You know how sometimes you are bored or waiting for something and look for suitable reading material to pass the time? Well I did that today and learned some distressing things.
Apparently butter chicken, that most wonderful east Indian dish, is bad for you. Like really bad.
I was waiting for my friend to join me on our last break this afternoon and started reading this article about people's favourite dishes. Being January, I should have known better. Of course it would be telling me how bad things are for me, you know, making people aware of what they are eating and all that. Well butter chicken is going to put you about 1700 calories in the hole.
That's almost all of the daily recommended intake of calories.
OK let's be honest. The east Indian place was open today after 3 long weeks and my friend pressured me into having butter chicken for lunch.
I should have known better, I should have resisted. But it's early in the new regime. I've heard it said that it takes 30 days for a new idea or regiment to become a habit. And I'm barely on day 3.
But I caved. And later in the day karma sent me this article so that I could see the error in my ways. And now I know. I made a big mistake.
But it got me thinking. About calories unfortunately. Although I'm not a fanatic calorie counter (if that works for you, more power to you. Something different for everyone) I do like to be aware of what I'm eating. Well for the past 6 months anyway.
I think more than calories it's important to look at the sodium content. Sodium is seriously the hidden danger- there is loads of it in everything! Anything frozen probably has tons of sodium to preserve it. Also the amount of fat in something. Yeah there is the whole thing about good fats but you are not seriously going to tell me that the amount of fat in a pizza pocket is good fat are you?
Please.
Anyway, my eyes were definitely opened. And as penance I'm going to the gym tonight. Or for a walk outside- it's clear out for a change. I want to take advantage. Plus it's January- have you been to your gym at all this week?? It's MENTAL.
Fresh air is better- you'll sleep like a baby.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sweet Tooth Meltdown
I admit it. Today I caved and had a piece of chocolate. It wasn't crappy chocolate (if I'm going to fail I might as well fail spectacularly) it was a delicious Lindt chocolate, all creamy and smooth and oh so good.
Yes, Day 2 bag on the wagon and I've fallen off already. Doesn't bode well for my long term success does it?
It was a bad day. Got bad news from my mom and work was a disaster. And I caved.
But in true blogger form, I have examined my fall (from a rather high horse if you read yesterday) and I think I know the problem.
It was available.
Within arms reach actually. A remnant of that festive season of overeating and indulging in all those forbidden treats. And when I needed an emotional pick-me-up I went straight for it.
One of the hardest things about this little quest I'm on I denying myself those little pleasures that were I a size 6 I could easily indulge in. But I didn't get to be a size 14 by moderation did I?
(actually I'm fairly certain that I got to size 14 due to my apppalling lack of any physical activity)
Anyway. Lesson learned. If i'm going to be successful at conquering my food demons (mainly refined sugars. The worst kind: cookies, cakes, pastries etc) I can't make them so easily available.
So I'm throwing it away. All those Christmas treats are going in the garbage (I might not have the heart, I might donate them to work- in the lunchroom in plain sight so I won't be tempted. All those people watching and judging you see) and I'm clearing out my desk of any sugar.
Initially the cravings will be intense. But with a little willpower (I gotta exercise that more often too) I'm positive I can beat them.
I also have a secret weapon: gum. The Biggest Loser < /em> is really onto something there. A little piece of gum, almost no calories and the sweet craving is gone!
How are you beating your cravings?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Yes, Day 2 bag on the wagon and I've fallen off already. Doesn't bode well for my long term success does it?
It was a bad day. Got bad news from my mom and work was a disaster. And I caved.
But in true blogger form, I have examined my fall (from a rather high horse if you read yesterday) and I think I know the problem.
It was available.
Within arms reach actually. A remnant of that festive season of overeating and indulging in all those forbidden treats. And when I needed an emotional pick-me-up I went straight for it.
One of the hardest things about this little quest I'm on I denying myself those little pleasures that were I a size 6 I could easily indulge in. But I didn't get to be a size 14 by moderation did I?
(actually I'm fairly certain that I got to size 14 due to my apppalling lack of any physical activity)
Anyway. Lesson learned. If i'm going to be successful at conquering my food demons (mainly refined sugars. The worst kind: cookies, cakes, pastries etc) I can't make them so easily available.
So I'm throwing it away. All those Christmas treats are going in the garbage (I might not have the heart, I might donate them to work- in the lunchroom in plain sight so I won't be tempted. All those people watching and judging you see) and I'm clearing out my desk of any sugar.
Initially the cravings will be intense. But with a little willpower (I gotta exercise that more often too) I'm positive I can beat them.
I also have a secret weapon: gum. The Biggest Loser < /em> is really onto something there. A little piece of gum, almost no calories and the sweet craving is gone!
How are you beating your cravings?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Year, New Beginning
So if you have been keeping up...well you will have noticed that there hasn't been anything to keep up with! Since my strong start (I like to think it was a strong start) I have done nothing. About this here blog or, if I'm honest, about my intended weight loss.
I have a list of excuses ready for you but I don't want to insult your intelligence. I like to think that many of you have found yourselves in this same position; you make a commitment to yourself, start seeing some progress and immediately you start cutting corners. That scoop of ice cream won't hurt, some cookies here won't make a difference and skipping a work out today won't matter that much.
But my complete lack of any success since late summer would seem to show otherwise.
When you skip your work out once you are more likely to skip the one after that and the one after that. Pretty soon you are watching people work out on TV guilt free. Not good.
The thing about weight loss that sucks so much (because let's face it- losing weight is a sucky process. All that deprivation and sweating) is that you kind of have to make a long term commitment to that one person that is the easiest to lie to. Yourself.
I can see that I am danger of getting all preachy and that is definitely not my intention!
My intention is to share my weight loss journey with others in the hopes that a) I will be inspired by you to keep going and b) to inspire others to do the same. Strength in numbers and all that.
So how do I plan on pulling this off?
Well I made a start today: brought my lunch to work and had breakfast at home.
I would say these are key. Breakfast at home prevents that mid morning Starbucks run (where I inevitably take a chocolate croissant back with me), lunch allows me to keep track of what is in my food. I'm not going all Biggest Loser on my lunch with portioned turkey or anything. I'm useless in the kitchen- but I bring a low calorie frozen meal, an apple and a yoghurt. Simple right? I also live to drink water so I don't have to worry about cutting out soda- I just don't like the stuff.
And the next, rather obvious step, is exercise. I'm pledging to go at least 4 times a week. For an hour. To start.
And finally- I will weigh myself once a week and write it down to keep track of the progress (or setbacks). I hate the scale but last time I found that it really was the single most important tool in weight loss.
So. Today marks the return to this here blog and a renewed commitment to my own health and well being.
Anonymously of course. I still find it embarassing to have even gotten to this point!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I have a list of excuses ready for you but I don't want to insult your intelligence. I like to think that many of you have found yourselves in this same position; you make a commitment to yourself, start seeing some progress and immediately you start cutting corners. That scoop of ice cream won't hurt, some cookies here won't make a difference and skipping a work out today won't matter that much.
But my complete lack of any success since late summer would seem to show otherwise.
When you skip your work out once you are more likely to skip the one after that and the one after that. Pretty soon you are watching people work out on TV guilt free. Not good.
The thing about weight loss that sucks so much (because let's face it- losing weight is a sucky process. All that deprivation and sweating) is that you kind of have to make a long term commitment to that one person that is the easiest to lie to. Yourself.
I can see that I am danger of getting all preachy and that is definitely not my intention!
My intention is to share my weight loss journey with others in the hopes that a) I will be inspired by you to keep going and b) to inspire others to do the same. Strength in numbers and all that.
So how do I plan on pulling this off?
Well I made a start today: brought my lunch to work and had breakfast at home.
I would say these are key. Breakfast at home prevents that mid morning Starbucks run (where I inevitably take a chocolate croissant back with me), lunch allows me to keep track of what is in my food. I'm not going all Biggest Loser on my lunch with portioned turkey or anything. I'm useless in the kitchen- but I bring a low calorie frozen meal, an apple and a yoghurt. Simple right? I also live to drink water so I don't have to worry about cutting out soda- I just don't like the stuff.
And the next, rather obvious step, is exercise. I'm pledging to go at least 4 times a week. For an hour. To start.
And finally- I will weigh myself once a week and write it down to keep track of the progress (or setbacks). I hate the scale but last time I found that it really was the single most important tool in weight loss.
So. Today marks the return to this here blog and a renewed commitment to my own health and well being.
Anonymously of course. I still find it embarassing to have even gotten to this point!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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