Jewish Musings Mon., Jan. 29

[hollygail]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

And for those of you that stop by to read this thread without posting - you are welcome to do that but you are also welcome to chime in!

[hollygail]

In last week's Torah reading, we heard about the first seven plagues, and in this week's, we read the final three. However, the Torah actually refers to them as "signs and wonders." What do you experience as either/both signs/wonders in your weight loss (or maintenance) journey?

I became somewhat lax after being Lifetime at Goal for a few years. Only one example: I really, really, really enjoy Costco's chocolate frozen (nonfat) yogurt. I find the entire serving too much, so I usually ask for a half serving (which, of course, varies depending on the person who's at the machine...). And how often is "usually"? You got it, as often as I can find myself near a Costco (okay, that's an exaggeration; not necessarily EVERY time I'm in the same neighborhood as a Costco, but frequently). And frankly, if that's the only "treat" I eat in a day, my weight stays well within the range I'm supposed to be in (according to WW). However, if I also indulge in other kinds of treats the same day (or day before or after), the scale shows it to me...

This does not fall into the "wonder" department; it is clearly a "sign" that sometimes I don't pay enough attention to how much of what I'm putting into my mouth...

[gazelle18]

Good morning everyone. DH and I are beginning our journey to India today, so I will not be posting for a couple of days more, at least.

Here is something I find a "wonder." How come some people, like Holly, find that a serving of froyo is "too much"? I have always held in awe people who recognize that an acceptable portion size is not always what the scooper, or server, gives you.

[happysavta]

Shavua Tov, everyone.

Lynne, Happy Travels. How many hours does it take to arrive to India? I imagine you have a rather long flight ahead of you.

Holly, I'm not only in awe of your awareness of portions, but also of your ability to face the scale without a flood of negative feelings sweeping you away. "However, if I also indulge in other kinds of treats the same day (or day before or after), the scale shows it to me." If I even suspect the scale is going to be unkind, I won't even get on. You use it as a tool; I use it to beat myself up. At its most basic level, weight gain means I'm a bad person; weight loss means I'm a good person.

Mid-week, I'm going out to look at condos with a real estate agent. We raised 4 children in our 2 story, 2000 sq foot home. It's nice to have all this open space,but really, it's too big for us. And neither of us is a back-yard person; we never go out there. I'm ready to move on, but DH is pretty reluctant. In 2 weeks, he leaves for China again.

[happysavta]

I've been going to a lot of movies recently. Thumbs way up for "Fences", "Hidden Figures" and "Manchester by the Sea". Great acting in all of them.

Also thumbs up for: "La La Land", "Lion", and "The Founder".

[lee058]

Good afternoon everyone. I've been doing laundry all day, but that's okay: I like that DS and I will have lots of clean things when I'm done. H is feeling somewhat better already; thank goodness for antibiotics! His doctor also gave him some strong cough syrup which is helping a lot. I'm hoping that DS and I will avoid getting sick, especially now that H isn't contagious anymore.

Re today's topic: (Possible TMI) The sign that I pay attention to is digestive distress, even more than what's going on with tight clothes or the numbers on the scale. If I eat greasy foods, I have problems. Since these foods are high in fat, they also have high calories. I can eat moderate amounts of butter, oil, and even some fried foods, but something about really greasy things (probably restaurant oil that isn't fresh) just doesn't agree with me. Avoiding them helps my stomach in more ways than one.

As for sugar and carbs, I also have some problems with them, but not nearly as severe. I haven't been mentally able to tell myself that I need to avoid them too.

Anyway, I need to pay more attention to what I eat and how it affects me.

I'll check back later, in between loads of laundry and moving the car into the garage. We're supposed to have rain and snow tonight and tomorrow, ugh. Have a peaceful rest of the day, Lee

[savtele]

Boker Tov All! Holly, you amaze me! (ok, I'm "wondering" how you do this!)

I've mentioned before that for me, on some things at least, 1 package is 1 serving (Cheetos come instantly to mind!) The 1 serving size pack that fits in my purse, or the party-pack from Costco - doesn't matter. So, IF I buy them, I only buy 1 small bag.

I can certainly see where obesity is a "wonder" in our country! And beyond that even, heart disease and other life-style-related diseases like Type II Diabetes (my brother, who had a massive heart attack on Friday, has been thin all his life) are plagues upon our life-style! & just reading what Frieda had to say, the way we THINK about certain foods, exercises & weight gain/loss - all plagues upon us.

The answer to Mitzrayim: Let my people go! Sounds simple - and yet. There would be so many lifestyle changes involved in this! Public works projects would have to be paid for through the national budget. Every single person would either pay more taxes, or give up slaves in their household! (there seems to be an echo in history!)

And for us also, the answers always sound simple. Making lifestyle changes - never simple!

Heading out - will keep you all informed!

[louise]

I'm going to have to come back to this topic, which looks like a really good one, and ask for input on something else. I just heard from my rabbi that the choir is going to learn an arrangement of Give me your tired your poor (Emma Lazarus via Irving Berlin) tomorrow night. I have always winced at "wretched refuse" (the wretched refuse of your teeming shore). Looking for suggestions to replace these words. Maybe "blessed" for "wretched", but then what?

[savtele]

Update on Ingo (my brother) - he is slowly being awakened from medically induced coma. The hospital is not allowing any visitors except his wife. He is confused (this is amazing good news!) We had not known how long his brain was O2 deprived, so the fact that he is "confused" instead of "vegetative" is cause for celebration!

[louise]

It's something of a wonder when I am willing to pay attention to the signs! But that is exactly what I'm doing about the exercise/pain connection. Also, starting tomorrow I will have 9 days of delivered food - 1200 calories, low in sugar, all kosher.

[peachymom1]

My jeans were wearing out, so I just bought two new pairs. They're the same size and manufacturer as the old ones, but they're a little more snug. OK, I knew I'd gained a little, but this made me think about it. I could have just rationalized that new clothes are always stiffer at first, blah-blah-blah, but instead, I got out the hand mirror and looked at myself from the back. Can't deny it anymore -- it's time to start losing again. Not even my DD28's upcoming wedding were enough to motivate me, but actually SEEING myself did. That's a sign AND a wonder to me!

So last night I went to the gym and did my cardio and weight training, and today I feel great. When DH is done with the project he's working on, we're going to the gym together. I've also been examining some of what I'm eating for breakfast and lunch, and I'm going to make some changes there too.

It's so darn easy to slip into denial, dagnabbit! But I just can't keep mistreating my body and thinking I can get away with it forever.

Holly, how's the house stuff going? And is your sister OK? I remember she lives in mudslide country.