Feeding Frenzy

Allow me to describe last night to you. Perhaps you can
relate.

It was the first PTG meeting of the new year (Parent/Teachers
Guild). For those of you who've never been to one, it starts
with a social time then leads to a functional meeting where
school particulars are laid out, and usually ends in a polite,
but heated argument between some parents who think things are
being run well, some parents who think things aren't being run
well, and some school administrators.

During the social time, there are homemade cookies and
brownies, fancy cheese balls, crackers, and homemade dips.
All laid out on pretty plates on an inviting table. Tiny
little plates are available, so you can grab just a few things
and go back for more (and not look like a hog). People you
haven't seen all summer stand near the table and chat
pleasantly with you, enabling you to casually grab just a
couple more cocktail weiners.

During the functional meeting, above-mentioned plates can be
loaded up and brought back to your seat, to entertain you
during the often-boring listing of financial details.

During the arguments, a ball of stress forms in the pit of my
stomach. The kind that seems to be easily ruminated by
eating.

After the meeting, there are the related mini-discussion
groups...also next to the food table.

Despite the rest of the day having been a very good diet day,
I believe I would have to chalk last night up as a major loss.
:-(

But, as I've read and heard during so many diet attempts, I
can't let this failure ruin my master plan. It's a minor
setback and today is a brand new day.

I know that is one of those things that are easy to say and
difficult to believe and act on. But I also believe it is
entirely necessary.

Dr. Will Clower of "The Fat Fallacy" fame has a little quote
he obtained when interviewing a French lady. He asked her what
she did when she wanted to lose weight and she said: "Stop
eating too much again."

So that's what I am going to do today! Anyhow, there aren't
any cocktail weiners left. ;-)

Month 3

September 1st marked the beginning of Sensa Month three for me. I ended up down three pounds for month two (it was -6 for month one).

I'm rather excited about this month. The "Sweet" side contains this luscious Marshmallow smell (and taste) tastant. I find myself taking smell "hits" from it all day. Dr Hirsch needs to make some Sensa candles!! The "Salty" side doesn't smell or taste like anything to me. But I'm stoked about BOTH, because I find myself getting full easier again (like in Month one).

Even MORE exciting is that my pants are too big! ha! I always wear my clothes kinda loose anyway and I had lost four pounds in the six months prior to starting Sensa. So, technically, those pants were comfortable for me 13 pounds ago. But now they are too big!! SO AWESOME!!!! I bought a few new pairs of pants, but I don't want to go crazy...after all, I'll need an even smaller size before you know it!!

If you are reading this and haven't lost much yet, please don't be discouraged. First of all, I have a LOT to lose. Second of all, remember your Sensa weight loss chart (I have mine taped to my computer monitor)...women tend to lose later and the effects are cumulative, so your brain is being trained even though you don't see the effects yet.

Plus, it is fall and people are getting back to their normal routines (kids in school, no one is eating BBQs or fruity poolside drinks). I've always thought Spring and Fall were the best weight-loss times.

Good luck everyone!!

Oh, by the way, for those of you tired of your friends and family making fun of you: I've noticed lately that I can take out my Sensa and sprinkle and no one says anything anymore. So I think I waited them out...you can too!!!

DISCOURAGEMENT

OK, yes, I've been a definite slacker lately. You've probably
been wondering where I've been. Well, I'll be honest with you --
I was wallowing in depression and low self-esteem.

TMI? Perhaps. But it kind of feels good to say (type). I
usually keep it all bottled up.

But if I've learned anything on this journey, it's that I am not
alone. I am not alone in how I feel about food or exercise, and
I am not alone in ANY of my feelings, including feeling bad when
I think I am failing.

However, I've decided by watching the world, that those who
"succeed" end up "failing" a lot along the way. The difference
between "winners" and "losers" is that the winners don't give up,
and the losers do.

Take Milton Hershey (of chocolate fame). He's earned and lost
more money than most of us dream of. He's had huge successes
and deep failures.
( http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/hershey.htm )
But he kept trying and eventually succeeded...in a major, major
way!

So now I think about myself and my weight loss effort. I lost 6
pounds last month on Sensa. This month, not so good. I gained
some back, lost it, gained it back. I was sad and felt like a
horrible, weak person. But I kept trying. Now I am at -2 for
this month (with 9 more days to go). Not what I wanted, but
still negative, so I am going to take it and do my best NOT to be
discouraged.

And I am going to fully admit to myself (and you) that it has
been a lot harder this month. I feel like I am working so hard
to watch what I eat and not really getting the corresponding
benefit.

But there could be a lot of reasons for this. One being that I
do feel as if I am eating more than last month. One being that
you are always going to lose some at first because you are going
from no diet to SOME diet. One being that through the trials,
women tended to lose most of the weight later (after 3 full
months on the plan) rather than earlier in the plan.

But now we are going to start thinking more positively.
I am still eating LESS than I used to. I am still sticking with
this. And I am going to KEEP sticking with this. I made the
commitment for the full 6 months and I am going to keep it up.

In any case, it's not really worth giving up yet, is it? I'd
probably just go try another diet and it wouldn't work any
better. [How's that for reinforcement? ;-) ]

Back on track and learning control

OK, a few days of being more careful and I am pretty much back on
track! It's been 40 days and I am net negative 6. Not too shabby.

Especially since last night my husband made me go eat at that yummy
place with the GI-NORMOUS salad, soup, bread, and dessert bar.

Everything there is homemade and so luscious. I ate way too much
(although less than I used to). And then I yelled at him for insisting
we go there (it's his favorite restaurant). How am I supposed to
stay on track when he throws that kind of temptation in front of me?

But after I thought about it a bit, I realized something. This change
I am trying for has to come from within. I have to be able to resist.
I have to be strong in the face of adversity. (Not just in my eating,
either!)

If I can't control myself in this situation, how am I ever going to
stop myself from eating under the pressure of friends? Especially when
they make their own delicious specialties? Karen's cheesy sausage dip!
Kathy's Layered Taco dip! Shelly's homemade cheesecake!

After all, my husband isn't sitting there saying "Have some more...I
made it special! It took hours!" I need to practice control when it's
easier!

Thank goodness Sensa is helping so much. I really do feel full faster.
And when I overeat, I am almost sick to my stomach. Sounds silly, but
it really helps. Even I (with my horrible memory) am getting the hang
of it and eating less.

I will say that Month 1 of Sensa seemed more effective for me than
month 2. Although, looking at the chat boards and such, it appears as
if some people prefer month 2. In any case, this is a process and we
are all in it together.

And when the rest of the world catches on, we'll be the wise and
knowledgeable sages of Sensa!

Trying not to panic

OK, I have now officially gained two pounds this month.
Scary!!

I've been spending time on some chat rooms and I know that
can happen with Sensa. There were several people who gained
weight the first month and lost it the second. I am still
net negative. And I guess I have to be patient. (I guess
doing some exercise wouldn't hurt, either!)

But it is very hard to keep a positive outlook. Of course,
it's that way with any diet plan, isn't it? There are ups
and downs. The hard part is always sticking it out until
you see results. At least with Sensa, I got to see some
really early.

I can do this. We can do this!

Two pounds...heck...that could be anything! I'll bet it's
gone by the end of the week.

In case you are having the same issue, here are some great
ideas I've gotten from various people:

1. Use MORE sensa on your food!
2. Drink more water
3. Go for a walk...or a swim.
4. RELAX...just be patient!
5. Find something to distract yourself from the idea of
weight loss. Take up a hobby. Do something fun with your
child(ren). Sometimes weight loss can happen when you least
expect it!

And most of all...keep your spirits up!!! Whatever is going
on, it won't get any better simply by worrying about it!

Rewards

I recently destroyed my cell phone. I was really upset about it, too.
Well, until I realized that I was eligible for a free phone (with a 2
year renewal to my service contract)

Long story short, here I sit with a gorgeous pink phone that doubles
as an MP3 player! A tiny card that slides into a convenient slot is
holding a bunch of fantastic songs I like, and a small earpiece is
sitting in my right ear, allowing me to listen "handsfree."

I haven't this much fun with music since I was in high school!

I spent a good part of this evening setting it up, playing around,
transferring songs. And didn't snack at all!!!

I tend to forget about that. I've rewarded myself with food so often,
that I forget there are millions of other pleasures in this world that
can easily substitute for that fantastic rush that food can give us.
For me, it needs to be something more in the category of "instant
gratification." I don't have the patience for all that "Nothing tastes
as good as thin feels" nonsense. The coconut cream pie is here NOW,
darn it! Those size 6 jeans are much, much further away!

Most of my rewards require spending money. New things are always nice.
And shopping is a fantastic mood booster for some of us! I also
like to get a massage or get my nails done.

But I do have a few rewards that don't require much money. I like to
see movies with my friends. I like to be play hooky from work and hang
out with my daughter on a warm summer day. But I could use some more
ideas.

There is a spot at the bottom here for comments...why don't you guys
let us all know your best suggestions?

Until then, I'm just going to enjoy my music...maybe I'll even dance a
little!

STARVING!

Hunger is an multi-leveled thing. I mean, there are TRULY hungry people in the
world. People that will consider themselves lucky to have a bowl of rice today.

But where I live, people generally have plenty to eat, in fact too much.

I, for one, used to think about food all the time. I love food! And I would plan
my day around it. I would start thinking, gee, I am starting to get hungry. What
shall I eat?

But Sensa has created this new sort of situation for me. Much better, to be sure,
but there are negatives.

I don't think about food in between meals now. I am satisfied with my meals and
my brain recognizes this. I don't really snack anymore.

But what used to be a gradual recognition of hunger has now become a strange jolt
of awareness. In about 2 seconds, I can go from not thinking at all about food to
being RAVENOUSLY hungry! It's kind of strange and tough to get used to.

I am starting to notice a general timeframe for it to happen, so perhaps I can get
used to the idea that I should start preparing food to be ready at certain times,
knowing that I will be hungry.

I don't really want to eat before I am hungry. All the diet plans tell you to
wait until you feel actual hunger pangs before you eat. I always knew I was
SUPPOSED to do that. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it before.

Feeling (a little) hungry is actually kind of neat. I rarely used to let myself
get to that point before eating. It feels so nice to feel like my body and brain
are finally in sync. And I feel SO MUCH less guilt eating when other people can
actually hear the rumbling!!

Mmmm...sorry, I am definitely going to have to go eat now!! ;-) (Don't worry, I
will be sure to sprinkle Sensa on it first!)