Cutting The Fat

Although I have been stressing out plenty over having to look for a job after 7 years of being a stay-at-home mom, one of the things that I'm truly looking forward to about going back to work is the fact that I won't be 10 steps from my kitchen anymore.

I won't be able to constantly snack all day (unless I pack a billion snacks to take to work, and let's be honest, I am way too lazy for that), and I won't be able to mindlessly consume all the extra calories that have landed me back in my fat pants.   (Ok, that's a lie.  I'm not so much in my fat pants as spilling out of them these days!)

Since I am terrible at "dieting," I (as most Americans are wont to do) decided to ask Dr. Google the easiest tricks for cutting calories and losing weight.  99% of them are no-brainers, but since brains often get shut off in the weight gaining process, I figured I'd share them here.

Di's 5 Tips to Eat Less and Lose Weight

• Use Smaller Plates - Smaller plates fill up faster, tricking your mind into thinking you're eating more than you actually are. (We actually started this last year, when we donated our old plates and bought new ones in a smaller size.) 
• Eat Protein For Breakfast - Protein helps fill you up and gets you going in the morning. (I am terrible about this, as I usually don't eat breakfast, or if I do, it's mostly carbs. This morning, I had a Dr. Pepper.  Eep.) 
• Drink More Water - A lot of times when you think you're hungry, you're really thirsty. Water helps hydrate you, and can help you feel full without needless calories. (I am terrible about this.  Really, really horrible.  I rarely drink water at all.)
• Chew Your Food - Ok, duh.  We obviously chew our food.  But do we chew enough?  Studies have shown that people who slow down and chew their food 20+ times before swallowing actually consume less calories per meal.  (I have never paid attention to how much I chew, but I probably don't do this, either)
• Don't Eat in Front of the TV (or computer) - Again, studies have shown that "distracted eating" leads to consuming more calories.  Sitting down at a table for a proper meal instead of mindlessly eating in front of your favorite show will help ensure that you pay attention to what you're eating. (Again, shockingly, I am bad at this.  I'd say 95% of my eating happens in front of a computer or television)

So....... it's obvious why I've gained weight, right?  I don't take my own advice.  Well, we all know the hallmark of being a parent is "Do as I say, not as I do."  Right?  

No.  It really is time that I set a better example - for my kids and myself.  So starting right now, I follow my own rules. We'll see what happens. 

Oh, and I may as well add on a Rule #6.  RUN!   I did so, in the rain, last night.  It was the shortest run ever (it was REALLY raining!!), but it felt good and I was happy to be out there.  Plus I burned a few calories, and that's always a good thing! 

Quick Fix

I hate to exercise.  I have workout videos, I have a gym membership and personal trainer sessions at said gym.  Due to my aforementioned hatred of exercise, though, all of those go unused.  I've been lying to myself, saying that it's ok, because I run.  But my running's not getting any better.  And the number on my scale is moving upwards instead of down.   So, really, I need to exercise.

My son has been going to Tae Kwon Do classes for the past 5 months or so, and every time I go with him, I think to myself "Wow, these kids are really getting a workout!"  I can't afford my own Tae Kwon Do classes (nor am I willing to publicly humiliate myself by being unable to do things that a 6 year old can do), so I decided to troll the internet for a kickboxing dvd that would whip me into shape.

I had vague memories of some guy named Billy that used to yell at my housemate in college.  You might have heard of him?

But that guys scares me, and I was looking for a more gentler introduction to the world of kickboxing.  I did an amazon search for "easy kickboxing dvd" (or something to that effect) and came up with this: 

It arrived in the mail last week and sat, unopened, on my computer desk, taunting me.  Today, I put on my yoga pants and popped it into the dvd played while my daughter sat on the couch, watching.  

I loved it!  I only did 2 of the 10 minute segments today (upper and lower body - the 3rd is core, I think), but I enjoyed it, and while it wasn't the hardest thing I've ever done, it got me sweaty and feeling like I was actually doing something, so I call that a win.   

I had a little trouble following along with some of the parts of the 2nd segment - I've always had trouble following along to fast-tempo leg movement.  I said "Ugh, I don't know why I can't get this!" and my daughter (who is 4, mind you) said "Maybe it's because it's your first time?"    Love. Her.   

So from now on, on the days that I don't run (and maybe even the days that I do!), I'll be trying to banish my uncoordinatedness (I made that up just now, you're welcome) and working on my uppercut.    Next time, though, I'll wear less clothing.  It's one thing to wear long pants when you're out running in the winter.  But indoors, with the heat on, doing this dvd?  Soo not necessary.  

Have you ever tried kickboxing?  

Cutting The Fat

I hate whining about my weight. I really do.  But today I need to.  I will try to keep it more to "talking" and less actual "whining."

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.

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?