Since I am the dreaded daily weigher I knew I would be up this week. Okay, I actually knew from my lack of exercise and bad eating. I was somewhat prepared for an unpleasant result. To be honest I am mostly okay with the gain. It has been a tough couple of weeks physically/emotionally and at some point I gave myself permission to not track my food.
The important thing is to realize that that time is now over. I am back to tracking and am semi-confident that these two pounds will not be staying around for long.
This little break in focus may cost me a couple of my goals. It seems a little less realistic for me to lose half a puppy before our anniversary, but I am going to give it my best shot. I have an appointment with my neurologist on Oct. 2. It will be six months since my last appointment and I am hoping she won't recognize me :) I am sure she will, but she might wonder if I traded in my husband.
I feel like I shouldn't make specific weight loss goals for specific periods of time. No matter how "good" I am, it just doesn't seem possible to predict how my body will respond. Is it worth the risk of discouragement if I don't make it? I will say, this time I feel like I have been able to bounce back from discouragement much more quickly than any time before when I have tried to lose weight.
I am eager to get past this whole 25-30 pound loss range. For seem reason, in every weight loss attempt I have made, I manage to lose about 25-30 pounds and then for some reason I fall off. I don't know why that happens. Although, I don't think that is going to happen this time, it is always in the back of my mind. What if I don't lose any more then gain back what I did lost? This time is very different though because my husband and I are in it together. And I have pulled all of you into my adventure too :)
On a lighter note, we have a new favorite food. Actually, it is a re-do of a favorite food - hot wings. We have been chicken breast eating fools and I am always on the lookout for a way to make it interesting and calorie friendly. I cut some chicken breasts into chunks and sear it in the frying pan. I like to brown it and get a few crispy bits on it. Then I add a couple tablespoons of hot wing sauce and cook it a bit longer to set the sauce into the chicken.
My husband has been loving it for his snacks. He is always looking for ways to get more bang for his calories. This delivers flavor and good lean protein.
Today for lunch I had some "wing chicken" in a corn tortilla with avocado. It was very tasty. I did think it would be good with a little ranch dressing to give it a cooling tang, but I didn't have any at work.
On a somewhat unrelated subject...I need advice. We are having a Millie situation. She doesn't seem to be getting over her puppy chewing habits. In fact, I think it might be getting worse. I know she knows better, but can't seem to stop herself. I am beginning to worry that she is never going to get through this stage and everything I own will be chewed. If anyone has any advice that could help preserve my sanity and keep Miss Millie out of the pound, she would like you to share with me. Of course, she knows she is in no danger of being a pound puppy, but seriously, I am becoming increasingly frustrated.
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I also had one of those weeks - they happen and we can't let them derail our progress. Good for you for realizing this - keep going! Also, I am a HUGE wing fan! I've made buffalo chicken in the crock pot before but never like this. I'm on it!
ReplyDeleteI feel good about being back on track :) Thank for the encouragement.
DeleteSorry about the gain. Everyone has those weeks though. Pick yourself up and keep on trucking!! You've got this!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Tracking is the key...I am sure next week will be better.
DeleteYum, I love hot wings! What a healthy alternative!
ReplyDeleteLona loved to chew on eveyrthing when she was a puppy. What we did was everytime she chewed on something she shouldn't we replaced it with something she could chew on. Eventually she out grew the chewing. Good luck with that!
I think I am going to have to make some more for first football night tomorrow! Thanks for the Millie advice. She has plenty of her own toys I will try to be more consistent about replacing.
DeleteI struggle with setting numbers goals myself. I have a focus in my mind, but I am learning that saying I am going to reach such and such number by such and such date doesn't motivate me. I will say that one that that has helped me the most over the past year is to track my calories/food even on my worst days. It keeps my eyes wide open. What I have found is that even if I go above my calorie range I will 95% of the time stop before I go over my maintenance calories. I have been surprised by how much that one little tool helps me. You are doing awesome, and you are taking great care of yourself. In the end that is what matters. I don't have any advice on the dog because I don't have much experience with pets. Well maybe hide your good shoes...lol :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement. I know tracking is so important...if I know I have to write it down I am much less likely to eat it. She had munched a few shoes but thankfully not the good ones :)
DeleteSo sorry about the gain. I'm with ya though and had a similar 2 lb. increase today too. But you're back to tracking and being mindful and that's what counts!
ReplyDeleteAhh sorry about Millie's chewing. Hoping it's just a phase. When we had our last doggie, Buzz he did that too and eventually he did grow out of it. Just make sure you have plenty of toys and chewies for him. (And try not to leave too many slippers lying around.. I know from experience lol) I had to replace like 3 pairs of them with Buzz.
I can 't wait until she grows out of it. We desperately need new furniture but not until this chewing stops. I feel good that I am working the tracking again. Here is to a better week for us both!
DeleteThe best I ever did with my "diet" was to commit to a plan and the process, not the outcome. Living your life healthy is the goal, the real goal, and losing sight of that is what's actually so hard. You had a rough time (I'm here myself, so I understand) but it's OK to move forward and do better today. Don't worry about the weight range mess-up point. Think past it to the behavior you're trying to change, not the number.
ReplyDeleteOn the dog: we ended up with a lot of chew toys and crate time. In general, we correct with a no, and do this instead sort of approach. A dog seems to respond much better to being told to do something else. No, stop, just doesn't make enough sense to them. So, it's a stop and redirect immediately. That worked for us. :)
Yes, I feel good about being on track again. I am not super upset about the goal because I know I am going to get there...it just might be a bit longer. Thanks for the pup advice. I didn't really think about it - she has probably tuned out "no." And I don't like the being so negative in training her. I have gathered up her toys and am ready to redirect.
DeleteHave you tried a Kong ? they have large red ones for "super chewers" you put some peanut butter in it (then freeze if you like) but it takes them for ever to get the "food" out.. and it keeps them occupied.. she may be bored .... Also, to keep my dog busy I bought a ball with holes it in.. you put the days supply of kibble in there and as they roll and play with the ball they get little bits of kibble falling out.. it keeps them busy and fed :)
ReplyDeleteShe has a Kong bone and we have put peanut butter in it. Maybe Millie could get a job and then she wouldn't have so much free time to chew :)
DeleteGreat ide for the guiltless wings! I'll have to get some wing sauce and try it.
ReplyDeleteWhen my dog was in that phase we had to catch her in the act and replace it with something legal. Chewing the stairs? (yes she did), tell her no and give her an approved chew toy. Good Luck!
Thanks! We are definitely working on replacement and redirection. I hope we survive :)
ReplyDeleteThe best thing that we have found for our massive chewers are the real beef bones like this: http://www.amazon.com/Merricks-G-I-Bone-7-9-/dp/B000II4LOA/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1410809781&sr=1-7&keywords=bone
ReplyDeleteIt's the only thing that saved our house and shoes! And once they clean the bones off, then you use it kind of like a kong and put some treats in the middle then some peanut butter and freeze. Does the trick! You have to give her lots of things that she is allowed to chew on! Oh, and we also went to goodwill a lot to get super cheap stuffed animals. The ones at the pet store were crazy expensive and never lasted long. At least the good will ones were cheap, It did cause a lot of white stuffing around the house, but better than my shoes!
She has lots of chew toys, but seems to keep losing them. I don't let her chew on stuffed toys because I have stuffed animals I wouldn't want her to think are okay to chew. We put peanut in a couple of her chew toys, but I didn't think about freezing them...thanks for the tips :)
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