Visualizing the Goal

Recently, my sister has turned me on to this web phenomenon called Pinterest.  Pretty cool little site with so many ideas on just about anything you can imagine, and it's a HUGE time sucker, but I love it.  I've found lots of yummy things to eat - but I haven't made any yet.  I've found clever sayings to remind myself I can laugh at a joke.  I've also found tons of fun things to make, most of which I haven't found the motivation to make, but there was one thing that struck me.  My sister first showed it to me and I thought "gee, why didn't I think of that?"  Such a simple idea and when it helps you to SEE things, this is a great idea for ME. 

This weight loss thing is such a hard thing for me to keep steady with.  I managed to lose 8 pounds this past month, but I can't FEEL it and you certainly can't SEE it, because, I'll be honest, I'm just too overweight.  At this point, I'm ready to try anything to help me SEE it. I decided to try this neat little idea that my sister sent me a link to.  (the site my sister sent me)

The idea is truly simple. 

Take two jars, vases or glasses work too, and a bunch of decorative marbles.  The marbles represent the pounds you would like to lose.  You place the goal amount in one and move them over to the other as each pound is achieved.  Simple.  Easy to visualize.  Let's see if this helps keep me on this trail.

 

FIZZZZZ....

Soda.

There's just something about the hiss when opening a bottle of soda.  The pop when you snap open a can.  The fizz as it fills the cup with those sparkling little bubbles of carbonation.  The tickle on your nose as you take that first sip.  Brilliance.  I wish I'd imagined it and marketed it.  Instead, I'm part of the statistic. 

"Research shows that over the last 30 years Americans consumed 278 more calories per day [by drinking soda]..."  (New Research Shows Direct Link Between Soda and Obesity)

When one works for a sparkling beverage company, that number of calories goes up exponentially.  Especially when there is a free soda fountain in their break room and when one is addicted to the effervescent liquid it is impossible to pass that fountain.  I stop.  I fill my glass with ice.  I fight the urge but there's an invisible force that pulls my hand, then body, over to the fountain machine.  I tell myself, I'll just push the water button.  I set the glass under the nozzle.  I decide.  I pause a moment. 
Maybe.
This time I'll pick water. 
This time I'll overcome the urge. 
I cringe at first as I watch the brown cap of bubbles creep up to the top of my glass.
Then I dunk my nose into my glass. 
Aaaaaaaaaaah. 

CRAP.  I did it again.  I let it beat me.


Is this how a cigarette smoker feels? Is this how an alcoholic feels?
ARGH!

I once went a complete year without a single soda.  It boggles my mind to even imagine it now.  I don't know how I did it.  I don't know if, perhaps, it was the little smiley face stickers my sister added to my bathroom mirror each day I went without one or if it was just that I had a little more will power during that year.  I certainly was less stressed during that period of time, is that the magic key?

 

I'm not sure what it is.  All I know is, I have to get a handle on this again.  I KNOW this is what is keeping me from losing weight.  Not only is there too much sugar, because face it, I'm NOT drinking the DIET soda, eww, but there is also the sodium.  I can't afford that in my life.  At this point my blood pressure is high and my sugar levels are border line.  I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.  That something is quit drinking soda.  It's obvious that I can't just drink one a day.  I've tried that.  I fail.  I have to go off this thing cold turkey.  

Wish me luck.

 

Popcorn = Yummyness

Popcorn.

It's a snack I've always seemed to have a love for.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm definitely not a fan of the hulls that get stuck in my teeth.  The ones you still find the following day, even after you've brushed your teeth.  But I really like popcorn.

I love how when you walk into the movie theater and that warm wonderful smell of movie popcorn floats about you.  I can already taste it before I've even walked past the usher that takes my ticket.  I can hear it popping and I can barely contain my excitement when the bored teenager behind the counter finally asks me what I'd like to have.  "A small popcorn and a large soda, please."

As soon as the words have left my mouth, I know it's a bad idea.  Movie popcorn never tastes as good as it smells.  I should know this by now, but there's something in my brain that turns off and is CONVINCED that this time will be different.  I also know this is a bad idea because that soda is too dang big.  I should not be drinking a soda in the first place, but a LARGE? What was I thinking?   I know what I was thinking.  I was thinking that my popcorn was going to be super salty and that I would NEED that much soda to keep from having my mouth turn into some strange unnamed desert.  Soon, with my now "free upgrade to medium popcorn because I'm a Stubz card member" popcorn in my hand, I march over to the butter faucet and let it pour.  Seriously.  They don't even try to hide the fact that you are dousing your popcorn with butter flavored oil.  I snag my handful of napkins and find my way to my assigned theater.

Once seated, I settle in and dig my hand into the bag and shove as many pieces I can hold in my mouth.  "mmf, blah, weally? Whey-a ith my thoda?"  Suddenly, I'm reminded, no matter how fresh it is, it always tastes stale, soggy and far too salty.  I wipe my oil slicked hand, fumble for my soda and think, "I should not eat this," as I scoop up another handful.  *sigh*

Popcorn.
I've always liked the popcorn that comes out of the home air pop popcorn machines with melted butter on top.  I'll even eat it if it's melted margarine on top.  Also, I've always thought that the microwave buttered popcorn was a good second best to air popped.  But naked air popped or naked microwave popcorn? No way.
All the fitness magazines, weight loss programs, and healthy eating blogs encourage eating plain popcorn as a good snack.  It has all these great vitamins and lots of fiber.  Lots of fiber.  Yeah, that's why it tastes like eating cardboard.  I just couldn't bring myself to get excited about plain popcorn.
Until...
my sister decided to pop some popcorn on the stove.  She dished some out for me.

Suddenly, I couldn't believe how good popcorn tasted!  Plain!  The freshness of every kernel as it crackles as I crunch.  The wonderful fresh popcorn smell that I look forward to when going to the movies.  It melts on my tongue as I devour the whole bowl.  I can't stop eating it!!! And I don't have to keep a stack of napkins OR a 2Liter size cup of soda on hand!  This plain popcorn is perfect to eat while plunking away at my keyboard.  Addictive it is!  I just can't stop!

Thanks to my sister, I now have a low-fat, low-calorie snack to eat that I actually LOOK FORWARD to and don't feel cheated in the least!