Friday, October 29, 2010

Just hush

I know, I know. I told you guys I’d blog four times this week, and this is only my second entry. Being out Monday kind of threw me off for the whole week. But next week, be prepared to be totally sick of me.

Anyway, so on to today’s topic.

A friend of mine told me a story recently. She is trying so hard to lose weight (and doing a fantastic job, I might add) and made a big salad for lunch one day. She added grilled shrimp, feta cheese—lots of great, healthy stuff—and decided to sit outside and enjoy the day.

A woman whom she had never met walked by my friend and noticed her salad and commented, “That’s a huge salad. I’d never be able to eat all that.”

My sweet friend was so embarrassed that she ended up throwing out the rest.

My heart hurt for her. I would have reacted very similarly. Actually, I might have made excuses. Oh, I didn’t have any breakfast. Or, yeah, I am having a super late dinner, so I need to have a bigger lunch.

But why? Why did this woman feel the need to comment on my friend’s lunch? What she said was terribly rude. Did she think she could just comment because my friend isn’t super skinny and seemed to be eating a large portion? For the love of all, it was a salad. And trust me, if I make a salad, I make a giant one just to fill me up.

But I hate that my friend’s feelings were hurt. I hate that I, too, would have felt the need to make excuses. This woman didn’t know my friend’s story. She didn’t know how hard she’s been working—how she’s lost nearly 20 pounds. She knew none of that. But still felt the need to call her out.

Since I’ve started Weight Watchers and, for once, been very vocal about it, I definitely have people in my life who comment on things I eat. How many points is that, Erika? You’re having a piece of cake? Are you allowed to eat that?

Maybe people are trying to be helpful. But it makes me feel defensive. I am doing just fine without you policing me, thank you very much. I’ll worry about what I can and cannot eat.

The next time you think about commenting on what someone else is eating (and I’ve done it, too), consider how that could affect the person. You might be surprised.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Not today

Remember my affinity for Chinese food? It officially backfired on me this week. Sunday night I decided to have a (minor, not a major) splurge and ordered delivery from a new place. It tasted fine. Or so I thought.

Let's just say it woke me up later. I was so sick. I'm pretty sure my inclination toward Chinese food in general is now over.

But for only the second time since I started Weight Watchers, today I didn't weigh in. I felt like my, er, sickness might result in a big loss. Which seems great. But it will ultimately skew my results next week and I'm trying to be as consistent as possible. 

So I don't really have anything to add on the weight loss front this week. Hopefully next week will be more accurate.

Thanks to all of you who e-mailed some soup recipes and some of your favorites. Keep 'em coming!

Friday, October 22, 2010

These are a few of my favorite things

Happy Friday! Every once in a while, I like to tell you guys about some of the things that are really helping me stay on track. Here are a few of my latest obsessions:

  • Soup!
As soon as it gets even remotely chilly outside, I start craving soup. Lately, I haven't been able to get enough of taco soup. Seriously. I've made two pots in the past two weeks and have been eating it nonstop. It's super easy, totally yummy and satisfyingly healthy. I especially like to add a little low-fat shredded cheddar cheese and some reduced-fat sour cream on top. Oh, and diced avocados (mmm, avocados).

Here's the recipe I use:

Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey (or lean ground beef, if you prefer)
1 cup onion, chopped
1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 16-ounce can pinto beans, drained
1 16-ounce can corn, drained
1 16-ounce can tomato sauce
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes (Mexican)
2 cups water

Directions:
1. Brown turkey with onion; drain
2. Combine all ingredients with turkey in large pot. Simmer at least 20 minutes.

Let me know what you think of this. And send me your easy soup ideas.

  • Wasa crackers

I've passed these crackers many times in the store, not knowing anything about them. But a couple of weeks ago, I decided on a whim to pick up a pack of the Crisp'n Light 7 Grain variety. I love them. I've been eating them in the morning with peanut butter and banana. But I've also put turkey and avocado (have I mentioned I love avocado? I may one day name my first child Avocado) on them. Their website has a virtual cornucopia of ideas. There's definitely something for everyone.
  • Menchie's
This amazingly yummy frozen yogurt shop recently opened in the Toco Hills shopping center, and my co-workers and I often make it a Friday lunch treat. It's a beautiful store that evokes happiness with its adorable logo and bright colors. All of their yogurt is nonfat or low-fat, so you can make your yogurt as healthy as you want it to be. Be careful, though, because there are also many ways to get into trouble, especially when it comes to the toppings. Still, I find that even a little yogurt, with some carefully selected toppings, satisfies my sweet tooth for a week.


  • Zumba

I know I've mentioned Zumba a million times, but I continue to love this workout. I try to go to the class at my gym a couple of times a week. But I make it a point to (almost) never miss Tess' Tuesday class here at Children's. My fellow Zumba girls and I are silly and loud and have a blast every week. It's a pretty low-impact workout, so if you've been afraid to try, please join us one week. It's a perfect way to end your day.






I know I've been a sporadic blogger lately, so I'll make a promise to blog at least four times next week. Pinky swear. Have a great weekend. And let me know about your latest obsessions.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Sweaty Betty

Here’s a confession that will shock no one who knows me, has ever worked out with me or has ever seen me on a hot day:

I am a sweater.

No, not the kind you pull over your head. The one that makes you want to bust out the '80s terry-cloth headbands.

Here in the South, some sweet-meaning people will say, “Oh no, we don’t sweat. We glisten.”

Oh no. I sweat. Like a proverbial pig.

It’s not something I love about myself. Why don’t chicks in the movies sweat as much as I do? Actually, why does no one in real life sweat as much as I do?

I honestly think I have a bit of hyperhidrosis (look it up). I don’t really sweat from anywhere but my head. Cue me in college, leaving dance clubs, looking like I just got out of the shower. Totally sexy.

When you combine my unbelievable ability to sweat—even in winter—with my heaviness, it was just another thing for which I always tried to apologize or justify. I’d tell people I’ve sweated since I was a kid (true), it runs in my family (true) and it wasn’t just because I was overweight (also true-ish). But my sweatiness has embarrassed me, and continues to do so on a regular basis.

My colleagues and I often walk to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. It’s not that far of a walk, and on a nice day like today, I really look forward to it. But inevitably, I’ve got to put my hair up by the time I get there. Gross.

I’m writing about this because something awful has happened. A side effect of my weight loss, perhaps. I’m actually sweating more than I used to. And I didn’t think that was possible. Someone told me it’s probably because my metabolism is running faster. Fantastic for weight loss, not so much for my hair.

So concludes my confession of the day. Now, if you see me walking around, fanning myself even though it’s 50-degrees out, be gentle. Please don’t judge a glistening sweaty girl.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

It's not you, it's me

I’m going through a breakup. And unfortunately, my exes (yes, exes plural) have kind of become stalkers.

Just last week, I got an e-mail. I’ve also gotten stuff in the mail. It’s bordering on harassment. When I ended the relationship, I meant it.

It’s funny. It turns out that if you’re a really good customer and then suddenly stop your patronage, eating establishments miss you.

No, really. I got an e-mail from Domino’s Pizza that actually said, “We miss you.”

Same thing with Zifty.com, a lovely delivery service that will bring your heart’s content from local restaurants right to your door. They sent me an e-mail begging for me to return to my weekly schedule.

These were both exes I really loved. We spent many a lonely Friday night together, comforting each other (or, OK comforting me) with cuddly pepperoni and compassionate Mexican food.

But like all codependent relationships, these had to end. Sure, it hurt my heart a little at first. But I know I’m better off without them.

So, Domino’s, Zifty and all the rest of you, I hate to take the breakup public, but since you’re not getting the message: We’re over. Done. Finished.

*cue Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” as I sassily walk away.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Opposite ego

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about my ego. Don't worry. It's still raging out of control.

But now I'm finding a new angle to it:

Embarrassment.

When I was at the Ronald this weekend, a few times (or more) I mentioned hitting my 75-pound milestone that week. People were extremely kind and complimentary when I told them. There were lots of "wows" all around, which is always nice.

Then I started really thinking. I've lost more than 75 pounds. An accomplishment? For sure. But also something that reminds me of how far out of control my life had become. Because yes, I've lost 75 pounds. But I'm not finished, either. And that's kind of embarrassing.

I wish I didn't think so much about what others might be thinking. I should just let their compliments be enough. I shouldn't analyze between their words. I keep thinking that deep down they might be thinking, "Wow, she lost 75 pounds and she's still that big?"

I've made it no secret how much heavy I was (OK, there is the secret of my starting number. But maybe one day I'll tell you. Or maybe not). But to lose 75 pounds means I still had to be 75 pounds heavier. When I hopefully lose 100 or even more, well that means I had to be 100 pounds heavier. It still makes me sad that I let it go so far.

But that's in the past, and I am continuing to remind myself that I don't live there anymore. I'm all about the future--looking ahead to the person I'm going to be, and reminding the person I used to be that I'm worth all of this.

Monday, October 4, 2010

So-so

I did it. I survived a weekend at the Ronald McDonald House. But the last few days there further affirmed my decision to take a leave of absence.

It’s not that my food was terrible. I was…decent. Not fantastic, but not completely horrific, either.

I stayed away from the sweets, so that was good. In fact, I did very well until late Saturday afternoon when some sweet donors dropped by some sandwiches. That’s the weirdo in me—I can avoid the cupcakes and ice cream, but give me a plate of tasty sandwiches and I have to really fight against eating them all.

These were no ordinary sandwiches—there was egg salad on pumpernickel, crab salad on rye and shrimp salad on croissants. Yum.

A friend visited me Saturday. We talked for a long time, and by the time she left, I realized it was 3 p.m. and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. My mistake. I had a few too many of those half-sandwiches.

Sunday I did well until lunch when I overindulged in the butter and sour cream on my baked potato.

Overall, it felt good to be back. I so love interacting with our patient families who stay there. Because I work in the Marketing and Communications Department, I don’t often get to meet the families who turn to Children’s for care. Being with them at the Ronald reminds why I do what I do.

I’m ready for a good week (produce basket week!) ahead—shaking off any residual guilt from the weekend’s few shortcomings.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Go team

Remember when I told you guys about the wellness competition my department was doing? We finished last week. It was a 6-week competition and 36 people in Marketing and Communications participated.

We had weekly missions—things like attending a Children’s exercise class, cooking a healthy dish, doing an endurance event and hiking a historic trail. And of course, we counted our steps. At the end of our competition, we had walked a cumulative total of 4.3 million steps. Pretty impressive.

I’m proud to say that my Team Moxilicious tied for first place, along with Team Pure Energy. Tonight, we are celebrating with a catered suite at the Braves game. How fun is that? Sometimes being healthy pays off in more than just weight loss. Who knew?

But after the game, I’m going somewhere else. To the Ronald McDonald House. I offered to fill in for a fellow weekend manager. I feel pretty good about where I am right now (recent eating from the trashcan aside) and am hoping I am more in control than I used to be. Yes, I’m a little nervous. But I know I have it in me to have power over my food.

Monday, I promise to let you know (honestly) how I did. Cross your fingers for me. Have a great weekend.

And go Braves!