learning new habits

So it was two weeks ago that I got really sick and went "off" food for three or four days. I have managed to change my habits quite a bit since then. I don't really ever eat more than 1800-2000 calories a day, which is a big change since I used to easily consume 2500. Most of it seems to come down to just snacking less. Also, I don't eat after dinner at all, and have gotten used to being hungry at bedtime. I wonder whether I have turned some sort of corner when it comes to my diet. I wonder whether I've reached some sort of turning point. I'm hoping so.

One thing I've kind of given up is cereal. It takes so much cereal to fill me up - a serving size makes me laugh. So that's just about gone from my diet. And other stuff I'm just eating less of. Plus I've been eating a LOT of soup. And I'm going to stick to the non-diet sodas even after lent. Artificial sweeteners are so bad for you, and here I was all worried that I'd gain weight if I drank regular coke, but I'm losing it. It's very strange, but it really seems true that artificial sweeteners actually make your sweet tooth stronger. I really don't get chocolate cravings any longer. I drink one or two small regular sodas each day - usually just one - and that does me for sugar. I've also been drinking a lot of water.

We'll see how it goes - I'm cautiously optimistic. Stats tomorrow.

Stats

So I weighed a solid 235-236 this morning. Down about 7 lbs from where I started. Am within ten pounds of the weight I was when I lived in NYC. Which means I can break out the NYC pants that don't fit anymore. That will be exciting. Am getting used to being hungry. Will post measurements each month, I guess, so none today.

It feels nice to not be afraid of the scale.

Long time no blog

So I've been really sick, which is my excuse. This weekend I wound up in the hospital with critical dehydration, that's how much I was throwing up. Though I think it was a message from God to chill out and stop stressing. Three weeks ago I had my mom visiting, and then I had two crazy weeks with lots of travel, and I think I caught a stomach bug and really took it hard because my system was vulnerable. Sooo....

So I got down to about 235 after this whole sick thing. And it's just really interesting because even though I'm doing better now, I kind of got used to not wanting to eat. I'm hoping maybe I can make a habit out of this, and have an upside from the sick thing.

It's really weird for me. I'm eating half a cookie and tossing the other half. I'm not filling my cereal bowl. I'm not finishing dinner. It's really strange for me. But I'm not going to complain. If I can get in the habit of not eating, and even when I'm back to being hungry again, knowing that I'm not going to die if I don't eat - well, maybe that will make my sickness worth it...

Also, I'm excited to be comfortably below 240 now. I'm going to a conference in almost exactly a month - I'm hoping I can get down to 225 as a deadline. Because that was what I weighed in New York, and I could dig out my NYC clothes then. Here's hoping hungrily...

One day at a time...

So I had a long travel day on Wednesday. Once every two or three weeks I find myself passing the Auntie Anne's pretzel stand in the Oakland airport both in the morning, and the afternoon. I have been known to give in both times of day. I have never passed it by both morning and afternoon without getting at least one greasy pretzel. But I did on Wednesday, and I was super proud. Ok, so I celebrated with a hot fudge sundae at Carrows that night, but I bet that hot fudge sundae still had fewer calories than the pretzel, and I enjoyed it more.

I wound up doing something really wonky to my neck - I think I fell asleep on the plan in a weird way, and it's been hurting me ever since. Wed and Thurs it was really painful. Yesterday less so. And today it's pretty much gone. But I hadn't worked out since Tuesday, though I just did an abysmal half hour of half-hearted elliptical.

I guess that's it. A little scared to weigh myself tomorrow. I'm PMSing. Sigh.

Weekly Check In

So I'm going to start being religious about posting my stats each week, and I hope that the blogger community can help me keep on the schedule.

So this morning I weighed a solid 239.
My measurements... (because my gym-owning friend insists that measurements are a better way to keep track of progress than weight).
Upper arms: 14 and 3/4 inches
Bust: 40 inches
Waist: 44 1/2 inches
Hips: 50 1/2 inches
Upper thigh: 31 inches