We're All on a Diet
It was bound to happen sooner or later. I just didn't think it would involve the whole family. For six years, I refused to go on any diet even though I knew I had put on twenty pounds since my knee injury.
It took a wake-up call about Greg to reform me.
Tank has been on a special diet for years. With all the tumors he's collected, we deliberately feed him a diet high in fat and protein to slow down cancer cells. (Cancer feeds more aggressively on carbs.)
Then it was Iko, diagnosed with advanced arthritis so early in life. The only thing that will help him now is losing some significant weight.
Maggie came to us fat, and she's a thief too, so we're always trying to thwart her food-stealing ways. Nana is a growing puppy. She uses up more calories than the entire US Olympic gymnastic team.
But it was Greg who changed my ways when his doctors said his sugar was dangerously high. I couldn't monitor his diet when he was in east Texas, but I could certainly change our menus when he was with me.
It's only been a few weeks, but all of us are seeing changes. I've dropped ten pounds. Greg has lost a whopping 22 pounds. Tank has gained one pound. (Yay!) Iko and Maggie are both looking slimmer.
Has it been easy?
Ha! Not for me. I don't think Maggie and Iko are too happy either. But my jeans are getting baggy and my hourglass figure has returned.
I haven't gone on any special diet to lose weight. Because of Greg, I stopped using sugar in my recipes. I gave up desserts and drastically curbed (but not eliminated) carbs like pasta and bread. If I eat a late lunch, which happens on certain days when I go to yoga, I'll skip dinner and have a little air-popped popcorn.
I miss desserts. I won't lie. But I'd like to get back into fighting weight before I indulge in sweets again. The holidays are around the corner, so I REALLY need to lose the extra weight by then. That pecan pie is calling me! If I continue to be good that should happen in the next few weeks anyway.
Yoga has helped too. After an hour of sweating, I feel ten pounds lighter! It motivates me to stay on course.
Have you been on a diet? Is there anything that's helped you stay on target?
***
On a cheerier note, Mike Keyton has had his surgery and is on the road to recovery. Welcome home, Mike! One day at a time, okay?
It took a wake-up call about Greg to reform me.
Tank has been on a special diet for years. With all the tumors he's collected, we deliberately feed him a diet high in fat and protein to slow down cancer cells. (Cancer feeds more aggressively on carbs.)
Then it was Iko, diagnosed with advanced arthritis so early in life. The only thing that will help him now is losing some significant weight.
Maggie came to us fat, and she's a thief too, so we're always trying to thwart her food-stealing ways. Nana is a growing puppy. She uses up more calories than the entire US Olympic gymnastic team.
But it was Greg who changed my ways when his doctors said his sugar was dangerously high. I couldn't monitor his diet when he was in east Texas, but I could certainly change our menus when he was with me.
It's only been a few weeks, but all of us are seeing changes. I've dropped ten pounds. Greg has lost a whopping 22 pounds. Tank has gained one pound. (Yay!) Iko and Maggie are both looking slimmer.
Has it been easy?
Ha! Not for me. I don't think Maggie and Iko are too happy either. But my jeans are getting baggy and my hourglass figure has returned.
I haven't gone on any special diet to lose weight. Because of Greg, I stopped using sugar in my recipes. I gave up desserts and drastically curbed (but not eliminated) carbs like pasta and bread. If I eat a late lunch, which happens on certain days when I go to yoga, I'll skip dinner and have a little air-popped popcorn.
I miss desserts. I won't lie. But I'd like to get back into fighting weight before I indulge in sweets again. The holidays are around the corner, so I REALLY need to lose the extra weight by then. That pecan pie is calling me! If I continue to be good that should happen in the next few weeks anyway.
Yoga has helped too. After an hour of sweating, I feel ten pounds lighter! It motivates me to stay on course.
Have you been on a diet? Is there anything that's helped you stay on target?
***
On a cheerier note, Mike Keyton has had his surgery and is on the road to recovery. Welcome home, Mike! One day at a time, okay?
Comments
For me, I want to be able to eat or drink what I want, so I know I have to burn it off. Depending on the day of the week, I do 45 to 90 minutes on the treadmill. I also have reduced my portions. I managed to lose the pesky 10 pounds that made putting on my work slacks a bit trying to say the least. *laughs* I ran all summer - no matter how hot it got (Treadmill is in the garage). So glad it's cooling off. :)
-Jimmy
Since then, my husband is now off the meds. We still have weight to lose, but we exercise regularly.
I always hated using the word diet. I call them lifestyle changes, because I can't go back to the way I ate before. Not unless I want those 50 lbs back (and I don't!).
And welcome back, Mike!
Just got back from my physical, and apparently my doc approves. I got an "atta girl" from her.
We can be silly humans.
You're right about doing things together too. I think once he moves back in with me, it'll be easier to cook healthy for both of us.
Re: carbs and sugar
That was my catchall too. I think the longer I lived apart from Greg the more lax I became in my eating habits.
Just goes to show I'm obviously not working hard enough. :)
I have to be careful when I cook for Greg. His health issues have certain limitations that I have to cook around. Nothing that lots of veggies and quinoa won't solve though.
On rare occasions will bake something super sweet, recently in fact and it was too much for me so will not be doing that again until Thanksgiving and Christmas and then it will be probably 1 pie each holiday meal for the three of us to share.
Maria glad to hear you and Greg are taking it seriously, it is never too late in life to eat more healthy that is for sure!
Now I have to get back into the not-sugar-everyday groove.
My co-workers are evil. They've twisted my arm for Limited Edition Oreo taste tests and have moved on to Limited Edition chip taste tests. Evil, I tell you! All this processed temptation is on the counter behind my desk. It's a plot!
LOL, but seriously, I have fallen off the high of completing that program earlier this year so must tackle it again.
Great news that you all are seeing results! Long live the sexy bodies ;)
PS: Great news about Mike too. Continued thoughts for a speedy recovery winging their way to him.
I've lost weight, my jeans are baggy and I find the diet very manageable. So much so, that I'll probably continue and let it become a life style thing.
Illness and injury has a way of changing lifestyles too. What I thought was a minor sprain of my knee turned out to be a permanent disability. It's better, but I'll never be able to do the things I used to.
Thanks for the tip!
Re: activity level
I think that was why I gained weight. I spent more than a year in a brace or with severely limited mobility, but my eating habits didn't change.
You can't have one without the other. :sigh:
Re: He sounds tired, but still feisty. :)
Re: diets
One of my fondest memories is the time Greg took me to IHOP for breakfast. We were about 18 to 20 at the time.
We filled up the ENTIRE table with food. And we ate it all. LOL! The waitress couldn't believe it.
Back then, of course, we could eat all day and never gain weight. Greg used to do 100 mile bike rides, and my metabolism was so high I burned off every calorie without trying.
Ah, the good old days.
I'd heard of that "fast" diet. I'll have to see if Greg is interested cuz I hate to suffer alone. :)