good machines are taken. Not when I'm forcing my way through that last set of shoulder presses.

But after. When my arms are sore in that good way that tells me my workouts are actually having an effect. When I decide to forgo a snack because it is in the forefront of my mind how hard-earned every calorie is. When those endorphins kick in and I feel energetic all day. When I lose five pounds in one week (granted, some of it was water weight, but still). When I have an excuse to go shopping because I've gone down another size. When I see a number on the scale that I haven't seen in years. When it pushes me off that plateau I've been struggling with for months.

Then, I heart the gym. So very much.

So, a bunch of you requested my recipes on Friday. I don't really want to put them all in blog posts, because that would get really long, but two of them that I found elsewhere--the Thai coconut chicken and the modified beef stroganoff. FYI, I make modifications to both of those recipes to make them healthier. For the coconut chicken, I use light coconut milk, which has about a third the fat and calories as regular coconut milk. It's not as creamy, but Torsten and I both find that the dish is pretty much as good regardless. And for the beef noodles, I use whole wheat pasta, low-fat sour cream, light butter, and low-sodium V8. I know, I'm not exactly an advocate for all-natural, unprocessed food over here, but I am an advocate for reducing calories and fat when it's possible to do so without making the food taste bad.

Also, I'm going to try to set up a little recipes section of this site at some point in the next couple of weeks that includes a bunch of recipes that we like, whether or not they're in our current rotation. But that will take a bit of time, so it will probably have to be a weekend project.

Anyway, I've been thinking about the whole healthy living thing a lot recently, because, as you can probably tell from the beginning of this post, I have been trying to ramp up my efforts in order to kick this plateau once and for all. I mean, it isn't a complete plateau, because I have still been losing weight. But it's been a very gentle slope, and that has been tough for me to come to terms with because for so long I was losing weight so fast and seemingly without effort.

In fact, it was so effortless that going to the gym regularly did not actually seem to be affecting my weight loss rate. I remember talking about that back in August, when I was doing the Couch to 5K. And even though I was good about the C25K, eventually I got frustrated, and I changed jobs, which meant that my schedule changed, and also I wasn't seeing the impact on the scale, so that wasn't helping to motivate me, and so I stopped. And I haven't really been going to the gym regularly since then, with the exception of a short-lived, overly optimistic attempt at regular early-morning visits.

But as I mentioned last week, I've modified my gym goal to be much more feasible. I want to go at least two times a week, preferably more. If I have time, I go. If I don't have time, I don't go, and I don't beat myself up about it. I just go again the next time I can. I went four times last week, and that was because I had a Friday off, and a relaxed weekend, and time after work. I recognize that not every week will be that way, and I have decided to be okay with that.

Also, over the weekend I sent an email to a reader who was asking about Weight Watchers, and it got me thinking about all the other things that have helped me get off the plateau over the last couple of weeks. First of all, though, I feel the need to offer a disclaimer in order not to jinx myself: Weight Watchers has been going very well recently, and it feels like the plateau is gone, but it has only been a couple of weeks. So perhaps I'm just living in a fantasy world at the moment, and someday soon reality will come crashing down and I'll plateau again. But here's hoping not. And here's what I'm doing to avoid it, other than the gym thing.

First, I am tracking points diligently. For those of you who have done WW before, you know that after awhile you start to know (or be able to approximate) the points values of most things in your head, and it's hard to be bothered to add them all to the tracker when you already know what you're doing. Unfortunately, that's also how you end up having a bunch of snacks that are only two points each, but that add up to 10 points (otherwise known as a full meal) really fast without you realizing it. So, I am being more careful to add every single thing I eat to the tracker, and it's helping me be really aware of how much I consume.

Second, as I've mentioned before, I started a diet journal. It is so, so helpful for me to have a place to vent, to talk about my goals, to write down tips I want to remember, to talk about what I've done wrong and how I can correct it, to just spew without worrying about an audience or how other people will perceive my situation. It is a really good outlet.

Third, and most importantly (I think), I've changed my focus to the here and now. Instead of feeling depressed because I've lost so much weight already and yet I have so much more to lose, I've decided that right now I'm only going to focus on the month of June. When I was thinking very big-picture, it felt like the whole process was going to take so much time that one day didn't really matter. So I set myself a small goal--I want to lose eight to ten pounds this month. When I think of it that way, I find myself really focusing on the impact of the food choices I make every single day. It's really helping me keep on track. Right now I am well on my way to meeting my goal for June, and once June is over, then and only then will I worry about July.

Also, there are two things that are happening right now that are helping, but not through any effort on my part. The first is that I am finally on the correct dose of Synthroid, which I think is helping at least a little bit. I actually knew before my endocrinologist confirmed that this was the correct dose, because my body was giving me signals that I hadn't been getting before. I have to say as well that I love how in touch I feel with my own body--I never recognized any symptoms of a thyroid problem when I had one, but now that it's been regulated, I feel better and I can tell. And that's a great way to feel.

The second is that it's June again. It's been a year (almost--I officially signed up on June 19) since I started Weight Watchers. A lot has changed since then--about 70 pounds, for one thing, and also my understanding of my own health, my view of food and exercise, my priorities, my medication. All factors coming together to help me improve my health. But also I really think that it's just easier for me to stay on track in the summer. I don't really know why--it could be the different schedule, all the fruits and vegetables in season, the sun, or a total coincidence--but I struggled with Weight Watchers in the winter months after great success during the summer, and now that it's summer again, I'm doing well. And I hope to keep it that way.

I can't believe it's already been a year. I'm proud of how far I've come already, and I'm clear about where I want to go from here, health-wise. Here's hoping that I can really make it all happen.

41 comments:

  1. I love WW. Love. It's the only thing I keep coming back to that reminds me of how I'm SUPPOSED to eat, as opposed to shoving copious amounts of everything in my gaping maw, which is my default setting.

    Also: SEVENTY POUNDS. Jess, that's an incredible accomplishment. That's an ELEMENTARY SCHOOLER. So, so awesome.

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  2. Seventy pounds! Good lord! I'm so proud of you and happy for you.

    Here's to many more years of good health.

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  3. this whole post made me so proud of you. The way you talked so openly about everything, and so positive, it is really inspiring! I can't believe you've lost 70 lbs in a year, that's like Shape magazine material!! I'm so impressed. Keep it up, you sound like you're definitely on the right path :)

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  4. You have inspired me to start going back to the gym and eating better. No more one dessert a day!

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  5. I think you've had a year of amazing accomplishments! You're motivating me already to get to the gym (something I was already thinking about over the weekend - well, this will be the week to go!).

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  6. Unbelievable! You are so inspiring! Keep up the good work. You're going to look gorgeous in your wedding dress and photos!

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  7. This is a GREAT health kick post! So, so GREAT.

    Proud of you and know you will keep it up.

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  8. I can't believe you've lost 70 pounds. That is just so amazing. You should be so proud! Keep up the good work :)

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  9. WOW! You are so inspirational. I find it a little easier to eat healthier in the summer as well. Well, except for the ice cream. ;)

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  10. That was a very inspirational post. You make me want to get up and go to the gym! Congratulations on losing 70 pounds and still being so committed to your goals. You are incredible!

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  11. Ha! I am working on a very similar post right now. I feel ya on the whole, I've lost weight - great - but I have so much more to go. hang in there! You are doing great!

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  12. Congrats on the weight loss to date and on getting healthier. Seventy pounds lost is an amazing accomplishment. You rock.

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  13. You are AWESOME, and I'm so proud of you for everything you've accomplished. I seriously wish I had your conviction and will power!

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  14. Good girl Jess!!! That is a truly inspirational story. So happy for you. Keep it up!

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  15. jess i am so proud of you!! you are quite the inspiration to me. know that : )

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  16. Congrats on a year!! I have been considering WW for post-baby.

    Also, I think the diet journal is a wonderful idea!

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  17. 70 lbs!? Wow - that's fabulous! keep up the great work, Jess!

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  18. Go you! I kind of know myself, and I think if I wanted to lose weight, I'm not really sure I'd be able to stick with it for so long! I have a hard time sticking to my tum trubs diet plan. I am quite impressed!

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  19. Congrats on your year with WW and all of the weight you have lost. That is amazing!

    You are such an inspiration! I like how you are setting your goals for the immediate future instead of months out. I'm going to have to try that!

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  20. holy shit girl, 70 lbs is fucking incredible. YOU are incredible. and are definitely inspiring me to get my butt TO THE GYM this week. i adore that sore feeling, but it's so hard to remember that when i'd have to leave the house in 110 degree heat to GET to the gym, when it's so nice and air conditioned on my sofa... :-)

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  21. Especially when I'm busy with school, I really let my healthy eating fall off the wayside. But you're so right. Summer time! Fruits and vegetables! Walking everywhere! 70lbs in a year is CRAZY. You're awesome.

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  22. I think it's easier to eat healthier in the summer because the produce just tastes better. Plus, the tracking of the points...it makes SUCH a difference. Way to go with the 70 pounds!

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  23. I never realized it was close to 70 pounds you have lost! That is awesome.

    And here I was thinking 15 pounds was too hard.

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  24. 70 pounds? Wow. Just wow.

    I love that post-gym feeling, too. That's totally what keeps me running. I especially love finishing a run when it's still early on a weekend morning. You can totally go for coffee and think, "YEAH! I already did something good for myself today."

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  25. I'm so happy to hear all this- and I love the idea of simply living in the moment instead of only considering far goals. =)

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  26. Congratulations Jess! This is fantastic. The plateaus always get me too - I like your new outlook of taking it one month at a time instead of one day or week at a time. A month is a better track of progress anyhow. GO YOU!!!!!!

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  27. Yay! and yay! and yay!

    70 pounds is amazing, but I'm honestly more excited for you to be enjoying that post-workout feeling and to have such a positive, realistic attitude going forward.

    Also, I know there was a whole 1-800-flowers...thing, but I saw some add for them via DailyCandy with this stunning purple bouquet and immediately thought of you. Of course now I can't find the reference.

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  28. Good girl!! Jess, you are amazing.

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  29. Yay Jess! You're totally in a great place. It's so nice to feel upbeat about diet and exercise goals instead of "weighted" down. Great post.

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  30. Hooray! Good for you!

    I find I generally eat healthier / eat less in the Summer, simply because it's hot.

    Today is the exception, of course, as I sit here eating pizza because it was too hot to cook... and i had a gift card. But still.

    Kudos to you for getting back on track and off that plateau! You are awesome!

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  31. awesome awesome awesome. i am so impressed.

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  32. thank you again jess.
    and congratulations on your success thus far!!

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  33. Seventy pounds?!?!
    That is insane! Good for you!
    I have been hitting the gym hard over the past month in an attempt to get back into shape. I am already impatient for the changes to start, but you have inspired me :)

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  34. Congratulations- a whole year and 70lb!!! You're an inspiration, the way you seem to GET it- focussing on doable exercise goals, eating fabulous, varied and healthy food :-)

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  35. WOW. Seventy pounds! Reaching that goal is so huge.

    Also I like your attitude about the gym. I too like my workouts when they're already completed (I run, so, no gym). When I'm running though? Sometimes I wish it were over already.

    I hope you're patting yourself on the back big time for everything you've accomplished in 1 year's time.

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  36. Congratulations on your hard won progress over the past year. I hope the next year is just as wonderful health wise (and every other wise!)for you.

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  37. Congrats! That's a great feeling, to see mind over matter taking shape.

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