The Sugar Detox

Living with my in-laws has provided some challenges when it comes to weight loss. I don't buy junk food. But now I'm not the only person buying food. So even if I don't want it in the house - I don't have the same control as I did in my own house.

So when everyone left for Mexico after Christmas I decided to stay home with my little family and have a sugar detox. I threw away A LOT of candy, cookies, treats, etc. No one was eating except for me. So I chucked it. And then I locked up everything else. The sugar, chocolate chips, and cookies that people actually eat.

And I didn't touch sugar for a week. It was so hard the first few days and I think my body literally had withdrawal symptoms. My joints ached, and I was so so sleepy. And the cravings! The cravings were insane.

But then after a week I decided to test the waters and see how I would do if I ate a brownie. I ate it, and didn't even finish it. I felt sick to my stomach. WHAT?? This has never happened to me in my life.

Anyway so now I wake up and I don't eat candy. I was literally eating candy first thing every morning. That or a handful of chocolate chips. I don't grab something to eat every time I walk through the kitchen. It feels really good.

I know how easy it is to slip right back into old habits and ways so I'm still trying to avoid sugar as much as possible. And now I don't even really want it.

And guess what - my weight is still 216. ><

I'm reading Women Food and God. It is so interesting! I'll post about it when I'm done.

Well that's kind of depressing

I'm still around 216.

I know I snack too much. I see food and this compulsion to stuff my face is just too strong to resist.

If I stay out of the kitchen I am fine.

I cook healthy meals.

Unfortunately I also bake delicious cookies. All the time. I just can't help myself.

I run a lot. But that's about it.  I started Insanity with my sister in law on Friday.

I'm also going to start to texting everything I eat to my sister-in-law Allison.

And I'm going to continue running every morning.

And drink 2 liters of water every day.

And then step on the scale in three weeks. I'll let ya know how it goes.

217

well 216.9, but who's counting?

I've had a crappy couple of weeks. Food is calling to me at all times. I had actually gotten down to about 214, but gained almost 3 pounds the last two weeks.

Seriously, if I'm not running around somewhere with my kids - I'm either eating or trying to not think about eating. It's bad. Even right now as I type this - I am fighting the urge to break into the box of Reese's Puff cereal on top of the fridge. And I'm not even at home. It's not even MY food. I should be doing some form of exercise. Every morning I think to myself - I am going to exercise instead of sit on the computer -- but I don't.

It was fun to look at this blog though and see that I'm 10lbs less than my last entry.

I realized that weight loss comes in waves. Sometimes it's really, really hard, and sometimes it feels almost easy. I guess the key is to just keep going - even the really hard times.

We are moving to Arizona soon. It is stressful. Which of course makes me want to eat. Trying to resist.

I would really, really like to lose 20lbs before we get to AZ. I have 6 (ish) weeks. Of course - I am setting an unrealistically high goal. And then I will fail and then I will feel bad about myself and then I will eat more. It's what I do.

I'll post again in like 3 months and let ya know how it's going.

5 more lbs!

I've now lost 10lbs since starting my last weight loss challenge about 5 weeks ago.

I still haven't started working out, just trying to eat better.

Truth is,

I need to get serious.

I'm going to get my stuff to the YMCA 

TODAY.

Okay or tomorrow morning since I have to drive down there anyway to drop off the kid I babysit.

But I'm going to find everything I need to give them

TODAY.

I'm also going to download myfitnesspal onto my phone.

And use it.

Losing 10lbs feels great.

I can't weight for 20lbs.

30lbs.

By Nathan's first birthday I'm hoping for 60lbs.

I know I change my goal like daily. 

That's probably less effective.

Oh well.

First 5 lbs... gone!

So I started a new weight loss challenge with my ward instead of the online one. I'm super excited to be doing this with friends. They did it before when I was pregnant and seriously these girls all lost lots of weight. The ward challenge doesn't start until next Monday though. But I'm in the zone, so I'm going to stay here.

Last week I weighed 231...
Today... 226.

And I totally feel like I can do what I did last week again and again... and even kick it up a notch or two. I'm psyched.

Quote

“Stick to a task 'til it sticks to you. . .for beginners are many, but finishers few.” – President Monson

I love this. I'm a Mormon and President Monson is the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I'm sure he wasn't referring to exercise in this quote, but that's what I'm applying it to. Sticking to a task, until it sticks to me. I went to Pittsburgh yesterday with my little family, and met up with my sister-in-law and her kids. It involved eating out twice. I think I made healthy choices. I got a grilled chicken wrap for lunch that had salsa and black beans in it - no dressing or anything that seemed fatty. For dinner at Chili's I got the Quesadilla Explosion Salad. Gave the quesadilla portion to my little nephew, and had the dressing on the side. I didn't have any chips and salsa except for the few chips lovingly shoved into my mouth by my 2 year old. We also got cheese sticks as an appetizer, and I ate one - minus the fried breading part. So I think I did okay... I had a really bad headache while we were traveling and whenever that happens I tend to munch and munch to distract myself. So I ate quite a few handfuls of almonds, and probably one too many whole wheat Ritz crackers. Today I need a battle plan - Weight Loss Shake for breakfast. An apple and TBS of peanut butter for morning snack. Chicken salad for lunch. Reliv shake for a snack. And then small portion of whatever looks healthy at the ward party tonight. No dessert!!! I need to get past the feeling of needing a dessert. I always feel like I need something sweet to finish a meal. I need to break that habit.

I also realized I don't even know what hungry feels like. I just always eat. I never let myself go long enough to actually feel hunger - like ever. So I'm trying really hard to pay attention to how I'm feeling. I feel like I've been feeling STARVING the past few days.. but I think about it. How am I actually feeling? Am I hungry or just wanting to eat? What does hunger even feel like? If I'm sitting on the computer and all I want to do is look at yummy recipes on Pinterest, does that mean I'm hungry? I'm also paying attention to how food actually tastes. Like taking time to chew. What a concept. I remember when I did weight watchers a few years ago the lady hosting, or teaching or whatever you call it when you lead a Weight Watchers meeting talked about how important it is to chew. She said once she started doing this she realized she didn't like pizza! She had been eating it for 30 years, but then when she took time to actually chew it and think about it - she realized she didn't even like it! That made me laugh then, and makes me laugh more so now. I scarf down my food so often, I don't even feel satisfied after having ate, because I didn't take time to enjoy it. 

And I think I'm going to up my goal. I want to lose 5 lbs a week.  So that would be 60 lbs in 12 weeks. Oh my that would just be amazing! So that's what I'm shooting for. 

Started a weight loss challenge.

I love when something just clicks. Right now it's clicked. I'm in the mindset where I want to lose this weight more than I want anything else. I feel like as soon as that happens, it's a lot easier to say no to the cravings. So challenge started on Monday. My beginning stats...

Weight - 231.5
Waist - 45 in
Size - 16-18

That was taken on  Monday. I weighed myself this morning and I've already lost 3lbs! Current weight is 228. Love losing those first three pounds.

Here is my "before" picture. My goal is to lose 30 lbs with this challenge. I have 12 weeks to do it. So it's a pretty lofty goal. Right now I'm just focusing on eating less. Measuring out an actual serving, etc. I also take a nutritional supplement, Reliv, that has helped me lose weight before. I am going to be perfect about taking it. And I need to renew my membership to the YMCA. Hopefully on Monday I can start really working out too.