My goal for this year was to get down to 145 lbs. That would require losing 12 lbs, which I thought was completely do-able over the course of 12 months. I started off really well, but after looking at pictures from my recent half marathon, I realized that things were not hunky-dory. They were more like chunky-dory.
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| I love this picture because I look happy. I hate it because I can't stop looking at my stomach. |
Last week I announced I was going to quit drinking soda. I have yet to actually achieve this. I blame it on stress and PMS. I picked a crappy week to try to give up my biggest vice. Still, when I got on the scale today and realized that I have gained back ALL of the weight I'd lost earlier this year, I was frustrated and angry with myself.
I'm 34. I don't make good food choices. It has to change. Something's got to give. Today I'm just feeling lost as to where to start. They say weight loss starts in the kitchen. I have a ton of "diet" and "healthy" cookbooks, yet they're just collecting dust on the shelf. I don't know what my problem is, but I can't seem to shake myself up enough to change things.
For those of you who have lost weight - What did you do to kick-start the transition? How did you make the first steps towards a healthier you?
One way to eat healthier is to buy less processed food and make more - it can be crazy-challenging because recipes are difficult (well to me anyway). What I'll do is buy some basics: some onions, garlic, kale, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms...and then just wing it! Try some meat and then mix in some of those above-named items, you can really create some fun and healthy meals! :)
ReplyDeleteMy brain understands the basic premise, but it just doesn't ever seem to happen... We get crunched for time and end up eating out, or the kids eat and then I don't eat till later and it's just easier to quickly make something crappy. I need to make it happen, though. Ugh.
DeleteI'm sorry you're frustrated. It can be infuriating to work so hard and not see the progress you want to see. For what it's worth, I gave up soda in March (Diet Dr. Pepper was my vice and I would drink a ton of it), and I really haven't seen any major changes in my body. I kind of feel betrayed by that LOL.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard finding just the right combination, and even worse when you hit a wall. I think you have to make small, sustainable changes, and build on them. It can be too overwhelming to make too many changes at once and it can lead to feelings of failure, which isn't fair to yourself and all the hard work you're doing.
Good luck!
Well..... Diet Dr Pepper has no calories. So I wouldn't expect that cutting it out would change anything. =) Except, maybe, for how you feel, since it has caffeine in it and all.
DeleteI think you're right about the small changes, though. Maybe that's what I need to really focus on. Thanks!
I'm awful about eating processed foods (we eat way too many) - the thing I have to work on the most is portion control. I've found that if I just limit the amounts of what I eat, I don't have to give anything up.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I think that picture of you is awesome!!
Aww, thanks!
DeleteYou are so right about portion control. I tend to be decent about portion control at any given time, but I do think that I eat too often - I'm guilty of late-night snacks for no reason other than "I want something." It's not hunger, it's just habit. I need to work on that!
My weight loss journey started July 2011. It took until around october though for me to really kick it up a notch. You see that's when I discover Chalene Johnson's 30daypush. A FREE program to help you transform you dreams into reality, that gave me the push start to really get the bowl rolling.
ReplyDeleteIn 2012 I achieved a lot of goals, and one of those was to get to my goal weight (which i am at now, and have maintained for over 6 months).
In October 2012 I discovered a podcast call "the smarter science of slim". It really sounded too good to be true, but it's all true! loads of research and all science base, and wow, makes me think about food in totally new perspective.
So those are my 2 tid bits.
1. www.30daypush.com
2. www.thesmarterscienceofslim.com
Good luck either way.
Thanks!
Delete"Chunky Dory" omg you crack me up! I think you look GREAT in that pic. I cannot really preach weight loss solutions as I've never lost a lot of weight, but I think counting calories makes the most sense!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think you're right - the only times I've ever successfully lost weight were the few times that I used FitnessPal and logged all my calories. Ugh. I guess I have to get back to that. Thanks!
DeleteIf you find the key let me know! I have gained all the weight I lost during marathon training and it's annoying. I hear if I add weights that'll help but who knowS?
ReplyDeleteThat's what they say, but I don't know, either. It's been awhile since I did any weight training. I gave it up when I started running, because running was more fun. Dur.
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