Revising...again

I probably seem fickle making changes again, but I really want this diet plan to work. Unfortunately, I have given myself too much freedom and my progress has stopped. I need to have a stricter plan with everything written down. But I also need a plan I can live with and incorporate into my daily habits. So, here is my revised 21-Day Fix eating plan. I will hang it on my cupboard so it's always accessible.

Eating better is super important, but I know that if I really want to be healthier, I also need to exercise, and I haven't been doing that. I had an epiphany this morning. I am busy (like everyone else) and having a hard time fitting in exercise. All of a sudden, I realized that much of what I already do around the house can be done in an aerobic way if I move a little faster and give it a little more oomph. I am now committing to exercise 30 minutes a day, four to five times a week. Here is my compilation of exercise ideas.

I would also like to try making fruit smoothies in the morning. I am not a fan of green smoothies. (Perhaps I just didn't make mine right, so I reserve the right to retract that statement in the future!), But I love regular fruit smoothies. I found a great instructional website, and I am looking forward to trying this.

Fruit Smoothie Basics: How to Make Your Own Healthy Blend

Okay, that's enough changes. It's time to get this show on the road! Here I go...again.

Progress

After one week on my new program, I've lost three pounds! I kind of had a cheating day yesterday, though. (It was Mother's Day.)

The adjustments I've made to the 21 Day Fix seem to be working beautifully. I don't feel like I have to give up enjoyable food altogether, and I'm not hungry all the time. I do find myself wanting to snack at times, but it's not because I'm necessarily hungry. I need to find some other way to deal with those cravings. Maybe I need to drink more water. When I get busy, it's hard to remember to keep hydrated. I will work on that this week. I really think that drinking enough water is vital to a successful diet and healthy lifestyle in general.

Here are some links that explain why it's important to get enough to drink:

CDC - Water and Nutrition

6 Reasons to Drink Water

New Idea

Today is not a good day on the 21 Day Fix. I am rethinking my whole commitment.

I chose this particular plan because it seemed easy to incorporate into my lifestyle. But I'm having a hard time making this work. For some reason (maybe just misinformation) I initially thought I could eat whatever I wanted as long as it fit into the corresponding container. The list of acceptable foods is much shorter than I thought it would be. I feel hungry and tired. Plus, I am not a huge fan of veggies. (I know, I know, I'm a grownup and I need to eat them without complaining.) This diet allows plenty of veggies and protein, but not enough carbs. I feel low on fuel. I couldn't even complete the workout today. I don't know if I was feeling discouraged/depressed or just plain tired, but I gave up half-way through and plopped on the couch in despair. I used to love exercise! I realize that diets can be hard, but that's just it: I don't want a diet. I want to change my lifestyle. I want something I can continue once I lose weight.

While I don't want to give up on this plan altogether, I do want to make the some modifications. First, I would like to be able to interchange the veggies and fruits. My current plan allows me three green containers of veggies and two purple containers of fruit per day. I would like to allow myself five green containers of either fruits or veggies per day, provided that at least one of the containers is veggies. Second, my current plan allows me four red containers of protein and two yellow containers of carbs a day. I would like to change that to three red containers of protein and three yellow containers of carbs, and I would like to use my own judgment on what kind of carbs and what kind of proteins to add. After all, this is a plan that I want to incorporate into my everyday life. I want to change my habits on portion control, not starve myself. Third, my current plan allows me two teaspoons of oil a day and one orange container of approved dressings. I would like to change it to allow me two teaspoons of either oil or butter, and one orange container of any salad dressing I want. (Don't judge! I need my salad to be yummy, and I don't overdo it, I promise.) I would also like to allow myself one orange container (they are small!) of a treat every day. My last modification is to allow myself to use whatever workout my heart desires instead of following the prescribed workout series. To make it easier, I will make a list of both foods and exercises that will help me reach my healthier target in the 21 days I have left of this program.

I am well aware that I might not lose as much weight on this program as I would otherwise, but I will have a calorie deficit, and I will lose weight. I will make this work. My goal is to lose ten pounds by Memorial Day.

Current daily container allowances:
Green (veggies) = 3
Purple (fruits) = 2
Red (protein) = 4
Yellow (carbs) = 2
Blue (nuts/cheeses) = 1
Orange (dressings/seeds) = 1
Teaspoon (oils) = 2

My modifications:
Green (veggies) or
Purple (fruits) = 5 (minimum 1 container veggies)
Red (protein) = 3
Yellow (carbs) = 3
Blue (nuts/cheeses) = 1
Orange (dressings/seeds/treats) = 2
Teaspoon (oils) = 2

Here is a great website with exercise ideas!

21 Day Fix: Day 1

It's been a while... I've been thinking a lot about my health lately. I just don't feel good. I know I need to lose weight, but it is overwhelming. I don't want to try a fad diet; I want to change my lifestyle. A few of my Facebook friends have been using the 21 Day Fix. At first, I thought it was just another fad, but after looking into it, it might be just what I need. You lose weight by portion control and exercise, both of which are vital to a healthy lifestyle. I can choose from a variety of foods that I already like, so it seems doable. I will have to sacrifice some of my favorites for a while, and I will have to exercise, but that's to be expected. I can't lose weight by doing the same thing I've been doing for these last few years! I bought the plan online and I'm starting today. I will use the habits I learn on this plan to maintain my weight loss in the future.

Well, here goes! Although I absolutely HATE posting these, I am including my "before" pics. I want to see progress!

Bi-Weekly Evaluation: Weight Loss is Just Not Happening

My goal of weight-loss is a hippopotamus sitting on my shoulders, crushing me like a can of coke. Good metaphor, huh! It should be so simple to get 10,000 steps a day. But it's not. At the end of the day, when I look at my pedometer and I realize I don't have enough steps, the last thing I want to do is go walking.

Everyone I talk to is stressed out and busy. It's not just me. There has got to be a way to fit weight-loss into my life even with stress and business, but how?

I have not lost any weight since I started this blog and I don't foresee my life getting any easier in the next little while. The end of the semester is upon me and I am super busy with studying and finals. Plus, the holidays are here, and let's face it, it's hard to eat less this time of year! But I don't want to wait. If you put off weight loss for a more convenient time, it will never happen. I want to keep trying.

I decided to talk to a couple of my favorite people about what helps them the most. My friend Ivy is an inspiration to me. She has been losing weight over the last couple of years. I asked her:

What did you find the most helpful in your quest to lose weight?

Thank you Ivy! So, being held accountable was the key for her. My brother Jon is also a good motivator. He is a goal-oriented person, and always inspires me to do better. I asked him:

What keeps you motivated:

Thanks Jon! He listed accountability as a key as well.I guess there is something to be said about having to return and report. I have this blog, but it's probably not the same as having to face a real live human being. I will have to think on that some more.

For the next two weeks, I'm going to keep trying to get those 10,000 steps a day. I moved my treadmill into the family room and I'm hoping that will help. I'll walk and watch TV.  I can do it!

Weekly Check-In: Feeling stressed...

My goal for this period had been to walk 10,000 steps a day. I have not done well. Surprise. My school semester is almost over and I'm feeling kind of like a salmon swimming upstream. Projects. Reports. Papers. Presentations. Every spare minute at home is spent on schoolwork and what is left is spent taking care of my family, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, doing bills, laundry, housework, etc.

My husband has been super busy working two jobs and traveling for business, so guess what? I got the yard ready for winter (kids helped too) and even better, I put the Christmas lights up. Phew--that one was hard. Blood, sweat, and tears! But I figured it out, and if I need to do it again next year, it will be a piece of cake.

I know, I know, it's not horribly impressive, but I did it!!!

I've been thinking a lot about priorities. My sweet sister-in-law had a death in her family and it has got me thinking about life, relationships, and what is really important to focus on. I think I spend a lot of time and energy on things that don't really matter in the long run, like keeping a spotless home. I know that I need to do the drudge work like cleaning and laundry, but sometimes I wonder if I spend TOO much time doing it, or if I don't delegate it to my kids as much as I should. Also, I know I need to fit exercise in my day. I need to, but it is so hard. Where do I fit it? Maybe after I drop the kids off...

I think what it boils down to is self-control. I need to learn to have power over ME! I curl up in bed while my kids get ready for school instead of getting out of bed and getting things done (I rationalize that mornings are just NOT my thing!) I rarely say no when offered a yummy dessert. If I'm hungry late at night, I eat. I need to work on my self-control.

And mostly, I need to make sure I'm fitting my priorities into my day--family, health, education. Perhaps my daily routine needs to reflect that.

I need to master self-control. Do things that are uncomfortable, like get up early in the morning, exercise, resist unhealthy foods most of the time, and go to bed without a full stomach.

Here are my thoughts for the week:

• Discipline is remembering what you want (David Campbell)
• Everyone must choose one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret (Jim Rohn)
• You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage--pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically -to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of 'best' is often the 'good.' (Stephen Covey)

For other great quotes on self-discipline, check out this site:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/discipline.html

Bi-Weekly Evaluation: I'm doing better

Goal #1 Evaluation: Take 10,000 steps Mon.-Sat.: Walk 10 minutes, 2-3 times/day

I only met this goal twice this week. Blah!

Goal #2 Evaluation: No eating after 9:00 p.m.

I met this goal five times this week. Yay!

I have decided to keep my goal of walking 10,000 steps a day. It is my hardest, and I am struggling to meet it. Because of my previous goals, I am doing better at eating more fruits and vegetables and not eating after 9:00 p.m.

If I have only one goal for the next two weeks, I am hoping that I will be able to finally find a way to fit it into my schedule and my life.

In order to accomplish this, I think I'll have to fit at least a thirty minute walk into my schedule every day. I will aim for walking after I drop off my kids to school, or after dinner.

Wish me luck!

I've never really thought of it like that before.

Goal #1: Take 10,000 steps Mon.-Sat.: Walk 30 minutes a day