Battle of the bulge....
I occasionally post about my struggles with my weight... I truly believe that when they were handing out the self-discipline gene on portion control I was off somewhere else looking at something shiny.
Back when I worked in Knoxville for 2 years, I was on the right track for me. I was eating Lean Cuisines, even though they had a dismally low selection of Gluten free options. I was also dancing regularly.
When I finished that job, and was back at home working again, I went back to my old ways and gained back all the weight I lost.
This past summer, I got engrossed by my new computer and internet service after being without it for a year. The new computer could access games and other high graphics items online that my old computer could not touch..so suddenly it was like it was 1997 again when I had my first computer.
So after a few months, I noticed clothes fitting tighter...and oh no..go on the scale and I'd gained 10 pounds. Also began experiencing some disturbing inflammation in my legs that I'd never had before. Clearly something had to be done.
I had been cheating bad with my food. I'd went back down the slippery slope of soft drinks, and fast food. Clearly that had to go...
So I bought a huge box of sweet & Low, so I'd have plenty at work and at home. And I began drinking Strong Hot Tea with sweet & low.
Then I revisited Lean Cuisines...and was pleased to discover that they had several more varieties that had mashed potatoes instead of pasta or bread. I don't like the rice ones..they are over cooked and watery.
So two weeks have gone by, and the jeans are fitting better. I get on the scale and discovered that I had lost 4 out of the 10 pounds that I'd gained. Thank goodness.... and it was fairly effortless.
For the past few days I've had skinny (for me) ankles with no swelling for the first time in a few months. Whew!
The other thing I've done is I have tried to get up and walk around more when I'm at the computer. Rule of thumb being stretch your legs once per hour.
I've bought a yoga mat and a ball, and a walking tape, and I sit on the ball once in a while at the computer, but have not broken out the mat.
I make it a point to incorporate extra walking in when I go to the store. I try to make a lap around the place if it is something like wal-mart. And I'll hit the big antique mall nearby on the weekend.
I inquired about a gym membership, but they are really out of my price range. I am wanting to buy a treadmill with my income tax refund.
So this is a note to myself in case I ever forget... even though lean cuisine is full of chemicals, it works.
I have been getting these varieties the most:
Steak tips Portabello (170cal),
Stuffed cabbage with whipped potatoes (210 cal),
Beef Pot roast (210 Calories)
Meatloaf and Whipped Potatoes (250 Calories)
I occasionally get other entrees that can be as high as 310 calories.. but I usually get most of them at 250 and under. The logic being that I have plenty of space to snack through the day... will also drink a couple glasses of 2% milk a day, and one glass of the Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Smoothies or the Blue Goodness Smoothies, snacking and the occasional meal out.
I also eat the occasional turkey on whole wheat sandwich. I never add cheese, but I usually add some spring mix lettuce and the Kraft "Mayonesa" which is Mayo made with Lime juice instead of lemon juice...it's real tangy which I love, and it is actually a healthy fat.
I'm not actually counting calories..I am just trying to be sure I keep the portions small and avoid a lot of unhealthy sugar and fat.
So the weight is going back down, and the mysterious leg swelling is gone.. And I'm not freaking out any more.
Back when I worked in Knoxville for 2 years, I was on the right track for me. I was eating Lean Cuisines, even though they had a dismally low selection of Gluten free options. I was also dancing regularly.
When I finished that job, and was back at home working again, I went back to my old ways and gained back all the weight I lost.
This past summer, I got engrossed by my new computer and internet service after being without it for a year. The new computer could access games and other high graphics items online that my old computer could not touch..so suddenly it was like it was 1997 again when I had my first computer.
So after a few months, I noticed clothes fitting tighter...and oh no..go on the scale and I'd gained 10 pounds. Also began experiencing some disturbing inflammation in my legs that I'd never had before. Clearly something had to be done.
I had been cheating bad with my food. I'd went back down the slippery slope of soft drinks, and fast food. Clearly that had to go...
So I bought a huge box of sweet & Low, so I'd have plenty at work and at home. And I began drinking Strong Hot Tea with sweet & low.
Then I revisited Lean Cuisines...and was pleased to discover that they had several more varieties that had mashed potatoes instead of pasta or bread. I don't like the rice ones..they are over cooked and watery.
So two weeks have gone by, and the jeans are fitting better. I get on the scale and discovered that I had lost 4 out of the 10 pounds that I'd gained. Thank goodness.... and it was fairly effortless.
For the past few days I've had skinny (for me) ankles with no swelling for the first time in a few months. Whew!
The other thing I've done is I have tried to get up and walk around more when I'm at the computer. Rule of thumb being stretch your legs once per hour.
I've bought a yoga mat and a ball, and a walking tape, and I sit on the ball once in a while at the computer, but have not broken out the mat.
I make it a point to incorporate extra walking in when I go to the store. I try to make a lap around the place if it is something like wal-mart. And I'll hit the big antique mall nearby on the weekend.
I inquired about a gym membership, but they are really out of my price range. I am wanting to buy a treadmill with my income tax refund.
So this is a note to myself in case I ever forget... even though lean cuisine is full of chemicals, it works.
I have been getting these varieties the most:
Steak tips Portabello (170cal),
Stuffed cabbage with whipped potatoes (210 cal),
Beef Pot roast (210 Calories)
Meatloaf and Whipped Potatoes (250 Calories)
I occasionally get other entrees that can be as high as 310 calories.. but I usually get most of them at 250 and under. The logic being that I have plenty of space to snack through the day... will also drink a couple glasses of 2% milk a day, and one glass of the Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Smoothies or the Blue Goodness Smoothies, snacking and the occasional meal out.
I also eat the occasional turkey on whole wheat sandwich. I never add cheese, but I usually add some spring mix lettuce and the Kraft "Mayonesa" which is Mayo made with Lime juice instead of lemon juice...it's real tangy which I love, and it is actually a healthy fat.
I'm not actually counting calories..I am just trying to be sure I keep the portions small and avoid a lot of unhealthy sugar and fat.
So the weight is going back down, and the mysterious leg swelling is gone.. And I'm not freaking out any more.