One of the reason we have a weight problem is because we are not listening to ourselves. In my case, when I was a kid, I was always told to finish my plate or I would not get dessert. There are 2 things wrong with that statement; first, we should not finish our plate if we are full and second, dessert should never have been glorified as a reward.
Can’t change the past, however we can change our present and future.
Yesterday for lunch we had pasta in tomato sauce. Even though I love pasta, once I felt I was full I stopped eating. Double winner here, first of all I ate less because the portion was smaller than before, plus as a bonus, I stopped as soon as I was full. I’m really starting to listen to my needs and not to my wants.
Another good thing which happened a few days back; I had ordered a salad for lunch. The dressing was in a small dish, containing about a third of a cup (thousands of calories I’m sure). Before, I would have just poured the whole thing on my salad. No more instead I just lightly touched the dressing with the bottom of my forkful. I was tasting the dressing with every bite and I was happy. At the end of the meal, there was maybe a spoonful of the dressing gone.
Enough about good news, it’s time to do an update about the competition.
Yesterday I walked over 25,000 steps. I was sure I would have all my rivals eating my dust… but when I uploaded the data and checked out the score, I was second!!! What the heck, I should have been first, way ahead of the competition, winning by a landslide.
I analyzed to see what went wrong and how someone else could be ahead. I’m convinced that eliocks has attached his vivofit on an hamster and we all know how those little critters can step a lot in their wheels.
So today my goal was to walk around 30,000 steps. I went for my walk earlier, didn’t even have my coffee yet. After about 30 minutes, I felt a soreness in my left knee.
In the past 6 days I have walked over 55 miles. For a 55 years old obese man, not the smartest thing to do. I really wanted to win the competition but first and foremost and the only thing that really matters is I need to be healthy.
Having a sore knee this morning was a message from my own body telling me to slow down. So I’ll be stepping down the “podium” and gratefully accept that I did exceptionally well for my condition. It’s the long range that is important and I can’t do that without listening to my body!
Are you
listening to yourself?
Very important to listen to our bodies, 100% agree. Sorry about the sore knee. Wow on the steps and the dressing.
ReplyDeleteYes Ivy we can't have a blind ear to our own body language :) I have a history of knee problem so I'm really looking out to not get back to hurt-land.
DeleteI can relate. Mine is spinal issues so when I exercise, I listen to my gut as well. Our gut, one of the best tools, EVER.
DeleteAww, good job listening to your knee! :)
ReplyDelete-WWE
Yes, very important to listen to your body. You don't want to injury yourself and then be unable to walk at all!
ReplyDeleteGood stuff on the handling of food. We didn't eat dessert at my house when I was a kid but we were told to finish everything on our plates. I didn't like that either. So when I became the cook to my own family, I placed all the food on the table in bowls and told everyone to help themselves. Everyone eats as much as they want; not as much as I want them to!
What a neat idea to have the food on the table and every one just help themself... love that!
DeleteDessert was my favorite part of any meals. I have a sweet tooth, I should take an appointment with the dentist so that she just takes it out! LOL
We never/rarely had dessert and I wasn't made to finish what was on my plate - but I was a very fussy eater and mum usually made food specially for me. That didn't include much in the way of vegetables. I didn't learn to eat those until after I got married!
ReplyDeleteNo dessert... I would not have survive childhood! I was also fussy but it didn't matter what was in front of me had to be eaten.
DeleteNatalie: What's your favorite vedge?
DeleteHope the knee feels better soon .......
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Yesterday I went back several times to walk, I just limit the amount of time and end up walking over 18,000 steps. No pain. Ouf!
DeleteYou are wise to listen to your knee and stop even if it means coming in second. The important thing long term is your health.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for stopping when full. That is hard for me. I was given the same message as you as a child. I was also told, if I didn't eat everything on my plate that I would be hungry later and I couldn't have a snack. That gave me a fear of hunger. I'm working to get past both of those things.It is hard stopping when there is food and it tastes good.
Lori
Thank you Lori to say I'm wise... I hope my wife read your comment LOL
DeleteYou are absolutely right, what is important is the long range.
This is new to me to stop when I think I'm full, never done that before, it take discipline that can be learn.
Oh yes I had forgotten about that one: "Richard you won't get chips tonight if you don't eat..." I can't say it was a fear to get hungry but it was an "incentive" that had me emptying my plate.