What Does My Stomach Say?

And yes, I did sing the fox song when I typed that.

This week I learned something very interesting.  As I have been listening to my body, I realize that it is actually quite smart.  It actually does try and tell me when I am full.  It does  try and tell me what is good for me and what is not.  Crazy, I know!

Listening to my body I have made some giant realizations!  I have learned that I crave bad, unhealthy food. Greasy, cheesy, delicious, disgusting food. I taste a bit and I want more.  I see it and I want to eat it. I smell it and I want to eat it.

This past weekend I ate:

• Fried pickles
• Mozzarella sticks 
• 3 pieces of gluten free pizza
• Greasy Chinese food

Each time I was giddy with excitement to eat what was in front of me.  I had flex points to use and felt good about eating them.  They looked delicious.  They looked like something that would bring me happiness.

The truth. 

I felt bloated, gross, and uncomfortable.  None of those foods made me happy.  In fact, they made me sluggish.  They made me feel yucky.  They made me feel completely uncomfortable, sitting and standing.  

And it hit me.  DING!  This is part of my battle.  Remembering that feeling.  Listening to my body.  Trying to fight against my desires and impulses.  Ignoring the "want" and choosing the healthy.  That is so much easier said then done.  But as I continue to work on getting healthier and taking better care of myself.  It is something that I will try and keep in mind. The continuous struggle between healthy and unhealthy. I need to start paying better attention.  I NEED to be aware of this battle.  This is going to help me stay with this new lifestyle.  

So, what does my stomach say? 

"Don't listen to your taste buds or impulses! Eat healthy!" 

(Cheesy but true) 

What Matilda Has To Do With Weight Loss

First things first, I lost .8 pounds tonight.  Not as much as I wanted but I'll take a loss! That's almost 8 pounds in a month!  I am on the right track!

The focus of the Weight Watchers meeting tonight was "The Power of Routines".  This has actually been a HUGE focus on my mind recently.  Routines.  How can I make this lifestyle my routine? What are the routines that are making me successful?

Here are the routines that Weight Watchers has deemed make someone successful:

1. Eat breakfast every day. 
2. Eat vegetables or fruit with every meal or snack. 
3. Put your fork down and sip water between bites. 
4. Wait a bit before reaching for seconds.
5. Wear an activity monitor all day, every day.
6. Walk at least five minutes each hour.
7. Know how you're going to be active tomorrow. 
8. Try standing up for your usual sit-down activities. 
9. Always have a healthy snack on hand. 
10. Plan the PointsPlus value of your next meal or snack. 
11. Know what you're having for lunch. 
12. Ask yourself: Is this worth the PointsPlus value? 
13. Get 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night. 
14. Eat all your meals at a table. 
15. Eat all your meals free of distraction. 
16. Always have comfortable shoes with you. 

During the meeting I thought about this list and which routines I feel confident that I am doing regularly (highlighted in blue).

1. Eat breakfast every day. 
2. Eat vegetables or fruit with every meal or snack. 
3. Put your fork down and sip water between bites. 
4. Wait a bit before reaching for seconds.
5. Wear an activity monitor all day, every day.
6. Walk at least five minutes each hour.
7. Know how you're going to be active tomorrow. 
8. Try standing up for your usual sit-down activities. 
9. Always have a healthy snack on hand. 
10. Plan the PointsPlus value of your next meal or snack. 
11. Know what you're having for lunch. 
12. Ask yourself: Is this worth the PointsPlus value? 
13. Get 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night. 
14. Eat all your meals at a table. 
15. Eat all your meals free of distraction. 
16. Always have comfortable shoes with you. 

This list made me realize that I need to continue working on some of these routines if I want to hit my goal.  It also made me realize that I have something big to be proud of... one daily activity I have made a routine is walking and weight training! I HAVE MADE EXERCISING A ROUTINE! 

I still don't LOVE exercising and I am not sure I ever will, however, there are things I can do to make it easier and less painful. 

Today I walked on the treadmill. BBBBOOOORRRRIIIINNNGGGGGGG. To make it more fun (for me) I listened to my Ipod.  Rather I ROCKED OUT to my Ipod.  I can't even explain the happiness that washed over me as the music played into my ears... perhaps coursed through me is a better description... but I felt overly happy.  Just pure joy and happiness as I walked with my headphones on.  Happy, amused, feeling just fine to be walking on the treadmill.  Not bored, not annoyed... Happy, amused, feeling good.  Jamming.   

And what was I jamming to?  This is where Matilda comes in.  This past summer I saw Matilda in London.  The show itself makes me weep.  WEEP.  Just a great show about the amazingness of children and what they can do.  This morning one of the songs really resonated with me.  A video of the song is below. 

WATCH MATILDA'S "NAUGHTY" BY CLICKING HERE

In case you decide you don't want to watch, here are the lyrics that hit home:

Every day, starts with the tick of a clock.
All escapes, starts with the click of a lock!
If you're stuck in your story and want to get out
You don't have to cry, you don't have to shout!

'Cause if you're little you can do a lot, you
Mustn't let a little thing like, 'little' stop you
If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Won't change a thing!

Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it!
If you always take it on the chin and wear it
You might as well be saying
You think that it's ok
And that's not right!
And if it's not right!
You have to put it right!

But nobody else it gonna put it right for me!
Nobody but me is going to change my story!
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty!

If you have read Matilda or seen the movie, you know that Matilda has to play some tricks on her parents to get things done.  She has to make her own life right because she is handed a tough situation.  I am not saying that my overall life situation is tough.  In fact, the opposite.  I have a great life.  I really feel so lucky with the people in my life and where I am at 27, almost 28.  

In regards to my weight loss and health that is not the case.  I don't feel lucky.  And as I was speed walking on the treadmill I realized that there are some times where I feel stuck and pity myself.  "I am too busy... I am addicted to food... blah blah blah... woe is me."  And as I walked and listened to Matilda today I began to feel even more empowered.  I have changed my routines.  I have changed my eating habits.  I may not always be perfect but I am changing... 

But nobody else it gonna put it right for me!
Nobody but me is going to change my story!

Matilda said it right.  Matilda knows the way to success.

So this week Weight Watchers has given me a set of routines to work on and Matilda has given me words to internalize and live by! 

A Small Victory

Yesterday my mother and I had a day o' fun!  We braved the snow and headed to a spa.  After some relaxation we headed towards the mall where we had to do some shopping!  As a treat for our snow day we went to SmashBurger.  The last time I went I had the BIG sized burger, a side of fries, mayo, and had a big dessert.  I remember on that day feeling HUGELY full.  Uncomfortably full.

Yesterday I tried to listen to my body, as corny as that sounds.  I ate the burger, only half a bun, and 1/2 an order of french fries.  I was full.  Not too full.  Not uncomfortable, but full.

When I started doing Simple Start it kinda made me chuckle.  Eat the things on the list until I feel full.  Ha.  If I was able to stop eating when I feel full, I probably wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place.

At SmashBurger yesterday I felt a small victory.  Not on the scale.  Not in clothes.  But in my body and my mindsets.  I ate only until I felt full.  I stopped eating fries when I started to feel it and finished my burger.

Today I head to the gym to work out with Courtney.  :-)  I didn't get to work out yesterday but I made my 10,000 steps! :-)

I am keeping on this path.  June 2014... I will be ready to take on the summer.

One Mouse Accomplished

I am fighting a cold. My nose is red. I can't stop coughing. My body aches. My head hurts. And despite all that I am smiling. I dragged my sick self to weight watchers tonight. The results were very exciting. 

Down 3.6 pounds!!!

I have reached my first incentive!!!! A brand new, wireless mouse for work! Woo hoo!!!! 

7 pounds in 3 weeks!

Down almost 30 from my very beginning weight. 

4 pounds away from my next incentive!

Even more importantly I feel great. I'm working out more. Walking 10,000 steps at least 5 days a week. Eating better. And am following my deal to myself to only get a fancy caribou coffee after 5 days of working out. I'm making big, big changes. 

I feel so pumped. 184 pounds. The last time I weighed 184 pounds was 5-28-13. 

This week is going to be a bit challenging working out wise. Especially if I am still not feeling well tomorrow. However, here is my plan. 

Wed: 60 minutes with Courtney

Thurs: None

Fri: 60 minutes with Courtney, 30 minutes walking

Sat: 30 minutes walking, 40 minutes yoga

Sun: 30 minutes walking

Mon: 30 minutes with Courtney, 30 minutes walking 

My friend Chloe has asked me to blog more often. I think I would like to try that again. I'm looking for good topics to write about. Send me ideas. 

Since rehearsals for Urinetown are over, I am trying to find activities and ways of keeping me motivated in the evenings. I am thinking that blogging is one of them!

As I cough myself to sleep tonight, I am going to be smiling knowing that I am on an awesome path and will continue to get healthy. By June, when I leave for NYC I won't be nervous about gaining because my habits will have changed and working out will be a part of my routine!

Thank you for your support!!!!!! :)