Day 2 Anti Bloat Diet

So I worked out yesterday morning. And I did fairly well all day despite the crappy breakfast smoothie I had. (Note to self: smoothies are not a good way for me to go because they don't make me feel full and don't sustain me through to lunch). I missed my yoga class! I was super bummed about that. Before I knew it, it was 5:20 and by the time I got my stuff packed and to the car it was 5:35...no way to get to WPY by 6pm and changed (I'd brought my yoga stuff). I gave it a shot but didn't even get to the river until 6pm. So I went home.

The good news? I didn't dive into a bottle of wine after such a long, intense day (yesterday would have been a 2 glass night). I was really hungry though and totally screwed up my dinner. I came home and just had crackers and cheese and olives. Not such a horrible thing but the cheese was brie instead of string and was enough to put me over my calories. Then I had a salad. But the topper was...I ate about 1/2 cup of Graters peach ice cream. Again, not exactly a binge but more than I should eat if I want to LOSE weight and not MAINTAIN.

Then, I fell asleep on the sofa while watching The Closer. I think I saw about 15 minutes of it. At about ten 'til 10, I said good night and went to bed. I slept through the night. So I guess I was tired. I woke up this morning at 6 and decided to have two cups of coffee before getting on the treadmill this morning. Today will be a better day. Though I may not make it to yoga because I will need to leave right at 4:15 and that's going to be really hard to do since my boss is in town (when he's here we tend to work really long hours).

Speaking of bosses...I am meeting the new "prospective" VP of Marketing today. I hope she's nice...but really how can anyone tell anything about anybody in the span of a few minutes? Frankly, I doubt my ability to spot an asshole any longer. Most people can put a mask in place and hold it there for months before it slips. The good news is, she's a friend of my boss...and he's pretty awesome soooo I'm hoping she's a lot like him.

Day 2 Anti-bloat Journal: List four things that will help you succeed on the diet. Now write about what you are going to do to ensure that you get each of the four things you need.

Oh boy...hmmmm. Four things that will help me succeed on the diet?

1. Having a backup plan when things go unexpectedly.
2. The support of my partner.
3. Staying focused on my goals.
4. Getting results.

What am I going to do to ensure that I get each of those four things? Okay, having a back up plan means that I need to plan for the times when everything doesn't go as planned. Haha. Easier said than done, right? Well, what's awesome is that I already have a few lists of food ideas for when I come home and am famished and don't feel like cooking. I need to make copies of those and keep them handy in the kitchen. And when I miss a yoga class...I can go downstairs and either practice yoga with a DVD or simply plan to do just 2 relaxation postures like legs up the wall or something like that.

The support of my partner, I have. Cathy is really awesome about supporting me...she tells me I look good when I lose a pound or two (and she means it!) and she is usually pretty good about not bringing a lot of junk/trigger foods in the house when she knows that I am serious. And, to top it off, she is in healthy eating mode as well.

Staying focused on my goals...harder. When I am hungry and in a mood...focusing on my goals and caring about them is a fairly hard thing to do. What can I do? Maybe just stop and breathe through a 10 count and then remind myself of my goals...look better, feel better, be better. Oh? Is that my new mantra? Hmmm...I like it. Will have to keep that one in my back pocket!

And finally...nothing keeps me on track like seeing results. So I need to be sure to recognize all of the "non-scale" victories as well as how much weight I'm losing. Knowing that I'm making progress will help me stay on track and not chuck it all.

Okay...time to go workout.

Day 1 of Anti Bloat Diet

I ended up taking a couple of days to settle after the jumpstart...suggested by the program. But still, stuck with it fairly closely. Though on Friday and Saturday nights I did have 2 glasses of wine. And Saturday morning, I had 2 cups of coffee. (I'm having 2 cups this morning too!). And when I weighed yesterday morning, I had lost another pound. This has been kind of awesome because nothing bloats like that TOM and that TOM arrived last Wednesday. To get through that without gaining 5 pounds of water was very nice.

So, this morning I begin the 28 day phase...

I am encouraged to keep a journal for this phase so I wanted to share a bit of that here (and will do so over the next 27 days as well):

Write down at least three reasons why you have chosen to go on this diet. Describe how you feel about the 28 days ahead and what you expect from yourself.

Three reasons...1) I don't like how I look in clothes, 2) I feel better when I'm carrying less weight, 3) I want to do something for myself that I know will make a big difference in my quality of life.

I am somewhat nervous about the next 28 days...will I be able to do it? Will I stick with it? What is going to happen to derail me? But I'm also kind of excited about it because if I have as much success as I had on the 4 day, then I will lose about 10 pounds and be that much closer to my goal.

I expect that I will have good days and not so good days. I am going to think positive here and say that I totally believe in myself and anything that I've ever wanted to do, I have done. I have the tools at my disposal. I have shopping lists, meal plans, quick 'grab & go' ideas for when I have about 2 minutes to pack my breakfast and lunch and get out the door, I have motivation, I have determination, and I have a secret weapon. I have made the decision to purchase an unlimited pass for yoga for the month of September. This means, I'll be able to take 4 classes a week (I could take more but there are 4 that I want to take).

There are two things that I'm nervous about...the exercise portion and vacation. The exercise portion consists of 6 days of workouts per week. Walking everyday for 30 minutes and weight training everyday as well. Which means that I will need to do these workouts every morning before work...which means, getting up at and getting to it early. Now, this shouldn't be too much of an issue, if, ideally, I'm not drinking coffee on weekday mornings and drinking wine on weekday nights (because I should be sleeping better when I'm not having caffeine and alcohol on a daily basis)...which means, I should be able to get up earlier and not engage in my usual time killer of drinking a few cups of coffee while I check my email and watch the news. But I'm a little nervous about this piece of the 'diet' because I haven't been very successful in the past few years of getting on a morning workout routine. However, positively speaking, I can do it! I have done it for short periods of time in the past two years, surely I can do it for a few weeks.

Hah. That was convoluted, I know...hope you were able to follow that "logic"...

I am most worried about vacation. Again, ideally, it should be a good, healthy vacation. We plan to be pretty active while there and we are staying in a cabin with a full kitchen so we are going to take our own food but getting out of my routine and missing yoga classes and the treadmill is going to be a problem for me. I mean, yeah, I can go for walks in the morning and could do some yoga on my own in the evenings...buuuuuut.

But. What is the alternative? Because I'm so nervous about screwing up when I go on vacation I don't even start the 28 days??? There's always going to be something that gets in the way of routine...I can't live like a hermit until I lose weight. My life is not like the Biggest Loser where I can live sequestered on a ranch with a bunch of other people who are focused on losing weight. In my world, I'm the only one who cares about my weight and the only one who will keep me on track.

And so...day 1 begins. (Yoga tonight! Yay!).

I'm Gonna Kick Fat's Ass...

The results are in from my 4 day jumpstart. Lost 4.6 pounds of bloat and 2 inches off my belly. Pretty much, all I drank was water and I stayed well hydrated.

Today kicks off the 28 day version.

I am starting the day feeling a bit tired. I woke up around 2:00am last night and tossed and turned for a good two hours before I fell back asleep until 6:00. So I am having coffee this morning! Oh coffee, I kinda didn't miss you. Surprisingly. I think I can be good with 2 cups (by the way, as was just pointed out by our last weekend guest, we use small coffee cups...like I can barely fit 1 cup of liquid in the cup and I generally don't fill it to the rim with hot coffee...I'm just not coordinated enough to walk from the kitchen to the living room with a full cup of piping hot coffee). Oh and trying a new non-dairy creamer...it's coconut milk. And I gotta say, yummy! I really like it! It's called So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer. I found it at Whole Foods. (I've had their ice cream before and it's really good too...).

So, anyhoodle.

I'm supposed to reflect upon the last 4 days and think about the following:

• What were the hardest things for you to cope with?
• What turned out to be not as bad as you had feared?
• When did hunger rear its head?
• Which mind tricks helped the most?

The hardest? Not having coffee in the mornings and drinking a glass or two of wine in the evenings.

What turned out not to be so bad? Not having coffee in the mornings and drinking a glass of wine in the evenings. I know I just said it was hard but the thing is, it turned out not to be so bad. Especially since I woke up and had a nice big glass of water instead and in the evenings I took a yoga class (which took the edge of the day off without the wine!). And, for full disclosure...as I mentioned in my previous post, I didn't take yoga last night. So when I got home, I asked Cathy if she wanted to go up to Marty's Hops & Vines for a glass of wine. So there's my clue by four! (another clue for me - the wine I had is probably what caused me to wake up in the middle of the night and feel so tired this morning).

When did hunger rear it's head? Usually I was good to go for breakfast and lunch. Usually around 3pm I started feeling hungry so it was a good thing I had a snack. And by dinner I was usually pretty hungry. Though going to a yoga class helped to temper that.

What mind tricks helped the most? I don't know if I used any mind tricks. Though a couple of times, in the evening, after dinner, I wanted something sweet...but thought, it's only a few days and I really want to see some results on the scale. I guess that would be reminding myself of my goal.

All in all...I felt really good for those 4 days. I especially felt good on Tuesday. I woke up feeling refreshed and not bloated. I felt energized and looked forward to the end of the day for the yoga class instead of the wine glass.

Looking forward to seeing how the next 28 days go!

Day 4 of Anti Bloat Diet

On the last day of the anti-bloat diet. Did I say it's just a jumpstart? There's actually another "phase" that last 28 days. It's a bit easier, I guess...basically, instead of 3 300 calorie meals with one 300 calorie snack, there's 3 400 calorie meals with one 400 calorie snack.

I think, taking a yoga class every day I was on the jumpstartwas very helpful. It kept me focus and on track. There isn't a class, tonight, that I'm interested in and I have plans to make dinner for a friend, so I'll be "off" tonight. That kind of makes me nervous because I am generally the kind of person who sticks to an "exercise" program by momentum. If I get thrown off, then it's harder for me to get started again. However, I am planning to go to another yoga class tomorrow and then again on Sunday.

I thought I could come home today and get on the treadmill to keep that momentum going. Or I could practice yoga myself. With the next 28 day phase definitely recommends 30 mins of walking a day and a weight training session each day as well. So that's something I'm going to have to plan for.

Another update tomorrow!

Day 3 of Anti Bloat Diet

I am feeling much less bloated today! And I'm down 3 pounds. I am very hydrated...drinking plenty of water. No wine or coffee though. And took a kick ass yoga class yesterday. Sooo...feeling pretty good.

Plan to take another yoga class today...gentle yoga with Alison at WPY. Should be lovely...though I must say, I'm missing Yoga Tiffany! Got to get on her schedule for September. :)

Lots of work to do today but I intend to glide through...get as much done as one woman can and leave the office early so that I can make it to WPY in time for class.

Short update, I know...just wanted to touch base!

Day 2 of Anti-Bloat diet

So there's an idea out there that certain foods cause bloating and water retention and chronic inflammation. I am fairly active and don't binge or eat fried foods (or fast foods) and many times I will restrict my calories to try and lose some weight. As you know, I'm frequently frustrated by my efforts. So I did a little research and discovered that there's actually evidence to support that what we eat can lead to chronic bloating and inflammation; two symptoms that I struggle with day after day.

This diet is one way to wipe the slate clean and start to see if inflammation and bloat are the reasons that I'm having issues losing weight. So instead of starting my day with coffee, this morning, I'm drinking a big glass of water. I don't think there's any processed white sugars and bread/grains. In fact, there's no bread. There's unsweetened corn flakes at breakfast and brown rice at dinner but that's it. There's no wine or caffeine.

I have committed to taking a yoga class each day.

After Wednesday, I will bump up my daily caolorie intake by 400 calories and be sure that I am having a monounsaturated fat at every meal. The principles of this way of eating are similar to every "good" diet out there...3 meals and one snack all 4 hours apart, clean eating/whole foods rather than "food" made up of chemicals (re: fat-free, low fat, processed, etc.), and counting calories. The difference is the addition of the monounsaturated fat at every meal and the focus on not eating foods that cause water retention or bloating (like salt - switching to herbs or something like Ms. Dash).

I keep trying to find a way to get to a healthier place...I try not to give up entirely. And if I see results following this plan, then I will continue down that road.

If I felt skinny...

My local radio station, WKRQ, is running a contest. I applied tonight. The morning show host, Jenn, is looking for some ladies to join her in a 12 week weight loss program.

I think I'd be a great candidate...I could certainly offer support and motivation to my team mates...

But, more than that, I think I'd make a good story. I've got 50 pounds to lose. I could do that in 12 weeks, or come damn close. I'd be taking lots of workout classes and with the support of other women, I am positive that I could do it.

Wish me luck! :)

Yoga today and tomorrow

I am going to World Peace Yoga today for Yin Restorative Yoga and tomorrow for the World Peace Yoga class and companion study group. I am actively in pursuit of balance...I'd go see Eat, Pray, Love if I had the time. (We decided we would do that next weekend!).

Tonight I'm making Vegan Dahl for the WPY potluck tomorrow night. Will take some jasmine rice to accompany the dish but no creme fraiche (dairy). Guess I could do a dallop of soy yogurt but I am not a fan of things soy (it can be a hormone disruptor for women).

I am steeling myself to read the World Peace Diet book (first three chapters)...I have had a couple of friends ask me, "...if it's so gruesome, why read it, ...why do this to yourself?" Why, indeed? I don't know. I guess there's some part of me that is always trying to get healthier...and though I am certainly struggling with taking off the extra weight...it doesn't prevent me from constantly trying to be healthier. I do believe that a mainly vegetarian diet is the best diet for humans.

But, also, I am very interested in practing compassion and kindness and to do so means that I need to start looking at how what I eat is the antithesis of compassion. I want to be more positive and eat in a positive manner ...to do so, I probably need to do as Michael Pollen suggests, and eat mostly plants.

So I want to explore, or at least become aware of, the alternatives out there. For the record, the vegan lifestyle is probably not for me. I think there's probably too much denial in it for me to be comfortable with. (By the way, I am aware of how self-indulgent and privileged I sound here...nice that I can make these choices when so many people are suffering from hunger). And, let me note, for full disclosure, I'm not even close to being vegetarian...I had flank steak last night, for crying out loud (yes it was local and organic but that's not the point is it?).

More on this later...

What week is it???

I did not get a chance to weigh this morning. I am on my second day off...and slept in...didn't get out of bed until 7:30. I stumbled down the stairs and found that Cathy was already up and had coffee made. Had a couple of cups in between picking up stuff because we were having two people come over today to help with our "honey do" list.

As I type this, we are getting a new front door. Cathy and I found a beautiful door at our local reuse center (do you know about reuse centers? they are awesome for picking up stuff to fix up your house...check out the link above to see what Building Value is all about). The door is solid oak with beautiful cut glass panes. We paid $100 for it...this door brand new would have cost, easily, $750. Our handyman is installing it right now. (Pix to follow).

And, we have a new cleaning lady. Not that we've had one before but Cathy met her through our neighbors. She is very reasonable so we thought it would be a big help to us to have her come in at least once a month. She's still in the kitchen...been there almost 3 hours. YIKES!! (It was a hot mess...but I want her to get to the bathroom too and we only have her for 5 hours).

So all this to say, I wasn't able to get down to the scale before they got here. I'll weigh in tomorrow.

This week I have been practicing more yoga and meditation. Yoga Tiffany came on Sunday and then I went to another class at World Peace Yoga yesterday. I plan to go back on Sunday and then again on Monday. (Monday is World Peace Yoga and the companion study group).

One thing that bugs me about yoga is that it's hard to find yoga clothes for plus sized women. Seriously. Most of the yoga clothes makers only go up to a size 12. I did a little search online though and foundout that Danskin makes stuff for plus sized women. I usually don't have a problem finding yoga pants, but finding tank tops that fit without gaping at the bust (so that I'm showing the whole class my DDs). Ran over to pick up some tank tops today and got them for $3-$5 a piece! A great deal and they fit great. I wish they were a little longer to come down to my hips but at least they will fit me and keep my girls covered and still allow me to move with bagging the way a t-shirt does.

Something fun...you know the new Karate Kid came out. Well, I watched those movies when I was a teen and loved them. So I wanted to see the new one...I guess for nostalgia reasons but wanted to watch the old ones first. Couldn't find them for rent so I looked on amazon and saw the whole set (4) used for $20. Ordered them and they arrived today. Oh and Cathy has never seen any of them...guess it'll be a Karate Kid weekend. Yes, I am a dork. But even though they are pretty corny, I love the message in them.

Another movie I want to see is Eat, Pray, Love. I really loved the book...read it a few times and bought a bunch of copies to give to friends. I think the movie comes out next weekend so I'm hoping to go see it then.

I'm so glad to have this time off. I have been lacking in balance for a long time and trying to get back in balance is something that I need. I think resting, taking yoga classes, going to the movies, having fun...I think those things will help me get there.

Week 8: Two Months Later...still 46.4 pounds to go.

Back in the day, I would have lost 30 pounds in two months. Now, I've lost 3.6. That's a pathetic effort. And no, I'm not being hard on myself...it's just a fact.

Sure, I've been working. That's my go to excuse these days. My job has been my number one priority since about this time last year. And, if I'm being honest, my job remains a priority. I want to almost double my salary by next year. Ambitious? Maybe. But I'm not getting any younger and I have got to get my finances sorted before it's too late.

So, all this to say...it's been too easy to blow off exercise because I'm too tired when I wake up and exhausted and stressed by the time I get home from work. And, while I often make healthy choices regarding food, I still have my moments where I will have a couple of cookies after dinner or have mac and cheese for dinner (or add butter to my grilled corn on the cob). Not enough calories to put me on a path to gaining. If I were trying to maintain my weight over the past couple of years, I would have done a bang up job!

I just can't seem to get that intensity and motivation to go the extra mile to actually lose any weight. I keep telling myself that I can do it. I keep trying to get myself psyched and motivated. I read about losing weight (books, blogs, etc.) and I write about it. I buy food stuffs that are good for me. I have my home gym set up...one that has worked for me in the past. I have found a style of yoga that I really enjoy. But none of these things have actually helped me to lose weight.

Looking at the big picture...what I am beginning to understand is that I might need to feel good about where I am...about who I am...right now...right here in this moment.

I was reading the latest Shambala magazine (the focus of the whole issue is meditation...it's a really great issue) and one idea that I am going to try...say to yourself, before you fall asleep at night, "I'm going to get up 30 mins early tomorrow and get on the treadmill before I do anything else." Then let yourself ask, "Really?" Then respond. "Really. I am going to do it." And if you can't respond in that way, then save yourself the let down and be honest, "No, I'm going to get up and make coffee and watch the news and surf the web."

I want to try that. I think it's about setting the intention and following through just one night at a time.

World Peace Yoga

The best yoga class I've taken (outside of my classes with Yoga Tiffany) at any yoga studio in Cincinnati. Loved it. It was challenging but not exhausting. Incorporated chanting and plenty of resting/rejuvenating postures but also enough activity that I was sweating and breathing hard through a bit of it. Can't wait for next Monday.

And then there was the World Peace Diet Study Group...the food was very very good. It's basically a pot luck....everyone brings vegan dishes (or you can just pay $9) for dinner. And then we went around the table and introduced ourselves. Lots of very young people in the group...I was, probably, one of the oldest. But a warm sense of community and welcoming...so that was great. And then we watched the video I posted below (don't worry, it's not gross...or sad or anything...I would encourage you to give it a quick watch).

The thing that struck me about the video...the amount of water that we would save by being vegan just a couple days a week.

Really interesting!

A Life Connected - Part 1

Vegan Brownies - Surprise Chocolate Brownies

They are in the oven as I type this...will know this evening whether they are any good! Stay tuned...

But here's the recipe, in case you are interested. By the way, I found this recipe in Yoga Magazine, Issue 88, page 66. They credit the booklet, Veggie Kids' Kitchen http://www.vegsoc.org/

Makes 12 at about 141 calories each. Calories for the whole pan are appx 1690.

Ingredients:
1 cup dates (organic)
2 oz whole wheat flour (organic)
2 tsp baking powder (I use the aluminum free kind!)
3 tbsp cocoa powder
8 tbsp vegan butter (Earth Balance, I use the soy free kind)
1 very ripe banana, mashed (organic)
1 tsp vanilla extract (I used fair trade)
Organic veggie oil for greasing the pan

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Place the dates in a medium saucepan with just enough water to cover...cook over med heat for 5 mins or until soft.
3. Once the dates have softened, drain off the hot water and let cool, then puree the dates (I used a hand blender)
4. In a small mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder, then set aside.
5. In a medium mixing bowl, using a fork, cream together the dates and butter.
6. Stir in the sifted flour mixture, then add the banana and vanilla.
7. Grease the baking dish lightly and evenly spread the mixture into it, smoothing the top with a spoon.
8. Bake for 20-25 mins or until the brownies start to come away from the sides of the dish.
9. Allow to cool in the pan, cut and serve.

Reviews to come! I hope they are delish!

***********************

Results: I say "delicious! Light, chocolatey, and definitely brownie like. I mean, they don't taste like something out of a Betty Crocker box but they are really good. Not at all like I was afraid they'd taste...I thought vegan meant tasteless, cardboard...but these are rich and the dates make them chewy."

Week 7: The Yoga Sutras

I am working with the Yoga Sutras. Fascinating study...

I got the set from Amazon at a great price (much lower than what is advertised there now!) and have really enjoyed it so far.

Like Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali are bits of philosophy that are intended to make the student happier and more at peace. There are 196 yoga sutras and to really gain an understanding of them takes time and study. So when I found this home study course, I was elated.

Tomorrow begins my practice at World Peace Yoga. I am going to go ahead and begin working with the study group as well. Instead of paying the $9 fee for the study group, one can opt to bring a vegan dish. So, today, I'm going to make vegan brownies.

I also have a goal of practicing yoga on my own two other evenings per week (Tuesday and Thursday). For my birthday, my sister and BIL, gave me an iTunes gift card...so with that, I made two purchases...two Yin Yoga "albums" that I have already transferred to my trusty iPod. It is set up in my home gym, ready to go. (Hopefully, we'll be selling the elliptical today...someone's coming by to look at it at noon -- this will give me some space to practice yoga).

I have got to do something about the stress and anxiety in my life and feel that I can allieviate a lot of it through yoga and meditation. Something so easy and gentle and so good for us should not be a chore...it should be something that we run to. I think, for me, it has been a matter of priority. I have always approached yoga as something I should do and have made time for it like I've made time for myself...always at the bottom of the list.

In my heart I know that there is only one path to better health in my life and that is by making myself a top priority. I am doing myself no favor by giving everything I've got to everyone else. When do we begin self-care as if our lives depended on it? After we are felled by disease? After we are so far gone that all the yoga in the world won't save us?

ATHA...and now...readiness for yoga...