30 day challenge update

Sunday, June 17, 2012 Permalink

You will most certainly recall (?!) that I decided to embark on a 30 day challenge for the month of June. I took a leaf out of Matt Cutts’ book, who had in turn taken a leaf out of Morgan Spurlock’s book (sort of), deciding that I would try to do (or not do) something ย for 30 days.

Not being a ‘challenge-lover’, my logic for doing this was to hopefully prove to myself that I CAN indeed set goals and deliver on them.

I’m half-way through the month, so thought it timely to check-in and let you know how I’m going. Also, I’m conscious my posts of late have been very depressing and I’ve portrayed myself in a not-good light. So…

Amazingly, I’m ‘succeeding’ (yes, you heard me) in this challenge.

Photo-a-day June
I know this wasn’t/isn’t really a hugely aspirational goal, but I said I’d participate in the photo-a-day challenge for the month of June, and I have. I must confess that I haven’t really scoped out others’ photos – other than those I know from Twitter, Facebook and the blogging world. In fact, I don’t really care how my photographs compare… it just requires me to put some thought into the process. Matt said that it made him more contemplative (my words not his) as he could recall what he was doing and where he was when he looked back at the photos. What I’ve gained from the exercise so far is that I have to try to be a bit more ‘aware’. Friday’s theme, for example, was ‘yellow’ and it meant that I had to try to constantly remind myself to keep on the lookout for something related to that theme.

I do occasionally (often) forget to keep it in the front of my mind, but my mindfulness in that respect has improved. (Note that I’m posting my photos each day on my Diet Schmiet Facebook page.)

Dump the junk
My after-thought goal was to STAY AWAY from my danger food. I had eaten (binged) on corn chips, rice cakes and chocolate EVERY non-working day for over a month. My distaste for grocery shopping was overlooked as I willingly headed to the store every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a few things. ‘A few things’ being rice cakes and chocolate! I was spiralling out of control and could not stop. But… I have. I’m now almost through my third weekend of no-danger-food! I know that doesn’t sound like a big deal to others, but it is to me. It hasn’t been easy. I’ve looked longingly at the chocolate aisle at the supermarket, or health foods section (home to my gluten-free corn chips)! Just today, after a morning walk, I called into the local store to buy the Sunday paper and RIGHT THERE NEXT TO ME at the checkout, were giant caramello koalas. Argh! But… I refrained.

Interestingly it hasn’t helped my weight loss efforts. I’m not-dieting at the moment, so eating… whatever. Ravioli and potato etcetera. When I was in binge / overeating mode, I’d binge evilly on the weekend, but make up for it during the week (filled with remorse). So I’d go carbohydrate-free most nights. The kilograms I’d gain over the weekend would be lost during the week. Then, you know… rinse, repeat.

Now I’m eating whatever (though no – what I call – ‘junk’) but my meals are too large. I’m yet to rein in what I believe to be the over-eating behaviour of a normal fat person, rather than the over-eating behaviour of a binge-eating fat person. If that makes sense.

I won’t be all ‘Pollyanna-like’ and say I’m not struggling with my lack of weight loss, cos I am. But, I’m trying to remind myself that I’m making SOME progress. I like to think I’ll continue with the no-binge food goal as long as possible. (Although if previous efforts are an indication, I usually find other binge foods after a while – which is why rice cakes (of all things!) are on the binge-foods list now. They were supposed to be a healthy alternative to corn chips. Alas.)

But, small steps. I’m halfway through the month and so far so good.

What about you? Are you working towards a goal? Is it a biggie and related to your health and fitness; or a more bite-sized one like my photo-a-day challenge?

 

12 Comments
  • KCLAnderson (Karen)
    June 18, 2012

    Yes! Baby steps…and no magical thinking (which I seem to engage in all the time and have to call myself out on). Meaning, I keep thinking that even though I haven’t binged in a couple weeks I should have lost the weight I put on over three months of bingeing. Also? I’d really hone in on the idea of finding a new binge food…is there something else you can “binge” on that’s not food and not destructive? I say this also from personal experience. Ideally, we wouldn’t have to binge on anything. What is it, in the moment that you’re bingeing, that you really want? I hope my questions aren’t annoying…

    • Debbish
      June 18, 2012

      Your questions definitely aren’t annoying. You’re right – I do already binge on other things… I watched 6 episodes of a TV series back-to-back on Saturday afternoon and evening. And I often binge on books. I have weeks where I CANNOT read enough. I’ll go to the library twice and read a book a night… which seems benign until I realise that I put off dinner until 9pm, then often return to the bath for more reading (finishing books after midnight when I have to work the next day).

      I’m actually acting on that behaviour as well and MINIMISING the number of books I’m borrowing each week – so it’s not as disruptive.

      As for what I want when I’m bingeing? The word that comes to mind is comfort or nourishment. I guess.

      Deb

  • Marion
    June 18, 2012

    Hi Deb! I like how you are trying more mindful living ideas. The photo taking is an interesting idea.

    I designate all excess food as “dessert.” Ravioli can be dessert for some people. Second helpings are dessert. A hamburger is a beefy dessert. If you look at it that way, you’ve definitely been eating dessert, which explains your weight circumstances.

    And sometimes, turning down a serving of the dessert you *really* want, makes you resort to trying to get enough (meaning a lot) unsatisfying food to make up for that lack. I’ve done that many times. Would you have saved calories by just eating those koala treats instead of the rest of the stuff you ate? Analysis is needed. ๐Ÿ˜€

    ๐Ÿ™‚ Marion

    • Debbish
      June 18, 2012

      True Marion, but I worry that IF I’d had the caramello koala it would have started me down a ‘it’s okay to eat chocolate’ path, which I can’t seem to do without bingeing. But you’re so right – I need to get my portions under control. I’m occasionally okay (but not good) in that I make up lunches, seal the containers and put them in the freezer before I sit down to eat my meal. That way ‘seconds’ are a harder option. I didn’t do that last night and ended up eating the leftover ravioli which was supposed to be for a lunch.

      Definitely something I need to work on.

      Deb

  • Lizzy
    June 18, 2012

    Deb,

    I feel soooooo much for you when I read about the binging. For 11 months I had myself close to under control. But I let the saboteurs (friends, family, “society”) convince me that just one wasn’t going to hurt – and you know what – it did! I used my 100km trek as a crutch for poor choices and now 6 weeks of allowing just one or two (which always rolls into “just” one packet of freddos) and I’ve managed to find 7 kilos of the 21 I had lost “forever”!! Portion control may be good for some – but I can’t manage it. I now have 7 days of clean eating under my belt and hope to undo some of the wayward eating I have recently undertaken. My fitness is the only thing that is keeping me on the path of virtue – knowing that the heavier I am the harder running has become, and thankfully I love to run!

    Lizzy x

    • Debbish
      June 18, 2012

      It’s good that you are keeping up your exercise Lizzy – I’m sure that’s my saving grace.

      I’m like you – I can’t just have ‘small amounts’ of my danger foods – so they’re off the agenda at the moment anyway. It also doesn’t feel as ‘dire’ as telling myself I can never have them again!

      Great work on the last 7 days! Am sure that 7kgs will disappear in no time!

      Deb

      • Lizzy
        June 18, 2012

        Never again doesn’t work for me either. But for right now I have to tell myself that I am eating for fuel purposes only and everything that I eat serves only that purpose. Don’t get me wrong I am eating delicious nutritious food – but the crap had to stop! I have too many empty fat cells ready and willing to be replenished! x

        • Debbish
          June 19, 2012

          I completely understand… breaking that cycle (of crap) can be very important. I’ve hopefully done that… for now anyway. Glad you have as well!

          Deb

  • Sandra
    June 18, 2012

    Deb, firstly well done on your binge-free weekends!…I rarely binge, but I eat a lot all the time…if that makes sense…
    I share your frustration in the weight loss department. The scales are moving at snail’s pace and I know why. Sad thing is, I can’t seem to get it together and do something (ie eat less!)
    xo

    • Debbish
      June 18, 2012

      Sandra… at the moment I’m a bit like you describe – eating too much all of the time. When I’m bingeing I do the ‘all or nothing’ thing, which is how I’ve mostly maintained my weight.

      And I completely understand your difficulties in getting it together!

      Deb

  • Liz@LastChanceTraining
    June 18, 2012

    Hi Deb,
    Firstly congratulations on all those pics – and secondly, great job on getting rid of your trigger foods. I’ve jumped off that building too many times and keep learning the lesson that when it comes to a few very select foods for me, one bite is too many and a thousand are never enough. It’s a good and valuable step to have taken, irrespective of whether you have lost weight or not.

    • Debbish
      June 18, 2012

      Thanks Liz. I have to say, given where I was (NOT able to NOT buy crap), I’m pleased I’ve cut it out at the moment and, though I’ve been tempted (when in the store, or vaguely in my mind) I haven’t really even picked up something I shouldn’t be eating….

      Deb

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