Lutherans Living Lighter

Jenna · Feb 24, 2008

Howdy!

I just wanted to say 'hi'.

My name is... yup.... Jenna. lol Goodness, I've been a little freaked out lately that I am coming up on my 28th birthday in a couple of months. I looked in the mirror the other day, and I realized that I had some light "age spots" beginning to develop around one of my eyes!! I guess that getting closer to 30 (*whispers*.... and being way overweight...) doesn't help anything. I've just been feeling kind of down because I've let my eating get out of control, and it is certainly showing.

This is the beginning of my 'cleaned up' eating, so I could surely use y'alls prayers and encouragement. I feel like I am doing alright, and not ready to gnaw my own limbs off or anything. Still, I've always tried to keep my weight in control with moderate diet changes and lots of weight-lifting. I'm finding myself feeling kind of depressed about my exercise situation, because I haven't been able to find any exercises lately that don't cause me pain. I have awful knees, due to a malformation of my hips/legs as I grew. I also managed to hyper-extend my shoulder about a week ago, and it has been troubling me a whole bunch. Sometimes I just feel like I want to sit and cry, because I'm pretty young and feel crippled so much of the time. If I'm not hurting from my bad legs, it is pain from chronic injuries to my hands and arms. All of that makes me so much more dependent on eating well- something that I stink at.

Since I acknowledge that I am pretty much addicted to stuffing my face all the time, I've chosen to eat foods that I can chow down on with vigor. *laughs* I'm eating a ton of vegetables, a few fruits, plant protein, milk and eggs, and the occasional bit of meat. I am trying to buy some organic foods, like organic peanut butter, organic coconut oil, etc. Basically, I'm trying to find foods that have only recognizable food products in the ingredient label.

Oh, maybe I should add that I'm not any kind of vegetarian? I just like to eat, and eating more meat means that I get less "chew time". lol I want to start working in more lean meats as I get a grip on my urge to eat constantly, but I'll make due with plant proteins until I can trust myself not to go nuts and want to eat a whole cow.

Moo!!

mrshoperose · Feb 24, 2008

seajoy said:
If I try and walk right now, I'll land my keester on a patch of ice! We were at a balmy 25 degrees today. Might even hit 30 tomorrow.

Wow! Around here it has been into the 40s and 50s!

I went out walking with my friends, husband, and son today.... It wasn't very fast, and we stopped frequently... but at least I got out for a bit!

mrshoperose · Feb 24, 2008

Jenna said:
Howdy!

I just wanted to say 'hi'.

My name is... yup.... Jenna. lol Goodness, I've been a little freaked out lately that I am coming up on my 28th birthday in a couple of months. I looked in the mirror the other day, and I realized that I had some light "age spots" beginning to develop around one of my eyes!! I guess that getting closer to 30 (*whispers*.... and being way overweight...) doesn't help anything. I've just been feeling kind of down because I've let my eating get out of control, and it is certainly showing.

This is the beginning of my 'cleaned up' eating, so I could surely use y'alls prayers and encouragement. I feel like I am doing alright, and not ready to gnaw my own limbs off or anything. Still, I've always tried to keep my weight in control with moderate diet changes and lots of weight-lifting. I'm finding myself feeling kind of depressed about my exercise situation, because I haven't been able to find any exercises lately that don't cause me pain. I have awful knees, due to a malformation of my hips/legs as I grew. I also managed to hyper-extend my shoulder about a week ago, and it has been troubling me a whole bunch. Sometimes I just feel like I want to sit and cry, because I'm pretty young and feel crippled so much of the time. If I'm not hurting from my bad legs, it is pain from chronic injuries to my hands and arms. All of that makes me so much more dependent on eating well- something that I stink at.

Since I acknowledge that I am pretty much addicted to stuffing my face all the time, I've chosen to eat foods that I can chow down on with vigor. *laughs* I'm eating a ton of vegetables, a few fruits, plant protein, milk and eggs, and the occasional bit of meat. I am trying to buy some organic foods, like organic peanut butter, organic coconut oil, etc. Basically, I'm trying to find foods that have only recognizable food products in the ingredient label.

Oh, maybe I should add that I'm not any kind of vegetarian? I just like to eat, and eating more meat means that I get less "chew time". lol I want to start working in more lean meats as I get a grip on my urge to eat constantly, but I'll make due with plant proteins until I can trust myself not to go nuts and want to eat a whole cow.

Moo!!

Hey Jenna! Welcome! Have you tried chewing gum? I have a very bad habit of eating constantly too, and I have found that chewing sugarless gum helps. I still eat too much, but without the gum I would be eating a lot more!

I will keep you in my prayers.

Hope

LilLamb219 · Feb 25, 2008

Jenna, you're off to some great starts!!!

A friend of mine refuses to eat anything with partially hydrogenated oils in it.

A few years ago, a lady told me to not eat anything where the first 4 ingredients state sugar, corn syrup or any of the other terms that just basically mean sugar.

Maybe those types of tips will help?

Jenna said:
Howdy!

I just wanted to say 'hi'.

My name is... yup.... Jenna. lol Goodness, I've been a little freaked out lately that I am coming up on my 28th birthday in a couple of months. I looked in the mirror the other day, and I realized that I had some light "age spots" beginning to develop around one of my eyes!! I guess that getting closer to 30 (*whispers*.... and being way overweight...) doesn't help anything. I've just been feeling kind of down because I've let my eating get out of control, and it is certainly showing.

This is the beginning of my 'cleaned up' eating, so I could surely use y'alls prayers and encouragement. I feel like I am doing alright, and not ready to gnaw my own limbs off or anything. Still, I've always tried to keep my weight in control with moderate diet changes and lots of weight-lifting. I'm finding myself feeling kind of depressed about my exercise situation, because I haven't been able to find any exercises lately that don't cause me pain. I have awful knees, due to a malformation of my hips/legs as I grew. I also managed to hyper-extend my shoulder about a week ago, and it has been troubling me a whole bunch. Sometimes I just feel like I want to sit and cry, because I'm pretty young and feel crippled so much of the time. If I'm not hurting from my bad legs, it is pain from chronic injuries to my hands and arms. All of that makes me so much more dependent on eating well- something that I stink at.

Since I acknowledge that I am pretty much addicted to stuffing my face all the time, I've chosen to eat foods that I can chow down on with vigor. *laughs* I'm eating a ton of vegetables, a few fruits, plant protein, milk and eggs, and the occasional bit of meat. I am trying to buy some organic foods, like organic peanut butter, organic coconut oil, etc. Basically, I'm trying to find foods that have only recognizable food products in the ingredient label.

Oh, maybe I should add that I'm not any kind of vegetarian? I just like to eat, and eating more meat means that I get less "chew time". lol I want to start working in more lean meats as I get a grip on my urge to eat constantly, but I'll make due with plant proteins until I can trust myself not to go nuts and want to eat a whole cow.

Moo!!

seajoy · Feb 25, 2008

I started my life change yesterday. On friday, I found out I have a "fatty liver". Not a cool thing, after I looked at some stuff on the net. I need to lose about 70 lbs, and on my 4' 11" frame, that would make a difference in my life. It's like I'm totin' a 4th grader around all day.

I was spoiled as a younger person. I was thin all my life and could eat whatever I wanted and it made no difference. Then about 10yrs ago, the pounds just slowly packed on.

I'm going to need lots of encouragement. And I'll do my best to be helpful to you folks too. I've mostly avoided this thread, except for a few jokes. I just didn't want to face it.

Welcome to Jenna! And a big hello to all my friends here. :wave:

Dear Lord, please help us take care of ourselves, and love ourselves as your dear children. :prayer:

Flipper · Feb 25, 2008

Jenna said:
Howdy!

I just wanted to say 'hi'.

My name is... yup.... Jenna. lol Goodness, I've been a little freaked out lately that I am coming up on my 28th birthday in a couple of months. I looked in the mirror the other day, and I realized that I had some light "age spots" beginning to develop around one of my eyes!! I guess that getting closer to 30 (*whispers*.... and being way overweight...) doesn't help anything. I've just been feeling kind of down because I've let my eating get out of control, and it is certainly showing.

This is the beginning of my 'cleaned up' eating, so I could surely use y'alls prayers and encouragement. I feel like I am doing alright, and not ready to gnaw my own limbs off or anything. Still, I've always tried to keep my weight in control with moderate diet changes and lots of weight-lifting. I'm finding myself feeling kind of depressed about my exercise situation, because I haven't been able to find any exercises lately that don't cause me pain. I have awful knees, due to a malformation of my hips/legs as I grew. I also managed to hyper-extend my shoulder about a week ago, and it has been troubling me a whole bunch. Sometimes I just feel like I want to sit and cry, because I'm pretty young and feel crippled so much of the time. If I'm not hurting from my bad legs, it is pain from chronic injuries to my hands and arms. All of that makes me so much more dependent on eating well- something that I stink at.

Since I acknowledge that I am pretty much addicted to stuffing my face all the time, I've chosen to eat foods that I can chow down on with vigor. *laughs* I'm eating a ton of vegetables, a few fruits, plant protein, milk and eggs, and the occasional bit of meat. I am trying to buy some organic foods, like organic peanut butter, organic coconut oil, etc. Basically, I'm trying to find foods that have only recognizable food products in the ingredient label.

Oh, maybe I should add that I'm not any kind of vegetarian? I just like to eat, and eating more meat means that I get less "chew time". lol I want to start working in more lean meats as I get a grip on my urge to eat constantly, but I'll make due with plant proteins until I can trust myself not to go nuts and want to eat a whole cow.

Moo!!

Hello!

I find myself "grazing" quite a bit - mostly when I'm bored, so I try to find things to do to occupy me. When I still have to graze, I find that eating foods high in fiber tend to control my appetite better and longer. Never thought I would be looking for high fiber foods at my age, but it is good for you.

WildStrawberry · Feb 25, 2008

Hello everyone!

Well, Jenna, what a good start! Keep up the good work and things will start to work out!

Did I tell everyone about the books I've been reading? (I think I did so if I repeat this, I'm sorry. *G*)

Does this clutter make my butt look fat? by Peter Walsh. So far it's really interesting. It talks about the connection of "stuff" clutter and "body" clutter.

Faithfully Fit: A 40-Day Devotional Plan to End the Yo-Yo Lifestyle of Chronic Dieting. I flipped through and am going to get started on this this week. It looks really good and like it will help get to the bottom of what's going on in my heart and mind and not just what's going on in my mouth.

Same with the Peter Walsh book. He doesn't give you any eating plans or anything. Instead, he asks you to think about the life you want to be living. What you want to be doing. Things like that.

Anyway, just wanted to share if I haven't already!

Kae

Jenna · Feb 25, 2008

Hi Guys! Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. Oh, and SeaJoy, I can certainly relate with being hesitant to pop in here. I've known that I've struggled real hard with my weight ever since I lost my baby in Oct. '06. I've nibbled myself into a "survival layer" that is threatening to suffocate me!

I'm not big on diet books, but I have been reading Jordan Rubin's "Perfect Weight America". Thusfar, the main focus is primarily on trying to eat whole foods, and as much organic as possible. While I don't have a food budget that can support a 100% organic diet, I'm trying to at least clean up the ingredient labels. Because it is so hard to avoid all of the junk that they put in good food, I've cut out 90% of my regular diet and replaced it with things that are better for me. This is huge, since I normally exist on boxed foods. So, no foods that are sugar-filled, nor have hydrogenated oils (if I can help it).

Oh, and isn't fiber wonderful?! I make a point to eat high fiber vegetables, including eating all of the peels. I really like the Go Lean cereal that is made by Kashi, too. I keep a box or two around the house because the fiber count is so high, and it is nice to have what feels like a more "normal" (boxed? lol) food for me from time to time.

LilLamb219 · Feb 25, 2008

We'll do our best to help you, seajoy! Remember that we all fall off the bandwagon at one point or another, but life goes on and we try again the next day

One thing I've been trying to do is just to keep busy so I don't eat out of boredom...or stress!

In the evenings, since I've been sick, I haven't felt like getting up to even eat anything after dinner which is working out to my advantage big time!! I've just been drinking water.

So, up your water intake and you'll feel full.

seajoy said:
I started my life change yesterday. On friday, I found out I have a "fatty liver". Not a cool thing, after I looked at some stuff on the net. I need to lose about 70 lbs, and on my 4' 11" frame, that would make a difference in my life. It's like I'm totin' a 4th grader around all day.

I was spoiled as a younger person. I was thin all my life and could eat whatever I wanted and it made no difference. Then about 10yrs ago, the pounds just slowly packed on.

I'm going to need lots of encouragement. And I'll do my best to be helpful to you folks too. I've mostly avoided this thread, except for a few jokes. I just didn't want to face it.

Welcome to Jenna! And a big hello to all my friends here. Dear Lord, please help us take care of ourselves, and love ourselves as your dear children.

WildStrawberry · Feb 25, 2008

Seajoy! I'm glad you're in here and all! W00t! *G*

The thing I really like about the 2 books I recommended is that they are NOT diet books. They're more about the whys of overeating instead of "if you eat 10 grapefruit and 600 grapes a day you'll lose weight!!!" (or whatever.

I love fiber. Keeps everything happy inside. My favorite fiber cereal is Fiber One. 14 grams of fiber in a serving!

Some tricks I've learned over the years:

1. Chew gum. This has been said already so I won't go into it.

2. Brush your teeth. Food is NASTY after brushing your teeth!

3. Water baby! Drink up that water. If you don't like water plain, add some lemon, lime, cucumber, fresh mint, to the water. Make cheap lemonade by squeezing a lemon slice and adding some sweet 'n low (or other sweetener) to the water. Cucumber water is REALLY refreshing. Add fresh berries and cucumbers to make a "spa water" that's really good. (don't mush anything...just let 'em "soak" in the water for an hour or so. I keep a pitcher of this in the 'fridge for when I want "taste" you know?)

4. Figure out WHY you want to eat. Are you bored? Angry? Sad? What you eat when is a good indicator of why you're eating in the first place...which brings me to my next tip:

5. Keep a food journal! So often we who are in this situation kid ourselves about the amount of food we eat. I know *I* do this all the time. So keeping a journal keeps me accountable for what I'm eating. I also record what I'm feeling at the time the food went into my mouth. Helps with those feelings of "man I have to GRAZE".

6. Wait out your cravings. Have some water while you decide if you're really craving the food or if you're just bored or thirsty or what have you. If you DO crave a food, say M&Ms, then have a few. It's better to splurge on a real craving than it is to eat around it.

And of course, with all of these tips you'd think I'd be at my goal weight. HA! So not. But that's why this thread is here! To help us all get the encouragement we need!!

Thanks everyone!

Kae

LilLamb219 · Feb 25, 2008

The chewing gum thing worked for me for a while...but if you have fillings in your back teeth, you might want to avoid that. I can no longer chew gum

It pulled so much on my fillings that my back teeth became overly sensitive! I went to the dentist thinking something major was wrong and he took x-rays and checked out the teeth and said he could see absolutely no problems. I attributed the problem to the gum chewing.

So, I stopped chewing gum (I think about 7 months ago) and now the sensitivity is gone and I am happy. No pain, I can drink and eat cold and hot foods again without my eyes popping out of my skull! LOL

I do have to watch now with chewy things...I love caramels

Because it will do the same thing if I'm not careful.

So...just a word of warning to anyone with fillings so you don't have to go through what I did!

Jenna · Feb 25, 2008

I don't tend to enjoy chewing gum very much, for some strange reason. I keep a little bit around from time to time, but not with any real regularity. I tried chewing more gum to keep me from snacking, and it just didn't help much. For me, it isn't just about having my mouth moving. I just think that my "I'm full" sensor is broken. lol

Since I have a hard time telling when I am actually satisfied, I'm having to rely on vegetables to fill me up, and then I eat my more calorie-dense protein. Otherwise, I can eat and eat without feel a real cut-off point. The veggies are helping though. If I pair them with a fruit, then my mouth doesn't feel so deprived, since I have a sweet-tooth that just won't quit. This morning, it is tomato and a plum... and probably some organic peanut butter or hummus.

I'm just so disappointed, because I was doing so well before I had gotten pregnant. I had lost 30 lbs. and was feeling much more in control of myself. When I got pregnant though, I had to eat all the time to keep from feeling faint. I didn't gain weight, but my body was changing in some dramatic ways. That urge to eat the whole house didn't just stop when we lost Ezra though. Unfortunately, I stopped battling with it, because I was so sad. Now that I am feeling emotionally "better", I have a ton of weight to lose and my fuel gauge doesn't work.

My goodness. I stood in front of the mirror today in shock, because after stepping on the scale.... I realize that when compared to what BMI charts say is my ideal healthy weight.... I am 100 lbs. overweight. Is it possible to swallow one's own head? When I look at myself, I'm not particularly happy. However, I didn't realize that it was THAT bad. *sigh* I could be perfectly happy to only lose 80 lbs. or so. I have no driving need to be really slim. I just want to be healthier. Still, even saying that out loud (or typing it to other people!) is stunning and horrifically frightening. Ugh.

LilLamb219 · Feb 25, 2008

Getting past that initial shock of When did THIS happen or HOW could I have let it get this bad is really difficult. But don't think of it as something you cannot achieve. It took a while to get there, and it will take a while to get back. That's what I keep telling myself.

With just some changes in my eating habits (not a diet) and doing my elliptical about 6 days a week for 30 minutes or more, I've noticed great changes in my body over the past year. It's taken a year, but I'm getting happier about it. I didn't drastically lose weight, but I've toned my body and am in one size smaller. It's taken a LONG time and I'll keep doing this because I have seen some results.

So, think of this as your lifestyle. Not a diet. You can do it!