Enough is enough
By Jennifer
First, a few updates:
Since this post, I’ve made plans to stop in a local running store to try on and, hopefully, buy some great new running shoes. I’ll report back my findings but, fear not, I will make sure a shoe professional is standing by. Also, I’ve looked into some shorter distance runs in my area to get me motivated for a marathon without overwhelming me. So far, I’ve looked into a few 5Ks for this fall and a 10K for winter. (I live in Texas — keep in mind — winter is a myth here.) I’ve also started a binder for recipes, and I’m in the compiling/meal planning phase. I also plan to report back on what worked and didn’t work for me in the kitchen.
Now, for today.
I’ve been actively trying to lose weight for about six weeks now, and, admittedly, I haven’t stepped on the scale in awhile and will avoid doing so for a couple more weeks. I wanted to focus on small changes, little incorporations into my new lifestyle, and I didn’t want to get hung up on the slow-moving scale. I know my body, and I know that it can take awhile for it to let go of the excess weight, and I didn’t want discouragement to hinder my big-picture goal. But, even more admittedly, I’ve had some bad days, days when I’ve lost count of the calories I’ve consumed, days when I’ve chosen convenience over putting a little more effort into what I put on my plate. It’s so easy for the ultimate goal to get fuzzy when there are small setbacks, but I’m determined to see this through, to make real and lasting changes, no matter how long it takes.
Back in college — on one particular day — I was inhaling something especially greasy with a friend, when I stopped, turned to her and said, “Do you ever wonder when enough will be enough?” We were young, we were in college, we were drinking more than we were studying and with that sort of reckless lifestyle came really bad eating habits. I let the same 5-10 pounds creep up and melt off without much regard while in college, and at that point I verbally wondered when I would have enough of the up-and-down. At what point would I change my lifestyle, lose the weight and keep it off? And, what number would be my wakeup call? I know what I thought back then and I’m about 30 pounds above that number. Sure, I just had a baby, and I can’t know if I would’ve reached this number without the help of pregnancy, but, honestly, I can’t know that I wouldn’t have, either.
I’ve talked before about how I lost weight — healthily — three years ago. And I remember my “enough is enough” moment back then. I had to go out and buy pants in a size I was unfamiliar with, a size I really didn’t want to be familiar with. As I stood in the dressing room, in my new-sized pants, I thought to myself, There is nothing stopping me from going up a size and then up again and again and again. There’s nothing preventing me from always gaining weight. That was my moment.
I have been actively trying to lose weight for the last six weeks, but I’ve been somewhat lax in some areas, and I was probably half-heartedly doing some things in other areas. This week, though, I had another “enough is enough” moment. I received a baby shower invitation for a friend from high school. I see her regularly, but I knew there would be plenty of old high school friends at the party I don’t see regularly, people who haven’t seen me in 40-50 pounds. And I just couldn’t bring myself to go. I am sitting out on life, passing on things I wouldn’t pass on otherwise. And, you know, that’s just no longer OK to me. Enough is enough.
So, I have a few questions for you. One, randomly, have you ever used an online calorie counter that you enjoy (what is it, if so)? Also, have you ever had an enough-is-enough moment and want to share it?
May 20th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I can’t remember if there was one definitive moment, but at some point when Riley was about 18 months old, I realized I hated every single photo I had of the two of us because of my extra weight and that I was actively avoiding photos. I guess it sounds vain as hell, but it somehow really drove home how I was never going to get healthier unless I actively took steps to change my situation.
As for online calorie counters/food diaries, I have yet to commit to one long-term, but http://www.sparkpeople.com has a pretty good system.
May 20th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
My first one (before I lost 120 pounds) was when the button on my size 24 pants broke at work and I had to go home.
This time it’s more vanity and health. i want to be active and raise healthy kids who see good eating and exercise as a normal, everyday part of life – and maybe they’ll be spared being the “fat kid” too?
May 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
1.) Yes, I use Sparkpeople! I am BATHOLMES over there if you would like to be my friend.
(Did that sound sad? I meant it in the newfangled internet way.)
2.) Absolutely, and it was the day I saw a picture of myself taken at a NYEve party. This one: http://tinyurl.com/pl77cg
In the photo, I’m having an absolute blast playing drums on Rock Band, but all I saw was fat. I don’t even recognize that girl now.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
There’s a certain picture of me in a certain bathing suit that horrified me to my (undoubtedly sausage-like) toes. Unfortunately, I’ve done a lot of wavering and emotional eating since then.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I don’t have any wisdom for you, except this: about half the other guests at the high chool friend’s shower will also weigh 40-50 lbs more than they did as teens. Go.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I heart SparkPeople too. I am using it now post surgery and it is great. It isn’t sanctimonious like Weight Watchers and it’s really well built. You can track anything you want–calories, protein, sodium. I found it through the comments on my Bodies blog so wanted to add another vote for it here in yours!
May 20th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I use http://caloriecount.about.com/. It’s easier for me to get the calorie count and then physically write it down on a piece of paper that sits on my desk all day. This way is better than logging it online somewhere where I can easily ignore it, or oops! forget to update.
I’ve never had an enough-is-enough moment exactly. Just the thought of going on a carribbean vacation and NOT wearing a bathing suit? Not an option.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Mine is similar to Linda’s, I have very few pictures of my children and me, the ones I do have, I hate because of my double chin(s) or flabby arms or bulging tummy. We’ve never even had a family portrait taken (though I really want one) because I know I won’t like it as long as I’m in it.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I’ve used spark people.com and fitday.com and liked them both equally.
May 20th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
That enough is enough moment is what the Refuse to Regain blog calls “scream weight.” (or is it shriek weight? Anyway, you get it) My horrible realization peaked when I reached the weight that I was the same day that I gave birth to my daughter (BEFORE giving birth). Which had previously been my all-time high. To look at a pic of me, trim in legs and face but 9 months pregnant, and look at a pic of me 14 years later and NOT pregnant, was horrifying to say the least.
I am continually amazed at the different images I get in the mirror vs the camera. I think that all mirrors are sort of warped.
Speaking of online food counters, I like sparkpeople and also have used Weight Watchers online tools.
May 20th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I’m sorry to get off the topic of your question but I’m a terrible person to ask about that enough is enough thing because I always THINK I’m having them but it turns out, I’m really not because I just go right on ahead & do the thing I thought I’d already had enough of. Anyway, I do want to offer up another recipe. I bought turkey tenderloin on sale & it is very lean…I threw it in a crockput with a bottle of my favorite BBQ sauce, it cooked on low for 5 hours & voila! We made BBQ turkey sandwiches, but if you wanted to go lower on the carbs, eat it without bread & a side of veggies. So good.
May 20th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Sparkpeople.com. I’ve been a member for a little over a year, have lost almost 40 pounds, which was basically what I wanted to lose when I started. In the oldfashioned way, counting/recording calories and moving more, mostly walking, but some weights too and some exercise bike (when it was too cold to walk outside). Sparkpeople.com has been a HUGE help to this process for me. I highly recommend it.
May 20th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
i like it b/c it’s free, has tons of food stored in it and it’s easy to add your own foods. good luck!
May 20th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
i did not like sparkpeople at all. but i LOVE LOVE LOVE the daily plate. 99.9% of the foods that i eat are in the database already. i love it. easy fast tracking, free. can track your weight and measurements, put in a weekly goal of hopeful weight loss and it let’s you know how many calories you should eat. only thing i don’t like is that it’s part of the livestrong.com website. i just ignore the rest and stick with the dailyplate part.
May 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
My enough-is-enough moment was yesterday morning, when I dropped off the dry cleaning. I had split the lining clear down the arse at the office, and needed a patch to be sewn in.
I just about died. Never again.
May 20th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
fitday.com worked for me.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:14 am
The Daily Plate at livestrong.com is my favourite on-line calorie counter. Its easy to use, and has the calorie value of loads of foods already programmed in. Plus, you can make “meals” of foods you usually eat together, and it compiles a list of foods you eat regularly.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:41 am
I have used Fitday, but I really like calorieking.com. I discovered it via Jillian Michae;’s new book. I also look up calories and write them on a paper that I keep on my desk.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:45 am
online calorie counter? go to SPARKPEOPLE.com!!! You will not be disappointed. I’ve been following a couple of the blogs on this website and I read it on someone else’s post a few weeks ago. I checked it out and love it!!! (might have been you even but i can’t remember, i love all you guys)!
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:51 am
My enough is enough moment hit about 6 months into my current job. It was my first desk job and I enjoyed going out to lunch with coworkers far too many days a week. I never got to a point where I considered myself fat but I didn’t feel healthy and I knew I had put on some weight. I also knew I had to do something about it. I joined the gym at my office and now I spend most workdays at the gym or running during lunch instead of eating at restaurants with coworkers. I still go out with them about once a week, but I counter-balance those meals with healthier choices every other day of the week and exercise.
May 22nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
I like fitday.com — but I want to try some of the others that have been suggested here.
I briefly tried sparkpeople and didn’t really like it — mainly because it did not add my exercise to my daily calorie goal. If I run 13 miles I sure as hell need to eat more than 1700 calories!
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:01 am
Ooh, I think I like the livestrong.com ‘Daily Plate’ better. (Thanks Cori and Nikki!)
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Recipe idea: If you like chicken. Super easy and quick. Thaw a few boneless skinless chicken breasts, put them in a baking pan, cover with italian salad dressing – bake for 20 mins or so at 350. Slice or shred and wrap in fatfree tortillas and top with favorite salsa. Add a side of black beans if you like them. Protein should fill you up and it tastes great for minimal effort
May 26th, 2009 at 4:57 am
I do use a calorie counter (sometimes) that I’m pretty happy with – thedailyplate.com. It has an extensive food and exercise database and also allows you to add your own food, recipes, and calories burned.
As for enough is enough, sometimes I will stare at the bottom of an empty Ben&Jerry’s container and wonder just where all that ice cream when and then feel resolved to start tracking calories and exercising intensely again.
Sometimes it works – I got all the baby weight of at the beginning of the year (took me about two months) and now I’m stuck with the additional 12 pounds I want to lose that was hanging around before I got pregnant again.
May 26th, 2009 at 9:11 am
My daughter is 7 months old and I still wear maternity clothes sometimes – that should be a good enough reason to say “enough is enough.” What really got me, though, was two weeks ago when my three year old son was poking me in the stomach and laughing at the way it jiggled. I signed up for weight watchers that day.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:08 am
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June 7th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Тут моё резюме:
http://ugrumreka.t35.com/index.html
July 26th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
American Celebration
http://domik.t35.com/
April 14th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
2veHsf I’m out of league here. Too much brain power on dsialpy!