Being positive through Injuries and Setbacks

I had all of my wisdom teeth extracted last Friday. Ow. I've been in a medicated haze since then. I have not been working out, and my "diet" has mainly been chocolate ice cream. I also have an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor next Monday about my bad knees. Surgery is likely for my torn cartilage (meniscus).

It is so hard to get healthy and stay healthy when your body is falling apart!!

Over the years, I’ve had lots of injuries and setbacks that hampered my weight loss goals. Eventually I recover, but it takes a long time, and it can be so frustrating!! Now is one of those “down” times, and I am trying not to get depressed. Sometimes, I feel like a failure even though I know I shouldn’t. It is easier for me to beat myself up for gaining 5 pounds than to feel proud of the other 130+ I’ve kept off!! I keep trying to cheer myself up with “The People Magazine Thing”, but that is not “confirmed.” And each pound gained makes me more paranoid of appearing in a National Magazine as a weight loss example! Things will be okay, and I will turn things around once I am healed.

Another thing that should make me happy: I am going to be in the 2008 Honors Edition of Cambridge’s “Who’s Who of Professional and Executive Women”!!!! Actually, I am really excited about that. It will look great on my résumé! I am not looking for a new job though. I really love my job! (I just got a raise!) But in my “dream world” – I’d work as a motivational speaker, touring all around the world! Funny how I just blogged about how I feel like a “failure,” yet I want to be a motivational speaker! Oh, how I love the irony!

But honestly, wouldn’t that be more motivating? Knowing that a *real* person, like you, was able to do it? It would be great to get motivating talk from someone who doesn’t have that “fake-smile, hyper-perky” B.S. personality most “guest lecturers” have! ;) I could really see myself as that person but I guess in a way, I’m already *that person* with this site, and that makes me happy!!! :-D

People Magazine - Half Their Size Issue Update!

Good News! I have been contacted by People Magazine again and this time I PROMISE to *NOT* shave my head. ;)

As you long time readers may recall, last October I was contacted by People Magazine as a candidate for their "Half Their Size" issue. I was selected, and I was going to have a photoshoot and everything... but then I kinda went and shaved my head. ;)


I was asked for recent pictures. So Aaron took some new ones today.
I thought I would update my current pictures and blog this good news.

Yea!!!

Jess



P.S.
I also update my Frequently Asked Questions page with the question: "How did you get started?".

When it rains it pours....

I have been stress eating so much recently! This morning my weight was back up to 155.50. This takes me back to the weight I was around the start of July again! I've been "stuck" between 157 and 152 since April. I just keep zigzagging up and down between these 5 pounds. Just when I think I'm *finally* getting back under 150, SOMETHING always happens that scuttles my progress.

Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, an obesity researcher at Rockefeller University, would contend that our bodies have a "set range" of weight it wants to be, spanning about a 30 pound range. The body's determination to maintain its composition is why a person can skip a meal, or even fast for short periods, without losing weight. It's also why he says that burning an extra 100 calories a day will not alter the verdict on the bathroom scales. Struggling against the brain's innate calorie counters, even strong-willed dieters make up for calories lost on one day with a few extra bites on the next. And they never realize it. "The system operates with 99.6 percent precision," Dr. Friedman said.

I say, BAH!! Even at 155.5, that is STILL over 130 pounds lost - and I've that I have kept it off for over 2 years!!! I doubt I am in the "0.4" percentile of "strong willed dieters."

Besides, you mean to tell me that suddenly our generation has 66% of us with a "set-point" in the overweight /obese range? Whatever! No generation before ours has had weight troubles like this! And I refuse to believe that ALL of our brains ALL decided we should ALL be fat at the same time!!!

I also read another article about how nearly 100% of Americans will be overweight or obese in our lifetime. Obesity truly is an epidemic, and our toxic culture just makes it worse.

Advertizing bombards us constantly - Telling us to consume more. Restaurants serve us calories dense dishes in enormous portions for cheap prices 24 hours a day. Yet we are shown dangerously thin movie stars and models as the "ideal" body!!!!! (I am talking to you Angelina!) GAH!

It really is no surprise to me that the September issue of Fortune Magazine will announce that NutriSystem is the fastest growing company of 2007. (http://money.cnn.com)

"NEW YORK -- FORTUNE announced today its 17th annual list of America's Fastest-Growing Companies. Topping the ranking is NutriSystem of Horsham, Pa., an online diet company that saw profits soar at a rate of 433% annually over the past three years, while its stock returned a total of 244%. Americans' bulging waistlines have helped push this 35-year-old diet company to the top of the list this year."

Of course... I've never used any weight loss program, just eating right and exercise for me!

Anyway, I am going to get back under 150... It is just SO HARD to get healthy when everywhere you look is an opportunity to "fall off the wagon" again!! Oh! And speaking of that, I am going to be in San Antonio from the 7th - 16th on a business trip! Ahhh!

When it rains it pours. ;)

August so far...

My weight was 153.25 this morning. Last week I was on vacation AND got my period. (Not a good combo!) My calories got a bit out of control, but I stuck with my exercise and made it through!

My “period puff” and vacation indulgences are burning off, and it looks like I will have another good month! YEA!

Here is my weight loss graph for August so far:

I started August 1st at 153.00, and I think I can be that weight or less by the end of the month!

I remember when it was easy to lose a pound or two a week... Now I am lucky if I get that much busting my butt for a whole month!

Still doing my best, ;)

Jess

Don't let "Fat Genes" keep you in your Fat Jeans!

At times I thought it was pointless for me to try and lose weight because I had convinced myself "Nature had made me fat." I was fat, and that was that! "You can't fight genetics!" And I had lots of overweight family members to back-up that belief. We are just plump people. That is how God made us, and we are stuck with our lot. Case Closed.

While it is true that you can not change the base body type you are born with, you can still make the best out of what you got!!! You can work with your body to gain muscle, increase your metabolism and change your body fat percentage. Don't use your genes as an excuse to stay unhealthy.

Chances are your body is good at storing fat. Back in "the caveman days" your ancestors were the ones able to live the longest during periods of food scarcity because they could live off the fat stores they easily created. (WOO! Rock on Great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - Grandma!! Survival of the fittest, or in this case, the fattest.)

The ability to easily store fat was an AWESOME survival mechanism - 5,000 years ago - but food is no longer in short supply. We live in a Calorie-dense world where food is abundant, served 24-7, deep fried with a side of ice cream!

But even with all that, you don't HAVE to be fat!!! Fat isn't who you are, it is just what your body is prone to storing. You can work hard and be healthy!!! It takes dedication but you can make your body the best it can be!

I have worked so hard these past 5 years to get to where I am today. :) I know that if you really commit yourself to getting healthy, you will be healthy too!

Cheers!

Jess

July was really good!

I lost 3.75 pounds in July!

July 2007 was one of the best months I've had in a long time. :-D

I'm a bit worried about the next few months... I have a week long vacation coming up soon... and I hope I can keep it together. I will also be going to San Antonio for work the 2nd week in September... AGH!

I. Must. Chill. Out.

I really need this vacation! ;)


TODAY'S STATS:
===============================
AM WEIGHT: 152.75
===============================

140..........Oatmeal
160..........Huge Banana
250...........Clif Bar
330...........Chicken and Veggie Pizza
90.............Skim Milk
160...........Another Banana, they are getting ripe.
400...........Cheese Pizza
210...........48 Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips

TOTAL CALORIES: 1740

===============================
WORKOUT SUMMARY
===============================
40 minutes on the Precor Elliptical Trainer
3.48 Miles
400.9 Calories
5332 Strides
===============================

This is a treat, not a treatment!

I’ve lost 3.5 pounds so far this July. ( I weighed 153.25 this morning. ) This month has been my BEST for weight loss in a long time! :)

I still have a lot of ground to make up though...

I have 7 more pounds to lose to get back to the weight I was on 1/1/07. After that, I’ll need to lose another 7 to get back to my lowest weight. I am determined to get back there!

Injury and complacency over the past year allowed my weight to slowly creep up. Luckily, my pants still fit and I am turning things around! :)

I’ve been making huge strides on the mental front!

Since childhood we are all programmed to think of food as Love or a Reward. Most happy events involve food, (Birthday cake, Christmas Cookies, Wedding Cake…) and if you were naughty - you didn’t get dessert! Food becomes the focal point, and we associate positive emotions with the food.

When sad, depressed or stressed we can get a quick emotional boost from food. Food was my answer to life’s problems. “Work’s driving me crazy!!! Time to eat chocolate.” “I’m lonely... Ice cream is my friend!” “I am depressed about my weight... Pizza is the perfect pick-me up.”

I used Food to self-medicate myself. My binges would lead to an increase in my weight. That would just get me more depressed, and loathe myself more... which lead to me turning to food again!!! What a horrific cycle....

Seriously I am like a recovering alcoholic... but FOOD was my addiction. But unlike alcohol - you can't quit food cold turkey. You have to eat to be healthy... and that is SO HARD to do!

Inside a Dove Promise™ chocolate, I read the message: "Chocolate always loves you back." But it should really read: "Chocolate always loves to add to the size of your backside." I love chocolate, but I had to learn to enjoy it as a treat, and not as a treatment for my stress and worries!!!

So I created a "happy list” of things I like - that do not involve eating. I have over 100 things on my happy list now!

You need to experiment with stress reducing alternatives and find one that works best for you.

Examples:

· Instead of getting a Snickers™ out of the vending machine when work makes you CRAZY - try brewing a cup of low cal cocoa, or even No Calorie tea.
· Take a quick walk around the block
· Call a friend, or go chat with a co-worker
· Escape into Fantasy, by playing a game, watching a movie or read a book.
· Watch the sunset
· Start writing an e-mail to someone about what is bothering you. (You don't need to send it - this just gets the frustrations out)
· Take deep breaths and try to see if you are really physically hungry, or if it is just the stress monster talking.
· Take up knitting! The repetitive motion and feeling of accomplishing something helps... also with all that yarn and needles in your hands, you can't get food into your mouth with your hands so occupied. ;)

Try making your own "happy list!” You know what makes you smile!! Even just READING the list helps you feel better without turning to food. :)

I hope something in my rambling helps you! :-D

Take Care!

Jess

Deep Fried Marshmallows

Deep Fried Marshmallows?!?!?! Yes. Thursday night / Friday morning I dreamt I was deep-frying marshmallows. I then used magic to levitate them out of the oil and float them around the kitchen, and out the window to children outside.

It was such a bizarre dream, I could not help but remember it. When I told my husband about it, he is like… we should try making them!

So this weekend we deep-fried some marshmallows. I tried about 5 recipes and the winner was:

Jessica’s Deep Fried Marshmallows

Ingredients
---------------------------------------------
3 egg whites
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
A good pinch of ground ginger
1 cup shredded coconut
12 large Marshmallows
Oil for frying

Directions
---------------------------------------------
Mix egg whites in a small bowl.
Mix together graham crackers and ginger in another bowl.
Dip marshmallow in egg, then roll in seasoned crumbs.
Dip back in egg, and add second coat of crumbs.
Dip in egg a 3rd time and then roll in the shredded coconut.
Pat coconut into breading.
Place on a tray lined with foil and freeze for about an hour.
Heat oil to about 350. Fry marshmallows one at a time.
NOTE: Spin Marshmallows with your spoon so all sides brown evenly.
Fry until coconut is golden brown, or Marshmallow starts to leak! (About 30 seconds)
Remove from oil and place on paper towel to drain and cool.

They are cool enough to eat in about 2 minutes.

Today when I was telling a co-worker about them he teased, “I lost over 100 pounds eating Deep Fried Marshmallows!!!”

I laughed because it’s true, but very misleading. It’s like the magazines covers you read at the checkout:

“Drop 20 pounds by Labor Day!” right next to a big picture of pie… Or “Walk yourself slimmer” right next to a chocolate layer cake!!!

That is one of my biggest pet-peeves. Huge weight loss claims, next to pictures of seasonal desserts!

I also look at the women on the cover and think, “I’ve lost more than her!!” Someday I hope I will get to be the woman smiling on the cover… Sadly, the person from “People” magazine never got back to me... *SIGH*

Maybe Someday...

Anyway… I hope you keep healthy, and don’t eat these marshmallows unless you are willing to spend a week “recovering” from the experience - like I chose to do! ;)

Cheers!

Jess

Balancing Your Energy

Think of your body as a car that operates 24 hours a day. You would never expect your car to get you from one place to the next without refueling.

You also know there's no point in putting more gas in the tank than it's designed to hold. Yet that's how many of us operate our bodies! We try to run on empty for hours, then dump in more "fuel" than we can handle.

Running on Empty: (muscle loss)

Working out on an empty stomach actually breaks down your muscles.

When starved for blood sugar, your body breaks down your muscles for fuel. It is stupid and starts cannibalizing the good stuff instead of burning off the fat you want it too!! This is very counterproductive! :(

Over-fueling: (fat gain)

Going without food for long period times then, when you're ravenously hungry, you eat everything in sight. This causes a large surge of insulin, which means you will easily store the extra calories as fat.



So here is how to balance things out:

1. Eat as soon as you wake up in the morning.


2. Make sure you eat something before you exercise, no matter what time of day it is. Food prevents your muscle tissue from becoming cardio chow.


3. Eat soon after exercising, when your body has depleted its energy stores. Act fast, or you'll start burning muscle for energy.


4. Eat 5 - 6 mini meals/snacks. Have some protein at every time you eat and some calcium-rich dairy at least twice a day.
   

My Typical Daily Menu
========================
130..........Milk
130..........Carnation Instant Breakfast
100..........Oatmeal
150..........Extra Large Banana
300..........Frozen Meal (Lunch)
110..........Yogurt
80..........1/2 cup All-Bran
140..........Snack Bar
500..........Dinner
200..........Dessert
=============================
1840 Total Calories

Nearly Recovered!

2.25 pounds of trip weight and period puff are gone!

I've been eating between 1800 - 2000 calories a day and working out.

6/26/07 Elliptical - 33:41 min, 2.72 mi, 300.0 cal, 4088 strides
6/28/07 Elliptical - 48:00 min, 4.03 mi, 462.0 cal, 6208 strides

I was 154.25 this morning, the same weight I was June first! Looks Like
I will break even this month. Hopefully things will continue turn
around, and I will get back under 150 by the end of July. :)


-= Mental Health =-

An article recently featured on WebMD talked about how being "good" can be bad for your weight loss.

Food should not be an ethical dilemma. Eating a piece of cake won't land you in dieter's prison, but dwelling in the good/bad mentality will make it harder for you to lose weight.

No carbs. No desserts. No food after 6 PM... people often set "rules" like these when trying to lose weight. But ironically, they're the very things that hinder success!

Setting diet rules creates an all-or-nothing mentality: You can't have or do something, and if you do, you've failed. Seeing yourself as a failure makes it easy to just give up entirely!

Dieters tend polarize foods as 'good or bad,' and then pass judgment on themselves based on what they eat. When you eat a 'bad' food, you're bad. Those negative emotions then spur you to eat more!

Rather than beating yourself up remind yourself that sometimes it's okay to splurge. As long as your next choice is a healthy one, you are back on track. :)

I have a sweet tooth. Cutting out sweets would make me feel deprived.
So allow yourself your favorite treat, in small amounts.

Chocolate

• Adora calcium disks
• Bite size or fun sized candy bars
• Dove Promises
• Hershey's Kisses

Ice Cream

• Skinny Cow Ice Cream sandwich
• 60 calories each Dove miniatures

Weight Watchers snack cakes....

You get the idea! ;)

Giving yourself permission to indulge will help evaporate guilt and quell the desire to overdo it.

When stress cravings strike, the first thing you should do is think or say out loud, 'Am I actually hungry, or would doing something relaxing like calling a friend or listening to music
make me feel better?' If you are honest with yourself, odds are food won't be the answer. Work to develop healthier coping strategies. And to prepare for future stress. Try making a list of your favorite food-free ways to unwind. I honestly have a text file called "Happy List.txt" at work, and when I feel stressed, I open it and read all the things that I am thankful for, and it makes me feel better. :)

But let's say your happy list is not around, and you start eating ice cream with a spoon driectly out of the containter... well here is a way to stop mid-binge.

Once you realize you are over-eating try popping a piece of gum. You could also try brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. It sounds simple, but it provides an opportunity to think about whether you really want to continue eating.

I find that once I am "minty fresh," I don't want to dirty up my mouth again. Crazy but it works for me. :)