Playing Catch Up

Time has a strange habit of getting away from me...yes here it is already day two of phase two and I haven’t even finished up my postings for phase one yet. But I digress....the last couple of days on phase one went well, once again a lunch with my mom on the weekend could have posed a potential problem, but once again I opted for an entree sized salad that actually wore me out with all the chewing. That is definitely something I am finding....eating a big salad when eating out takes time and makes the experience longer from all the time it takes to eat it. Therefore you don’t finish up early and then feel bad about the good things everyone else is eating.

Monday morning and the dawn of phase two began with a weigh in of course. Ending the first two weeks and welcoming in the.....well I am not sure how long phase two will last at this point, but I think it’s safe to say that it won’t be a matter of days. This phase will be around for a while..so I will no longer count off the phase two days....I think "South Beach - Phase Two- Day 146" is a bit much. The end result of my first two weeks embracing the South Beach lifestyle was a loss of 13 lbs. I am more than satisfied with that number and believe it’s a great springboard to begin phase two with.

I am going to follow the books recommendations and bring back the now allowed foods slowly...don’t want to cause myself to actually gain weight on the weight loss portion of the plan...but I look forward to fruits and whole grains again.

South Beach - Phase One - Days Nine and Ten

This has been a really busy week at work with lots of work related activities spilling into the non-work hours. I would have to describe the past two days eating as appropriate without being pretty. Made as many things up ahead as I could and have been reheating etc. for the bulk of my main meals.

Make ahead eggs are great. I can get them mixed up and then prepare the fillings so in them morning all I have to do is dump everything in the pan, and in less than 10 minutes I am eating. When I have to eat on the run, eating right often times goes the way of fast food. But with made ahead snacks and lunches, I can still run around, feel full, and stay on plan.

I do feel better. Eleven lbs lost and I feel less sluggish than I had been, the walking is going well at work and I just need to spend some more quality time doing some walking in the pool on the weekends.

Everyone is trying to find their own rhythm as they go through their two weeks. Some are finding it a bit frustrating with less weight lost so far but are not giving up...we all have our own stakes to keep us on track.

South Beach - Phase One - Day Eight

Week One - Phase One is history. Overall it was a good week. Total loss for the first seven days on South Beach was 10 lbs. I am sure things will slow down this week, but I pleased with the outcome so far.

Everyone in the rag tag bunch has posted a loss thus far, so we must be doing something right. I believe that the expanded food lists and exercise plan has made the new version of the South Beach Diet easier to follow and will be easier to maintain during phase two. Any time you add more variety to anything it makes it easier.

Tomorrow at the office we are celebrating birthdays for the month as we do every month. The cake is a different flavor each time, and I must admit it was always a nice treat. But I know we will do just fine tomorrow, since my fellow South Beacher's and I can make sure the other maintains their resolve. Temptations will always be around, but if we remember the bigger picture of what we want to accomplish-they won’t be temptations for long.

South Beach - Phase One - Days Six & Seven

I was a little worried about the weekend - all that free leisure time...the normal time for socializing, eating, drinking, etc. I had things pretty well planned out - but there were a few wildcards. Lunch on Saturday with my mom....she knows I am on South Beach, but she also looks forward to when we go to lunch on Saturdays - so I let her choose the place. I figured I can handle most any restaurant and make something work out South Beach friendly.... So I waited in anticipation to find out where it would be. "I think" she said, "I would like to go to the Cheesecake Factory". It could have been worse....I guess....so stealing my resolve..off we went.

I did fine...I ended up with a big Cobb Salad. It was very good, and I did fine watching my mom eat her Chicken Piccata with Angel Hair Pasta and Garlic Bread. Thank goodness she was not interested in any cheesecake....I might have had to just go wait in the car.

Sunday was fine. Went for a walk. Of course unless you go at dawn or 10 p.m. it will be 113 degrees so I went mall walking. First the upper level, then the lower level. It’s a big mall so I felt like I got a decent (and air-conditioned) walk in. The intervals didn’t go very well, but kept up a steady pace.

South Beach - Phase One - Day Five

Friday seemed to fly by and I really didn’t feel hungry. The South Beachers at work were all comparing this weekends shopping lists and scouring the ads for the best prices on Phase One friendly items. It really is nice having a group of people going through this with you. I am sure as with most other diets I have been on with others that some will drop out, but initially our will is strong and we are a determined bunch.

Tonight I had dinner at a friend’s and had a wonderful piece of Salmon with a great topping that made a really nice punch for the mild flavor of the salmon. We also had celery sticks and three different toppings - humus, an artichoke Parmesan, and a vegetable topper full of garlic. For dessert it was a phase one recipe for this fudgesicle/peanut butter/whipped topping that I hereby proclaim awesome and no one would know it was dietary...this will definitely be in my permanent rotation.

South Beach - Phase One - Day Four

Today went well enough in most repects here in the South Beach Southwest. More weight loss..I was down 6lbs this morning so who can argue with that kind of start to the day. Had chili for lunch from yesterday and that filled me right up.

Tonight I had not prepared anything in advance, since it was 113 degrees today I felt a cold dinner might be nice..so I had some shaved turkey breast, cottage cheese (which I doctored up as best I could) and a couple of cheese sticks. I was not overly inspired, but it was ok. This was at about 6:00. By 6:45 I was hungry- again. Not just hmm maybe some almonds hungry, but..hmm pizza sounds good hungry. I remember this feeling and its not a good one. It does pass but takes a while.

Erring on the side of caution I got in the car and went to the movies. Had a diet coke, and by the time it was over, hunger passed and crisis averted.

South Beach - Phase One - Day Three

Day three...I guess almost all of the South Beachers and I were a bit curious as to how things might be coming in the weight loss portion of our South Beach experience. So each of us on the morning of day three weighed in. I am definitely proud of us so far....I posted in with a 3.5 lb loss, we also had a 5, 4, and a 2 lb loss. Most definitely an incentive to continue.

This morning I also made a phase one friendly recipe for the crockpot. It was a chili recipe using ground turkey and three different kinds of beans. I wondered if the "phase One" part of it might change the flavor, but I am pleased to report that it was really good. Everyone that tried it thought so too..we all kept saying that it tasted so normal...not sure why we kept saying it...but we did.

No major cravings, and I felt satisfied between meals and snacks. If this continues, then I think adopting this lifestyle permanently will be easier than I had imagined.

South Beach - Phase One - Day Two

Commericals are evil. Between the radio and tv commericals that bombard you throughout the day it makes anyone trying to be a good South Beacher a bit rough around the edges. Aside from the rare South Beach commercial it was a sea of fast food, pizza, and carbs. It doesn’t actually shake my resolve any, but what it does do is make whatever I am eating appear much less appealing.

Lunch was interesting. I tried a South Beach entree that is Phase one approved - basically just chicken and green beans. It was ok...basically like a lean cuisine - but without any pasta or potatoes. I had no trouble sticking to my plan, there was a time in the afternoon when I really got hungry but I lasted through til my snack and was ok the rest of the night. I made certain to have my fudgesicle for dessert and that was a surprisingly good change of taste for being no-sugar.

The rest of the bunch also seemed to do well enough...though the work bunch wanted to eat anything in sight by mid-afternoon. So far so good.

South Beach - Phase One - Day One

No matter how much preparation you go through - starting a new diet on a Monday morning is just NOT the best way to begin a work week. But at least you have the newness factor going for you. The wanting to get everything right... to have just what you are supposed to have time that is always at the start of any plan. Hopefully we stay vigilant and not fall into complacency when you stop measuring and start "eyeballing" things and rationalizing that M&M’s must fit into phase 2 somewhere....

Overall the day went well. I was not overly hungry, but did realize that I was not eating in the usual patterns. Had my snacks and was even all ready for dessert....but was too tired to eat it...but it will wait for tomorrow.

My rag tag group of South Beachers joining me had differing reactions. The ones that had been through it before were ok, the newbies most definitely NOT embracing the South Beach lifestyle...but it’s early yet, and once the weight starts to drop, they will whistle a different tune I am certain.

My Journey to South Beach

Weight has always been the major disruptor in the otherwise fairly normal progression of my life. I believe for a combination of reasons, that it was destined to become one of the most difficult addictions to affect me as an adult.

Growing up I was tempted by all of the usual vices, smoking, alcohol, recreational drugs, and frankly I did experiment as many young people do. The results of my experiments were as follows:

Smoking: as much as I wanted to be cool, cigarettes and or marijuana both made me choke and cough and that coupled with watching my father smoke like a chimney, made for a quick flirtation with smoking.

Alcohol: this one I seemed to fare better with - no choking at least. But I honestly discovered shortly after trying alcohol, that I could have just as much fun having one drink as I could having 5 or 6. To this day I am nothing more than a social drinker.

Recreational Drugs: These just plain scared me....being in athletics I didn’t want to do anything that might hurt my performance, and steroids were not yet a part of the scene except for bodybuilders...so the appeal was just not there for me. Besides, I never have liked the feeling of not being in control of my actions - so chalk up another one for "not my deal".

Ah....but food. Food was a different story. You had to eat. It’s a part of life. In my family both my parents were avid cooks and created in me a love of food, and cooking, and eating that goes back as far as I can remember. I have always associated food with good times, smiles and laughter, the many parties my parents threw, the huge family get together’s centered around a holiday meal. It was my childhood and adolescence and as an adult still is a part of my life that I treasure.

I don’t eat to live. I watch the Food Network. I am a good cook. I bear the mark of these three items in my waist size and shirt size and each and every time I look in the mirror. Like the many others in my position, I have yo-yo dieted up and down the scale too many times to count. I do posess the ability to lose weight - the will power, and the drive to keep it off though have all been for reasons that seem to never last. To be more specific, the reasons haven’t been for me they all seem to have been for someone else.

So..I embark on the journey once again. South Beach worked well for me before, so I bought the new book, read it, and am ready to give it a try. But this journey IS for me. It is for my health, it is for those I love and care about, it is for all the right reasons and for this reason I think I will have better success. I am joined by a rag tag group of friends, loved ones, and co-workers, each on their own journey, but nice enough to give me some support in my own.

I will use this blog to chronicle my journey good or bad in hopes that it may bring a shred of hope or laughter or understanding in your own.

Uncluttering My Mind

Another Easter has come and gone and spring has sprung. I wish the spring cleaning bug would bite me a bit harder, but slowly I am getting into the spirit of the time honored tradition. As I approach the task of cleaning out the dust of winter and opening up for springtime I have begun to notice a difference in my normal approach. I guess time and age do indeed cause changes in your point of view - it’s interesting to me that I seem to be entering into a new phase in my life.

Early on as with many people I was squarely focused on the acquisition of "stuff". Electronic gadgets, furniture to fill up every room, and seemingly every kitchen gadget known to man. My closets and cupboards and patio and garage over time became dumping grounds for these treasures and even though I had plenty of items by now..the quest for more was seemingly not quenched. New fads, the latest model - I fell into the trap of capitalism.

I think I’m full. I may have reached that saturation point with acquiring and entered into a new period of streamlined living.

Out shopping recently looking for nothing in particular, but ready to pick up that latest whatever it might be, I actually found myself picking things up..looking at them....and wondering aloud to my shopping companion "but where would I put this, I don’t have any room". Now THAT is a paradigm shift.

Another startling example for me was when I was gathering together items to set out for the disabled American veteran’s truck to come and pick up. Normally I can find enough to fill a bag or small box...doing my part but not parting with a lot. This year, after getting everything onto the front porch I had amassed 5 boxes and two bags worth.

Spring cleaning 2008 may just lighten more than just the dust in my house..it may take on some additional meaning. Besides the cleaning of the clutter it will also be a chance for me to start a healthier lifestyle. I suppose it’s the same reason why meditation and yoga studios are always so plain. When you are in a room that has clutter your brain will have mental clutter. I think its impossible to relax in a dirty home.

May everyone’s spring be happy and rewarding in its own way.

Too Early For Spring

An update to the early spring that I reported in my front yard. I was going to cut it close, but I thought I would get the weeds pulled and make the imposed deadline before getting fined from the homeowner’s association. I had made a valiant start, however the tiny cleared area in comparison with the rest of the yard was barely even noticeable.

Then of course I got the flu....not just a mild case of the flu, but the whole shebang....High fever, chills, aches, lost my voice and had the head cold to match....it was ugly....I tried on the second day of my illness to go out and pull some weeds thinking " well its not exactly strenuous so I should be all right" - well I lasted all of ten minutes before I was exhausted and retired back to bed.

The next day was the deadline day and I awoke still sick, with dark skies and the threat of rain. Once the rain started, it softly rained throughout the day and into the evening. I was hoping that this meant that the members of the committee could not get out to assign fines - but knew that it would be a short reprieve.

The weeds thrived on the additional rain and soon my weed garden was even more lush and full. Professionals would have to be hired, and so I set about the task of finding someone to come out and tackle the job. It took a while, but I found 4 places that did this kind of work and called three of them and e-mailed the fourth then waited for the calls to get quotes.

I waited a full day and nothing. Not one call. Is the economy that good that these places can turn down business? I made secondary calls and e-mails. Nothing. Meanwhile the weeds were thriving and growing taller by the minute. Finally after no response from anyone, I was able to get someone through someone my mom’s lawn care service knew of....by the third day after the deadline, the work was going to be done.

It was expensive, but necessary. The weeds were removed and the yard looked great...for almost 3 days. Then the new shoots of green started to appear. But this time I am armed with weed killer and will not rest until they are all chemically extinguished.

By the way, I finally did get a call from one of the four businesses that I originally contacted...a full four days after I contacted them a second time....I politely said that someone else had beaten them to the work....to which the lady replied.....oh well and hung up.....

An Early Spring?

One of the many reasons I love winter is that my yard becomes a dormant place....a stark, bland, area without flowers or color or....weeds. I appreciate this time of year for the respite it gives me from the never ceasing chore of yard work.

It really has been a nice season in that respect. By Thanksgiving I trimmed everything back and the yard began a hopefully long hibernation of winter slumber. We had a wetter season than usual and although I love the rain, it does not bode well for providing my yard with the perfect conditions for winter bliss.
That being said, it was almost New Years before I noticed any change in my austere desert landscaped front yard. There in the near center of my yard poked out a small green shoot that caused immediate beads of cold sweat on my brow. Like greased lightning I was in the yard and with a quick jerk took care of the situation. Satisfied with my efforts, I tossed the offending culprit in the trash can and went about my day.

What happened next I can only surmise was a general call to all types of lawn and yard dwellers. A call to descend upon this smug homeowner that thought he was being "pro-active". A lesson must be taught and soon....to send a message to other over zealous weed pullers out there. So in the span of perhaps a week there were perhaps 10 new shoots in a wide and random pattern covering the entire expanse of my front yard. I wanted to pull them, but we were having more rain and it would have to wait for dryer conditions.

The next time I walked down the front walk to the street I noticed a new green border all along my path as well as at least 20 new bursts of green in my otherwise rock and gravel front yard. A sense of dread and unease took over and I found myself looking around the neighborhood at other houses to see if they too were suffering this early gift of springtime. Much to my horror it became more and more evident that I was ground zero in the assault of the weeds. I would be the first letter that the HOA neighborhood committee would send out as a "gentle reminder" to rid the yard of the unpleasant blight of healthy green weeds.

I am not sure where the time went. I know I was busy. I know on at least 2 occasions I thought about going outside to wrestle with the rapidly growing horde, but now it is February 5th and the weeds have seemingly won. When driving by the house - at first glance it looks like I have a lawn, until you look close. Unfortunately the neighborhood committee members did not think so.

Punxsatawny Phil the groundhog saw his shadow last week indicating six more weeks of winter. But in my front yard - spring is already here.

Making A Difference

An old man walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish,beached and dying after a storm.

A young man was picking them up and flinging them back into the ocean."

Why do you bother?" the old man scoffed."

You're not saving enough to make a difference."

The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back to the water.

"Made a difference to that one," he said.

Everyone can make a difference.

Sometimes my focus becomes narrow, the world around me shrinks down like a heavy wool blanket and I fall into a trap I call the "woe is me’s." "My shoulder hurts and I can’t sleep"," I can’t afford a flat screen TV", " I don’t make enough money", " I am not making the most of my life"," I will never find my soul mate", " I won’t leave a mark on the world", "my life isn’t making a difference". I turn inward and refuse to see the "bigger picture"around me.

I find myself worrying about the future, about the impact my life will have in the evolution of the world. I lay awake and dwell on possibilities and scenario’s that are far out of my control...and in my mind - everything becomes about me. These self induced pity parties can last a day, a few days, until at last for whatever reason I seem to once again poke my head out of the sand and resume life as usual.

A couple of things in the last day or so have jolted me back to the real world. Watching a friend walk the tightrope of real life waiting for the birth of a great niece while at the same time mourning the loss of a mother almost exactly a year ago and experiencing firsthand the circle of life.

Seeing my own mother conquering pain and disability to simply see a concert and celebrating the fact she would not have to cross yet one more activity off of her ever dwindling list of things she can still do.

Being open to the bigger picture makes me much more aware that the only thing I can count on is making a difference in the lives of the people I care about the most. If I do that, if I make a conscious effort to strive for happiness and contentment in the small moments of everyday, then I HAVE made a difference in my life and the lives of others. Everyone’s plate is full enough, but sometimes all it takes is a small act on your part to truly affect the life of another.