Line in the Sand
There it is… I’ve drawn it on the ground… I’m refusing to cross it.
As is our weekly ritual, Amy and I got on the Wii Fit and weighed ourselves. In a drastic turn of events, I gained 6.4 pounds in one week. I honestly know that it was a combination of many bad food/drink choices (hello? I had two glasses of White Sangria on Friday night, then a large glass of Sangria and a Margarita on Saturday night; just as examples of the drink choices). I am truly glad I had not experienced a gout attack. I spent all day today making mostly healthy choices (onion rings and ice cream excepted) and drinking only water or unsweet tea.
And yet, here we are (or is that Wii are?). I stood on the Wii Fit board and it told me I had gained 6.4 pounds to weigh around 283 pounds. My old starting point was 319, which means I’m down 37 pounds… I have on my keyring a small token that proves that at one point while on WeightWatchers, I was down 50 pounds.
That means I’ve gained back 13 pounds. So I’ve drawn the line. That line is sitting on 284, and I’m NOT crossing it. I refuse.
My first decision immediately after that was to go to the kitchen and prepare 4 sandwiches for my lunches for the week. I’ve been eating out WAAAAY too much. It has to stop. My breakfasts will consist of either cold cereal at home or oatmeal at work; no more stopping at Chick-Fil-A or McDonald’s or Braum’s for “wreckfast”. I’m taking sandwiches and pickled okra (found I love the stuff and, other than high-sodium, is a good snacking choice). I will drink only water, unsweet tea, and 1% milk.
I need to stop working so much overtime (though I may see that drop some anyways unless another “high-crisis” project comes up this week). That’s been forcing me to pick up dinner and eat much too late. Either it’s dinner by 7pm or not at all.
Hello, sand? Yeah, I know… I messed up your surface a little bit, but I won’t be making any footprints on the other side of that line… I’m walking the other way.
(cross posted on fatbloggers.net)
January 25th, 2010 at 12:31 am
I’m sorry the numbers have started to climb and know all too well how that feels. Life has it’s ups and downs and unfortunately it affects us the way we don’t want it to. You can do this! I know you can! We’ll work on this together. We both know what it takes. Know that I love you no matter what.
Amy
January 25th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Ok, line as been drawn. But you need to supplement that with something more concrete. You need more than just a verbal (yes I consider blog posts verbal) ultimatum. As I see it you have drawn this line many times last year. You’ve stated the same exact promises of eating healthy and curbing indulgences. Cold turkey works for some things, but I think your original weight loss was mainly attributed to the WW point system. I’m not saying that you have to be a member again; you just have to start counting points. I think that a little indulgence is good in moderation. As long as you keep your diet in check the other 80% of the time.
January 26th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
I know how you feel with this. I decided many times that I wanted to change things and lose weight and look and feel better. But I would always put it off.
At least until diabetes came along. Now there is a definite reason I have to make changes - there is no other choice if I want to maintain the health I have now. I have made those changes and I now feel better and am losing weight. My clothes are getting loose and I can now bend over and tie my shoes without having to prop my foot up or really suffer trying to do it. Feels great!
I know making these changes is not easy. I can have anything I want to eat, including sweets — if I work them into my daily diet plan. But it is limited and not often. I realize now that before this, I ate many meals only because it was mealtime — not because I was hungry. How do I know that? Because now I have a structured meal plan, with limited amounts at each meal, with small snacks allowed of certain food items. By the time the next meal rolls around, I’M HUNGRY!! I think it is good that we know what that really feels like.
I have never liked exercise either. I have always hated running and calisthenics. But I have been working on a treadmill and some with small weights. The best thing for lowering blood sugar besides a diet it to keep moving.
Please don’t wait too long like I did. While you have a chance, start working on it. Don’t wait until it becomes a health issue. Remember that the situation we find ourselves in is no more than a consequence of our past actions. I guess my past actions were just enjoying eating too much and being lazy rather than active.
You can make the changes. It is just one day at a time — one decision at a time.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Well, I just got off the treadmill and had been thinking over what I had posted here. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound so much like a downer or like I was rebuking you. What I meant to say is that I love you very much and care deeply about you and your well-being. The thing is, that the longer you wait to change something like this, the harder it usually is. I want you to be healthy (without diabetes or any other disease) and happy with as few troubles as possible.
I know also that the biggest part of this is relying on Yahweh. I could not have done what I have without His help. Sometimes I have to ask for it when certain things come along — like potlucks, the Feast of Tabernacles, etc. We are commanded to come before Him and to eat and rejoice. That can be a little disheartening when you know you can’t join in like everyone else in the feasting, but must be careful in what you do. I guess that is why the last feast was a little harder for me. But, with His help along the way so far, I know the next one will be a joyful one. He is there to help with anything we need.
January 30th, 2010 at 12:57 am
Keep it up. You’ll meet your goals if you stay the course. I’m on the path too.