A Rant – Why We Are Struggling with Weight
I had the best, most effortless diet week since starting the program. I ate well, worked out, felt great. In short, all was good, and the scale loves me too.
How come, one might ask? Simple answer: Because I was not in the United States.
Dieting is not even dieting in Germany, Russia, or Brazil. It is just simply eating what everyone eats anyway. Working out is not a problem—you just walk everywhere, like everyone else does. After Germany and Russia, I already had an idea that maybe our food choices in the good old U.S. of ours might be not as good as we might think. But Brazil destroyed the last doubts: the most delicious fruit for breakfast, fiber cereal, 0% fat yogurt, and lots more. Only some single slices of bacon offered, for the lonely American tourist. Making good food choices during the day? Piece of cake. Everything is grilled, from salmon to beef to chicken and veggies. So no fat, no grease, and it tastes delicious.
Why can we not have decent fruit or better, broader, healthier food selections on our menus? Why do I face sticky, icky, prepackaged bakery goods and greasy bacon at breakfast menus in every single average business hotel in the U.S.? And, once in a while, the lone green unripe apple? Why is everything doused in sauces…and why do you have to be a real pest to get the sauce on the side? What’s wrong with offering a delicious fruit plate as dessert? How come my only salad choices are Caesar and Nicoise? I’d like to get some answers, if possible.
So here is my plateau-busting trick: Just go on a trip. Preferably Brazil, if you just happen to be looking for a great spot to visit. Endless walks on the beach, super food, friendly people, sunshine. Could anyone want more? Oh yes, and losing a bunch of pounds after a long plateau. And this was a work trip. Just imagine what would’ve happened if I could have actually gone to the gym or focused on my well-being.
Goals
I am getting ambitious again. After reaching 181 pounds and still having two months of the program to go, I think I would like to fit into some of my old clothes again, the real clothes. Not the ones I bought when I realized that holding out in one skirt because you gained 20 pounds might not be a viable solution. Now I am at the point where I fit back into the clothes I bought when I gave in a couple of years ago and bought my so-called fat clothes. Nevermind that I thought those untouchable four months ago, and I was ready to throw them out. But since I am a true collector and gatherer, I didn’t do it, and instead just put them in a box and tucked it away. Today I took the box out and thought I’d give it a try. I fit perfectly well back into most of them, and, amazingly, almost back into my ‘normal’ clothes. In order to keep myself in check, I took out two pieces to measure my future success, and to motivate myself: a pair of pink snakeskin trousers (ha, yes!)—I need to trim about 3 more inches off the waist to close the zipper comfortably—and my beloved boots, which still also are not closing by about 2 inches on the top. When I bought all this, it fit perfectly. And I never thought I’d get back into it, but now it seems to be within reach. If I just pull it a bit more together and stay focused. Maybe I can work out in the snakeskin….
Feel Great Weight Stats
Original weight: 210
Weight at week’s end: 181
Weight loss this week: .5 lb
Total weight loss: 29 lbs
Comments (2)
Dear Vanessa,
Congrats on the success of your weight loss. I have been fighting with the weight struggle as well. My company would like to help you out by offering you a complimentry Gold membership to our site. We are the first online site in the world that is geared around helping dieters look good while losing weight by renting clothes till they meet their ideal weight. Please email and I would love to set your membership up and the best of wishes
Vanessa,
Great job! I just saw you in the May issue of Health at the Dr’s office today and thought…finally someone who looks like me who needs to lose weight. I came on to see how you’re doing. I’m 6′1″ and 200. My goal weight is the same. I’ll have to go back and read your blogs to get some motivation! Keep it up.