An Open Letter to Restaurants

Monday, June 30, 2014

I am not Size 10. I am, at this moment, a Size 2X (18/20). 

What does that have to do with you and your restaurant, you ask? Everything.

You see, I like to go out sometimes with family and friends and have a meal. I DON'T like having to ask for a table because your booths are so poorly placed and spaced that I can't fit in them. 

What? You say it's MY problem because I'm too fat. Golly? I packed 264 pounds on a 5' 3" frame? I had no idea...  What was I thinking?? I'll just go on a diet right now! 

Please. 

Make some damn room! When my 5' 10", 176 pound husband has trouble sliding in... what's your excuse then? 

Is it really too much to ask that the booths accommodate everyone that wants to eat at your establishment? If you don't want plus-sized customers, just post it on the door. I can find another place to eat. 

Perhaps, you enjoy our embarrassment? It's gives you a thrill to look concerned and sympathetic and ask, "Would you prefer a table"? It leads to the hostess claiming that she "has a cousin who's obese" and she can't fit, either. Yeah... I've heard that story a thousand times. 

Oh well, it does lead to what we "fatties" call a Non-Scale Victory: I fit into a booth today! Yea me!  

Gosh, do I sound bitter and frustrated???  

What about those people who are larger than me? Do you know, do you care, how humiliating it is for them? None of us woke up one morning and decided to become obese. 

NOT. ONE. OF. US. 

It happened and we pay for it daily. 

Your scrunched up booths do nothing but enforce the stereotype that only those of certain sizes are taken into consideration when designing eating establishments. 

To top is off... booths are generally made with padded, comfortable seats. Tables are not. Booths encourage closeness, intimacy, and lingering over a meal. 

Tables are designed to get the customer in and out quickly. There is distance so conversation is at a minimum. 

Ask me how I feel about that. 

Scale and Non-Scale Victories!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

 

Swam  for 90 Minutes today (with my fur-pal Gracie) and Mike. Lots of fun! 

Scale Victory: Down 4 pounds! I'm at 264 and just 2 pounds from having lost 10% of my starting weight of 291 (29.1 pounds). 

Non-Scale Victories: 
1. Wearing my rings again!  
2. Wearing several pieces of clothing that were too small just 2 months ago! 
3. Fitting in restaurant booths! (Ya'll know what I'm talking about!)  
4. No longer embarrassed to have my photo taken!  
5. BUCKLING MY SEAT BELT WITHOUT AN EXTENSION!!!!!!  

Best of success to all of my SP friends and fellow members -- if not for you, I wouldn't be as successful as I have been. YOU are my best  and I love you all! 

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!

Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are
~~ Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin ~~

Robert Preston - Chicken Fat

Healthy eating... even at Mom's!

Monday, June 23, 2014

 

Fresh green beans and small (tiny) yellow potatoes, 1 biscuit, and about 1/2 of a country steak. 

No salt, no sauce, no gravy. I do realize that it should've been twice the green beans but I knew my Mom and Hubby needed the veggies more than I did. 

The piece of steak moved aside became Mike's breakfast this morning. 

I like eating at home (or at Mom's) more than eating out these days. 

Hoping to keep my sodium levels low this week. last week was a disaster because we ate out about three times. 

I don't want to do that any more.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes! NSVs.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

I can report a few NSVs (Non-Scale Victories): 

My clothes are much looser. It won't long until I'm down another size. 
My rings: I can wear them comfortably and they don't make my fingers swell! 
I am not so easily winded or tired. 

All that with just a 23 pound loss. I'll happily take that! 

These photos were taken in the same place. Same shirt. The first was taken on / about March 14th, 2014. I weighed approx. 291 lbs. 

 

This photo was taken on June 21, 2014 at 268 lbs. 

 


I didn't think I'd see any difference, but I do. 

Weight Loss By The Numbers

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

I have a lot of weight to lose. It's almost overwhelming, but I will do it. I want to do it.
However, from 291 to 140 is 151 pounds. There's no way around it, either. No quick fixes, no miracle cures. Just hard work, healthy eating, and moving my body.

I think breaking it down into segments may be a better way for my to look at what I have done and what I have to do.

Here's one way:

291 pounds at 10% Loss = 29.1 pounds to lose to reach = 262 Goal

291 pounds at 20% Loss = 58.2 pounds to lose to reach = 233 Goal

291 at 30% = 87.3 or 204

291 at 40% = 116.4 or 175

291 at 50% = 145.5 or 146

291 at 52% = 151.3 or 140

OR:

Current Weight: 291 = 29.1 for 10% Loss = 262 pounds

CW 262 = 26.2 for 10% Loss = 236 pounds

CW 236 = 23.6 for 10% Loss = 213 pounds

CW 213 = 21.3 for 10% Loss = 192 pounds. ONEDERLAND!

CW 192 = 19.2 for 10% Loss = 173 pounds

CW 173 = 17.3 for 10% Loss = 156 pounds

CW 156 = 15.6 for 10% Loss = 140 pounds (GOAL)

Either way you calculate it -- it won't be a few weeks or a few months. It will like take (from my CW of 268) about 64 weeks. That's 1 year and 3 months. That seems like such a long time.

I must constantly remind myself that it took a while to gain this much weight and it will take time to lose it.

I will not despair or weep in frustration. I WILL take each day one step forward at a time.

Faith, determination, concentration, motivation: These are the keys to victory. I can reach my goal. I can see it -- even this far away -- it's waiting on me.

Stay with me friends, please. I need you. Support me and cheer me on and I'll be right beside you. I believe in us. We can do this together and we are not alone.

Let's Roll.

90s, 80s, 70s... Farewell and Good Riddance!

90s, 80s, 70s... farewell and good riddance!

Friday, June 13, 2014

I started at 291. Today, I weigh 268. 23 pounds gone and I feel  
The 290s, 280s, and 270s are in the past. 

So, what's changed? I've lost one pants size. My shirts are not as tight. I stand up straighter and walk farther. 

My outlook is more positive, my stress level is lower, my sleep is uninterrupted. 

I feel healthier. I am making better choices when I eat. I eat less, drink more water. 

I feel myself becoming "me" again. The "me" of younger days. 

I thank you, Spark People, Spark Guy, and all Spark Members. For without you, I could not successfully continue on this journey.  

I know some people will say, "It's just two pounds". Perhaps, but it's two of over one hundred and twenty that I need to shed. It takes me one step closer to my goal of being slimmer and healthier. 

I will celebrate the "two". I will cherish it. And I WILL lose two more.  

Hey... stay off of that scale!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Good advice, I should take it! 

I have stepped on that scale twice this week.  I don't know why. Wishful thinking, perhaps? 

I'm at 270. I SO want to leave the 70s behind that I'm just waiting for that 269 to pop up! I know that it's best NOT to weigh every day... I just can't help myself. Of course, if Mike finds out, he'll hide the scale until Friday!  

My new mantra: STAY OFF OF THE SCALE!  

Maybe... one last peek??? 

Roast Pork Loin

Minutes to Prepare: 10

Minutes to Cook: 90

Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients

*Campbell's Golden Mushroom Soup 1/2 cup = 1 serving, 2 serving 

*Red Potatoes, small, skin on, 3 0z = 1 serving, 4 serving 

*Smithfield Garlic and Herb Pork Loin 4 oz = 1 Serving, 6 serving

Tips

Low Sodium Soup will be a good substitution.

Directions

Dice potatoes. Place roast in baking pan and place potatoes around the roast. Add 2/3 of the can of Golden Mushroom soup (Pour over potatoes and roast -- do NOT dilute).
Bake on 400 for approx. 90 minutes.

Serving Size: Makes 6 Servings

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 6
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 193.3

• Total Fat: 4.7 g
• Cholesterol: 55.0 mg
• Sodium: 592.7 mg
• Total Carbs: 17.3 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.3 g
• Protein: 21.7 g

21 pounds down!

I am OFFICIALLY 21 pounds down in 9 weeks! 2 pounds down just this week!

I feel... energized... free... happy... motivated... determined... I feel lovely!

Each week the scale takes me a step farther from #HalfwayThere  and takes me one step closer to *ONE*derland!

It's an amazing feeling to be in control of myself, my eating, once again.  I like this feeling.

Thank you,  Spark People.com, I could not do this without you!

See you there!

Fresh Chicken Vegetable Soup

Minutes to Prepare: 15

Minutes to Cook: 240

Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

Simple Truth Organic Free Range Chicken Broth 1 cup = 1 s..., 3 serving 

Perdue Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 1 filet = 4.8 oz, 2 serving 

Fresh Selections (Kroger) Petite Carrots 3 oz = 1 serving, 2 serving 

Green Beans (snap), 3 cup 

Vidalia Onion Medium, Raw, .5 serving 

Red Potatoes, Medium, 3 serving 

Always Fresh Minced Garlic, 1 tsp 

Pepper, black, .25 tsp



Tips

Serve over one cup wild or brown rice.




Directions

Dice potatoes and onions. Slice chicken into strips and snap green beans.
Pour broth into crockpot and add minced garlic and black pepper. Stir well. Add Carrots, Green Beans, onion, potatoes. Stir well. Cook for two hours on High, then add chicken strips. Cook on high for 2 more hours. Makes 4-6 servings.

Serving Size: Makes 4-6 servings. Calculated for 4 servings.



Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 4
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 212.4

• Total Fat: 0.9 g
• Cholesterol: 38.8 mg
• Sodium: 640.6 mg
• Total Carbs: 19.0 g
• Dietary Fiber: 6.5 g
• Protein: 20.4 g

JUNE 1st... What have I Accomplished?

June 1st... what have I accomplished?

Sunday, June 01, 2014

June 1st -- we're now come to the middle of the year. Spring will give way to Summer, but the days will soon begin to shorten once again. The days of this year are ticking quickly away. 

What have I accomplished in the first five months of 2014? 

I came to the decision that I must lose weight and get healthy. I have lost 19 pounds. I am on my way. 

I have stopped abusing myself with candies, chips, and sodas. I eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and and cool, clear water. 

I have stopped whining about the clothes that are too small. I have lost one pants size. 

I have regained my sense of self-awareness and self-worth. I have regained my strength of will. I am truth empowered. 

What shall I accomplish in the remaining days of this G-d given year? 

Anything I set my mind to accomplish. 

I can do anything I set my mind to do. I will do it well and to G-d's honour and glory. I will do it with prayer, determination, and commitment. 

I can. I will.