Instant tool for food triggers

The book talked about ways to STOP eating once you've started gorging on food. The biggest tip they give is to brush your teeth. It changes the flavors in your mouth and usually will make you stop eating. Another thing is to use another food of the opposite flavor--so if you're eating something sweet, suck a lemon wedge. Lastly, they say to use the "not yet" line or just get out of the situation. I suppose it's good advice, I just can't imagine carrying a toothbrush around with me. On a side note, I worked out hard today and it felt amazing. And yesterday I actually felt better during the day after working out. So, here's to today :)

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4

Buffers

"Whenever possible, put some distance between you and your high-risk, problem foods. Instead of trying so hard to improve your willpower, simply don't allow yourself to be tempted in the first place."  I really liked this chapter because it put an emphasis on helping yourself by not allowing food you KNOW you're going to gorge on in your house. I do a pretty good job of being able to keep myself on gorging on everything EXCEPT candy. Candy is a HUGE weakness for me. Especially fruity candy, and bite sized chocolate. Hand my a full sized chocolate bar, I'll eat it and not want more. Have a bowl of fun sized chocolate bars, I'll eat 6 or more and still want to snack on them. Skittles, starbursts, or now and laters? Forget about it. Yesterday I pretty much ate a whole bag of now and laters before 2pm. Terrible. So, I don't keep candy in my apartment. I don't like having it at work either, but, I can manage a little better there because I don't have to sit at a desk anymore being tempted. I'm glad I'm back in the groove. This feels right :)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." Psalm 111:10

I've been learning to be humbled and truly in awe of God lately. It's not like a "fear" as in he's going to to whip me in shape if I'm bad, but a fear as in "holy shit, you do know what you're talking about...maybe I should try to listen and stop being such a d-bag." or as in "holy shit, you are. amazing. I can't believe you even talk to me." God is good.

I'm BAAAAACCCCCCK!

After a brief stint of not blogging, then not exercising, then a whole host of other issues, I am back.  Getting sick really threw me off course, more than I can express. I wish it had never happened, but, there's nothing I can really do to remedy it so I'm moving forward.

I have been feeling like ubercrap lately. Sluggish, can't sleep, nauseous, no appetite, etc. It's been kinda weird, as I've been fighting (and failing) the urge to diagnose myself and spend hours on WebMD and other forums figuring it if I'm dying, pregnant, or just basically fucked up. All anxiety and hypochondria aside, I've decided that the best way to combat feeling crappy that I know, is to get back to the basics. 

I've found that I've kinda (not fully, but in the willpower sense) given up on the whole healthy lifestyle thing. I keep everything in mind, and I still count calories, and I would every once in awhile exercise, but the dedication thing fell off. I blame the sickness, which, you know is easy and is partially true, but I think three months in and 30 lbs off is just generally a good time to say..."hey, wow, I've accomplished a lot...let's slack off a bit..." And that bit turns into another bit, then another. I haven't gained weight, I've maintained--well I've fluctuated between 222-218 which is pretty much the weight I was at before I was sick. So that makes me happy.  However, I want to get back to losing weight, eating healthy, and saving money.

So what are the basics? Being accountable with this blog first and foremost by reading and writing my thoughts. Also, exercising at least 35 minutes each day. Lastly, cooking food at home and bringing in my lunches. All those other things like avoiding sugar, drinking massive amounts of water, etc. will come along pretty quickly after but I really need to get the basics down again before I even TRY to accomplish the advanced. So. I exercised this morning. I even ate breakfast beforehand (You should be very proud). And I'm just writing to let you know...but mostly to let myself know, that I haven't given up. I haven't stopped, and I'm not going to be lackluster about this. I'm back.

so full.

I think I've eaten enough to fill me in two weekends. Ugh. I have that sick, blech feeling--I don't know if this is what heartburn feels like but I feel full all the way up to my neck. However, I have to say that I had a great time relaxing and hanging out with my family, and realizing so many things this weekend. So to heck with the 10 lbs I know I've gained this weekend. :) I've felt so much...confirmation, rest, release, and just...a certainty about my future that I can't deny. Tomorrow...actually Tuesday I will update with a weigh in and back to my normal schedule :) I love all of you who read and support me...even if I haven't mentioned it. I know you're there and that means the world to me! <3

Non-food triggers

Today the book talked about people, situations and habits that send you running for food. It could be a person at work who stresses you out, eating in the car, or emotional triggers. Basically be out on the look for them. I think we pretty much covered this in head/heart hunger but...I guess hearing it over and over again helps to get it in your brain :)

"Praise be to God, who has n

Publish Post

ot rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me." Psalm 66:20

Food Triggers

Today the book talked about what triggers you to eat.  Is it a smell, sight, sound?  When you look in the fridge and see leftovers are you tempted to eat them? When you smell popcorn at the theater, even when you don't like popcorn, do you want to get a bag? When you see or read an ad about Pho, do you want to order out? When you see/smell cupcakes on the counter do you want to eat all of them? These are a couple of food triggers I have. I noticed that if I have food in front of me that's unhealthy and I haven't made a resolve/different plan to have something else, I really want to eat that food.  The other day cupcakes were sitting out, and I wasn't hungry, but instead of eating the cupcakes (I resisted which was awesome), I ended up eating a one hundred calorie pack and some baked cheetos. Which were realistically when I think about it probably the same amount of calories.

Right now I feel like I'm back around square one because I'm starting my habits over again and when you start over for some reason it's harder to get back in line.  I'm focusing on resisting food that's bad for me and setting goals of drinking water and exercising. I'm trying to bring my lunch and I'm really trying to get back on track with tracking my calories. Sigh. That one has been the hardest! Anyway,  I'll have to keep these food triggers in mind as I'm struggling to get back in the groove. I am proud to say that I've been resisting (this week) and working out pretty regularly, so I'm slowly but surely getting back in motion.

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. Wha can mortal men do to me?  I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." Psalm 56:3-4, 12-13

I've been reading the psalms lately and as I was flipping through I saw this. Timely and a good word. I'm pursuing the next step in life and all I can think about is if I'm taking the right steps and what will happen if I fail or don't get in or I disappoint people...and I haven't even started yet. But I am going to trust God, and know that he will help me and keep me from stumbling. God is good.

weigh in

Last week, I popped back up to 222+.  I even weighed 223 one day which was...disappointing. Last night I weighed 222.6. This morning I weighed 220. So, I guess I've lost 2lbs-ish. Still not back in the teens which is disappointing but I need to shape up before DC so I'm getting my ass in gear.  The sad thing is is that on Saturday I weighed in at 218 and so I decided to eat a bunch of crap on Sunday. See what happens? Sigh. I should know better to not do so before weigh in day :) I'm not gonna let it get me down, I'm just going to be more resolved. Last week I didn't eat out as much, and this week I'm going to try to bring my lunch 4/5 days. And of course still exercise everyday. Alrighty, on to the DDR. I can hear the music blasting in my living room.