temptation at every corner
I saw that heading posted on an advert for quitting smoking and thought it was appropriate for weightloss too. As I ventured around town today I felt the beckoning call of Saint Cinnamon, Smoothies and other assorted “ok in moderation” foods. I was quite proud of myself for buying an apple instead of a smoothie, but I did give in to the Godiva hot chocolate. Dark chocolate is good for you, after all. AND I did have that last piece of meringue cake (actually it was small and Mom had part of it).
All of those times when I say to myself “Lindt chocolate reindeer on sale….<and I LOVE to bite their heads off when I am angry>” I realize there will always be a “Lindt reindeer” that I can somehow justify eating. Or at least buying with the intent of eating later. AND if there will always be some “reindeer” to eat, then there will be plenty when the weight comes off. I am definitely trying to get my head around that!
Today I discussed my Mother’s smoking with her. This is someone who started smoking in her teens. She is now 80. She has COPD from all of that smoking and is quitting. If someone can break an addictive habit she has had for almost 70 years, then who am I to bitch and complain about not eating a reindeer?!!
This morning I walked on the treadmill for 30minutes, and lifted weights for 15. Yesterday I worked arms and abs. Today I worked legs and abs. I find it somewhat strange that the gurus of weight lifting tell us to let the large muscle groups rest a day in between workouts but abs do not need that. Seems a bit odd to me. Also, what about people forced to do heavy labour? They had to keep working major muscle groups - no doubt they were sore. Still, I only do three different exercises for each. So, I am sure my body is not being taxed by it all. AND no, I did NOT stretch before walking! (I know someone wants to know!!)
As for the diet, it wasn’t too bad. I can eat all the fruit and veggies I want. Actually I can even eat all the damn turkey in the fridge (no dark meat left incidentally) if I want to. I like that freedom. My test drive today was reasonably successful. Yes I ate some “sin” foods, but I can have those in moderation and as I am still test driving, I am consuming things I know will be off limits when the “real driving” takes effect.
My husband comes into town tomorrow night so I am not sure how much posting I will be doing over the next few days. He leaves on Jan 6. It is hard having a long distance marriage, but we are hopeful that his immigration paperwork will pass quickly and then he can move up here from CT.
I will be on again before New Year’s eve! Iwill try to post daily.
Cheers!
Shayna
Hey Shari! Glad you did mostly good on the food. That ‘realizing they’re not going to stop making it so I don’t have to eat it TODAY’ thing really was a lightbulb moment for me. For me as a teenager, my teenager brother inhaled food so if I didn’t eat it, it was gone. Today, it’ll still be there, waiting for me. And if not, there’ll be something new to eat. They’re not going to stop making food anytime soon, so we don’t need to stock up!
The abs thing has so many conflicting opinions. Some people say work them every day, some people say every other day. Really, it’s like any other fitness thing, just try it and see what works for you.
Good on your mother for quitting - wow, after all those years!
Good luck to her!
I always wondered about people who have to do heavy labor daily too! They need some rest!
Also, I think the latest thinking is that you should not do abs every day. They need a day to recover just like any other muscle group.
Sounds like the test drive is actually a big success. Exercise is going really well, food overall quite good. I also think that a period of “getting ready to lose” is really important, especially if you are not a diet virgin. You know it’s going to be hard, there will be treats passed up, etc - so getting some of those treats now I think helps get you mentally ready to face the dieting phase.
I agree w Ann on the “food will be there in the future” point - it’s a hard one for me too, but I’m working on it. And as for the “sale” items of leftover holiday foods, my mom always had a rule with shopping the sales (for clothes or anything) which was “never buy anything you wouldn’t pay full price for”. You probably wouldn’t buy 2,345 chocolate reindeer at full price, so you shouldn’t buy up the stock just because they’re cheap!
I too am impressed w the efforts of your mom on quitting smoking. I’ve never been a smoker but I know it’s really super-hard to quit. And a lot of time people re-start several times before they really quit, so if she does reassure her that it’s normal and a part of the process of quitting successfully. They say that once you’ve quit once (even if it’s just 24 hours) you’ll be able to quit for good down the line.
Glad your mum is home and quitting smoking! The test drive sounds like a brilliant idea, well done on all the exercise!
thanks for the nice comment you left on my blog… I already feel like I’m at home here. So many people are willing to reach out and give you positive words. yes I agree that its going to be hard for me to quit both but… I am going to give it my all. But I wont kill myself… if i have to resort back to smoking I guess I will… but weightloss is my first priority… then smoking
“…there will always be some ‘reindeer’ to eat…”
It’s true. Reindeer, Valentine’s chocolates, Easter candy Halloween candy. It’s always something. I was pulling the stash of Christmas gifts out of my closet last week so I could start wrapping, and found a bag of Easter candy I had squirreled away last spring. Uck! Straight into the garbage!