[Presea] "For the year is long, and full of binges"

[Presea]

"For the Year is Long, and Full of Binges"

 

Priority 1: No 70 course dinners

I've been trying to lose weight via tracking Calories In-Calories Out (CICO) for the better part of this year, and have been failing miserably.  Not because CICO doesn't work, but because I consistently undo my good deficits with binge eating.  Since insanity is popularly defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, I'm trying a new approach for this challenge.  I'm taking a mental health break from all the tracking:

 

- I will not weigh myself during the challenge; -1 point for every time I do (if someone else decides to check my weight, like my fitness consultant through the health insurance program at work, no points will be held against me)

 

- I won't track food using MFP or another calories tracking device; -1 point for every day I do

 

- No overeating alone - I've chosen this as my first step towards overcoming my binge eating.  I can't ban myself from eating alone entirely, because I eat breakfast and lunch alone at work during the week.  I also think it's too ambitious to try to stop overeating cold turkey - plus, I don't see it as a long term solution - there will always be special occasions and family events to celebrate, and aiming for never ever eating more than my body needs sounds like a guaranteed way to fail.  My biggest problem (in my mind) is secretive binge eating - for example, stopping at the grocery store on the way to work to buy a quart of ice cream to devour in the car.  I'm hoping that, by allowing myself to eat as much as I want on the condition that I do it in other people's company, I can shake this detrimental habit. -1 point for every occurence of overeating alone; +1 point for every day with no occurences

 

Priority 2: Dream like Arya

Okay, so I know I'm not a warg and don't get to dream I'm a direwolf destroying my enemies, but that doesn't mean I can't benefit from getting a little extra shuteye.  Last challenge, I managed to average exactly 8 hours a night (granted, with a fair amount of variation, but an average nonetheless).  However, I still feel like I could benefit from more.  I'm going to bump my average goal up to 8.25 hours a night, so 346.5 hours cumulative over the course of the next 6 weeks.

 

Priority 3: Go to the Maester for healing

I have mild cases of plantar fasciitis and shin splints, which seem to have the common cause of tight calf muscles.  My goal is stretching two times a day -

1 - upon waking/before getting out of bed (either drawing the ABCs with my feet or pulling my foot to a flex using a blanket or towel.

2 - calf stretch (against the wall or similar) after exercise

 

Priority 4: Study with Sam

Last challenge I came close to meeting my goal of averaging 15 min/day.  Seeing as how I was studying for longer intervals only once or twice a week anyways, I decided to set a weekly goal this time around of 120 minutes.

 

Priority 5: Winter is coming

I always struggle to keep up a high activity level when the weather starts to turn cold.  I haven't had an activity goal the past challenge or two, but it's time to put one back in as a preemptive measure.  I want to keep it flexible, though, so that I can spend time as I wish outside any day that the weather is still good.  Here's a list of indoor and outdoor options; I will choose 1 everyday:

 

Outdoor (preference - enjoy it while it lasts!):

- Go for a walk/hike

- Play a tennis match

- Bike to and from work, or just go for a bike ride after work

- Sprints/some kind of interval training

 

Indoor

- bodyweight exercises (ex: NF BBWW)

- zumba DVD

- DDR

- Xbox Kinect or Wii game

- walk on treadmill

- stationary bike

- dumbell workout at fitness center at work

- large cleaning project

- go wall climbing, to a trampoline park, to dodgeball meetup, or other random activity with boyfriend

- stretching/yoga/taichi/other mind/body - if in need of rest day

[kylie]

Nice goals. I like that you've worked out what your problem is with your food goals and come up with some concrete things to do (or not do) to help sort it. I can totally get the secret overeating thing as it is something I am also prone to. I think allowing yourself all the food you like, so long as you're not alone is a brilliant way of solving this. I know for sure that some of my binges, I would absolutely never do unless I was alone so I think this could work really well. I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on, and also to see what exercise you get up to, I could do with inspiration myself on that front. 

[spooky]

Following along

 

Great to see you working on your binge eating habits, you'll conquer it for sure! I think adjusting your strategy is a great idea

[DrFeelgood]

Looks like a solid challenge.  I'll be interested to see how well not tracking works since I've gone the other direction (raising targets) to try and curb my binges.

 

Here's to improved outcomes for both of us.

 

[Blonde-E]

Following! I too have been struggling with plantar fasciitis developing thanks to tight calf muscles. I have found that a seated staff pose with a strap around the balls of my feet does the most good. In this position I can pull the outside edge of my foot back flat and get a deep stretch pretty quickly. Hope that helps you too!

[Shello]

Nice theme.  

 

Good goals.  Hopefully this change of scenery will help you reach more success.  I'm interested in how this turns out as well.  I do not feel comfortable not logging food but I definitely don't want to do it forever.  You seem to make pretty decent choices under normal circumstances so your rule about overeating should be really helpful.  

[Archon]

"For the Year is Long, and Full of Binges"

 

Priority 1: No 70 course dinners

 

- I will not weigh myself during the challenge; -1 point for every time I do (if someone else decides to check my weight, like my fitness consultant through the health insurance program at work, no points will be held against me)

 

Priority 2: Dream like Arya

Priority 3: Go to the Maester for healing

Priority 4: Study goal

Priority 5: Winter is coming

LOVE the GoT theme!!! Some great quotes and references. Can't wait for the next book (I will totally read the series a 3rd time once WoW finally gets a real release date).

 

A note on what you said during your 1st goal regarding someone else checking your weight, at most places (like a doctor visit) you can request a blind weight, where they weigh you without telling you. For those of us who are curious by nature, it can take a lot of self-control to not peak at the scale, but it is an option I thought I would mention.

 

Dreaming like Arya, that's an awesome small-step-up on your goal over last challenge and great personal awareness to be mindful of how you could potentially use just that extra little bit of sleep. On my first challenge I forced myself to get 8 hours a night (I penalized myself for every night I got under 8, on a 6 week average as well as measuring my average amount of sleep). I found that that was a lot more sleep than I needed on a regular basis, but it helped my break my addiction to late-night video-gaming with my friends (that was the primary cause of me getting 5-6 hours on average prior to that point).

 

Good luck with your challenge, and I will be stopping in to say hi periodically and checking up on how you are doing!

[Presea]

Looks like a solid challenge.  I'll be interested to see how well not tracking works since I've gone the other direction (raising targets) to try and curb my binges.

 

Here's to improved outcomes for both of us.

 

 

Nice theme.  

 

Good goals.  Hopefully this change of scenery will help you reach more success.  I'm interested in how this turns out as well.  I do not feel comfortable not logging food but I definitely don't want to do it forever.  You seem to make pretty decent choices under normal circumstances so your rule about overeating should be really helpful.  

Yes, it was very hard to decide to drop logging for this challenge, I had been waffling on it for the last couple weeks.  I finally decided to just take the plunge - I can always go back to logging next challenge if I feel that is what I need to do to achieve my goals.

 

 

 

Following! I too have been struggling with plantar fasciitis developing thanks to tight calf muscles. I have found that a seated staff pose with a strap around the balls of my feet does the most good. In this position I can pull the outside edge of my foot back flat and get a deep stretch pretty quickly. Hope that helps you too!

Yes, that's basically what the 2nd option for the stretch before getting out of bed is.  It definitely helps lessen the hobbling around the first few minutes in the morning.

 

 

LOVE the GoT theme!!! Some great quotes and references. Can't wait for the next book (I will totally read the series a 3rd time once WoW finally gets a real release date).

 

A note on what you said during your 1st goal regarding someone else checking your weight, at most places (like a doctor visit) you can request a blind weight, where they weigh you without telling you. For those of us who are curious by nature, it can take a lot of self-control to not peak at the scale, but it is an option I thought I would mention.

 

Dreaming like Arya, that's an awesome small-step-up on your goal over last challenge and great personal awareness to be mindful of how you could potentially use just that extra little bit of sleep. On my first challenge I forced myself to get 8 hours a night (I penalized myself for every night I got under 8, on a 6 week average as well as measuring my average amount of sleep). I found that that was a lot more sleep than I needed on a regular basis, but it helped my break my addiction to late-night video-gaming with my friends (that was the primary cause of me getting 5-6 hours on average prior to that point).

 

Good luck with your challenge, and I will be stopping in to say hi periodically and checking up on how you are doing!

True - I don't think she even says it usually, I just look at the number because it's right there at eye-level.  I've considered setting a bed time or requiring at least 8 every night, but it just seems unrealistic for real life.  Sometimes I just have too much to do on a weeknight and can't get to bed before 9:30, so I think the long term solution for me is always going to involve catching up somewhat on the weekends.  But by increasing my average goal, it should push me to get more on weeknights more often too.

[Presea]

Nice theme.  

Yep, I saw yours was GoT as well, but I was too lazy to think of something else that would fit my goals well, so I just kept it.  Sharing is caring, right?

[Shello]

Yep, I saw yours was GoT as well, but I was too lazy to think of something else that would fit my goals well, so I just kept it.  Sharing is caring, right?

 

Absolutely.  Go for it.  Whatever works for you.  And 

 

[Presea]

Week 1, Day 1

 

Priority 1: No 70 course dinners

Breakfast - Chicken paella; coffee w/milk and sugar

Lunch - New england clam chowder

Dinner - Pan-fried tilapia, marinated artichokes

Evening snack - mango & banana smoothie w/protein and collagen powders

No overeating alone +1

 

Priority 2: Dream like Arya

Last week I discovered Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality and spent the whole week reading it obsessively.  I finished it Friday night, but it made me want to reread the original again, so I picked up the Sorcerer's Stone on Saturday.  Problem is, getting hooked on a good book almost always cuts into my sleep time.  Finished it up at 10pm, so only 7.5 hours of sleep last night

 

Priority 3: Go to the Maester for healing

ABCs  - check

calf stretch after exercise - miss

 

Priority 4: Study with Sam

Didn't study.

 

Priority 5: Winter is coming

2 walks, around 30 minutes each

[brutalbears]

The Faceless God says taking a breaking from tracking calories is wise...

It actually has helped me a lot, I get to tweaky and obsessive when I track my calories-and I have lost more and bulked better not tracking.

[Presea]

Week 1, Day 2

 

Breakfast - breakfast burrito (eggs, peppers, onion, cheese, black beans, tortilla)

Lunch - Sushi (smoked salmon, cucumber, cream cheese, carrot, avocado, rice, nori)

Dinner - Butterburger Deluxe; clam chowder

Snack - Fruit smoothie

No overeating alone +1

 

2 30 minute walks

 

7.5 hours of sleep (the price for reading through the chamber of secrets in one day)

 

Morning calf stretches only

[DrFeelgood]

Mmmm, Butterburger.

 

 

I need some stretches today, too.  My legs are protesting yesterday's sprints.

[Presea]

Yes, it's the second I've had this past week.  Previously I hadn't had one for probably a year, but then the craving hit out of nowhere. 

 

Okay, probably not out of nowhere, more likely all your fault for mentioning Culvers last week .

 

I think my cooking mission for next week will be to figure out to make similar burgers at home so I don't break the bank.  How do they get the patties so thin, yet so juicy?

[DrFeelgood]

Yes, it's the second I've had this past week.  Previously I hadn't had one for probably a year, but then the craving hit out of nowhere. 

 

Okay, probably not out of nowhere, more likely all your fault for mentioning Culvers last week .

 

I think my cooking mission for next week will be to figure out to make similar burgers at home so I don't break the bank.  How do they get the patties so thin, yet so juicy?

 

Doh, my bad.  I had one during Week 0 so hopefully I'm good to go until late October.

 

I make a serviceable In-n-Out Double Double replica at home, but I've never tried to recreate a Culver's burger--I think I have a new project.

[Jett]

Interesting change to non-tracking of calories. Is it hard not to estimate in your head?

 

I hope it works for you!

[spooky]

Your food sounds awesome as usual

 

I'm also curious about what Jenn asked, do you end up estimating in your head? How are you feeling about not tracking calories?

[NeverThatBored]

I'm catching up on your thread! Your goals look great!  

 

I've been struggling with arch pain in one of my feet as well, and one thing I've found that helps a lot is massaging it with a lacrosse ball. I highly recommend it!

[Presea]

@Spookyfoot and Jenn - Funny you both should ask that, the first day I was able to not think about calories at all, but the second and third days I found myself tallying them up in my head.  I think it started because I was eating sushi for lunch, and I was trying not to overeat - I don't find sushi very filling (probably because it's mostly rice, despite trying to spread it fairly thin when I made it), so I was trying to figure out how many would be the amount of calories I usually eat for lunch.

 

 

 

Week 1, Day 3

 

Eating was good until the evening came around.  This always seems to happen when my boyfriend's parents go back to Ecuador after staying with us for the whole summer (we dropped them off at the airport in the morning) - I end up eating any of the food they bought and didn't get around to eating - ice cream, granola, flour tortillas - yep, all the delicious carbs.  I was trying to prepare myself mentally for it ("you don't have to eat it all in one day!"), but when my boyfriend left for a dodgeball meetup, I broke down.  It wasn't the heaviest of binges, but still a binge nonetheless .

 

I did get my morning and after-exercise stretching in, though, and 7.25 hours of sleep.

[DrFeelgood]

I know the feeling--I cleaned out all the goodies that were left behind after our last cookout and when MrsFeelgood's sister went back to NYC after her visit.  Once they're gone, though, it's pretty easy to bounce back.

 

So today is bouncy day...

 

[Jett]

At least all that crap is out of the house, now, and you have more control about which foods come in. Plus, more private time!

[DrFeelgood]

How's the bouncing going?

 

I'm workin' on it myownself.

[Presea]

Thank you for the prompt, DrFeelgood.  I'm not as good a bouncer as Tigger, but yesterday was definitely an improvement over Wednesday.  I've been debating on whether I should dock myself the overeating point because I couldn't resist making avocado toast twice with the white bread my boyfriend's parents left behind and some leftover avocados I bought for the sushi making.

 

Breakfast - burrito (eggs, cheese, black beans, pepper and onions); 2 avocado toasts

Lunch - Sushi

Dinner - wrap (flour tortilla, turkey, cucumber, carrot, tomatoes, radishes, and homeade ranch dressing)

Evening snack - Smoothie; 2 more avocado toasts; a taste of the zucchini rice casserole I spent my evening making (from most recent post on Smitten Kitchen blog - just in time for the last shippment of zucchini from my dad's garden)

 

Maybe a half point for overeating but not going full-on binge?

 

Still shorting myself on sleep due to rereading Harry Potter - now on the Goblet of Fire - 7.25 hours

 

Worst part about yesterday was no exercise - I kept waiting for the weather to clear to go for a walk, but it never happened.  Should have done an indoor activity, but, reading Harry Potter inbetween laundry and cooking seemed like a more enjoyable way to spend the evening :/

[Shello]

I'm not sure avocado toast should count as overeating at all.  The point is to break the binge habit - did it feel like a binge?