Sunday, October 13, 2013

Day 14 - Kjirsten

I'm kinda like Carrie . . . I can't even remember what day we are on . . . 14, I think.

I must echo what you girls have already said . . . this is getting really tough.  And I think I've already told myself that I will NOT be eating this way every day, for the rest of my life.

So, I actually still haven't cheated, not even once.  Which is a big deal for me.  But I know my personality, and if I do, I will think, "oh, all is lost, I should just quit the whole thing."  I really want to finish this 30 days, but when it is done . . . I think I will be too.  ;)

I feel like I have learned to make healthier choices, through this challenge.  And that I can be really satisfied with those healthier foods.  But what I don't like, is feeling like I'm missing out on too much with my family.  We had a movie night last night.  Quinn ordered pizza, and we popped popcorn and had candy.  I ate my turkey burger with apples and goat cheese, which was yummy, but the smell of the pizza was making me crazy!!!  So when it came to the popcorn and candy . . . I had to leave the room.  That stinks.  I haven't wanted to go on a date . . . cause I just feel like everything is off limits, and I don't want to tempt myself.  We went to lunch at Peiwei with mom and dad yesterday, in between games, and while everyone got yummy chinese food (which I LOVE), I had a bowl of plain chicken and veggies - no sauce, no rice, no nothin.  It was fine, but not my first choice.

Anyway, I decided that I will need to tweak this thing after the 30 days in one of two ways . . . either 1) Continue to try to eat this way, but give myself one day a week where I can eat ANYTHING I want.  And just give in to all that is tempting, and satisfy my cravings. Or 2) Continue to try to eat this way most all the time, but when I go out to eat, eat what I want; and when there is a special event or holiday, eat what I want; or a special outing or date (like the pumpkin patch, Taryn), eat what I want.  I just don't like feeling SO restricted.  I think this way of eating is awesome for most every day . . . like you guys have said, the schedule is nice -- makes us eat frequently (no missed meals), makes us eat healthy which feels good, and is quite satisfying.  I just don't like feeling like I'm sitting on the sidelines for certain things involving food.  And I think I feel that way, because I love food SO much!  I feel like I'm starting to focus more on the restrictions than on the fact that it's yummy, healthy, real, satisfying food.  I'm hoping that if I can take that "restrictive" part out of it, that I will feel even more happy and satisfied with the good healthy choices that I'm making.

In other news . . . I only exercised once this week, and pulled my back muscles pretty bad.  So that was it on the exercise for the rest of the week.  I also gained 3 pounds back this week . . . and I didn't cheat even once.  That was a real bummer, and also probably a big reason why I'm starting to feel so DONE.  All this effort, and I feel like I've started going backwards.  I don't quite understand why that happened.  Maybe I waited too long between meals and so my body started to hold on to my fat (like Taryn mentioned).  Quinn suggested that maybe my body just got used to this new way of eating, and is adapting . . . again holding onto my fat.  Anyway, it was a pretty disappointing week.  No exercise, no cheating on the diet, and weight gain.

My plan for the next two weeks is to exercise as much as I can, and to try to be more precise in the timing of my meals and water drinking.  And more in line with her meals.  I went almost to the letter that first week, and this last week I didn't really follow her exact meals.  They were still all of her suggested meals, just not on the same days/times.  I don't know if there was something to that, the first week.  Also I ate the paleo blueberry muffins for breakfast every day this week.  (I hate eating breakfast, and this just made it SO easy to get that meal out of the way), but I worry that I missed out on too much good fat and protein, by totally omitting the eggs and avocado.  Anyway, if any of you have any suggestions for my week, or theories behind my weight gain, I'd love to hear them!!

Also, I want to see a picture of your dress, Taryn!!!  How fun . . . and what an exciting thing to look forward to!  (And, way to improvise with using an extra diaper as a wipe! haha!)  And Carrie, what a crazy week . . . no Brad, fall break!!  Soooo hard.  But it sounds like you handled everything well.  (Other than remembering to feed yourself. ;)  Sarie, hope you're still doing well.  Curious to see how things are going.  Love you all.  And I love being able to vent to each other, and encourage each other.  I don't think I would have held on this long, if we weren't all in this together!  :)

6 comments:

  1. You said everything I've been thinking as far as "after the 30 days" goes! I have thought on many occasions "can't there be just one day off", and absolutely have to enjoy family time and special occasions without feeling guilty. This has taught me to be conscious about what I'm putting into my body (don't have a bite of everything my kids are eating because it adds up). The next step will be only having ONE cupcake/cookie/donut or whatever it is at the special events :)

    That is so strange that you gained weight. I stayed the same and unfortunately didn't loose more. But I was pretty off on certain days- eating at weird times, cheating, and lots of the more snacky stuff (muffins, larabars, fruit) so I can't say I'm super surprised. I think you are right about eating and drinking on time. That is what I am going to try next week :) I also think that its just such a change in what we are eating that, for you, pounds might drop off next week. Your body is learning this new way of eating and probably trying its last ditch effort to hang on to all the fat. I bet next week you'll loose more. (I don't really know what I'm talking about, but I've heard that before)

    And I can say now that I will be eating whatever at the Gala! It is $500 a plate!!! *gasp* Pretty sure it would be rude and ungrateful to the person paying for it not to eat it!

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  2. By ALL means . . . eat that plate!!!!! Those kinds of opportunities don't come around that often. It's pretty special. And I agree . . . $500/plate!? Wow. Definitely rude not to enjoy every bite. :) -- I like what you said about my body's "last ditch effort", I don't know much about that either . . . but I'm gonna go with what you said. ;) Hope this is a better week.

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  3. yes, tare! eat it! eat it all and enjoy every bite. kj, i was just nodding my head through your whole post. this is why i hate 'diets'. you do really well in the beginning and feel like you're going to do so great but then you hit a wall where it seems completely impossible. you feel so deprived. in the beginning, i was really proud of myself for passing up costa vida when my fam went, treats that a neighbor brought over, candy from the grocery store, etc. but then it adds up and i start to feel like it's not fair. and that's when i go overboard and eat things that i never would have even eaten, had i not told myself i COULDN'T have them.

    before this, i was doing really well. i eat pretty healthy, most of the time, but i NEVER tell myself i can't have yummy treats. me and my fam go out for cupcakes and i eat like 3. but then, the next day, i try and be more conscious of what i'm putting in my body, drink tons of water, get a good workout and go to bed early. there should be some give and take. i don't think we should have to deprive ourselves. i love food. it makes life more enjoyable. i believe you can be in shape and healthy without having to be SO strict. but, like you said, these challenges at least give us a better idea of recipe ideas, how to balance a meal, etc.

    so i really think the key to success is small changes (drink lots of water, limit pasta and rice, get protein in most meals, eat breakfast every morning, fill up on veggies, etc). figure out what works for YOU. I NEVER drink soda. that's really easy for me. i order water at restaurants and that's not hard because i love water and i know i need to get lots in a day so i just feel like i'm getting closer to my daily goal. that being said, i'm totally fine getting a smoothie at a restaurant every once in awhile. someone else may love soda but they are really good at passing on the baked goods. another person may love to bake but make sure they always tweak the recipe and limit themselves to one or two (i have a friend who does this, who is in amazing shape).

    my point is, we all have the things that seem too hard for US. we need to find the small changes that are way easy for us and make them become habit. oh! i also never buy store-bought popcorn. i LOVE popcorn. i make it on the stove, with coconut oil. much healthier. you can sprinkle unsweetened coconut on top and a little salt. or cayenne pepper. i prefer it this way now and try to make some when we go to the movies because i know that, if i don't, i WILL buy popcorn there. BUT, that's okay to do every once in awhile.

    little changes.

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  4. whoa! that was really long. sorry, guess i had a lot to say.

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  5. Thanks Care! Nice to know we 're all coming to the same conclusions. :). How do you make popcorn on the stove? That sounds cool. :). We have a cuisinart air popper that Q's aunt and uncle got us for Christmas a few years ago, so that's what we've been using. But I love your topping ideas. We've just been doing sea salt! :)

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  6. to make the popcorn on the stove, i get a big pot with a lid. i melt about an inch or two of coconut oil (meaning, after it melts, it's about 1-2 inches deep). I put the lid on and get it really hot (high setting) and then add 1/2 cup of kernels. with the lid on and a pot holder on each hand, i shake it once i hear it start to pop. i just shake for a minute or so and then check inside. usually that's all it takes and you have a pot FULL of popcorn. sprinkle some kind of seasoning on top and enjoy!

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