This is day 10 of our current eating plan, based on Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book "Eat to Live". We're eating fruits (unlimited allowed), vegetables (also unlimited allowed), legumes, and nuts. Six weeks of this. The eating plan is based on the most nutrient-rich foods per calorie.
It started with Art's upcoming knee replacement surgery. He wants to get his weight down about 20 pounds. Also, we both would like to get off our bp meds.
It hasn't been a fun experience so far. I really miss eggs, cheese and butter. But surprisingly, not sugar or meat. And this morning, eating a bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh blueberries, I think about our former Saturday morning ritual, breakfast at our local diner, where I'd order a three-egg omelet with hash browns and a buttered English muffin. We'll probably do that again, but not for the next 44 days. And, frankly, I'm not hungry enough to get even halfway through such a breakfast.
I have a couple of blogging friends who dropped ten pounds last year over a period of time. I remember their comments about increased energy and smaller clothing. Except for right after my divorce, there hasn't been a time in my life when I've lost weight effortlessly. And, though I am reasonably active as far as walking and exercise, when I pair it with unmonitored food consumption, I get muscles along with fat. It's not the weight loss I'm after this time for my appearance, though. It's the health benefits.
Anyway, I'm on the bandwagon. Not thrilled yet, but on it.
On Tuesday, I take my Professional Standards Evaluation (PSE) test for my mediation coursework. It's a mock mediation to demonstrate the skills I've acquired so far. If I pass the first time, I'll need to do 12 mediations as a co-mediator with a certified person, and then I'll be just about certified. I love this mediation work. It seems to suit my talents and my interest. I'm a complete believer in the importance of being useful in my life, and I think this will do it to a large extent. I'm a little nervous. I'm actually reluctant to even post this, because if I don't pass the first time I'll have to admit it to my blogging community. Achiever, you know, in my past life.
I'll focus on the present day for now, though. Finish my oatmeal and blueberries, go to the gym for time on the elliptical trainer, return to my yard for some weeding in the sunshine. This afternoon I'll spend a couple of hours preparing for the PSE. Sounds like a good day to me!
Mary's desk
4 hours ago
17 comments:
Sounds like a wonderful day to me. We have fallen in love with steel-cut oats, and blueberries are a perfect topper. Congrats on getting on this new eating plan, and all the best on your exam.
I've been eating oatmeal every morning with either strawberries or a banana, but I also add an English muffin with peanut butter. I LOVE peanut butter! I find blueberries tasteless ans unsatisfying. I much prefer Craisins. Yesterday, I pigged out on almonds and Craisins and felt guilty about it--but maybe that wasn't so bad after all! I'll be interested in learning how this diet pays off for you.
We eat lots of fresh veggies and fruit, and I consider success when I do not gain weight, but I do love a really good steak or burger. And I know I would be a real butterball without exercise. I don't know whether it is genes, upbringing or habit, but I love food. And I love to eat.
Linda,
Good for you for your lifestyle change...yes, it's difficult to break bad habits but so worth it...hang in there! Good Luck on your exam. I know you will do great and I agree...we all need to do something useful-one of the benefits of life....
About the only way I enjoy oatmeal is with butter and syrup. Good for you!
Linda, you are on the road to success with this new eating plan, and it allows you lots of delicious foods. Mediation sounds like a good match for you to do.
Good for you for remaining active and useful! Nice thing about mature adults when they learn new things, they are more patient with themselves and others too. I bet you'll be prepared and ready to jump in whether you pass the "test" or not.
Good luck on the diet. We all seem to appreciate good healthy habits and still fail to follow them when we are out and about, or too stressed out.
Yes, do it for health. The fact that I now actually look good in clothes is a bonus. the real benefit of my weight loss is improved health and mobility and decreased pain. It's a good thing.
Congratulations for getting on the bandwagon. It's hardest in the beginning. My problem now is finding out how to maintain the weight loss I had last year. But I'm trying, and blueberries are my favorite snack! Other than turning my teeth blue, they are perfect. :-)
Good for you on both counts--diet and professional! I have several friends on the diet that says eat nothing that comes from anything that has a face or a mom! They swear by it! Good luck to you on both fronts.
Good for you for eating well and serving in retirement. Both will keep you healthy and happy!
Way to go on that rigid diet. You are getting everything you need which is why I think you aren't really hungry. When I eat properly, I don't crave the bad stuff at all. Keep it up, we are pulling for you and good luck with your test.
You're doing wonderful things for yourself-- from a healthy diet to progressing toward your goal to be a mediator! That's so great! My husband and I are also doing an eating makeover and trying a vegetarian regimen yet again. Like you, I find I really love fruits and vegetables when I eat them and eating at home is so much healthier (as Rosaria points out in her blog today, too!). I hope all all get through the summer both lighter and in better health. (Getting off those blood pressure meds is a great goal!)
That's the main reason why I lost 10 - 15 pounds about two years ago -- to take some stress off my bad knee (and also my bad ankle, on the other side). IMHO, it doesn't matter much which diet you follow. Just use the one that works for you -- and that also allows you to maintain your lower weight going forward. So good luck ... and good for you!
There's a great website (also a free ap for your ipad) called myfitnesspal.com that helped us track our calories in and out. It's easy to use and we were amazed at how it was spot on with our goals and scale each week. Wish you could swing by for some of the extra veggies we have in the garden.
The diet sounds like it would be somewhat difficult sure. But I bet after the end of it you're feeling so much better physically. I've considered doing something with higher proteins (like nuts, etc), more veggies and lowered meat consumption. Sugar wouldn't be an issue for me at all, I almost never use it in/on anything. Salt would be my weakness. And carbs. But to get healthy there are some sacrifices that must be made. Keep us updated on your progress! And best of luck moving forward with the meditation cert, you'll rock at this!
I have been on the bandwagon since 2010 and lost 47 pounds. Weight Watchers is the best program I have found. It allows you to eat anything but keep within a certain calorie count. Fruits, vegetables, and high fiber foods are the secret
Good luck on your journey.
Post a Comment