Greetings Friends~
I am on the diet wagon and feel as if I have just started another long bumpy journey westward. Although this isn't new territory for me, I am taking a different route this time, One Step at a Time.
There are some common sense things that you and I know about dieting. Obviously, eating candy, doughnuts, chips, dips, pizza, ice cream...(need I go on?)...are NOT part of a healthy plan to lose weight. If they were, I'd be all of 98 pounds. But, there are other food choices that are not so black and white.
No Fat, Low Fat, Sugar Free, Reduced Calorie, Low Carb, High Fiber, Sodium Free...the choices are really confusing and sometimes down right deceptive.
I have to constantly remind myself to read the labels on products while shopping so I can get the real picture of what is in something. For instance, those salad dressings that proclaim they are "low in fat" are often higher in sugar...and those that say they are "sugar free" often have a higher fat content. Couple this with the reality that food manufacturers add extra salt to everything and you have a recipe for diet disaster.
Speaking of which, I have given up salt. Hmm, let me re-phrase that. I have given up salting my foods. I haven't gotten to the point yet where I will eat only sodium free products but I know that by ignoring the salt shaker, I've reduced my sodium intake significantly.
My goal is that when Monday morning comes and I step on that scale, I want to be aware of the reason for my loss (or lack of). Did I eat something with a high sodium content last night that caused me to retain water? Did I neglect to drink enough water over the weekend? Did I enter my food into my FitDay food log and find that I ate way too many carbs? Did I recognize that eating those 3 avocados this weekend resulted in my fat intake being WAY out of whack?
I don't want to get on the scale, see the number and go "Huh?" I do want to have a good idea what effected my progress this week.
Do you know what caused your loss (or lack of) this week? If not, then start playing Sherlock Holmes and figure it out. "Elementary, my dear Watson." You will be glad that you did.
Inspiration of the Day
Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. – Lyndon B. Johnson, 1908-1973, 36th President of the United States
Try this as a side dish the next time you grill some chicken.
http://www.recipezaar.com/Very-Low-Fat-Black-Bean-And-Corn-Salad-52500
Shopping Tips
Pretty slim pickings this week for those of us looking for healthy buys at the grocery store. Safeway has the following on sale through next Tuesday; whole chicken for $.69 a pound, peeled carrots for $1 bag, 8 oz sliced mushrooms for $1, Del Monte Fruit Naturals for $1 each and pears for $1 pound.
Once again, I will suggest that members and followers post comments regarding the blog, your struggles, suggestions, whatever words of wisdom you have or even some new diet or low cal food that you tried and want others to know about it. We are all here because we know how hard this task is. Who knows better than ourselves the difficulties of achieving what we recently set out to do? This is another small step you can make in your efforts to get fit, One Step at a Time.
Happy Trails!
3 comments:
Thank you Chip for sharing your struggles and triumphs in such a honest way. We are all striving for healthier choices and better decisions. Hearing about your thoughts gives me a lot of strength to be honest with myself and my own struggles.
A few things that help in this journey for myself: I exercise in the morning, this way I can't procastinate or come up with excuses,sometimes I exercise again in the evening,but if I don't have enough energy at least I accomplished my morning routine.
I also keep a food,water and exercise journal. This is a little tedious but allows me to see exactly how I lost or didn't lose.It also keeps my portions in control.
Thank you for your committment to this group and our friendship. Today was a four letter word day. You know that if I was a "lover of food" I would be on my third dozen doughnut by now. You are so wise with your label reading advice. I was totally impressed with the way you asked the server at Applebee's about the meal you wanted last Friday. I know you were'nt just doing it for my benefit. You're in this for real.
I wish I was more of a morning person like you Rebecca. The only thing that can get me up early enough in the morning like that is clam digging, fishing, hunting OR a trip on an airplane. Maybe after I've dropped some more weight I'll have more energy to do that. It is a great idea. For me, working out after work is just what the doctor ordered. I get a chance to burn off all my frustrations and stress from the day. Right now it is harder because I can't get to the gym right away on the nights Susan has volleyball but that will be over next month. Then we can go straight to the gym from work. I am really anxious to take one of the spin (cycling) classes. Elizabeth says it is brutal.
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