Weight Loss Wednesday: Recognize and Record
Published October 21, 2009Okay…..so I know the post says Weight Loss Wednesday and it is already Thursday. I just want to give all of you who want to join us on this journey a chance to say “I’m in!” So, read on and leave your comment. I am praying for you!!!!
Oh gals, can you hear me shouting from wherever you are? I am soooooo excited to know that nearly 50 of us are beginning this journey together! In fact, just knowing that you all are on this same quest to see the scales go down helped me over the weekend.
I was at a fabulous family gathering and had MANY chances to eat lots of yummy food. However, I knew we are all counting on each other to provide encouragement, support and prayer and I thought of you many times when I wanted to dive into the cream cheese caramel apple dip (which I never did) or eat two whole pieces of tiramisu (I took two bites).
I know that without the accountability, I would have played the old mind game so many of us play.
You know the routine. You vow to start your diet tomorrow. Tomorrow comes. You eat a sensible breakfast. The mid-morning munchies soon set in and by noon you’ve “blown your diet”, so you vow, “I’ll start over tomorrow.” and promptly raid the fridge.
Tomorrow isn’t so hot either and by 2:00 pm, you are plum out of calories (not from eating plums, but from cramming cookies down your throat or opening the hatch and downing nearly a pound bag of peanut M & M’s!!) so you tell yourself, “I’ll start next Monday.” Then you eat like a pig until Monday comes, try to start over, blow it again by noon and promise yourself… “Okay, let’s try next month. Yeah, that’s it, I’ll start the first of next month…..” and on and on it goes.
But with accountability, it is so much easier to stop yourself. If we know we must check in each week and leave a comment with the honest results of our weigh in, we’ll be more apt to behave!
And to take it up a notch and ensure even more success, weigh in with a friend. That was the number one key component to the success God gave to me. You cannot fudge when weighing in on the scales in front of someone else (after eating too much fudge!) You also cannot afford to blow it for days on end when you must weigh in in front of someone else. Were (and are) there times that I overate? You bet! But it was VERY short lived.
Maybe I ate 500 calories of junk one afternoon. But then I’d slap myself in the face and say, “You dummy! Why did you do that? You have to weigh in next Wednesday. If you keep this pattern up, you will see the scale go up, not down! However, if you stop right now and behave the rest of the week, you’ll only be over 500 calories for the week. Why, that is only about 70 calories over per day. That won’t hurt you. Stop it now, Karen!!” And my little self-talk worked! So, find a buddy!
Now, here is the dealio. I know many of you have started already, but let’s make today the official beginning.
- Weigh yourself today. Record it somewhere. (You’ll never have to tell us what you weigh). Next week, I want you to comment and tell us how much you have lost.
- Also, have someone take a “before” picture of you. I’m not going to ask you to post it. However, later when many of you have dropped pounds and pants sizes, we may have a before and after cyber show and tell!
- Then, your homework assignment for this week is to begin to recognize and record.
Recognize when you eat when you are not even hungry; out of habit or boredom. And record what you do eat. You can just write down calories. Or you can include carbs too or fat grams, if you want. But the most important facet is the calories.
Now, how many calories should you be eating? When I lost my 106 pounds, I pulled out a formula I learned years ago, but usually didn’t apply. That formula is to take your current weight and times it by 12 if you are sedentary, 14 if you are moderately active (exercise 2-3 times a week for 30-45 minutes) and 16 if you exercise an hour a day 3-5 times a week. That is how many calories you would need to eat each day in order to stay at your current weight. Then, subtract 500 calories a day for each pound you’d like to lose per week. (500 calories x 7 days=3500 calories. Every 3500 calories burned equals one pound)
So, lets say you weigh 200 (because it is an easy number to figure and I am not near a calculator!) You are moderately active. So, to keep at your same weight, you’d need to consume 2800 calories. (200 x 14= 2800) If you want to lose 1 pound a week, drop the calories down to 2300. Make it 1800 to lose 2 pounds each week. Drop it further to 1300 to lose 3 pounds each week. Most experts say not to drop below 1200 calories per day.
Now, once you lose 10% of your starting body weight (in our example that would be 20 pounds) stop and re-figure this all over again. Now you’d take 180 pounds, re-crunch the numbers and aim for another 10% gone. Keep doing it until you are at your goal. I am no fitness expert, but this worked like a charm for me! And breaking it down in chunks helps to keep it from seeming like a daunting task. I could wrap my brain around 10%. It seemed doable. When I thought of losing 100 + pounds, it seemed overwhelming and I wanted to reach for a fork and a cheesecake!
So this week, get yourself a cute little notebook and record, record, record!!!
Also begin to move your body. We’ll talk later about exercise. Just start doing something. Walking is a great start.
Next week, you will leave a comment with how your week went and what the scales did. Today let’s leave a comment about what your toughest time of day is; when you eat because you are bored, lonely, stressed or just because ‘something sounds good’. Maybe it is when you are feeding your kids lunch with creamy peanut butter and homemade jam and you want to make yourself a sandwich with a thick layer of both. That is my greatest tempting time.
Then, feel free to hop on and encourage each other. I’ll hop on as much as I can too to offer my two cents worth.
Ready?
Recognize….
Then record…
Can’t wait to see those scales going down, down, down…..
Scale-plummeting Blessings,
77 Responses to Weight Loss Wednesday: Recognize and Record
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Honestly, I wish I could say I have specific times that I get really hungry but that wouldn’t be entirely true. I work from home and there are about 10 steps between my home office and my pantry door. Everytime I need a little break, I’ve been walking to the pantry. If we still had carpet, I would bet the carpet would be worn down from my continuous walking back and forth-how pathetic is that! I just grab something out of habit, many times I’m not even hungry-silly, isn’t it? Somebody needs to bop me on the head. I’m putting a sticky note on the pantry door today saying ‘STAY OUT’ or maybe a Mr. Yuck sign would be more effective.
Thanks and happy Hump Day to everyone!
Karen -
I just happened to jump over to your blog today and read your post. I am so glad I did. I am on board with this and will start today. Thank you for opening this up to all of us. What a great idea!
Karen – Parma, Ohio
Good morning!
I have been looking forward to starting with you all this past week. I am a homeschool mom with 50 pounds that I would like to lose. The afternoon is my most difficult time–school and major chores are done, the little ones are down for a nap and I start thinking about what I am fixing for dinner. I used to exercise faithfully–it was part of my sanity routine, but with a medically needy child that really changed my routine. Now, things are much simpler, but I find that it is difficult to get myself out the door to walk (can’t run as much but I put a little in there to build back up) and even put off plugging in a good exercise video. So, I am looking forward to the accountability and will drag out my double stroller and go, or plug in video a couple of times this week, and count what I am eating. I am going to take baby steps and I will keep checking back in! Looking forward to the journey with you all!
Have a great week!
My bewitching hour is after the kids go to bed and hubby and I plop down in front of the tv for some “real quality time.”
Sometimes it’s the shows we watch that are focused on food (Chopped, Top Chef, even the Biggest Loser!) and I feel hungry. We have been known to have “2nd dinner” especially if what I made for dinner was not satisfying.
We don’t usually keep snacks in the house, but I do bake (nowhere near as much as I use to) and that’s where I cave.
My toughest time is after the kids go to bed and I’m sitting on the couch watching a little TV and relaxing. I’ve been trying to eat a healthy snack like fruit during that time but if there are chips in the house it is so tempting to go and grab the bag and munch on them. By doing this I don’t realize how much I am actually eating. This week I would like to make it a goal to change that habit and become more aware of the calories and snacks I am eating.
My toughest time is when I am up alone in the evenings. I always want to get a snack. And even sometimes in the late afternoon before dinner.
Kimberlee and Kim T—I used to have that problem as well….eating after dinner while watching tv..(yes, I too watch those “food” shows….including Amazing Wedding Cakes which doesn’t help) but I’ve learned to “shut down” the kitchen after dessert. My body is so used to not eating after a certain time-by 7pm or earlier-that I don’t really crave anything after that. You know what I’ve found out about my body?–If I allow myself to have a dessert….like a my healthy version of updside down peanut butter cheesecake….I’m good to go the rest of the night. On evenings when I just didn’t have time for dessert or try to NOT have one, my body’s like…”hey, where’s the chocolate?!” And I end up eating more calories than I would’ve if I’d just had a single serving of a dessert!
My toughest time of day is probably after lunch, but before dinner b/n 2-5pm. At this point I will usually have a small snack, like a slice of my chocolate banana bread which is full of fiber and protein.
Amy V.
I’m an emotional eater. I celebrate with food and drown my sorrows with food. So, depending how the day is going it could be anytime. I tried memorizing different Psalms to combat my desire. Sometimes it worked and sometimes I failed. I think I’ll write down a Scripture along with my food intake. Something postive to focus on during the tough moments.
Thanks and until next week-
Wendy W
Hello Ladies!!!! Reading through your comments, I was like “me too!”. I eat when I’m stressed and when I’m bored. I recently read a great article in the October issue of Good HouseKeeping called “The Fork Syndrome”. I highly recommend grabbing the magazine for that article. It really zoned in on why we (I) eat when I don’t really want the item I’m putting into my mouth.
Love, Prayers and Blessings
Wow! Weight lost is something that I have been struggling with for years. I will do a good job of paying attention to what I eat then. Stress enters and out the window goes my plans of loosing weight. I let one bad day destroy the whole plan.
There is no bad time of the day for me. I just like food! Thirteen weeks ago I started with Karen’s calorie counting formula (I found it on her archived blog). In 13 weeks I have removed (I don’t want to say lost because I don’t want to find it again) 22 pounds. I still have a very very very long way to go but I’m extremely happy with the beginning. The writing it down and keeping track of calories helps but it is important to make it a game with yourself or you quickly burn out. Give the recording and counting a try.
Debbie-
BRAVO!!! Can you hear me cheering from wherever you are? I am soooo proud of you. And how great of you to jump on and tell everyone that it works! You are living proof! See gals….if you do this YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT!!!!!
It is Hilarious and awesome how God puts people or blogs right in front of you when you need it……was just talking with my sister about this issue this morning. After always having a high metabolism and very active lifestyle…..a few pound here and there didn’t seem to matter………and then I hit 45..then 50 and my activitivy turned into sitting in the auto driving the children to their activities and sitting on the bleachers watching and supporting them…. by the time I have time for myself at the end of the day I’m too tired to do something …like exercise…. for myself. And I’ve found that I use many of the excuses as alreday stated…bored…stress… not preparing meals ahead…so eating unhealthy fast food… yes … it has taken its toll on me ..or should I say stomach and hips…. so I’m going to try this accountability thing… and lose the 30 pounds that I’ve wanted to over the last 3 years. Thanks for letting me joing your journey as we work at this together with God’s help.
I’m in! Starting now, weight loss wednesday. I happen to come to this site after praying God would confirm His direction in another area of my life, I believe He is asking me to start here….
I think the toughest times of the day for me are late morning and mid-afternoon. I work outside the home, but there always seems to be something tempting around our office. Thanks for starting Weight loss Wednesdays, Karen. It sounds like a lot of us are wanting to lose some weight.
Sadly, I have not excuse or reason why and when I eat. I’m never hungry because I’m always munching. I just enjoy eating anytime. . . especially desserts. Of course I justify eating desserts after I’ve eaten a “healthy” meal or been on a walk. Can anyone say Oink!
I think this must be God’s timing! I can totally relate to that negative cycle you describe in your blog, Karen, and to so many of the comments that follow.
I find mid-afternoon to be difficult, because the house is quiet with kids off at school or down for a nap. No one’s gonna know if I get into that bag of … you name it! Especially if I haven’t taken the time to eat a balanced and satisfying lunch. But evenings are hard too. Kids are in bed, and my husband and I get the munchies. Danger!
This will be good for me! And I’ve made my first good choice. I was starting to feel snacky (aha! mid-afternoon!) and I opted for an apple instead of the Oreo’s in the cabinet.
Thanks for the motivation and the accountability!
Hi Karen and fellow weight-loss minded friends,
I signed up for this after seeing Karen at Hearts @ Home and this group is exactly what I need. Last nov 13 I started my weight loss journey at 260lb and between then and june lost 80 pounds. I was doing great and then…I just stopped. I stopped watching my calories and stopped exercising and started going back to my old way of eating and the needle on the scale started to climb. I’ve gained back 10 of the pounds I lost and consider myself lucky that it wasn’t more!
But now with all of you I am commiting to begin again and live the healthy life I know I was meant too. We can do it!!!
Autumn
By the way, the most difficult time of the day for me is after the kids go to bed. I want to sit in front of the tv and eat!
Hi!
I weighed myself and recorded it in a cute little notebook…my daughter just gave me one for my bday!
Now…I need to set those goals and get on the treadmill.
The most difficult time of the day for me to control my eating is between 3pm and dinner…I am in the kitchen getting dinner ready and I just snack and snack and snack…but I still eat a full meal for dinner…ahhh.
I usually have a light, healthy breakfast, then nothing till lunch. We eat our main meal at lunchtime, since that is when my husband is home – it is usually fairly balanced and healthy. I usually eat too much. Then mid-afternoon – I am hungry. I snack and snack and then 6:00 comes, even tho I’m not hungry anymore – hey it’s suppertime. So I eat – usually feel too full, flop onto the couch then in a couple of hours snack again. So I guess my worst times are in mid-afternoon and mid-evening and it is usually mindless snacking.
Definitely my toughest time of the day is midafternoon at work. Usually that’s when the hecticness of the work day has slowed down, no meetings, just time to be at my desk. And that’s when I get stressed because I can see all the work that needs to be done, and I don’t where to start, and yeah…stress. Plus I think I’m crashing from my late breakfast and subsequent lunch. I usually will grab a can of soda (no thank you diet — yuck!) and a snack from the vending machine. I really, REALLY need to have healthy snacks to munch on. It’s the ONLY way I’m going to beat this afternoon demon. If anyone that can relate has any other ideas for someone that’s working in the office, I welcome any suggestions.
I’m excited for our accountability group. Let’s do this! Let’s start making GOOD choices for ourselves.
Hello everyone
I’m not sure if I have a certain time of day that is the toughest. Sometimes in late afternoon, I start to feel that tired, I need a nap slump, and go looking for a snack or coffee. Breakfast and lunch are difficult for me too though, because mornings are so busy, by the time I get kids to school, I am starving and too often run through the drive-thru for fast food and/or stop at my fave. coffee shop for my daily latte. At lunch time, I never seem to know what to have, so again, it’s often fast food.
For some strange reason, I don’t want to buy frozen dinners, because they’re expensive, and full of sodium, but then because I don’t have anything in the house, I go to McD’s and get something with probably more sodium and more costly.
Another strange thing I’ve noticed is that I tend to eat after social events… I am an introvert, and I think my body must just register stress during social occasions, and even if we’ve just had dinner, I eat when company leaves, or when I get home.
What is that about????????
I don’t like eating in front of others, so maybe I don’t eat enough.. until they leave. I worry about what others will think of how much I eat, or judge me by my weight, so I don’t eat much around people.
Hi all–
Praying for you today!
One thing that helps me during those tempting times is to have two or three possible healthy and lo-cal snacks to turn to when I am tempted to grab junk.
I try to have a salty choice (some baked Tostitos scoops and salsa or mini-bag of heart-smart microwave popcorn and a Splenda sweetened soda) a crunchy choice (already cut up carrots, celery, red and yellow peppers and light ranch dressing for dip) and of course a few sweet ( Weight Watchers Key Lime yogurt or some berries sweetened with Stevia or Truvia–a natural, non-chemical sweetener and topped with some light whipped cream)
Oh and Lisa V.—-have you tried soda’s sweetened with Splenda instead of Aspertame (Nutrasweet–YUCK!) they taste much better. Diet Rite makes a tangerine, white grape, cherry cola and raspberry that taste great. I enjoy them once in a while.
Talk to you all next week!
My toughest time is afternoons or lunch time. I usually eat a good breakfast and can go easy on the dinners [thanks to my husbands home made popcorn I can always turn to].
Hi Karen,
Wednesdays are my most busy day of the week so while I will read your blogs I probably won’t have time to respond until Thursdays. Anyway, the toughest times of the day for me are after school and before bed. My husband often makes a BIG bowl of buttery, oil popped popcorn in the evening. I used to eat a big bowl with him. Now I try not to eat any or I allow myself one small bowl and then go to a different room so it’s not so tempting. I have been including snacks and have tried to eat things like almonds instead of chocolate chips! Thanks for the encouragement to get healthy!
Karen
Thanks so much for the formula. I needed some good guidance to figure the amount of calories for the day. This is great. I am ready to try the recording challenge you gave us. I’ve heard many say they record and it is a big help to them. I’ve always thought it took too much time. But I’ve started the day recording and walking!! Now if I can succeed throughout the rest of the day. Afternoons are the worst for me when it comes to eating…anything and everything. I so want to change my eating habits. THANK YOU Karen for doing this.
God Bless You,
Linda
Karen – I’ve been to about 10 Hearts at Home weekends (in Michigan) and was thrilled to see the new you last year. I’m in! Way in! Ten minutes ago I was looking in the mirror and was disgusted by what I saw. I checked my email and found a friend who mentioned your blog – God answered my prayer! My most dangerous feeding frenzy is about 5pm – before dinner (by about 1.5 hours). I’m weighing in now and will find a notebook too!
My hardest time is by far evening!!! I can’t count how many times I have gone to the kitchen to get something to eat and was not hungry!!! Its out of habit and boredom. I am so on board with this. I need to find myself someone to meet with in person that has the same issue.
I am so over this body! There are many areas of my life that I know would be better if this weight was outta here!! I have lost 40lbs before, then I had 2 kids.
Now, I am ready to be done! I need more energy for my husband and my kids!!! Going to go find a notebook now!
Amy V–thank you so much!
It’s scary seeing the trap many of us share, in front of the tv at night.
I told my hubs last night I am not watching those food shows anymore!
Tammy Shineldecker: I too hate eating in front of others! I am so self-conscious, I don’t know why. I think it stems from being overweight all my childhood that I wonder what others think with every food that goes in my mouth.
I eat too fast. People have pointed it out to me and I am always done before everyone else at the dinner table. I know it is WRONG and that adds to the extra weight and food consumption. But it is so hard to not do. Even when I remember to eat slower, it’s still fast! I also do everything fast (driving included). Maybe I should ask the dr for some valium.
Woohoo Chris! I’m with you – did you find the notebook? I did and actually calculated my calorie limit at 2400 less the 500 = 1900. Yikes no wonder I’m 40 lbs overweight! I sent a few girlfriends an email (with the blog link) with the hope that they will jump on board with me.
Karen-
I’ve been trying to keep up with your blog, but haven’t visited in several weeks. I was so happy to see this post! I’m so excited to start this journey. Thanks so much for posting the formula as well. I look forward to having a group to hold me accountable.
So, I’m in for sure!
My worst time of day is, like so many others, the afternoon. I can’t walk by the kitchen without stopping for something. I try not to keep too many “bad snacks” in the house, but I can be quite resourceful in finding snacks!!
Alright, I’m heading to record in my notebook now!
Like so many others – mid-afternoon – I’m very bored with my job. The vending machine at work begins to scream my name about 2, then will power abandons me about 2:30. Lately I’ve tried to bring a healthier snack for the afternoons. It has to be something I want, not just something good for me. Lately yogurt and a bottle of Fuze. This drink has no artificial colors or flavors. It’s a fruit juice kind of drink and really satisfies my sweet tooth. Plus the whole bottle (18.5 oz) only has about 15 calories. Evenings after dinner are also a problem for me. Hunger is not an issue for me and has nothing to do with when or why I eat most of the time. Boredom…stress…because it’s time!!
I’m really looking forward to the accountability each week. I had started a couple of months ago writing down everything and exercising, but so far I take 2 steps forward and then 1.5 back!
Thanks for doing this. It will be fun to share with people having the same struggles.
I just went for a visit to curves today. Not sure about that whole thing. I seem to eat most at night, after the kids have gone to bed. See, I work midnights on the weekend and my body seems to get hungry around 10 or 11p.m. So during the week when I am not at work I get hungry at night. I guess I just need to go to sleep when I put the kids to sleep. I don’t fall asleep that early though because of the midnight shift mentality left over from the weekend. Any suggestions would be great
Sweets and stress are my down fall. When I get stressed I NEED sweets ~ I swear it calms me down. I have lost and regained weight so many times by now part of me doesn’t want to even bother. I know I have to because I want to be healthy and have energy to be a great mom. Pray for me, I am discouraged even as I get started.
Thanks Karen for the soda tip. I’m going to have to find that and try it out.
Vicki F- like your suggestion too. Thx.
I thought I was the only one that came up with those procrastination excuses for dieting that you wrote in your post with such detail! You mean it’s a universal thing?!
I’ll have to give your formula a try. Sounds like it worked for Debbie. Good for you!
When do I like to eat? I would have to say mostly in the evenings, but I love food anytime. I need to pay attention to eating only when I am hungry, not just because I want to endulge in something that tastes good.
I just found your website but maybe God sent me to it?! I need something to get off the roller coaster of “tomorrow I will start” that you wrote about. You could have recorded the conversations I have in my head. So glad to see it is not just me. I have started either tomorrow or Monday for about 6 years now. Apparently that is not working!! I hope and pray this will be the boost I need. My biggest issue is constant stress or boredom snacking. The worst time of day for me is at night. After taking care of my 4 kids, my house, my husband, working with 8 1 year olds at my part-time job, by nighttime I am ready for a treat! The problem is that this is not helping me feel very good about myself when I get dressed in the morning. Time to change!! I can’t wait!
The hardest time for me is whenever I’m tired. Right now, I want to eat the entire cake that’s behind me on the counter. So instead, I’m going to take a 20 minute nap and give the cake to my teenage son who is under orders to guard it with his life and keep it FAR, FAR, AWAY!!
I did great at my son’s birthday!! Bless the Lord. Only with the strenth that comes from His spirit could I have resisted the brownies and the moosetracks ice cream!! Glad to say I did have a bowl of popcorn and not the chips and dip.
My wii scale~ because I don’t have a real one~ said I was down 2.4 lbs. I like the wii because it keeps track of me and keeps a little calendar of times I have weighed in.
Did I do perfect at McDonalds and eat the salads they offer? Nope but I did have the grilled chicken, no mayo. And I did not eat the whole small fry. so Yes, I did good!.
Thanks for the encouragement ladies. Thank for letting me brag about things that others can not always relate too.
Keep work at it!
Karen
Okay girls I was at the same gathering last week that Karen was at. I was in the mind set of “it’s a party” and “I haven’t had this food in years.” One look at my self in the full length mirror as I pulled on my suit for the hot tub and I realized something. Something that I needed to see. It was NOT pretty.
Now with all of this great support and less excuses………….
Count me in!!
Thais
I used the recommended formula and figured how many calories I can consume, but don’t know the easiest way to count my calories throughout the day. Any suggestions of web sites, etc. Do most of you just look at the back of all of the bags when cooking? Thanks!
I used the recommended formula and figured how many calories I can consume, but don’t know the easiest way to count my calories throughout the day. Any suggestions of web sites, etc. Do most of you just look at the packaging when cooking? Thanks!
Hi Alexa, Great question about the figuring of calories. I use the packages if it has the figures. I also have a great book “Dana Carpender’s Carb Gram Counter” It gives the information in serving size, calories, carb, protein, and fat. It gives info on drinks and resturants too. A good web site that you can find loads of info on is http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calories_in_food.htm
I can’t say I agree with all the advice in the book or on the web site. You need to read and decide the best choices for your lifestyle.
You can do it!!! Keeping a list of foods eatten, even if you don’t list calories, will give you a good idea of where your nutrition is headed. Keep working at it. With the Lord we can succeed.
Oh cyber sisters…. I love all the comments/conversation/encouragement going on here.
Praying for you all this weekend. We are half-way to Weigh In Wednesday…YOU CAN DO IT!
I know just thinking about all of you in the thick of the battle right along side me is giving me strength. And I will need it tonight. I just made pumpkin-chocolate chip cookies cookies for the hubby and son. I WILL NOT EAT ONE!!! NOPE! Got me a Kashi pumpkin spice bar waiting to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee while we watch a movie!!!
Plan ahead girls!!!! It helps soooooo much when it comes to resisting! Talk to you next week!
Finding your blog tonight must have been God’s way of nudging me to keep my “I’ll start again on Monday!” still going by Wednesday … and get back to being more healthy in my decisions … both eating and otherwise!
It’s not Wednesday, but I’m ready to start today and join everyone here. The toughest part of the day for me is around 2:00 and then the weekends. Plus I have some of the same struggles that others have been posting. Looking forward to the accountability.
All of the above! I struggle with emotional/late night/ and T.V snacking……but I’d say I have come to the point where I can have relatively decent self control in short term situations…you know….a party here, an outing there…..even in a restaraunt I can be good for the evening…..as long as I VIEW it one day at a time…..but get me in a situation where I need to have self control for a sustained period of time (ANY kind of vacation or day affair) and Im toast…..I try to tell myself just to manage today and I worry about tomorrow…..well…..tomorrow! The evils of the current day are sufficient!
Well, I lost 1.6 pounds but know I can do better. I need to write down morefaithfully what I am eating. As I read the “frenemy” article Karen wrote I realized food is my frenemy! It tricks me into thinking I really need that (fill in the blank with a not so good food choice) to feel better and then once I have finished I realize that I have been tricked and feel worse because of my lack of control. I have re-determined to do the writing, and start walking since our eliptical broke. Thank you for this site and all the encouragement I get from reading others going on this same journey. I will run to Jesus instead of food. Blessings to all.
I would like to join your group also. I recently received the results of my blood test for cholesterol and it is sky high. I must get it under control with exercise and proper eating. I love to eat…..especially the things I shouldn’t be eating. Looking forward to encouraging and being encouraged. Blessings, Brenda
My toughest time of day is when I am lonely (husband working after dinner) and stressed.
I am learning to seek God during these times and pray for our marriage and for Him to change me.
Began moving more
Cleaned pantry
Did some exercise on wii with family
Tried having only 3 meals 1 snack
Stopped asking kids to get things for me
Had only one big slice of pizza instead of four
at one meal
Cleaned house more
Lost 3 lbs.
OK…I am on board with this…hope to have dropped enough weight to actually LIKE to go swimming w my kids this summer!!
I have finally gotten myself back on track from Christmas. i lost 43 lbs. last 1 1/2 years ago and have gained back 15 – 20 lbs. I worked so hard to get it off that it becomes very frustrating.
My worst 2 times of day are mid-afternoon (usually when the kids nap) and just after they go to bed. I think it might be because I’m so busy with them when they are under my feet that I don’t think about food. When they are not there and I have a little down time, it’s all about grabbing a snack.
I’ve done WW and been successful. I met my lifetime goal about 17 months after joining. I lost a total of 90 lbs. That was 19 months ago. I had done pretty good keeping my weight at least within 10 lbs. of that goal until the last few months. I really need to recommit myself to eating healthy again. Why is it that it’s so much cheaper to eat unhealthy foods? I am going to try to keep up with this. I really need to kept accountable. My husband joined WW with me and did well too but, backslid and I think after awhile I backslid with him. I think I’m up about 25 lbs. from where I was so I really need to get back on track! I know that I’ll feel better once I do!
Hello Karen, i am in… needed a Godly wise way of losing weight.. Hope to get help here.
I have left comments on other posts so here I am again I am in I am trying to be inon everything that gives me accountability and encouragement and ideas.
I just found this through P31- after years of stressing over no time to do what I need to to be healthy, I just decided to DO IT. I walk a mile with a Leslie Sansone DVD at 5 am- it’s a really easy way to start exercising. I used to try to do my devotions first, but was too drowsy! Exercising wakes me up! Then I do a mile on the treadmill in the evening. When you work that hard, you think twice about what you put in your mouth! I also found a Bible study at settingcaptivesfree.com that speaks to the addictive aspect of overeating. I highly recommend it. I set a goal to lose 10 lbs. in the month before visiting my daughter in FL last week, and I did it! Praise God!
I’m in! Food in general is my problem, my “addiction”. We have a mutual bond, and tend to stick together quite well, although my thighs disagree.
) With doctors help I managed to pull off 15, but ran into unrelated medical problems, and ceased all help…I still have 20 + a few I’ve gained back to loose. I’m a year away from 40 and know this battle won’t get easier…I need accountability…
I don’t know how to even get signed up – but I need help getting healthy. I am in some life situations that are a bit stressful and would love to keep myself healthy… but what I reach for is sugar in anything!!! Yikes… well, here goes…. I weighed in and I have my book.
I’m a yo-yo! Yo-Up / Yo down; Yo-Up / Yo Down! I’m pretty good at it too. What God is telling me now is that my battle is a spiritual one not a physical one. I need to let God have control of my eating. I’ve started a group at my church and I think your blog will help us so much. My worst time of day is when I get off work. I live alone and food has become my way to get through the night. So – I’m in and I intent to fight this battle to the end. Now, I just need to establish my three banded cord.
I just need help getting this weight off as I am sick and tired of being down right FAT!!! I would love to look good for a change and wear some clothes that look good and fit good, besides those that look like I have on a tent and I’m talking circus tent here.
Please I need all the encouragement and support I can get.
That’s all my problem is I don’t have encouragment or support and then I get discouraged and eat and eat some more, and it’s mostly the sweets that I go for. They are a comfort food for me.
I guess I need to get rid of those from my shelves so I won’t go there.
Please just help me,be my help, my encouragement, my support. Thanks I appreciate it very much.
I will try and help others as we travel on this journey together because together we can do this !!!!!!!
OK. I figured my calories, got a notebook, will weigh in the morning and begin to recognize and record.
5 yrs, ago, I adapted a change in lifestyle, (not a diet) after trying every diet I heard about. In 17 months, I had lost 70 pounds. The last six months, 8 lbs. has reattached itself to my frame. I know what I need to do, cut back on simple carbs, and every day I try again. Some days I manage ok but other days I think ” Idid real well yesterday, haven’t had much today, this sugar free cookie won’t hurt” and I fail again. One cookie always leads to something else. Being my normal weight after being heavy for 40 yrs. was sooo rewarding but I have this fear that I am slowly slipping back into old habits. Thanks for giving me someone to be accountable to.
I am not sure if I am signing up correctly or not. I am excited about getting help and encouragement to overcome a weight problem that I have battled with for many years. I have prayed for a long time for God to help me to overcome my obesity—I know I have to become obedient to Him in this area. I am so enouraged about the support and sincere heartfelt help that we will receive.
I just started back to Weightwatchers last Thursday so I will be weighing in every Thursday. I will let you know how things go. I weighed in at 178.2 last week and my goal is to get down to 145. My weakness is night time snacking but this week has been good in this area. It’s good to know that there are gals out there who will be praying for me. I will look for you on facebook.
In His Service,
Kathy
I will weigh in the morning,(I have a notebook), and check with my eye surgeon to see if I can start water exercises again. I keep forgetting(?) to call. Have had two corneal transplants that I have to keep the chlorine out of. I’ll wear goggles. Need to be held accountable and this will do it…even at age 72. Want to feel good again.
I’m in. So down this morning. I’ve been laid off work for over 4 months now. Thank God for Proverbs 31 Ministries. I’ve battled weight gain my whole life. I was ready to give up all together, until this morning.
I’m in!!!!
I am weighing, recording, and exercising beginning today!! Praise God and thank you for your ministry.
I’m in. Was “skinny” the first 25 years of my life. The second 25 years have yielded about 60 pounds. I am that girl that always ate exatly what she wanted and never gained a pound. Talk about lifestyle change. I need spiritual help as well as accountability. Let’s go girls!
I am so in….I weighed yesterday at the doctors office and so far I have lost 5 pounds over the past 2 weeks. Girls I know that we can do this. Let’s keep the encouragement coming.
All I can say is “wow”! God knows what I need, when I need it! Why that surprises me, I’ll never know….He knew I needed this today! I suffer from many health issues and have been told that I need to lose weight. I always have good intentions, but, alas…I always seem to find a “good” excuse to start “tomorrow”. The hardest time for me is evenings. I’m not hungry but my mouth wants something, anything, usually sugary and that’s not good for a diabetic. Now with someone to be accountable to, many who are in the same situation, I am encouraged! Thanks!
Just getting started with ya’ll today. I’ve been recording what I have eaten for the past month for my doctor to keep tabs on my blood glucose levels, so all I have to do now is check the calories. I never believed that keeping a record would realy work but it definitely has with my sugar levels. It has me aware of the foods that I put into my mouth. Now if I can just watch the amounts and calories, with extra help from all of ya’ll, maybe I can lick this devil (fat). The hardest thing is eating when I’m not hungry. Wish you all luck, sj
I’m in. Got a handy little notebook. I am not really great at keeping track of calories but will give it another try since it seems that it will help me focus on what I am eating. My worst time for eating is at night. Especially if I let myself stay up too late. I find that I like to “sneak” to the kitchen for a late night snack when everyone else is sleeping. The old “if no one sees you eat it, it doesn’t really count, does it?” This lack of a good sleeping habit tends to affect all other areas of my life, including healthy eating.
Great spiritual food for thought here! I’ve been stuck at my current weight for a few years now and have loved to blame it all on “the meds”. I go to Curves For Women 2-3 times per week, and I love http://www.myfooddiary.com for tracking calories! It also tracks nutrition for you – all you do is enter what you’ve eaten and the program does the rests. I haven’t logged in for months but will go there again today and begin logging my food and trying to keep it to 1300-1800 calories per day to lose 1 to 2 lbs. per week. God, help me please.
My 3 third day and I find so much encouragement by reading the posts. I agree with the advice of logging what you eat.
I also read the advice of having a accountability partner.
pray for me that I can fiind the right person who needs
the encouragement as much as I do and will encourage me as well.