The Hunger Games

I have been reading The Hunger Game books this summer and of coarse I have to relate it to my food journey - everything does at some point.

Just like Katniss Everdeen, I have to use a variety of t weapons to survive my "hunger game". All of them are useful in my arsenal however, like Katniss and her bow and arrow, my specialty is logging. I love it. It is my most useful tool. Yours may be different and finding yours is key to your success. It cannot be something you think you "should" do. You will know it when you find it - not to say it will automatically come to you. Katniss still had to practice...a lot...on her bow to be great at it. That is one reason why I am always preaching TIME in this journey. It takes time to be good at anything, especially when opposing habits are in play. So, cut yourself some slack.

As far as some of my other weapons, I have many that make my journey possible. I was asked to name three in my article coming out next month in Women's Health. It was hard to narrow it to three and I can't even remember which ones I said. Each weapon produces small success which add up to one BIG success.

Imagery and self talk are two key players in my "success" (remembering that it is summer and, for me, this is my weightier months - dag nabit). Actually, that is another tool. I have to keep positive and realistic. I have to accept my body and how it works. I cannot compare my apple to others' oranges so-to-speak.

Another weapon would have to be weights I think they are wonderful - not that I enjoy using them but they helped me see change in the mirror and that is VERY motivating. Weights also keep me from just cardio-ing my way hungry. When I get too hungry I lose all control of myself. Which reminds me of another. I have to have foods I can go to. If I have "nothing to eat"  monster Mechelle appears and it is not pretty. 

Getting off the fence about a few things made a difference as well.  For example:  say I am at Subway (Love it by the way.  My specialty is turkey or beef with all the veggies and a little pepper and oregano) I would get white bread as a treat.  No more.  I made a firm decision to get wheat.  I don't have to think about it anymore.  Same with fat free dressings or sour cream where fat free makes a big difference in calories.  I don't treat them as a reward.   This might only be me that played these mind bogging games.  Also, I automatically head toward the back of the parking lot.  I don't think about it anymore. I picked a side of the fence and live there happily.

The journey to discover my pack of weapons was one of the greatest of my life.  It was hard going through it and in the middle of it I was unsure I would win the game.  But, isn't that what most hard things we go through are like? 

Avoid Bankruptcy

One of the most common phrases I here is "you are so good".  I hear this when I refuse a treat or pass on the butter...things like that.  I am not the perfect "dieter" but I do watch what is going inside my  body.  I wonder sometimes what these people would think if they never checked their bank balance or credit limits  - heaven forbid. 

Our bodies only have so much in its account and when we overdraw we store fat.  I treat watching my health the same way.  Like with money matters, things come up, occasions or "emergencies" when we dip into a line of credit that needs to be paid back.  However, if we are too casual with our definition of occasion or emergency and use too much credit we go bankrupt.  Illnesses related to weight are the number one killer in the U.S.  That kind of bankruptcy doesn't happen in one bad year or one pregnancy.    It is one choice after another one step at a time. 

If there is one thing I could change it would be that attitude behind watching what is going in your body.  Why is that such a depressing and negative thing?  Why is ignoring the truth so much more appealing?  This kind of fear is epidemic.  We all have it but why?  I wish I knew. 

For me the click was I was no longer going to be afraid of the truth.  I was going to face it no matter what.  It is still hard at times.  I have to re-click again and again.  But I still look.  I am not sad that I might be logging my foods the rest of my life.  I check my financial account almost every time I spend and my health takes precedent over money right?  Aren't we grateful for health before riches when it comes down to it?  From what I have seen, when facing financial bankruptcy, looking at the truth is step number one as well.  Many times bills have gone unopened to avoid the heartache but it is only when you face truth that triumph can prevail. 

 

Livin' in CrAZy

Something that is true for me is that I never get full when life gets crazy and hectic.  Whether the stress is good or bad the scale always knows.  When I know this is going on I have to take some time to access myself.  It makes no sense to commit to anything when you know it is doomed to failure.  I have been waiting to commit to good eating again until I know I can make it.  A lot of days I am not necessarily eating more calories than I should but I feel rushed and out of control about food - plain yuck.  This kind of eating still adds pounds because stress (good or bad) shoots chemicals that store energy.  Couple this with never feeling full and you see where I am.  I have been running around while we are under construction coupled with end of the year crazies and you have me, in this state of mind.  I am not sure I have had quite this kind of hurdle since losing the weight but here I am.  I am almost anxious to get back on track but know that it will take another week or two.  For now I am going to focus on getting my water in each day.  (remember...add not subtract)  

Oprah Farewell

I would not be me if I didn't take a quiet moment to say "farewell" to Oprah.  I have loved learning from her and zillions of her guests.  I swear Bob Greene would show up with new health inspiration whenever I needed it.  I would save those Tivo-ed episodes and watch them again again when I needed them. 

I have several episodes that I am not sure when or if I will ever delete them. Two Women Food and God episodes (watched one just the other day).  And, one from years ago about whether you should love your kids more than your husband - a great debate.

Thank you Oprah!  I was 11 when I first watched and I am so grateful for all you taught me.
XXOO   

B +

Along with my other recent posts, this is a little trick I believe in.  (I realized my tricks are more mental then food related and I like it that way)  When visualizing or self talking you need to stay on the positive side of things.  This is the number one reason why diets don't work permanently.  Diets focus mostly on what you can't eat and your brain doesn't compute can't.  You know when the waitress sets down a plate and says "careful, don't touch the plate it's hot" and you always give it a little touch.  Don't turns into do somewhere in the depths of our brains.

I would bet most overweight people, mostly women, go around all day thinking "I shouldn't eat that" or "there I go again eating or wanting that again" all negative interactions.  Try instead to add instead of subtract.  Say to yourself "I am going to add a handful of mini carrots or an apple or more water or a serving of whatever healthy to my diet everyday".  Focusing on that positive addition might just be the ticket to getting your mind on the positive side and once there...magic happens!

I love it when my ideas become mainstream!

The attitude is changing about diets and I couldn't be more happy!  


Check this out.
http://health.yahoo.net/articles/weight-loss/6-ways-win-weight-battle

Oprah Show Genius

 Watched Oprah from yesterday and loved loved loved what Bob Greene had to say about weight loss.  If you can find May 10th's episode watch it.
Bob was talking about how two days ago he and Oprah were discussing something and he could tell it upset her.  She got up and took a bite of chocolate.  Even she didn't notice she had done that and she even tried to defend the little piece of chocolate because it was a small piece.  The point is that she shouldn't need anything when she feels bad.  No thing actually makes it better.   
Later on she asked a weight loss guest what she eats now verses then.  The guest tried to say she eats the same just healthier.  I get what she was saying.  The "what" doesn't mess with the equation when the "why" is taken out of it. 
 
 Below is the transcript

For Bob, dieting has never been the be-all, end-all quick fix to eliminating weight loss problems and keeping the weight off in the long run. "Weight is a symptom of something that needs to change," he said on The Oprah Show in 2003. "It's usually not simply about food."

As a part of making a commitment to lose weight, Bob says you should ask yourself three important questions to start off on the right track:

1. Why are you overweight?
The real answer to this question is not simply: I like food  - it goes much deeper, he says. "Are you in a toxic relationship? Do you hate what you do for a living? What is it about your life you would change?" Bob asks. "That answer is different for everyone. Get in touch with that."

2. Why do you want to lose weight?
The answer to this question will help you determine if you're beginning your weight loss journey with the right mindset, Bob says. "So many people [say], 'Oh, I have my reunion coming up,' or 'I get pressure from people at the workplace or my friends.' Those might get you going, but they'll never be long-term solutions," he explains. "The [best] answer to this question is, 'I want a better life for myself.'"

3. Why haven't you been successful to date?
If you have tried to lose weight in the past, Bob says it is important to explore the obstacles that have stood in your way to maintaining your goal weight. "It's about identifying what is going to trip you up, because the same things will trip you up if you haven't resolved the heart of the issue," he says.

If you can answer those questions honestly, Bob says, you are truly ready to begin.
                                                                                                                            courtecy of Oprah.com

Picture This

I have read and heard in several different places this notion of picturing food to curb cravings.  I know it sounds crazy but I believe this.  Sometimes at night while I am falling asleep I think about what exact things I am craving at that moment - my perfect meal.  Sometimes I just need one bite of something.  For example, I may crave a nice cheeseburger (Hires Big H it is my all time most craviest meal)............sorry I was drooling a little.  Anyway, cheeseburger......sorry, I may want the whole Hires thing but then need just a bite of pepperoni pizza - okay maybe a few bites.  I may want a bite of lemon square and then a whole brownie (you gotta balance out the tart and sweet). 

I found that the more I visualized my meal the less I really wanted.  Instead of a whole cheeseburger I would only really need a few bites.  I think this "practicing" helped me to understand my craving and learn to differentiate them from hunger.   Most of the time our hunger should not be answered with cravings.  If you are craving, first analyze your hunger then take care of the hunger then move on to the cravings.  I am a believer in cravings.  I think they are a signal that something is needed.  It may be a memory we are craving or a mineral but it is important.   However, we are never craving the agony of overeating unless something else is wrong.  Taking time for yourself to figure yourself out is key to permanent weight loss.  You cannot lie to yourself very long.

On the flip side, visualizing the healthy you works as well.  See yourself with full understanding of yourself.  See yourself eating better and wanting to exercise.  You will not see success overnight with either of these tricks but if you graphed success over time you would see a change and ever little bit helps:D 

Women's Health Magazine

womenshealthmag.com

Last Wednesday I did something awesome!  I am being featured in the September issue of Women's Health magazine and that day was the photo shoot. 

The article has been several months in the making.  Two lengthy phone interviews and several dozen emails.  All the people I worked with were fantastic.  I was surprised at how up-beat and kind everyone was.  They never left an email hanging.  There was always a "thank you" or "your welcome".  The photographer was great.  He knows how to make a girl feel like she should be in a magazine.   

As for Women's Health.  I really and genuinely love the magazine.  I am more of a flipper than a reader but I read almost every article.  It is like Good Housekeeping, Shape, and a little bit of People all in one.  You can check it out here.      

I promise this is my last sales post...at least for a while;D

Another great book

I was away on a girls' getaway and found Tres talking about her book.  With just a few words we connected and she "gets it".  Her book is entitled  Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy by Tres Prier Hatch.  You can buy it here.  It is full of great truths and I can't wait to get my copy.