Ten weeks ago I started something new in my life and it was difficult but not in the ways I thought it would be. Making better choices about food and getting more exercise are not the main adjustments; merely accepting that I am not healthy and that I have to lose weight are the things that are impacting me the most. But ever since I committed to making this change the weight has continuously come off.
What I Am Doing Differently:
-Gave up soda, completely, not even diet or sugar free energy drinks.
-Started eating whole grain. If I eat bread it is whole grain and if I can find it, gluten free.
-Cutting out as much sugar as possible. This is difficult because there is sugar in pretty much everything.
-Paying attention to not just the nutritional facts but the ingredient list as well. You will be amazed at what is in some of the foods you thought were healthy. Like yogurt, there is so much sugar in flavored yogurt. Instead, I buy plain yogurt and add my own fresh fruit and gluten free granola.
-Eating tons of fruits and veggies. This seems like a no brainer but seriously eat your damn veggies people. That shit's good for you!
-Cooking more interesting foods. I get bored with food easily when I feel like I have to limit myself so I have started experimenting with more recipes, so far most things have been successful.
-Eating more often. And oh man, this is by far the most difficult adjustment I have had to make. You would think this would be so easy right? Eating more instead of less, well it isn't. A lot of what is causing problems with my insulin levels and weight gain is the fact that I usually only eat once or twice a day. I have somehow managed to make myself overweight and malnourished at the same time.
Before, I would often not eat at all before work, I almost never ate at work, (I still do not eat at work. I should but I am struggling most with this.) and then I would binge when I got home. I thought of it as a reward. I would say to myself, "Oh I worked so hard today and I haven't eaten anything! I can eat all this." or worse "I didn't eat all day and I'm having a rough day or I'm too tired to cook. I deserve to eat whatever I want." I would end up either eating fast food or just eating anything and everything I wanted at home. I would often snack while I cooked myself dinner, like I would be cooking an entire meal but as I was doing so I would be munching on pickles or crackers. Eating before you eat... not a great habit.
Now, I have managed to usually work in two meals and one snack a day. My doctor is concerned that this is not often enough and by going so many hours without food I am allowing my blood sugar to get low multiple times a day. So, this is still a work in progress. And when I say snack I mean snack, like a cheese stick or an apple; not a cheese stick and an apple and some crackers and... you get the idea.
-Keeping a food journal. My doctor has also asked me to write down everything I eat. This is not only just to see what I eat so we can evaluate what foods work for me but also to hold me accountable. Sure I could lie but that really isn't going to help anyone. Furthermore, since I have not yet been able to eat at the times I have been asked to my doctor has requested I now write down the times at which I eat what. She has also asked that I share my food journal with a friend in between my appts with her to get another opinion on what I am eating.
-Thinking of this project as a lifestyle change not a "diet". In this blog when I use the word "diet" I am referring to what I eat not how I am losing weight. If I treat this like a fad diet I will inevitably gain the weight back. This is me forming new and better habits to lose weight and keep it off.
-Exercising. This is the second hardest part for me, making time to work out. I am not a gym kind of person. I don't like gyms at all. If I am going to walk a mile I'm going to walk somewhere not in place on a treadmill in a room with other sweaty people. If I am on something with pedals I am going to ride it somewhere not pedal in place on a stationary bike. I have also incorporated exercise into my daily routine like parking further away at stores so I have to walk more, taking more trips up and down the stairs in front of my apartment, using a resistance band to work out my arms while watching way too many episodes of Rescue Me, and today at work my manager and I did squats and lunges while we folded towels. The little things do add up.
Now that the first 20lbs are off I know I will need to work harder to keep pulling the weight. I need to focus on building my endurance because when I hit 40lbs lost I would like to look into finding an adult volleyball or softball team to play on. I feel being active in this fashion vs. going to the gym will be easier for me to stay on track. Please share with me any suggestions you have or things you have done that have helped you shed lbs. Thanks for reading!
Coming up next:
My Life on the Chubby List: Fat Girl Survival Tips!
This is great honey. Keep it up.
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