Where can you cut corners?

Friday, July 06, 2012

When you start a heathy lifestyle, you should concentrate on what healthy foods you can add, rather than what you can't have. If you're like me, tho, near GW but seemingly unable to reach it, it might be time to look at what you need to cut out.

For instance, last night I had a tempo run to do (i so didn't want to do it, but am glad I did). I had budgeted for a crumpet with 1 tbsp PB when I got home. You really do need to replenish your protein & a little bit of carbs after strenuous exercise.

When I got home, however, I realized I wasn't very hungry. I chose a banana with my PB instead - carbs can be freggies, too, you know.

Other ways I've learned to cut corners:

As I've mentioned a time or two, a couple of times a week, when I'm not running. I'll have a lower carb day. Not low carb, just lower. Eggs for breakfast instead of oatmeal or cereal, for instance. Sweet potato fries instead of rice at dinner. Small swaps.

Every few days I go for a no dessert day. I still have my chocolate calcium supplement & multivitamin, so I do get a small treat. But I might add in more sweet potato fries than normal, or have popcorn after dinner instead of something sweet.

I've been doing this a couple of months now & it seems to be helping.

Yesterday I said I wanted to remain giddy. The truth is, I want to be giddier: could it be the light at tbe end of a very long tunnel? Well, I've been here many times before. For now, I'll just concentrate on my goal of staying in the 130s. 1 meal, 1 day, 1 week at a time. It's a good goal for me.

What's your goal? Daily? Weekly? July?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DDHEART 7/8/2012 10:22AM

Well I reallized this morning that my previously set wt goal for this month (set over 6 mon ago) is shot since I had not been able to do as you have now and added wt on my past two work trips. So back to my drawing board so to speak. And...one of the problems I noted in examining things is not just that I couldn't do my runs while working but also that I continued to eat as though I were running plus those additional things that slip in when I'm away from home...Back to basics for me...I love that you helped to make me think about this more. Report Inappropriate Comment

TRI_BABE 7/7/2012 7:17PM

I hope I am close, but I know I have a ways to go. It's hard trying to determine exactly what to do when you don't have that much to lose! Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 7/6/2012 12:45PM

Great goal :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

IFDEEVARUNS2 7/6/2012 11:53AM

Glad you are finding a way to balance things! Report Inappropriate Comment

KARBIE18 7/6/2012 11:51AM

I am giddy for you! Once you're that close, it all takes some tweaking, but it sounds like you've got it figured out. Your committment, and reflection, have been so inspirational to me, and to so many others - you've worked really hard, and you SO deserve to meet that goal! You are doing this! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 7/6/2012 9:22AM

Yes, I have a feeling it IS the light at the end of the tunnel. You are very very close to achieving your goal. Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLJONES 7/6/2012 8:48AM

I am very glad that the WW I joined long ago insisted that we cut out lots of things. I learned how to use my fruit and dairy to make my own desserts....when I had dessert. I kind of got out of the habit. Like you, I found that I could make little changes that over time made a big difference. With a little creativity, it is amazing just how long that list of legal foods really is, and how we can make it work for us. Report Inappropriate Comment

I can't believe I finally did it!

Thursday, July 05, 2012

A moment 20 yrs in the making . . . I wnt on a 10 day vacation & came home lighter than I left! Almost 1/2 lb lighter! Yes, I'm giddy! Because I always gain on vacation. ALWAYS. And I track, I exercise, I never go hog-wild. AND it's a week before TOM when often I gain no matter how good I am.

I think traveling by car, having a refrigerator & bringing my own food really helped. I always travel with food, but it's hard to bring things like cherries & carrots & celery when you can't use ice packs & you don't have a fridge.

Yes, there was some retail therapy today. I had a $50 Marshalls gift card, after all. 2 dresses, a top & shoes. I did not buy shoes when I went to the outlets at Williamsburg - I looked, but didn't find anything. And they had one of my favorite brands, too: Nine West. But my real reward will be to buy a cookbook I've wanted a while on my kindle.

Some recent GSFs (grocery store finds): PB Crave - flavored PBs. My PB habit is almost as bad as my protein bar habit. You could live for months on the nut butters in this house. 2 thumbs up to the cookie dough flavor.

And today I found Kashi soft baked squares. A healthy brownie or snack cake . . . haven't tried it yet but I do like most Kashi products. Today is a no dessert day, tho, so tbey'll have to wait.

I have a wedding to go to in a month to keep me motivated. After that, as I start to get up there in mileage, things might get tougher. My goal right now is to stay in tbe 130s, which won't be easy because I'm just barely in them. But I have clothes that start to get uncomfortable when I creep into the 140s.

Nothing worthwhile is easy. I want this. I want this enough to forgo sweets a few times a week. I want this enough to be stricter with carbs a few days a week. I want to stay giddy!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SEMISWEETCHICK 7/9/2012 8:43PM

Way to go! What an accomplishment! I love the way you rewarded yourself. Report Inappropriate Comment

JULIE2719 7/9/2012 2:20PM

Awesome! You did great. You deserve to shop and celebrate. I like Kashi products too - just recently bought some frozen pasta meals that you nuke in the bag - very tasty! Perfect to take to work for lunch. Report Inappropriate Comment

KARBIE18 7/6/2012 11:55AM

Woohoo! Way to go! You always make such thoughtful choices, and I'm glad your body was kind enough to reward you this time! Report Inappropriate Comment

XFITSTRONG 7/6/2012 5:30AM

That is awesome!!!! So inspirational! Way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment

OVERHAULING-ME 7/5/2012 9:28PM

That's a huge accomplishment! Coming home lighter after a vacation...WOW! Report Inappropriate Comment

KANSASROSE67 7/5/2012 4:11PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 7/5/2012 4:04PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

SKFEREBEE 7/5/2012 3:53PM

Sounds like you may have been in my neck of the woods. I've been meaning to hit those outlets around Christmas time but have yet to make the trek. Congrats on the vacation weight loss! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 7/5/2012 2:42PM

Awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYPOWELL1 7/5/2012 2:06PM

It must have been the olive, lol. I'm giddy right along with you - ya did good. Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRYT55 7/5/2012 1:50PM

Good for you! It's tough to go on vacation and not gain..........and you lost 1/2 a pound! Report Inappropriate Comment

Habit or hunger?

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

I noticed while I was away that I have successfully replaced a sweet with fruit after lunch. My only problem was when I didn't have fruit available to me I was craving sweets! I can also remember blogging a long time ago about not feeling satisfied with fruit instead of sweets . . . boy, that's changed! No doubt partially due to the fact that fruit is "free" (within reason) now on the plan.

It really is amazing to me how much of what we do is simply habit. That's why change requires a lot of thought!

And trust me on this one: you don't want to go into a candy store with lots of samples before a meal when you're really, really hungry. I did try to track what I sampled, at least. And yes, I really enjoyed what I sampled, too. Boy, I'm salivating just thinking about it!

I am still quite hopeful about this WI . . . I even wore jeans yesterday because it's much too easy to feel comfortable in a dress or shorts. Comfortable in shorts - who would've thunk?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NATPLUMMER 7/3/2012 2:47PM

I trust you on the candy store. Comfortable in shorts is great!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SKFEREBEE 7/3/2012 2:44PM

I know a lot of what and when I eat is out of habit. I usually don't think about it until I get very busy on a random day and don't have much time to eat leisurely but am only able to eat until I don't feel hunger pangs anymore. I have been trying lately to wait just 15 minutes before I eat something sweet and sometimes I change my mind in that amount of time. It is a shame our bodies are programmed to like sweets so darn much! Report Inappropriate Comment

TEMPEST272002 7/3/2012 2:27PM

It's hard to change these habits. For me a meal doesn't feel complete until it ends in a sweet... and I'm not sure how much of that is simply habit. Good luck on the weigh in. Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYPOWELL1 7/3/2012 10:15AM

I usually crave something sweet after meals, and fruit has been the answer 90% of the time. The other 10% well, we won't go there..... Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 7/3/2012 9:50AM

Most of what I eat is the result of habit. I'm working to change that, but it's slow progress. Report Inappropriate Comment

JWOURMS 7/3/2012 6:52AM

I know what your talking about. I can now have plain yogurt and a sweet fruit like raspberries. I used to NEED (so to speak) a tablespoon or glug of maple sryup too. Not so much. I'm going to make a picture of iced tea now...think I'll add a few leaves of stevia instead of sugar. Thanks for reminding me or this success. Report Inappropriate Comment

XFITSTRONG 7/3/2012 6:32AM

Great JOB! Great habit to form! Report Inappropriate Comment

BESSHAILE 7/3/2012 6:28AM

Good for you dear heart - I am noticing subtle changes too, now that fruit is free on WW. Of course, at first I sort of binged on fruit but now I think I'm getting it under control. My WI is today - really curious about what I'll see. Report Inappropriate Comment

ROCKSTEADY4EVER 7/3/2012 5:32AM

Report Inappropriate Comment

Through sand & ocean . . .

Monday, July 02, 2012

. . . over cobblestone, through college . . . but thankfully not thru horse poop! That sums up my running on this vacation.

I am working thru the photos, so a real blog on our trip will have to wait a bit. Meeting SKINNYPOWELL1 & running with her was definitely one of tbe highlights. We're pretty well matched running-wise& I just wish we lived closer together! Oh well.

Another highlight was going out to lunch with my besties from HS - it's been 12 yrs! - even if getting out of the DC area was a nightmare. OTOH, we managed to miss that killer storm.

I feel as if I did really well eating-wise; I'll get my report card on Thursday (altho that will be 1 week pre-TOM; kind of snuck up on me). Having a fridge in the room except for the very last night really helped. So did bringing my own breakfasts.

I think this is the longest I've ever gone without blogging! I was either running, swimming, doing yoga, reading tbe 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, or busy being a tourist.

All in all a great trip.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LJCANNON 7/3/2012 12:59AM

Sounds like a Great Time, glad that you are back to Blogging, too!! Report Inappropriate Comment

IFDEEVARUNS2 7/2/2012 3:39PM

That trilogy is a waste of my time and money - although I still read it to the end. I have this thing about finishing what I've started, LOL. Report Inappropriate Comment

KANSASROSE67 7/2/2012 2:47PM

Glad you had fun! Report Inappropriate Comment

XFITSTRONG 7/2/2012 2:10PM

Good for you! Have missed your blogs! Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 7/2/2012 12:43PM

Avoiding horse poop is definitely a bonus ;-) It sounds like you had a great vacation. Welcome home :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYPOWELL1 7/2/2012 11:35AM

I enjoyed your visit and really do wish we lived closer. So what you think of the trilogy - I read them all. Report Inappropriate Comment

HALFFAST 7/2/2012 11:30AM

What fun! Can't wait to see pics! What's your opinion on the Shades of Grey trilogy? I'm almost done with the current series I'm reading and looking for something new. Report Inappropriate Comment

SLIMMERJESSE 7/2/2012 9:23AM

What fun! Have a wonderful day. Report Inappropriate Comment

ELRIDDICK 7/2/2012 9:19AM

Thanks for sharing Report Inappropriate Comment

Breaking out of my green rut

Monday, June 18, 2012

I've been eating lots of veggies lately, but they're all green: asparagus, zucchini, baby bok choy, romaine. Today I finally saved the baby bell peppers that wre almost too far gone, cut them up & had them with lunch. Sooooo good.

So why don't I have bell peppers more often, since I really love them & they're so good for you?

Of course there's the pain of having to cut them up. Asparagus is so easy: snap the ends off & you're done.

But you'll never guess the real reason: I have to put up with the obnoxious meowing from simba. Yes, he's a strange cat. I have the same problem with him & baby carrots & don't eat those as often as I should because he's so annoying.

What strange but true excuses do you have for not getting enough veggies?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DDHEART 6/25/2012 8:46PM

Hardly ever have trouble getting enough greens but as you know, I have been trying to eat a rainbow and I do find that I tend to eat color ruts....sometimes it'll be mostly red other times another color. I could blame this on seasonal changes but it also is what I desire at a given time. Right now, every chance I get, I would eat cherries and even skip my dark chocolate...I just love those cherries! Oh well. Report Inappropriate Comment

MZSLYDE01 6/21/2012 8:52AM

Ha Ha Ha - My cat get's annoying with greens. When I come home from the store he is right there just bugging me and trying to get at them. He loves anything green. Cat's are so funny - they crack me up. At least they know what's good for you..LOL I love it. Report Inappropriate Comment

DDOORN 6/20/2012 1:54PM

It's a rare day when I don't have a red bell pepper...yum! Don Report Inappropriate Comment

NATPLUMMER 6/18/2012 2:33PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYPOWELL1 6/18/2012 1:49PM

LOL, blame it on the cat . I'm just plain lazy some times to cut things up, but it beats the alternative of overeating. Way to keep it real, I just love ya. Report Inappropriate Comment