Grit and Determination

[sirdle]

Hooray! Well done!

One step at a time.

Cheers,

[AnnetteW]

Me too...I just have to focus on the foods.

I keep telling myself it will get easier with time. And I know it will.

I love when I see people post on Facebook, a lovely slim photo, and then they say they've been eating this way for 7 years. Seven years seems like such a long time, but then I realize it won't even be a second thought...it just will be. So no matter how much I long to be slim, if I were there now...I'd be cheating and getting fat again. I have to earn my weight loss and my health.

Keep it up, I'm right there with you.

[moonlight]

Thanks, Sirdle and Annette. I made it another day only eating compliant MWL food. I didn't eat enough vegetables yesterday, though.

I'm with you, Annette, on reading about people who have been following the diet for many years. I am hoping that by the time I reach my goal weight I will have learned and developed habits that don't include so many relapses. Also, I think with control, at goal weight a few more foods can be added - guilt free. A little bread, a few nuts. The regular McD diet is a little easier to follow. I'm fired up to continue losing right now. Hopefully it will last for a while.

Finally getting the exercise going again has helped my mood tremendously. My self-esteem has improved which gives me the motivation to work hard at staying compliant.

Sirdle, I've really reduced my criteria for green smiley faces. There are only two: eat MWL compliant food and exercise. If I get those two things in, it feels like a huge accomplishment right now.

September 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Today's Food Intake
apple
brown rice and garbanzo beans
homemade chili
Red potatoes and broccoli
Watermelon

[sirdle]

Sirdle, I've really reduced my criteria for green smiley faces. There are only two: eat MWL compliant food and exercise. If I get those two things in, if feels like a huge accomplishment right now.

I think that's an excellent idea!

Cheers,

[bunsofaluminum]

It gets easier to stay away from meat and dairy. Fats have been a toughie for me, and I'm 10 years into it as of 9/7/2019. Lost a lot; kept if off for years, gained it back.

But you're smart to keep your goals simple. MWL and exercise FTW! YOU GO GIRL!

[moonlight]

Thanks, Buns. I realized the other day that I've lost 2 or 3 times the amount of weight I'm down. I keep gaining 2-3 lbs then losing it. I think I've repeated this cycle for at least a year! While it is good I haven't gone off the diet and gained back 30 lbs., I am tired of failing over and over. I hope my new strategy to just keep it very simple will get me inspired again. Today I wanted to go off the diet and eat while I was in town. I thought about stopping for sushi and Mexican food. I made it home without giving in! I'm eating my homemade chili. I'm just going to consider my days as successful if I just keep my eating limited to food allowed on the MWL program. If I overeat, fine. If I only eat potatoes, fine. I think all the other good habits will come in time if I keep to this very simple plan. Keep my expectations very low. At this stage of my attempts to reduce weight and have a much healthier diet, it will feel huge if I can accomplish those two things.

You inspire me with your workout schedule. I keep thinking that one day I will be so inspired. Thank you for sharing.

[AnnetteW]

Is sushi going off the diet? You can easily have vegan sushi...I guess it's the soy sauce that can be an issue, but that can be controlled. Mexican food is a bit more difficult, not doubt about that.

Glad you stuck to your guns and didn't eat out.

But guess what we're having for dinner tomorrow....sushi!!! I'm so excited that I can now make my own, and it's marvelous!

[moonlight]

Yes, you are right, sushi would be a good option while out. The grocery store I was at didn’t have any. I was afraid if I stopped at a restaurant, I’d get more than sushi. I was thinking about a vegetable curry... That’s great you learned to make your own. I used to make it a lot. It’s good to take to pot lucks. I’ve gotten rather lazy on food prep....

[moonlight]

September 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Yesterday my food was all MWL compliant. It was a struggle but I made it. Today driving around I kept wanted to stop and eat Mexican food. Hopefully, soon the cravings will stop. I have cold symptoms. I'm not sure if it is allergy or an actual cold. I took allergy medicine and I'm hoping it subsides soon. I haven't felt up to exercise today and yesterday I simply forgot. I had planned to row in the early evening. I remembered about 9:30. Too late for exercise...

Today's Food Intake
steel cut oats
red potatoes and salad
stir-fried veggies and bulgur (with homemade tomato sauce )
blueberries
bulgur with a small amount of hot pepper jelly
corn

[moonlight]

Yesterday I reported a 3 lb. gain in the Weigh-In thread. Today I'm down 2 lbs. That's a relief. It was mostly sodium, I guess. Hopefully, I'll continue with my momentum to stay on MWL food.

[moonlight]

September 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

So, I broke my MWL streak tonight. I had dinner out and ate a non-compliant meal and had a beer. I’m not anxious about it. I’ll be back on the program tomorrow.

[moonlight]

September 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Yesterday I managed to stay on plan. I made a big pot of vegetable soup and a big batch of bulgur. I also have red potatoes cooked and some celery and carrots prepped. I've had a cold for the last couple of days so I haven't felt like exercising. Hopefully, today I'll start feeling better.

[AnnetteW]

Sorry you've had a cold. You definitely thought it was coming on prior.

Take care of yourself...drink lots of water and tea and eat a tad less. Hope you feel better soon.

If I have a sore throat I tend to eat more to sooth it and myself. Bad move always.

[moonlight]

September 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Thanks, Annette. I'm tired of feeling sick. Funny what you said about eating more to soothe yourself when sick. I tend to do that when I feel bad, mostly when I have a stomach ache or I'm tired or when I can't sleep or when I'm nervous... Ha! I could go on. Fortunately, I'm taking a decongestant that makes me lose my appetite. I'm very thirsty so I'm drinking a lot.

I feel like I didn't have much of a break from nursing my body after my surgery to getting this cold. I'm ready to get back to a regular exercise routine!

My eating is much better and MWL compliant - unless I eat in a restaurant. It feels good to have food prepped. I need to get in the habit of keeping a soup, a starch, and raw veggies prepped. Yesterday I made Grandpa's meatless loaf. It is very good. I hesitated making it because I tend to want to eat 2 servings at a time. My husband actually had it for dinner so it won't last too many more meals.

[AnnetteW]

Where does one find that meatless loaf recipe? I've seen a few and it sounds great with mashed potatoes and gravy. I need to be prepared.

You are right about not needing a cold so soon after surgery, which is probably exactly why you did get it...your defenses are a bit out of whack right now.