Day 55

Hi, I'm sorry I've been missing in action for a bit, but I've just been really busy these past couple of days. I've stayed on track, though and I also treated myself to something since pretty soon, it'll be 2 months on my journey. Don't worry, it wasn't food. I did however pick up the Wheat Belly book by Dr. William Davis, from Target today.

Gwen from Sky and Surf (skynsurf.com) posted some disturbing things about eating wheat a few days ago, that blew my mind... seriously. I always thought wheat was good for me, but she shared some facts that showed me otherwise. There's still so much I don't know, I mean I don't even know where to begin. I went to the grocery store today thinking that I'll just get a different type of bread and start there. I grabbed a loaf of rye then pumpernickel, but when I read the ingredients, I noticed that those breads had wheat flour, too... even white bread. I'm a bit confused. I don't even know what to eat for breakfast anymore, because I pretty much stick to Special K every morning. For the time being, I'll stick with the same cereal and I'll start reading the book tomorrow.

Inspiration picture: Jennifer Hodges lost 212 pounds (Sparkpeople.com featured story)



Jennifer's before weight was 369 pounds. I included a part of her interview below.



How I Gained It: I was addicted to fast and processed food. And I led a very sedentary lifestyle. Food filled a void for me. A void left by working parents, a lack of friends. I ate because I was bored. I ate because I was lonely. I ate because I could. I just ate. The bigger I got, the more I ate and the worse I would eat. I think a lot of the eating habits stemmed from growing up in the restaurant business, having food available all the time. I would feel good when I was eating, but as soon as I was done, I would feel horrible. So I just didn’t stop.
Breaking Point: When I fell in the backyard and couldn't get up. My three young children had to run inside the house to get my husband. He had to roll me on a blanket and drag me inside. That was my "a-ha" moment. I knew I needed to change my lifestyle not only for myself, but for my entire family.
How I Lost It: I enrolled in a gym. I started out very slowly. I began at the gym on the recumbent bicycle, but I longed to get into the group fitness room. I could see the room from my bike and I just couldn’t wait to get in there, but I was so worried what other people might think about me. Finally after about three months I decided I didn’t care anymore what other people thought. This journey was for me and my family, not for other people. In January 2009, I took my first Les Mills group fitness class: Body Step. I was very nervous, and I was too big and too out of shape to use the step, so I just did the moves on the floor. After three months, I started using the step. I was feeling more confident in myself and in my body. I also started adding BODYPUMP to my routine right around this three-month mark. Soon after I was able to do two hours of consecutive exercise; cardio and strength. And I loved it! I loved the person I was becoming. My body started to change shape; I was becoming leaner, fitter, a better person on the outside and the inside. Group fitness has forever changed my life. I also totally changed my diet and started paying close attention to what I was putting in my body. I gave up all processed and fast food -- all of it! I'll have an egg-white omelete with spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers and tomatoes for breakfast with a slice of Ezekial bread. Lunch is generally my largest meal of the day, lean protein like fish, chicken or shrimp on a bed of greens, or a salad with a lot of beans. For dinner, I usually have whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa or couscous with lean protein. And during the day I snack on all sorts of fruit. Apples, bananas and mangoes are my favorite.

This is Jennifer today at 157 pounds.



Daily Food Journal:
Breakfast: Special K with berries, decaf
Lunch: Tuna on multigrain with lettuce, tomatoes and 1 pear
Snack: 1/2 grapefruit
Dinner: 2 slices of rotisserie chicken, 1 baked sweet potato, cabbage

If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.