Need for snacks
Saturday, May 25, 2013
I think this expereince can help others.
The year I turned 40 I gained a lot of weight while still running 5-60km per week and I had not changed my eating habits. My blood pressure also went up and for the first time in my life (my blood pressure has always been on the lower side) I had several readings above 140/80mmHg. I think it was changing hormone levels, which made my body need less food.
I reduced my food to 1600kcal per day but still on 3 meals a day and increased my exercise (mainly running). but for several months I did not loose any weight, i did however maintain and my blood pressure got back into the normal range.
Then I started reading up - that is also when I came across SP and joined - and realized I need to do several things:
1. take my snacks seriously and bring them from home to ensure they are healthy choices. By spreading out your claories to 5-6 meals a day and taking a snack every 2-3 hours, I felt less hungry, had less cravings. Also snacks are the best time to get in those fruits. At work they laugh at me because of the apples & bananas I bring almost daily, but I have seen some taking up the habit.....
2. change up my exercise. I went from mainly running, to do 2-3 runs a week, go to the gym twice a week doing a combo of cardio & ST and then went swimming whenever I got a chance.
This worked very well and suddenly the pounds came off I lost 10kg that time. Meanwhile I have regained most of that, due to sickness, injury and further hormonal changes. I also lost focus for a while.
Now that I am focussing again I have lost 2kg. and know I will loose more.