Sometimes I wonder if I'm leaning too much on my accountability measures. I had this thought today. If I took away the daily blog and the tweets, would I soon be off the rails? It's a great question. What prompted this thought process was someone recently asking me if I planned to live-tweet my food for the rest of my life. I don't know.
What I do know is, I've found what is working well for me. And I haven't any plans to stop anytime soon. When we look at it in terms of the rest of our life, this is a very small part, at least, God willing, it is.
I don't see ever eating another gram of sugar for as long as I live. The effects of sugar on me are too clear to ever deny it again. I suppose I'm very content with taking my progress one day at a time. Someday I'll reach maintenance mode again and I look forward to doing things differently than my previous experience. But for now, I'll keep embracing what works for me.
My workout at the YMCA was cut short, when I was activated for weather coverage after the first five minutes. I thought I could beat Mother Nature, but she was moving too fast! I handled the coverage, then decided to get dinner and grab a few things at the store before figuring out an alternative workout.
I ended up at the trail for a nice brisk 5K walk. I had the entire trail to myself tonight. The ground was wet from the storms and after rain freshness was in the air. It was a very pleasant experience!
My Tweets Today:
Dark roast coffee with sugar free hazelnut creamer and a packet of Pyure Brand Organic Stevia. So good! 30CX2= 60 cal pic.twitter.com/1ZSYDJNILO
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 14, 2014
Big Sunday brunch. Steak & Eggs. 7oz top sirloin, 3 whole eggs-scrambled, 1/2 golden delicious apple. 618 cal. pic.twitter.com/sXwpT9E6NH
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 14, 2014
96% lean hamburger steak (5.6oz) w/grilled onions, sugarfree BBQ sauce, fresh cut & baked sweet potato fries. 388 cal pic.twitter.com/qZUxTiGpJj
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 14, 2014
I have not done well on water today. Still a lot of Sunday left to go. pic.twitter.com/2siEhPVinn
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 14, 2014
At YMCA for a good workout. The bottle of water is #2, or 4 cups so far. I'm behind! Here we go! #ellipticalride pic.twitter.com/MxKRNwusoW
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 14, 2014
Workout cancelled after 5 minutes. Was activated for on-air weather coverage. Mid-December thunderstorms. Hmmmm. Alternative workout later.
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 14, 2014
Finished with work. Dinner, then workout. This 32oz water is a great way to catch up on the h20...no ice, easier. pic.twitter.com/CsSvMpU9mx
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
10 tortilla chips with salsa/sour cream dressing. 190 cal. #appetizer pic.twitter.com/WJJa1kYRGQ
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
Two chicken fajita crispy tacos w/6oz chicken, sour cream (2tblspns) and lettuce. 368 cal. pic.twitter.com/N6G2hQ6ve3
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
OMGoodness. That was a lot of water. I am so incredibly full. Bathroom... Must find bathroom. pic.twitter.com/8jGZcVjtuy
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
Cheese, apples, eggs. pic.twitter.com/l8jszGW4h3
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
Finally, super late...5K in the park. Not the workout I planned this evening, but it will be okay.
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
Good workout. #5kbriskwalk
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
1/2 apple, 1/2 orange. #lastfoodofday 80 cal. pic.twitter.com/fJwJviJnzX
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) December 15, 2014
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Wow, for Sunday your day looked pretty busy. Good job on the water. I know it makes a world of difference for me. I don't have a problem getting the water in most days but I could sure take a lesson on the exercise. I must get moving more. I wish housework would count as well as all the walking I do at work. I also had wondered a few days ago how long you will continue with the food tweets. I enjoy seeing them as they also give me other ideas. I have to say I'm quite attached to the tostadas.
ReplyDeleteI think housework and walking at work counts! I don't see ending the twitter feed anytime soon. It's doing wonders for me. The tostadas are delicious!
DeleteYes, I have wondered about the strength of your reporting your foods and exercise, and guessed that it is a major help to your staying where you want to be in your journey. Because your posts lift and inspire me, I am one who hopes you will continue to blog, even though you must get tired of it. And THANKS!
ReplyDeleteI have no plans of stopping, at all! Thank you so much!
DeleteIm the same with sugar of late I have discoverred. I seem okay with oats but man the minute I eat bread (especially if eating it regularly) I just want to eat carbs non stop...amazing the effect it has
ReplyDeleteKazz--Yes, indeed... Sugar does that to me... It took going sugar free to finally discover the benefits for myself. Now, I'm a believer, 100%.
DeleteLuckily, you don't have to live and choose the rest of your life right no. Do you.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Viper. Thank you
DeleteI can understand your wanting to cut down on sugar but to give it up entirely and use artificial sweeteners? I remember when you lost weight before and would occasionally have a McDonald's ice cream cone. You knew exactly how many calories it had and you were losing weight steadily. Do you feel if you had a cone today it would start you on the path back to gaining because of your 'addiction' to sugar? Maybe it's like Kazz (above comment) feels. It's not like that for me though.
ReplyDeleteA-- Thank you. I did lose a lot of weight eating sugar. I was supported and leaned heavily on the support of this blog to keep me in line. It was successful. It wasn't until I relapsed that I discovered the effects of sugar on me. Once I gave it up--giving it an honest go--It was clear. The urges to binge were gone. Suddenly I had a clarity I didn't have before. My perspective is solidly anchored in the wonderful benefits of being sugar free. It's not for everybody. Not everyone is addicted--or has addictive reactions to sugar. For me, it's clear.
DeleteFirst off... I actually laughed out loud at the bathroom comment! (I guess I didn't expect that) I'm easily amused!
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that every person has to do what is right for them. We all hit that "wall" so if tweeting is it then I say stay with it. Sugar is another thing. I tried giving it up. I just couldn't do it. Is it the right thing for me? I don't think so. We all have our own demons to conquere in the food/diet world and the way we handle them is our own business. Your on fire right now and so confident in what your doing and for that, you should be a proud man!
Take Care,
Rosie
The tweets are very important for me. Thank you, Rosie, for your incredible support! The important thing is, you tried. And you discovered it isn't an addictive situation for you. This journey is all about gaining an education about what it is--what are the elements that work for us, individually? It's a different combination for each of us. I like being on fire! It feels good!
DeleteWith a long-term success rate of only 5% 10 maximum, use any tool that works and leverage that anyway you need to for as long or as short as you feel you need.
ReplyDeleteHeck if I thought I needed to wear pink socks every day for the rest of my life I would do it!!!! 40 years of yo-yo dieting , auto immune disease, and binge eating along with menopause are no joke.
I recently did at 23 and me DNA and I do have a lot of obesity genes. For those of us with the genotype it takes a lot of work not to turn on the cell signaling in phenotype. That doesn't discourage me it only encourages me to work harder.
Onward and what you need to to will present itself as the new normal.
Karen, thank you for this. Excellent perspective. Agreed, 100% And congrats on your success!!
DeleteTaking it one day at a time, and using tools that work for--these sound like a very good plan. Since I've been in maintenance and struggling a bit, I'll share a resource that has given me much food for thought: "Thin for Life, 10 Keys to Success for People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept It Off," by Anne Fletcher. I don't believe there's a "one size fits all" solution for everyone, but there are definitely tools common to long-term weight maintainers.
ReplyDeleteI will check out that book. Sounds like something I should take the time to read.
DeleteI totally agree--we're all different. And I agree there are elements common to those who maintain long term success. I'm interested!
Are we going to brush our teeth for the rest of our lives? Are we going to get dressed for the rest of our lives? - yes, these work for us. The extras we add on that we need - are what we need. We need to adjust the sails of our boats as we need to, for the conditions. Who knows WHAT we will be doing for the rest of our lives. What works for now is what we need to stick with ~ ~ ~ I look forward to your daily blog and food tweets Sean.
ReplyDeleteN~
Nancy-- Well said, my friend. Thank you. I haven't any plans to stop what I'm doing anytime soon!
DeleteVery well said Nancy. What is important to us is what we will do. I've found the same thing with the sugar. I didn't think I'd be able to do it so easily. Oh there are days that aren't easy but for the most part I've dealt with it. I do wonder why the kind hearted patients and family feel nurses need so much sugar. It's like a smorg of choc at the hospital right now. Sheesh!! So far I've avoided it. I will indulge in the odd savory treat though. I'm avoiding the sugar now though because it's important to me.
DeleteExactly - do what is working for you! And don't let anyone else's story change what's you're doing for you. We all have different journeys and are in different places at different times. Stick to what's working for today and don't worry about tomorrow. Sound century old, biblical advice right there! :) I think I'll listen to it.
ReplyDeleteDivad--It is spot on advice!! Thank you! I'm not changing my plan in the middle of tremendous success. I enjoy what I'm doing. And I will keep doing it!!
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