January/February weight management challenge

[Susan Otcenas]

I forgot to post my weight last Friday, but there was no change. Hoping for a better result this week (though, after Saturday night's cocktail party at a friend's house, I may have totally sabotaged my week....

Susan

[Veronica]

I don't think one day is a complete sabotage. Did you have fun? If yes, then no big deal. If no, well... we'll have to talk. Have you gotten back on track? Yeah, I figured you had.

Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed; look back on Saturday evening as a pleasure - not a guilty pleasure, a pleasure. Then get on you bike and ride!

Veronica

[Susan Otcenas]

I don't think one day is a complete sabotage. Did you have fun? If yes, then no big deal. If no, well... we'll have to talk. Have you gotten back on track? Yeah, I figured you had.

Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed; look back on Saturday evening as a pleasure - not a guilty pleasure, a pleasure. Then get on you bike and ride!

Veronica

Yes, had a great time, with wonderful friends. It was all worth it!

I do sometimes get into the "guilty pleasure" mindset, and need the occasional reminder to lighten up a little, so thanks! It's hard to reconcile that against the "don't let what you want now get in the way of what you really want" mode I'm trying to be in, though. It's a delicate balance!

[Veronica]

It's a delicate balance!

Ain't that the truth!

I have a desk drawer with Welch's Fruit Snacks in it. Don't know why, but those things are like crack for me. One bag and I need to have 4 or 5 more. bags.

I generally don't get into that drawer, but today I was putting away some stuff after school and those fruit things were calling my name.

I said, "Shut up, fruit things!" and closed the drawer. I could still hear them, but it was much fainter.

Now those, are a guilty pleasure. No good reason for me to eat them, ever. I have them to give to my students for 100% completion of homework for the month. They like them and they're not too junky.

Veronica

[indysteel]

I don't think one day is a complete sabotage. Did you have fun? If yes, then no big deal. If no, well... we'll have to talk. Have you gotten back on track? Yeah, I figured you had.

Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed; look back on Saturday evening as a pleasure - not a guilty pleasure, a pleasure. Then get on you bike and ride!

Veronica

I heart this post.

[Susan Otcenas]

Then get on you bike and ride!

OH, I forgot to mention....

Sadly, I am currently sidelined and not riding. And going absolutely STIRCRAZY because of it. I've been battling an IT band issue since October-ish and it's finally gotten too bad to ignore. I've started ART treatments http://www.activerelease.com/about.asp with a very well respected doctor here in Portland. No cycling, no running (though I've been cleared to begin again in a very limited manner later this week), but lots and lots of swimming. I've swum 4 of the past 5 days, which is unheard of for me, but if I don't do something, I'll go insane.

This is part of the reason I'm extra sensitive about what I'm eating right now, because my level of exercise has fallen off a cliff. There's only so much swimming I can do, and it just doesn't get my aerobic system going the way cycling or running does.

Susan

[Veronica]

Awww.... that is a bummer. How about weights and core work?

Veronica

[Susan Otcenas]

Awww.... that is a bummer. How about weights and core work?

Veronica

Yes, starting a program of core and strength training, rehab stretches, etc.

I'm a crappy swimmer, so I'm, trying to see the glass-half-full of all the swimming I'll be doing in the interim. Plus, I start swim lessons with an awesome coach this weekend, so who knows, maybe it will all be for the best? One thing is for sure, I will never again take healthy legs for granted. I've NEVER had an overuse injury, and boy I hope never to have one again.

[Catrin]

(((Susan))) I am sorry to hear about your over-use injury! It isn't fun, but it will pass. I am sure you will be more patient than I was...

I do remember last winter when I was dying to find some kind of cardiovascular exercise that wouldn't tweak my quads and hamstring, I tried the "hand-cycle" at my gym. Lucky for you, you can swim so that provides you another option.

[Susan Otcenas]

(((Susan))) Lucky for you, you can swim ...

Not sure that the flailing about that I do can be classified as swimming, but yeah, at least it's an alternate activity. Today's swim will be my 5th in 6 days. I'm thinking of having gills surgically implanted.

On the bright side, I saw a new 2012 low on the scale this morning, so I must be doing something right. One of my co-workers came in this morning and said that today is national peanut butter day. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1228291.html I wonder if I can work some in....

[Tri Girl]

And going absolutely STIRCRAZY because of it.

I'm sorry to hear you're injured. I feel your pain.

I've been dealing with a stress fracture on my tibia since before Thanksgiving. I can bike to work (only because I ride a cruiser and go so slowly), but I can't REALLY ride and can't run at all.
I tried walking for the first time in 7 weeks last week and it still hurt. That means at least another 5 weeks off.
NOTHING maintains my weight like running. It's maddening.

We will heal. All in good time (I keep telling myself).
Hang in there!!

[Gypsy]

So, I made an appointment for a nutritionist and the appointment is tomorrow.

Now, I want to cancel it.

She called today to confirm the appointment (I think it was her or maybe it was her assistant) and that was it. I asked if I should bring anything with me (like food diary etc.) and I was told if I wanted to write down what I eat on a typical day (weekday or weekend) that would be fine, but that they would give me a menu plan.

*sigh*

This is what I wanted to avoid. I don't know if I should go just in case I'm wrong. Or if I should just cancel it and go with someone else.

In addition to this nutritionist, I found someone else who has worked with other women who cycle (a friend of hers did, used her, then referred her to other women cyclists, and now knows about it) but she doesn't use insurance and her rates are really high.

Or, I can just continue through trial and error and figure it out on my own.

Thoughts? What would you do?

[indysteel]

I've never worked with a nutritionist, but perhaps it would be worth your while to call the office back and tell them specifically what kind of information/assistance you're looking for from the nutritionist. Be frank but polite that you're interested in something different from, or in addition to, a menu plan and ask if they work for clients in that manner. If the answer is "not really" or a grudging "yes," then tell them that you think it would be better to seek assistance elsewhere. It could just be that this is the default approach that the nutritionist takes because most of her/his clients simply want to be told what to eat.

Again, I don't know what's standard in this area, but I've learned over time to be more assertive (but polite) even when it comes to the services that I get from people like doctors, PTs, therapists and the like. I realize they're the "expert," but it's my body and my money. I make sure I state what I want and need out of the relationship.

[Jones]

I have read all the articles and have learned much, but it still all seems to come down to the same thing. There are no short cuts in losing weight and it will be a life long commitment. I just need to wrap my head around the fact that if I eat cookies I am choosing to be fat and my weight is nobodys fault but my own.

On a different topic: I want gills too. Every time I swim I dream of not having to turn my head to breath. That is why I like the drill of pulling 300 yards and breathing every three strokes on the first 50 every five strokes on the second 50 and every seven strokes on the thrid 50 and repeat. When you only breath every fifth stroke you get accross the pool much faster, but every seven strokes is hard.

[Gypsy]

I've never worked with a nutritionist, but perhaps it would be worth your while to call the office back and tell them specifically what kind of information/assistance you're looking for from the nutritionist. Be frank but polite that you're interested in something different from, or in addition to, a menu plan and ask if they work for clients in that manner. If the answer is "not really" or a grudging "yes," then tell them that you think it would be better to seek assistance elsewhere. It could just be that this is the default approach that the nutritionist takes because most of her/his clients simply want to be told what to eat.

Again, I don't know what's standard in this area, but I've learned over time to be more assertive (but polite) even when it comes to the services that I get from people like doctors, PTs, therapists and the like. I realize they're the "expert," but it's my body and my money. I make sure I state what I want and need out of the relationship.

Thanks. I will do that. I think I need to find out exactly if I'm going to get what I need/want out of this otherwise, there's no sense in spending the time or money.