I have not kept up with the daily blogging about the Whole30 approach like I stated I would, but I HAVE stayed true to the program, and am halfway through Day 4.
What have the last three days been like for me? I have had some ups and some downs, and have craved Diet Coke every second of every minute of every hour of every day. That is not an exaggeration, which tells me that I have a serious addiction. I thought giving up dairy would be difficult because I love cheese, heavy cream, and sour cream. It has not been that terrible. I knew how I would feel about giving up grains, legumes, and sugar, although this is the first time I have ever gone cold turkey from sweeteners of any kind, as I have always had artificial ones around my house, but apparently, Paleo eating frowns on those, and Whole30 frowns on all of it, including honey, which I love. I believe after the Whole30 is complete, I can substitute honey, molasses, and probably agave in recipes, but we will see.
So, let's break it down day by day so far:
Day Two: after completing the first day, I knew Day 2 might be a bit difficult, and it was. I felt hungry all day long! I had planned on riding bikes when I got home, but honestly prayed that God would send some rain so we couldn't make the ride. Sure enough, as I got closer to home, I found out that it had been raining, and we decided to postpone until another time. We actually could have ridden, because the rain did not come back, but I was good with not going, because I was dead tired, and very cranky. I meant to go to bed earlier, but did not, which was not a good thing. I did stay true to the program, however, and ate things such as eggs with bacon, grilled chicken with veggies, and hamburger patty with veggies, and an apple. I am not sure about the whole fruit thing, especially where apples and bananas are concerned, because they tend to make me crave more. I think I will stick more to berries most of the time.
Day Three: it was not terribly bad, although there were ups and downs. I managed to get through the day at work well, because I worked out in our shop with the clients and it helped pass the time. I came home and made some homemade mayo (incredibly easy and CHEAP), and used that to make avocado dressing that was very tasty. I ate a salad with my chicken (also had chicken for lunch) and ate some berries. Skipping the fruit at lunch made me feel less hungry, so I see a trend here. Still missed my DC and felt on the verge of cheating at times because the cravings would be that strong. I managed to get into bed by 10:15---yay!!
Day Four: I am in the middle of it, but here is what I have learned so far. My face is broken out even worse than before I started, but since that is normal, I am okay with it. Nothing a little makeup can't hide. According to the timeline, I am supposed to want to "kill all the things" but I can't say that I do. I am a little more testy, but that could just be the normal me. So far I have not bitten anyone's head off----so far. The day is still young. Still having intense cravings, but am drinking my water and trying not to think of them.
I received some positive encouragement from the few friends I have told about this, and from strangers on the Whole30 FB page. That always counts, and I will probably be leaning on them more and more.
On the menu for tonight is ribeye steak, a salad, sweet potato, and maybe strawberries with homemade whipped coconut milk. That actually sounds delicious to me.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Whole30 Day One
I started the Whole30 yesterday, and it went pretty much as expected. I was off work because of Memorial Day, so I spent some of the day lounging around in bed reading, and even went on a bike ride, although not a very long one and with plenty of stops along the way. I have a feeling my energy is going to be zapped this week, and I will want to lie in bed when I get home. I am okay with that, because I know my body is adjusting.
Today, I had:
2 eggs scrambled in coconut oil, salsa, and 2 pieces of bacon. I know I am supposed to avoid the processed bacon, but I can't afford to get the whole30 approved yet, so I ate what I had.
hamburger patty, wiener, mustard, lettuce, tomato, blueberries. Not sure I ate enough at lunch because I was pretty hungry afterwards.
hamburger patty, brussel sprouts with clarified butter and bacon, strawberries. I drank water with all of my meals and plenty in between.
I missed my diet cokes and missed snacking in between meals, but all in all, I managed to make it through the day, and was in bed shortly after ten.
Today, I had:
2 eggs scrambled in coconut oil, salsa, and 2 pieces of bacon. I know I am supposed to avoid the processed bacon, but I can't afford to get the whole30 approved yet, so I ate what I had.
hamburger patty, wiener, mustard, lettuce, tomato, blueberries. Not sure I ate enough at lunch because I was pretty hungry afterwards.
hamburger patty, brussel sprouts with clarified butter and bacon, strawberries. I drank water with all of my meals and plenty in between.
I missed my diet cokes and missed snacking in between meals, but all in all, I managed to make it through the day, and was in bed shortly after ten.
Whole30
A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon a recipe for homemade mayo that was posted by Kalyn's Kitchen and referenced the Whole30 program that an acquaintance/family member/someone she knows is doing. I was intrigued by the simplicity of the homemade mayo, and then was further intrigued by Whole30. After googling (like I do), I discovered two of the cutest people on the planet talking about their program and subsequent book that was actually published in 2009, but has had an insurgence because of social media. Imagine social media being used for good. These cuties are a husband and wife team that could not possibly be more fit than they are. He is a physical therapist and both of them are certified sports nutritionists, and they live in Utah. From what I have been reading, pretty much the whole state of Utah is obsessed with Whole30 and their blog Whole9. I am not sure if obsession is in the cards for me, but as my weight continues to climb, something besides food certainly needs to be.
I know, I know. Wasn't it just a week or so that I swore of dieting and yearned for a more balanced approach to food and my life in general? Wasn't I going to "get ahold of my eating, and turn this around?" I can't remember all the stuff I said, but apparently, it was just "stuff" because since posting that, I have managed to gain MORE!! I am in desperation mode here, and it takes desperation for me to finally get off my butt and do something about the food I am consuming and the way it makes me feel.
The premise behind Whole30 is pretty straight forward, simple, and incredibly structured. I don't like structure, but I also don't like weighing 261 pounds. That's right---261! I have not weighed that much in 18 years when I was mega pregnant with Kira. Whole30 is based on the paleo diet, and if you are not familiar, you basically stay away from all things processed, eliminating grains, sugar including artificial sweeteners (what!?!?!), dairy including cheese (NO!!!), corn and potatoes, except for sweet potatoes (yay!), and legumes, except for green beans (whatever). This is what I see when looking at the "can't have list"
I can't have Diet Cokes-----I am addicted to Diet Cokes!!! Seriously!!! I have no less than four 12 ounce cans per day, and sometimes that is just during the working hours.
I can't have cheese----I adore cheese! All cheese! Cheese is a big part of my life and now I can't have it.
I can't have bread----I have done without this before, and I can do without it again. It is tough, but I always had my DC and cheese to fall back on. I no longer have that.
I can't have sugar in any form----No artificial sweeteners. No sugar free jello, no sugar free cheesecake or sugar free candy, no GUM!!!
I can't have junk food---yeah, okay, I shouldn't have junk food anyway, but when you tell me I can't, all I do is WANT.
What can I have?
I can have meat, chicken, fish (preferably grass fed, organic, and wild)
I can have fruit
I can have vegetables
I can have sweet potatoes
I can have WATER!!
Whole30 is incredibly restrictive and I am going to get worse before I get better. The authors of the book tell me that up front, but they also tell me that the payoff is worth it, and I am going to feel better than ever after my 30 days of over. Did I mention that those restrictions last only 30 days? That seems like forever from now, but 30 days passes by so quickly, and I should be able to do anything for 30 days, although I believe I would enjoy the "Eat Whatever You Want" program a lot better. What happens after the 30 days is over? They are realistic here. They say that if you want a bowl of ice cream, eat one. Chances are it will make you feel like death, but if you want it, have it. I am reading testimonials, and some people to have a special treat once they finished, but most want to jump right back and do another Whole 30. One woman who looks to be about my age, has lost 43 pounds doing this for three months. Chances are, she took a break in between and then started back, which is probably what I will do. I have a LOT of weight to lose, so I will be doing Whole30 several times over.
I would love to make permanent changes with this program. I know what grain does to me. I do not have celiac disease and do not suffer those severe symptoms, but I know that my skin looks better when I stay away from grain, I feel less bloated, I joints do not hurt as bad, and my mind is clearer. This is what happens to me and may not happen to everyone. I would love to ditch my beloved Diet Cokes forever. They have no nutritional value whatsoever, and cause a lot of damage if you believe the studies done. They also make me hungrier and who doesn't need to drink more water. I would love to fall in love with fruit. I have never been a big fruit eater, because I am a junk food person, and all my sweet cravings have always been in the form of cakes, ice creams, candy bars, etc. I would also love to transition to grass fed beef, organic chicken, and wild caught fish when I can afford to do so, and I believe that will be possible on down the road. Right now, however, I have to make this work eating supermarket meat, poultry, and fish.
Will this work? Will I make it 30 days? I fully believe that I can. I will take it one day at a time, and see what happens.
Wish me luck.
I know, I know. Wasn't it just a week or so that I swore of dieting and yearned for a more balanced approach to food and my life in general? Wasn't I going to "get ahold of my eating, and turn this around?" I can't remember all the stuff I said, but apparently, it was just "stuff" because since posting that, I have managed to gain MORE!! I am in desperation mode here, and it takes desperation for me to finally get off my butt and do something about the food I am consuming and the way it makes me feel.
The premise behind Whole30 is pretty straight forward, simple, and incredibly structured. I don't like structure, but I also don't like weighing 261 pounds. That's right---261! I have not weighed that much in 18 years when I was mega pregnant with Kira. Whole30 is based on the paleo diet, and if you are not familiar, you basically stay away from all things processed, eliminating grains, sugar including artificial sweeteners (what!?!?!), dairy including cheese (NO!!!), corn and potatoes, except for sweet potatoes (yay!), and legumes, except for green beans (whatever). This is what I see when looking at the "can't have list"
I can't have Diet Cokes-----I am addicted to Diet Cokes!!! Seriously!!! I have no less than four 12 ounce cans per day, and sometimes that is just during the working hours.
I can't have cheese----I adore cheese! All cheese! Cheese is a big part of my life and now I can't have it.
I can't have bread----I have done without this before, and I can do without it again. It is tough, but I always had my DC and cheese to fall back on. I no longer have that.
I can't have sugar in any form----No artificial sweeteners. No sugar free jello, no sugar free cheesecake or sugar free candy, no GUM!!!
I can't have junk food---yeah, okay, I shouldn't have junk food anyway, but when you tell me I can't, all I do is WANT.
What can I have?
I can have meat, chicken, fish (preferably grass fed, organic, and wild)
I can have fruit
I can have vegetables
I can have sweet potatoes
I can have WATER!!
Whole30 is incredibly restrictive and I am going to get worse before I get better. The authors of the book tell me that up front, but they also tell me that the payoff is worth it, and I am going to feel better than ever after my 30 days of over. Did I mention that those restrictions last only 30 days? That seems like forever from now, but 30 days passes by so quickly, and I should be able to do anything for 30 days, although I believe I would enjoy the "Eat Whatever You Want" program a lot better. What happens after the 30 days is over? They are realistic here. They say that if you want a bowl of ice cream, eat one. Chances are it will make you feel like death, but if you want it, have it. I am reading testimonials, and some people to have a special treat once they finished, but most want to jump right back and do another Whole 30. One woman who looks to be about my age, has lost 43 pounds doing this for three months. Chances are, she took a break in between and then started back, which is probably what I will do. I have a LOT of weight to lose, so I will be doing Whole30 several times over.
I would love to make permanent changes with this program. I know what grain does to me. I do not have celiac disease and do not suffer those severe symptoms, but I know that my skin looks better when I stay away from grain, I feel less bloated, I joints do not hurt as bad, and my mind is clearer. This is what happens to me and may not happen to everyone. I would love to ditch my beloved Diet Cokes forever. They have no nutritional value whatsoever, and cause a lot of damage if you believe the studies done. They also make me hungrier and who doesn't need to drink more water. I would love to fall in love with fruit. I have never been a big fruit eater, because I am a junk food person, and all my sweet cravings have always been in the form of cakes, ice creams, candy bars, etc. I would also love to transition to grass fed beef, organic chicken, and wild caught fish when I can afford to do so, and I believe that will be possible on down the road. Right now, however, I have to make this work eating supermarket meat, poultry, and fish.
Will this work? Will I make it 30 days? I fully believe that I can. I will take it one day at a time, and see what happens.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Riding Solo
Admittedly, I get a better workout when I ride with my friends, especially when we are talking animatedly about something and the miles peel away with little or no thought to how fast we are going or what we may be missing along the way. I love days like that. I love to catch up on the lives of my buds while enjoying the outdoors. I love when we solve the world's problems, which is pretty much every time we ride, or just work through something personal that is going on. Mostly, I love laughing so much that I lose my voice midway through the ride, and get it back only when we stop for water. I have blogged several times about riding with my friends and how much that means to me. I try to ride with someone at least twice a week, but we are all very forgiving if something comes up and one of us can't ride. We all feel free to say no.
Yesterday, I rode solo, and I did not mind it at all. Admittedly, my solo ride was a bit shorter and more leisurely than when I ride with my friends, but it was still a great ride, and I am glad I went. I love my family and friends, but I also love to be alone. I have been to movies by myself, shopping by myself, trips by myself, and have eaten in numerous restaurants by myself. Eating alone in a restaurant is unheard of for some, but I find that I sometimes receive better service when I am alone, and especially when I have a notebook or digital device with me because they are not QUITE sure that I am NOT a food critic. Try it next time, especially if you are dressed well and repeatedly type or write something after eating a bite of food.
When I ride alone, I try my best to be prepared for the unexpected. I always have my water, and make certain my cell phone is fully charged in case I have an emergency. I also keep a small canister of pepper spray attached to my bike for easy retrieval, just in case I need to show it to a dog, or one of those two footed creatures who may look a little too shady. The last time I pulled it out to show a dog, I honestly think it rolled its eyes at me in complete disinterest. Usually, I will also have my iPod Shuffle with me, making sure I keep one ear open for approaching cyclists. I love listening to my playlist while I ride, and often find myself varying my speed based on what song is playing. It is not uncommon for me to sing out loud, and loudly. I love music and something about listening to it while riding takes freedom to a new level.
Whether riding alone or with my friends, I never feel as free as when I am riding the trail, talking, singing, or marveling at five deer as they amble across the trail. I am sure they felt pretty free themselves.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
What's The Point?
If you have known me for very long, you know that my struggle with my weight has been a lifelong one, although not to the extent it is for me today. In fact, in school, I average being anywhere from 20-40 pounds overweight, and not the staggering 100 plus where I find myself at this moment. I don't intend to spend the next few minutes whining about all the diets I have been on and failed, because at 100+ pounds overweight, I think the failure part is pretty obvious. I also am not asking for "assistance" on how to lose this weight. That happened the last time I blogged and was honest about my struggles. I put myself out there, got lots of unsolicited advice, and when I failed to become a CNN weight loss story of the month, I actually lost the support of at least one person who I thought was one of my biggest cheerleaders. I ran into her in a store a few months after I finished my blog about bike riding for 28 days, and when she saw that my body composition had not changed in the slightest, she seemed to completely lose interest, and barely even spoke.
What is the point of this blog entry? I am not really sure, except that I feel that I owe it to myself to be completely honest in regard to where I am now in my struggle to become a healthier person and to lose weight. I am in the process of changing my food lifestyle and while I am a "quick fix" kind of girl, at 50 years of age, I finally realize that there is no such thing, as there is no such thing as total deprivation, at least not all at once. I spoke of finding a balance in my last post, and I am still seeking that balance. Last week was a good one, until Mother's Day when I flooded my body with food that I was not even hungry for, but ate it anyway because I am still unsure how to handle social situations and because it was there. Why have just a hamburger when you can also add a hotdog? Why only have potato salad when you can also add chips and dip? Why stop at the trifle when you really love your mom's cake as well? I like the term Food Flood, because that is exactly what I did, and it is taking a few days for the flood to recede, and has taken me farther away from my goal. Thankfully, I got back on track yesterday, and the flood is receding a little at a time. I need flood insurance, but if I am completely honest with myself, I have to realize that I will alway live in a flood zone. I am wired toward binge eating, but with enough preparation and a lot of sand bags, it is possible to withstand the next one, which is likely to come on Father's Day. There is something about holidays, birthdays, Fridays, etc.
While I am still trying to figure out the point of this blog entry, I will be honest about another area of my life directly related to my weight struggle. I DESPISE HAVING MY PICTURE TAKEN!!! I am not sure about any of you, but I look better when I see myself in a mirror than I do when I see myself how I really look through the eyes of a camera. Photos are very revealing, and I have very few of myself because they force me to see how I really look. I have this one photo that Anthony took of Kira and me when she was 2 or three, and while she is her always adorable self, she is not the one my eyes are drawn to. I am. Not because I was still in my '30s (I loved my '30s), but because I was pretty. I loved my hair, and I loved my body. I was not thin, and if memory serves I weighed around 190 which is still considered obese (sigh) for someone of my height, but I looked healthy and I felt fantastic. I will not post that picture here because it is too painful to look at now, but I do know that I can get back there and I have goals to do that. What I will do, however, is something I despise doing. I am posting my "before" shots. Both of these were taken in the last 10 days, and while I am unhappy with both, they reveal to me where I am today, but definitely not where I plan to be weeks from now. I have goals that I will discuss in a later post, and plan to post follow-up pictures wearing the same outfits.
If you know me, you know that posting those two pictures is one of the hardest things I will do today. I open myself up to judgement, but I also open myself up to support, and am hoping more for the latter.
What is the point of this entry? I still don't know. Maybe I just felt like being honest, or maybe I need some accountability, or maybe I am just ready for change.
Maybe those pictures will be on CNN one day.
What is the point of this blog entry? I am not really sure, except that I feel that I owe it to myself to be completely honest in regard to where I am now in my struggle to become a healthier person and to lose weight. I am in the process of changing my food lifestyle and while I am a "quick fix" kind of girl, at 50 years of age, I finally realize that there is no such thing, as there is no such thing as total deprivation, at least not all at once. I spoke of finding a balance in my last post, and I am still seeking that balance. Last week was a good one, until Mother's Day when I flooded my body with food that I was not even hungry for, but ate it anyway because I am still unsure how to handle social situations and because it was there. Why have just a hamburger when you can also add a hotdog? Why only have potato salad when you can also add chips and dip? Why stop at the trifle when you really love your mom's cake as well? I like the term Food Flood, because that is exactly what I did, and it is taking a few days for the flood to recede, and has taken me farther away from my goal. Thankfully, I got back on track yesterday, and the flood is receding a little at a time. I need flood insurance, but if I am completely honest with myself, I have to realize that I will alway live in a flood zone. I am wired toward binge eating, but with enough preparation and a lot of sand bags, it is possible to withstand the next one, which is likely to come on Father's Day. There is something about holidays, birthdays, Fridays, etc.
While I am still trying to figure out the point of this blog entry, I will be honest about another area of my life directly related to my weight struggle. I DESPISE HAVING MY PICTURE TAKEN!!! I am not sure about any of you, but I look better when I see myself in a mirror than I do when I see myself how I really look through the eyes of a camera. Photos are very revealing, and I have very few of myself because they force me to see how I really look. I have this one photo that Anthony took of Kira and me when she was 2 or three, and while she is her always adorable self, she is not the one my eyes are drawn to. I am. Not because I was still in my '30s (I loved my '30s), but because I was pretty. I loved my hair, and I loved my body. I was not thin, and if memory serves I weighed around 190 which is still considered obese (sigh) for someone of my height, but I looked healthy and I felt fantastic. I will not post that picture here because it is too painful to look at now, but I do know that I can get back there and I have goals to do that. What I will do, however, is something I despise doing. I am posting my "before" shots. Both of these were taken in the last 10 days, and while I am unhappy with both, they reveal to me where I am today, but definitely not where I plan to be weeks from now. I have goals that I will discuss in a later post, and plan to post follow-up pictures wearing the same outfits.
If you know me, you know that posting those two pictures is one of the hardest things I will do today. I open myself up to judgement, but I also open myself up to support, and am hoping more for the latter.
What is the point of this entry? I still don't know. Maybe I just felt like being honest, or maybe I need some accountability, or maybe I am just ready for change.
Maybe those pictures will be on CNN one day.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Extreme versus Balanced
This is the second beginning to this blog post, as well as the second title. Why? Because I am trying to sum up my personality, and what my personality type has to do with my inability to stick to goals I have set for myself time and time again to become a healthier person. At first I thought I was a food addict, but that was basically an excuse I used for my constant failure at diets. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary addict means "to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively." In some sense that could possibly describe me, but I have proven in the past that I can go without food. When I was going to WW, I would stop eating on Sunday night, and go completely without food until my weigh-in on Tuesday evening. I can go without food. If addict did not fit, what about undisciplined? I can certainly be that. Ask my co-workers about the paperwork that is still sitting on my desk and should have been turned in weeks ago. Ask my husband about the many promises not to spend money we don't have simply because I believe I need something. Ask God about my shoddy prayer life and Bible study. Don't do that last one please. Seriously. I have started and stopped so many weight loss programs, and Bible studies, and exercise regimens, that I am embarrassed to begin to give them a number. But does the word undisciplined describe me best? After all, I have worked since I was 16 years old, and have been at my current job for a month shy of 20 years.
I believe that while I have an addictive personality, and am pretty much undisciplined, as well as impulsive, selfish, lazy, etc., the word that best describes who I am is EXTREME. While there are many variations of the definition of that word, the one that seems most to describe me is "going to great or exaggerated lengths."
Take dieting for instance. In a previous blog post, I stated that my eating plan of choice would be low carb. I have been on low carb diets before and have been incredibly successful. In all honesty, a low carb diet is perfect for me for many reasons. I believe, although I have never been tested, that I have a low tolerance for all things gluten and sugary. I feel better physically when I do not eat bread or sugar. My hunger diminishes drastically when I cut out most carbs. It is a doable diet for me, especially with the introduction of nut flours and good for you sugar substitutes. It is doable, IF I never eat out with friends, have unlimited money to spend for those expensive nut flours and sugar substitutes, and never plan to eat banana pudding again for the rest of my life. It is doable, but it is EXTREME.
Take exercise. I am either all in or all out. I either exercise every day for at least an hour, or I give it up completely and channel surf from my sofa. Yesterday for example, I told my husband that I planned to walk to choir practice that evening. It is 3.52 miles to FBC Jacksonville from my house if I go the back roads. Since Jacksonville is only pedestrian friendly when you get into the heart of town, it would have been necessary to use the trail, adding some mileage on. It was an insane idea for someone who professes to only walking when necessary, and knowing that it would be dark when I got out of practice, I would have to go through town on the way home, and call someone to pick me up when I ran out of sidewalk. Could I have done it? Sure. Was it a bit fool hardy? If the look on Anthony's face was any indication, I would say, yes it was.
Cycling has fallen prey to my extreme personality on more than one occasion. There have been the times when I set out to just ride a few miles, and decided to push my limits and ride all the way to Piedmont and back, which is 30 miles give or take a few miles. This is doable and pleasurable even when I have been riding for a while and have built up my endurance. The EXTREME me decides to do this after only being back on my bike for a WEEK, and on my cruiser that only has two good speeds. When I ride with friends, I most often ride with those who are much more physically fit than I am----MUCH MORE, and I refuse to admit when I am exhausted, and am usually the bozo who says "let's ride one way for an hour, and then turn around and ride an hour back. Let's also do this when the winds are high." How about "let's keep going. I am sure darkness will not set in until we get back." Probably the most extreme idea I had was to ride the Ladiga Trail in its entirety in one day round trip on my cruiser. That did not happen, or I might not have lived to tell about it.
An extreme personality needs balance, and I find my balance in the people closest to me. My husband who looks at me as if I have two heads when I have one of my crazy ideas. The friend who says "hey, I need to slow down" giving me permission to admit that I need to do the same. The eating plan that comes along and says "you don't need to be an extreme dieter. You just need balance." Balance is what will keep me on my path to wellness. Whether it is in my eating, or with my exercise, BALANCE is the key to my success.
Balance may mean that it takes a little longer to reach my goals, but it may also mean that I will become a bit less addictive, a bit more disciplined, and a whole lot happier.
Here are a couple of pictures from one of my rides last week. We traveled a bit further down the north portion of the trail, and added another friend.
I believe that while I have an addictive personality, and am pretty much undisciplined, as well as impulsive, selfish, lazy, etc., the word that best describes who I am is EXTREME. While there are many variations of the definition of that word, the one that seems most to describe me is "going to great or exaggerated lengths."
Take dieting for instance. In a previous blog post, I stated that my eating plan of choice would be low carb. I have been on low carb diets before and have been incredibly successful. In all honesty, a low carb diet is perfect for me for many reasons. I believe, although I have never been tested, that I have a low tolerance for all things gluten and sugary. I feel better physically when I do not eat bread or sugar. My hunger diminishes drastically when I cut out most carbs. It is a doable diet for me, especially with the introduction of nut flours and good for you sugar substitutes. It is doable, IF I never eat out with friends, have unlimited money to spend for those expensive nut flours and sugar substitutes, and never plan to eat banana pudding again for the rest of my life. It is doable, but it is EXTREME.
Take exercise. I am either all in or all out. I either exercise every day for at least an hour, or I give it up completely and channel surf from my sofa. Yesterday for example, I told my husband that I planned to walk to choir practice that evening. It is 3.52 miles to FBC Jacksonville from my house if I go the back roads. Since Jacksonville is only pedestrian friendly when you get into the heart of town, it would have been necessary to use the trail, adding some mileage on. It was an insane idea for someone who professes to only walking when necessary, and knowing that it would be dark when I got out of practice, I would have to go through town on the way home, and call someone to pick me up when I ran out of sidewalk. Could I have done it? Sure. Was it a bit fool hardy? If the look on Anthony's face was any indication, I would say, yes it was.
Cycling has fallen prey to my extreme personality on more than one occasion. There have been the times when I set out to just ride a few miles, and decided to push my limits and ride all the way to Piedmont and back, which is 30 miles give or take a few miles. This is doable and pleasurable even when I have been riding for a while and have built up my endurance. The EXTREME me decides to do this after only being back on my bike for a WEEK, and on my cruiser that only has two good speeds. When I ride with friends, I most often ride with those who are much more physically fit than I am----MUCH MORE, and I refuse to admit when I am exhausted, and am usually the bozo who says "let's ride one way for an hour, and then turn around and ride an hour back. Let's also do this when the winds are high." How about "let's keep going. I am sure darkness will not set in until we get back." Probably the most extreme idea I had was to ride the Ladiga Trail in its entirety in one day round trip on my cruiser. That did not happen, or I might not have lived to tell about it.
An extreme personality needs balance, and I find my balance in the people closest to me. My husband who looks at me as if I have two heads when I have one of my crazy ideas. The friend who says "hey, I need to slow down" giving me permission to admit that I need to do the same. The eating plan that comes along and says "you don't need to be an extreme dieter. You just need balance." Balance is what will keep me on my path to wellness. Whether it is in my eating, or with my exercise, BALANCE is the key to my success.
Balance may mean that it takes a little longer to reach my goals, but it may also mean that I will become a bit less addictive, a bit more disciplined, and a whole lot happier.
Here are a couple of pictures from one of my rides last week. We traveled a bit further down the north portion of the trail, and added another friend.
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