Routine is a big thing for me. I have set routines, habits let's call them, and when those are focused on good things--it works very well. I've very much fallen into some nice routines with food. Many of the "rules" I abide by are not written anywhere--they're just kept, by routine--by habit. Ordering water in a restaurant, it's become a regular and very easy habit--very automatic. Once a month or so, I might order an unsweet tea, but really--it's less than that, maybe once every few months. Water is my restaurant drink order 98% of the time.
I've developed some habits with food, too. My eggs in the morning. My love of bean tostadas for lunch. And my Mexican food dependency is obvious.
I enjoyed dinner out with my daughter and her boyfriend this evening. I let them pick the place because if they leave it up to me--they know exactly where we'll end up: At that little Mexican place that does the Hawaiian Fajitas. Oh my--how I love those things--or just fajitas in general...love them.
My habits usually serve a purpose, don't all? The Mexican food thing is a thing because it tastes good to me, but even more of a reason is the fact that it's so easy to adjust the calories up or down depending on how it's ordered or made at home. I can have a nearly 700 calorie fajita dinner--or slightly over 400 calories, simply by making a few adjustments. I like that kind of flexibility. And I like being creative--and I think I like flirting with things that look like salads, without fully admitting to eating one.
Habits within relationships are tough to break. And as my relationship with Heather grows, I'm trying my best to not revert back to old relationship habits or base everything off of old experiences and expectations.
My exercise habits have been fairly simple. And I don't mean that in a good way. I mean, simple--as in, I'm fully aware that I'm capable of doing more. The old excuse that I'm somehow trying to protect myself from injury or sudden death doesn't fly anymore. Maybe so at 500 pounds--not so much 200 pounds smaller. But it's that routine of habit that keeps me doing just enough.
Despite it all--or rather, thanks to it all, I'm losing weight consistently. So I can't say what I'm doing isn't working--it is, but I must be willing to expand my focus some--branch out and try new things, commit to harder workouts, like weight lifting, and realize I'll be okay. I know I will be okay.
My next weigh day will likely (hopefully-optimistically) take me into what is commonly known at Twoterville. I think that's what they call it. And it'll be a sweet descent into the 290's after getting all the way up to the 390's during relapse/regain.
I'm feeling really good these days. My workout today was really nice. I did the cycling class at the YMCA. For some reason it isn't registering with fitbit as good as my elliptical workouts or even my 5K brisk walks, which is kind of puzzling to me. Oh well--it's working none the less. And I'm super grateful for that fact.
My Tweets today:
Coffee. This & a travel mug. Altogether, we're talking 90 cal worth of sugar free creamer. Worth it? Yep. 30cX3=90cal pic.twitter.com/UFpuO2i6Qt
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) September 29, 2014
Swiss omelet w/3 whole eggs & 3 slices ultra thin Swiss cheese. Pineapple (4oz), 1/2 Honeycrisp apple. 451 cal. pic.twitter.com/1ir7JN8YBo
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) September 29, 2014
Fat-free, sugar free Bean, Jalapeño and mozzarella tostadas with a large Honeycrisp apple. 518 cal. pic.twitter.com/yxE4YLCbYU
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) September 29, 2014
Headed into my local YMCA for a cycling class. They call it cycling because apparently "Spin" is a copyrighted workout. I just call it good!
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) September 29, 2014
1% cottage cheese and two saltine crackers. Calorie count as part of total in following dinner tweet. pic.twitter.com/1Dd68wdArb
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) September 30, 2014
Chicken breast (10oz), mushrooms and a treat: Fried okra!!! Yummy! With 1% cottage cheese from previous tweet. 581cal pic.twitter.com/QUX8wRR0Fb
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) September 30, 2014
I'm in love with Honeycrisp apples. 1/2 large. #lastfoodofday 65 cal. pic.twitter.com/Xv5gHmwlUX
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) September 30, 2014
Thank you for reading and your support,
Strength,
Sean
Oh honeycrisp apple- how I love thee. The 'cycle' thing is funny :P Keep on keeping on Sean- super inspirational as always :)
ReplyDeleteThese Honeycrisp apples are amazing! Thank you Val!
Deletethis is a great habit, Sean. If you stop writing again, I'm calling in the troops.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my best habits. If I ever stop--please, please--please call in the troops!!! You're the best, Gerri. Thank you!
DeleteSean, I am also a creature of habit, and agree that this can be a double edged sword....sometimes very good, sometimes not so good. Also...with the Fitbit. they tell you that some exercises do not register well with calories, etc., and to look up the exercise with your weight, etc., and you can adjust the calories. But I wish that it just tracked it all accurately! For me, the calories during the elliptical do not track accurately.....it always looks like less than I really burned.
ReplyDeleteDede
I didn't know that until you mentioned it. I didn't read the directions too closely, actually! Then I received a text from Heather after she read this blog--saying the same thing. I'm about to hit the elliptical, so we'll see what it registers!
DeleteLove Gerri Helms comment & seconded :)
ReplyDeleteDon't beat yourself up too much on the exercise. It sounds like you've made good progress in that area as well. Doing the spin classes is great, because they help you push beyond your default pace. As for weights, have you considered bodyweight exercises? At my weight, they give me plenty of challenge and you can do them darn near anywhere. Last week I started the 100 pushups challenge (there's an app for that).
The post about habits really resonates, and I think you're doing it the right way. Keep up the great work and thanks for the inspiration!
You know what's interesting, Lance? I have a large NordicFlex machine in my spare bedroom that uses body weight for resistance and I've only used it a couple times. The 100 pushups challenge--I'll look that up. Absolutely, Lance, and thank you!!
DeleteAt my gym (the one I used to go to) if it wasn't an official "Spin" class they called it RPM (revolutions per minute). It seemed much the same to me.
ReplyDeleteYeah--I suppose I've never had an official "spin" class--but I can't imagine the workout being any different--or so different it deserves a copyright. Interesting. RPM sounds like a right cool name.
DeleteReally great post. I'm going to have to look at my habits and decide which ones need to be kept and which ones need to go!
ReplyDeleteThe habits--good and bad--are difficult to break or shape, but not impossible! You can do it, Connie!!!
DeleteThere's something comforting to me about routines, my struggle is switching it up when it becomes necessary. Enjoyed as always!
ReplyDeleteI'm RIGHT THERE with you, Alati...Switching it up is always tough for me too---I get in a rhythm, a routine--and it's very difficult to change this! Not impossible, but difficult for sure!
DeleteThe obesity Dr. I follow always says, "You can never outrun your fork". I think you exercise consistently and that the food changes you've made are what's going to bring you optimum success. Exercise is important for health and I'm certainly not trying to diminish its importance, but...you can never out run your fork. - Dr. Yoni Freedoff
ReplyDeleteI love that, Divad!!! So true.. Great quote!! Thank you!!
DeleteWhy, Sean! You eat okra? A boy after my own heart.
ReplyDeleteThe other night I made oven "fried" okra this simple way: snip ends off okra. Put some corn meal, salt, & pepper in a baggie and shake the okra around in it. Mist baking sheet with olive oil or spray. Place okra on pan in a single layer. Mist/spray olive oil over tops (you want to cover it all for a nice brown top). Bake at 475 until brown on bottom and turn. The "breading" doesn't cling like the fried, so you have to eat it "gently" but it sure went down easy.
Be cautious about berating yourself about the exercise you're doing. Not just any old body could walk into a spin/rpm/bike class.
This may not apply. . . Can you let Heather coax you in to deeper waters without feeling like you have to meet some imagined fitness level she has for you?
Explore. Try new things. Pump up your exertion--slowly until you find what's right for you, just like you have with your eating. But don't should all over yourself. . . it's not fair to you and discredits all you've done to get and stay here.
I love the okra!! Thank you for the baked option recipe!! Last night's fried okra was the 2nd time I've had it in 6 months. I was overdue!! And even being fried--the calorie count wasn't near what I thought it might be. Of course, it was a fairly small portion.
DeleteI will be very cautious. You make a very good point! I do keep up in that class. It's very hard--but i do stay on gear with the class. I may not be pedaling as fast as the instructor--but I'm holding my own! So, that's true... Thank you for that perspective!
Heather is so awesome about suggesting fantastic options to fit where I am. She never pushes too much or in a way that's abrasive. When we work out together, I do my own thing and she does hers. If I asked her to coach me through a specific plan, I know she would, for sure. It really is great to not feel or create ideas of what she has in mind for me-- because really, she doesn't put out that vibe at all. And strangly--I don't feel the need to try to impress her by doing more than I'm capable of at this time (something a previous version of me might have done without influence from her.)
I honestly feel like I could do more and could push myself a little harder.
I will try not to "should" all over myself...LOL...love that phrase. You're very right--spewing "should" all over discredits how far I've come and what I'm doing to stay consistent. Thank you 45 and A!! (Even though I know your real name--I'm protecting your anonymity!) :)