Ten Things for Ten Percent (and Three for Three Setbacks)

A couple of weeks ago, I reached my goal of losing 10% of my total body weight. Over all, the process has been really positive. I’ve made a loss most weeks and even when I haven’t made a loss, I’ve been able to keep going, a feat that has always eluded me in the past. In honor of each percent lost, I give you something that this process has done or is doing for me. A top ten, if you will.

1. I fit into my clothes better.

Yeah, I know that this one seems obvious, but it’s more than just the size and shape. Suddenly, pants (pants that fit before, I might add) don’t ride up as much. When I sit down, there’s less of the not-so-elusive muffin top poofing out, making me less self-conscious when I’m sitting down to chat with friends.

2. I’m enjoying food more and eating more full-fat products.

WHAT?! Eating more full-fat products? How is that even possible?! I can hear the groans of incredulity coming from the peanut gallery, but it is absolutely true. In previous journeys with weight loss, I became married to processed butter sprays and anything that could guarantee I could eat more with less impact on my weight. Well, clearly that didn’t work, so why would I continue to pursue that path? When I make polenta, I add a teaspoon of real butter for 1 PointsPlus instead of a quarter cup of something that is 0 PointsPlus, but made in a chemistry set. There is something to be said for being able to pronounce all of the ingredients on the container and that something is “mmmmmm”.

3. I affect the health of those around me.

There’s something to be said about the leadership that a woman provides in her household. I’m the one who started Weight Watchers in 2004 (when Lucas and I had only been dating for 6 months), but we both reaped the benefits. He and I both got down to a very healthy weight and stayed there for nearly two years. I got used to getting messages from my man about how many Points he’d used for lunch or that he’d just exercised during his lunch break. Yes, we lost the weight together, but I was the leader of the effort. I was also the leader of the effort when we gained it back. I stopped going to meetings, but I wasn’t the only one to start gaining weight. Even now, I’m the one who goes to meetings and brings back information to the household. If I didn’t, who would?

It doesn’t end there. I get calls from friends about nutritious recipes or ways to cut back. I get questions from the members at the gym about how to be healthier. By getting healthier and putting myself first, I’m helping others to improve their own lives. That makes this all the more worthy a task for me.

4. My skin went from fine, to terrible, to unbelievably fantastic.

I’m serious. During the first few weeks of changing my diet, my skin became an unholy plague of wanton destruction. I swear I looked like every “before” picture ever taken. Then, suddenly, it went away. I’ve always had good skin. I take care of it even when I don’t take care of the rest of me, but now it is even better. It glows. I, a self-appointed makeup guru, sometimes go out without a stitch of makeup by choice instead of lack of time. My husband, a self-appointed makeup hater, has never been happier.

5. I’m more organized.

Okay, I’ll be fair. I’m still not organized enough to get a new blog out every week, but I’m getting there. Every single time I plan a meal schedule and actually stick to it, even if only mostly, I make for my family a more organized life. When I write down what I eat and when, I give myself an idea as to where time is being spent and how to better use my time and money, even to the point of discovering that certain things in my life, while being satisfying in some ways, were not benefiting me as a whole. While I’m on that point…

6. I’ve done a lot of life detoxing. Fun fact: detoxing is not actually a word.

While I fully recognize that quitting my healthy lifestyle before ultimately fell on me, I also realize that there were a lot of other factors in my decision. I allowed myself to get pulled in many different directions by many different things, some of which were toxic to me spiritually. These things made me more likely to say “I’ll get to it later”, the death knell of healthy living. I’ve looked at my life and am learning to let go. Sometimes that means saying “no” to a job that’s not right for me. Sometimes it means hiding a friend on facebook who wears me down without building me up. Heck, I refused to put this blog on facebook for months because I didn’t want my grammar Nazi friends to judge the fact that I like to blog the way I talk, without any regards for grammatical propriety. I’m letting go and allowing myself to do what makes me happy.

7. For the first time in my life, I want to be stronger instead of thinner.

My whole life has been for me a quest to be thin. Sure, I’d say the “real women have curves” bit and the “I’m fine with the way I was built” bit, but, deep down, I really wanted to be thin. I wanted to be the easy size 4 without having to work for it. I was fine with the idea of “skinny fat” as long as “skinny” was there. Now, my mindset is actually changing. I want to continue getting healthier, but I don’t really care if that means getting thinner. I know that will be a likely side effect and I will like it as it happens, but, ultimately, I don’t want to be thinner, I want to be stronger. I want to continue to be able to do more and more with every workout. I want to challenge myself physically and prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to.

That said, I still don’t give a crap about running a 10K. Sorry, not on my to do.

8. I’m not afraid of the naked me.

Sorry, close friends of mine who read this blog and are feeling slightly awkward right now, it has to be said. I can look in a mirror in my birthday glory and not feel the least bit ashamed of what I see. I’m proud of the fact that my chest is ample and my rear round. I like that I have strong shoulders and that my arms are starting to get that telltale line just below my triceps. Sure, I could have felt this way about myself 20 pounds ago, but I never took the time to and I should have. In my lived life, I should have taken more time liking me and less time figuring out what I needed to change in order for me to like me.

If I had any money right now, I’d hire a photographer to take shots of me to post to show people that beauty is not about size or shape, but about how you feel about yourself when the shot’s being taken. Of course, I wouldn’t do any nude shots. I’m from a small town in the Deep South. Nude shots would make all the Cracker Barrel paraphernalia shatter off the walls of my Nana’s house. All of her little porcelain angels would weep and I could never return home again. We don’t want that. I would settle for some pictures of me in a classic dress that show off my best assets.

9. I’m seeing the beauty in other people.

You know, it’s a lot easier to judge other people when you’re always looking down on yourself. When I take time to like me, I’m much more likely to notice that a friend of mine’s eyes contrast brilliantly with her hair or that a colleague has really been amping up his workouts. I’m seeing people better because I’m not trying to figure out if they can see the things in me that I don’t like. When you’re not hiding anything, you’re freer to pay attention to the exceptional people in your life.

10. I love my husband (and others) more than I ever thought possible.

Okay, this seems like it might be unrelated, but through this process of loving me more, I’ve opened up even more room for my husband in my heart. Since we’ve been together, I’ve loved Lucas more and more with every passing day, but now, the love has begun growing exponentially faster. By not being burdened with negative thoughts about myself, I’m a better wife to my husband. I’m a better friend. I’m a better daughter. I’m becoming a version of me that is better and is making a difference in those around me.

So, those are my Ten things that this weight loss has done for me, but in my journey towards ten percent, I have a had a few setbacks. Three, to be precise. I gained weight twice and skipped weigh-in and meeting once. In “honor” of my three setbacks, I’d like to give you three things that weight loss has NOT done for me.

1. Losing weight does NOT make me prettier.

Honest to goodness, I am no prettier now than I was 20 pounds ago. Beauty is not in the size I wear, but how I wear the size. If people think I’m prettier now because I’m lighter, it’s either because they see that I’m healthier and happier as a person OR because they’ve bought into the hype that you can only be sexy if you’re built like a prepubescent boy (heroin addict chic, I like to call it). Quite frankly, I have little use for anyone in the latter category.

2. Losing weight does NOT make other people any more tactful.

I think that anyone who is in the process of losing weight has this hope that everyone will notice what a difference five pounds makes and express that notice in the most eloquent way possible. Most people fall into three categories. Some truly do not notice because they have no skills in the observation department. For example, I was discussing something about clothing with someone where I said that things weren’t fitting me because I had lost 20 pounds. His response was to stare at me quizzically and say, “Oh. Have you really?” Some notice and have no tact about it whatsoever, like the woman at my gym who let me know that I looked less bloated. Most, however, do notice that you’ve lost weight and have no idea what to say because they’re terrified that it might send you spiraling into depression.

If you are one of the people in the above column, the safest way to complement someone on their weight loss is in one simple phrase:

“Hey, you look fantastic.”

That’s all you need to say. No muss, no fuss. If they want to discuss it further, they will at this juncture.

And my third thing that weight loss will NOT do is…

3. Losing weight does NOT mean that the voices in my head have gone away.

No matter how much weight I lose, there’s always a voice that will tell me that I’m not good enough…but only if I let it. It’s when I’m on the right track in my life that I become most vulnerable to nagging doubts and fears. That’s the point in time where I must be most mindful to think positive thoughts about myself, to say thank you to compliments instead of self-deprecating, and to believe that I deserve good things. I have to tell myself that nobody who is worthy of my friendship has ever thought less of me because I wasn’t skinny. It’s not the food that’s tripped me up in the past, it’s the mindset.

Well, that’s about all the time I have (and way too many words in my wake). I’ve got designs on a low-point mango panna cotta experiment for this afternoon and that gelatin isn’t going set itself. So, until next time, whether it’s me or someone else reading this blog, be kind to yourself and think good thoughts. The better part of the journey is always in the next step.

Thirty Minutes, Three Times a Week is Not Too Much to Ask

I work at a gym for women and I cannot stress enough how interesting and unique my days are. On any given day, I learn the proper ways to cook various foods, the wedding betrayals made by old friends, how to knit socks by the pair on 40 inch circular needles, and a variety of other sundry things. More than anything else, though, I hear about how little these women do for themselves on a day to day basis while being expected to do everything for everybody else.
I’ll give you an example.

One of my women only gets to the club about once a week and is thinking about quitting. Not because of laziness or lack of will, but because she is too busy. She has two kids who are school aged, one of whom is just shy of having her learners. They both play sports and participate in various other activities after school. Her husband has a full time job and is a member of the deacon board at their church. I know all this because when I asked her what she had that was hers, she began listing everything that everyone else in her household did that she makes happen. She chauffeurs, cheers in the stands, volunteers as a parent advisor/concessions worker/poster maker for most of what the kids do, and manages to get supper on the table most nights of the week, even if it’s just a “grab and go” sort of night.

Her family has all these different activities, but she’s the one without any time.

I sat down with her and talked about how she could make her schedule work with exercising. Her husband gets home at 5:30 and they live 5-7 minutes away from the gym. I recommended that he could take care of the kids’ needs from 5:30-6:15 while she runs here to get her 30 minutes in for three days a week.

Impossible. Why?


Her: “He’s been at work all day and is exhausted. He works full time.”

Me: “What time do you get up in the morning?”

Her: “5:30, to get the kids up and ready for school.”

Me: “And your husband?”

Her: “7:30 to be on the road by 8:30.”

Me: “Do you have any time off during the day?”

Her: “No, I’m pretty much taking care of the house and everything else all day. It’s why I can’t get here.”

If that sounds familiar to you, guess what, sweetie. You work full time, too. The only difference is that you don’t get paid for it and feel guilty because of it. We all feel guilty when we take care of ourselves first, often leading us to not take care of ourselves at all. The consequence of this is that we end up not taking care of anyone to the best of our abilities. I have personal experience in this department.

Growing up, I was the kid with the crazy schedule. Monday/Tuesday/Thursday rehearsals, Wednesday night church, Friday ballgames, Saturday show choir performances, Sunday church activities… Mom was toting me around everywhere while still working a full time job, the whole time neglecting herself for the benefit of my becoming well-rounded. The truth is, however, that I didn’t need all of those things at all much less at the expense of my mother’s health and well being. I would have gladly given some of it up so that she could have taken time for herself. If you’re a person who has kids, I’ll bet they’d say the same thing.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that taking care of yourself should not be something you only do when the timing is right. Sometimes, it’s a matter of telling someone “no”. Other times, it’s about letting your child fail at something now so they can win at something else later. Perhaps, more often than not, it’s about asking for help from those around you. If you wait for perfect timing, you’ll never get around to taking that walk, lifting that weight, or feeling the strength of your body begin comparing with the strength of your spirit. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. In the past two years, I’ve been laid off twice, performed in several shows, hosted multiple dinners, and assisted in fundraisers. Right now, I’m rehearsing one show, performing in another, called back for a third, teaching workshops at a local high school, writing a book about my family history for my grandmother’s 75th birthday, renovating our old home for new renters, working at the gym, applying for a job with a very long interview process…

…and that’s just this month.

On paper, I simply do not have time for me or anyone else. Therefore, I have had to make time. If I can make time for a healthier version of me, than anybody can.

Of Weight Loss and World Peace

The announcement of a mass murderer’s death was announced last night, making Facebook a verbal warzone. Some people were morbidly excited, vengeance dripping from their posts like bloody spit from wild dogs. Some spewed dissent anywhere they could play Devil’s Advocate. Some cheered for Obama’s mad terrorist-killing ninja skills, their conservative counterparts angrily protesting that the president had nothing to do with anything good ever and that Commander-n-Chief is really more of a casual title, like “World’s Greatest Dad” or “Governor of South Carolina”. Still others protested that his death doesn’t stop the war and, therefore, everyone should stop celebrating anything because it’s only going to make things worse in the end.

That’s what got me. The folks who said “THIS DOESN’T DO ANYTHING” weighed on my mind.

“The wars not over yall this is just the beginning so all yall can all stop celebrating”

Well, duh, friend from high school who hates punctuation. Of course the war is not over. I don’t think anybody thinks it is. In fact, most of us think we still have a lot of ground to cover. People are celebrating what they hope to be a step in the right direction.

Right?

To bring it back to what this blog is actually about, I was excited to lose 2 pounds my first week on WW, but I certainly didn’t think I was done there. It’s taken perseverance, half-pound losses that slowly work towards full ones. I had a three week plateau where the scale didn’t seem to move even though I was doing everything right. I didn’t see the results of the good I was doing for three agonizing weeks, but was rewarded for my perseverance with a three pound loss the next week.

Weight loss and World Peace have that very much in common. They are both cumulative efforts, sums of many small victories and setbacks that hopefully tip the scales on the side of good. Neither happens overnight, though we desire it to do so. Nobody agrees upon the best method to make it happen, though most think their method is the only one that will work. Both efforts are ongoing. They move in the right direction with 10 extra minutes on the treadmill or an outstretched hand. They can suffer with a dark thought or an extra cupcake. But, through metaphorical feast and famine, we carry on. When we are the victor, we cheer for a moment then we carry on. When we have a setback, we shake our head, wipe our eyes, and we carry on.

It’s the “carry on” in us that makes us resilient. It’s what makes us become better.

I leave you with my final Facebook post last night. My first post about the event was in jest, as many of my posts are, but this one is how I feel:

“So, here's the thing. I celebrate a victory that I hope is a step in the way of peace. I pray for the family and loved ones of someone who was ultimately a man, not a god, not an enemy, but a fellow human. I mourn the potential that was wasted on a life filled with hate and destruction. I pray for the ability to forgive and love a man who would not do the same for me.”

Hunger in a Time of Fullness...and Not in the Way That You Think

Some days should inherently be good. Good things happen. Heck, maybe even joyous things happen and that day should be inherently good. But it isn’t. Your mind tells you, “BE HAPPY!!”

But you can’t. For me, today is one of those days…

It started out well. I woke up this morning early enough to have a conversation with my husband, a rare treat in my household. I did a little cleaning. I had a long, delightful conversation with my mom. I went to my weigh-in and was down 3 pounds, the most I’ve ever lost in one week in the history of ever. I went to choir practice and was welcomed by a group of people who praised my abilities. One of my best friends received a high honor today that she deserved. This is a textbook good day.

But I’m not happy.

I feel guilty, under the circumstances, for not being happy and for how it affects me. I want to call my friend and tell her congratulations and that I’m happy for her, but I can’t. I can’t be happy for her because, right now, I can’t be happy at all. I send a text message instead. It’s amazingly frustrating, particularly because I know that either tomorrow or the next day, I’ll be absolutely filled with joy for her.

But today, I am emotionally impotent and it frustrates the hell out of me.

Currently, the only solace that I take from this is that when I look back at this day, I can say that my happiness is not completely tied to whether or not the scale shifts down. If I can be sad on a day where I lose, I can be happy on a day when the scale isn’t to my liking.

And at least that’s something.

The Cards Principle

You know, the last time I did this program I got thin. Really thin. But I always had this lingering thought in my head…

“Do I have to count Points forever?”

I mean, my friends don’t have to count points. Most of them can spend some extra time at the gym or cut back a little on their food intake and drop whatever they need.

“If I can just get thin enough, I won’t have to worry about it anymore. I’ll be like them, right?”

Most of you already know the answer to that question. No, I can’t. But I tried to. I stopped counting points. I stopped losing weight. Slowly Within six months, I gained 30 pounds. Ouch. That should have been my wake-up call. It wasn’t. I was pissed off. Pissed off because I thought I deserved to be like “them”, that I shouldn’t have to work harder than everyone else just to be an average size. I was pissed off because I thought I deserved better than what I’d been given. It wasn’t fair.

“It isn’t fair.”

It isn’t fair. That’s the point. We’re dealt cards in life. In my hand, I held Wit, Intelligence, Loving Family, and Creativity. I had some great cards, but couldn’t get past the fact that I wasn’t dealt Naturally Thin. The thing is, I have a skinny cousin who would have killed for my ability to get A’s without studying. I think we should have been allowed to switch cards, but it’s against the rules of the game.

We’re dealt cards in life. They’re not fair. They’re not unfair. They’re just what came off the top of the deck. They’re completely neutral.

So, I guess it’s not the cards in my hand that matter. It’s how I play them. Hmm…

I wish I had drawn the Realization About the Fairness of Life card a few hands earlier.

Right now, I'm looking at points completely differently. It's a way to stay in control, not just of my food intake and weight, but of my life. I know exactly what's going into my belly, what I'm doing with my workouts, and how they fit into my life. I know my schedule better than I ever have because I’m planning for what foods I will have within it. I’m in control. I like “in control”. Which brings me back to my original question:

“Do I have to count Points forever?”

No, but I choose to.

Tastebud Lust and the Mighty Keen Quinoa

Variety on the palette is perhaps one of the most important aspects to maintaining a healthy dietary lifestyle. Being a frequent dieter in the past, I am familiar with the feeling falling into a rut with groceries, eating mindlessly to try to fill the desire for something new. The seven week itch hits my tongue. My mind wants to be faithful, but my taste bud lust is insatiable. For me, getting bored with my food almost always results in judgment catastrophes, not the least of which is ordering a pepperoni pizza and eating the whole thing. Heck, I don’t even like pizza for the most part and yet boredom sends me there every time. Knowing how easy it is to fall into the trap of Plan Infidelity, I’ve reconnected with some of my old food favorites and some new ones to keep things fresh.

Quinoa is somewhat new to me. I discovered it last year in the natural foods section of my grocery store. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a grain typically associated with the people of South America. It’s tiny and has the dry consistency of coarsely ground cornmeal and is just as versatile. However, quinoa is much higher in fiber and protein content, making it the better PointsPlus choice at 4 PointsPlus per cooked cup (1/4 cup dry). When cooked according the instructions (two cups liquid to one cup quinoa), quinoa is like couscous in texture, making it great for tabbouleh-like salads or as a rice substitute. If you add more liquid to the mix, you get a quinoa mush which is about the consistency of polenta or cream of wheat. It’s slightly nutty in flavor, so it doesn’t take much seasoning to make it tasty. It also doesn’t take much to fill you up. I often use it to bulk up stews or as a rice-like side dish. Here are a couple of my favorite ways to prepare it:

Quinoa Curry with Vegetables

This meatless dish is super hearty and deliciously low on points. You’ll never know it’s vegetarian! Prepared as written, this is a pretty spicy meal which encourages eating smaller portions. However, if you have a wimpy tongue, you can always lessen the amount of curry paste that you put in until you find something right for you.

4 Tbsp Red curry paste

1 Tbsp Yellow curry powder (the kind you find in the spice aisle)

1 cup Vegetable or Chicken Stock, if you prefer

1 ½ Light coconut milk (if you don’t like coconut milk, substitute with either evaporated milk or cow’s milk. Just be sure to adjust the PointsPlus values)

1 cup Uncooked quinoa

2 cups squash, sliced

2 cups Uncooked potatoes, coarsely chopped

1 can Chickpeas, drained

½ cup Golden seedless raisins

Salt and Pepper to taste

Pour coconut milk into a medium-sized pot on a medium high stovetop (I use a cast iron dutch oven). Whisk curry powder and paste into the milk until thoroughly blended. Add broth, squash, potatoes, and chickpeas. Sauté until potatoes are soft. Add quinoa. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa pops off its hull and becomes al dente. Add raisins and simmer until it reaches desired texture.

Yields 6 servings at 8 PointsPlus per serving

The Many Faces of Chicken Thighs with Quinoa

This is a quinoa mush recipe and it changes to the seasonings you add. Add basil and oregano for an Italian feel. A packet of taco seasoning and some chopped peppers make for a fun Mexican flair. For a creamy comforting dish, replace the tomatoes with cream of mushroom soup, milk, broccoli, and roasted garlic, using Herbs de Provence for an aromatic bouquet. Versatility, thy name is Quinoa!

8 Boneless skinless chicken thighs

16 oz. Crushed tomatoes (or cream of mushroom soup)

1 ¼ cup uncooked quinoa

3 cups Chicken stock or broth

Salt and Pepper to taste

Seasoning to taste

Toss all ingredients in crock pot. Cook on High for 4 hours or until chicken is cooked through and quinoa is cooked to preference.

Yields 5 servings at 8 PointsPlus per serving

A note on Quinoa:

If you don’t know where to look, quinoa can be quite expensive. The best way to get it is to buy it in bulk. I get mine at Costco ($9 for 4 pounds). You can also find it in many organic and natural foods stores. Good luck and happy cooking!

Still Here. Still Working

It’s hard to blog regularly. Blogging doesn’t pay money and sometimes finding the time to indulge the inner health writer is hard to do, particularly when going to work and rehearsals and all those other bits and pieces that seem to hold my life together so beautifully. However, despite what my absence might imply, I’m still doing it. I’m still doing WW and doing it successfully. I’ve also started working at Curves gym for women again which has fulfilled my need for exercise pretty perfectly. Despite being sadly low on funds, I’m doing pretty well.

“How well?” You might find yourself asking.

Weeeeeelll…in the 13 weeks I’ve been doing Weight Watchers I’ve:

· Lost 17.4 pounds.

· Lost 16+ inches.

· I've been regularly meeting my daily healthy foods guidelines.

· I’ve been working out 3+ times a week.

· My clothes are looser.

· My life is more organized.

I have more energy than I’ve had in 5 years.

So, I guess what I’m saying is that this is working for me. I’ve not expected miracles. What I have expected is that being a better me requires hard work to yield substantial results. Thus far, my expectations have been met. What I’m doing right now is not unsustainable and I can continue to do it for the foreseeable future. Win-Win.

Speaking of the foreseeable future, I do have something to work towards. My husband and I have scheduled a cruise for January 2012. That’s 290 days and 41 weeks to get into the best shape that I can for that vacation. In the next few days, I’m going to set some goals and make a plan to reach those goals. Nothing unreasonable, though. This is about me getting healthy, not about dropping pounds as fast as I can. As Aesop’s famous tale once said, “Slow and steady wins the race.”