Friday, October 12, 2012

Wk 6/Day 40- Bad Cookies

Since we are on fall break from school, I decided to be the best active mom ever and enjoy some activities of living.  I packed up my 3 little boys along with a lunch and decided to bike to a park we don't usually visit.  I worked hard to pack up a healthy lunch of turkey sandwiches, apples, and carrot sticks, crackers, and of course cookies.  Packed water for everyone, bandaids for any scraped knees, diaper and wipes for the baby, a change of underwear just in case, helmets, and of course children and bicycles.  Just the preparation was a workout.  

We set out, ready for some fun.  Only made it about 1/2 way to the park, when my oldest ran over a goathead weed.  The thorny weed imbedded itself and wrapped all the way around his tire.  So we had to stop and untangle his bike.  As I pulled off the weed, I could hear the tire air escaping.  So what more can you do now, then head home as quickly as possible? 

We were almost home, when I realized the bike tire was still holding up pretty well, so we continued on to the elementary school.  We ate lunch on the top platform of the kindergarten playgroud- fun atmosphere.   I had packed 2 cookies for each of us and had planned to use one of my indulgences to have 2 Keebler Coconut Dreams.  

I say planned, because I closed my eyes to savor the first one and realized it wasn't really that good.  It certainly wasn't worth using up my free indulgence on crappy caramel, mediocre coconut, and really crappy chocolate, even on decent shortbread.  So although I was sad I didn't get a yummy treat, I didn't finish my 2 cookies.  Not worth the calories! 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Wk 6/Day 39- Dancing around with maseca flour and elbowroni

I had a fun experience with one of the bonus challenges this week.  I was supposed to wear a backpack while exercising with added weight equal to that which I had lost.  So I got my sons Lightening McQueen backpack and filled it with 6 pounds of maseca flour and elbow macaroni.  Then I danced around to my Zumba DVD.  I took it off 1/2 way through and felt like a champ.  It was amazing to take off just 6 pounds of weight.  It was a neat way to celebrate the changes I had made.

A friend asked me the other day, how things were going with the diet.  I replied with a kind of  "ehh!" and accompanying shoulder shrug.  She said "well you've lost weight!"  Only a few pounds.  "But don't you feel great?"  I didn't know how to answer that one.

Yes, I am pleased with the changes I have made in my routine that make me more aware of my choices- no more mindless grazing on my kids random leftover food.  I feel more drive to actually get involved and play with my kids.  I have learned that even though certain treats are sweet, they actually don't taste that good and aren't worth the indulgence.  But I really can't say I feel so much better, because I am eating more fruits and veggies and fewer sweets.

My prevailing feeling is that I am absolutely sick of the external diet rules.  I am sick of a little chart on my fridge dictating what I must eat and what I can't eat.  I am just ready to be done.  Looking forward to Monday morning when I can have full sugar jam on my toast, and not have to force in one more serving of carrots before 8 PM. 

This picture seemed just to sum up how I feel about carrots right now!  They are my main source of veggie points and I am getting sick of them, but they sit in front of me taunting me to eat more, because dang it, I want the points!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Wk 6/Day 38- Alternate Measures of Success

Why do we think the numbers on the scale matter so much?  Can you guys tell what my number is by looking at me?  Somehow we seem to think we walk around broadcasting our "number" instead of presenting our whole selves, and thus we stress so much about that number.  

How would you be able to tell that I have lost some weight?  My pants don't fit because I don't have a bum anymore.  I am not sure I consider that success?!  Apparently my most important energy reserves are muffin top tummy (you know the role that sticks out over your jeans just like . . . well, a muffin top), because that remains intact! 

Desire for weight loss comes from 2 categories (I am totally generalizing on this- feel free to call me out, if I am absolutely wrong)
  1. Internal reasons- to reduce disease risk or complications, have better stamina, more vitality for life 
  2. External reasons- to reduce peer pressure, have better sense of self worth (I put this in the external category because without external influence I'm not sure our self worth would be determined by our weight), to wear that cute skirt bought years ago, to fit in a desired category assigned by makers of the BMI charts
Forgive my generalizations, here's the point I am trying to make.  Unless your only reason is to fit in the "good" category on the BMI charts, then the numbers on the scale report very little of your success.  

If your clothes are fitting better, if you're seeing improvements in your lipid panel or blood glucose level, if you have more stamina and love for life, if you are losing inches even without pounds- You are successful!  Don't let the numbers on the scale try to talk you out of that.  People can see your vitality, they can't see your number- let these alternate measures of success matter most to you!



Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Wk 6/Day 37- The Joy of a Full Swallow

I have been thinking a lot about the results of my mindfulness exercise with my family on Sunday.  My dad pointed out that his pleasure in eating comes, not from savoring something in tiny tastes, but in the joy of a full swallow Can you relate? 

I can!  For some reason waffles are something I enjoy swallowing in large bites.  I like the way it feels as it stretches my throat on the way down. 

Maybe you think we are strange, or maybe you totally get it.  However, during the mindfulness exercise with the apple pie (see yesterday's post) my dad dug his feet in a little.  He tried to savor the flavor and texture of a small bite, but said it just didn't do it for him.  He liked to take large bites and large swallows. 

I must say I spent too much energy trying to convince him to do it my way, because now I realize what I was missing.  I can provide suggestions where someone can pay more attention and find joy, but I can't alter what they find joyful!  

My dad had figured out what it was that gave him pleasure in eating.  It wasn't what I found most joyful, but the joy of a large swallow is what satisfied him in the end.  My attempts to change that, if followed, would probably leave him feeling unsatisfied with eating and totally defeat the purpose!  So instead I say "good on ya, Dad!  You have figured out what it is to find joy in your eating."

May we all take the path to discover where the joy is to be found in our eating, and then mindfully tune in to that which we find joyful, in order to find more satisfaction with the bounty of life!


Monday, October 8, 2012

Wk 6/Day 36- Children are Always Listening

Children are always listening!

Last night I was at my parent's house with family and the conversation turned to my theories on life and eating.  At one point I decided to lead my family in a mindful eating exercise (the one I posted a week or so ago).  We each sat down with some apple pie and looked at it, smelled it, tasted it, felt it with our tongues, savored it and swallowed it.  At the end of the first bite I asked them to stop for a second, take a deep breath, and make sure they were focused and ready to enjoy the next bite.

I was doing this for the sake of the adults.  I didn't think that my children were listening until my 3 year old exclaimed "I don't want to stop.  I'm already enjoying it!"  I have no doubt that he was!  He wouldn't let outside influence keep him from enjoying it.  He was savoring it, without any need to refocus his attention on what was in his mouth- He was "already enjoying it!" 

Then later as we were talking about the experience as adults, my 3 year old explains, in a very matter of fact tone (as if he is leading others through the exercise) "You chew your food.  You swallow.  And you don't put your elbow in your food or it will get sticky!"  

So if my exercise in mindfulness doesn't do it for you- Try his out!



Well, I made it through my perfect points week!  Hip hip hooray!  The place where I lose the most points is the eating after 8 PM rule.  However, last week I adjusted our eating times to more closely reflect what I determined was my inner eating schedule. 

Specifically, I prepared an intentional snack at about 3:30 PM when my oldest got home from school.  I determined this was perfect opportunity to sit around the table with a snack and ask him about his day.  Then, since we all were satisfied at 3:30, we definitely lasted until 6:30-7 PM for dinner.  When we had dinner at 7 instead of 5:30- no one went to bed hungry!  I think that is the solution for my family.