Day 2/365: Articles and blooping

One of the things I'm trying to do since quitting facebook is fill my idle time with reading positive things about weight loss. I figure that in so doing, I will remain positive about my recommitment to my weight loss journey. Also, I have a lot of idle time now that I've rid myself of facebook. 

I read two that I wanted to share today. The first is about how to lose 100 pounds. Now, I don't think I'll lose quite that much, but the main point of the article that I resonated with was slow and steady wins the race. I'm someone who wants results fast. I figure why do something slowly if you can do it fast? But this was a nice little reminder that losing weight is a daily commitment.

The other article I liked was How to Tell Others About Your Weight Loss Goals. At the end of the article, there's a sample letter. I've copied and pasted it below because it resonated with me so much:

Dear (Kids/Hubby/Wife/Partner/Friend),

I have committed to making some big changes. I'm trying to eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, and live a healthy life. It hasn't been easy, but I'm taking these commitments seriously, and I would appreciate any help you can offer.

Be honest with me. I am overweight, and I want to lose weight safely and slowly. Listen to me and offer me advice, but please don't minimize the problem.

Stop lecturing me. Talk to me like you care about me, but please don't yell at me, nag me, or criticize me for wanting to change for the better.

Let me be in control. It's my choice. No one besides me can decide how much weight I'll lose, how I'll do it, or whether I want to lose it in the first place.

Don't monitor my food. Don't tell me I don't need a second helping or such a large portion. It only makes me feel bad about myself, which sometimes leads me to overeat.

Be there for me. Support me, encourage me, and compliment me. I want your help finding affordable ways to exercise and I'd like more healthful foods in the house. Better yet, start eating better and exercising alongside me! I want us all to live long, healthy, happy lives.

Don't exclude me. Don't make me the black sheep because I'm eating differently. Instead of focusing on me, try to get the entire family to take small steps to eat better. Don't make fun of me because I'm overweight or trying to lose weight.

Love me. Tell me that you love me regardless of what the scale says. Tell me I'm smart, beautiful/handsome, successful, loveable and talented at any weight. I need to hear it.

Be patient with me. Losing weight doesn't happen overnight. I want to commit to good habits and that takes time, patience, and sometimes more than one try.

Be realistic. I might never be as skinny as you or others might want me to be. But I will be a happier, healthier—and yes, lighter—me.

Thanks for listening, and please take this advice to heart.

Love,

Your name

I think the thing I liked the most was the food monitoring comment and the love me part. I eat in secret because I'm ashamed of what people would think of me and I think it's important that I break that cycle by telling people to politely mind their own fucking business. Also, the love me part hit me square in the old ticker because I am my own worst enemy and it's good to have people there to be your cheerleaders.

Anywho, I just thought I'd share because those articles spoke to me.

In other news, I tracked [laboriously] all day today. Nasur took the car and we were supposed to work out after work, but a) he didn't dress for the gym and b) it was 7:45 p.m. by the time I got home and raining so, c) I didn't want to go out again and d) I was really effing hungry. Thus, I made dinner and I played my new Just Dance 2017 on my Wii for a half hour. Something's better than nothing!

Dinner

Now I'm blogging while pooping (perhaps I should call this blooping) - multitasking at its finest!

LOOK AT MY BATHROOM PRINT

 See you tomorrow, blooping pals!

Napping, selfies, and snacking

Oh man, guys. Yesterday I made the mistake of napping in the afternoon when I had 6 a.m. lecture today. My nap was awesome, but I could not fall asleep until like 2:30 a.m. and then had to wake up by 5:00 a.m. to get to work by 6. Not cool. I was very le tired this morning. Like couldn't even think about putting in my contacts tired because I would likely scratch the hell out of my cornea or miss my eye or poke my eye out - you know, real world problems ;-)

So, anywho, I had a lovely day at work and then came home and napped hard. My intention was two hours - turned into 4+. Oops. And then I hit up the gym and had a pretty legit workout. I easily beat the elliptical and then came home and studied a bit. Now I'm freezing my butt off in my apartment thanks to the ridiculous Michigan weather and even more ridiculous wind, pushing the cold in through all the cracks. My apartment was a chilly 61° when I got home. And even though I turned the heat on to 68°F, the heat is primarily working in the living room, so I'm camping out here while I blog and watch the Arrow. I'm hoping my office/bedroom while be warm enough once I go back to bed.

In other news, I hit up the grocery store yesterday while I was hungry, which was a rookie mistake. I bought some of my favorite pretzels as well as some chocolate, which I really didn't need. I basically turned the chocolate and pretzels into meals the last two days, which was a mistake. Buuuut, I've already turned it around. Go me! Hitting up the gym, hydrating, and not snacking just to snack. Tomorrow I'll log calories and take photos of all my food just for you/mostly for me. 

Some photos for you to hold you over until tomorrow:

Breakfast for my day of surgery

Scrub selfie (they really do nothing for your shape)

This upgrade took foreverrrrr

But look at the new colorful thinking thing!

I think that's about all I've got for now. Tomorrow I have clinic in the morning. I intend to hit up the gym after clinic, get some good studying in, and then head back to work (I have a 4:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift). I'll cut myself off from eating around 8 p.m. so that once I get home I am able to hit the hay and get some good sleep so I can study like a maniac all weekend. My test is on Monday (and Tuesday)!

Scale discrepancies (read: a weigh-in) and today's selfie

So today I woke up and did my weigh-in as promised - I almost forgot because I was distracted by some major low back pain. For those of you who are faithful and read all my posts, you'll know that I've been seeing a chiropractor as well as DO to help with my back. For those of you who are not faithful readers, shame on you welcome! I have an appointment on Friday with the DO and decided today that I had to see the chiropractor. I couldn't even bend over after my shower this morning to dry off my legs after my shower. And I didn't want to spiral down into something awful. So, I bit the bullet and saw the chiropractor. He adjusted me quickly, said my sacrum was out of alignment (per usual) and then sent me on my merry way. Since getting home, I've been using my heating pad and trying to move around more. I even tried bending to touch my toes (something that isn't usually that difficult for me) and it was a definite no-go. My back must be super tense. I've been taking ibuprofen to decrease the inflammation, so now I've just gotta be patient.

After work, I hit up the elliptical. I was going to do an hour and then my stomach wouldn't allow it. It was all, "Bitch. I'm hungrrrrry." And I was all like, "Just wait." And my stomach was like, "Eff waiting. I'm going to be super loud the entire time you're on this elliptical." And so, I decreased my time to 45 minutes, which worked out perfectly because I finished my recent kindle read with 32 seconds to go. It was like the powers that be wanted me to just do 45 minutes of ellipticaling.

I've been studying a lot today, working on some fiancé visa paperwork, and trying to be more active because I think my back is angry that I've been so immobile lately. I've also been checking The Fitnessista's blog incessantly to see if she's delivered her baby yet. She hasn't blogged since Friday. What's going on!? The OB/GYN in me MUST KNOW.

Anywho, that's it for me. Here's what you guys all really want: my weigh-in.

Upon first stepping on the scale

Second try - I like this number better ;-)

Today's selfie

Lunch

Apples = fiber! Pooping for everyone!

Noms

Dinner

Tomorrow I have personal training after work. I also get to do two surgeries tomorrow because they need help with coverage for the gynecology surgeries. Baller. I've missed the OR. It'll be a good day, I hope!

Travel Day + The Day's Eats

So today I had to wake up nice and early to get to the airport on time. I have a friend watching Bailey for me, so I also had to change my sheets and tidy up last minute so that my apartment was liveable by other people's standards. I did the bulk of tidying yesterday, but there were a few things that needed to be swept over. I also made sure I had enough time to eat a good breakfast. Traveling on an empty stomach makes me even more irritable than traveling in general.

Eggs, turkey smokies, grapes

I flew to Chicago first and was starving by the time I got there. To be fair, it had been about 3.5 hours since I'd eaten last. So, I got a bagel. I was tracking my calories like I said I would and estimated the bagel, but then realized I had a nutrition look-up app. Let's just say the bagel I bought was totally not worth it. It may have been if they'd toasted it as I had requested, but it definitely wasn't pre-toasted. But I ate it because I was starving.

About 450 calories (with the cream cheese). Yikes

While waiting for my flight, I charged all the things and then walked around for a good 20-30 minutes. Because I had the time, I walked to a different terminal to find my bagel and then had to walk back and then walked up and down the C terminal.

Charging the computer, phone and myself (with the bagel)

On my flight, I ate a South Beach diet bar for a quick snack and slept most of the way to Atlanta. In an aisle seat. Without a neck pillow. Let me just say this (for those of you who can't infer): ouch. I need to invest in a neck pillow. In the airport they're like $20. And I kinda want an inflatable one so I can pack it and not have to worry about it again later. Perhaps when I'm back in Michigan, I could take a look for one. I remember spotting on at TJ Maxx.

Once I got to Atlanta, I rented a car and drove to Macon, where my interview is. It's about an hour and 20 minutes from Atlanta, which wasn't that bad as it was essentially hopping on the expressway and going south. But I got really hungry again, so I stopped for Subway even though a drive thru would have been more convenient (and also more calories). My sandwich was probably under 400 calories (given what my estimator says).

Turkey and cheese on wheat with some fixings

I arrived safely at my hotel, responded to some emails, read about the program, looked up some stuff for future travels and then headed to the dinner, which was Mexican. I overloaded on the chips, but got a taco salad for dinner, which I ate maybe half of. I didn't try to estimate it because the day is done and I had about 900 calories left for my limit. I'm guessing I went over because there was queso, but I'll get back on it again tomorrow!

Our interview isn't until 10:30, so I'm thinking I'll either sleep in and be super rested or wake up and hit the fitness center. I also don't have anything to do in the afternoon tomorrow, so the fitness center could possibly be done then. I'm thinking that's what I'll do because all this traveling makes me pooped.

Which bed to sleep on? #firstworldproblems

That's all, folks! See you back here tomorrow (most likely).

Casual dinner attire