I’m starting to have friends and coworkers stop me in the street and ask what I’m doing… so changes are starting to be noticed with this lifestyle change. I thought I’d check in with my third month of measurements, share what a typical day of eating looks like, answer some questions I’ve had and what I’m doing beyond the food changes.
First Off, Let’s Celebrate
Come on. Do a little dance with me! I’ve lost, in 2 months, 19.5″. That’s right! THAT is something to celebrate! The most important thing is that they are coming off of my middle to ward off things like high blood pressure, diabetes 2 and all the other crap that is metabolic disorder.
That is good stuff right there and validates the BIG changes that I made to my diet and the addition of more physical stuff. PROGRESS. Remember, I won’t know the weight number until I go back to the doctor in August and I won’t have a baseline of tests until then either. This is all in prep for that to see if I am on the right track.
What Does a Typical Day of Eating Look Like?
This is the question I get asked the most. Here is what a normal day looks like – remember, I don’t have kids at home and I’m just cooking for me and my husband. He eats bread and ice cream and therefore makes some of his own choices outside of what I eat… which is fine. Everyone has to figure out what works for them.
7:30AM Pre-Breakfast
Glass of water, 12 almonds (I don’t count them), coffee with half and half.
9:30AM Breakfast
One egg scrambled in butter with a little mozzarella cheese and pepper and half of a bell pepper cut in strips (these are the perfect crunch to feel like eating toast without actually eating toast).
12:00 Lunch
Black bean chili (often just Amy’s if I haven’t made my own) and a salad with balsamic dressing and any veggies from the fridge that I’m not to lazy to cut up into bite sized pieces. I’ll probably also have some string cheese because I love it.
3:00 Snack
Smoothie with frozen pineapple and mango (this is something I get from Sam’s), orange juice, half a frozen banana, and whey protein – if I’m feeling brave I’ll stick some greens in it too, then I’ll feel extra virtuous.
6:30 Dinner
Hamburger patty with sautéed onions served in a lettuce leaf, primal style, with pickles, mustard and a sliced tomato. Balled melon for desert.
I have no idea what the calories are in any of that. I’m not tracking it anywhere. I just eat. I am not eating processed carbs (no rice, bread, potatoes, crackers, pancakes, pasta…), processed food, sugar or snack foods – so I just go for it. I don’t eat low fat things, sugar free things or diet foods. It’s kind of like Whole 30, but I eat dairy (butter, half and half and cheese) and beans. I could totally substitute the hamburger for beans of some kind or sautéed tofu which I do on a regular basis. I also take an iron supplement because I’m anemic.
My husband, who does most of the grocery shopping (I know, lucky lady), says that we now really only eat around the perimeter of the store. He never (unless he is getting his clandestine Ben & Jerry fix) even goes down the center aisles (exceptions: coffee, olive oil and beans are all in center aisles.)
What About Yummy Rewards or Just Loving Food
I totally love food. I love to cook and I love to snack (I could never be a French woman – they don’t snack). I’m just changing my relationship to food. Food isn’t a reward if it killing you. Food isn’t a reward if it makes you obese. Food isn’t a reward if it makes you crazy on a sugar/carb high. Food is sustenance. It is what drives our energy and our bodies. Getting the very best food I can has become the priority and understanding what my body needs instead of just grabbing what is easy.
I was super sad on the 4th of July when I realized that outside of watermelon most of the food that we celebrate with in America is terrible for you. Pasta salad, potato salad, hot dogs, baked beans, potato chips, buns – just all of it is something I can’t have any more because that kind of food has led me to feel terrible and walk towards a life I don’t want to have (medicine, doctors, and illness). Most of our holidays are like this. We reward ourselves with food that is fattening, sugar laden and not good for us all in celebration. It just doesn’t make sense to me anymore. I’d MUCH rather have a beautiful piece of salmon, roasted veggies and a fresh peach and feel great then load up on things that I know are going to make me feel terrible later.
It’s a life change – not just a diet. I’ve had to change my ideas of what makes me happy.
What About Exercise?
Yep. There is exercise. I do 15-25 minutes of yoga most nights (5 out of 7) and I just added the Couch to 5K running program 3 nights a week. I can tell that both of these added to the inch loss and are strengthening my core, arms and legs. Yoga has been super helpful to feel stronger and to feel more flexible and the running isn’t terrible even though it’s July in Arkansas (hello evening running). The first month I didn’t do anything except walk the dog 30 minutes a day. The second month I added short yoga sessions and running or walking every day.
Ok, But How Do I Feel?
Great. I sleep great. I’m actually tired from exercising (I do all of that at night). I’m not in a fog during the day. My mood is better (less cranky). I feel full and not deprived in anyway. I can go out to eat with friends and find something on the menu that is going to be perfect. I don’t really miss potatoes all that much – about twice a month we have sweet potatoes in something and that seems to be enough to satisfy my potato needs. Remember, it was potatoes that I was so sad to see go.
Is it hard? Not really. I know that my friends don’t believe me, but once I made up my mind to do it I am just doing it. The benefits help to keep me going, but honestly, it isn’t hard. Sometimes going out to a gathering at someone’s home is hard, but I just bring stuff that I can eat – even if it seems weird to them (hello Harvest Snaps, Krave Jerky, Dang Snacks).
I go to the doctor at the end of August – that is when it all gets real and they tell me if this is all working. I have to believe that losing almost 20″ has helped. Goodness, I hope so!
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