Sunday, September 26, 2010

Mama's got some new shoes (oh, and weigh-in no. 7)

So, after weeks of waiting, I was finally able to get new shoes yesterday!! I went to a running store here in Belfast where they do a gait analysis.  Basically, they just videotape you running on a treadmill for like 30 seconds and then look at it in slow motion to track and see how your foot falls and whether or not you pronate (land on the outside of your foot) or supinate (land on the inside of your foot).

I am a mild pronator (or is it pronater?).

With that determined, the helpful lad in the shop recommended a mild stability shoe - in my case, the Saucony ProGrid Guide 3.  I tried on a pair of Asics as well, but I liked the Saucony better; it just seemed to fit better on my foot and was more comfortable.  So I paid for them and they came home with me!  They put my old shoes to shame.

I feel kinda sorry for my old shoes.  They look sad & pitiful, left like wallflowers while I ask my new shoes to dance instead.

This is the first pair of Sauconys I've ever had.  We'll see how they do!  I was told I can expect to get about 500 miles out of them (maybe a little less given my weight) but that I would be able to tell when they start to wear out and need to be replaced.  So here's to wearing them out!!  I'm looking forward to taking them out for a spin later today.


Oh, and weigh-in day is here again!  Shall we see how I've done this week?

Weigh-in no. 7 (-2.2 lbs)

Last week:   314.0
This week:   312.0   
Loss of           -2.2 lbs
Total Loss    - 15.0 lbs

An even 15 lbs!  Not too shabby!

I feel like I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but to be honest, I'm kind of surprised.  I think somewhere in my head, I feel like I'm not doing this right unless I'm suffering in some way.  And since I haven't really suffered at all, I don't expect to have lost each week.  Again this week, I didn't really count calories but again this week, I also ate healthily and made good choices.  I eat when I'm hungry.  I eat until I'm satisfied (which may not necessarily mean that my plate is clean when I'm done).  I have had a bit of apple cobbler that I made & a couple scones this week as well as some Quality Street chocolates that someone gave us at school, but nothing overboard.  I feel in control of what I eat, rather than in the past where I abdicated my power and let it control me.

I guess some would call what I'm doing 'intuitive eating', although that sounds a little up-one's-own-arse to me.  Why does it need a name?  Nevertheless, it hasn't been an intentional move on my part; I haven't made a conscious decision that this is what I'm going to do.  My first few weeks of calorie counting were extremely helpful as it helped me get a handle on what I needed to eat and how much, etc.  And I very well may go back to it when I hit a plateau or need a shift to continue losing.  But I've realized this week that I'm slowly starting to trust myself around food again.  I don't feel the compulsion to eat everything as if it won't be available ever again.  I have moved from a fear of scarcity to a reality of abundance.  I'm finally practicing what I preach.

I can't explain the shift that has happened in my head in relation to food.  And don't hear me saying that I think I have arrived - I won't be surprised if something raises its ugly head at some point and remain on the lookout.  But at the moment, I have to say I'm ok.  I still love food.  I still love cooking.  But my tastes have changed.  I don't want or crave things that I thought I would.  I have no overwhelming desire to eat something "bad for me".  I can take it or leave it, so I leave it most of the time.  I don't feel deprived.  And to be honest, the more I think about it, I don't feel like I am or ever was a food addict.  Am I in denial?  Possibly.  But I don't think so.  I think mostly I ate out of boredom and procrastination more than anything else.

All of this confirms for me that the majority of this is in one's mind.  If you can change your mind and how it perceives and relates to food, then you can change your body.

It seems deceptively simple.  Maybe it'll make a liar out of me in the coming weeks/months, but for now that seems to be the case.

Some other observations about this journey so far:
  1. Our average weekly grocery spend for two is about £55-60 (in the U.S. the equivalent buying power would be about the same - $55-60).  
  2. Almost half of that £60 (about £25/week) is spent on fresh fruit and vegetables.
  3. We are eating at home AT LEAST 6.5 nights out of 7 (we've eaten out maybe 3 times since all this started), which is way cheaper than the £12-20 per night we'd spent eating out 4+ nights a week in the past plus buying groceries for the rest.
  4. I've eradicated caffeine from my diet.  Decaf black tea doesn't have as full a flavor as regular so I do miss that a bit, but having to go to the toilet every 15 minutes when I do drink regular tea reminds me why I should drink decaf.  So I've been drinking lots of mint tea lately (because I've been nursing a sore throat and the beginnings of a cold), which surprisingly has been a nice substitute.  Still need the sugar though...
  5. And lastly, I don't think I've eaten anything (well, except for the Quality Street chocolates, maybe) that had any ingredients I couldn't pronounce or didn't know what they were in the last 3-4 weeks.  And that can only get better as I purchased a food processor/blender yesterday so we can start making our own hummus, pestos, tomato sauces, breadcrumbs, etc.  I'm excited.

So that's me for the week.  Or should I say 15 lbs less of me!  Next week's weigh-in will include new pictures and measurements to track where the weight is coming off.

And congratulations to all of you who have started running or yoga or eating better these last few weeks along with me!!  Keep it up!  It's great to have friends along for the journey!

5 comments:

  1. All sounds BRILLIANT, Jayme! Well done! Shame ja though I feel a bit sad for your other trainers... Shame! They were faithful friends! But verrry sassy new skoens will take you even further. 15lb is fantastic. I'm looking forward to a mint tea with you later this week...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey James! I found you! I saw this blog a month ago, but didn't realize it was you! I have to admit I read all 22 postings on your blog tonight. I'm just so fascinated and impressed by your goals. My husband has recently lost 55 lbs. on the South Beach diet and he's got a goal of another 55lbs, so diets and eating better has been a topic of our life for the past 6 months. I have to admit I'm not as disciplined as he is and I haven't lost much. But recently I realized I've gained 40+ lbs since the Jman years and I need to get healthy..if not for me, then for my kids!

    So, thanks James for your honesty, your goals and your motivation. It has helped give me a nice kick in the ass and has encouraged me. I know you don't want to hear that you're an "inspiration" and all that crap...but frankly old friend...you've helped me!

    Much love, your old Bosnia pal!
    :) Connie

    ReplyDelete
  3. thanks, guys!!

    connie, glad you've found the blog and feel free to join me! and do it for you!!! that's what'll help you stay motivated to get it off and keep it off, i think.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I feel the same way about intuitive eating - it's great, but do people really need to buy a book to know how to do it?! INTUITIVE - it's all in the name! I think it's the key to my success this time - it's so easy to do too much or too little, and finding the right balance by listening to your body not only works well, but it's a sustainable change.

    ReplyDelete