Breakfast Bowls

The other morning, I glanced at the back of my granola packet, and was stopped short by the image on it.  It showed a bowl heaped high with cereal, and yet I'd just been thinking how quickly I got through the packet, and wondering exactly how much I was eating.  


So, I weighed it, and found I was eating more than twice the recommended "portion".  But it didn't look like I was eating that much…

Getting out my camera and my scales, here's how it goes…  Here's my regular breakfast bowl, with my regular amount of fruit:

And here is the smallest bowl I have in my cupboard, that I rarely use, because it's so small:

You can see their relative sizes:

And here is a "portion" of granola in the small bowl:

This is how much I actually tend to eat, and have done every day while I've lost 8 kilos (seventeen and a half pounds) over the course of 4 months:

So, this is how my actual breakfast looks!  

It's far more than a "portion", but I feel healthy and strong, slim and toned.  I work out every morning, and I'm breastfeeding.  Maybe at some point I will have to change how much I eat, but for the moment I feel kind of angry at the manufacturers.  Firstly, because of their extremely misleading packaging, and secondly because of their ridiculously small "portion" size.

Sweet Reminder

Last week, I had one evening where I ate about 9 dates after dinner, as well as some nuts.  I felt sick afterwards.  The next night, I probably ate about the same total weight of snacks, but it was mainly nuts with just 2 dates.  I felt fine.  A good reminder that sugar is nauseating in excess, even in this very natural form.

I'm using this as a reminder to myself - it's better to eat non-sweet things, even as treats.  Not just in terms of weight, but in terms of how I feel in myself!

It also emphasises for me why I don't want to follow cookbooks like Deliciously Ella.  She's still working on the basis of making yourself sweet treats and finding "substitutes" for unhealthy things.  I don't want to "allow myself" sweet treats if they're going to make me feel ill in the long run, and hide the fact that really I just shouldn't be overdoing the sugar, no matter what the source.  I mean, I just hopped over there, and she's touting a "healthy" version of salted vanilla almond butter cup chocolates!

Cravings!

Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramels, if you must know ;)

On Christmas Day, I decided to allow myself some biscuits and chocolate, after three and a half months without.  I quite enjoyed it, didn't eat a ridiculous amount, and overall felt good about the whole thing.  That is, until the cravings set in the next day!

Three days of sugar cravings!  I listened to the 'Craving Buster' meditation I have every day, which definitely helped.  Still, it was a real eye-opener to the addictive nature of sugar.  Probably, at the outset I had the power of enthusiasm and novelty on my side.  Certainly, I was surprised how hard it was to stay off sugar after just one day back on, and how long the cravings lasted.  In the meditation there's a line about 'the cravings will pass, and you can handle a little discomfort, can't you?'  Yes, I could, but three days is not my idea of fleeting!

By the fourth day, though, the cravings had abated, and it became easy again.  Before that, I'd even stopped using the hypnotherapy app on a daily basis, as I no longer felt the need.  And I think I may be able to do that again, now the cravings have been tamed.  Scary, though, how powerful sugar is!  And I shan't be dipping my toe back in the sugar pool so lightly again, that's for sure...

A New Plan (and New Jeans)

Yesterday, I did a weigh-in.  Once again, I wasn't feeling great about it, but I did it anyway.  And the results were... a little disappointing.  I'm up about half a kilo (one pound).

Weight - 59.2k (130lbs)

What I put this down to is the fact that I've been eating a lot of dried fruit and nuts after dinner.  I'd go so far as to call these binges.  Now, as I'm doing everything else fine (working out daily, with a range of different workouts: weights, step, static bike, pilates, yoga), it's not too dreadful.  Still, a pound every couple of weeks could quickly add up.

And I'm having no luck stopping these binges with the hypnotherapy apps that I've got.  I don't know if this is because there isn't an app specifically for bingeing, or if this is based on stuff that is too primal for hypnotherapy to reach (an idea another psychotherapist friend raised).  Either way, I realise I need a new plan to take this into account.

I don't want to stop eating and enjoying fruit and nuts (which I could probably manage with some of the craving buster apps).  So, what I'm going to try is to make up a plate with treats after dinner, and have just that plate.  That way, I have my treat, but have it in a controlled manner.  I tried this last night, and it worked, so fingers crossed.

On a more cheerful note, I went shopping for new jeans yesterday, a size down from the last ones I bought.  It feels good to be wearing jeans that fit me again, and knowing that they are a smaller size than I've worn for several years :)

Nervous Weigh-In

I've been feeling a bit worried the last week or so.  For one thing, I've fallen asleep during my hypnotherapy sessions a few times, as the baby hasn't been letting me sleep all that well.  And my elder son's health problems probably haven't helped, either.  I thought it might not have been as effective, because of that, as well as not getting enough sleep being bad for weight loss.

Still, I have stayed away from chocolate, biscuits and cakes, though I've eaten rather more nuts and dried fruit than I'd like.  And I have exercised every day, alternating between static bike, step, weights, pilates and yoga.  Altogether, though, I was worried that my weight loss would have stalled, or that I might even be gaining weight again.

So, it was with some trepidation that I stepped on the scales this morning, and was very pleasantly surprised to see: 
58.9k (129.9 lbs)

Slow And Steady

Another week or so has gone by, and I decided to do another weigh-in.  I've still been using the hypnotherapy for weight loss apps every day.  And while I didn't feel I'd done as well with my eating, having eaten an awful lot of nuts a couple of evenings in a row when stressed and tired, I have at least stayed away from sugary stuff.  I also did yoga once, on top of my regular rotation of weights, cardio, static bike, step and cardiopilates.  So, I was hopeful when I got on the scales:

60.8k (130 lbs) 
BMI: 22.3

Back to Basics

Tuesday - didn't exercise at all, as I had a really full, busy day.  However, I didn't eat as badly on Monday or Tuesday, being away from home and my "comfort" zone, so that's one plus.

Wednesday - 36 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Allie del Rio's Hardcore Fusion.  Would have liked to do more, but between travelling, catching up on regular work, and taking the baby for his first immunisations, there just isn't time.

What Shall I Fuse?

Friday - 45 minutes of cardio-pilates with Ellen Barrett's Floor Fusion Workout.

I bought this shortly after it came out, earlier this year, but hadn't managed to do it yet because I suspected it would have too much stuff on the tummy for a pregnant body to handle.  Actually, there wasn't all that many exercises prone on the floor, and it was a better workout than I expected.  Didn't really raise my heart rate much, but it certainly challenged my muscles :)

I'm still not eating well, simply not tracking it.  I feel like I should be able to find the magic formula that will help me eat better.  A few years ago, going back onto meat helped me not eat chocolate or sugar for the better part of a year, first time in my life I'd managed that.  Now, it's been weeks since I even managed to avoid sugars until mid-afternoon.  I know that I'm tired and physically challenged by breast feeding, but bingeing on junk isn't the solution.  Just wish I knew what it is...

Reassessing My Priorities

Did premixes of this 3 times in 10 days :)

Friday

I exercised:  33 minutes of cardio with The Firm's Cardio Party.

I ate: 110g biscuits and not sure how much chocolate after dinner.  Probably just under 200g total :)

Saturday

I exercised:  46 minutes of step with Cathe's Low Max.  This time I did the all combos premix - fun!

I thought:  About a comment by Magic Mentha about how looking at my bad eating is reinforcing it.  I also did a draw on it, from Les Vampires.  Will try to post about it at some point.

Sunday - I exercised:  40 minutes of yoga self-practice.

Monday - I exercised:  52 minutes of cardio sculpting with Alison Davis McLean's Bootcamp workout.

Tuesday

I exercised:  44 minutes of stepping with Cathe Friedrich's Low Max.  This time, I did the combos and blasts 4-7 premix.

I thought:  I'd like to eat less junk, and I'd like to sleep more, and I'd like to tap more for better eating.  However, it's not happening right now, and I think the main reason is how tired I am.  Baby's been a bit grizzly and difficult the last couple of days and nights, and the house has been noisy and busy all day.  So, maybe I need to give myself a break.  When I get more sleep and feel less exhausted, I'm more likely to eat better.  In the meantime, I'll keep exercising and try to be loving towards myself.

Hard Core Thursday

Thursday

I exercised:  35 minutes of cardio sculpting with Allie del Rio's Hardcore Fusion.  It's nice to have workouts of all different lengths.  This workout was a bit disrupted, though, first by a phone call, then breast feeding, and then during the last bit I had an ocular migraine.  This has happened before, and I just exercise through it.  Still, I'm grateful that a) they don't tend to last long and b) they aren't painful.

I ate:  44g biscuits after lunch.  175g biscuits and 55g cake after dinner.  Total - 274g :((

Ballet Wednesday

Wednesday

I exercised: 56 minutes of ballet with Kari Anderson's Centre Floor.  It's interesting, I founded it harder than I remember, yet I have been working out consistently, and with weights…

I ate: 28g biscuits after lunch, and 170g biscuits, 49g choc after dinner.  Total 247g :(

I thought:  About my altar, after finally unpacking most of my "elements", altar cloths and trays...

Losing Count Again

Monday and Tuesday

I ate:  Monday I tracked what I ate, but have forgotten it now Tuesday is ending.  Today, I didn't even manage to track my eating.  A big chocolate macaroon at lunchtime, and lots of chocolate chip biscuits and some minstrels after dinner… :(

I exercised:  Monday I finally managed all 41 minutes of Allie del Rio's Total Body Toner, having only done 11 minutes of it last week.  Tuesday I did 26 minutes of Cathe Friedrich's Rhythmic Step, and 21 minutes of Allie del Rio's Time Crunch Cardio - nice :)

I felt:  Tired and annoyed with myself.  No self-control.  Didn't help that I got very little done with a visit from my MIL.  Nice, though, that a tarot client came back, repeats are a morale boost :)

Rainy Sunday

I exercised:  47 minutes of stepping with Cathe's Low Max - and I even put the step back up to 8 inches for the first time since I was in the middle of my pregnancy :)

I ate:  60g biscuits and 15g choc after lunch, then 101g choc and 70g biscuits after dinner.  Total: 246g :(

I thought:  Overeating may have been to do with doing a much stronger workout, but I don't think so.  I put it down to not having had a nap for a week - I'm tired!  Tried to nap on Saturday, but baby boy was having none of it :/

Another So-So Saturday

The Good:  Did 47 minutes of cardio sculpting with Alison Davis McLean's Cardio Overdrive.

The Bad: 15g choc and 30g biscuits after lunch, 125g biscuits and 32g choc after dinner.  Total 202g.

The So-So:  Only did tapping about twice.  Didn't eat any brassicas with dinner, which seems to have improved the baby's temperament.  Still had some whinging after dinner, though.  I think maybe he was tired and needed help sleeping, after DH had been playing with him when I would have tried to send him off...

Flop Friday

Friday

I ate:  16g biscuits after lunch.  40g chocolate and 150g biscuits after dinner.  Total - 206g :/

I exercised:  Not sure whether to even count it as I just did 11 minutes, and even that wasn't straight through.  Allie del Rio's Total Body Toner (at least the first little bit).

I tapped:  At least 4 times, it's a start.

Stepping Up?

Thursday

I ate: 118g biscuits and 49g chocolate, mostly after dinner.  Total: 167g, a bit better.

I exercised: 47 minutes of step with Kari Anderson's Go.  It felt a bit easy, so I think it's time to put my step up another notch again :)

I felt:  Annoyed with myself that I have hardly done any tapping, despite my resolution yesterday.  Part of it is that I don't often have hands free for it.  When I was tapping before the baby was born, I would do it on the toilet, or just any time I had a moment free.  Now, I don't really seem to have those free moments, as I carry my son a lot, and if I'm not carrying him I'm hurrying to do something else.  Still, this is important, too...

New Intention

Wednesday

I decided:  To start tapping on eating more healthily.  Using it for my son's birth worked really well, and I could do with some help eating less junk!

I felt:  Fairly happy to have found 2 pairs of trousers that are only half a size up on what I'd normally wear.  I needed something to replace my maternity trousers which, having been stretched by the bump, are now falling off whenever I walk around.

I exercised:  34 minutes of cardio sculpting with Ellen Barrett's Bikini Ready Fast.

I ate:  Gah, lost track again :(

Toned Tuesday

Tuesday

I felt:

I ate:  33g biscuits and 14g choc at lunchtime.  Kinda lost track after dinner - about 100g cake, 36g biscuits and maybe 50g chocolate.  Total round about 235g.

I exercised:  46 minutes of cardio sculpting with Rebekah Sturkie's Total Body Time Crunch.  The cardio segments don't really get my heart rate up, but I like the sculpting sections, and used 4, 3 and 2k weights, and 1/2k's in the cardio bits.

I am grateful for:  My DH encouraging me to be clearer about what I want.

Graceful Monday

Monday

I felt:  Not very graceful.  We've still got builders in our house, which has put my DH off working out.  I work out anyway, but do wonder what they think of me :(

I ate:  About 100g biscuits after lunch (I'd bought really nice cookies from a local store as my mum came to visit).  Then about 80g biscuits and about 60g chocolate after dinner.  Total 240g

I exercised:  45 minutes of cardio sculpting with Ellen Barrett's Grace and Gusto.  Had to skip the last three minutes as baby wanted feeding and I had to go to the shops afterwards.

Sugary Sunday

Sunday

I ate: 70g biscuits after lunch, and 100g cake, 24g chocolate, and 18g biscuits after dinner.  Total - 212g.

I worked out: 47 minutes of light cardio sculpting with Emily Walsh's Total Body Light/Cardio Fusion.

I felt:  A bit upset - finally tried on a pair of pre-pregnancy trousers, and I can't do them up.  So, will have to stay in my pregnancy trousers til I can go shopping :(