Waving tentatively...

If you read this entry, then you are a sincere and hopeful friend after my long absence here! I have been wondering during this time the usefulness of continuing this blog. It had seemed like what had been a motivation to me to stay focused had become something I was dreading. As I don't need any help in the area of feeling obligated, I took a break to figure out if this blog is helpful to me. So, I am still not sure, but today I feel motivated to post. I'll just see where it goes from here.

Part of my motivation to post is perhaps that I have been trying to be cognizant of my eating, that I have regained weight over the last months, and as I stepped on the scale this morning (after three weeks being afraid to) I found that I have actually lost 8 pounds. Never in my life have I stepped on the scale and had such an unexpected loss. Not that I haven't been trying, but I haven't been weighing, so I didn't expect that anything was happening. I don't quite know what to make of it, but I am encouraged. This puts me at 220 instead of 228. Still more than I wish I were. But, encouraging nonetheless. I'd like to continue and I am journaling my eating again. I am not sure what I will put down here. I think I'll just feel that out.

I do wonder if it would be good for me to weigh less during this process--keep focused on behaviors and less on the scale. I don't know. I also wonder if I'll feel healthier if I drop another 20 pounds. I have been sick so much the last two months. I'd like to have more clarity and focus and losing weight seems to go hand in hand with that for me. They seem part of the same positive cycle.

Yesterday...

Ugh...I think I am getting sick, too. Mark and the kids have all been sick this weekend and now I feel like I may be coming down with it too. I think that I'd like to ignore it and have it go away, but I don't think that's happening. Well, yesterday's eating...

Breakfast: 2 whole wheat pancakes
Snack: 2 mandarine oranges
Lunch: 1 1/2 c. curried vegetable bisque, 14 tortilla chips
Snack: 2 c. caramel corn, 7 slices dried mango
Dinner: 1 c. pasta with sauce, 1 sausage, 1 c. fresh broccoli and carrots, dip
Snack: 1/3 c. ice cream

Today's reason to lose weight: I want to sew some new shirts for myself for spring!

Sunday night...

I actually wrote down my eating yesterday, but just did not blog about it. Today I put some change in my jar twice. Once for passing on the cookie and Barnes and Noble with Maria and once for getting a banana instead of candy when I went to get cough drops for my sick family. It makes me feel good to make good decisions.

Breakfast: 2 whole wheat pancakes
Lunch: 2 pieces poppy seed bread, 1 tangerine
Snack: 1 banana
Dinner: Cherry juice, 2 c. popcorn, 1 1/2 c. tomato/cashew/basil soup
Snack: 1 piece chocolate

Today's reason to lose weight: I want to ride a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon someday and they do have weight restrictions!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm very tired tonight so this post will be brief, but it will be here nonetheless!

Breakfast: 1 slice cinnamon bread, 1 T. cashew butter
Lunch (out for Valentine's Day): The Happy Lunch Box (consisting of tempura sweet potato, teryaki beef, 1/2 c. rice, miso soup, 4 gyoza, salad and 3 pieces of fried banana for dessert)
Dinner: 2 c. chili, flaxseed corn chips, cheese
Dessert: Cherry rice pudding.

Today's reason to lose weight: I feel better when I am taking charge of my behavior rather than being controlled by it.

Lent

I am a bit embarrassed to post, as it has been a while again. Really, I have been struggling with my eating. I so want to continue losing weight, but I'm finding it difficult. Indeed the scale is inching upward slowly. However, the other day I was journaling about learning the concept of "enough" in my life--enough time, enough things, enough food, whether I am enough for it all. At the same time I had been wanting to choose some practice to adopt for Lent. It occurred to me that addressing "enough" might be just the thing. So here are my Lenten practices (starting them a wee bit late):
1. Eat according to my plan and write it all down.
2. Work on only one knitting project at a time until each project is done.
3. Buy nothing except the necessities for myself and our household.
So, today, I did it. I succeeded for the first time in weeks in writing down my eating and sticking within bounds.

Breakfast: Mango/blackberry smoothie, 1 slice cinnamon bread
Lunch: large lettuce/vege salad, 2 T hummus, 2 small bits of cheese, 2/3 piece flatbread, dressing, red peppers
Snack: 1 slice bread, 1 banana, tall skinny latte
Dinner: 1 1/2 c. vege bisque, 2 slices bread
Snack: 1 T nuts, 1 1/2 c. popcorn

Today's reason to lose weight (as seen on a bus stop): Losing 1 pound can relieve up to 4 pounds of pressure on your knees.

My not-so-secret temptation...

So, I've been struggling with the afternoon munchies. Today I kept them in check fairly well, finally! I'm not sure why I've been struggling so much, but I guess I just need to keep on.

Here's today's stats:

Breakfast: 2/3 c. yogurt, 1 mini bagel, 1/2 pear
Snack: 1 skinny latte, 1 tangerine
Lunch: 1 C. parsnip soup, 1 piece bread, large green salad, 8 olives
Snack: 1 cookie, 3 c. popcorn. 1 c. applesauce
Dinner: 2 slices pizza, 1 slice bread, tangerine

A wee bit heavy on the carbs, but much better than the last few days.

Today's reason to lose weight: I am worth it!

Made it through the afternoon!

So, with much struggle and temptation, I finally made it through an afternoon without going crazy with my food. I did journal about my temptations a couple of times today and it at least made me feel like I was doing something proactive.

Breakfast: 1/2 c. oatmeal, 1 tangerine, 1 T dried fruit
Lunch: 1 tortilla, 1 c. beef and corn posole, 2 T cheese, 1 T sour cream, avocado
Snack: 10 cherries, 1 fruit bar, 1 granola bar, dried mango
Dinner: 1 1/2 samosa, 1/2 piece naan, 3 pieces tandoori chicken, cauliflower curry
Dessert: 3/4 c. ice cream

Today's reason to lose weight: I want to become a more proactive person.

Hmmmm...

So, I know this last week wasn't stellar, but weight gain? I don't think so...must be about that time. So, on positives for today--I got up at 6:30, journaled and walked and got my head together. However, somewhere along the line, I lost my focus and really didn't write down my eating or journal about it. I could try to reconstruct it here and now, but I really don't think I'll remember accurately. So, tomorrow? I really want to jump back on this boat!

A quick post...

It's late, but I just wanted to post the day's eating. But first, can I say what I didn't eat? I didn't eat a candy bar at Target this afternoon. I didn't eat popcorn either. I didn't eat a whole bunch of snacks while I was making dinner. I didn't eat a cookie or fancy coffee drink at the bookstore this afternoon. I didn't eat ice cream by the computer tonight. Don't you think I should get credit for what I didn't eat? I thought so...so do I!

Breakfast: 1/2 c. yogurt, 1/3 c. granola
Lunch: 1/2 english muffin, 1/2 c. beets, 1 egg, 6 slices dried mango
Snack: 1 prune, chocolate chips and macadamia nuts, 1/3 c. granola
Dinner: 1/2 c. rice, lemon chicken with broccoli, peppers and carrots.

Today's reason to lose weight: Spring is coming and some new shirts would be fun!

Focus? Who me?

So, I'm not doing well at writing instead of eating. Everything went along swimmingly until about 4:00 today, when suddenly I succumbed to the urge to eat far too much junk (candy canes and unnecessary granola bar and hot cocoa). Time to truly focus on that afternoon time and be determined and ready with my journal and my strategies!

Breakfast: 1/2 c. oatmeal, 2 T raisins, 1 T walnuts
Snack: 10 cherries
Lunch: large salad with dressing, 2 eggs, 2 pieces bread
Snack: 3 c. popcorn, 2 candy canes, 1 granola bar, 1 c. hot cocoa
Dinner: 2/3 c. rice, 1 c. squash and green bean curry,
Snack: 3/4 c. ice cream

Today's reason to lose weight: I want to know that I am feeding my body healthily.

Monday and back to school....

Well, I weighed in this morning at 205, down a couple of pounds. I am still trying to adjust to going to bed early again and getting up earlier. As it was today I got out for my walk later than usual and by the time I got home and ready to go at the day it was after 9:30 and I had not even written in my journal. There is a definite lack of focus when I do not write in my journal. I can't afford to skip it. It might be better to skip the walk if one thing had to go, because if I am focused there would be a chance of me fitting in the walk later. I am learning, though.

Breakfast: fruit cobbler
Lunch: 1 1/2 c. dill vege soup, 2 slices bread, apple
Snack: 1 cookie, 1 piece fruit cobbler
Dinner: 2 pieces pizza, large salad, lemonade
Snack: 4 c. popcorn

Today's reason to lose weight: I like to feel focused and productive!

HALT

I've been on a retreat the last couple of days. I spent some time reading the Julia Cameron book. I think that the HALT principle that she talks about there might be helpful to my afternoon sweet cravings. She says not to let yourself get too hungry, too angry, too lonely or too tired. I don't think that I often have a problem with the second, but I know I "forget" to eat lunch until later in the afternoon and then it is hard to stop eating. I also think that I should schedule a relaxing break in the early afternoon. We'll see how that helps. I'll weigh in in the morning and post it here. Thanks for sharing my journey with me.

Breakfast: 1/2 english muffin with jam
Lunch: 1 hard boiled egg, roasted beets with blue cheese and walnuts, vinaigrette, carrots, cucumber
Snack: 1 piece pecan pie
Dinner: 1 1/2 c. dilly potato bean soup, 1 1/2 slices bread, salad with dressing, 1 small piece fruit cobbler

Today's reason to lose weight: I want to be living my life with intention.

Checking in....

Today was a rainy day and I am tired. I hope I am not catching what Hailey has had. I feel very cranky tonight! I'm keeping this post short as I should go to bed.

Breakfast: 1/2 c. oatmeal, 2 T dried cranberries, 1 T walnuts, a little milk
Lunch: vegetable bisque, 8 crackers, 1 1/2 oz cheese
Snack: 2/3 c. granola, yogurt, sm piece pecan pie, 1/4 c. ice cream
Dinner: 1 1/2 c. vegetable bisque, 1/2 english muffin
Snack: 1 tangerine

I guess that the afternoons are the most challenging time for me. I consistently crave sweets between 2:00 and 4:00. I better think of some kind of game plan for that.

Today's reason to lose weight: I feel good when I take care of myself.

A Brand New Year and a revived plan.

Yes, the Farmgirl Gets Fit blog has been awfully quiet for quite some time. To tell the truth, I had really lost my momentum and got tired of saying so on my blog. However, the last year has been one of great progress for me and I did not want to see it that progress go to waste. I still feel as though I am very much on the journey of becoming a healthier, more proactive person. In my mind 2007 was a great success. However, I am aware of the fragility of my new patterns and successes and know that the old patterns are so much easier. So, I am not wanting to give up the fight. I am finding myself with renewed energy for this again at this time of year.
I'm excited to have found a couple of resources to help me on the next leg of this journey. Before I tell you what they are, let me first say that I have long been pondering the connection between creativity and my health goals. The connection has seemed to be there, but I could not put my finger on it exactly. After Christmas, I stopped in the used book store and found this book by Julia Cameron, author of "The Artist's Way". I was very excited and picked it up with a trade slip I had. She talks about how she noticed people going through the Artist's Way course and losing weight (not the point of the course). She began exploring the connections and wrote this book.
Now, last year I felt that the Artist's Way course had really helped my progress and I'm excited to start going through this book. She suggests a food journal--writing down what you eat, but also what you want to eat and why. I've devoted a little red notebook to this and will try to be diligent. You should be seeing more of me here again. I am starting 2008 at 207 pounds. (Yes, I gained a few). I plan to continue to walk 6 days a week for an hour and will record my eating as well.

Breakfast: 1/2 c. yogurt, 1/3 c. granola, 1 banana
Lunch: 1 crepe, 1 egg, salsa, 1 T cheese, 1/2 c. beets
Snack: 2" peppermint bark, 1 tangerine, 3 c. popcorn, 1 banana
Dinner: 1 1/2 c. curried vegetable bisque, 8 saltines, 1 1/2 oz cheese
Snack: 2" peppermint bark, 1 piece hard candy

Today's reason to lose weight: I am becoming a healthier, more trim woman every day that I follow good practices!