Today I am starting a new challenge. As much as I wish I didn't have to count my calories and macro nutrients I know this is the only way for me to stay on track. I didn't track very well the past few weeks and that just allows myself the reason I need to overeat. I really get upset with myself for eating more than I know I should. Not having control is the worst feeling. I've thought about doing Over Eaters Anonymous but I just don't know if I'm up for that. I'm not sure that is the answer for me. This is how their website explains it:
'The Twelve Steps are the heart of the OA recovery program. They offer a new way of life that enables the compulsive overeater to live without the need for excess food.
The ideas expressed in the Twelve Steps, which originated in Alcoholics Anonymous, reflect practical experience and application of spiritual insights recorded by thinkers throughout the ages. Their greatest importance lies in the fact that they work! They enable compulsive overeaters and millions of other Twelve-Steppers to lead happy, productive lives. They represent the foundation upon which OA is built.'
The Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous
- We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
I don't think these steps would help me. I don't binge every day. Sometimes it's not even once a week. However I would rather not do it at all. I'm reading the book 'Fit From Within. 101 Simple Secrets to Change Your Body and Your Life'. So far I'm finding it interesting. I'll write more about it later in another post.
Below are my new challenge guidelines. I'm going to be a little easier on myself than I was for the 40 day challenge. I'm allowing more exceptions. At the end of the challenge is Thanksgiving and my family will be here to visit. Hurray!!! We will make a delicious meal that I will not binge on.
End goals:Weight - 129 lbs (this is losing about 1/2 lb per week. I might be able to lose 1 pound and get down to my ultimate goal for the end of the year of 125 lbs. I just don't want to put the weight back on so I'm trying to do it as slow as possible)
Waist - 26.5 inches
Hips - 33.5 inches
9/21/08 - 11/21/08 GUIDELINES 1. EAT AN AVERAGE OF 1600 CALORIES PER DAY
2. EAT AN AVERAGE OF 115 CARBS PER DAY
3. WORKOUT 55 DAYS (DO 2 A DAY WHEN POSSIBLE)
4. TRACK ALCOHOL*
5. NO SUGAR OR PROCESSED FOODS (ALLOWED 2 EXCEPTIONS)
6. 80 OZ OF WATER PER DAY
7. BLACK COFFEE ONLY
8. DO NOT EAT 1 THING (OTHER THAN GUM) FROM CRAFTY
9. STOP EATING BETWEEN 8PM AND 9PM. ALLOWED 10 EXCEPTIONS
10. MOVE MORE EVERY DAY - JUST MAKE AN EFFORT, AT LEAST 1 TIME PER DAY (NOT COUNTING WORKOUTS)
11. TWO FREE DAYS ARE OK - JUST DON'T GO OVERBOARD
12. TAKE MULTI VITAMIN EVERY DAY
*I wanted to take off the alcohol completely but I don't want to say I need but I sort of need it. This breaking up thing is so tough sometimes and while I don't want to rely on alcohol to get me through it, it sure is nice to have the option, as long as I'm tracking it. This will eventually be gone from my diet again. I still believe that it isn't necessary and I do feel better without it.
WEIGH IN FOR DAY 1 OF WEEK 1:
Weight - 134.2
BF% - 26.1%
Waist - 29 inches
Hips - 34.5 inches
'The Twelve Steps are the heart of the OA recovery program. They offer a new way of life that enables the compulsive overeater to live without the need for excess food.
The ideas expressed in the Twelve Steps, which originated in Alcoholics Anonymous, reflect practical experience and application of spiritual insights recorded by thinkers throughout the ages. Their greatest importance lies in the fact that they work! They enable compulsive overeaters and millions of other Twelve-Steppers to lead happy, productive lives. They represent the foundation upon which OA is built.'
The Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous
- We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
I don't think these steps would help me. I don't binge every day. Sometimes it's not even once a week. However I would rather not do it at all. I'm reading the book 'Fit From Within. 101 Simple Secrets to Change Your Body and Your Life'. So far I'm finding it interesting. I'll write more about it later in another post.Below are my new challenge guidelines. I'm going to be a little easier on myself than I was for the 40 day challenge. I'm allowing more exceptions. At the end of the challenge is Thanksgiving and my family will be here to visit. Hurray!!! We will make a delicious meal that I will not binge on.
End goals:
Weight - 129 lbs (this is losing about 1/2 lb per week. I might be able to lose 1 pound and get down to my ultimate goal for the end of the year of 125 lbs. I just don't want to put the weight back on so I'm trying to do it as slow as possible)
Waist - 26.5 inches
Hips - 33.5 inches
9/21/08 - 11/21/08 GUIDELINES
1. EAT AN AVERAGE OF 1600 CALORIES PER DAY
2. EAT AN AVERAGE OF 115 CARBS PER DAY
3. WORKOUT 55 DAYS (DO 2 A DAY WHEN POSSIBLE)
4. TRACK ALCOHOL*
5. NO SUGAR OR PROCESSED FOODS (ALLOWED 2 EXCEPTIONS)
6. 80 OZ OF WATER PER DAY
7. BLACK COFFEE ONLY
8. DO NOT EAT 1 THING (OTHER THAN GUM) FROM CRAFTY
9. STOP EATING BETWEEN 8PM AND 9PM. ALLOWED 10 EXCEPTIONS
10. MOVE MORE EVERY DAY - JUST MAKE AN EFFORT, AT LEAST 1 TIME PER DAY (NOT COUNTING WORKOUTS)
11. TWO FREE DAYS ARE OK - JUST DON'T GO OVERBOARD
12. TAKE MULTI VITAMIN EVERY DAY
*I wanted to take off the alcohol completely but I don't want to say I need but I sort of need it. This breaking up thing is so tough sometimes and while I don't want to rely on alcohol to get me through it, it sure is nice to have the option, as long as I'm tracking it. This will eventually be gone from my diet again. I still believe that it isn't necessary and I do feel better without it.
WEIGH IN FOR DAY 1 OF WEEK 1:
Weight - 134.2
BF% - 26.1%
Waist - 29 inches
Hips - 34.5 inches