That's what the hospital weight loss program turned out to be. The program is based on HMR meal replacements, which are shelf stable packaged foods similar to Nutrisystem. I would have done the 3 entrees/2 shakes/5 cups of fruits/veggies a day. I would have gone to one meeting a week, which was 90 minutes long but that I had to leave 10 minutes early to pick up Luke from daycare. And I'm sure I'd have lost weight on the program.
But it just didn't feel right. More on that in a minute.
Have you ever had shelf stable entrees? They are, without a doubt, one of the yuckiest things I've ever eaten. I couldn't imagine eating three of those entrees a day for three months. I knew when I called the hospital and asked about the program that meal replacements were involved, but I didn't realize it was the backbone of the whole deal. I hoped it might be like LA Weight Loss's shakes, where you could optionally substitute a shake for a meal, or you'd do 3 meals a day and 2 shakes a day. But no. It's expensive Non Food that they built the program around.
I'm sure it works for a lot of people. But it's not for me.
The not feeling right part started with the nurse who did the informational meeting. She was not obese by any means, but she seriously has more weight to lose than I do! That was the first strike.
At one point in the presentation she asked the group (there were 4 other people) why they wanted to lose weight, and she completely ignored me. Just listened to the other 4, and went right along as if I wasn't even in the room, as if someone who wants to lose "only" 20 pounds isn't worthy of her time. Strike two.
After the meeting was over, I explained that I would have to leave the weekly meeting 10 minutes early each week, and they treated me like I was nuts. "Can't you have someone else pick up your son?" "Can't you do the 6 p.m. class?" Why, no, I've already thought of those options and if they WERE options, I wouldn't be asking to leave 10 minutes early. I'm kind of busting their chops on this issue, because it wasn't that big a deal. It just added to my overall icky feeling about the whole thing. So, strike three, they were out.
I came back to the office afterwards and talked with Mark about it. He had done Nutrisystem last year and hated it. I told him what I wanted--LA Weight Loss back--and he said, why don't you just create your own program and follow it?
Well, yeah, easy to say. Not so easy to implement.
But I am definitely in the "pre-planning" stage of making this happen, and I feel the momentum building toward implementation.
Because I have got to get this weight off in the next few months.
Because I have signed up to (wait for it) run a full marathon in April 2010.
Yeah, I know, I know, I already said ages ago I was going to run the marathon in Nashville next year. But with everything going on with my dad & with our business, it wasn't an option to plan an out of town trip that far in the future.
So in October, right after I ran the Evansville Half Marathon, I was given a huge gift. I learned that Evansville is hosting its first ever full marathon on April 11, 2010, which is 2 days before I turn 40. Perfect timing. The organizers of the race are running a training program with long runs on Saturdays--bonus!
No excuses, I'm doing this marathon next year.
I printed the running schedule off today. I'm resolved to do this thing, but right now I'm completely freaking intimidated. The PRE-TRAIN schedule says I should be running 5 days a week for a total of 21 miles a week for at least a month before the training starts in December. Holy crap! That's more miles than I've ever run in my life.
Which I guess is the point, eh?
I always do my best and accomplish great things when I have a goal. I not only have a goal, I will have help to get there thanks to the Saturday training runs. And I know that I will always, thankfully, have my blog friends for support and accountability.
Thanks, guys, for sticking with me during these dark days. I can feel the light coming. Hopefully I'll be lighter on the scale soon, too.
11 comments:
Go you! That's awesome that there will be a marathon right there for you!
So glad to hear you've found something to shoot for.
MCM Mama
Help me remember WHAT LA did for you -
put you on a scale once a week?
planned food for you?
tracked exercise?
I just can't remember.
I was trying to think of what I would do here - if I wanted to work through someone - but still eat real food.
and I thought of the women's center through one of the hospitals. Low membership fee and there is an RN available to do those kinds of things one on one.
I also thought about the nutritionalist available through the women's center and through the hospital. there might be things available there.
I also wonder what might be available through the running groups in your area. My brother eats macro and runs several fulls (each year) and now is doing tri's too. He really never goes out of training. There are all kinds of things available through those groups.
A personal trainer might also be an option. You might not need or want to work out with one. But you might find the type of support that you are looking for through a PT affiliated with your gym.
It might be that you have to REALLY change what you are asking for. You might NOT want to ask for a weight loss group any more.
You might need to call around and say that you have already lost X lbs and have been running for a while. And that you want to progress to fulls and drop 20 more pounds (or whatever it is) in the process. And that you want to eat REAL food.
because as you think about it - if you had said that to the group you just attended - they would have known right off that they were not a good fit for you. Because it doesn't sound like they are geared for training/running/food. And if you are going to sit through a meeting - THAT is the stuff that you are going to want to hear - probably not the ABC stuff again.
sorry to hear that it wasnt what you expected it to be. I know I feel lost sometimes and wish LAWL was back myself even though they screwed me out of so much money by closing down. realistically, that kind of food will help you lose weight, but yo ucant eat it forever (or afford it forever), and we all know that doesnt lead to permanent weight loss. it sounds like you made the right choice for you. you will find whats right out there and even if it is "your own plan", then at least you have something that you feel comfortable with and one that you can stick with.
I was so excited for you to hear that you will have a marathon nearby, and also a training program! I'll bet you might meet somebody in the training program that would like to be an accountability partner with you.
Gah! I hate it when things don't go like I want them to! But you are right for listening to your instinct and knowing it wasn't the right fit.
I'm so proud (and in awe) that you are going to do the Marathon next April - you are going to do great!!
Hey Laura,
I'm pulling for you. You can do the running thing, just settle on some plan that you can keep (e.g., 4x/week) and build up to what you need. Sorry about your LAWL. It's hard when something has worked and it's not there any more. I know you've "done" WW. I'll just say that they've vastly improved their online system over the past 6 months. I do meetings and use the online resources too. The monthly pass is the lest expensive option.
Tish
I use Medifast shakes when I want to kickstart weightloss sometimes. They are easy, taste better than any other shakes I have had, and they have only 100 calories each. You can go to their website and order them and they come pretty fast. Maybe you could find a TOPS group to go to in your area. They are kind of fun, just weigh-in and have a short meeting on a weekly basis. If you have never heard of them they have a website too. Goals are great and I always admire your ability to set them and follow through so I know you will be do this. hang in there!!
Good for you for planning to do the Marathon...after seeing the people doing it last week in NYC, I have HUGE respect for taking on that challenge. :-)
And, not to be a broken record here, but I really like the Crack thing for a "real food" eating plan... ;-)
how goes life this week?
Laura darling - it has been 12 days - how goes it?
I think I am especially AWARE when YOU (in particular) don't post because you disappeared for such a long time - the last time.
And because you have so many hard things going on and you are entering your "weather/sun" hard time of year and I am very aware of it.
I think of you every day - and hope things are EVEN.
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