Right about my birthday, six weeks or so ago, I decided that it was time to buckle down and get serious about getting in shape and losing weight. As everyone knows, the key to making this happen is through diet and exercise. Although I wish it could be as easy as just skipping dessert, the fact is that you really do need to tackle both angles.
I know myself, and I know that I am prone to getting whole hog into something and then losing interest after a few weeks or months. I decided that to be successful, I needed to approach this a little differently than I have in the past. My plan was to begin with the exercise. Do it for a couple of months and then once it was an established routine, I could start working on my diet.
After six weeks of working out four times a week for about 1 1/2 hours each time (1 hour of cardio plus 1/2 hour of strength training), I am now able to go longer and harder on the cardio machines, however the weight loss has been SLOW. I am only down about 7 pounds. I need some faster results, so it's time to enact phase two of Operation Smaller Cara.
It's no secret that I love food. I love it a lot. I mean a lot a lot. I love butter and cheese and bread and pasta and Dr. Pepper and so much more. Cutting down/out is tough for me. But that's the only way I'm going to get the kind of results I want. I have said "MY DIET BEGINS TOMORROW!" a thousand times and a thousand times I have not started my diet the next day. This time I mean it. Tomorrow, I am actually starting my diet.
My plan is less about calorie counting than it is about generally eating less and eating more healthily. It has to be a lifestyle change. More fresh vegetables, less processed sugar. We already began this weekend with some interesting new menu items that were good AND good for us. I am excited to get started with this new challenge.
I'm not giving up my Dr. Pepper, though.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
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That's great! I think with diet AND exercise, operation smaller Cara WILL be a bigger success. Then when you get to the weight you want you can keep it off by excercising, and start eating more again! That is what I do. Becuase, girl I LOVE TO EAT. I excerice to eat!~
ReplyDeleteGood Luck! I am on the same road. It is a rough one sometimes...You can do it!!
ReplyDeleteSigh...
ReplyDeleteJust...SIGH...
I know. I do.
I love food a lot a lot too... but I love thin me even more!!!
ReplyDeleteMy weight loss has been 95% food. I've fiiinally gotten to the 'eat to live' not 'live to eat' mentality. Mostly. ;)
YOU CAN DO IT!
"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." Repeat as needed. :)
Good luck! It's hard but it'll be worth it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite somewhat healthy snack lately is chocolate granola and lowfat vanilla yogurt. So good and it's better than eating a candy bar.
I really wish losing weight could be more fun! Giving up food is like a form of torture! I have been trying SO hard to be good--even on our trip--but the results are soooo slow. I'm doing what you're doing--not so much counting calories, but trying to make sure everything I eat is good for me.
ReplyDeleteAnd 7 pounds is great! Good luck!!!
Give the Dr. up and I bet you see significant changes. Sorry. lol. When my son gave up Pepsi, he dropped 20 lbs.
ReplyDeleteSeven pounds is a great start, but I don't think you need to lose the Dr. P to lose the weight (maybe just set a weekly limit).
ReplyDeleteI've been counting "points" during the week, but I'm not sure how effective it's been since I just count them and don't necessarily have a points goal for the day.
Good for you. I am trying to do the diet change thing by eating healthier but the bad stuff just keeps sneaking into my mouth. I need help.
ReplyDeleteWow! Sounds like you've already made some great progress. I'm sure that once you add the lowered caloric element, the weight loss will be more significant.
ReplyDeleteBut I can surely relate. I LOVE food...and soda. It's so hard letting go..completely.
Good luck! You can do it :) This is a great time to start eating healthier too, with farmer's markets about to start opening everywhere. You may want to look into a CSA or other co-op program for fresh produce, which would "force" you to consume more fruits & veggies, and experiment with different recipes. It's something I'm planning on doing in 2010, when Maia's eating solids regularly.
ReplyDeleteGood for you!
ReplyDeleteFor me, thinking "eat more of x" is way more succesful than thinking "eat less/eat NONE of x." Whenever I try the second way, I rebel against myself (totally futile and silly, I know) and binge on brownies. When I try the first and eat more good stuff, I find I'm too full to eat brownies. Well, too full to eat as many brownies...
I hope it works out great for you!
ReplyDeletejust make a bunch of small changes, no big ones. the weight will practically fall off while your not looking. Also, when Sophie turns two, you will find yourself doing a lot more running around. you will not even notice the weight coming off.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence. My diet starts tomorrow too!
ReplyDeleteMy weight loss has been slower than I would like but I'm still down 12 pounds. That's just from cutting out soda (don't do it, I said!!) and eating smaller portions. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteI will be checking in with you. I'm spriraling away from my goal. While chasing the boys should burn the calories, staying up too late and being tired in general means I reach for chocolate much more than I should.
ReplyDeleteMy only advice is similar to Oz, eat more vegies fruits etc... you can eat a lot more, feel full and fill up on fiber, and drink more water. Then the cravings you have will be fewer so you can enjoy the tasty things without eating so much of them.
I wish you luck and will be following your progress!