Motivation

RANTING BURNS CALORIES!

This is an open, ongoing, support-encourage-motivational-RANTING thread. Feel free to skip to the end, or spend days reading through all of this ...

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I have decided that "Diet" is a 4-letter word.

I find myself muttering and uttering the word around my house these days with loathing and vehemence previously reserved only for comments directed toward liberal politicians. In fact, I seem to be talking to myself a lot more these days .... sort of a running, sarcastic commentary on all the foods I can't eat, or on various other related topics. I wonder if there is a link between calorie-deprivation and Tourettes Syndrome? Grrrrrrrrr.....

I am now on Day 8 of the dreaded D-word. This is already the longest period of time that I have ever successfully remained on a diet. And I seem to be growing grouchier and feistier each day..... at least when I am alone and no one is around to hear my running rants. (My wonderful DH has heard some of my more memorable rants on the subject of broccolli and reports that I am hysterically funny when I am hungry!) I am counting carbs. I am counting calories. I am counting fat grams. Sheesh ... now my math anxiety is about to kick-in!

Mini Rant #1 .... what masochist decided that the serving size of cereal was anything less than 2 cups? Have you ever measured out 2/3 a cup of cereal? Or even a full cup? And placed it in a bowl? Those few little flakes and pieces just sit forlornly at the bottom of the bowl, shivering and lonely, even when we dribble on a few meager droplets of skim milk! Sheesh. Well, I can tell you that there is simply no way that my oversized body is going to be happy with that tiny amount of cereal ... so I have been eating TWO servings for breakfast. SIGH. And while the side of the box says that I can supplement the cereal with some fruit, they probably don't mean eat 45 cherries with your cereal -- much less 1/2 a watermelon, huh?

Mini Rant #2 .... Things NOT to say to someone who has told you that they have just started on a diet:

1.Good, you sure needed it.
2. It's about time.
3. Really? It doesn't look like it.
4. Again? Haven't we heard this before?
5. Gosh, how much weight do you need to lose?
6. What do you weigh? I've always wondered.
7. I never need to diet, I have a fast metabolism.
8. Really? I can eat all I want and never gain weight.
9. Is THAT why you are so grouchy?
10. I sure hope you plan to exercise a lot more.

AAAUGGH! All of these responses are just the thing to make me even grouchier .... so just smile and say something encouraging and supportive, ok? I will let you know how it is going.

_____

=^..^=  Molly 

WELCOME TO MOLLY'S MOTIVATIONAL RANT / CHAT THREAD ... FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR RANTS, TOO!  YOU CAN EITHER READ FROM THE BEGINNING OR JUST JUMP ON IN ON THE LAST PAGE ... JOIN US! 

shopping on line

Ok I love a deal.  I shop on line all the time.  I see this beautiful dress and I thought it said a size 12.  I get the dress today and it's a size 1 or 2

Yes I actually "tried" to try it on.  I'm a size 14 ppl and I tried 3 times to put this tiny dress on that I could not hardly get over my head.
I seriously think I'll wear it someday. haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Yeah, I run in a super-incredibly-safe neighborhood, so I'm considering just running with music.  Even if it cuts down on my environmental awareness, there are parts of my environment I'd rather be less aware of...

My fiancee laughed when I complained about this at lunchtime and said 'well, they have to get their digs in while they can, it's not like you'll have an ounce to spare for much longer'.  I couldn't stop helplessly giggling over that one.  He's not the complimentary type, so I know he meant it as a bald statement of fact, which makes it about 1000 times better.

Oooh, I HATE it when the size is wrong on something and it's far too small.  Gives me the heebie jeebies like I didn't actually make any progress at all and they were just warping all the mirrors and changing the tags in my clothes.

saving this spot for later?

Okay, I usually just enjoy reading and don't post here, but I have to chime in on the running rudeness issues. I've come to decide it isn't always related to weight. I was out running, at a perfectly normal weight, in a decent neighborhood, and I had the driver of an SUV actually slow down so that his CHILDREN could throw a giant soda at me out the window. I was so stunned I just stopped and gaped while they laughed hysterically and drove off. I've also had people throw wadded up pieces of paper at me. I can't figure it out. Do they subconsciously feel guilty about not exercising and decide to assuage their guilt by attacking people?

Now I live in a neighborhood where running is a serious pastime. The drivers are courteous and the only embarrassment I face is continually getting passed by every single other person out there, including a man who has to be at least 90 years old.

I was biking in my neighborhood not long ago, when a young teenage boy and his friends yelled something inappropriate at me. I smiled, ringed my little bicycle bell, circled around, came back and sweetly asked? "Is you mom home?"  They looked concerned. "No." "Well, let me just check."  I hopped off my bicycle and rang the doorbell.  A moment later, mom answered.  I smiled, politely introduced myself, and told her I lived around the corner.  Then I let her know (in case she didn't already know) that her son and his friend were screaming rude things at passersby, specifically me, and that I was CERTAIN she'd want to know. (I mentioned lying about whether she was home, too.) After all, in this day and age, such behavior could easily get someone shot ... plus, it was extraordinarily rude.   She thanked me, and asked where I lived, exactly.

An hour or so later, son and his friends showed up to do chores, sent by his mom and supervised by a very grouchy looking dad. They apologized, too ... and got the pleasure of scooping my cat boxes and picking up my dog poop. Dad looked disappointed we didn't have more chores for the boys.

(happy sigh)

**ding ding ding** goes my bicycle bell ...

=^..^= MOLLY

That's a great story, Molly! It sounds like those parents were on the ball, thankfully.

Hopefully they learned a lesson young so as not to continue bad habits with age.  Good Job Molly. 

Way to go Molly! I probably wouldn't have knocked on the door since my past experience has been with parents who just will not believe that their little angels could do wrong. What an appropriate punishment for giving you crap!

 A VERITABLE VEGGIE VARIETY SHOW!

I am back from vacation, and back in the saddle again! I went to Trader Joes and the grocery store this afternoon, braving the cloudbursts and holiday drivers, to re-stock my vegetable supply. Trader Joes has these wonderful, 100-calorie giant bags of mixed greens (spinach, mustard greens, collard greens and turnip greens) that I just love lightly steamed with Thai-flavored spices (garlic, basil, lemongrass and ginger!) YUM! They also had some great looking butternut squash, green beans, artichokes and fresh tomatoes. Then at Von's I bought asparagus, cucumbers, radishes, sugar snap peas, mushrooms, and onions. (We still had red and orange peppers!) I also stocked up on salmon, organic lean sirloin, lean chicken, lean ham, organic, sprouted flax seed bread and Thomas' light multigrain english muffins.

Anyway, today's meal menu has a decided focus on veggies, as I seek to get back into "veggie mode" after my vacation....

BREAKFAST

two toasted Thomas' light multigrain english muffins (200 calories)

four tablespoons of roasted red pepper hummus (64 calories)

five cubes of Laughing Cow Light Gourmet Cheese Bites (35 calories)

LUNCH

two slices of organic, sprouted, flax seed bread (100 calories)

four slices of lean turkey (100 calories)

one serving of steamed spinach (25 calories)

one serving of steamed collard greens (25 calories)

one serving of steamed turnip greens (25 calories)

one serving of steamed mustard greens (25 calories)

four servings of steamed broccoli (100 calories)

DINNER

8 ounces of grilled mushrooms (50 calories)

14 ounces of grilled asparagus (79 calories)

8 ounces of roasted butternut squash (102 calories)

one large red tomato, sliced (33 calories)

one medium cucumber, peeled/sliced (24 calories)

grilled southwest chicken (skinless) (200 calories)

CALORIE TOTAL: 1187 (does not include after-dinner snacks)

VEGGIE SERVINGS: 17

FIBER: 61 grams

CALORIE BREAKDOWN: (Fat: 9.0%, Protein: 39.6%, Carbs: 51.4%)

SPECIAL NOTES: 100% iron, 100% calcium, Vitamin C: 814%, Vitamin A: 883%

Are you eating YOUR veggies???

=^..^= MOLLY

Speaking of veggies, inspired by the Veggie Variety Show, I had an acorn squash today - it's been a LONG time since I had one, and it was delicious - and so easy to make (I just cut it in half and baked it until it was soft), I don't know why I was so scared of them!  I'm putting them back on my veggie list.

As for pathetic commentary - I always wonder what kind of person does that, whether the comments are good or bad.  When I lived in the city, I actually had some doofus follow me in his car the wrong way up a one-way street (which I had turned up specifically to shake him).  As if stalking me in this manner would make it THAT much more likely that I would actually be interested in him, since whistling and yelling out the window wasn't quite enough.  Men are strange.  It is NOT flattering when you consider the source.

Welcome back Molly!  You do take superb pics, and you look great, by the way.

awww.... thanks!

(And I love, love, love acorn squash!)

=^..^= MOLLY

Awesome, Molly!!!!! And thank goodness the parents were responsible enough to teach their son & friends a lesson!

Ok, you guys have inspired me to try winter squash.  I actually looked for a butternut squash at the store the other day & couldn't find one, but I will find either that or acorn squash this weekend for sure!!!

 

I cut butternut squash into little 1/2" cubes and add about 1/4 that much in apple cubes, then sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over it and bake it until everything is soft (the apple is just about liquefied by the time the squash is done, might add it later if you prefer your apples differently).  My boyfriend LOOOOVES it and he grins when I bring home winter squashes.  (It works well with fresh pumpkin too.)  I've never tried it in the microwave but Molly's cooking techniques make me want to try it!

That's a good amount of veggies/fiber! Awesome!! =] *looks at my pitiful 3 servings of veggies/fruit a day, on a good day... ooops*

And since I'm a first time poster here, I will agree on how much I HATE those rude dieting comments in the original post... My SKINNY uncle telling me to go on a diet as he eats 2 chocolate glazed donuts and numerous Christmas cookies... Unfair on so many levels *rolls eyes*

It's cold and rainy outside, but I am currently inside where it's toasty-warm.  I actually (gasp!) had to put makeup on this morning since I am volunteering at a holiday open house fundraiser for our local no-kill animal shelter, and I wanted to look nice.  And, since I went to all the trouble to actually put on makeup, I used my DH's Mac to take some photos of myself! (EEEK! Brace yourself, peeps!)  Anyway, when he comes home tonight, he's promised to transfer them to my computer so I can actually post them and use them ... hee hee hee. (I am pretty technologically challenged.)  I think I will post them in my journal so as to not scare any of my fellow ranters!

My goal this afternoon at the event is to stay the HECK away from the hors d'oeuvres and beverages, and just drink my Crystal Light. I am eating lunch right now (fresh green beans, two cups of sliced radishes, and a turkey sammy on flax seed bread) ... and I am taking my lunch apple WITH ME!  Every time that I want to nibble or graze or forage or cheat, I will just keep repeating over and over "299 ... 299 .... 299" .... which is my next big goal. I so want to be out of the 300s... forever and ever!  (Theoretically, I should attain this goal in January sometime, methinks!)

This isn't really a rant ... but I've spent a gazillion hours sending out over 100 holiday cards ... and I keep getting some from people I didn't send to ... which means I get to drag out the festive stamps, the cards, the stickers, the confetti, the colored pens .... and start all over again! LOL!  Next year, my plan is to take a photo with my wonderful DH Ron of the new me ... and send it out! (The shocker of this is that I hate hate hate hate having my picture taken!) \

=^..^= MOLLY

I was very good at the holiday open house ... no unauthorized munching, nibbling, noshing, snacking, sampling or grazing!  I drank my Crystal Light and ate my apple.

* pats self on back *

=^..^= MOLLY

Molly, your willpower never ceases to amaze me.  Great job at the open house.

For me, I just have to pat myself on the back as well, because last night my mom threw a little Christmas get-together with lots of her delicious homemade goodies.  There was snack mix and cocktail meatballs, sausage balls, spinach puffs, cream cheese vegetable squares, lots of dip and crackers, hot roast beef sandwiches, and LOTS of home made cookies! (Can we say "cranberry rugelach, pecan crescents, and hermits?  OK, and I confess, I brought some homemade snickerdoodles that I was quite proud of!)  The food was SOOOO good, and after "dieting" for a year and then having some ED type issues once I started maintaining, it was almost enough to bring me to tears because I hadn't had food like that in so long.  Anyway, what I'm patting myself on the back for is just the fact that, once upon a time, I totally would have binged on food like that, but last night, I just took a tiny portion of each thing and savored them in moderation.  That way, I was still enjoying the season, living my life, participating with the rest of the family, but NO BINGING!  And I only went 10 calories over maintenance (I am maintaining), which I'll just exercise off today in like 2 minutes!  This moderation thing is something I have always struggled with, but it looks like I might be on my way!

Good Job, ratinhat88!!!

You've also put in words- Very nicely!- and Actions!- the very things I'm thinking and planning to do!

I believe that's the healthiest way to look at food and life- we want to enjoy it- and being healthy includes mental and emotional health as well as physical!

The approval of our folks is a big help in the long run, and creates a good example for those we love, by our efforts to join in their activities, in a sensible way, so that we maintain our weight loss!

Even though it can be a strain, when we have to also learn to trust ourselves!

So many don't keep their loss, and they naturally expect us to gain it back! We're proving it can be gone, and stay gone, so they'll see it could work for them- without having to seclude themselves from the happy times in life. I have folks I love who need to see me succeed, so maybe they'll be able to believe it can be achieved without starving or severe stress... I'll lose them far too early if they can't in the next few years... You never know how much you can mean to others- someone else caused me to believe I Could! I'm SOOOO GLAD they did!!!!

Thanks for sharing!

Molly- would you mind sharing exactly HOW you fix your steamed greens? Do you have to have some kind of steamer to do it? How do you know when they are done? Etc...? Pleeaaassseeee?

Original Post by 2beittybitty:

Molly- would you mind sharing exactly HOW you fix your steamed greens? Do you have to have some kind of steamer to do it? How do you know when they are done? Etc...? Pleeaaassseeee?

1. Buy a ridiculously large, 100-calorie bag of mixed, fresh greens from Trader Joes.

2. Open bag, watching out for random leaping pieces of vegetable that attempt to escape.

3. Try to fit the greens neatly in a very large (ahem, VERY large) microwave safe bowl.

4. Try not to lose any more greens as you carefully carry bowl and lovingly place it in the microwave.

5. Zap 'em for 5 minutes for tougher greens (collards, turnip, mustard greens) ... 4 minutes works fine for just spinach.

6.  Carefully remove the hot bowl (use mitts), spritz on ICBINB spray and seasoning of your choice ... my current flavor is a Thai-style blend of garlic, onion, ginger and lemongrass, and I usually add on some lemon pepper, too. (Fluff/stir with fork during the seasoning process!)

=^..^= MOLLY

I LOST WEIGHT ON VACATION!

That does it! I simply MUST MUST MUST go on more three-day vacations to the coast! (giggle!) I stepped on the scale this morning with tremendous trepidation and Herculean hesitation and somber seriousness ... only to see that nifty red digital number go to ... (drumroll please).... 307.4 pounds. WHAT!?!? I got on and off three times, but my wonderful DH assured me the number stayed the same each time! (I rely on him since I refuse to wear glasses for the weigh-in since they ... well, weigh something!)

WEIGHT LOSS REPORT FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8.

Starting weight: 369.0

Current weight: 307.4

Weight lost this week: 5.2 pounds

Weight loss to date: 61.6 pounds

Percentage of weight lost (of starting weight): 16.6 %

Weeks of Dieting: 16 weeks

Average Weekly Weight Loss: 3.85 pounds

Special Comments: VACATION! (and TOM ended)

I took THIS silly picture of myself using my wonderful DH's Mac yesterday afternoon ... since I wanted to show that my face is getting a little skinnier! (Hey, those 61.6 pounds had to come from somewhere, right?) Anyway, I am one happy camper this weekend ... WOO HOO!!!

"BEFORE" PICTURE ... MAY 2007

"AFTER" PICTURE ... DECEMBER 2007 (Less 61.6 pounds)

=^..^= MOLLY