Back to Basics for September 5-September 11, 2005

[zeraspride]

Good afternoon everyone!

I'm so sorry I'm getting this thread started so late. I know several of us talked about going back to Phase 1 for a week or 2 starting either today or tomorrow. I almost chickened out but here I am!

I am working off Marva's suggestion to have one perfect day and then repeat. So far so good. I'm guzzling my water, not eating any grains (hard for me let me tell you guys) and started my day off with an hour of alternating walking, powerwalking and running. I weighed in at 177.5 pounds (up about 2.5 pounds from my low weight) so we'll see where I am at this time next week.

I hope those that were thinking about joining me do so. I'd hate to be all lonely here on Phase 1 of the Beach! I hope you all don't mind if I use this thread as a journal of sorts for myself. I was thinking last night about how I seem to be slipping back to my old "fat" habits of how I viewed food and my portion sizes are getting scary. I can't believe I have only gained a couple of pounds in the past 3 months considering how I was eating. I guess the pretty much daily exercising helps. Anyway, one of the things that helped me to be successful when I first started SBD was keeping a journal on another board. I won't have time to maintain a presence on both boards this go round so I'm hoping it's okay if I ramble here on the B2B thread.


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Monday, September 5, 2005

Okay, here I am starting over sort of with SBD. I was so successful for so long and I think I started to take my success for granted. I realize now that I have to fight every day just as hard as I did when I had 100+ pounds to lose. It's harder when people tell you how "good" you look and how far you have come. You start to believe the hype. But you know yourself and you know your body. In truth, I could probably stand to lose 30-40 pounds if I wanted to be really skinny but that's not my goal. Skinny was never my goal. Fit is my goal. Healthy is my goal. Not eating out of being bored or hurt or any other reason other than hunger is my goal. Exercising for the pure joy of moving my body and enjoying that sweaty euphoric feeling is my goal.

I was in the "zone" for so long and when and where I fell out of it, I don't know. Am I scared to lose these last few pounds? No, I don't think so. I think I've just gotten lazy and reached a point where I pretty much look like everyone else so what's the point in working hard at this point. I think that's the mentality I fell into. I look good enough but I know deep down that looking good enough is not enough for me. I want to take this weight loss journey all the way to my goal. So it's back to basics. No more of the stuff that I know was making me sluggish and tired. I was starting to feel depressed again and have those horrible nightmares that had disappeared when I stopped eating processed flour. My sleep is not restful at night anymore and I don't have the energy I used to have. I have been fooling myself that I was doing okay but I wasn't. Today is the first step in the right direction though. I started Phase 1 again and I'm going for one perfect day - I don't have to worry about yesterday or tomorrow or the day after - just today. I can do this for today. I strung together a bunch of "todays" and my reward was 108 pound weight loss. I refuse to think of how may "todays" will be required to get me to my ultimate goal. I will just focus on the present day and being the best person I can be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and everything else will fall in line, just like it did when I started this program on December 1, 2003.

[justmarvi]

Hi Lisa, Welcome back!

Good luck to all!

[Shalbrihil]

We're all with ya galfriend! It's a one step, one day and no looking back. Keep relaxed and in good spirit.

[rose1]

Hi Lisa, This is the mother half of the pair here. We're still in. This is going to be a trying week to stay on plan. I work at the county library and my daughter is one of the student workers. We have TWO eating events scheduled this week. Tomorrow won't be too hard. The other student just got her braces off and everyone is bringing things that she hasn't been able to eat for 18 months. We are bringing carrot and celery sticks and whole apples from our own trees. We'll be able to pass up the jerky, caramels, and raisins. Sticky fudge won't be easy, though! Friday is going to be hard. It's birthday party day. Everyone will bring something delicious for lunch to celebrate Sept. birthdays. I think Friday might be a phase 2 day.

Don't worry about rambling. You are expressing some of my own thoughts. Day 1 was a good day here.

If you're knitting, you're not eating.

[MountainGirl]

Good morning all!

My intent was to get back on P-1 yesterday and I had a good day, but in the evening, I ended up eating some ww pasta, sauce and homemade ww tortillas.
Not bad, just not on my plan.

And tonight we have a served dinner at my cancer support group and I'm not sure what they're serving (we never know until we get there). I am considering bringing a salad with me, or simply eating before-hand and drinking water during the dinner and eating afterwards if I need to.

BUT, more than that, I need the motivation to eat P-1!!! So, that's why I'm here with y'all!

Today my plan is this:

Water 2 qts
20 ounces decaf tea w/ stevia

1 TB natural peanut butter

2 eggs
veggies

Salad w/ chicken breast 1 TB Ranch

Zero Point Soup

Salad before we leave for support group

Snack after we get home - salad or string cheese or more soup

[amgoing2b]

Hi to all,
I also started SB on the 5th and have managed to get a 2.5mi walk in yesterday & today before work.I am working 8hr rotating shifts for the next two months & am currently on 4-12pm.The weather here in Canada is great & farmers are getting their crops off(Hubby included).Have been enjoying lurking for more than a year & now is time to get serious about those last 15lbs.Have a good SB day.

[justmarvi]

Originally Posted by amgoing2b

Hi to all,
I also started SB on the 5th and have managed to get a 2.5mi walk in yesterday & today before work.I am working 8hr rotating shifts for the next two months & am currently on 4-12pm.The weather here in Canada is great & farmers are getting their crops off(Hubby included).Have been enjoying lurking for more than a year & now is time to get serious about those last 15lbs.Have a good SB day.

amgoing2b. We're so glad to have you join in! Gotta love those Canadian girls, eh?

[zeraspride]

Happy Tuesday Night Ladies!

I didn't get a chance to post before now. Well, it wasn't a perfect day but pretty close. I did so well all day but was pretty hungry so I snacked when I felt like I couldn't take it! Boy Phase 1 isn't as easy as I remember. I miss my fruit and when my son had a bowl of cereal this morning, I almost jumped on him and ate it! :smile: What was my demise tonight? Mitchell's homemade ice cream. I ordered a large sundae (yes it was sugar free but still). I could have done so much better and had a much more healthy dessert. I'm a little disappointed in myself for it but other than that I ate very well including a nice big grilled chicken cesear salad with lots of veggies for dinner.

For my work out, I did Firm Total Muscle Shaping with Stephanie which is a nice long 45 minute work out that alternates cardio sequences with heavy weight strength training. It's my favorite Firm work out!

Welcome to Betty! We are so glad you are not lurking anymore. Please jump right in when your busy schedule allows so we can get to know you better.

MountainGirl - I can so relate to doing well all day and then making a little detour in the evening. I am making whole wheat spaghetti for my family tomorrow night and I will need to be strong because I am not going to have any!

Rose - Hi! I'm so glad you guys are doing well. You have a lot going on in September but stay strong, we can all do this! I'm so glad my ramblings aren't boring you guys to tears. It helps to get my real feelings down in writing, I find I don't eat emotionally as much when I do.

Marva and Sharon - thanks ladies for your support! As always you two are here for me helping along as I stumble my way through! I appreciate it so much!!!!



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Ramblings for Tuesday, September 6

Why? Why did I drive all the way to the ice cream parlor and order a large sugar free sundae and sit in my living room and eat it? I did so well all day long. I had a great heart pumping work out and ate good and nutritious foods (including a snack). I know you feel a bit out of sorts when you do Phase 1 and I know that's how I felt. I was missing my old comfort foods that I'm used to eating like a bowl of cereal in the morning and fruit with my lunch but this is ridiculous. I do want to lose these last 15 pounds, don't I? Of course I do! So, the question remains - WHY? Besides the fact that it's what I wanted to do at that moment I don't have another explanation. I want to get through this week with a clean Phase 1 record.

I need to be ready to make the commitment not to have anymore sugar free ice cream this week. I don't even want to type it or think of it but I have to give myself some tough love. I will only see results if I do what is needed to reach my goal. So from this point forward, no more ice cream for the week. You ladies have no idea how hard this will be for me. But I've got it in me to do this and be honest with myself. I . . . can . . . do . . . this . . . I really can!

[ljk1982]

Hello all....

Decided to join you today on phase 1 since I was up today from my poor eating choices over the weekend. What I love about this WOE is knowing that if I get off of plan, all I have to do is get back on. It isn't like I necessarily had to bust my butt night after night in the gym to lose weight...and so it doesn't make me feel as hopeless. I think I will do a couple more days of phase 1 although it is hard to go back once you have added those yummy carbs back in. I will stick with you guys. We can do this!!!!

Lacy

[zeraspride]

Hi Lacy! Welcome to the B2B thread! You are so right that it is hard to go back to Phase 1 once you've had a taste of the good carbs. I'm really struggling right now. I have such a headache and feel achy all over, just like I did the first time I did Phase 1. I'm sure it's just the detox but still, this is difficult. I'm glad I'm not doing this alone!


*****

Ramblings for Wedesday, September 7

Okay, today is a new day. I wish I could say I'm feeling better but I think my body is detoxing from the bad carbs and I have such a headache and other flu-like symptoms. I'm sure I'll feel better in a day or two but for now, this is the pits. I know I ate that big ol' sundae last night but I didn't expect to see a 2.5 pound gain on the scale this morning but that's what I saw. Sigh. I know TOM is here in full force so that may have something to do with it but I tell you guys I'm getting discouraged. I'm the exact same weight I was last week when I wasn't even attempting to eat totally clean. I'm not giving up just yet but seeing the number on the scale this morning coupled with not feeling so good is not a good combination to keep me motivated. I'm sorry to sound like such a party pooper but I need to get these feelings down so I don't eat badly because of them. I didn't even bother to work out this morning but I will go for a 30 minute powerwalk at lunchtime.

I hope all my other fellow Phase 1 SBD buddies are fairly better than me today!

[justmarvi]

I'm so glad you're back Lisa. I remember when we only had the challenge thread and not the forum. You and Sharon and Denise were always there for me. You guys never let me get discouraged, always pulled me back in and supported me. You're going to make it, I just know how strong you are! I've missed you and your support!

[zeraspride]

Marva - thanks so much sweetie for your support. I truly don't think I could have made it this far without the support of ladies like you, Denise and Sharon. I had a big grilled chicken salad for lunch with sliced black olives and tomatoes, then I went for a nice powerwalk in the sunshine and I feel so much better now. I'm so glad I didn't give in to the negative feelings I was having. I was ready to chuck it all th heck and grab a nacho belle grande from Taco Bell but I resisted. I might not ever get to my goal weight but I won't ever give up trying. Even if I just maintain where I am today, I am way way better off than I was 108 pounds ago! Thanks for encouraging me right when I need it!

[Shalbrihil]

Lisa I realize how hard this is to get back on track. Please don't take this wrong but I just have to say this to you as a friend. The sundae you had, even tho it was sugarfree, is a form of sabotoge. It's not the no sugar but the taste of the past that is doing it to you. Altho there was artifical sweetener in that sundae there was also calories and additives that added to your water weight gain. Don't get discoraged you can do this. I know you can. Go back to portion control and even if you need a good carb that isn't a bad thing. Just stay away from the pretend sweets for now.

We love ya gal this is your moment now so make it shine!!!

[zeraspride]

Sharon - thanks so much for the reality kick in the pants. I couldn't believe it as I was driving to the ice cream parlor justifying to myself the whole way how it was "okay" to have that sundae. It's never okay to have an ice cream sundae in weight loss mode. It won't get me to where I really want to go and yes it smacked of all my old "fat" behavior. I tell you, that's what made me decide to do Phase 1, I started to feel like I did when I was morbidly obese toward food. I had put food in its proper place and it was no big deal to me then all of a sudden I couldn't stop thinking about food and I was inhaling super huge portions. That's not like the new me but it was all too familiarly like the old me. I got scared, Sharon. Real scared. I wanted to do Phase 1 to get my feelings back under control. I feel like I'm doing that now. Thanks for your support!

[zeraspride]

Okay, today is Thursday. How are we all doing? I know this isn't easy for any of us. I am trying to think how triumphant we will all feel when we complete our 1 week or 2 week phase 1 period. I am only gonna last a week on Phase one personally but it's been a test of character I can tell you guys.

I am finally starting to feel better. I felt like crap these past few days so I know it's working I hope everyone else is doing well and I'm not going to keep daily postings on the B2B thread since thanks to Cheri we have our very own journals board (thanks for letting us know about it Marva) and that's where I'll be doing my daily ramblings. Have a great Beach day everyone!

[zeraspride]

It's Friday!! Yay! Boy has this week been hard. Unfortunately, I am not seeing the results I thought I would see from a return to Phase 1. No, I wasn't expecting the amazing results I had the first week I did Phase 1 back in 2003 when I lost 10.5 pounds but I'm at the same weight as this time last week when I was eating sugar free cookies and potatoes. I'm not giving up on SBD though, this is the way I have been eating for almost 2 years and I love it. What I don't love is the torture of Phase 1 with no real results. I'm thinking today will be my last day on Phase 1. I might be doing a Phase 1.5 of sorts. I'm not going to let myself go back to the out of control almost binge-like eating I have been doing the past few weeks but I will add a whole grain at breakfast and a piece of fruit for lunch. I do intend to do Phase 1 today and frankly I like being able to slide meal by meal or day by day between Phases. I definitely feel these past days have helped me gain back most of my control over my eating the way I used to be so for that I'm grateful even if the scale isn't moving.

I won't be adding back the occasional potatoe and will limit the sugar free ice cream treats I have. I'm hoping my energy level comes back because I have been so sluggish all week that I haven't been able to get out of bed for my early morning work outs. I expected that the first couple of days but it doesn't seem to be getting any better so I'm hoping adding a few grains and some fruit will help give me an energy boost.

Thanks so much to everyone that has supported me. If you are going to continue with Phase 1, I will be here to support you as you have supported me. We can get these extra pounds off. The last few just seem to be a bit more stubborn but we can't give up ladies! Warm to each of you!

[MountainGirl]

Morning P-1ers!

I hear ya Lisa! I believe you have to go by what your body tells you and if your body is not feeling well, it may be time to move off of P-1. And, you DID succeed big time since you are now back in control. Excellent job!

I am re-starting P-1 today since the past few days were off-plan. I don't know how long I'll stay on P-1, I'll listen to my body tell me.

How is everyone doing today?

My goal today is to drink and get my eating under control. I need P-1 to do this, I seem to not be able to handle carbs right now in moderation, so I hope to eat well on P-1, then move on.

I hope everyone has a productive day!

[zeraspride]

MountainGirl - thanks for your post! I totally agree with you that you have to listen to your body. I haven't been doing that at all. I was determined to stick it out all week. Why? It's silly if I am not seeing results. After almost 2 years I may need to go in a totally different direction to get these last few pounds off or gasp "settle" for wearing size 12's and 10's. I have to smile at my last comment because when I was wearing sizes 26 and 28 if someone would have told me I would be wearing sizes 12 and 10 and complaining, I would have laughed in their faces. In actuality, I am fine th way I am, I just don't want to gain any weight and I would frankly love to slip into a size 8. A gal can dream! Anyway, I know you'll do well with Phase 1 and like you said, it's wonderful for getting out of control eating in check.