The Sugar Hangover

So after a week of not eating sugar, except for in my fruit, I splurged last night on a scrumptious home made (by me) berry shortcake with homemade pound cake and whipped cream dessert. Only half of the portion I gave my friends, but still delicious, with the intent that I would not allow myself another sugary serving of something for another week.
And today I really really felt it. I was sluggish all morning. The dog woke me at 8am (i usually am up at least an hour before then), and I really couldn't feel awake at all for the next two hours. At 10:30 I dragged myself to Target and then to the gym. And running on the treadmill for 30 mins or so really helped. Chris called this my "sugar hangover" and that's absolutely what it was. I can't wait to get back into the groove of the work week and count calories and eat right. Sounds crazy, but I really am excited about this.

I had the distinct honor of hanging with Fat Bridesmaid this evening. We went for a walk, hung out at a great Northern Kentucky Bar for a cocktail (with a great view of the Cincinnati skyline), and we chatted it up for a few hours. Aside from talking about food and work and life, I told her how I really felt like I was in my groove, and this was how I was going to get to my goal of a healthier me. And I meant it.

It was the perfect lazy Sunday. Sugar hangover and all! More coming soon about healing...stay tuned...

Hooray!

Although I was hoping for larger results after my hard work this week...i'm down 3 pounds. And I'll take it. Being three pounds lighter is excellent. I hope to drop another 10 in the next month so some of my summer clothes will fit that don't currently...

Week Two :: No Sugar

This week at accupuncture, my Dr. took a look at my food journal and said he was very proud of my food choices, and portion sizes, and the fact that I have a lot of fruits, veggies, whole grains and nuts in my diet. He asked me to make sure I incorporated fish at least three times per week (I had it twice), but said my biggest problem area is my sugar intake. I know I am a sugar FANATIC. He asked me to work to cut it out completely. Now I realize that a little bit in moderation is okay. But I also realize i'm not so good at eating sugar in moderation.
Right now i'm on day three of no sugar. Day one went just fine. Day two was rough...to say the least. I was really grouchy and moody all day. And my poor husband can't win. He wanted to stop for soft-serve ice cream after a long drive and a picnic with the dog, and I shot him dirty looks. We passed a bakery (my husband cannot pass a mom and pop bakery without stopping in...they are so few and far between these days), and of course wanted to go in, and I told him i would be really mad if he did. HAHA. He just kept forgetting, and I was getting into a bit of a funk feeling so limited. I just counted all my calories for yesterday though and still kept at 1700 calories. The doctor asked me to stay between 1800-2000. I'd like to stay closer to or below 1500. I think I can do that for the rest of the week for sure. (last night also involved a few beers and eating out at a diner-style restaurant, where I purposely put half of my meal in a to-go container before I ate...and fed it to the dog this morning. :)

I am making strides for myself...and i'm proud of the progress so far. Today is going to be a better day than yesterday!

More Gratitude

Because I feel the need, here's another list of things I am grateful for!

1. The three day weekend (three and a half days for me!). I really really needed this again, and Chris and I didn't have a whole lot planned. It's amazing how wonderful being at home and having no plans really can be!
2. A fridge packed with healthy foods, veggies and fruits. I'm so excited to cook meals at home this week and eat all these goodies. Anybody have a good suggestion for using up a load of snap peas? They came in my delivery Friday, and I have to figure out what to use them for...
3. The Sunday Times at my front door this morning.
4. A good review from the accupunture doctor. He was really proud of the food I ate this week. But he asked me to cut out refined sugar completely. I told him that was going to be hard. But I am going to do it, at least for a little while. :)
5. The amazing lunch I had yesterday with a good good friend. I am still thinking about that amazing (and healthy!) lunch. YUM YUM YUM.

Letting Go of Stress

The past several weeks have helped me to realize that i need to learn to let go of some of my stress. It's certainly one of the causes of my weight struggles, and I firmly believe that it's responsible for the acid reflux I often experience, as well as some of the other health topics i've mentioned lately.

I've been trying hard to take care of myself a little better. REALLY take care of myself. I've been giving myself time to relax. Exercising because I know I need to, not skipping out because I feel like there are other things I NEED to do...like my volunteer work or cleaning my house, etc. That stuff can go by the wayside. And I realize I sound incredibly selfish, but guess what? Right now, it's all about ME!

I'm pretty proud of myself, too! I've started training for C25K, to run with Fat Bridesmaid in the late summer. Training has been going well, though I admit, I've fallen off the wagon a bit this weekend with two failed attempts to run with the dog, and he just hasn't behaved. It's back to the gym, or going it alone this weekend. Tomorrow I'm having a couple of girlfriends over after work for wine and dinner by the bite. Am I stressing about getting the house immaculate? No! I've picked up, I've dusted, I have a clean kitchen and (will have a) clean bathroom. So I didn't get to wash the windows...who cares? My office/desk still have a couple of piles of clutter that need a good hour of my attention to sort through. Whatever! I still have a pile of Garage Sale items to be sorted in the guest room...oh well. Do you think my friends are going to care? Not a lick. I am giving myself a much-needed break from it all!

Work has been okay of late. I've been letting things slide off my back a bit, and venting to my friend and co-worker Tim when I need to. I have been getting to the office on time, and not staying more than 30 minutes late. I get out every day at lunch for at least 10-15 minutes for fresh air and sunshine!

I started seeing an accupuncturist last weekend, and have an appointment with an herbalist next week. I'm making strides toward a healthier me, with a holistic approach to my own well-being. The accupuncture was interesting. I've been off caffeine for 6 days by his request (this is no easy task!), and have been monitoring my diet closely (though I know i'm going to be reprimanded for the 2 beers Sunday, 3 last night, and the wine tomorrow night!). I go to see him again this Saturday, and will see from there how often I want to committ to this treatment.

I hope I can report back a month from now and still say I'm doing this well in my own self-treatment! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Gratitude

Just for my buddy, Fat Bridesmaid, here is MY list of things I am grateful for. At the end of a bad week, it's always good to start the weekend on a positive note!

My top five:

1. A good thunderstorm overnight (I love being swaddled in sheets during a thunderstorm) and gorgeous sun and 70 degree weather during the day today!
2. My fenced in yard, which my wonderful wonderful husband and best friend built with his own two hands. I can honestly say that throwing the frisbee in the backyard with my dog, The Mighty Quinn, never gets old!
3. Having nothing to do tonight. It's a rare thing - the night is wide open for me to do whatever I want! YAY!
4. A relatively quiet day at work. I'm kicking a$$ and taking names today on my to-do list.
5. Flip flop weather. Need I explain it further?
   

Question of the day

Here's an interesting situation I pose for you today about how to approach a personal matter with your superior at work.

A little backstory, however. I got the call today from the doctor's office. I will be going to see a fertility specialist soon, based on the doctor's referral and a discussion we are scheduled to have tomorrow.

I've been doing a bit of reading about infertility, and have suspected for quite a long time that my stress levels may be affecting my ability to get pregnant.

I changed jobs late last year. Unfortunately, I went from one very stressful situation to another. Granted I (only recently) maintain close to a 40 hour work week in this job, but from the time I enter the building to the time I escape it's highly stressful, with constant (proverbial) fire drills, a manager who works part time, is notorious for micromanagement, who also agrees to timelines and deadlines that are unreasonable more than I'd like to mention.

I REALLY don't want to confide in her about my fertility issues. But I also feel like I need to put it out there that I have a LEGITIMATE. MEDICAL. REASON. for needing FAR less stress in my work day, and being effective in that pursuit.

A couple of really helpful tips from one of the excerpts from a book i'm beginning to read states:

1. Try to reduce stress during treatment. Taking a walk, going to a movie, reducing work, and getting a massage are examples.
2. Be stingy with your personal time. Demands from family and friends as well as household chores can wait. Instead try to spend quality time with your partner. Share activities that in the past have been fun for the two of you.

So the question I pose to all of you -- how would you approach it?


As a side note - I resisted the urge for ice cream, and the urge to eat after I was full with dinner. These are small wins for me in a time when i'm feeling very upset and stressed. Hooray for me!