I went to a flea market today. One of those places where people go to make a few bucks off the crap that was cluttering up their houses. The process is: you buy it, put it in your house, don’t use it, and sell it at the next flea market hopefully for 25¢ more. Of course all of this running around costs you $356- in gas, so you gotta ask yourself if it’s really worth the trouble.
Well, I had $20- with me, which in theory was supposed to last me a few days, and I spent $15-. What deals! What bargains! I got a BAG of percussion instruments for $1! I got a backpack and matching lunch box for $7! But did I really need a bag of decorative apple signs and chotchkies for $4? True we have an annual apple cider press party. And true, I do break out my decorative apple tray and prominently display my prized Apple Cookbook for said party. But I am not the type of person to display country looking chotchkies, so why the hell did I buy all of those apples, and where the hell am I going to put them anyway?
I’m sure that by now, you have figured out the metaphor. The apples that I don’t need get stashed away in my closet, while the Pop-tart that my body doesn’t need gets stashed away as back fat. Lovely.
So what is it that is so hard about living within my means? Am I so used to getting what I want all the time, that I don’t know how to prioritize anymore? I mean, my son does need a new back pack and the price was great (It was almost brand new! And Clone Wars for Yoda’s sake!) And the instruments, great deal, yes, definitely! I needed a butter dish…kind of…. And the apples, well, don’t tell my husband about those, ok?
This is exactly what happens during the day with food. I need certain things. Protein, carbs and good fats to live. But trying to fit in the 150 calorie ice cream cone AND the 230 calorie beer AND the extra popcorn…you just can’t have it all.
I am going to try something new. Instead of looking at these monetary and food limits as the universe dropping a flaming bag of poo on my doorstep, ringing the doorbell and laughing as I step on it, I will think of the allotment of both money and food as precious opportunities to love myself. (Yes, I said it…it’s like walking to the North Star…I’ll just keep going in the direction of loving myself, even though I’ll never get there!) I will prioritize the things I need physically (tampons, toothpaste, protein, fruits) and I will try to make the most of the food and money that I have left and consciously try to enjoy every moment of that ice cream cone or wooden apple. AND while I’m at it, I’m going to go a little crazy and enjoy the minty taste of the toothpaste and the crunch of the carrots!
During gratitude practice every night (GOD, that makes me sound like such a great parent doesn’t it!!? I won’t be mentioning the shock collar any time soon!) Elliot, my beautiful almost 9 year old son ends with, “…And I’m so grateful for having a house to live in and enough food and money to live.” I could choose to look at this statement and wonder if he is worried that one day we won’t have enough, or I could just follow his lead and say, yes, I am truly grateful for all that I have….even if it is only $16- and 1350–strike that–894 calories left.
Liz Rossi is losing it...again! 
Elizabeth – I saw your post on facebook, and went to your blog. I am with you in all aspects except the wonderful physically active life you have been living. I sit sit sit all day at work – except for short periods of activity. My favorite hobby is reading which also involves sitting, and food, which of course involves eating and sitting. I have been going to weightwatchers in San Mateo since September of 2005 – before I became a grandmother. i luckily still weigh the same as when I started as in Feb I was up almost 10 lbs and have come back from that. Everything you have mentioned has gone through my mind. I am in a message board on the WW site called 20 N 20 for a group who have been going to lose 20 lbs in 20 weeks. I am in week 15 and have lost about 5 lbs since the start. But I am not going to quite until I reach my goal if I am 75 years old! Being married to a food photographer and much of our “entertainment” involves good food and wine, it is very frustrating to make progress one week, and then have one bad day and go backwards, which takes 2X as long to overcome.
Good luck with your challenge and “break a leg”.
Comment by Ann Guyer — June 7, 2009 @ 6:39 pm |
Ann–it’s so nice to hear from you! I’m glad that the blog is helping! I know it’s soooo hard. Are you doing the points or a different diet?
A couple of tips:
When I go out to eat, I try to ask for only what I want to eat. Today, I went to Bob Evans (most likely not something that Larry would be taking pictures of!) and the waitress gave me a 10 page packet of nutritional information. I ordered a multi-grain pancake with sugar free syrup, a piece of wheat toast and some bacon. It was very filling. I also carry around my iPhone with an application which tells me approximate calories.
Sometimes I ask for a to go box first and put 1/2 of the meal in there before I start eating.
If you start moving around a little, your metabolism will raise and you will be able to eat more calories to maintain and lose weight. I recommend finding your favorite books on iTunes or the library and taking a walk with an MP3 player!
Also, I keep telling myself that I have maintained my weight for 7 months, so I know how to do that! If I want to lose now, I need to be really mindful of the process for 2 months. Even if I just lose 5 pounds more, then I can take a break, maintain for another 2 months and then try again.
And the last little bit of unsolicited advice that I will give you is: don’t beat yourself up after a slip up. You’re just reinforcing the negative feelings about dieting. Look at it like a scientist and say, if I only had one glass of wine and not 3 bottles, how many calories would that have eliminated?
Hope that helps! I’m with you all the way! Good luck and keep in touch!
Comment by mtcoach — June 7, 2009 @ 7:02 pm |