Planning Power

April 11, 2011

First, I must tell you all how overwhelmed I was with the comments left on my latest post about my “freedom week” food choices. I felt so vulnerable writing about it. I was disgusted with myself and was feeling quite down. It’s amazing that being so honest about the struggle not only is a way to ‘fess up to the issues, but to also face them head on. It never does anyone good to lie to themselves.

Yesterday, I sat down and created a spreadsheet (yes, I am a flag-waving-geek). Trainer Rob had asked if I could commit to 8 weeks of clean eating. Sticking to a regimen and not eating out. I hesitated because 8 weeks is a long time! He swiftly reminded me that I just trained for and completed the half marathon, so it should be easy to put the clamp down on my food. Other than Fitbloggin in May, I’m hoping I can stick to the no-eating-out thing. That should make for a happy scale and a happy wallet! So, off I typed out all the morsels of food I’d eat for the week.

I don't typically share my food, and this post is why: http://skinnyemmie.com/2011/03/food-2/. Do your own program, and eat what works for you!

Throughout the Twitter community I’ve seen all kinds of mentions about #7daychip. I looked at it late last week when I felt myself falling into a deep-binge-coma and decided that it could really help me. #7daychip (details) is a support tool started by @bradgansberg to encourage controlled eating. It doesn’t matter what eating plan you’re on, you define your own measure of success for the day. The goal is to make it through 7 days straight of controlled eating. Then, Brad will give you a little #7daychip certificate and you can pat yourself on the back. From there, you can work again on another 7 consecutive days. Or you can go for the #30daychip and even the #100daychip, which my blend Kenz at AllTheWeigh just hit!

I’m happy to say I have made it through day 1. I consulted my spreadsheet, prepared the food in advance, and ate when I was supposed to. I also drank at least a gallon and a half of water- I was soooo thirsty after a week of sodium overload. As a result, I kid you not, I think I’ve been to the restroom 25 times today. My hands are super dry from washing them so much.

I also made it to the gym this morning, which felt like home. Funny, right? I am still having some pretty major pain in my left foot that has lingered since the half, so I’m off to the podiatrist again in the morning to make sure nothing is seriously wrong.

What do you all do to get yourself back on track with food? How do you snap out of your overeating ways? I’m sure everyone would love to hear your tips!

Tagged as: 7daychip, binge, food, planning

  • http://biglifelittleblog.blogspot.com Emily

    I am so proud of you and so so so motivated by you! I can’t believe you only let your uncontrolled eating take over for a week. Maybe I need to follow your lead and put my own eating plan into place and work towards a 7daychip

  • http://www.biggirlbombshell.com Jules – Big Girl Bombshell

    My eating plan, well it is about having a plan. I am working on mine now.

  • http://www.lessbrittmorelife.com Brittany

    Yay Emmie! So proud of you :) I LOVE the #7daychip community! I need to get back on with that, once things settle down of sorts!

  • http://www.anna-walker.blogspot.com Anna Walker

    I don’t think I could do seven days at this point…but I can start at one and work my way up!

  • http://whosmywitness.blogspot.com Katie

    I write down everything I eat. Helps me stay honest and keeps me in control when I feel like mindless eating. I am interested in doing the #7day chip too.

  • http://www.lemonadelife.com Allison Blass

    I never really could just “hope” that I was eating better. My weight has barely budged in a year by doing that. So I started counting calories. No meal planning involved, but lots of writing things down and looking at the totals and what I’m doing. Last week I lost 2 lbs and the week before 1.5 lbs. Between that, exercising, eating clean and drinking water, I’m hoping to get down to 160 lbs. by the end of the year. I’m at 198 right now.

  • Rachel

    Hey Emmie,
    I’ve been reading your blog for months now, but this post really inspired me to comment. I’m currently weighing in at 333lbs so I really feel like I can relate to your current struggles. I have such a hard time making it through days without cheating on my “diet”. With pals who are skinny and parents who like to cook, it can be quite a struggle. I love how you used a spreadsheet to plan out your week. I think I’ll use this idea to help me in the next few weeks as I try to get control of my crazy eating habits. Best of luck as you continue on your journey!
    Rachel

  • http://fatandsassyem.wordpress.com/ Em

    Planning is absolutely key for me. If I don’t figure out what I’m eating ahead of time, I go straight for candy when I get hungry. However, I don’t have a nifty little spreadsheet like yours. I’m an excel freak and think it’s awesome.

  • May

    I love your blog as you can probably tell I come here often lol. I weigh 190 and and need to lose 70. My problem is I don’t know how to eat.. I know crazy, but it’s the truth. I’m actually going to use your food plan if that’s ok and not too weird. Good luck!

  • http://adirtymartinikindofgirl.blogspot.com/ missmarisol

    I am on WW and use their iphone app to track my food. The weeks when I am successful is when I have tracked everything I consume. When I don’t… well let’s not get into that one.

    You are a constant source of inspiration and I know that you will do great!

  • http://www.plusathletic.com Char

    I use the MyFitnessPal app on my iPhone – it lets me track what I eat, my exercise, water consumption and goals. I plan our dinners as a family but really should plan my own breakfasts and lunches, too.

  • http://gettinghealthy-myblog.blogspot.com Debbie

    The thing that gets me back on track is starting right with breakfast, and then taking each meal & snack as it comes that day and trying to stay on track. If I’m not perfect that 1st day, or 2nd day, or however many days it takes, I still start the very next morning out right & do my best.

    The other thing is something you are already doing, I drink a lot of water. I just bought 2 new water bottles, one holds 32 oz, and the other holds 2.2 liters. I carry water with me all day long and I cut out pop, even diet pop. I had to do that, because when I drink diet pop, I don’t drink enough water.

  • http://www.bellainlapbandland.com Bella

    I’m glad you’re doing the #7daychip. I made it through the #30daychip, and in fact all the way to 41 days and then yesterday I sort of fell off. But I’m right back on. The things that get me through are planning and organizing. And making sure that I’m accountable to someone besides myself.

  • http://runningfromthecouch.com runningfromthecouch

    I love it when you talk about what honesty does for you! You go,girl!Now I think I want to try #7daychip!

  • http://alltheweigh2009.blogspot.com Kenz @ All The Weigh

    I’ve been letting the honesty flow on my blog since day one, and I’ve changed in some pretty major ways. You’re one of my favorite blends because you share so openly.

    love the #7daychip group too, and I’m on day 104 or so..I’ll be with @BradGansberg this weekend! :)

    I can’t wait to see you get your first chip…<3

  • http://www.discoveringmyinnerprincess.blogspot.com Princess J

    Thanks for the info on #7daychip. I have been wondering, but I assumed it was something else and remained ignorant. I may have to give it a try. I should.

  • http://www.411gurl.blogspot.com 411 Gurl

    I have my first ever appointment with a podiatrist next Tuesday and I’m so worked up. I have no idea what to expect and I hate people looking at my feet… I know he’s a professional but… uggh.

  • http://www.discoveringmyinnerprincess.blogspot.com Princess J

    I just have to chuckle about ground beef and oatmeal together after looking at your food plan closer. Yum?

    • http://skinnyemmie.com Skinny Emmie

      I wondered who was going to bring that up! I eat them separately, not mixed up or anything. Although today I swapped my oatmeal lunch carb with brown rice and mixed it up.

  • lori

    Emmie! your blog rocks. I tried to do the stick eating plan of clean eating but I’m obviously not ready for it because I kept cheating!. I heard some talk about the junkfood diet and the person that did it was trying to prove a point that counting calories is helpful. Please realize I’m not on the Junkfood diet!! :) BUT, reading about it clicked with me to just start counting calories again. I did this a few years ago and lost over a hundred pounds but stopped doing it. I’m trying not to stress it and I’m allowing some treats. For now, i’m having to incorporate some things I like that don’t require alot of planning, like heathly choice meals. If it gets me back in the swing of losing weight (like it has so far), I will keep working toward the eating clean program. I do the exercises from the 12 week plan with lee lebrada of bodybuilding.com and I love them. I just started that again this week. I have to modifiy many of them though simply because I don’t have the equipment. Also, bodybuilding.com has been a great emotional support for me too. I’m going to check out the 7 day chip!

    • lori

      btw: I meant “strick” eating plan.

  • http://mythunderthighs.com Elisha

    I’m with you in the #7daychip group. I seem to have a lot of Day 1s, but at least I keep working on it, right? There’s something to be said about having a goal that feel achievable, you know? 7 days? That’s nothing! I can do that!

    Good job, and keep going.

  • http://prjctskinnyjeans.blogspot.com Lali

    Thanks for the information on the 7 day chip. I think I’m going to give it a try too. For the moment what has helped take a step back when binging is blogging. :-) Thanks for this post.

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