An example of what I struggle with: I was driving home from my dance class this evening. I work out pretty hard at the class. I'm certain I burn hundreds of calories. It's two hours of an intense workout.
On the way back to my car, I could turn right, and go to a MacDonalds to get a fruit smoothy. About 500 or so calories. They're so refreshing, and cold, and feel so good drinking after that class (except when I sip it too fast and my throat starts to freeze. Ouch!) But I say, no, and head left, to where my car is parked.
As I start driving homeward, my mind begins thinking where a MacDonalds is along the route home. I can still get a smoothy. I have to remind myself each time (there are three places where I get rather close to a MacDonalds) that I am not really hungry, and I don't really need to chill (I had several water bottles today), and my long term goal is to get to a rational weight.
Finally I pass the turn off for the third MacDonalds. And I begin to think of a place where I could go out of my way to get to another one. Only three miles.
I think this is what people talk about when they say that corn syrup is addicting.
I made it home without diverting. I had a Weight Watchers raspberry ice cream pop (about 110 calories) and that was satisfying. Then I drank some water.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Rational Weight #1
At some point towards the end of the school year I decided to stop acting helpless about my obesity. I am not aware of any physical issues that should cause me to be so heavy (in June 2014 I was about 288 pounds), but I am aware of a number of bad habits that could be contributing to the condition.
So I resolved to work on changing some habits.
Somebody at some point used the phrase, "cultivate a feeling of hunger." This means to get comfortable being less than full. I used this as a focal idea as I tried to change. I also took advantage of the summer break from school in order to make sure I exercised much more regularly.
I don't think drastic change works over a long term, so I am not a fan of purges and diets and regimens. Rather, I chose to try to make small changes in my behavior which I thought I would be more likely to sustain over the long term. One of my worst eating habits is that I graze. I eat out of boredom, rather than hunger. I've made a significant effort to stop this. Before I eat, I ask myself if I'm hungry. If I'm not, I try to drink a glass of water, rather than eat.
I titled this entry #1 because I intend to continue to report my progress in my effort towards a rational weight.
So I resolved to work on changing some habits.
Somebody at some point used the phrase, "cultivate a feeling of hunger." This means to get comfortable being less than full. I used this as a focal idea as I tried to change. I also took advantage of the summer break from school in order to make sure I exercised much more regularly.
I don't think drastic change works over a long term, so I am not a fan of purges and diets and regimens. Rather, I chose to try to make small changes in my behavior which I thought I would be more likely to sustain over the long term. One of my worst eating habits is that I graze. I eat out of boredom, rather than hunger. I've made a significant effort to stop this. Before I eat, I ask myself if I'm hungry. If I'm not, I try to drink a glass of water, rather than eat.
I titled this entry #1 because I intend to continue to report my progress in my effort towards a rational weight.
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