Yes, I took a little blogging hiatus...a little time-out to go through a legalized separation from my husband. Yes, a very stressful time where I went down to 112 pounds, and then stayed steady at 116...and then over the last two months ballooned to 127.4 pounds at my personal weigh-in an hour ago.
Egad!
I haven't weighed that much in a long time. I like to be 120 at the most. So now I have to figure out why this is happening. I'm still exercising regularly. But...I can only surmise it's eating habits. I have probably fallen into the trap of feeling stressed = devouring comfort foods. For me that means chocolate and Ritz crackers.
First off, it's important for me to recognize that I am, in fact, gaining weight. It had been a while since I weighed myself, but I'd noticed my clothes were fitting tighter. The scale cinched it. I'd put on ten pounds in two months. Second off, I need to forgive myself for this. It's been a very tough several months, and dealing with so many issues between myself and my ex has been detrimental to my health in many ways. Overeating obviously being one.
So what's a girl to do?
I know that 3,000 calories = 1 pound. I want to lose 10 pounds. Therefore, I need to burn an extra 30,000 calories. That's roughly 1,000 calories a day if I want to do it in a month. 500 calories a day if I want to do it in two months.
My goal, then, is to take care of this in 1-2 months time. To help me, I am using an app called My Fitness Pal. I downloaded it to my iPhone. My goal is to add only 1,200 calories (or less) a day to my diet. It's 1 in the afternoon now, and I have already eaten 974 calories. I have worked off 1,080 calories. If I can eat a small snack and then later consume a healthy dinner (with a controlled portion), I should be able to achieve the 1,200 or less total calories, and slowly as I continue this plan, take off the extra weight.
I will keep this site updated on my success.
Showing posts with label calories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calories. Show all posts
Friday, August 9, 2013
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Lifestyle Changes
Recently a writer acquaintance of mine blogged about dieting. She wanted to lose weight and look good for the summer beach. Truth be told, I loathe the word diet. Oh, we all use it. "I can't have that third slice of cake, I'm on a diet." But what exactly does it mean? To me it sounds temporary. Like something borrowed that has to eventually be returned. "Thanks for the use of the diet, but I'm at the size I want to be, so you can have it back now."
If you are looking to lose weight, become more toned, or feel stronger and more vibrant, you need to consider a lifestyle change. It can be as small as walking a mile every other day or as encompassing as hitting the gym daily while noshing mainly on fruits and veggies. But this will have to continue the remainder of your life. Once you hit your target of, say, 140 pounds, if this is where you want to stay, you can't return to your old ways.
Here's what I mean. I apologize if you've read this story before in one of my other blog posts, but it bears repeating. When I was in my 30's I worked in a retail store. People brought in donuts and cake regularly. Maybe to ease the tedious days of folding shirts and sweaters? Maybe to celebrate a birthday? Whatever the reason, junk food was readily available. My co-workers didn't care for me passing on the invitation to indulge. Once in awhile I'd reach for a donut, but I knew I couldn't have more than one, nor could I eat one everyday. My metabolism was already showing signs of slowing, and I didn't want to encourage it to conk out altogether. The responses I'd get? "It's one donut, it's not gonna hurt you." And "You're skinny. You can stand to eat a couple donuts." Or "Look at you. You can eat what you want."
That was the point. I didn't eat what I wanted to eat. Between that and moving around a lot on the sales floor, I kept my weight steady for years. The truth is, the older you get, the more often you need to change both your diet and your exercise plan. That is, if you don't want to turn to mush by the time you're 70.
Those of you who have been steady readers understand that my main focus is keeping my cholesterol levels down. I could stand to lose a little belly fat (and some around my back), but for the most part I think I'm pretty healthy. But I exercise three times a week for at least an hour each time, and I don't consume much meat, and try to load up on the green stuff. I love my cookies and pastries, so there's my downfall. If I could quit my sugar addiction, I'd be perfect. But that's one lifestyle change I have yet to master.
Dieting is temporary. It's a way to trim the fat until you've hit your ideal weight. But it doesn't last because once you're there it's easy to think, "I did it! Now where's that ice cream sundae award I've been waiting for?" And suddenly you're sitting in the breakroom with a gigantic bag of Fritos in your lap. A lifestyle change? Fritos are replaced by carrot sticks and a couple of saltines. Dieting: "I'm at 135! Perfect! I was getting sick of running on the treadmill." Lifestyle change: "Running on the treadmill is getting lackluster. Maybe this week I'll master the Precor."
See the difference?
Oh, sure, a Frito or eight won't hurt once a week, and skipping the workout because you're not feeling well (or you've pulled a groin muscle) is fine. But being that it's now routine to eat better and get exercise, the break is temporary. Like a diet is temporary. Only better.
If you are looking to lose weight, become more toned, or feel stronger and more vibrant, you need to consider a lifestyle change. It can be as small as walking a mile every other day or as encompassing as hitting the gym daily while noshing mainly on fruits and veggies. But this will have to continue the remainder of your life. Once you hit your target of, say, 140 pounds, if this is where you want to stay, you can't return to your old ways.
Here's what I mean. I apologize if you've read this story before in one of my other blog posts, but it bears repeating. When I was in my 30's I worked in a retail store. People brought in donuts and cake regularly. Maybe to ease the tedious days of folding shirts and sweaters? Maybe to celebrate a birthday? Whatever the reason, junk food was readily available. My co-workers didn't care for me passing on the invitation to indulge. Once in awhile I'd reach for a donut, but I knew I couldn't have more than one, nor could I eat one everyday. My metabolism was already showing signs of slowing, and I didn't want to encourage it to conk out altogether. The responses I'd get? "It's one donut, it's not gonna hurt you." And "You're skinny. You can stand to eat a couple donuts." Or "Look at you. You can eat what you want."
That was the point. I didn't eat what I wanted to eat. Between that and moving around a lot on the sales floor, I kept my weight steady for years. The truth is, the older you get, the more often you need to change both your diet and your exercise plan. That is, if you don't want to turn to mush by the time you're 70.
Those of you who have been steady readers understand that my main focus is keeping my cholesterol levels down. I could stand to lose a little belly fat (and some around my back), but for the most part I think I'm pretty healthy. But I exercise three times a week for at least an hour each time, and I don't consume much meat, and try to load up on the green stuff. I love my cookies and pastries, so there's my downfall. If I could quit my sugar addiction, I'd be perfect. But that's one lifestyle change I have yet to master.
Dieting is temporary. It's a way to trim the fat until you've hit your ideal weight. But it doesn't last because once you're there it's easy to think, "I did it! Now where's that ice cream sundae award I've been waiting for?" And suddenly you're sitting in the breakroom with a gigantic bag of Fritos in your lap. A lifestyle change? Fritos are replaced by carrot sticks and a couple of saltines. Dieting: "I'm at 135! Perfect! I was getting sick of running on the treadmill." Lifestyle change: "Running on the treadmill is getting lackluster. Maybe this week I'll master the Precor."
See the difference?
Oh, sure, a Frito or eight won't hurt once a week, and skipping the workout because you're not feeling well (or you've pulled a groin muscle) is fine. But being that it's now routine to eat better and get exercise, the break is temporary. Like a diet is temporary. Only better.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Six Secrets to Staying (or getting!) Slim
I know what it's like to feel, well, chunky. I gained a lot of weight with each pregnancy, only to have to work hard to get back into my clothes. It's no surprise to anyone, I'm sure, that it's easier to lose the weight when you haven't held onto it for years and years. But I'm posting how I succeeded in losing the weight, and the key to how I've kept it off.
Like everyone, I gain and lose a few pounds week to week. Our bodies are adept at knowing when we need to pad our bodies (for cold winters, preparing for ovulation, etc.) and when to let it go. But I have pretty much stayed the same size and weight since high school, and that's over twenty years, folks! I've had to change my strategy over the years, though, because what I could eat in my twenties is vastly different from what I put into my body now. My metabolism isn't the same, and that's biological. Sure, I exercise. But when I was twenty-two, I didn't have to exercise regularly and with such intensity.
That said, let me move on to my rules. They're the ones that work for me, and they might work for you, too. Some I've mentioned on my blog before. Some are new.
1) I do not consume soda. Why? Extra calories, for one thing. Calories I don't need. If I want a punch of caffeine, I have coffee or tea with very little added sugar (about a half a teaspoon). Twenty years ago I was dumping three heaping teaspoons into my tea. I gag thinking about that now. But what had happened was that I slowly became addicted to the sugar. I began drinking tea in my teens, and I started out with a teaspoon of sugar. But then I became used to it and no longer could tell if it was sweetened or not. In order to taste it, I needed to add a little more. When I was in my early thirties, I decided to break that habit. I started out by going cold turkey. No sugar at all. After awhile, I added a little bit of sugar (the half teaspoon). I could taste the sweetness! I never looked back. Before I was pregnant with my first child, I drank soda regularly. But I was told to avoid caffeine, so soda was out of the question, except for the occasional caffeine free Coke. Eventually all carbonated drinks gave me heartburn. Water and tea was all I could drink. After a few months, I didn't miss it. Today I believe it's one of the reasons I have been able to keep my weight down.
2) I eat cheese and crackers as a snack once a day. I know, I know. What's a gal with high cholesterol doing consuming cheese? But the truth is, I detest milk, and cheese is the best way to get a little calcium in my diet. Why is it on my list of weight tips? Because the protein in the cheese fills me up. I might eat eight low-fat Ritz crackers and a small block of cheese, and I'm good for hours. Not a lot of calories, but keeps me sated.
3) I make sure I get my exercise. Three times a week (four if I'm highly motivated), at least an hour each time. It's my "me" time. I go to the YMCA and watch TV (I don't watch it at home). I sweat and push myself. I do weights (Very important tip here! Building muscle helps to keep weight off! Spend twenty minutes three times a day on your arms...you will not regret it.)
4) I rarely eat out. I cook at home. Even chowing down on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is better than diner or fast food. Why? Salt. Restaurants fill food with salt and it a) makes you thirsty so you drink more (terrible if you're drinking the soda) and b) makes you eat more. Eating salty foods makes you want to eat MORE salty foods. Think about it this way: when you're eating movie popcorn, how hard is it to put that bucket down and stop eating it? Even when you know you are full! Your taste buds love salt. They crave it. The more salt in your food, the more you will want to eat. Plus, when you eat at home, you know what fats are going into your body, and you won't be enticed by french fries and fried chicken. Most of us don't have fryers at home, and if we do, they're a pain to clean so we don't fry our food every night. Which brings me to my next point.
5) I avoid all fried food. Oh sure, occasionally I'll steal a french fry from my son's plate at Chili's, but I order soup and salad or a veggie burger when we go out. Once in a while I will treat myself to something fattening, but it's rare. And we don't hit up fast food places when we go out except for a special treat for the boys. And I order the salad and a small order of fries. Oh, and I do love their fruit and oatmeal. Get it without the maple and brown sugar topping, and you cut out calories without skimping on too much taste.
6) The last thing I do to stay slim is I snack on fruit. Ravenous? Eat a banana or an apple. It will help you eat less when you have your next meal. Filling up on blueberries is better than grabbing a handful of mini Oreos. Oh, and I try not to keep cookies around. If I want cookies, I have to make them from scratch. Makes me think twice about how badly I want them. Keep fruit available, not store-bought sweets. But keep ingredients for making cookies available. If you deprive yourself, you will be miserable and eat to feel happy.
Okay, that's it in a nutshell. Six simple secrets. Try these for a month, see what happens. I'll bet you'll find it's not so hard after all.
Like everyone, I gain and lose a few pounds week to week. Our bodies are adept at knowing when we need to pad our bodies (for cold winters, preparing for ovulation, etc.) and when to let it go. But I have pretty much stayed the same size and weight since high school, and that's over twenty years, folks! I've had to change my strategy over the years, though, because what I could eat in my twenties is vastly different from what I put into my body now. My metabolism isn't the same, and that's biological. Sure, I exercise. But when I was twenty-two, I didn't have to exercise regularly and with such intensity.
That said, let me move on to my rules. They're the ones that work for me, and they might work for you, too. Some I've mentioned on my blog before. Some are new.
1) I do not consume soda. Why? Extra calories, for one thing. Calories I don't need. If I want a punch of caffeine, I have coffee or tea with very little added sugar (about a half a teaspoon). Twenty years ago I was dumping three heaping teaspoons into my tea. I gag thinking about that now. But what had happened was that I slowly became addicted to the sugar. I began drinking tea in my teens, and I started out with a teaspoon of sugar. But then I became used to it and no longer could tell if it was sweetened or not. In order to taste it, I needed to add a little more. When I was in my early thirties, I decided to break that habit. I started out by going cold turkey. No sugar at all. After awhile, I added a little bit of sugar (the half teaspoon). I could taste the sweetness! I never looked back. Before I was pregnant with my first child, I drank soda regularly. But I was told to avoid caffeine, so soda was out of the question, except for the occasional caffeine free Coke. Eventually all carbonated drinks gave me heartburn. Water and tea was all I could drink. After a few months, I didn't miss it. Today I believe it's one of the reasons I have been able to keep my weight down.
2) I eat cheese and crackers as a snack once a day. I know, I know. What's a gal with high cholesterol doing consuming cheese? But the truth is, I detest milk, and cheese is the best way to get a little calcium in my diet. Why is it on my list of weight tips? Because the protein in the cheese fills me up. I might eat eight low-fat Ritz crackers and a small block of cheese, and I'm good for hours. Not a lot of calories, but keeps me sated.
3) I make sure I get my exercise. Three times a week (four if I'm highly motivated), at least an hour each time. It's my "me" time. I go to the YMCA and watch TV (I don't watch it at home). I sweat and push myself. I do weights (Very important tip here! Building muscle helps to keep weight off! Spend twenty minutes three times a day on your arms...you will not regret it.)
4) I rarely eat out. I cook at home. Even chowing down on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is better than diner or fast food. Why? Salt. Restaurants fill food with salt and it a) makes you thirsty so you drink more (terrible if you're drinking the soda) and b) makes you eat more. Eating salty foods makes you want to eat MORE salty foods. Think about it this way: when you're eating movie popcorn, how hard is it to put that bucket down and stop eating it? Even when you know you are full! Your taste buds love salt. They crave it. The more salt in your food, the more you will want to eat. Plus, when you eat at home, you know what fats are going into your body, and you won't be enticed by french fries and fried chicken. Most of us don't have fryers at home, and if we do, they're a pain to clean so we don't fry our food every night. Which brings me to my next point.
5) I avoid all fried food. Oh sure, occasionally I'll steal a french fry from my son's plate at Chili's, but I order soup and salad or a veggie burger when we go out. Once in a while I will treat myself to something fattening, but it's rare. And we don't hit up fast food places when we go out except for a special treat for the boys. And I order the salad and a small order of fries. Oh, and I do love their fruit and oatmeal. Get it without the maple and brown sugar topping, and you cut out calories without skimping on too much taste.
6) The last thing I do to stay slim is I snack on fruit. Ravenous? Eat a banana or an apple. It will help you eat less when you have your next meal. Filling up on blueberries is better than grabbing a handful of mini Oreos. Oh, and I try not to keep cookies around. If I want cookies, I have to make them from scratch. Makes me think twice about how badly I want them. Keep fruit available, not store-bought sweets. But keep ingredients for making cookies available. If you deprive yourself, you will be miserable and eat to feel happy.
Okay, that's it in a nutshell. Six simple secrets. Try these for a month, see what happens. I'll bet you'll find it's not so hard after all.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Still Here!
I know, I know. I've been behind. I have many projects I'm working on...mostly writing projects, though my children can be seen as works in progress as well, and getting them on track takes oodles of time, as all parents know. Still, I have made time to exercise, and I'm proud of that.
Because I am also a college student, I have to squeeze homework into my day, so I've discovered working out/showering/reading the required literature needs to fit into the 2 1/2 hours I have to myself while the youngest is in preschool. I usually give exercising a good hours worth of that time and feel dreadfully guilty not keeping up the extra 1/2 hour I used to do. Plus, I've been using the bike machine since I've been having Achilles tendon problems. That means I am working out precisely 400 calories less every other day. That equals 1,200 less calories a week. What does that mean for me? That I'd better not consume as much food as I would during a week of working out more. Easy? I think not. As I posted before, we get into habits.
I will tell you one thing: I never skip breakfast and I pretty much stick to two bowls of Cheerios with (sweetened) vanilla flavored almond milk. I could do better by going without the sweetened almond milk. But I like it, and I don't miss the sugary cereals as much. In fact, because Cheerios only has 1 gram of sugar, now if I consume a sweeter cereal like, say, honey-nut Cheerios, it's often too sweet for my taste.
Anyhow, now I've been biking 20-40 minutes (depending on the day), and hoping my heels will heal. I want to get back to the other machines, the real calorie burners that make me sweat within ten minutes of using them. But biking has been challenging, and people seem to enjoy it. The machines are all usually in use.
Today I also did free weights. I've been watching people's strategies. How much weight they use. What exercises they employ. And when they aren't around to watch me copy them, I follow their example. Being observant helps, folks. Don't be afraid to see what everyone else is doing and try it out yourself.
Meantime, I am happily burning 250 calories on the bike, hoping I will fit into my jeans tomorrow. Cheers.
Because I am also a college student, I have to squeeze homework into my day, so I've discovered working out/showering/reading the required literature needs to fit into the 2 1/2 hours I have to myself while the youngest is in preschool. I usually give exercising a good hours worth of that time and feel dreadfully guilty not keeping up the extra 1/2 hour I used to do. Plus, I've been using the bike machine since I've been having Achilles tendon problems. That means I am working out precisely 400 calories less every other day. That equals 1,200 less calories a week. What does that mean for me? That I'd better not consume as much food as I would during a week of working out more. Easy? I think not. As I posted before, we get into habits.
I will tell you one thing: I never skip breakfast and I pretty much stick to two bowls of Cheerios with (sweetened) vanilla flavored almond milk. I could do better by going without the sweetened almond milk. But I like it, and I don't miss the sugary cereals as much. In fact, because Cheerios only has 1 gram of sugar, now if I consume a sweeter cereal like, say, honey-nut Cheerios, it's often too sweet for my taste.
Anyhow, now I've been biking 20-40 minutes (depending on the day), and hoping my heels will heal. I want to get back to the other machines, the real calorie burners that make me sweat within ten minutes of using them. But biking has been challenging, and people seem to enjoy it. The machines are all usually in use.
Today I also did free weights. I've been watching people's strategies. How much weight they use. What exercises they employ. And when they aren't around to watch me copy them, I follow their example. Being observant helps, folks. Don't be afraid to see what everyone else is doing and try it out yourself.
Meantime, I am happily burning 250 calories on the bike, hoping I will fit into my jeans tomorrow. Cheers.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Truth Behind Losing Weight
Lately I've been reading all over the web about the Dancing with the Stars participants. How many of them have lost weight. The most recent is Ricki Lake. The (arguably) most celebrated celebrity is Kirstie Alley.
Anyone who keeps up on this sort of thing (like me) knows both these women have gained and lost weight over the years (also considered "yo-yo dieting"). In other words, they may be famous, but they're just like everyone else. Their bodies respond to what they eat and the exercising they do (or don't do).
I'm not surprised they're losing weight quickly. Dancing is physically demanding. If you do it eight hours a day for weeks on end, you're going to lose a lot of weight, and need to eat more calories to compensate.
Here is the problem for most of these celebrities once they are no longer participating in the DWTS show: when they stop dancing, the weight is likely to return. Why? Because they will be used to eating the same amount of calories they consumed while on a physically grueling schedule, but they will have stopped the hours they've spent dancing.
This is why it's best not to go too gung-ho when beginning an exercise routine. If you start off exercising two hours a day five times a week, you may find yourself increasing your calorie intake. Bodies love carbs and protein to keep them running. But when you taper off exercising (and this is more likely the case then not), you might not taper off in your calorie intake. Why? Because your body becomes used to the calorie intake.
My advice? First of all, attempt to snack on healthier fare such as bananas and blueberries when you start out exercising. Slowly increase your workouts from 30 minutes to 2 hours so your body can adequately adjust. If you are starving after a workout, fill up with lettuce sprinkled with feta cheese and a small amount of vinaigrette. Do not think you can go for the double cheeseburger at Mickey D's. You may have burned off 300 calories, but why consume 400 or more afterward?
Get your body used to the workouts, and have a healthy snack with a little protein afterward to help muscles recuperate. But don't think you can eat more because you are working out. In fact, try to keep your calories at or below where they were before you began an exercising routine. (This is if you are looking to shed pounds, not maintain the weight you are at.) Don't overdo the workouts. You aren't trying to starve yourself. Hungry people grab whatever is available to them with no regard to calories or fat grams. I speak from experience!
Good luck, and drop me a line if you end up on Dancing with the Stars.
Anyone who keeps up on this sort of thing (like me) knows both these women have gained and lost weight over the years (also considered "yo-yo dieting"). In other words, they may be famous, but they're just like everyone else. Their bodies respond to what they eat and the exercising they do (or don't do).
I'm not surprised they're losing weight quickly. Dancing is physically demanding. If you do it eight hours a day for weeks on end, you're going to lose a lot of weight, and need to eat more calories to compensate.
Here is the problem for most of these celebrities once they are no longer participating in the DWTS show: when they stop dancing, the weight is likely to return. Why? Because they will be used to eating the same amount of calories they consumed while on a physically grueling schedule, but they will have stopped the hours they've spent dancing.
This is why it's best not to go too gung-ho when beginning an exercise routine. If you start off exercising two hours a day five times a week, you may find yourself increasing your calorie intake. Bodies love carbs and protein to keep them running. But when you taper off exercising (and this is more likely the case then not), you might not taper off in your calorie intake. Why? Because your body becomes used to the calorie intake.
My advice? First of all, attempt to snack on healthier fare such as bananas and blueberries when you start out exercising. Slowly increase your workouts from 30 minutes to 2 hours so your body can adequately adjust. If you are starving after a workout, fill up with lettuce sprinkled with feta cheese and a small amount of vinaigrette. Do not think you can go for the double cheeseburger at Mickey D's. You may have burned off 300 calories, but why consume 400 or more afterward?
Get your body used to the workouts, and have a healthy snack with a little protein afterward to help muscles recuperate. But don't think you can eat more because you are working out. In fact, try to keep your calories at or below where they were before you began an exercising routine. (This is if you are looking to shed pounds, not maintain the weight you are at.) Don't overdo the workouts. You aren't trying to starve yourself. Hungry people grab whatever is available to them with no regard to calories or fat grams. I speak from experience!
Good luck, and drop me a line if you end up on Dancing with the Stars.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Rule #3-Deprivation Is Thy Enemy
Okay, I hear you about one thing: you want your sweets, your brownies, your creamy whipped toppings. Got it. But you can't lose weight and have your cake, too. (I really did come up with that catchy slogan on my own!)
Here's the thing: that ice cold Coca-Cola you've been thinking about since I divulged Rule #1? You know, the one you can't get out of your head now that you've gone soda-free for a week and a half now?
You can have it.
Really.
But only once. Then try to forget about it for awhile.
So why am I giving you permission all of the sudden after touting how terrible it is for your waistline? Because if there is anything I've learned, it's that we need to feed our cravings once in a while.
What do I mean? Here's an example: Picture this. A young woman, recently discovering she has high cholesterol and watching her cousin die from causes related to weight, decides to try the new fad diet: The Atkins. Armed with literature, she realizes she must not devour carbs of any kind. However, she doesn't care for meat (except the piggy kind), so she goes her own way and more or less chews on a few lettuce leaves.
By 3 in the afternoon, all she can think about is a gigantic bowl of cookie dough. But no, it is not on the list of okay foods, according to her Atkins books. She must resist. She WILL resist.
By five, she is feeling weak. Sick, even. She cannot hold out one. Second. Longer.
She whips up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and stuffs handful after handful down her throat. Her knees stop knocking. Her heart rejoices. Energy returns. But she has just consumed over a thousand calories, 75% of it from fat.
That young woman, dear readers, was me. And the bowl? Empty.
Here's the lesson. When we deprive ourselves, we obsess over it until we can't see straight. And instead of taking maybe five bites of the "bad" food, we eat it until we are in a sugar-induced haze of happiness. So my rule #3 is to give in once in a while. That does not mean every day. It means once every two weeks you can enjoy a hot fudge sundae. But the rest of the time, eat healthy.
Otherwise you too may end up with an empty bowl and a stomachache. Because honestly? Very few of us have that kind of willpower. So have that soda if it helps keep you on track. It's the complete deprivation that will have you guzzling a six-pack in no time.
Here's the thing: that ice cold Coca-Cola you've been thinking about since I divulged Rule #1? You know, the one you can't get out of your head now that you've gone soda-free for a week and a half now?
You can have it.
Really.
But only once. Then try to forget about it for awhile.
So why am I giving you permission all of the sudden after touting how terrible it is for your waistline? Because if there is anything I've learned, it's that we need to feed our cravings once in a while.
What do I mean? Here's an example: Picture this. A young woman, recently discovering she has high cholesterol and watching her cousin die from causes related to weight, decides to try the new fad diet: The Atkins. Armed with literature, she realizes she must not devour carbs of any kind. However, she doesn't care for meat (except the piggy kind), so she goes her own way and more or less chews on a few lettuce leaves.
By 3 in the afternoon, all she can think about is a gigantic bowl of cookie dough. But no, it is not on the list of okay foods, according to her Atkins books. She must resist. She WILL resist.
By five, she is feeling weak. Sick, even. She cannot hold out one. Second. Longer.
She whips up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and stuffs handful after handful down her throat. Her knees stop knocking. Her heart rejoices. Energy returns. But she has just consumed over a thousand calories, 75% of it from fat.
That young woman, dear readers, was me. And the bowl? Empty.
Here's the lesson. When we deprive ourselves, we obsess over it until we can't see straight. And instead of taking maybe five bites of the "bad" food, we eat it until we are in a sugar-induced haze of happiness. So my rule #3 is to give in once in a while. That does not mean every day. It means once every two weeks you can enjoy a hot fudge sundae. But the rest of the time, eat healthy.
Otherwise you too may end up with an empty bowl and a stomachache. Because honestly? Very few of us have that kind of willpower. So have that soda if it helps keep you on track. It's the complete deprivation that will have you guzzling a six-pack in no time.
Wednesday's Workout-Success and Then...
No injuries. No starvation or deprived muscles. Ah...bliss.
I spent an hour on the Precor, then 20 minutes on the treadmill. Burned approximately 900 calories in all. Came home to a dinner laden with fat thanks to my husband who figured he'd buy me something yummy and since I worked out, that would be okay.
Uh...loved the food, not too happy about the calories and especially the fat. I always avoid the pulled pork (though I love it) and anything fried (another no-no that he purchased for me this time around). Next time I need to be a little more obvious about what I want for dinner. Something that won't make my cholesterol zoom to the moon, thank you very much.
He tries, my husband, but sometimes he doesn't understand my goals. Makes me think back to a poster who commented that her husband always offered her unhealthy food. Perhaps we need to be more clear that although, yes, we'd love to eat fried yumminess. But no thank you, we are trying to make better health-conscious choices.
So I ate half the meal, left the rest for today. The weekend will be devoted to lower fat fare. That's the way to roll sometimes.
I spent an hour on the Precor, then 20 minutes on the treadmill. Burned approximately 900 calories in all. Came home to a dinner laden with fat thanks to my husband who figured he'd buy me something yummy and since I worked out, that would be okay.
Uh...loved the food, not too happy about the calories and especially the fat. I always avoid the pulled pork (though I love it) and anything fried (another no-no that he purchased for me this time around). Next time I need to be a little more obvious about what I want for dinner. Something that won't make my cholesterol zoom to the moon, thank you very much.
He tries, my husband, but sometimes he doesn't understand my goals. Makes me think back to a poster who commented that her husband always offered her unhealthy food. Perhaps we need to be more clear that although, yes, we'd love to eat fried yumminess. But no thank you, we are trying to make better health-conscious choices.
So I ate half the meal, left the rest for today. The weekend will be devoted to lower fat fare. That's the way to roll sometimes.
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