Over the course of my journey, I've found a few things that help greatly.
1. Get smaller bowls/plates. When I'm having a dinner of mac and cheese (homemade and yummy), beans and rice, pasta, cereal and the occasional ice cream, putting it into a smaller bowl requires me to really decide if I'm still hungry and get seconds. It helps limit my intake of foods instead of just heaping it onto a plate and not really paying attention to how much I'm putting on there.
2. Invest in a reasonable-sized good lunch bag. Something that's cute and not over-sized. You'll save money and calories by bringing your lunch and only being able to fill a bag with what you NEED to eat for the day will mean you don't have extra snacks at work "just in case". If you have them, if you're anything like me, you'll eat them. So, instead of giving your willpower a workout, just have a bag that's big enough to carry you through the day.
3. Have a mug/water bottle to drink water out of during the course of the day (at work and at home). Being able to drink throughout the day wherever you are will help you stay hydrated, feeling full, and less tired (for cheap!!) during the day.
and my last one...
4. Invest in your tracking. No matter what you do, you have to track what goes in your body and what you put out during exercise. However you want to track, paper or electronic, is important to keep up with it so you know what you're doing to yourself. If you're like me and love your smart phone, track on there. If you like pen and paper, get something you'll keep with you all the time.
I don't presume to know everything, but I know what helps me and keeps me on track.
In other news, I ordered a new Road ID to wear while running since I've almost been hit quite a few times.
I don't have much more to write about tonight, but was thinking about some of the things that help me. Hope you guys have a good night!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Moving Forward
Last week, I weighed in on Saturday and still lost a pound. I've been on a losing streak for the past 5 weeks and I'm finally feeling like I'm on the right track. Last week, because of allergies and social engagements, I think I made it to the gym once, but I still lost weight because I still kept track of everything I put in my stomach. That is the trick, my friends, keeping track of it all; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
One thing I do for myself however, is give myself Saturday off. I weigh-in Saturday morning and give myself the rest of Saturday off. It gives me a little freedom for social engagements that happen often on Saturday night (I have to stay in line Friday night...) but also gives me a break from the structure. The one thing though is I HAVE to be back on track and logging my food in-take Sunday morning. I have to keep that disciple.
I'm happy that I've been able to turn myself around. Part of my being able to move forward, I think comes from hearing my mom approve of me and my (tough) choices. I know my parents love me, that has never been a question, but hearing my mom verbalize her approval made me feel better. I've also thought about my "aunt" a lot lately. My Aunt Sally was a genuinely awesome woman who was taken from this Earth too early due to complications associated with breast cancer. When my aunt died, I lost the person who was my confidante for the longest time, she died when I was in college and I feel like I have never found someone to take her role in my life. Of course, that is entirely my fault.... Since I've identified this shortcoming, I have worked towards developing those relationships with other people in my life, not in an effort to replace her, Aunt Sally could never be replaced, but to find someone/people to become that "person" to share with, my Mom is great, but she's still my Mom.
I am happy that I have some great people in my life (parents, Dave, bffs, etc..), but I have to remember that they are there. No woman (man) is an island, no matter what Simon and Garfunkel told you. You can't survive on your own. We are a social species; we want friends, loved ones, and others to be part of our lives. Holding all of that on our own shoulders makes it too much to bear. It is impossible to survive and thrive as a human without a "village" so here I am, remembering to make my village.
One thing I do for myself however, is give myself Saturday off. I weigh-in Saturday morning and give myself the rest of Saturday off. It gives me a little freedom for social engagements that happen often on Saturday night (I have to stay in line Friday night...) but also gives me a break from the structure. The one thing though is I HAVE to be back on track and logging my food in-take Sunday morning. I have to keep that disciple.
I'm happy that I've been able to turn myself around. Part of my being able to move forward, I think comes from hearing my mom approve of me and my (tough) choices. I know my parents love me, that has never been a question, but hearing my mom verbalize her approval made me feel better. I've also thought about my "aunt" a lot lately. My Aunt Sally was a genuinely awesome woman who was taken from this Earth too early due to complications associated with breast cancer. When my aunt died, I lost the person who was my confidante for the longest time, she died when I was in college and I feel like I have never found someone to take her role in my life. Of course, that is entirely my fault.... Since I've identified this shortcoming, I have worked towards developing those relationships with other people in my life, not in an effort to replace her, Aunt Sally could never be replaced, but to find someone/people to become that "person" to share with, my Mom is great, but she's still my Mom.
I am happy that I have some great people in my life (parents, Dave, bffs, etc..), but I have to remember that they are there. No woman (man) is an island, no matter what Simon and Garfunkel told you. You can't survive on your own. We are a social species; we want friends, loved ones, and others to be part of our lives. Holding all of that on our own shoulders makes it too much to bear. It is impossible to survive and thrive as a human without a "village" so here I am, remembering to make my village.
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