So my husband was reading an article in Men's Health over the weekend, and he pointed it out part of it to me (it was 5 steps for men on losing weight)... #5 was something to the effect of REALLY being honest and looking hard at the number of calories you intake a week in alcohol. It said that the average guy, who drinks 2-3 beers a night will intake 2000 extra calories a week. So, while I KNOW that wine is empty calories, I was curious on just how many. Well, one glass of Chardonnay is 150 calories. One bottle is 550 calories. And depending on how many glasses one has a night, over the course of a week, that can add up quickly. But, knowledge (or reminder of knowledge) is power - and it was interesting to me last night after I had one glass, how easy it was to NOT have anymore, thinking about those calories and how they were that many more keeping me from getting under 200. So I filled up my wine glass with iced tea instead! I did also notice though, that my "old habits" kicked in a bit... I was a bit tense (not really stressed, but hard to explain) about a work issue yesterday, and couldn't really "turn off"... so about an hour after dinner, I found myself with the container of leftovers, starting to nibble. I WAS NOT HUNGRY THOUGH! I mean, I was still full - but my head was doing the talking - not my tummy... It took me a few bites to really stop and realize what I was doing, but I'm glad I did. So, I dumped the leftovers in the sink and picked up a word-search instead to keep my hands busy during the Biggest Loser, and that seemed to do the trick. 15 months out from banding, and I STILL struggle with this head hunger vs. real hunger... Ugh. But, at least I recognized it and thankfully had the band to remind me physically that there was no where to put that food that I did NOT need!
5.12.2010
Pausing and thinking and recognizing the signs...
So my husband was reading an article in Men's Health over the weekend, and he pointed it out part of it to me (it was 5 steps for men on losing weight)... #5 was something to the effect of REALLY being honest and looking hard at the number of calories you intake a week in alcohol. It said that the average guy, who drinks 2-3 beers a night will intake 2000 extra calories a week. So, while I KNOW that wine is empty calories, I was curious on just how many. Well, one glass of Chardonnay is 150 calories. One bottle is 550 calories. And depending on how many glasses one has a night, over the course of a week, that can add up quickly. But, knowledge (or reminder of knowledge) is power - and it was interesting to me last night after I had one glass, how easy it was to NOT have anymore, thinking about those calories and how they were that many more keeping me from getting under 200. So I filled up my wine glass with iced tea instead! I did also notice though, that my "old habits" kicked in a bit... I was a bit tense (not really stressed, but hard to explain) about a work issue yesterday, and couldn't really "turn off"... so about an hour after dinner, I found myself with the container of leftovers, starting to nibble. I WAS NOT HUNGRY THOUGH! I mean, I was still full - but my head was doing the talking - not my tummy... It took me a few bites to really stop and realize what I was doing, but I'm glad I did. So, I dumped the leftovers in the sink and picked up a word-search instead to keep my hands busy during the Biggest Loser, and that seemed to do the trick. 15 months out from banding, and I STILL struggle with this head hunger vs. real hunger... Ugh. But, at least I recognized it and thankfully had the band to remind me physically that there was no where to put that food that I did NOT need!
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7 comments:
This is something that I have wanted to try commenting on with you but I don't want it to come out the wrong way. I know you want to get your weight under the 200s, I know that you want to weigh less and be healthier, period. You've proven that over your year+ activities with the band, such as eating better and running like a fiend.
But simply put, drinking wine, even if the Europeans have all these reports which claim it's good for you, will keep you from losing the weight and keeping it off like you want to.
I noticed a pattern in your blogs since you first got under 200 and your alcohol consumption went way up. I don't know if this is because psychologically you felt as if you now had permission to drink more, but the dismissal of the drinks you had on the cruise as being cheap 2 for 1 specials when 2 can always be too many, is a red flag.
Alcohol turns to nothing but sugar in your digestive system. Would you grab a spoonful of sugar and eat it to calm your nerves? I don't think so. You say in your own words that it's to relax you but that only ends up making it a crutch.
I wish you the best, I really do. I've been reading your blog since last September, when I was scared and excited about potentially winning the Lap since otherwise, I wasn't going to get it even with insurance. Having as wonderful of a family life as you do is enviable. Now turn some of that attention back onto Sarah alone and git-r-dun, lady. :)
You know what? I love my wine, and life is too short to give it up. And if that means my scale moves a little slower...ah well...I'm willing to chance it, because YUM! WINE!! lol!
I struggle with head vs. real hunger every single day. I never in a million years thought I'd have to THINK this much with the band. And still way too many times my head wins!! Working on that!
Those Biggest Loser people should all totally go get one! Now that they're skinny, they should get one for maintenance. Seriously. That poor dude last night who lost it all and gained it back...heartbreaking!
That's really good progress... catching yourself and then dumping the offending food. It is a constant battle, and I am constantly being reminded and re-learning things I already knew. It is truly a journey...
Really smart, Sarah. My weight loss is slowing and I'm cutting back on wine too. Last night when I would normally sit down with my wine, I had some Pellegrino instead. I did that during my pregnancies when I wanted wine, it was "special" enough that it sort of sated whatever need I was feeling. Did the same thing for me last night, and nooooooo extra calories.
I'm not giving wine up entirely, but I'm trying to cut my calories from it in half at least to jump-start the weight loss.
Keep up the good work!
Thank God I don't like wine. I'm pretty sure I'd be addicted to it and it'd be the only thing I'd want to wash the Little Debbie whores down with. Nah - for me - I shall just keep drinking Milky Ways. Totally works for me.
Good job on looking outside the box for maybe why the number isn't dropping lately. You'll get there - of that I have no doubt.
Smooches.
I know that I will need to watch my alcohol intake, but definitely have no plans to give it up completely. It really does make sense to know the calories of some of the "treats" we have, whether it's wine or something else so it doesn't get out of hand. Good point.
My wine intake the past two weeks has been more than I have had in months and I decided to put myself on a alchohol free month. I don't drink wine in the evenings mainly because I am on my own and I don't tend to drink when I am alone...but when I do go out I usually drink a bottle (or two!eek!) and that is even worse! but we all need a vice, whether it is a wine or a piece of chocolate sometimes and we still need to live our lives and not have such a regimented lifestyle when it comes to calorie intake...everything in moderation...and that weigh will shift back under 200 soon..xx
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