Katie is back.....

[Ruff]

It’s Monday, official weigh in day and I am down 2.9kg since I restarted (19th Feb) so almost 1.5kg/week, which is a progress I am very pleased with.

I am moving my official weigh day to Friday, because that suits me better so this week will have 2 official weigh days.

I have been unable to run this week because I cut the sole of my foot in the garden, which has been a pain (quite literally!), but it is healing now, and I hope to go to aikido tonight (with a bandage and a sock on my foot).

This weeks challenge is not having seconds, because I know I don’t need it, I’m just being greedy!

[landog]

It’s Monday, official weigh in day and I am down 2.9kg since I restarted (19th Feb) so almost 1.5kg/week, which is a progress I am very pleased with.

Six and a half pounds!
Good job.
That's great, Katie!

[Ruff]

Thank you Landog, it sounds so much more impressive in pounds!

Today, on my run, I was thinking about appetite and overeating. If my food is delicious.....and it often is ....I tend to mindlessly eat seconds, even if I am not hungry. I tried to solve this by banning myself from seconds once, but all that happened was I piled my plate really high instead.....then, having been brought up to clean my plate, I invariably did!

So I am going to serve myself a suitable portion, eat it and leave the table. Then if, after a cup of tea and half an hour, I am still hungry, I can have my seconds or a snack or whatever.

I also stress eat, but I will address this another time, I think.

[bunsofaluminum]

Hi Katie,

I've been following the No S Diet where I restrict seconds, sweets, and snacks on a daily basis. That is: One plate of food, only at mealtime, and no sweets. On Saturdays and Sundays I have allowed myself to indulge (at first, kind of an anything goes mentality, to be honest)...well, when I first started I did pile my plate, and I ate everything on it. More because I was afraid of getting hungry between meals, rather than scrumptiousness of the food. Well, heaping the plate didn't last long, and now I eat reasonable portions AND I have the habit well established that I don't eat between meals! It's simply not done.

so, you might weigh the value of developing the habit of no seconds, even if it means eating a huge portion...for now. But what you're doing does sound good, too. Eat until you feel satiated, and walk away. It's funny how that 20 minute thing works. It's happened to me, where I am POSITIVE that the portion I'm eating will never be enough...and 20 minutes later, it is! Kinda cool.

[Ruff]

Sorry, I have been away! I had a lovely time but put on 1 kg. Now settling about losing it again. Nothing too bad, just a little too much in general, plus things like white bread rolls and commercial (oil) hummus.

I had heard of the no s diet, buns. Interesting that you tried it, and that it has now become a habit. I was thinking about it as I ate snacks when I was away, although that was the weekend!

Just a quick note this morning, lots of catching up to do.

[lmggallagher]

Welcome back Katie:

So glad you are here among us again. Sorry for the weight gain and some other lapses - but selfishly I must say it brought you back and I'm really happy about that!

Oh so wonderful, you have a Bonnie dog - my first love of a dog was my Grandparents Bonnie. So your name for your new girl tugs my heartstrings. Ours was a working collie on my Grandparents sheep ranch, but unlike most working dogs she weaseled her way into our hearts so much that she was also our family dog. When I spent summers at the ranch she mostly worked the sheep but was "released" to me to go down the long road the hill to go get the paper. Oddly, you had to go town to get mail - but the paper was delivered? The trip was long and actually a bit dangerous for the poisonous "Rattle Snakes". We didn't encounter that many but when we did they were huge and often stretched across the road sunning themselves. Brave Bonnie would sneak up on them grab them behind the neck, shake them and fling them out in the field - then we'd run and hope the snake had not returned by the time we came back that way! Anyway - you have a running canine again and I am so glad for you all that your broken hearts didn't preclude finding a new member of the family.

Also, love that you are a marine mammal medic - how fabulous and fitting for you! Just this week I was listening to a fascinating radio show in which a marine biologist who does the same thing on the east coast of the US was interviewed. I was completely glued to the radio and luckily the show finished just in time for me to get to an appointment. He was talking about the (in peril of extinction) Right Whale that is endemic there (Eubalaena glacialis). I went on a whale spotting expedition for a day during my east coast cruise. It was the highlight of my trip and we were after Right Whales to see - though we were told it wasn't entirely likely we see one up too close that day. However, the biologists were in 7th heaven instead because they were proved so wrong as 7 of these whales were breaching around our boat all at once. We were all thrilled of course but it was actually hard to know where to look next as the sitings were occurring so quickly! And there you are on the beach where whales are probably actually quite common to see. And such a funny coincidence that the radio show gave me a good idea of what you are doing just as you mentioned in in this journal

Well, enough non-McDougall stuff. I'm glad you are losing the bit you gained and back to the running. I will resort to your good example when I get my self back on track week after next. That's when my radiation therapy will end. For now, I am doing treatments and I'm afraid I'm not up to cooking. Neighbors have offered to bring food - but they've no idea how I eat and I actually do better with veggies from the local deli - still it's bad on my end - for now. Michelle

[Ruff]

Hi Michelle, so lovely to hear from you.

Wonderful to hear about your grandparents Bonnie. Its amazing how these fur babies get into our hearts.I love the stories about the snakes. Thankfully there are no snakes in NZ.

And you've been whale watching! Brilliant!, what a wonderful experience. here we have resident sperm whales, but more than half the worlds species of whales and dolphins either live here or migrate past our coasts, so you never know WHO will turn up. This year has been an great year for whales in NZ with Whale Watch at Kiakoura having an excellent year of whale spotting.

One more week of radiation therapy....not long now. I shall be thinking of you. Dont worry about food in the meantime, just eat what you can manage to keep down. McDougalling will be there waiting for you afterwards.

I have had an off plan weekend! I went to Hanmer Springs and had a lovely time! Then yesterday I went out for lunch with a girlfriend and ate brilliantly on plan, but felt so deprived when I got back i promptly made muffins!

Michelle, todays bird. On the estury I ran past a family of pukeko, mum and 3 fluffy babies.

Right people, after an offplan weekend, and a muffin deviation, I am back on plan and heading for Fridays weigh in when I hope to be back where I was before all of this!

[Ruff]

Weigh in day....and after an off plan start to the week, I have ended up back where I was this time last week. No overall loss or gain this week.

Obviously this has me thinking about deviations and whether or not they are worth it. But sometimes life is like that and it’s a bit like ones budget, you have to roll with the punches.

This next week I am going to concentrate on exercise, running and aikido, and build good habits there. I am also going to embrace the humble potato in all its various forms. I wish I could get the frozen grated potatoes you can get in the states, but it’s one of the many on plan things unavailable to us.

I am very tired this morning. Despite being in bed at 9.45pm, I was still awake at 1am. I finally fell asleep sometime after that to be woken at 3am by the dog needing out. I couldn’t get back to sleep, and my alarm goes off at 5.30am......
When I am tired the first thing that goes is my optimism, but I’m sure I shall feel better after I have been on the beach for a run soon. I shall still run, but I will cut it short I think.

[Ruff]

Sunday morning here, and I’m thinking of stepping it up next week. I just want to get this done, I only have another 3-4kg to go, and I actually find maintaining easy, as long as I don’t go stupid.

So, I am considering bypassing MWL altogether and hitting a Mary’s Mini next week. It’s autumn here so there are lots of lovely potatoes around, so I am thinking of a potato mini. I also have some leftover potato and onion soup from yesterday, so I will start with that for breakfast.

Anyone else doing a mini at the moment? I shall pop over to the MWL area and see if there is one ongoing right now

Life wise all good. Did a home of 12km in the hills yesterday. Just undulating trails but fun. This afternoon Aunkai starts again, so I will be there for 2 hours, so I am not running this morning.

[Ruff]

I found a Mary’s mini Facebook page and have joined, but have not yet started a mini. I have been talking with coconut about a long term approach to weight loss, rather than a hit it hard and get it done approach, and this is interesting. Coconut and I call it a Maffetone approach after a running coach who is about training within ones comfort zone to build up stamina.

In other words the direct opposite to a MM!

I shall be thinking about this, on my run this morning. Not that it will be much of a run, I am going to quite a steep hill, so it will be a brisk walk at best for part of it! The a run along the undulating bits and back down.

I want to lose another 2 kg, 4 pounds, as soon as possible, but after that I think a long term approach, of cultivating good habits (no snacking, having compliant food planned and prepared, food shopping ahead so food is already in the fridge etc etc) May have possibilities.

Right, got to go now, or it will be time to come back before I set off!

[moonlight]

HI Katie,

I'm finding your journal very interesting. I think maintaining your desired weight is as difficult as getting off extra weight. The mentality that you can let up, add a few other foods back into your diet without getting too relaxed will be a difficult challenge for me. I guess we get our motivation from feeling good about our looks and having more energy. Good luck with the last few pounds!

[Ruff]

Getting there, getting there! Not much to report really, just working on no snacking at the moment, and doing fine. I actually feel a bit thinner so have hopes for weigh in day on Friday.

I’m loving mashed potatoes at the moment, and have been having them with Mary’s Golden gravy, yum! Later today I may have a peep under the Maori potatoes in the garden, and we could have some of those for supper all being well. They tend to be very small and are best steamed. Bright purple!

My daughter is coming for lunch and I made vegeburgers yesterday, and we are having them with the last of the garden salad veg, in a whole-wheat pitta.

I am also planning on making bread rolls tomorrow. These rolls take about 48 hours to make, so one has to plan ahead. First I have to get the sourdough dough up to speed, then I soak the kibbled grains in a soaker, for about 18 hours (depending on when I make the bread) and I also make a poolish with half the flour and the water, and that goes in the airing cupboard overnight! Then I mix everything together, but how long it takes to rise depends on the weather, as it’s sourdough. So I mix it up first thing, and then see how the day goes.

[bunsofaluminum]

Mmmm, mashed potatoes! I just figured out what is for dinner tonight...with a yummy gravy! yessss! And some mixed veggies

Your sourdough bread sounds amazing...isn't it something how proofing a sponge overnight adds to the flavor of bread! I'm drooling.

[Ruff]

The weight loss is going fine, steadily heading in the right direction. I might wish it a little faster, but all is well in that department.

However, things have not been going so well in real life, and these last few days I have spent a lot of time crunching numbers. And it has become apparent that I will have to close down my little business. There is no point in keeping going as it is losing money. This is fine, one door closes, another opens etc, but it is currently taking up a lot of my time. And it would be foolish to say I am not a little disappointed. I even ended up face down in a plate of toast and avocado at the weekend comfort eating!

So I have not had a chance to read and catch up with people’s journals just at the moment. Hopefully, though, I shall catch up at Easter weekend.

[roundcoconut]

Yes! There are definitely times when we have little blips in our lives. Giving up a side business definitely can have a period of fluctuating emotions, maybe with some “wow, disappointment!”, combined with some “no big deal” combined with some disorientation. It’s a little different for each person.

I can easily imagine that just deciding to do an OK job in the food department for a few days, would be a perfectly intelligent path forward. I like to think of it as, “More comfort food, but nothing stupid.”

It is funny, but I do believe that our path of doing small things well, is a stroke of genius, and that the person who can hunker down and weather a few small storms and still remain on course, is headed for beautiful things. Don’t you think?