Reflections on the Recession and Weight Loss

Burgh, bleh, meh, sheesh...

These are the words escaping my mouth as I have once again lost the three pounds I have gained from my last "day off."

This morning, as I was walking to my classroom, I really had to dig down deep. What is causing me to stay rooted firmly in the 147-150 range. It's not so much the weight anymore, as I am "normal" (whatever that means) now. What's concerning me is lapsing back into bad, bad habits. The stress eating, the mindless eating, the lack of exercsise. All the stuff that got me overweight and to this blog in the first place!

I am stressed out. We are going through a lot in my school district right now, and I am facing some difficult personal choices because of it. I am working more for less, and it is taking its toll. I think, subconsciously, I am soothing myself with food. Maybe you are in the same boat--facing layoffs or friends getting laid off. Maybe you are facing another pay cut and have realized that the cheapest food you can buy is also fattening (which is depressing). I know it sounds strange, but the tough times we are facing can affect your waistline.

For example, I no longer buy things at full price at the grocery store. My shopping list is entirely dictated by what's on sale. Well, guess what? My favorite fruits and veggies are not on sale a whole lot! I have sucked it up and tried new stuff, but it means that I eat more calories of other things when I don't like them. Also, have you noticed that the sale items for carbohydrate heavy foods such as pasta, bread, and rice are always the stuff with the most sugar and salt added? Sigh. Why is it the most fattening meat is always the cheapest? Double and triple sigh. It sucks that I only get to eat 2 oz of pork shoulder but 3 oz of tenderloin.

So, this is what I have done. I make a "sacred" list of staples. Sale or not, I know I need that food. If it is not on sale, stuff not on that list does not get bought. For example, if the cottage cheese and yogurt is not on sale, I do not buy Skinny Cow ice cream treats. EVEN IF THE SKINNY COWS ARE ON SALE. That kind of thing. Also, I now look in the frozen section for my non-seasonal fruits and veggies (great for you berry lovers!).

Also, have "go to" foods does help when I have to serve my family something inexpensive but WAY off my food plan. I can make an omelet or a tofu dish and know that I am okay. For example, I made pulled pork last night. Um...I could eat five pounds of that! So, I had my portion, but then ate some Greek yogurt with blueberries for dessert. The protein from the Greek yogurt made up for the small portion of pork, and it filled me up. Yay! Yes, I would have liked to eat the rest of the leftovers (I'll be honest, I did munch on two ounces before I put them away), but it does help to have something I can eat in lieu of something I can't really eat. All in all, I stayed well within my calorie count for the day.

I think the hardest part about dieting during the recession is all the stress. You are anxious and worried, yet there is no going shopping or getting your nails done or whatever to have fun. You have to find fun at home. You may also have to find an inexpensive way to exercise, as a gym membership is out of reach for many. I am lucky, I have a free gym at my apartment building. I also walk my local lake every Saturday and walk with friends on Sundays. However, there are many things you can do inside, if the weather is bad, for free.

To wit. Did you you know that you can rent exercise videos from the library for free? Yep! Did you know if you do a plank (which is the position you start a push up in) for three minutes you burn an AMAZING amount of calories? Did you know if you sit up straight in a chair and do bicep curls and pull downs with two bottles of water you are burning calories? You can Google tons of exercises online that you can do while watching television!

What about support? I have joined a non-profit weight loss support group (TOPS), but you can do a meet up, join SparkPeople, whatever. There are so many free/inexpensive weight loss support groups out there. You don't need to pay a lot of money to lose weight.

At any rate, I am weathering the recession storm as best that I can. I think my waistline is too. If you have any great suggestions, please email me, and I will pass them on!

Hang tough everyone!

The numbers:

Starting Weight: 235
Current Weight: 149
Goal Weight:140

The Goals:

Outer Goal: Be at my goal weight for State Recognition Days for TOPS!
Inner Goal: To be the woman everyone else thinks I am!

See you soon!