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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Baby Steps...again and again...

It's been a few months since I was able to sit down and write. Not just because I've been busy (YES, I have been!) but because I didn't want to write about my failures of eating healthy.


I don't know how to make my mind click like O is telling me. I don't know how to say, "Lisa, that Whataburger is NOT good for you, eating it will NOT make you feel better!" Instead I say, "Lisa don't you want a Whataburger right about now...why, yes...yes I do" and there goes my car into the drive thru!

So I've been thinking this week about portion control. I know I have a problem with this. When I go to a Mexican restaurant and they have the bottomless chips and salsa, I will sit there and eat it before the meal, during the meal AND after. Even after I can't stuff another bite into my mouth I will go for those last few chips in the basket. WHY????? Why do I do that? Why do I ask the people at the next table if they are going to eat what's left of their chips...ha, just kidding I would NEVER! But seriously I'm just as gross. So I'm thinking I need to start watching how much I eat.

Like for instance, Ryan and I went to Flaming Wok the other night. I ordered the child's plate because I didn't want to eat all the food they normally pile onto their dinner. BUT, it was still a big portion and about half way through I started feeling full. Did I stop? NO I didn't! I just kept on eating until I was about to pop! It was just SO stink'n tasty! But I got to thinking after I left there (thank goodness Ryan was driving so I could lay my seat back a little. People, I was stuffed!) that I could have asked for a to go box and when I got home or the next day I could have ate a little more if I wanted to. Why did I feel like I had to totally eat all of it right then?

One of my bosses at work turned me on to the best sandwich I've ever had (with the exception of the BLT at Hot Rods in Sacramento). It was a turkey sandwich on wheat with lettuce, tomato and mayo. The kicker was the cranberry sauce they put on one layer of the bread! Oh my, for the love of Benji! It is TASTY! SO...the very next day after having one of these, I went back down to the deli in our building and ordered another one. It was the regular size which is huge so it comes cut in half. I told myself I was going to eat half for lunch and then save the rest for dinner. Well after I got one half down, I went right for the other half! WHY? Yes, it was good but it would have been just as good for dinner and I wouldn't have stuffed myself like a Build-A-Bear!!
Anyways...I could go on for days with examples but I will spare you the gory details! My plan is to start watching what I eat as far as portion control. You'll be happy to know that yesterday when I had that sandwich AGAIN I only ordered a half so I wouldn't be tempted! Today I had a can of soup for lunch and instead of eating a donut I had a brain muffin! Also, instead of munching on chocolate from a co-workers candy dish, I ate a few mini sized cheese flavored rice cakes.


Baby steps...

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Just Me...Complaining About My Weight Again...

So the saddest thing I've ever seen happened at lunch the other day. Me and my co-workers, Laura and Vinnie, where at a little Italian place called Antonio's. I was stuffing my face with bread (melt in your mouth) and oil while waiting for my entree when this group of ladies walked in. There was about 8 or 9 of them and they sat at the table right across from us. The last lady to walk in had to be the biggest person I'd ever seen in real life. I felt so bad for her. It must be hard just getting around for her. It must be a challenge just getting up every day to face the world. Anyways...as they all took their seats, she was the last to sit down. The second she fully rested her weight in her chair it just crumbled out from under her. She not only fell but fell on her stomach...flat out on the floor. No one from her table got up to help her but two men from the closest table to them immediately jumped up to help. The whole place went silent. It would have been bad enough if it would have been a person of normal size but she was so heavy. I wanted to cry for her. I wanted to go throw my arms around her and tell her I was so sorry that had happened to her. It took her what seemed like forever to get up. She couldn't bend her legs so it was very hard to maneuver up. If it would have been me I would have walked right out and not even ate there. But she graciously got in her new chair and thanked the men who had helped her with a smile on her face. Gosh I really felt so bad for her. After that happened it was harder for me to eat my lunch. (Notice I said harder...not impossible) I told myself then and there that I was going to get more serious about my weight and health. But as I sit here now trying to pick the popcorn kernel out of my teeth from the movie this afternoon I'm wondering why I can't commit to loosing weight. Fatty Patty tells me it's because it hasn't clicked. I guess it hasn't because I'm still eating bad. I'm sure I've gained back the 5 pounds I'd lost and maybe even a couple more.

So I've been thinking that what I need is a change. Some new scenery...new people to interact with on a daily basis and what do ya know...I get a department change at work which places me temporarily at our corporate office downtown. Where I'm at now it really doesn't matter what you wear. Jeans and a T-shirt is fine or whatever you feel like wearing. Downtown is very differnt though with everyone wearing their corporate best. So I've been going through my closet today trying on all my dress clothes that I USE to be able to wear. I can't believe what all I've grown out of. Some beautiful clothes that I can't even get buttoned! I had to go out and buy new clothes just to have enough stuff to wear this next week. Ugh...I can't describe the feelings of self loathing I have right now. I almost hate myself for the careless way I've behaved with my eating. But when I think about cutting out all the bad foods I love I get depressed. What will make me happy now? Oh curse those Zingers and Ding Dongs! Curse Flaming Wok, Gringo's and a million curses to Whataburger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you all go out of business! (Well maybe not Whataburger) Why can't I just stick to this? WHY CAN'T I DO THIS???????????????
By the way...this is how I feel trying to fit into all my clothes that are too small. Cry on girl...I feel ya!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Such A Pretty Fat

I've been thinking a lot about you, and us, and now, and the past, etc...you get my drift. I guess because you were gone, and I have nothing to really do, and you know I'm starting to get to the depressed part of being home and not being able to do a lot of anything while recovering. And I'm reading this book I told you about, SUCH A PRETTY FAT, and the character reminds me SO MUCH of you. She's stinkin hilarious!

I keep thinking how we've talked about how much time we've wasted worrying about how we look and what it has stopped us from doing because of our lame insecurities. In this book she says that it doesn't matter what you do, if you don't like your insides, nothing will ever matter about your outsides. And I can firmly attest to that. I thought all my problems would be solved after I lost my 150 lbs, but no, here I still am... worried about it not being enough,if everyone likes me, do you all approve of this decision and that decision, and why am I still single, and when am I gonna get my singing together, and do I sound good when I do sing, etc... the list goes on and on.

And I think that's a lot like you. You've got internal conflicts and they are what keep you from losing the weight, because food is your source of comfort for all things. And I get that. I've just learned somewhat of how to deal with it a little better outside of food. And it helps that I have my sister who lives so close, because she keeps me in check for the simple fact that I wanna be thin with her, I don't wanna go back to being the fat sister. Yes, I'm still fatter than her, but I'm not fat. Not like I was. That's I wish we lived closer again, so we could really encourage each other, and do this together, because the blog is good, but it just isn't the same as being side by side, cooking, and being able to go walking, and exercising, and being there for each other in person. And I've seen the difference...and now I CAN'T blame my problems on the fact that I'm unhappy because I'm overweight, now I have to face the other things inside of me that make me sad and angry, and feel disappointed, and deal with those feelings, and not just be able to say, "it's cause I'm overweight." I have to admit that there are other things that I am unhappy about, and I have to find a way to fix them. Which is what I say about getting divorced...some people love to say I got thin, so I wanted to see what it would be like to be single and have fun, so I made him leave. But no, I got thin, and realized with that problem solved, I'm still not happy, it didn't make my marriage better. It made me realize it was still bad, so now I have to fix that, and it was not fixable and things were unforgivable.

Sometimes being heavy lets us hide from dealing with our other fears and problems. And we don't wanna deal with those things, so we keep the weight so we can keep saying that's why were ultimately unhappy..."if I could just lose the weight, I'd be happy, and feel good about myself." And that sort of has to deal with the click in your head thing I was saying earlier. But the click doesn't happen just once, if you're lucky. You continue to work on yourself, and you continue to learn and grow, and things keep clicking. Sometimes it's weird where the clicks come from. I just had one from reading this book. It clicked that she's right. All those years I blamed all my unhappiness on being fat, and when it was gone, I was so happy. But it was short lived. And here I am six years later, still working and dealing with my insides and trying to find what makes me happy.

And while you were gone at your mom's, and some of things I've heard you say, and your last blog, I realize that that may be what's holding you back from losing the weight. It's like you said, even when you lost it before, you weren't happy. And I remember that. Because there were other things that you needed to fix, and you couldn't blame being unhappy on the weight anymore, and that's a big shocker. Ok, I'm totally rambling now, but I guess I was just thinking a lot about you because I miss you so much, and I read your blog, and I feel I know you well enough to read a little between the lines, and hear the things your saying when I talk to you, even when you don't actually say it. You know? Maybe I'm all wrong. Just this book kinda opened my eyes to some things, and I wanted to express them to you. Love you.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Back Home...

Well I am back home and starting today back to the reality of healthy eating! When I'm with my mom we eat a ton of sweets. That side of my family are all sweet freaks! My grandpa was in the hospital and had Honey Buns hidden in his bedside table! So...we had lots of good sweets while I was there. My glucophage was working double time! haha So on the way home, while sandwiched in a little plane I wrote a little...


"I'm on the plane that is taking me away from my mama and back to Houston. Sitting in this time seat has made me even more determined to drop all the excess weight. I fee so fat. I always bloat up like a blowfish when I fly. Plus there's a little tiny lady sitting next to me. I swear I'm dwarfing her. Not sure why but she just turned her air vent on full blast, pointed it towards me and covered up with a blanket that is blowing in the hurricane she's created in here and hitting me in the leg. I'm annoyed to say the least. She was reading a book called The Meringue Pie Murder which has made me crave pie with mile high whipped cream on top. I was so sad this morning to be leaving my mama that I had a bowl of butter pecan ice cream for breakfast. I'm not sure why...just because I thought it would make me feel better. It didn't. Matter-a-fact, it has totally upset my stomach. The only other thing I've had today is a Fiber One bar. When changing planes in Atlanta I passed by a Popeye's Chicken which of course has made me yearn for chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes. I may have to get some when I get home. (if this lady next to me doesn't be still...I swear!) Monday is Memorial Day and I'm sure my in laws will have lots of good food at their little get together! Since I've not eaten all that great over the last week, I really should get back into the mindset of weight loss. When I'm with my mom we always hit up all the great places we like to eat. Just like me and FP when we are together. In Houston it's Whataburger, Caraba's and Shipleys. When I'm in CA it's Nishiki and Zelda's! (This lady keeps her books she's reading bound by rubber bands. She's moved onto a different book now. I'm annoyed by her. I want to pop her with that rubber band.) So I need to get home and get back to a healthy routine. Did I say "get back to"? I mean start a healthy routine! My mom owns a care home for mentally challenged adults and one of her residents has lost 47 pounds over the last year. My mom has been fixing her low sugar/low carb foods... Exactly what my fertility doctor said I needed to do. My mom had all kinds of books on the subject that I meant to bring back with me but I couldn't because it was either pack the 10 pounds of books or the 10 pounds of Koegel hotdogs that you can't buy in the south. Hello!!! Hotdogs, duh! (There's a baby screaming...a guy drooling on himself in front of me, and the lady next to me has turned towards me totally as if she and I are in this great conversation but we're NOT...she's reading! Get OUT of my space lady!!!!!!!!!)"

So anyways...that was my little writings on the plane. When I go back and read it now I realize how much I need to change the way I think of food! I look at my cousin Becky who is not even 28 yet and has already gotten her doctorate and just ran a 15 mile marathon. She has so much self discipline. I admire her a great deal! I just wish I could get control of my eating. If I could borrow some of her discipline for a little while that would be great!

So today is the first day of the rest of my life (how many times have I said that?) and I'm having oatmeal for breakfast. Not sure about lunch yet but I vow to myself it will be healthy! Fatty Patty, you are going to look so gorgeous in your pictures in 8 days! I will think of that...get jealous...and maybe that will help me eat right :-)

OK...must go to work. Until next time...

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Goal Time

My word for the year is acceptance, so I'm accepting a lot of things that I need to do, and a lot of things I can't change. I'm really feeling like this is my year, and it's time to step up all my efforts, and goals. That's why I chose to have my back surgery, and I'm really trying to get to where I'm eating better, and not escaping from my feelings thru food. Not letting other people's remarks or decisions affect mine.

That being said, I'm trying to use this time off from my real job to focus on healing, so I can go back to work, but also to do what I can with my music career while I have the most free time. So I'm trying to update everything with that, so that when I make my "comeback," it's strong, and people are glad I'm back, not thinking I lost it while out of the spotlight.

First thing up is new photos. All my professional photos are two years old, so I have a new photo shoot on June 4th. He's a well-known photographer, and his make-up artist/ hairstylist is awesome...so, I've got nine days to be strict with myself so I can look as good as possible for this shoot. These photos are going to be made into posters for one of my upcoming gigs, and you know the bigger the picture, the bigger the flaw looks. So keep me inspired, Mrs. BC. I need you to keep me focused and remind me not to give in to temptations for just 9 days. I can do this! Right?

Not sure if you'll read these while you're gone, or in the morning before I talk to you, but that's part of what's been happening while you've been gone. So help me do it!

In the meantime, SOOO glad you're home. It still isn't close enough to me, but I've got more access to you now. Love you!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Feeling Proud

Last night and today we're a test to my willpower, and I am really proud of myself for sticking to my guns, because it's the first time in a long time I have been in this situation with this person, and have been able to do it.Thumbs Up



You ever have one of those friends, or one of those places that you automatically go into "vacation" mode...all bets off, time to loosen the restraints and just indulge? Well, when this friend comes to my house, he always ends up wanting to eat something bad, and though I say no, I wanna eat good, we always end up with junk food and bad choices. Eating PizzaAnd I always tell myself, oh well, just this one time. But one time matters to my morale, and it can set me off for days, and I didn't want to get off track.



So last night on his way here, he called to ask if I wanted In-N-Out on his way over. I said no, then called back and said yes, knowing I'd smell it and just want to be eating. But I wasn't hungry, if he wasn't here I would have been going to bed in about an hour or so and not have been eating. So I thought about that and called back again and told him no, I wanted nothing and I told him those above reasons when he asked why.



So he gets here, and I think, cool, because I know myself, and I won't ask for bites of food on something like that, so I figured I was safe from temptation. I'm not really a huge In-N-Out fan anyway. But NOOOO, instead he comes with a large paper bag from the AM/PM full of crap! So I prayed he had nothing I would like. But he did try to be thoughtful, and bought me Hostess orange cupcakes, cuz he knows I like them, but I had already had a pastry earlier from my favorite bakery, so my craving for something like that had been satisfied, and I was able to say no. He already reeked of Fritos that he began eating in his car, Chipsso I was turned off from those, cuz I have a very sensitive smeller, and once I'm ruined on something, I'm ruined. But then he had Snickers, Reese's, chocolate Hostess cupcakes, and Cheetos, and Cheez-Its. Well, candy bars haven't sounded good in a while, and I'm not a Cheetos fan too much - was when I was younger...I liked them smashed on my salami sandwich that was on a sourdough roll with tons of mustard...but since then I can take 'em or leave 'em. But a weakness for me is Cheez-It's. And he helped me by telling me they were gross and bad and stale. LOL But now I had to have some, just to see! So I did. I had about 7. They weren't anything worth giving into, so I was good. The horrible chili corn Frito smell was killing me, so I over sprayed the room with air freshener, turned on a fan, and told him to get ready for beddie-by.



But one of the problems when he's here is that he always wants to eat. He constantly is thinking of things we should go get, or make, or eat, and it's always bad! And it's always tempting. And I have this guilt that he drove all the way here (a 45 minute drive) that I should try and be a pleaser, so I feel I should do something he wants because I don't go there because of my back injury. CrutchesI avoid driving long periods because of pain and meds. So I wasn't in the clear yet, because since he spent the night, and had the afternoon to kill, I'd have to hold fast, and be strong come morning!



Well, we were watching Wings on TVLand at 7:30am, one of my fave shows from the '90's, and Joe ordered a BLT from Helen at the lunch counter. Immediately visions of greasy bacon danced in my head, and I could smell the fresh cut tomatoes, and torn lettuce leaves, envisioning myself applying the mayo to my perfectly toasted bread, while it's still slightly warm, making the mayo slightly become one with the bread as it oozes into the crevices of the toast, softening it. Ah, dreamy. But I said nothing, but you see why I'm weak? And he then says, "BLT sounds good." AGGHHH! No! So I say, ok, let's go to the grocery store and get the stuff cuz I have a little grocery list anyway, and I could use his help to get some of the heavier items. And we must leave soon, so that I can be back in time to watch Frasier. :) Can you tell I love TV too?



So we come home, and I bake the bacon, while he goes to the gym.Treadmill So give him credit there, because he's gonna hate that I'm writing all this about him. He could have given up the gym, like most would with the attitude of, why, when I'm eating bad? So points for that...and I'm not mentioning any names, and none of our outside readers will have any idea who I'm talking about.



So bacon cooked, and it smells yum. The benefit of it being done in the oven is it tastes like it was fried in a pan, but you don't have to watch over it, and it doesn't make your house smell as bad (again, important for me). And he makes his sandwich and asks if I'm gonna have one, but I decided in my head instead, that I would have one piece to satisfy my craving, and have two slices of swiss cheese, one regular, one baby, to see which I liked better. This filled me up enough and like I said, took away my bacon craving. Which was good, cuz he went down to make himself another half of a sandwich and ate ALL THE BACON! Hello? Did I say I was never going to have a sandwich? No, I said not right now. Thanks for thinking of me. Henny Penny cooks, but gets none of her work?! But he saved me. Because he now had eaten an entire pound of bacon, minus my one piece. I felt good.



But I thought I'd still want a sandwich, so I did make more. But thankfully my meds kicked in, and I was getting really sleepy. SleepingI put it in the oven, and he had to check on it for me when the timer went off, and it wasn't quite done. So it went back in, and then all I did was turn the oven off, so I could take a nap. But I left it in there on the plate, and it burned a little too much for my liking from the heat of the oven as it was cooling... sooooo, saved again. Those are signs! I'm doing good, and it's not worth derailing it! So yay for me! I feel proud. I resisted. And even though it was just this once, it made me feel like I did before, when I would say no, and stick to my better choices while he didn't, and I could feel ok, and not talk about how sick I felt after, and why'd I eat all that, and all his other crazy sayings that grate on my last nerve about him being fat. And you know what sayings I'm referring to, Mrs. BC. You've been there for those episodes. They have not changed.



Now I could post pictures of us, but I will save his identity. Because I do understand that for some reason when he's with me, he eats like a pig. I bring it out in him for some reason. I bring it out in all men...only I guess that since he's gay, I bring out in the true terms of eating for him, and in the straight guys, I bring out their Pig-like attitudes.




There so cute...at first.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Walking

Ok, real quick...probably my shortest blog yet.

Mrs. Buttercream, do you feel like adding walking to our commitment to ourselves, and eachother, as something we'll be accountable to each other for? I'm allowed to walk, and it's one of the easiest and best forms of exercise. Low impact, I'm only allowed to do ten minutes a day. We could shoot for everyday, or if you want, start with just the goal of 3 times a week, and then work up to 5 days?