So three weeks into this new lifestyle and the improvements are massive! I have dropped 11.8 pounds, my BMI is down 1.4, my pants fit nice and I can get through a whole personal training session without having to stop in the middle of a set to recoup. These things are great and really help to keep me motivated, but there are still hard days.
Yesterday was potluck day at work (usually happens once a quarter). Those dreaded potlucks filled with so many yummy and fattening foods. They were devised with the sole intent to torment people trying to stick to healthy eating habits!
I was prepared though and brought something to share and something for myself. I had a salad with chicken and then reviewed the two tables of food. Most of it consisted of pasta, bread, white potatoes and desserts (chocolate cake, red velvet cookies, etc). All of which are on my not to eat list this month. So I found a chicken and black bean soup someone made and some fresh berries and added that to my lunch (it was a pitiful 180 calories before I did this). I ate, mingled and when temptation got strong, I cleaned up my dishes and went back to my desk. Those items would have tasted great, but I am trying to set new habits for myself and it is way too early in the game to allow a little cheat here and there.
Not that I don't have splurges mind you. My current one is a bit cheesy, but I really like it and look forward to it. So on Fridays (which is tomorrow, yay!), I have a Chai Tea Latte. It is made from a Keurig Vue cup and only has 60 calories, but I am not drinking any sweeteners so this is a treat. I love the taste and for now it works. Once I am more confident in my meal planning, I can add in some more things; for instance, bread in some form will reappear in my diet (but not after lunch).
So that is me this week. Super Bowl Sunday is quickly approaching and I am looking to avoid any fumbles in my eating plans that day (I had to go for a football pun!).
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Changing My Shopping Habits
I remember watching a presentation on PBS (you know all the cool kids watch PBS, right?) where author Michael Pollan was talking about his book, The Omnivore's Dilemma. He talked about how bad processed food is and that when he goes to the grocery store he only shops the perimeter of the store because that is where the fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy are located. I can remember that I thought it was a cool idea, but totally unrealistic. How could you not have cereal, pasta, soda and Easy Mac (well, I could avoid that, but I know people that love it)?
Today, I am starting my third week of healthy eating and guess what! I am shopping just the perimeter of the store. I buy just vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy (Greek yogurt and cheese) and eggs. Lots of eggs. Today, I bought two dozen eggs for this week. Now, you are probably thinking that I am going to drop dead of a heart attack in a day or two, but I eat primarily egg whites and very few yolks. Last week, I made a dozen frittatas which contained 8 egg whites and two egg yolks and they served as my lunches at work.
I didn't think I could do it, but I can. I can make healthy, filling and tasty meals without adding in a ton of processed food. Instead of mayonnaise, I used a teaspoon of olive oil and two tablespoons of lemon juice to mix up my tuna salad. It tastes great! One thing that this type of lifestyle is that it does require effort. Hamburger Helper is easy, fast food is easy, but real food takes a bit more effort. So how do I deal?
I meal plan on Saturday so I have a game plan for Sunday. Then after church, I go to the grocery store with list in hand and buy everything I need for the week. As a single gal, I can keep it down to around $70 a week. Then I go home and the work begins. I wash, chop and bag my veggies that will go in salads. I cook or roast veggies and bag those for lunches and dinners. Then I season and cook my meat. This makes the rest of the week so much easier. I have planned each of my days and I know what I need to eat and all I have to do is grab it and go. It took more effort on Sunday, but it pays off later and helps prevent me from making "convenience decisions" when it comes to eating.
Today, I am starting my third week of healthy eating and guess what! I am shopping just the perimeter of the store. I buy just vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy (Greek yogurt and cheese) and eggs. Lots of eggs. Today, I bought two dozen eggs for this week. Now, you are probably thinking that I am going to drop dead of a heart attack in a day or two, but I eat primarily egg whites and very few yolks. Last week, I made a dozen frittatas which contained 8 egg whites and two egg yolks and they served as my lunches at work.
I didn't think I could do it, but I can. I can make healthy, filling and tasty meals without adding in a ton of processed food. Instead of mayonnaise, I used a teaspoon of olive oil and two tablespoons of lemon juice to mix up my tuna salad. It tastes great! One thing that this type of lifestyle is that it does require effort. Hamburger Helper is easy, fast food is easy, but real food takes a bit more effort. So how do I deal?
I meal plan on Saturday so I have a game plan for Sunday. Then after church, I go to the grocery store with list in hand and buy everything I need for the week. As a single gal, I can keep it down to around $70 a week. Then I go home and the work begins. I wash, chop and bag my veggies that will go in salads. I cook or roast veggies and bag those for lunches and dinners. Then I season and cook my meat. This makes the rest of the week so much easier. I have planned each of my days and I know what I need to eat and all I have to do is grab it and go. It took more effort on Sunday, but it pays off later and helps prevent me from making "convenience decisions" when it comes to eating.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Promises I Made to Myself
I promised myself I would start eating better. This is how I started.
People make promises to themselves every day.
"Today, I will go to the gym."
"I will not eat fast food."
"I will not eat an entire pint of Ben 'n Jerry's in one sitting."
The list goes on. The problem is that we so often break our promises. I wrote "Do NOT eat fast food" on a sticky note and posted it in my car. As I sat and ate my Double Quarter Pounder, I would look at the note and tell myself, "next time". At any given time in the last 6 months, you could have found 2-3 empty fast food bags from 3 different places. I am sick of breaking promises! I finally had everything align, my desire for change, my willingness to commit and the internal drive to achieve success.
Today marks two weeks since I last ate fast food. Some days it was a challenge because (1) I am on the road a lot and fast food is convenient and (2) I really love french fries. As a child, I wanted french fries for breakfast (as an adult I totally did that on weekends). The problem is that french fries and the burger that most often accompanies it really like me too. They succeeded in adding nearly 15 lbs to my frame in four months. French fries are not worth that, so they had to go.
Ten months ago, I stopped drinking soda and even though I still occasionally dream about having one, my life is better off without it. I am down to 1/2 to 1 cup of black coffee and up to 60-80 ounces of water a day. I had no idea water could make you feel so good! I thought reducing my caffeine intake would be brutal (10 months ago with soda, it was), but dropping from 5-6 cups of coffee with creamer has been a breeze.
People make promises to themselves every day.
"Today, I will go to the gym."
"I will not eat fast food."
"I will not eat an entire pint of Ben 'n Jerry's in one sitting."
The list goes on. The problem is that we so often break our promises. I wrote "Do NOT eat fast food" on a sticky note and posted it in my car. As I sat and ate my Double Quarter Pounder, I would look at the note and tell myself, "next time". At any given time in the last 6 months, you could have found 2-3 empty fast food bags from 3 different places. I am sick of breaking promises! I finally had everything align, my desire for change, my willingness to commit and the internal drive to achieve success.
Today marks two weeks since I last ate fast food. Some days it was a challenge because (1) I am on the road a lot and fast food is convenient and (2) I really love french fries. As a child, I wanted french fries for breakfast (as an adult I totally did that on weekends). The problem is that french fries and the burger that most often accompanies it really like me too. They succeeded in adding nearly 15 lbs to my frame in four months. French fries are not worth that, so they had to go.
Ten months ago, I stopped drinking soda and even though I still occasionally dream about having one, my life is better off without it. I am down to 1/2 to 1 cup of black coffee and up to 60-80 ounces of water a day. I had no idea water could make you feel so good! I thought reducing my caffeine intake would be brutal (10 months ago with soda, it was), but dropping from 5-6 cups of coffee with creamer has been a breeze.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Another Blog Attempt
This is not my first blog.
It is in fact my fourth blog. My first blog chronicled my trip from Virginia to Washington and then moped along for about another year and was finally put down. The second one was all about book and movie reviews. I think it last three months. Then came blog number three. That was on getting my finances in order and becoming a fiscally responsible person, which lasted maybe two weeks. So if we look at my past blogging history, this one here will be DOA within a week.
But this blog is not about things I have talked about in the past. This one is about getting healthy. Life in the fat lane basically sucks and I want to change that. I have forums I post in on Lose It! (a fabulous app for tracking just about everything one needs to track when trying to get healthy) to get motivation. This place is more about accountability to myself. Promises I need to remember, truths I need to hear and a place to reflect on achievements along the way.
So this is me: 5ft 2 1/2 in and 240lbs
It is in fact my fourth blog. My first blog chronicled my trip from Virginia to Washington and then moped along for about another year and was finally put down. The second one was all about book and movie reviews. I think it last three months. Then came blog number three. That was on getting my finances in order and becoming a fiscally responsible person, which lasted maybe two weeks. So if we look at my past blogging history, this one here will be DOA within a week.
But this blog is not about things I have talked about in the past. This one is about getting healthy. Life in the fat lane basically sucks and I want to change that. I have forums I post in on Lose It! (a fabulous app for tracking just about everything one needs to track when trying to get healthy) to get motivation. This place is more about accountability to myself. Promises I need to remember, truths I need to hear and a place to reflect on achievements along the way.
So this is me: 5ft 2 1/2 in and 240lbs
How am I going to get healthy? Going to the gym four or more times a week (two of which I work out with a personal trainer), eat right (I will get into what that is another day) and stay focused. The last one is key. It is why all my other blogs failed. I didn't keep my attention on them because they weren't that important. This is critical for me and I cannot let this get swept to the side.
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