Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Small Steps

They say you are what you eat. So these days I am spinach, cabbage, peppers, sweet potatoes, blueberries, Greek yogurt  chicken, strawberries, carrots, celery, mangoes, chick peas, kidney beans, quinoa, brown rice, eggs, pork, cheese, turnips, zucchini, squash, lentils, steak, bananas, grapefruit, apples, cantaloupe, blackberries, walnuts, almonds and watermelon. [Please note that not all of the aforementioned are consumed in a single sitting.]

I am focused on one thing – ensuring that anything that passes my lips must be good for me. I am taking a “make every calorie count” approach but I am not counting calories. I cut processed foods and refined sugar out of my diet: 1) to see what would happen, and 2) because I learned that sugar fuels cancer. I get my share of sweet stuff from all the fruit I eat. And I also cut wheat after experiencing some major bloating – and heaven knows I don’t need yet another belly.

So after three weeks, I am encouraged and I feel great. When I look down I can see my belt buckle and I can twirl the waistband on my skirt. It made me so happy I did it all day long. AND I have closed the gaps in my shirts that used to reveal my oh-so-not stylish support garments! I put my pants on this morning and they were longer than I remembered .... a belt was needed to hold them up -- and the belt actually fit around my hips! Small miracles.

Small changes; small steps; and 10 minutes to my local YWCA. I had a good talk with myself and I decided that if I could give up every pleasure I knew while I was expecting for a baby, I could give up things that don't help me -- for me!

I'll post pictures later... off to have dinner with my lifelong friend Jill, and show her my shrinking rolls. There'll be less of me to love. : )

4 comments:

  1. That's so awesome! Congrats! You are super strong to give up wheat and sugar. So glad you feel better.

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  2. I currently am not quite counting calories either, but I try to stay around 900. I am eating processed food (tv dinners), but the good thing is I know how many calories. I need to lose about 60 lbs. I also work out once to twice a week lately. I hope to have it be 3 times a week soon. Congrats on all your progress! I have lost 5 lbs, but then again my weight also fluctuated 5 pounds in a day, so I won't think I've truly lost 5 lbs until I've lost 10! I write about whatever comes to mind, so feel free to follow me! Hope you have a great day!

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  3. Kattrina - thanks for you kind words. It isn't taking any will power --- I remember how the "food" makes me feel and then I don't want it (sugar, wheat). That's not to say a juicy piece of cherry pie isn't in my future some day!

    Heather - Whatever works for you to get you where you want to be. I just know that when I have focused on how many calories I ingested, it made it feel like a diet - which to me is a temporary measure. I needed a permanent one -- cause I am not as young as you! By the way -- you are beautiful exactly as you are!

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    1. Thanks Lyn! I'm just now seeing this. I don't exactly look like the picture as that was 4 years, a child, and 50 lbs ago. Ha! I still have a lot to learn though. I know sugars can turn into fat (at least that is what I was told by my gynecologist when I was pregnant), and my husband also mentioned that salt can affect your weight. I saw a commercial for McDoanld's' new Fish McBites and was interested, but after looking at how much sodium they and other fast food delicacies have, I want no longer! It thoroughly disgusted me. I'll take some fresh cod instead.

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