Vol. VII: On being dissed by the Target clerk for buying junk food
Alternately Titled: Think-About It Thursday
What? I was really busy yesterday.
And in any case, I have been thinking about “weighty” issues a lot–one might even say a TON–and here are some of my thoughts on the matter:
1. It’s hard, hard work to lose ten pounds.
2. It’s even harder to lose fifteen.
3. Does it matter?
4. Yes, it does.
5. I’m really, really, REALLY busy! It takes too much time to eat the right foods and besides that, the wrong foods taste a whole better.
6. Except…the wrong foods make me feel like crap.
7. Sorry. I’ll try to describe it more elegantly next time.
8. Except…it’s not that elegant to eat a whole bag of Sun Chips.
9. I was supposed to be wheat-free this week!
10. It’s only Thursday. I can start again.
So yeah, no scale shots today ’cause the weight’s the same. 131 pounds one day…132 the next. For those of you who are new to this series, my goal weight is 115, but so far my body seems vigorously opposed to that weight.
Here. In all humility, I took a “before” shot.
Correction: Felicity graciously took a “before” shot, and was, like, “Mom? Why are we taking a picture of you sweaty?”
Because Betsy asked about my treadmill, that’s why. So here’s a photo for Betsy:
And another:
Look, Mom! I burned 267 calories! And another:
And oh heck, I simply can’t resist one more:
Look how filthy that kid got! Seriously, I was on the treadmill for 20 minutes!
(Twenty-seven, actually. I run a slow, slow mile.)
Oh, and about getting dissed by the Target cashier? Yesterday the kids and I were on the way to the park. We stopped at Target beforehand to pick up a few things: the aforementioned bag of Sun Chips, a second bag (’cause they go fast), a bag of Snyder’s pretzels (because Angela begged), some chocolate chips & brown sugar for later baking, a pint of blueberries and some raspberries too.
As the clerk scanned the pints of berries, she remarked, “At least you got some healthy stuff too, huh?”
I laughed self-consciously and thought, “Well, I never!”
(Except…I do, and that’s problem. )
What were your successes and failures this week? And more importantly, how do we have our cake but not eat it, too?
First, I must remind you of this post:
http://www.patentsgirl.blogspot.com/2014/04/weigh-in-easter-wednesday.html#comment-form
It was not that long ago and you need to not be so hard on yourself! Give yourself a break! I think you look awesome, especially on that treadmill. At least you are trying and that is what counts.
Oh, I do hate it when I get a cashier that comments on what I'm buying…like how much and that the cart is never ending. To which I need to explain I shop for 2 weeks for 8 people…and then explain how many children we "plan" to have…..Gosh….cashiers can be so stupid. I suppose they are just trying to make conversation, huh?
Keep up the awesome work!!
Following along with you:) I am 5 weeks post partum and in the funk of wanting to lose the last bit to get to where my non-maternity clothes fit. Just in the funk of wanting to wear something different;) Clearly I need some more time!
But encouraged to eat healthy to feel better while chasing a toddler, home schooling, and nursing my babe around the clock. Need some holy energy! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement for fellow mamas:)
You are beautiful and you WILL get there. I wish you could have cracked "Namaste" at that bold clerk…it makes me so mad when they make derogatory comments about the food I"m buying, especially when they are covered in ying/yang and peace/love type tattoos because I think "I'm not feeling your peace or love".
You're just awesome. You know that, right? AWE-some!!!!
I will often grimace and duck around corners when I have a "cart of shame", and feel like wearing a sign that says, "We're busy, I have sick kids, they're lucky I'm feeding them at all, I promise I have apples at home." I can't believe the clerk commented.
I have a horrible sweet tooth. Frozen grapes? Frozen bananas? Uh, no matter what people tell me, they do not quench a craving like a handful of chocolate chips does. That being said, I'm trying too, to eat healthier and be more active. Much easier now that the sun actually comes out during the day.
Ok not that you asked but, I have some thoughts on losing weight & exercise that I'd like to share. Disclaimer – I just got my 200 RYT certification to teach Vinyasa yoga. I'm 5'5" and my weight is generally 125, give or take a few pounds. I don't diet, I don't avoid any particular food or food groups and I drink wine every single night with dinner. Here's the thing – I think you might be sabotaging your weight loss goals by exercising, or at the very least, the type of exercise that you are doing may be the problem. If it's making you hungrier and you are eating more "calories" than you are burning, it's not serving you. My advice would be to start doing some weight bearing exercises, using some light weights (2 or 3 lb) working your biceps, triceps and shoulders. Then do some body weight exercises like holding a plank for 15 secs at a pop and sitting in a chair pose against a wall. Build up until you can do each for 1 min. Do this every day. Eat some eggs every morning for breakfast and have plenty of coffee. If you want to add some light aerobic exercise I can send you a short video of me teaching some basic yoga moves with breath instruction. Yoga and the Barre Method changed my view of exercise to the extent that I think heavy aerobic exercise is counter productive and can cause the body to hold onto extra weight because it is under stress. The body doesn't know that you are running on a treadmill and not running away from an ax murderer. That stress causes the body to store fat. So by working the muscles and strengthening the body, you enable to body to burn more calories during a restful state. Plus, you won't be as hungry after a work out so you will eat less.
Interesting ideas, JMB!
I was going to mention our sugar rationing, which we need to do again, because we have slipped into bad habits. š The maximum acceptable amount of added sugar is between two and three tablespoons per person per day. We put that amount into a jar, and that's all the sugar we can use, whether it is added to coffee, sprinkled on oatmeal, or baked into a cookie. Sometimes, we have to "save up" for a treat. Chocolates have to be subtracted, and broken cookies DO count. š We do nearly all of our cooking at home, and processed foods are a treat, so it's pretty easy for us to manage our sugar like this, and it's amazing how hard it can be to have enough extra to save up for that birthday cake or a batch of cookies. If nothing else, it's an interesting and eye-opening experiment! (We've been eating a lot of sweets lately, I'm ashamed to say.)
Hi friend! I am in the same plateau laden (but its all my fault) situation. Need to stop beating myself up and just do it…I've lost 40 but probably have 50 more to go…Sigh…Let's do this!!!
Hi Margaret, I am totally with Meghan's comment up above, Awe-some. You actually ran a mile (slow or not, who cares) while I am sitting here eating an avocado smeared on a pancake. You are the champion my friend.
Oh, and thanks for info on the treadmill! Still looking into that although JMB's idea of lifting weights sounds interesting.
So, I think that I am going to offer up sweets as a sacrifice each day. I know that one should not "give something up" with selfish motives behind it (loosing weight) BUT I am thinking that with my appetite, giving up food is a big sacrifice. Making it all into a prayer just may be the trick for me.
Hope you get lots of sunshine there today!
I like this I run a mile every day cant do more then that lol …
Hi I am for the first time here!! Nice try.