Confessions of a Foodie Mom, Week Three

by Pam Connell | More from this Blogger

05 Sep 2009 04:54 PM

I'm down a pound this week! (For a few days I was worried that I wouldn't have any weight loss to report!)

It's been a weird couple of weeks-I've been in a lot of pain so I haven't been cooking much, and exercising has been harder. Two things which have made it easier are: exercise, no matter how little, and keeping the fridge stocked with hard-boiled eggs, lots of fruits, and low-fat string cheese. I also like to stock V-8 Juice so I can get some veggie servings even when we run out of salad fixings and baby carrots.

In the pantry I keep low-fat jerky (ideally turkey jerky, but some of the beef ones are pretty low-fat too). Keeping nuts in the pantry is a mixed bag for me. I have become very aware of the importance of protein during weight loss, and nuts are portable protein. But I have a hard time eating only the recommended amount when they are right there in the cupboard. I did get some tiny snack-size Ziploc bags and pre-pack them with a couple of tablespoons of lower-salt cocktail peanuts. (I just can't make myself like the unsalted ones.)

I'm going to try the Special K protein water to see if it helps hunger away. Has anyone tried it yet? It comes in individual-size bottles, but also in powdered single-serving packets that you add to your own water bottle.

The other thing that is helping is getting back to exercise, no matter how small. As my neck has felt better (after herniating another disk a few weeks ago), I am walking more. As my knees have felt better, I've been climbing stairs more (I still baby my knees by taking the elevator on the way down.) I have ankle weights and do leg lifts while watching TV. I have also used an elliptical trainer a few times. There's no impact stress on the neck, although I have to hold the center bar and forego doing the arm movements. I thought it would be just like walking only adding in some hills, but it is tapping leg muscles I never knew I had.

I had this fantasy of losing 20 or 25 pounds over the summer and surprising all the athletic, fashion-conscious moms at my kids' school. I was also going to buy pickleball equipment as a reward for myself, since my physical therapist endorses that as a substitute for tennis, which is likely out for good.

I need to think of this as long-term, and face the fact. I have 40 pounds to lose, and if I lose a pound a week and don't regain any, next year's summer vacation will be starting as I reach my goal. I need to focus on being able to hike and play with the kids by then-starting now or it won't happen, any more than needlepointing those Christmas stockings starting at Thanksgiving did.

Of course, some weeks I hope to lose two pounds and some weeks I probably won't lose any, but still I have to accept the fact that this is a long-term process. I don't think my forty-year-old metabolism is as responsive to a "quickie cleanse" as it was in my twenties, so I need to quit deluding myself that I could lose weight fast if I ever really needed to.

On such a long journey, it will be nice to have my Families.com friends following along some of the way.

Please see these related blogs:

Confessions of a Foodie Mom

Confessions of a Foodie Mom Week Two: Countering my Top-Ten Sabotaging Thoughts

Can Dramatic Weight Loss be Maintained?

Learn more about Pam Connell

Pam Connell is a mother of three by both birth and adoption. She has worked in education, child care, social services, ministry and journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

losebelly (20) 12 Sep 2009 03:46 PM

Pam keep your fantasy alive! If you live it in your head your body will follow. Take time each day to see yourself at your goal weight. Hey I lost 80 pounds and my thoughts helped a lot. Second thing eat fiber early in your day. Eating fiber will keep you feeling full and you will by nature eat less and lighter. I ate fiber one bars for breakfast then almonds as a snack before lunch. I would also eat almonds between lunch and dinner. I thought of it as shrinking my stomach in a sense. I had read a study on almonds and weight loss where two groups on the same diet except one group ate 3 servings of almonds a day. That group lost 56% more weight then the group that didn't eat the almonds. They really help in many ways. Also, if you like oatmeal add a table spoon of cinnamon to it. Cinnamon is a weight loss promoting food. Good luck to you I know you can do it! here is a site with some really good information and a list of foods that help reduce belly fat http://www.journeydownthescale.info. I look forward to seeing you reach your goal.

Pam Connell (2680) 16 Sep 2009 04:40 PM

Thanks so much for your feedback and ideas, LoseBelly! It helps to know people who've succeeded!

We have some food allergies that rule out almonds, unfortunately, but I've been trying to add more fiber--and I do like oatmeal, so I'll remember the tip about the cinnamon.

I'd love to hear more of your story sometime!