We are still in the midst of the holiday season, a time when indulgences are plentiful and temptations are high. I am a real Mom losing real weight. I will be describing the goals that I set for myself and my progress. I am not afraid to work hard but my goals must be attainable to keep me motivated.
Here are the five things that I will do this week to start:
5. Get rid of all temptations around the house.
I have happy memories of making the cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and all the other sweet holiday goodies with my kids. I have even better memories of eating them. The best thing that I can do is remove them from my house. Yesterday morning, I packaged up a beautiful tray of carefully arranged cookies and candies and sent them to work with my husband;
4. Keep a Food Journal.
I typically do this but have neglected it for several weeks. I like to do this for two reasons. First, it allows me to see what and when I am eating and where my weak periods during the day are. The second reason is because it makes me think about what I am eating and if it is worth my time to eat it if I have to record it. If for no one but yourself, it makes you accountable for what you are putting into your body;
3. Do 10 push ups every time I am tempted to eat something unhealthy, then drink a large glass of water.
This is for a craving, not to be confused with being hungry. I have found that I need to eat something healthy every 3 hours. I plan it so I don't get hungry. The goal of good eating and planning it out is to stabilize blood sugar levels so you never get to that hungry stage. Think of the exercise as motivation not punishment. Not that the water will satisfy your cravings but it may fill you up enough until the next one hits. If that doesn't curb your craving, have some fruit or veggies and some raw nuts;
2. Exercise three times this week.
This one will be really hard for me due to the fact that I have been sick for over a month. It will be a huge challenge to make myself go back to the gym and I dread the killer classes that are so good for me. Whether it is the gym or my new Wii Fit Plus, I will exercise 3 times this week. The easiest thing for me to do is pick three days, schedule it like an appointment and stick to it; and
1. Not criticize the reflection in the mirror.
When I see myself, instead of focusing on what I wish were different, I will remind myself that I have already begun to make what I have stronger and healthier.
I want to be sure to point out that I am not an expert on fitness. I am not a trainer. I am simply describing things that have brought me success in the past and tips that I am hopeful will be beneficial again. I have several friends that have worked with personal trainers and have achieved their goals as a result. They are also the first ones to remind me that a healthy lifestyle is just that, a lifestyle. It must be maintained.
Accomplishing goals is most effective with support. I challenge myself to begin these five things this week. Are there any readers that are willing to follow me?