Brutally Honest
August 23, 2007
I receive a lot of emails asking my advice on losing weight and I always say my best advice is to have faith in your plan, take it day by day and be honest with yourself.
Honestly is a big part of weight loss. How can we change our bad habits if we don’t even admit we have them?
So here’s my brutally honest moment. Last night we went to Wendy’s for dinner. I was in a rush and had a bazillion things to do so it was a quick way out. I planned to be “good”. Ordering a grilled chicken sandwich with a baked potato and a diet lemonade. Well after leaving the drive thru we realized they put an extra bacon cheeseburger and 5 piece nugget in the bag. It was too late to go back so we just kept them (I know, I know not the honest thing to do). So after eating my nice on plan meal I proceeded to eat the bacon cheeseburger. Why? Because it was there, I knew it would taste good and I haven’t had a bacon cheeseburger in forever. Honestly, that was exactly what went through my head. I only ate about half (ok we are being honest more like two thirds) but still, it wasn’t necessary. I wasn’t hungry after the grilled chicken sandwich. To top it off I also had 2 of the toddlers nuggets.
I’m not particularly upset with myself for this momentary lapse. I ate it, I faced it and I’m moving on. This morning I’ve already had a great breakfast with the toddler. We shared a mango, banana, and whole wheat English muffin.
I think one of the reasons I’ve been having moments like last night is because I’m underestimating how much more I need to eat to account for my new workouts. I’m been weight training every other day and I didn’t really adjust my points. Maybe I’m letting myself get too hungry? So Today I’m planning a little bit more healthy options for myself hoping it will curve the snack attacks I’ve been having.
I’ll report back tonight with my daily journal
| « « Haven’t filled it yet… | Planned to eat more… » » |
On August 23rd, 2007 at 8:20 am MMalloy said:
You are so right Roni, being honest with yourself is the easiest way to break a bad habit, no matter how much easier it would be to just ignore the facts.
I think there is a common thread around the Weight Watchen community on eating more to make up for the workouts and training many of us are doing. It’s easy to think that adding work-outs and eating the same low calories would equal great results, but our bodies don’t work that way. It’s nice to hear it from other people though, like yourself.
You are doing great and your body is probably thanking you for giving it that extra boost of calories it was needing!
On August 23rd, 2007 at 10:26 am Joyce said:
So so right Roni,
2 weeks ago I up’ed my jogging to 4 sessions, a total of 20 miles for the week.
That next weigh-in I lost 1.2 pounds. I was ticked, because certainly I could expect more?! But then I analyzed my calorie debt…
Incredible! I was netting under 500 calories per day!
I was such an idiot.
The point: absolutely true that sometimes you DO have to eat more, not just to lose, but to also maintain a healthy weight when you increase your activity level.
On August 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 am Anonymous said:
Hi Roni,
I LOVE your blogs!! I check it everyday to see what you have to say!! I thank you for your honesty. Its comforting to think that you have had so much success but just like us there are days you overeat, indulge, etc. also. It sounds like you definitely may not be eating enough. I have found I don’t feel hungry when I eat every at the longest three hours and sometimes a little sooner (around two). If you eat every three hours you keep your metabolism going and you don’t give your body a chance to get really hungry where you have a greater chance of eating everything in sight..:)
I feel exercise is huge in changing your body (tone, muscle) and losing weight. I am so happy to hear you have started to exercise!! I really like getting out and going to the gym but you may also want to look into workout videos, or bands, a ball, some light weights for home. I have two little ones and sometimes its hard to get out of the house to exercise. The videos are great, I personally like kick boxing videos, to mix things up so you don’t get bored with exercising. Its great also that you said you get outside with your son to hike etc. Exercising is a wonderful stress reducer but try to concentrate more on your measurements and the way your clothes are fitting rather than the scale. A lot of the time when you first start exercising/weight training you don’t see a drop in weight at first. In the same sense you may want to bump your calories up, especially with you being tall, and also for the added exercise. If you don’t eat enough your body could think that is being starved and hold onto everything, and I have heard it could slow down your metabolism. There are all types of sites online that tell you how many calories you should be eating based on your weight, height, activity level, of course they are just an estimate but a give you an idea.
Keep up the good work, you look WONDERFUL!!!
On August 23rd, 2007 at 10:58 am Amy said:
Roni,
I think you’re right on needing to eat more to account for your workouts. Your body is craving it, that’s why you feel bottomless right now. If you don’t eat more while working out so much you’ll actually sabotage your efforts…there is a fine balance I’m finding between working out and the right amount of food to eat. It sounds crazy that you have to eat more to lose, but if you’re working out, your body needs the fuel.
I love your blog! I read it every day. You have such great ideas!
On August 23rd, 2007 at 11:39 am Anonymous said:
Another thought.. I have noticed when I try to eat protein and carbs at each meal (snack) I feel more satisfied. Even if its cereal/oatmeal and milk, or watermelon and a piece of light string cheese/or some nuts.. It seems like I feel fuller and more satisfied instead of just eating a piece of fruit, etc. :)
On August 23rd, 2007 at 1:09 pm Renee said:
I’m finding that a handful of almonds and rasins really satisfies me between meals. And then there’s the water… which also has to increase if I’m sweating!
On August 23rd, 2007 at 1:30 pm Anonymous said:
Regarding exercising.. Everything I have read and heard has said that its good to mix up your cardio. One day do a constant pace running, walking on the bike.. and then another day do interval, mix interval and constant workouts. Example, walk for a minute at a pace of 3.8 and then run at a pace of 5.0, or just walk faster whatever the pace may be. You could also do an incline walk, pace 3.8 or 3.0, 3.5 whatever works and then increase the incline to 2.0 for a minute, 4.0 incline for a minute up to whatever incline (I usually go to 8 or 10) and then start over again back at 0 incline. I have been told you burn more fat and calories at a quicker rate doing some intervals. You are also mixing it up so your body does not get use to the same activities and has to work harder. You can do this with any activity, running, walking, biking, elliptical, walking up and down the stairs in your home, etc.
On August 23rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm Dani Spies said:
Roni..adding a consistent exercise routine into your diet is most definitely going to increase you’re appetite. I alternate cardio and strength training 6 days a week and fine that the days I work with weights my appetite can be ferocious!!
After a workout I always try to eat with in the hour and be sure to have meal that is balanced in both carbs and protein…remember, after you workout your muscles need to be replenished in order to repair themselves and grow stronger.
Definitely account for the workouts in your points…I’m sure you know this, but if you’re body is expending a ton of energy and is not getting it back on a regular consistent basis, it’s going to do it’s best to hang on to the extra calories it already has.
All in all, you’re doing a great job!! And c’mon…I mean sometimes a girl just needs a bacon cheeseburger…I hope you atleast enjoyed it:)!
On August 23rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm A girl on a mission....100 pounds to go!!! said:
http://dietingbattle.blogspot.com/
My good, its like reading my life on another blog! I hear you. I’m home alone now and I can hear the food calling out to me from the cupboards. Its like you know when its a bad thing- but, you can never seem to find the common-sense spark in your brain that should drill your mouth shut.
I’m on a journey to lose 100 pounds. Your site is very inspirational. Do you mind if I add your site to my links.
Check my site daily for reports
Thanks!
http://dietingbattle.blogspot.com/
On August 23rd, 2007 at 8:47 pm Lisa said:
You are so funny! I love this blog. I only get to check it every once in awhile but I love it. I have been folling this plan for 2 months…starting at 140 now down to 124. But I have the weight watchers activity points thing & know when I only have 20 “units” a day, I can go for a 15 min moderate walk and have more units…come on you know this…you gotta make up for it so you don’t get these cravings…cuz your body is used to having all the “units” you know that you can’t short-cut. You’ll just eat more of the wrong things.
On August 23rd, 2007 at 8:57 pm Lisa said:
Sorry…I mean I have been FOLLOWING the plan…(not folling) anyway, my weakness is pizza but I buy the south beach cheese pizza and load it up with mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic powder, italian spices, hot sauce (my personal fav.) anf no fat cheese…it’s only 8 “units” (because of the extra cheese). It’s yummy
On August 24th, 2007 at 10:07 am Emily Henderson said:
I so had a moment like this last night…and it was Wendy’s too! We went grocery shopping after the husband had dinner (I wasn’t hungry before we left.) But on the way home we passed Wendy’s and I *HAD* to have a $.99 bacon cheeseburger…needless to say the scale reflected that this morning!