Friday, October 25, 2013

The Before and After Pictures and A Question for You

Update: STELLAR CLOUD is now available in print as well as for the Kindle.

Are you addicted to food? 
I am.

You may recall that Hubby and I spent the summer trying to lose weight. We are both proud of what we accomplished, but are finding that coming off the program presents a few problems. Adding in the carbs again brings back all those old cravings. For me, the biggest trigger was actually adding dairy.

A big cold glass of milk is so good...
With a piece of chocolate cake, or cookies, or waffles drowned in syrup. You get the picture? When we were on program I was fine not having the sweet stuff because I couldn't have the glass of milk with it. Now it's a constant mental battle.

What I need is some kind of motivation to keep me from settling back into old habits and gaining that 20 lbs all over again. Public humiliation might work. I'm going to post my before and after pictures.



As you can see, they had me stand different in order to make me look better, BUT you can see the difference in my face. Every thing is smaller, but it's hard to tell just by looking. At least it is for me. Maybe I have deeper self-image issues that don't allow me to see? I do know that my clothes got too big and I had to get new ones.

The most important lesson that I've learned the last two weeks since adding in the old foods? What you eat really does affect how you FEEL. When I was getting enough protein and all the fresh veggies my body needed I had more energy and felt lighter. Now that I've had some homemade mac and cheese with smoked Gruyere (heavenly!), and a cookie or two (or several batches along with homemade cinnamon rolls and that above mentioned chocolate cake), I feel heavier, sluggish and like I want to crawl back into bed and stay there.

The plan?

I'm cutting out the stuff we've added to our meals. This will make the kids sad, but I just don't like the way I feel cooking the foods they like. My guess is they will continue to complain, but they will feel better too. I just wish we could all admit fresh foods make us happier.

16 comments:

  1. The kiddos will get used to it and crave the good stuff soon. My nieces ASK for cabbage sandwiches. They don't even want cookies!

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    1. Thanks Amie! They do enjoy having more fresh fruit in the house. It's cutting out all the yummy sauces on the meat they have a problem with. Hopefully that will get better as I perfect my grilling skills.

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  2. I wish I could lose weight and keep it off.

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    1. I lost it easy enough. Keeping it off will be the real battle.

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  3. I can definitely see the difference!
    You're right that it's a lot in what you eat. Burgers and fries make me feel sluggish, so I just don't eat them.
    Something small scale in December would be fun. Keep December 9 open though...

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  4. you look great, congrats!
    I lost a lot of weight before I got married then gained it back.
    My wife likes to tell me it is because I caught her, so I don't need to work on it any more.

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    1. LOL, my hubby gained his weight after we married too. He says it's all my fault for cooking so well.

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  5. Don't only cut back also replace with tasty healthy alternatives so you're not left hungry. Congrats on Stellar Cloud Charity and those photos look great. Just do your best to keep off the pounds.

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  6. I can definitely tell the difference in your before and after shots. Congrats, Charity. Your hard work paid off! I haven't been eating very well the past week and I feel like rubbish. Perhaps they're connected! Might need to cook a big lot of veggies tomorrow night!

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  7. I think you look great, and I don't think it has everything to do with just the way you are standing. Good for you!

    My husband and I cut out breads, pasta and most grains a couple years ago, so we cook mostly with meat and veggies. Whenever I eat something with flour, it kills me. (I also have a gluten sensitivity, so that is part of it). But a lot of it has to do with just feeling gross, which also makes me grumpy.

    I went on a bread binge a little while ago and felt so sick and nauseated and emotional afterwards that I'm back to my dedication to stay away from it and I feel loads better!

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    1. I don't even miss the pasta, but bread is a weakness of mine. In fact, I make some of the best homemade wheat bread you've ever had. *sigh* We've decided that breads need to be a special occasion only kind of thing though. They just sit so heavy after you eat them.

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  8. Yes, I do see a difference even with the different poses. It is so true that what we consume affects us. If only I could figure out a way to cut out the sugar.

    As for a platform thingie, at the moment I have no time. In December I probably will (things will be over by 12/12). But I'll have to see how things shake out.

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  9. I agree with Mike. You look great. I know that if you feel deprived of something it could soon lead to eating a lot of it later. Maybe just have a little milk (or whatever) and you won't feel like you're missing something.

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