Is Your Program Better?

A question recently asked of me:

“Would you say the program you are on is better than any of the other diet programs out there?”

I’ve spent the past 18 years overweight.  I’ve gone up and down on the scale during that time (mostly due to pregnancies), but always overweight.  I’d get inspired to start a new program, or join a new diet group, or take a new product, but after some initial weight loss I would always gain it back.  The bottom line was, I just wasn’t committed to stick with it or see it as a lifestyle change.  I wanted to shed the weight, and then go back to eating the foods I wanted, when I wanted, and how much I wanted.

Seven months ago, that changed.  With the jumpstart of Rachel cooking for me and those first 35 pounds gone (the most I had lost on any program), I slowly came to embrace that this was not a “diet”.  It was a complete change in the way I approach food that would last forever. 

I remember being inspired at different times through those 18 years when I would see my friends losing weight and would think, “Oh, if she can do it, so can I.”  But I didn’t have the discipline or commitment to work past the initial weight loss.  I got tired of “their” food, that really didn’t taste that good anyway.  I was sick of being hungry all the time.  I was discouraged to be spending all that money on something that would probably not work long-term anyway.  And, importantly, I couldn’t see how what I was doing could ever be something I could do for the rest of my life.  

I’m not bashing or discrediting any particular diet program or product.  You will find people who thrive on this particular program or that one.  And that’s great….for them.  But that’s the key.  It wasn’t for me.  You have to find something that works for you; that works with your lifestyle, that works with your budget, that you could see yourself doing forever.  At some point, the “diet” is over and you have to go on eating for the rest of your life.  If what you are doing isn’t something you can do forever, odds are you will gain it all back once you end your “diet”. 

I needed the “jumpstart” of Rachel cooking.  Maybe this or that diet program is your jumpstart.  But until you come to terms with the fact that losing and keeping weight off involves a change in the way you eat forever, you will probably continue to go up and down on the scale.

So back to the original question:  Do I think the program I am on is better than others out there?

 No. 

But only because I don’t see myself on a “program”.

I have changed the way I eat.  And this change will stay with me the rest of my life.  I see myself always counting calories.  I see myself always eating within certain protein/carb/fat percentages.  I see myself staying away from certain foods (namely processed foods and refined flour and sugar products) forever.  These changes work with my lifestyle.  They work with my budget.  And they are changes, many of which are now habits, that will stay with me forever.  And that is how I am losing weight.

47 pounds gone.  Everyone says I need to do something special when I hit the 50 pound mark.  I'm open to suggestions!!!

A Change in Attitude

A strange phenomenon is taking place.  I’ve been hesitant to say it out loud because I don’t want to jinx it, but, truth be told, I am starting to enjoy working out.  (I’m never going to hear the end of this from my family members).  I’m not sure when the change in attitude started, but I definitely no longer have the dread of the next workout  that I formerly had.  In fact, I kinda, sort of, just a little bit, even look forward to it.  =O

I’ve been on a pretty regular six days per week workout schedule for the past couple of months.  I run every other day, and go to the gym on the other days.  I rest on Sundays.  The runs are going great.  I run 3 miles for two of the days and work on time goals.  The third run is untimed and I’m slowly adding quarters to it.  I’m at 3.5 now.   The timed runs are going ahead of my goals.  I ran the first 5K at 12 minute miles.  I wanted to be at 11 minute miles by the 4^th of July 5K (which I just signed up for last week).  But my runs are pretty consistently under 11 minute miles now, so I may push for 10 between now and then.  (Notice the completely non-committal “may”, thus leaving me an out if I don’t make it).

I don’t know how long this non-aversion to exercise will last, but I am enjoying it for now.  This is a definite first for me.  And it feels great!

Recipes

Rachel made these pancakes last weekend and they were so good!  I just had to post the recipe.  They are now our Saturday post-run breakfast.  I have three, with ¼ cup Pure Maple Syrup, and add two scrambled eggs to it, since the pancakes are so low in calorie.

Gluten-free Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

1 ¼ - 1 ½ oat flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 c. apple juice
1/3 c. apple sauce
1 egg
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbl of melted coconut oil

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in the other.  Then mix together.  Spray bottom of skillet with a cooking spray (I use Olive Oil), and spoon out in ¼ cup servings.  Each pancake is about 70 calories.  Makes roughly 14 pancakes.

And I have found my new “candy”.  Peanut Butter Protein Balls.  Where have these been all my life?!

1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I use Isoflex)
¾ cup Kirkland Organic Creamy Peanut Butter
¼ cup honey
½ cup dry rolled oats

Mix into balls and freeze on a plate of wax paper.  Once frozen, move to a ziplock bag.  Remove from bag a few minutes to unthaw before eating.  Makes 14 balls. 1 ball = 122 calories

(If you are using Myfitnesspal, it is on the database as Stormoen Protein Balls)

Peanut butter and chocolate!  It’s like heaven in a ball!

45 pounds gone.  I finally cleaned out my closet and seriously have very few clothes left in there!  But since I don’t want to stay in this size very long, I’m just making do and waiting for a whole new wardrobe when I get to where I want to be.  Now that’s motivating!