Well, I've done pretty well the last couple of days. We've eaten dinner at home all week. I can't say that I've stopped drinking entirely, but I've cut back substantially. I've been walking everywhere--to both my jobs, up to campus, strolling downtown with coffee. At least once a day, I've walked the mile or so to and from my house to Lawrence's lovely downtown. I figure, if I can't bring myself to run, at least I can incorporate as much walking as possible. And I've been doing my crunches and plank at home, too, with some sun salutations thrown in for good measure.
Cooper's belt is already a little loose at its regular notch, go figure. Why is weight loss so much easier for men?? I haven't weighed myself in a couple weeks. I'm dreading the result. I think I'll take another week of solidly eating good food and walking everywhere before I face the truth.
My friend has been doing South Beach for the last three weeks. She's lost about 8 pounds, looks great, feels good and she's sticking with it really well. I think that's the benefit of doing an established diet, rather then just "eating good and exercising." But we'll see. South Beach is designed to promote instant weight loss, whereas I'm looking for a more long-term establishment of healthy habits.
With that in mind, I've been thinking a little bit about my long-term health goals...
1. Lose 20 lbs. 30 would be great, but I'm in no rush. If I lose 20 lbs, it will help me to achieve some other weight-loss goals, including...
2. Fitting into my closet-full of size 4 pants, and being able to wear my small-medium button up shirts without looking like I'm preparing for a strip-tease.
3. Losing that back roll. This is my problem area--my stomach ain't bad, my legs are fine, I'm even okay with the size of my butt, but I have this back fat that widens my profile and makes my bras incredibly uncomfortable.
4. Get into a running routine. This is the hardest because it requires the real motivation and physical commitment. I really want to do it, and ideally participate in some 5K's and half-marathons. But this is dependent on weather, on my work schedule, on my laziness, on a million other excuses I have primed and ready to use at a moment's notice.
5. Yoga and meditation. Mental strength to supplement the physical. It's essential to my idea of healthy.
6. Lastly, I want to FEEL GOOD. I just want to put something on, the FIRST thing I come across in my closet that looks cute, and like the way I look in it. I want to have energy, exude confidence and simply feel good.
Today's breakfast was BOMB, by the way. I would have taken a picture, but it was gone way to fast. Chocolate Banana Vegan Shake FTW. Recipe can be found HERE.
February 08, 2013
February 05, 2013
the wagon
... this weekend, I fell off it. But, never fear, I jumped right back on it yesterday afternoon, once the hangover subsided, and I'm ready to do better than last week.
A lot of people I know are doing the no carb thing with pretty great success. I thought about going back on South Beach, but after a quick look through the recipes, I remembered why I couldn't stick with it in the first place: who can afford to eat meat every single night? Chicken followed by salmon followed by flank steak, then tilapia. The idea is great, but I'm 24 and my partner's job right now is literally "student." Plus, I really like to think that the best way to eat, and live, is in moderation, and I would like to follow that idea.
So here's Kelly's approach:
-Carbs are okay as long as they're fiber rich (wheat bread, pastas)
-Salad once a day
-Sodium=bloating, so my salt intake needs to be in check
-No processed sugar, only the natural goodness that comes from fruit
-Finally, none of that chemical shit. No soda, especially not diet soda, no preservatives.
-Booze TWICE a week. This doesn't mean I get to get hammered twice a week. That means I get a glass (maaaaybe two) of wine, or a beer on those special days.
-Situps and plank twice a day
Some of these are easier to stick with than others. The chemical one is probably the most challenging, because what doesn't have that shit in it these days? Oh hell, let's be real, the booze one is going to be the worst, but I think it's also the most important. Working in a restaurant takes its toll on you physically-you're more prone to eat like crap, drink a lot, smoke cigarettes, stay up late, etc.
Today's inspiration:
A lot of people I know are doing the no carb thing with pretty great success. I thought about going back on South Beach, but after a quick look through the recipes, I remembered why I couldn't stick with it in the first place: who can afford to eat meat every single night? Chicken followed by salmon followed by flank steak, then tilapia. The idea is great, but I'm 24 and my partner's job right now is literally "student." Plus, I really like to think that the best way to eat, and live, is in moderation, and I would like to follow that idea.
So here's Kelly's approach:
-Carbs are okay as long as they're fiber rich (wheat bread, pastas)
-Salad once a day
-Sodium=bloating, so my salt intake needs to be in check
-No processed sugar, only the natural goodness that comes from fruit
-Finally, none of that chemical shit. No soda, especially not diet soda, no preservatives.
-Booze TWICE a week. This doesn't mean I get to get hammered twice a week. That means I get a glass (maaaaybe two) of wine, or a beer on those special days.
-Situps and plank twice a day
Some of these are easier to stick with than others. The chemical one is probably the most challenging, because what doesn't have that shit in it these days? Oh hell, let's be real, the booze one is going to be the worst, but I think it's also the most important. Working in a restaurant takes its toll on you physically-you're more prone to eat like crap, drink a lot, smoke cigarettes, stay up late, etc.
Today's inspiration:
February 01, 2013
good mornin', Day One
Looking back on old posts from years ago, I am reminded that dieting is hard. I've tried on and off to lose weight, but when I really think critically at my efforts, I don't really think I was deeply motivated. I thought about deleting my past sporadic posts about dieting, because it makes me look flaky, then I thought... wait, I am flaky. Best to acknowledge it, accept it and work on it.
They say (and when I say "they," I mean the voice-over on Special K commercials) that if you make one smart eating decision, it will make your next meal choice easier. Eating well begets eating well. The problem with dieting is that we are faced with numerous meal choices daily, and I think that is where I get tripped up. I can eat a good breakfast and force my way through a salad for lunch, but by 5PM, I'm ready to throw in the towel, pour myself a glass of wine and pop in a frozen pizza. Most obvious statement ever: diets are about self control, of which I obviously have very little. This is going to be about stick-with-it-ness. I keep saying that this is about the wedding (TBD in 2014), but it's not. I really do want to lead a healthy lifestyle. I want to be one of those annoyingly fit people who wake up every morning refreshed and calm (instead of reeking of booze and and wrought with self-loathing, which has been known to happen to me weekly). I want to have energy and motivation and I think diet and exercise is the best way to obtain these traits.
This morning I've done a few calculations... I could lose 22 lbs by July 5 if I eat 1,502 calories a day. Now, that is 200 more than I usually try to consume, but I have a hunch that if I cut out the booze, sugar and anything processed (which I avoid anyway), I could easily shed the weight. I was expecting it would take a full year for me to lose 20 lbs, but this is an added bonus. If I stick with this meal plan along with cardio, muscle exercises and yoga, I could easily lose 10 lbs by May, which is right about when I'll be wedding dress hunting. I want to be closer to my goal weight then by current weight by that time.
Alright, enough. Here's my pretty breakfast, filled with fiber and vitamin c:
They say (and when I say "they," I mean the voice-over on Special K commercials) that if you make one smart eating decision, it will make your next meal choice easier. Eating well begets eating well. The problem with dieting is that we are faced with numerous meal choices daily, and I think that is where I get tripped up. I can eat a good breakfast and force my way through a salad for lunch, but by 5PM, I'm ready to throw in the towel, pour myself a glass of wine and pop in a frozen pizza. Most obvious statement ever: diets are about self control, of which I obviously have very little. This is going to be about stick-with-it-ness. I keep saying that this is about the wedding (TBD in 2014), but it's not. I really do want to lead a healthy lifestyle. I want to be one of those annoyingly fit people who wake up every morning refreshed and calm (instead of reeking of booze and and wrought with self-loathing, which has been known to happen to me weekly). I want to have energy and motivation and I think diet and exercise is the best way to obtain these traits.
This morning I've done a few calculations... I could lose 22 lbs by July 5 if I eat 1,502 calories a day. Now, that is 200 more than I usually try to consume, but I have a hunch that if I cut out the booze, sugar and anything processed (which I avoid anyway), I could easily shed the weight. I was expecting it would take a full year for me to lose 20 lbs, but this is an added bonus. If I stick with this meal plan along with cardio, muscle exercises and yoga, I could easily lose 10 lbs by May, which is right about when I'll be wedding dress hunting. I want to be closer to my goal weight then by current weight by that time.
Alright, enough. Here's my pretty breakfast, filled with fiber and vitamin c:
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