About weightloss and tea
Jun. 16th, 2019 01:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beelikejSo in March I bought a scale for the first time in my life. I've not really had any issues with being fat or the way I look, but there are a couple of reasons to deal with my weight right now. (Amongst them: turning 50 at the end of this year and having to find a new job next year). For the past couple of years I've tried to do some sort of regular work-out, not to lose weight, but to stay fit. I have found that to combine exercise with paying attention to what I eat, for me feels like a punishment, so I decided to stop with the daily work-outs to focus on food intake. Because while I don't mind being fat, food is my weakness. I don't drink alchohol or smoke or do drugs; food is my go-to thing for all things emotional, from being bored to being happy and that is exhausting.
So my main aim was to have a better approach to food, getting on the scale would simply be a motivation to do that. I set myself a weight-target without an end-date.
As for my diet: breakfast is still the same: orange juice and a slice of bread with cheese, except a spread instead of a slice of cheese. For lunch I eat knäckebröd instead of bread and I massively reduced what I put on them. I don't take seconds for dinner anymore and stopped snacking in the evenings. That's it. With my very regular job this is easy to maintain, but in weekends I do still have to play a lot of mindgames in between meals because I think about food a LOT. To deal with that, I'm trying new things (but still don't have to eat stuff I don't like, like salads;) and I treat getting groceries like an expedition.
For instance I'm trying to discover all the knäckebröd flavours. I do so like having several textures and tastes during a meal and those crackers are perfect for that (I've already found 11 different flavours!)
I'm not really into healthfood, it's more about portion control and to take time preparing the food. I've posted a couple of fun dinner experiments in my Instagram: Coloured pita bread with shawarma
Making pizza from scratch; sticking spaghetti through hot dogs; Pasta with parsnip (hey, look: vegetables!)
I do snack on special occassions (like that fabulous birthday brunch for my mom's partner last month) I just don't want to mindlessly stuff my face anymore but really enjoy the food that I do eat.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting about it now is because I wanted to report that I've reached (and passed!) my first target.
When I got on the scale on March 30th I had no idea what to expect, I even worried whether the scale had a large enough range, that's how clueless I was. I was neither disappointed nor shocked to find out my weight, it was what it was: 111 kg, with my length of 1.67 m that means I had a BMI of 39.8, which is obese.
I've been getting on the scale every week and I've been losing on average 1 kg per week (recommended for a healthy weight loss is about 0.5 to 1.0 kg per week) I keep track on paper and on a BMI Assistent app on my phone; the latter has a cool graphic to see progress:)
This weekend I've reached my first target, which was to get under 100 kg. I lost 13 kg (which is 28 US pounds or 2 UK stones) and my BMI is down to 35.1.
I'm genuinely having fun with this (and of course I'm also a little proud because I'm managing to taking control of this thing or at least be less obsessed by it, even though it is still a thing). I've set myself a new goal. Will let you know when I get there!
Oh, nearly forgot: I've also been trying to add a 'tea' moment in my afternoon, when I get home from work, but drinking tea is hard! (I used to drink a big mug of milk, mmmm milk) I don't like the (after) taste of actual tea, so I've been trying all sorts of herbal infusions to various succes. So far my favorite is an anis/licorice flavour (Sterrenmunt, DE), but I'm also fond of the Choc-Mint by YogiTea. I only need to learn to remember to drink it when it's hot, I tend to forget I have cup ready.
Any tea tips are welcome!
So my main aim was to have a better approach to food, getting on the scale would simply be a motivation to do that. I set myself a weight-target without an end-date.
As for my diet: breakfast is still the same: orange juice and a slice of bread with cheese, except a spread instead of a slice of cheese. For lunch I eat knäckebröd instead of bread and I massively reduced what I put on them. I don't take seconds for dinner anymore and stopped snacking in the evenings. That's it. With my very regular job this is easy to maintain, but in weekends I do still have to play a lot of mindgames in between meals because I think about food a LOT. To deal with that, I'm trying new things (but still don't have to eat stuff I don't like, like salads;) and I treat getting groceries like an expedition.
For instance I'm trying to discover all the knäckebröd flavours. I do so like having several textures and tastes during a meal and those crackers are perfect for that (I've already found 11 different flavours!)
I'm not really into healthfood, it's more about portion control and to take time preparing the food. I've posted a couple of fun dinner experiments in my Instagram: Coloured pita bread with shawarma
Making pizza from scratch; sticking spaghetti through hot dogs; Pasta with parsnip (hey, look: vegetables!)
I do snack on special occassions (like that fabulous birthday brunch for my mom's partner last month) I just don't want to mindlessly stuff my face anymore but really enjoy the food that I do eat.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting about it now is because I wanted to report that I've reached (and passed!) my first target.
When I got on the scale on March 30th I had no idea what to expect, I even worried whether the scale had a large enough range, that's how clueless I was. I was neither disappointed nor shocked to find out my weight, it was what it was: 111 kg, with my length of 1.67 m that means I had a BMI of 39.8, which is obese.
I've been getting on the scale every week and I've been losing on average 1 kg per week (recommended for a healthy weight loss is about 0.5 to 1.0 kg per week) I keep track on paper and on a BMI Assistent app on my phone; the latter has a cool graphic to see progress:)
This weekend I've reached my first target, which was to get under 100 kg. I lost 13 kg (which is 28 US pounds or 2 UK stones) and my BMI is down to 35.1.
I'm genuinely having fun with this (and of course I'm also a little proud because I'm managing to taking control of this thing or at least be less obsessed by it, even though it is still a thing). I've set myself a new goal. Will let you know when I get there!
Oh, nearly forgot: I've also been trying to add a 'tea' moment in my afternoon, when I get home from work, but drinking tea is hard! (I used to drink a big mug of milk, mmmm milk) I don't like the (after) taste of actual tea, so I've been trying all sorts of herbal infusions to various succes. So far my favorite is an anis/licorice flavour (Sterrenmunt, DE), but I'm also fond of the Choc-Mint by YogiTea. I only need to learn to remember to drink it when it's hot, I tend to forget I have cup ready.
Any tea tips are welcome!