In this blog I hope to track my adventures in fitness, food justice, gardening and body acceptance. I will do so with a critical eye--examining how anti-fat bias, economics, class, sexism, urban (suburban and rural) development deprives us of satisfying movement, and how health is collective and personal.
How I did it: 1. 1 trip to Burger King 2. 1 trip to Arby's 3. 6 trips to McDonald's
This morning I was dreading my weigh-in. So I dressed up in a fabulous outfit and went to my weigh-in anyway. I am up 1.4 lbs. I am so happy with this number. I totally ate fast food 10 times last week due to lack of preparation. The reason I am happy with this number because I was up 4.4 lbs in June 28, 2010 due to a 40 point biscuit/roll overload.
So even the little tips I learned about fast food eating worked out. Such as only get the sandwich and not the sides. Drink the diet soda versus the regular. Get the kids meals.
Saturday I turned things around and went the grocery store and the fruit stand. So Saturday and Sunday's meals were more reasonable then my fast food days.
So, with the New Year comes the marketing blitz regarding weight-loss. An individual thinks, "I'm going to shed some weight"...30 seconds later, cue the company that wants you to use their products/foods/systems/etc. to do it.
After the success of Jared and the Subway diet (which involved him WALKING TO SUBWAY, key point) more fast food chains would try to get on the band-wagon. Enter, Taco Bell and the "Drive Thru Diet"--the name itself, where you drive thru to conveniently get your Fresco menu choices, is an indicator that this is a ploy to lure the new dieter to buy into their brand with little actual lifestyle changes. Now I don't know if Christine was approached by Taco Bell or more probably she used Taco Bell's Fresco menu in part (along with exercise and home-cooked nutritious foods) to lose weight and then market herself to Taco Bell to get a promotion deal, if so, well played Christine--it worked for Jared. BUT, this is not a "diet" that will work for most, nor should it.
#1 diets are bad, lifestyle changes are what it fundamentally takes to achieve a weight and other measures of health that you deem best for you. #2 fast-food culture has been a primary cause of the break-down of a healthy food culture in America (and by fast-food, I also include overly processed food found in grocery stores). So, the solution to our horrible American diet isn't more fast food. #3 the drive-thru name erases the need for increased movement in our lives, exercise is key to many health measure improvements or sustainability. Drive-thru culture kills.
Now, that all said, being an anti-fast food fundamentalist isn't very realistic in our current world. The fresco menu is a good thing when you are on the road. I haven't tried any Fresco items, any recommendations? My current go-to fast-food when you have to is Wendy's Chili and diet coke. What do you do, dear readers, when there is no alternative to fast food?
Below are is a sampling of WW points for some fast food favorites. Please note that when you are on Weight Watchers maintenance you get about 18-20 points a day. Therefore, eating fast food and staying skinny are hard to do.
Personalize your goals. Set goals that are within your capabilities and take into account your limitations.
Aim for realistic weight-loss goals. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.
Focus on the process. Make your goals "process goals,"
Think short term and long term. Short-term goals keep you engaged on a daily basis, but long-term goals motivate you over the long haul.
Write it down. When planning your goals, write everything down and go through all the details.
Start small. It's helpful to plan a series of small goals that build on each other instead of one big, all-encompassing goal.
Pick a date. Timing is crucial, often making the difference between success and failure. Choose a definite start date and don't put that date off for anything. Be sure to account for life circumstances that might hamper your efforts, such as work or school demands or relationship problems. You may need to resolve some issues before starting.
Plan for setbacks. Setbacks are a natural part of behavior change. Everyone who successfully makes changes in his or her life has experienced setbacks. Identifying potential roadblocks and brainstorming specific strategies to overcome them can help you stay on course.
Evaluate your progress. Review your goals each week.
Reassess and adjust your goals as needed. Be willing to change your goals as you progress in your weight-loss plan.
1. Personalize: Lose 10 lbs in 7 weeks. End date 2-10-10. 2. Realistic: That is 1.4 lbs per week. 4. Think Short & Long Term: Short term maintain my Jump Start losses when I return to school. Will do another Jump Start in the Summer. 5. Write down when planning: I track my progress at www.diettalk.com and WeightWatchers.com 6. Start Small: Track all Eating. Do purposefuly exercise 7. Set Start Date: 12-30-09. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I didn't chose to lose 14 lbs in 7 weeks. I gave myself "wiggle room". 9 & 10 Evaluate & review Progress each week; Reassess & Adjust Weekly: : Every Wednesday I track my weight, set new goals, and measure the success of previous goals.
Thealogian: Goals and Progress Updates
Recommendations from the Mayo Clinic:
1. Personalize: Shed 50lbs by my birthday July 8, 2010. 2. Realistic: That is 2lbs per week, I have successfully lost 3.3lbs per week in the past, so with systematic exercise regime, 2lbs is realistic for me. 3. Progress Goals: Exercise 4-6 days per week, don't obsess on food. 4. Think Short & Long Term: long-term, exercise 4-6 times per week; short term, go to gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, do pilates or yoga Friday & Sunday. 5. Write down when planning: I'm doing that now (and in a journal); I will also eat Greek Yogurt/granola (measured) for breakfast & Turkey Chili for lunch Mon-Thursday; crackers/2% cheese snack & raw veggies. Dinner will be lean protein with veggies & one piece of dove chocolate for dessert. 6. Start Small: Pack exercise bag & prepare Breakfasts/Lunches for week Sunday night. 7. Set Start Date: TODAY, Jan. 3, 2010. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I wanted to exercise this weekend, but it was too cold to walk outdoors (I tried), the treadmill is on the frtiz and the gym is closed; I couldn't do yoga or pilates because I pulled a muscle in my back, but that's mostly worked out now (thanks to my sister in law's massage knowledge and nursing skills). Despite all this, I was able to eat non-neurotically and I cleaned out the fridge and organized my bedroom, plus dusting, vaccuuming. So, set back #1 dealt with compassion for body. 9. Evaluate & review Progress each week: each Sunday, I'll do a status update here, in this window. 10. Reassess & Adjust Weekly: Come back to this window to check out weekly goals.
Goals Jan. 4th-10th Exercise at Gym Mon-Thurs; Pilates or Yoga Friday and Sat or Sun. Eat pre-packed breakfast/lunch Meditate 5-10 minutes per day
