Snack Time

For quite a while I have been looking for a new snack food to satisfy my inevitable after work hunger without breaking my calorie budget.  Not too long ago I had the chance to try edamame for the first time and discovered I quite like them.  On my next trip to Trader Joe's I got some frozen pods and have been enjoying them on a somewhat regular basis.  The combination of high fiber and great nutty taste really satisfies me and fills me up on 150-200 calories, which is the perfect snack size for me.  I have taken to dressing them with a bit of rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and salt when I want a flavored snack.  Do you have any ideas for other healthy snacks?  Burnout is always a risk when I find a healthy item I really like, because I lean on it for a big portion of my diet.  Extra avenues to explore would be great.

Weigh in 2:9

It is amazing to me how slow time seemed to pass as a child and how much faster it seems to fly by now.  In the context of my health this is relevant because I have gone 4 solid months now with very little progress.  I trace this back to when I started my new job.  It is certainly more stressful, and I am working much harder now than I ever have before at my day job.  This week I reached the true burn out point in my weight loss process.  I am just done with it.  I didn't realize, until that energy went elsewhere, how much energy I was expending on this process.  More mental than physical energy, since my willingness to work out on a regular basis has never been that high, but even the mental commitment can be draining, and now that I am committing more of my thought other places I find the weight is a lot more stubborn to come off.  The great thing I have discovered is that my default is now maintenance.  There are now vegetables that I like.  I make healthy food.  I order out far less frequently than before I started.  Even at my most lackadaisical I hovered around the same weight.  That is something that I am proud of and that indicates a permanent change.  In that regard I have done one of the things I set out to do. 

This week was a bit of a bounce back week.  If I can string a few of these weeks together here I can get down to 275, which is my next goal.  I think physical appearance of weight loss is another good goal to have.  Even though I have been in maintenance for a few months, my shape has still been adjusting to the weight I lost in months previous.  Toning and muscle building are things I have been devoting a little bit of time to recently, and I think I've had some progress there.  Here are the numbers:

Current Weight: 282 lbs
Starting Weight: 440.2 lbs
Weight Loss This Week: 3 lbs
Weight Loss in Year 2: 3.2 lbs
Weight Loss Total: 158.2 lbs

Weigh in 2:8

Harumph.  Not a positive week for my weight.  St. Matty's day (as we are now calling it since it is my friend Matt's birthday) was a definite cheat day, but I feel I could have been more disciplined the rest of the week to offset.  I am really tired of treading water.  A positive aspect is that spring is making an appearance in Chicago, so I should be able to get outside a bit more and work off some calories.  Maybe that boost to my metabolism will help kick start some real progress.  I am ready to be out of the 280s, and while I think I need more than one week to do it I know I can get there.  Here are the numbers:

Current Weight: 285 lbs
Starting Weight: 440.2 lbs
Weight Loss This Week: -3.8 lbs
Weight Loss in Year 2: .2 lbs
Weight Loss Total: 155.2 lbs

Deep Breaths

What a difference a few days make.  My jerk client from Friday came back and applied, meaning since they have already been accepted I will get paid for my work after all.  My weight is still up, but I have been exercising a bit more, so I feel better, and I think once the work settles in that I will drop a few more lbs.  I got out with some friends this weekend and I think that was very much needed.  They are a little bit older and were able to put in perspective for me the frustrations and restlessness I have been feeling lately.  I am out of the entry level stage of life.  I am starting to want and expect those things that come with maturity, and that I committed to this process for.  I want a relationship, I want more success in my acting, and I want more stability.  I guess it is all part of being a twenty-something.  I still feel like I can be doing more for my health, but with all of the changes and steps of the past year it is understandable that the percentage of my focus on this process is less than it was when I had a job I didn't care about and a few shows in the bank.  I find myself asking why I am writing this particular post, and the answer is purely to counterbalance the frustration of Friday.  I'm ok now.  I guess I just want it in writing.

Weigh in 2:7

Today has been an incredibly frustrating day.  My weight went up, I woke up sick and missed an exam for work which will result in my suspension, and a client had me come in on my day off to change their mind at the last minute and not take the apartment, meaning I don't get paid at all for working with them.  Here's to hoping the coming week is better.  Here are the numbers:

Current Weight: 281.2 lbs
Starting Weight: 440.2 lbs
Weight Loss This Week: -0.4 lbs
Weight Loss in Year 2: 4 lbs
Weight Loss Total: 159 lbs

Weigh in 2:6, Keeping Tabs Day 12

First things first.  Last night's calorie total was 2412.

I had a solid week all things considered.  After last week's stupendous results I settled in a bit and had more moderate results.  It being the end of the month things were also much busier at work, so I did not have the time or inclination to exercise much.  I felt good about my food choices, minus a bit of indulgence at the Oscars party I went to.  Once a week is ok though.  Here are the numbers:

Current Weight: 280.8 lbs
Starting Weight: 440.2 lbs
Weight Loss This Week: 1.8 lbs
Weight Loss in Year 2: 4.4 lbs
Weight Loss Total: 159.4 lbs

I am averaging a weight loss of less than a pound a week this year.  The last two weeks have been a good step back into the right habits, but I need to string together a few more to feel like I am back on the way.

Keeping Tabs Day 11

Total Calorie Intake: 2440

Keeping Tabs Days 8, 9, and 10

I fell off the wagon the past couple of days.  I didn't do too badly, but Sunday I didn't log very carefully so the best I can do is an estimate of around 3000 calories.  Oscars festivities were in the cards

Yesterday and today I didn't indulge too much.  Here are the numbers:

Yesterday's Calorie Total: 2274
Today's Calorie Total: 2614