Holiday weight gain.

The time between my birthday (10/25) and the New Year is traditionally the hardest for me in terms of my weight. CNN reported, "Some people may put on five to seven pounds through the fall and winter, thanks to a steady diet of large meals, sweets and the like. Yet the figures are much smaller for most Americans -- just more than a pound, on average, according to government surveys." I'm definitely in the five to seven (or more) pound group.

My goal this year is to maintain my birthday weight (213.6) through the holidays. Given that I have already gained about 15, means I have some work to do.

Rough Weekend

Saturday was my birthday, but the fireworks started on Friday. I made white chocolate-coconut scones for work for a birthday treat. I decided to eat one, with the intention of stopping there. My assistant was kind and brought me a cake though and I felt it would be rude to not eat any, so I ate a piece...and then another...and then another 1/2 scone. I could feel it eroding.

Saturday, I started out well, but I baked a lot. I ate some whole wheat crackers that I had made, which were probably acceptable, but the homemade pretzels were not. Later I ate a mash of coconut, chocolate chips, oatmeal, white chocolate chips and sugar. Definitely slipping. We had dinner at the Gerber's and I really went overboard. I felt physically pained by how much I ate.

Sunday was a complete loss. This had nothing to do with hunger and a lot to do with willing defiance and gluttony. In the past I would have just let this slip for a couple of weeks or months, though I intend to get back on track and start making better choice.

misleading labels

Advertisers can adjust the labels to tell people what they want to hear without putting anything behind it. There was a "butter" debate on GoaD the other day and some people were recommending Brummel and Brown yogurt & butter spread. I claimed that was an unhealthy choice and they said, what is unnatural about yogurt and butter? I went to the Brummel and Brown website and although they claim "no transfat per serving*" there is very clearly partially hydrogenated oil in there, i.e., transfats. Become a label reader and know what the stuff means. If there are things you cannot pronounce or don't know where they came from, you may want to consider moving on.

Keeping up with the Jones's

I was having a conversation with a group of people who were asking about my weight loss last night and I got to thinking about "keeping up with the Jones's." This phrase incited when people are trying to keep up with the amount of stuff other people had, but I think it can relate to a covetous heart in general.
Take weight loss for example. I have often heard people say, "I wish I could eat as much as him and stay skinny, but I have to watch everything I put in my mouth." I have two thoughts on that. First, that friend probably puts less in his mouth than you think he does and second, even if he does eat more, that isn't the hand you were dealt. Stop using someone else's metabolism as an excuse to be gluttonous. Eat the way God intended and don't worry about what someone else can or cannot do.

Proverbs 1:31 "they will eat the fruit of their ways, and be filled with the fruit of their schemes."

In this passage, the author is writing specifically about those who reject God and wisdom, choosing instead to hate Knowledge. When I read this verse, I am struck that when we are ignorant, we basically reap what we sow or "are what we eat."

With regard to our eating, if we choose to reject the knowledge that most of us have, we will "eat the fruit of our ways," which will lead to gluttony and obesity.

Doctor established weight goal

Okay, so there was a discussion elsewhere today about doctor established weight goals. I defend those and in fact, I have one. Mine is 215 pounds. Here I am at 212 pounds or 3 pounds below goal. Looking at the picture though, a couple of things become quickly evident.

1) At my current fitness level, 215 is not a good goal weight. I have a little paunch around the middle.

2) It is quite apparent that I have just resumed lifting weights as my body is nowhere close to where it was when I was lifting frequently.

I guess I keep exercising and eating healthy.

restaurant portions

I went for lunch today and ordered off the "side dish" menu. Linguine with tomatoes, garlic, and basil. This "side dish" was approximately 3 cups of pasta. I ate half and was questioned by the waitress about why I didn't eat it all. I spoke briefly about the growing obesity epidemic in the US and she brushed it aside.

Recommended Portion Size (as indicated by MyPyramid.gov)
3 oz. meat – about the size of a deck of cards: the recommended portion for a meal
½ cup pasta – about the size of a tennis ball
1 oz bagel – about the size of a hockey puck
2.4 oz French fries, approximately 20 shoestring fries

Average Restaurant Portion Size
14 oz. meat – approximately 5 times the recommended amount
Approximately 3 cups pasta – 6 times the recommended amount
4 oz bagel – 4 times the recommended amount
6.9 oz french fries, approximately 50 shoestring fries

For more on our distorted view of portions, go here.