New ways to minimize!

Is it bad that I want to minimize my people-I-spend-time-with list?  I had my bday party today...spent all day cooking food I don't eat for it.  I love to cook, and I love people, but by the time the party came around, I was pretty much done.  Next year, I want to just spend time with maybe 4-5 people, and call it good.  That being said, I'm glad that the people who came did, and I had a good time!  Here's to being 32!


Healthy
W: didn't weigh! Feeling fitter though...my abs and waist are making their comeback!
E: 30 + minute walk, pm yoga twice...love how it helps my back.
2:00 1/2 cup rice, stir fry veggies, soy sauce, Chinese 5 spice
6-10 grazing-ish.  Potato and grape while cooking.  A couple of bites of peaches with JJMAX, grapes, strawberries, and cherries at the party

I was SO blessed not to WANT food I didn't need.  I wasn't more than vaguely tempted, and more often I wasn't remotely tempted by all the bacon, sausage, cinnamon rolls, pumpkin muffins, etc.  Even when we were watching Charmed, post-party, and I thought about getting an apple and some peanut butter, it just didn't sound like something I wanted.  It sounded good, but not necessary.  I feel that Heavenly Father is blessing my efforts and changing my heart and desires.

Debt-free
Spent too much money on the party, but I'm still not spending money I don't have.

Minimalist
Realized that I don't need to have lots of people for my birthday party, nor do I need to cook to impress others...cinnamon rolls would have sufficed!

Tender Mercies

Healthy
W: 153
E: 35 minutes of hiking, essentrics a/a (LOVE the way it makes me feel! I would love to become an instructor some day)
9:00 banana and walnuts
12:00 spring mix, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, carrots, hummus
2:00 banana cookie dough (3 bananas, cup of oats, some raisins, applesauce, vanilla, and cinnamon)
6:00 2 apples with lots of peanut butter
8:00 3-4 squares of graham crackers at FHE

Today was a eat, eat, eat day. I made the mistake of eating breakfast when I wasn't hungry, which then gave me sub-concious license to just eat whenever, regardless of hunger or lack thereof.  I was tired and kept eating.  I did stick to plant-based, though, in spite of the temptation of deliciously evil cream cheese frosting lurking in the fridge.  Sugar is my gate-way drug.  Gotta stay away.


Debt-free
The Lord's Tender Mercies are real!!! And the timing does help us recognize them!  Beth was able to send her rent money today just in time for me to use it for b-day dinner things instead of my credit card. Getting out!!!


Minimalist
Going to use Ben's old shirt and my own jeans for tomorrow's hipster b-day party. Don't need any more clothes, especially ones I won't use again, regardless of how cheap they are!

I think this accomplishment fits under all three categories, but I was able to resist the temptation to buy corn chips, vegan ice cream, etc. etc.  I didn't need it for health, frugality or minimalism.   I am not perfect at these things by any means, but Heavenly Father is blessing and helping me so much.  I'm doing this with His help!

Also, I think that I'm going to try weighing only once a month.  Even though I gained since yesterday (and probably gained more today), I'm feeling fitter and happier being plant-based and exercising.  I get to choose!  So I'll try to resist weighing in until September 1st.

Happy Sabbath!

I sure love Sundays!  It was lovely to sleep, to go to church, and spend time with friends.

Healthy
W: 152
5:00 spring mix, tomatoes, olives, carrots, hummus, cherries
6:00 banana smoothie

I brought my own food to Break the Fast to make sure that I had things that I could eat.

Debt-free
Payed cash for fast offerings :) (I never go into debt for tithing or fast offerings, but I'm liking the cash system).


Minimalist
Wore a dress I haven't worn in a while.  I think I like it enough to keep it.  Good to know in my quest to minimize.  Some clothes I definitely don't want to keep.

Blessed.

Long, good day.

Healthy
W: 153.4
E: 30 minute walk, pm yoga
9:00 walnuts, 2 bananas
1:00 spinach with carrots, pears, grapes, candied pecans, and balsamic vinegarette dressing.  Hummus, olive tepanade, veggies, and a bit of flat bread.

 Debt-free
No credit card usage for gas!  It's all working out.

Feeling Free

The last two days I have not been severely tempted to eat bad-for-me foods or to spend money I don't have.  So my live-foot prayers have been of gratitude rather than for escape.  I was surprised that I didn't lose more weight since yesterday...I'm feeling free.  I swear my biceps are more defined, and my vision is clearer.  There are bills to be paid in the near future, but I know about them, am planning for them, and am feeling in control of my money...I'm the one that's telling it where to go.

Freedom feels good.


Healthy
W: 154.2
E: 30 minute walk with Mandy, pm yoga
10:00 2 bananas and some walnuts
2:00 can of beans
DIDN'T eat tonight at Cafe Rio with Mallory (her good example helps!) because I wasn't hungry.
DO need to work on sleep.

 Debt-free
Keeping track of money spent and places next paycheck needs to go.

Minimalist
Went to the library and read magazines I didn't buy instead of buying and eating food I didn't need.

Hope

I love new beginnings, trying again, etc.  For the last couple of months, I've eaten whatever, whenever, and lots of it.  I've gotten back up to my former baseline weight, and am packing more than I need to.  I haven't had as much energy as I need/want, and have often felt sluggish, and sick, including stomach issues, nausea, and a general lack of animo.  

As part of my Year of Plenty Project (today's the first official day!:), I'm working on Eating to Live.  I'm trying to take it one day at a time, being more gentle with myself, and not giving up completely when I make a mistake.

For the first time in a long time, I'm feeling hopeful about this.  

Here are today's health stats:

W: 155.4

E: 30 minutes of walking/running Bethy and I's loop (and some park walking to get in the rest of my time), walking to and from Mandy's and to and from Ben's.  pm yoga.

12:00 banana

2:30 spring mix, cherry tomatoes, water sauteed mushrooms and onions, black beans with garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder.  Fresh peach from Susie for dessert.  DELICIOUS!

6:30 banana and some walnuts.

HEALTH HISTORY (October 17, 2011)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

Health History/Day of Decision

It's been over 3 years since I've posted. Obviously, I haven't been part of the blog-writing craze!! The past few month have been life-changing in terms of health, and I've been searching for a way to document the things I'm learning, and how I'm changing. So, I'm going to give blogging a shot and see if it's a good fit for said documentation. I also want to share what I'm learning!!

Growing up, I lived on the edge of a small town in AZ, and did a lot of running around and playing. Eventually, I discovered books (still LOVE to read), and read more than ran, and began eating more of the unhealthy desserts and fatty foods than the salads that my amazing-cook-of-a-mother made. (I remember my salad-avoidance trick was to not put dressing on my salad, and then to put it back in the bowl when my parents weren't looking. Unfortunately, my sister got caught trying to do the same thing, tattled on me, and we both had to eat salad from then on.)

By third grade I started realizing that I was chubbier than many of the kids at school, but it didn't seem to faze me. I was never obese, but always had at least a few extra pounds. That phase petered out in high school, when I began running with the cross-country and track teams, and then got pneumonia at the end of my sophomore year. I graduated from high school at about 130 lbs, 5'8ish". I wore a 9/10 in jeans. At that point, I didn't exercise on a regular basis, but I was active, and didn't overeat very often. I was at a pretty healthy weight.

I moved to Montana for the summer right after high school, and eating ramen EVERY day took it's toll. I gained my freshman 15 before I ever began college! I went to school in Idaho, and working early morning custodial combined with the dark, cold, and junk-food-eating-college-lifestyle contributed to another few pounds. I think I got up to 160 at one point, but then kind of leveled out at 150-155 for the next 10 years, through the rest of college, a year and a half mission to Chile for my church (They sure know how to feed you there!!), and my first 4 years of my teaching career.

During these years, I would read Prevention, Self, First, and other magazines with weight-loss ideas/stories. I collected diet books and tried to eat more healthily. I started running and doing other forms of exercise (I love ballet, yoga, and other stretching exercises). I would set goals to lose weight, but even counting calories and running 3-7 miles 3-4 times a week would only get me down to 149lbs. Some of my diet book collection did help. The retro 80s diet book Lean and Free helped me be kinder to myself, learn about nutrition, and not give into self-loathing because I wasn't a size 6. Geneen Roth's books also helped with learning to love myself as I was (and to get rid of the rest of the diet books!)

A few years ago a friend told me that when I turned 30, I would have to watch what I ate. As I turned 29, my base weight started creeping up, and I was consistently at 157. Then, this past winter after a big meal (we are eaters in my family!) I weighed myself and was horrified to find that I was 163 lbs, more than I'd ever weighed before! (It was after a big meal with siblings and roommates, and my brother still laughs at how shocked I looked!!) I knew that I needed to do something different, but didn't know what. I'd been working out, and thought that I was doing pretty well, but I was gaining instead of losing!

Gratefully, my sister found a book called the Green Smoothies Diet, and told me about it. I looked up the corresponding website, and found Dr. Joel Fuhrman sited. I bought his book, Eat to Live, too, and it was the catalyst for change for me. I began following his eating suggestions about 80% of the time in May of this year (before I ever finished the book), and began losing weight that hadn't budged in years. I made my goal of being less than 140 lbs on my 30th b-day in August (139 counts, right?!) and have been between 138-145 since then. I'm sure that I would be lighter than that if I'd been consistent.

My problem is that I haven't been consistent. Dr. Fuhrman recommends being totally dedicated to the program for 6 weeks. I make it for about 2 or so, and then something comes up and I give in to sugar or meat. Not the most heinous crimes ever committed, but when I do, I realize that these foods never taste as good as I thought they would, they make me sick to my stomach, and they don't really doesn't solve the tiredness, stress, or whatever else I want them to fix! That doesn't stop me from eating a ton of them, though, when I do give in.

I've been feeling recently that I really need to commit and see what Eating to Live can do for me. I do feel healthier, lighter, stronger, and more energetic, even though I haven't been consistent with it. I'm wearing size 4 and 6 jeans and skirts at 140 ish lbs, so I know that my body is changing, not just my weight. I've NEVER been able to wear a size 6 bottom before this summer!

I went a year once without sugar, and figure I can do that again, along with ditching the meat, and adding the focus on nutrition that Dr. Fuhrman teaches. Soooo, I'm hereby committing to Eat to Live (basically vegan) for a year. I have a lot going on (I teach full time, am a grad school student, and have a lot of time-consuming responsibilities for my church), but I am also committing to do a few minutes of yoga each day for a year, fitting in cardio, and more stretching as I can.

THIS IS MY DAY OF DECISION!!!

I will check in every few days or so and let you know how I'm doing with my goals. I found a blog the other day (www.happyherbivore.com) that I already love and know is going to help me.

My stats today:

Weight: 143.2 lbs as of this morning (big binge weekend)

Exercise: yoga in the am, going to do a few more poses again tonight

Food: bkfast: green smoothie (banana, frozen peaches, spinach)

lunch: spinach, chili, tomatoes, mushrooms

snack: grape tomatoes

dinner: so far, a banana. Planning on trying HH's Pumpkin Pie smoothie.

8/1/13 update

I did go from October 17, 2011 to October 17, 2012 vegetarian as much as possible (trace meat in a chili, and broth a couple of times).  Trying again with the ETL challenge! :)