I had a grilled cheese and fries last night and popcorn with M&M's at the movies - it made me feel ill. Yes, physically, but also mentally.
I was in a hurry after a remote broadcast and so, I stopped in at Stella's. My only saving grace, once I had grease, the malt no longer sounded good. Then it was popcorn and candy at Iron Man 2.
Both choices could have been avoided, but my old habits kicked in, because I am feeling mentally crappy. I had somebody hurt me this week. It made me angry and self-destructive. Why do we do that? I didn't do anything wrong. I shouldn't be punished. But that's exactly what I was doing in my attempt to feel better via food - punishing my body.
I am looking forward to my Intuitive Eating class Monday night at the Mercy Weight Loss and Nutrition Center. I want to learn how to turn off that mindset of 'food=comfort'. I know Dietitian Katie will lead me there. I was skeptical after last week's class, but now I am ready to try anything.
Yours in Health,
Kate
Showing posts with label Mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mercy. Show all posts
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Charity Can Feed the Soul
I spend a lot of time obsessing about food. What should I eat? How much should I eat? Ooh, is that a brownie? But I know in my heart there are many more important things that sustain a person than just crunchy snacks and creamy dishes. That's why I volunteer on a regular basis. Today was a day of volunteering for events that our radio group was sponsoring.
This morning I got an emergency call at 6:20, one of our talents was passing a kidney stone and could I fill in for her at the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Of course. It meant rearranging my day, but it was important to make sure LITE 104.1 followed through on our commitment. Besides, I had never had a chance to go to the event, so it was a perfect excuse.
It was sunny, windy and pink. Everyone was in fine spirits despite being blown around. As I emceed I was able to hear women tell about their fight against breast cancer. I met people in remission and those still on the battle field. I met family members who were walking for those that had lost. And one woman that was walking simply because it could be her someday. It warmed me to see all of the passion and love.
Then I was on the the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center. It was their Grand Opening to promote the fact that they are now under the same roof. I worked the registration table and it was a great opportunity to feel unity. Many people walked in that were just as overweight as I am, many who were even more so. It made me very happy - believe me, just walking in that door for a tour is a big step. I hope that they all decide to try their version of what I am doing, getting healthy.
Then I snuck in a 45 minute workout. :) Showered and it was off to event three...
The Youth Emergency Services and Shelter Derby Duck Race. This event is always so much fun. YESS is all about trying to keep family's together, so they have a family festival as they sell the final ducks and then dump them into the lake. Thousands of kids ran under the watchful eye of their unique family. Some with their biological parents. Some in single parent families. Some adopted or in foster care. Some with aunts or uncles, others with grandparents. And some with all of the above. It was a wonderful reminder that family is who you love, not just the people you were born to.
I emceed with Dan Winters from TV-13, he's great. Like me, he is able to roll through the punches, which is important with an event this size. In the end, everything went off without a hitch. The biggest highlight? The guy whose duck crossed the finish line first and won $10,000, donated the money back to YESS - another heartwarming, goose bump inducing moment for my day.
It was a great day and I was so busy, that after I quickly ate a small omelet while the walkers were on the path for Making Strides, I wasn't hungry again until late afternoon. Which proves, charity can feed the soul.
Yours in Health,
Kate
This morning I got an emergency call at 6:20, one of our talents was passing a kidney stone and could I fill in for her at the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Of course. It meant rearranging my day, but it was important to make sure LITE 104.1 followed through on our commitment. Besides, I had never had a chance to go to the event, so it was a perfect excuse.
It was sunny, windy and pink. Everyone was in fine spirits despite being blown around. As I emceed I was able to hear women tell about their fight against breast cancer. I met people in remission and those still on the battle field. I met family members who were walking for those that had lost. And one woman that was walking simply because it could be her someday. It warmed me to see all of the passion and love.
Then I was on the the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center. It was their Grand Opening to promote the fact that they are now under the same roof. I worked the registration table and it was a great opportunity to feel unity. Many people walked in that were just as overweight as I am, many who were even more so. It made me very happy - believe me, just walking in that door for a tour is a big step. I hope that they all decide to try their version of what I am doing, getting healthy.
Then I snuck in a 45 minute workout. :) Showered and it was off to event three...
The Youth Emergency Services and Shelter Derby Duck Race. This event is always so much fun. YESS is all about trying to keep family's together, so they have a family festival as they sell the final ducks and then dump them into the lake. Thousands of kids ran under the watchful eye of their unique family. Some with their biological parents. Some in single parent families. Some adopted or in foster care. Some with aunts or uncles, others with grandparents. And some with all of the above. It was a wonderful reminder that family is who you love, not just the people you were born to.
I emceed with Dan Winters from TV-13, he's great. Like me, he is able to roll through the punches, which is important with an event this size. In the end, everything went off without a hitch. The biggest highlight? The guy whose duck crossed the finish line first and won $10,000, donated the money back to YESS - another heartwarming, goose bump inducing moment for my day.
It was a great day and I was so busy, that after I quickly ate a small omelet while the walkers were on the path for Making Strides, I wasn't hungry again until late afternoon. Which proves, charity can feed the soul.
Yours in Health,
Kate
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Noodle Arms
It was water therapy with Kara today and training with Gywn at the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center. By the time I stepped out of the water with Kara, my legs were nearly limp. Then it was upstairs for upper body with Gwyn. When I say 'noodle arms', I am really not kidding.
Even typing now I feel like I am pushing myself. LOL. I even whined today. In fact, I found my whole arms and shoulder thing pretty funny or at least I kept breaking out in laughter. I hope Gwyn didn't think I had gone 'round the bend. I mainly laughed for two reasons: 1. Look how far my athletic self had fallen. 2. If you don't laugh, you might cry.
I remember being so proud of my 'guns' - read: very muscular arms. Now using the green band makes my arms feel like jelly. Besides, I have to laugh at my lack of fitness or I might cry at how far I have gone downhill and that won't do.
I have sworn that even on the days I am aching or particularly bad at an assigned exercise, I will do the workout anyway. Don't get me wrong, if it hurts to the point of potential injury - it isn't happening. But if it's just good 'ol lack of faith in my abilities, too bad, I am moving forward, not back.
I want my healthy, athletic self back more than I want to give in and really that's the key for everyone when it comes to this kind of journey you have to WANT it. You have to want the smaller size pants more than the super size fries. You have to want to not get winded walking up the stairs more than you want to surf the couch. You have to want to look in the mirror and be proud, more than you want that brownie. (Oh, wait, or is that just me?)
I want me back. Not the me from pre-July 2006 (she was unhappy and morbidly obese). I want the me circa May 2008. She was happy and confident and had given up obsessing over the number on the scale. That me understood it was how she felt and whether she was healthy. I am on a path to be that me again very soon - noodle arms be damned. :)
Yours in Health,
Kate
Even typing now I feel like I am pushing myself. LOL. I even whined today. In fact, I found my whole arms and shoulder thing pretty funny or at least I kept breaking out in laughter. I hope Gwyn didn't think I had gone 'round the bend. I mainly laughed for two reasons: 1. Look how far my athletic self had fallen. 2. If you don't laugh, you might cry.
I remember being so proud of my 'guns' - read: very muscular arms. Now using the green band makes my arms feel like jelly. Besides, I have to laugh at my lack of fitness or I might cry at how far I have gone downhill and that won't do.
I have sworn that even on the days I am aching or particularly bad at an assigned exercise, I will do the workout anyway. Don't get me wrong, if it hurts to the point of potential injury - it isn't happening. But if it's just good 'ol lack of faith in my abilities, too bad, I am moving forward, not back.
I want my healthy, athletic self back more than I want to give in and really that's the key for everyone when it comes to this kind of journey you have to WANT it. You have to want the smaller size pants more than the super size fries. You have to want to not get winded walking up the stairs more than you want to surf the couch. You have to want to look in the mirror and be proud, more than you want that brownie. (Oh, wait, or is that just me?)
I want me back. Not the me from pre-July 2006 (she was unhappy and morbidly obese). I want the me circa May 2008. She was happy and confident and had given up obsessing over the number on the scale. That me understood it was how she felt and whether she was healthy. I am on a path to be that me again very soon - noodle arms be damned. :)
Yours in Health,
Kate
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I Don't Want a Cookie, Thank you.
I faced down temptation today - a sunny flower shaped cookie from one of the best bakeries in Des Moines - Highland Park Bakery. Why are they so good? Perhaps the mounds of creamy yellow butter? Anyway, when my friend Chandler opened the famous white bag and offered me that sugary delight, I smiled and said, "No thank you, I am being good." And amazingly, it wasn't that hard.
In fact, I haven't had a brownie, cookie, candy, anything of that ilk since Sunday. But I haven't been missing it. I have no idea why, other than I am ready for change. I am ready for sweat, aches and fresh foods. I am ready to be me again - energetic, smiling and determined. So, that's exactly how I am taking this challenge on. I may grunt, I may whine, but I will do it. Trainer Gwyn experienced a bit of that today.
I met up with Gwyn at 1 p.m. at the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center, it was our first training session together, after our initial meeting yesterday. She immediately put me through my paces, which thrilled me. I do not want to dance around, I want results. Gwyn had me walk to warm up, then do this seated stair step machine called the NuStep. Then it was on to working my shoulders until my arms felt like jelly. Gwyn asked if it was the exercises that made me grimace and whine a little. I assured her, no, it was just my body trying to remember the moves and getting a bit cranky. We added in some balance moves and some stretching and called it good. 90-minutes of pure sweat. Only thing I really need to do is remember to breath, I'm bad at that.
After training I bounced back here and found my food plan from Nutritionist Katie. She had done exactly what I asked, she concentrated on calories and how they should be put together. I will be meeting up with her for 5 minutes tomorrow after my workout for her to answer a couple of questions and give me a booklet that is a cheat sheet of foods that are the best options.
As far as food, so far I have been doing my own thing. Trying to cut the fat and keep the calories at 1,400 or less. Katie's plan will be a much scientific and help my body lose fat in the healthiest way possible. It also will create better habits and long-term success. Along time for now when I am ready for maintenance, I will have Katie revise the plan to account for my life going forward.
Well, I better go for now. FYI - Tomorrow's plan - Water therapy with PT Kristi at 6:30 a.m., Workout at 1 p.m. (Gwyn is out but she will have someone else check in on me) and a brief meet-up with Katie to go over nutrition plan at 2:45. Until then...
Yours in Health,
Kate
In fact, I haven't had a brownie, cookie, candy, anything of that ilk since Sunday. But I haven't been missing it. I have no idea why, other than I am ready for change. I am ready for sweat, aches and fresh foods. I am ready to be me again - energetic, smiling and determined. So, that's exactly how I am taking this challenge on. I may grunt, I may whine, but I will do it. Trainer Gwyn experienced a bit of that today.
I met up with Gwyn at 1 p.m. at the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center, it was our first training session together, after our initial meeting yesterday. She immediately put me through my paces, which thrilled me. I do not want to dance around, I want results. Gwyn had me walk to warm up, then do this seated stair step machine called the NuStep. Then it was on to working my shoulders until my arms felt like jelly. Gwyn asked if it was the exercises that made me grimace and whine a little. I assured her, no, it was just my body trying to remember the moves and getting a bit cranky. We added in some balance moves and some stretching and called it good. 90-minutes of pure sweat. Only thing I really need to do is remember to breath, I'm bad at that.
After training I bounced back here and found my food plan from Nutritionist Katie. She had done exactly what I asked, she concentrated on calories and how they should be put together. I will be meeting up with her for 5 minutes tomorrow after my workout for her to answer a couple of questions and give me a booklet that is a cheat sheet of foods that are the best options.
As far as food, so far I have been doing my own thing. Trying to cut the fat and keep the calories at 1,400 or less. Katie's plan will be a much scientific and help my body lose fat in the healthiest way possible. It also will create better habits and long-term success. Along time for now when I am ready for maintenance, I will have Katie revise the plan to account for my life going forward.
Well, I better go for now. FYI - Tomorrow's plan - Water therapy with PT Kristi at 6:30 a.m., Workout at 1 p.m. (Gwyn is out but she will have someone else check in on me) and a brief meet-up with Katie to go over nutrition plan at 2:45. Until then...
Yours in Health,
Kate
Monday, April 12, 2010
Day One - Year One
The title is how I feel. From this day forward it is a new life and a new outlook. It's an opportunity to get healthier, get happier and hopefully help some other folks along the way.
Today's report: I talked to my nutritionist today, Katie is from the Mercy Center for Weight Reduction. We went over my history, my current weight and what I need her to help me with. Initially it's all about how many calories I should be consuming and how those should be made up - grams of protein, amount of carbs, etc. I am being completely honest with all of the folks at the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center (HLC) every step of the way - I don't think you can be successful on a weight loss journey until you are brutally honest with anyone helping you and most of all yourself.
Katie paid me a nice complement saying that I was much further along than a lot of people because I already know most of my weaknesses. You see, for me, when it comes to food it's not just my much beloved brownies and cookies that I struggle with. Portion size is an issue, as with most Americans. Also, I seem to have no sense of when I am full until I am just on the edge of busting a button. I am hoping the class I will be taking starting May 3rd - Intuitive Eating - will be an answer to that problem. I don't know everything it will cover, but I do know the ultimate goal is to take control of your eating habits and thereby be a healthier person, which is perfect.
After I finished up the call with Katie I worked for a couple of hours and then headed to the gym. You see the HLC has a full gym inside. I worked out for about 40 minutes, taking it relatively easy. I tried different cardio options to see how my knee did and worked my arms with free weights, plus did a brief bout of core work. I didn't want to overdo.
I am waiting until I meet with my physical therapist tomorrow to set parameters for what I can and can't do with my lovely knee. I am then meeting with my wellness coach to set a plan for the next few weeks to get my exercise program set.
You see that? I just mentioned a nutritionist, physical therapist and wellness coach all in one blog. All of that and so much more is at the Healthy Living Center - all under ONE roof. In the weeks and months to come I will let you know about every aspect of the center. You will get recipes, exercise tips, endless healthy ideas and you will meet "Team Kate", the people that are helping me make all of this work. In fact, next week, I will introduce a new daily topic to go with my personal updates.
I am so excited, this is just exactly what I needed. Not everyone can go this route, this is MY journey. But that's the bonus of the HLC - they can help you no matter how far gone you think you are and in a way that is YOUR perfect journey.
Yours in Health,
Kate
Today's report: I talked to my nutritionist today, Katie is from the Mercy Center for Weight Reduction. We went over my history, my current weight and what I need her to help me with. Initially it's all about how many calories I should be consuming and how those should be made up - grams of protein, amount of carbs, etc. I am being completely honest with all of the folks at the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center (HLC) every step of the way - I don't think you can be successful on a weight loss journey until you are brutally honest with anyone helping you and most of all yourself.
Katie paid me a nice complement saying that I was much further along than a lot of people because I already know most of my weaknesses. You see, for me, when it comes to food it's not just my much beloved brownies and cookies that I struggle with. Portion size is an issue, as with most Americans. Also, I seem to have no sense of when I am full until I am just on the edge of busting a button. I am hoping the class I will be taking starting May 3rd - Intuitive Eating - will be an answer to that problem. I don't know everything it will cover, but I do know the ultimate goal is to take control of your eating habits and thereby be a healthier person, which is perfect.
After I finished up the call with Katie I worked for a couple of hours and then headed to the gym. You see the HLC has a full gym inside. I worked out for about 40 minutes, taking it relatively easy. I tried different cardio options to see how my knee did and worked my arms with free weights, plus did a brief bout of core work. I didn't want to overdo.
I am waiting until I meet with my physical therapist tomorrow to set parameters for what I can and can't do with my lovely knee. I am then meeting with my wellness coach to set a plan for the next few weeks to get my exercise program set.
You see that? I just mentioned a nutritionist, physical therapist and wellness coach all in one blog. All of that and so much more is at the Healthy Living Center - all under ONE roof. In the weeks and months to come I will let you know about every aspect of the center. You will get recipes, exercise tips, endless healthy ideas and you will meet "Team Kate", the people that are helping me make all of this work. In fact, next week, I will introduce a new daily topic to go with my personal updates.
I am so excited, this is just exactly what I needed. Not everyone can go this route, this is MY journey. But that's the bonus of the HLC - they can help you no matter how far gone you think you are and in a way that is YOUR perfect journey.
Yours in Health,
Kate
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Getting my Ya-Ya's Out
Going in to this weekend before my official start at the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center, I had no intention of throwing caution to the wind and noshing endlessly - but I did. It was a "Tour de Food" through Central Iowa. Every time something was presented I was like, "Well, this is the last time I can do this for a while."
Admittedly that's not really true, I am a big believer that once you get your basics down about food - calories, nutritional composition and portion size - you can eat anything in moderation. Which I did, each time I indulged. :)
Here's the full confession:
Friday night - Lori's Birthday dinner - Le Jardin for truffled chicken with savory mushroom bread pudding and for dessert apple bread pudding with creme and caramel. Both were AMAZING and I recommend it to anyone wanting a splurge.
Saturday - Lunch at Hickory Park for Aunt Marla's birthday - Open face turkey sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes and a scoop of coffee ice cream with hot fudge for dessert. Saving grace? The gravy and mashed potatoes were both salty, so I did not even come close to finishing. The ice cream of course was just fine. ;)
Saturday night - Dinner was simple - a cup of potato leek soup from the Weight Watchers cookbook and 100 calories worth of pistachios. However, then it was off to Gateway Market downtown for their third anniversary party - couple bites of cheese, several bites of bread, taste of ravioli and small piece of anniversary cake. Oh and a couple of their amazing almond macaroons to take home and eat.
Sunday - Lunch at Bruegger's, did right thing and split chips with Lori. However, then went next door and had homemade ice cream at Bauder's. Somehow it just tastes better when you are sitting at an old fashioned soda counter - another recommendation.
Sunday dinner - I am getting ready to go down stairs for dinner now and have the chicken brat that also came home from Gateway last night and some veggies.
Wow. That's a lot of food. The best part of today, health wise, was three hours in the yard today, though I know I will be sore tomorrow.
And that's the best thing of all - tomorrow. That is the day I officially begin again to begin again. I will soon not get sore doing yard work or be in pain walking stairs. I have a whole world reopening to me tomorrow that I have really missed. I can't wait to reintroduce myself.
Yours in Health,
Kate
Admittedly that's not really true, I am a big believer that once you get your basics down about food - calories, nutritional composition and portion size - you can eat anything in moderation. Which I did, each time I indulged. :)
Here's the full confession:
Friday night - Lori's Birthday dinner - Le Jardin for truffled chicken with savory mushroom bread pudding and for dessert apple bread pudding with creme and caramel. Both were AMAZING and I recommend it to anyone wanting a splurge.
Saturday - Lunch at Hickory Park for Aunt Marla's birthday - Open face turkey sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes and a scoop of coffee ice cream with hot fudge for dessert. Saving grace? The gravy and mashed potatoes were both salty, so I did not even come close to finishing. The ice cream of course was just fine. ;)
Saturday night - Dinner was simple - a cup of potato leek soup from the Weight Watchers cookbook and 100 calories worth of pistachios. However, then it was off to Gateway Market downtown for their third anniversary party - couple bites of cheese, several bites of bread, taste of ravioli and small piece of anniversary cake. Oh and a couple of their amazing almond macaroons to take home and eat.
Sunday - Lunch at Bruegger's, did right thing and split chips with Lori. However, then went next door and had homemade ice cream at Bauder's. Somehow it just tastes better when you are sitting at an old fashioned soda counter - another recommendation.
Sunday dinner - I am getting ready to go down stairs for dinner now and have the chicken brat that also came home from Gateway last night and some veggies.
Wow. That's a lot of food. The best part of today, health wise, was three hours in the yard today, though I know I will be sore tomorrow.
And that's the best thing of all - tomorrow. That is the day I officially begin again to begin again. I will soon not get sore doing yard work or be in pain walking stairs. I have a whole world reopening to me tomorrow that I have really missed. I can't wait to reintroduce myself.
Yours in Health,
Kate
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Guessing Game - Complete!
Well, that took no time at all! WebGal nailed the bulk of the thing that I haven't been telling you. Her guess: "OK...my guess: YMCA Healthy Living Center and the INTUITIVE EATING: Weight Management Class. I'm not 100% sure on the class, but it looks interesting and I know the instructor from another program I was in. She's AWESOME."
So, yes, I am going to the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center and yes, I will be taking that class - but that's not all! I have much more to divulge and it will come step-by-step over the next week.
In the mean time, yea WebGal! I will be snatching a gift certificate to get to you.
Yours in Health,
Kate
So, yes, I am going to the Mercy/YMCA Healthy Living Center and yes, I will be taking that class - but that's not all! I have much more to divulge and it will come step-by-step over the next week.
In the mean time, yea WebGal! I will be snatching a gift certificate to get to you.
Yours in Health,
Kate
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)