Coming Clean: Diet Day 2
This past year I have been enjoying continued weight loss, however since fall has started and I’ve spent a record number of hours sitting around studying/munching on food vs. dancing, running, and playing with the kids. And I’ve definitely put back on those “freshman 15″ (that’s the term they use for freshmen college students b/c they all gain weight the first semester of school!). I was 118 when school started and am back to 128 now. Mostly – because I love food. I love to eat. Eating is a great past-time. Except that you have to run twice as much as you eat in order to REALLY enjoy eating! :) And I haven’t been running at all. Sadly.
And those 10 lbs really make a difference! My jeans are all too small, my shorts are all too small, my ballet leotards just don’t look quite right (does anyone’s leotard ever??) LOL! So yesterday, I went back on my favorite diet:
I absolutely love this book! It really is well written and very informative. Two years ago, when I had tired of the Atkins Routine, I bought this book and switched gears. This book teaches you how to exercise portion control, count calories, and learn how to make healthy food choices – and then you learn to ENJOY those healthy food choices because you’ve put so much effort into the diet AND you feel better, are losing weight, and you stop craving food.
I’m sure there are other really great diet programs out there – but this is just the one I tried and liked. I like the recipes she offers, the meal plans are easy to use (and manipulate*), and it’s reasonable. She even gives you “dining out” options for fast food. I think that’s funny and cool and realistic. *Being able to manipulate the meal plan is one of the best things I like about this diet. For example – she offers 7 different breakfasts for the week. Well, I’m not going to make 7 different breakfasts. I’m not a breakfast person AND I don’t like 5 of the 7 breakfasts she offers. They all are fantastic menus – but I just don’t like smoothies. So, I appreciate greatly the ability to just buy 1 box of cereal, 1 bag of frozen blueberries, and a quart of fat-free milk for me, and be able to eat my simple breakfast every morning. I don’t have to stress out on my diet first thing in the morning by figuring out what I’m supposed to have, where the ingredients are for everything, how to cook it…and then … do I make some for the kids, will they eat it, and so on. I just pour my cereal, sit with the kids while they eat their cereal and we have a nice breakfast. It works!!
I am planning on only losing about 1-2lbs/week so this could take a good month or two to get the poundage off again. And I really even considered the holidays – should I diet when I know I have all these holiday parties coming up? And the answer is YES! I will have even more resolve to not pig out at the parties and over-eat. Next year, when I’ve kept the weight off successfully for one full year (or just about) I’ll totally enjoy the holiday food festivities!! :)
I am going to offer some of my favorite meals from this diet on the blog. Let me know if you try them and like them!
Thank you for turning me on to this book last year. Although I lost all my initial weight through Adkins, walking and kickboxing the first year of my weight loss journey (started 3 years ago), I really enjoyed this book for it’s simple explanation and application of total body exercises. I really never got into the recipes, etc. until this year. Thanks for your encouragement Sarah…I too, love this book and am finding it very easy to learn a new approach to my next level of healthy eating and weight management. I actually CAN count calories and learn a new method of portion contol (sorry for all the recent moaning!). I’m in the 3rd day and am already feeling better after the last 30 days of starting a new job, sitting at a desk 8 hours instead of standing and moving around, and being fed like a queen at work! I’m already back to being able to say “no” and get a big drink of water when cravings hit! I feel sooooo much better. Looking forward to the 5k walk in December…not for competition — just for setting and reaching a goal!
I’m glad you are feeling better – and not whining so much anymore! LOL!! It’s hard to change and switch gears – but I think in the long run you’ll be glad you did! I already feel so much better now too – I don’t have that “bloated” feeling anymore and just in general feel better.
Well, I think I will keep on whining…
I have been working out three days a week [mostly, not including going out of town once and getting sick once] for two hours at a whack and keeping my heart rate above 152 minimum and have only lost two pounds which I think I may have just gained back from going out of town to my cousin’s wedding last weekend!!!!!!
ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!! This SUCKS!!!!
I am NO GOOD at understanding calorie counting and portions. Gag. Like I don’t work hard enough already.
Sarah, do you think the working out will eventually produce? I’m not eating everything in sight but I’m also not being a nazi about it either. My snacks are minimal and if I go crazy with hunger I eat a Kashi go lean protein bar [God bless Costco]. What do you think?
[p.s. joined the gym at the beginning of September]
Sarah – I won’t presume to know your diet – but I really think you’d be surprised if you kept a food journal for a few days. It’s really amazing when you stop and think about what all you ate, when, and why….and how many calories were in that Starbucks again??
(I thought I’d hit you where it hurt the most!)
You really should check this book out from your library or buy a used copy online. It really simplifies the calorie counting and portion control and the recipes are good, yummy and simple enough to make. I think I paid about $8 for my book. It really does take some thinking and strategizing though. Weight loss really is just calories in, calories out – like a friend once told me. Even on Atkins you can’t just eat and nibble all day long. You have to exercise portion control.
I love Kashi Go Lean Protein bars and have been eating them for lunch (along with a diet dr. pepper!!) when I’m at school b/c they are so easy to tote around.
As far as exercising goes – I don’t really know. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. And don’t forget that muscle weighs more than fat – so you might not be “losing weight” because you are toning/building muscle. This plays into it a lot I think – because it’s like…the healthier you get, physically, the better you start to feel and the more focused you can get on your eating part of weight loss. And the healthier you get, the better your body starts to process food digestion. I can already hear one person arguing with me over this, but I have my rebuttal ready: is she still eating cereal every night for a snack?
Then again she’s the one that reminded me….when it’s important enough for you to decide to lose the weight, you’ll lose the weight. That truth stung for a while until I realized that, for a while, I was really OK with being overweight and I wasn’t concerned about it at all. I was comfortable with my body and that statement helped me relieve a lot of tension about weight loss too. Which, also, can be a road block for weight loss. If you are a nervous – anxiety-driven type person, you have a harder time losing weight because of how stress affects your physical systems like digestion, etc.
Anyway….I’m rambling…. I hope that all answered your question….about what my thoughts were. I gave you a lot of my thoughts…. LOL!
Yeah, it will probably boil down to me learning about calorie intake. Blah. I really don’t want to do that… I just measured my waist and I have lost an inch and a half right under my belly button, so there is progress.
You are right though, when its important enough for you to lose the weight, you will. I am very [turtle like] getting rid of bad eating habits here and there. I guess my weight loss will be slow because I am just not a commando when it comes to eating perfect. [my mom can be a real nazi]. I will get a hold of that book, if you say it is easy to understand I will take your word for it! Thanks for the advice. Also, I am chuckling at your imaginary side argument. lol.
i gained 10 pounds, since August. I WAS a nice toned size 5 or 6.
i was cross-training, cause i learned that running alone promotes injuries. so, i learned to swim, do pilates, and got a cycle. i walked aboout 2 hours 3X a week too. but, i ate what i wanted. who cared-i was skinny anyway!
well, 10 or 12 pounds later, *I* care. I should have cared before ….cause i knew i was pigging out. I reallylove to exercise, but when due to other things, it falls to the wayside, I gain the weight. Its not bad…..Im just back up to a size 8 or so, and my frame just doesnt feel right vcarrying the extra……even though most people would think im nuts to desire to lose the weight. I live in PA so its freezing outside, and now I have to DRIVE to a pool, at night when my kids are home-to get in a good swim. walking and cycling, on an icy day liek to today, is not wise. And i lessened on the pilates cause my hip to waist proportions were leaving me with a more ruler shape; yuck.
after christmas, i need a program too. Someone just gave me a NordicRider for free, but I dont know if it delivers exercise that is swim or run worthy. We shall see.
Hey! Well I’ve learned I can’t eat what I want anymore. It’s a sad reality. I’m simply not 19 any longer.
Oh well! I run and will be getting back to that in January. I also dance, a lot, and am going to start weight training too this spring since I only want to run 3x/week. I like running – but I don’t want to run a lot. Just because I am also dancing on pointe again and I don’t want to stress out my feet TOO much! I’m old. 
Let me know how you do in January. I don’t see any point in stressing about it NOW with Christmas this week and we have a huge New Years party that is 2 days long next week… so… whatever…. but January 1st…I hit the gym. Well. Ok. January 2nd…. LOL!!
That is exactly what happened to my foot-plantar facsitis. Pain doesnt bother me; its screwing up my body that bothers me. It doesnt hurt anymore but it will probably never be back to normal. Sigh. Swimming and pilates have been a lifesaver, and realizing I can still walk…just have to walk almost 2 hours to equal 30 minutes of running.
I love the ballet I took. Classes begin again in February….fun stuff. Although I think my hiney grew bigger because of dancing. Differing muscle groups, I guess. My body feels great though, at class.
You are right- I should not be eating like I was 19. I need a good detox….or fast.
sorry about your foot – i have had foot/ankle problems … actually last year – not related to running though – and they are not fun.
in the spring i am going to take up swimming. the gym i have a membership to (but never go to….) has an adult swimming class in the spring where they teach you how to swim for exercise. this i need to learn. they also use it to recruit for their swim team – which is cool. My husband is going to take the class too and they’ll probably recruit him. Genetically speaking, he should have been a professional athlete of some kind.
Oh and you must have been doing something RIGHT in ballet class if your gluteus maximus’ have toned up…. LOL