Around here we eat well. There is very little excuse, one of the best grocery stores in the area is within steps of our front door:
(No, it's not as noisy as you might think. And so convenient!)
I struggle with eating. Not that I eat too much. I don't eat enough. Or, really, I don't eat consistently. And then I'm famished and eat whatever is available - and fast. The starve-binge cycle is not a healthy choice.
The RESET wasn't enough, but it did get me eating, er drinking, smoothies for breakfast. Eating breakfast consistenly is a new thing. Though I insist my kids do, I wasn't modeling very good choices myself. (Bad mommy.) I have now ventured into a new eating program. It's pretty strict with specific quantities and combinations of food groups - as in: eat a protein with a whatever and something else; or, eat a carb with a whatever and something else. Not so specific that it is restrictive in any way but enough that I "get it" and eat the proper proportions at regular intervals.
It's the consistency of regular intervals that has previously messed me up. Now, with reminders set up in my iPhone things are progressing well.
Any weight loss? I'm not so sure. Though I've purchased a new fancy-schmancy scale - it reads weight, water, BMI, bone density - I plan to step on it once a week, first thing Monday mornings, not daily.
What has been the benefit so far? I am consciously eating and I feel WAY better. For the first time in a very long time I'm feeling hunger and then listening to my body and providing it nourishment on demand.
I'm also drinking so much water I'm ready to float away! How much? Take your body weight in pounds. Divide that number in half. That number represents the number of ounces you should drink in a day. With my conversion to litres, I have to drink 4 litres of water every day. EVERY DAY. And, should I be inclined, or have time, if I have a coffee, or tea (even non caffeinated), or anything else to drink - juice, milk, slurpie - I have to replenish with double that amount in pure water. I have a cup of coffee every morning. I now drink over 4.5L of water to accomodate it!
Preparation for success is KEY. In order to make sure I never EVER go back to that starve-binge cycle again. That means it's not enough to have the grocery store across the street. I have to have the product IN MY HOME for consumption at any time. Especially with the unexpected more spontaneous days of summer when I may have to pack for the day ahead.
Now, on our fridge, is this little list:
The kids, of course, live here too. As much as I'd love to stop them from eating their choice of c.r.a.p. it is impossible, and might just have the opposite effect. I figure, if I make healthy choices readily available, there's a better than good chance they might just pick up something healthy.
The "Never-Outs" are just that. Those things I always want on hand. That does not exclude the things we'll pick up on occasion: steak, brussels sprouts, mushrooms, tomatoes and the like. They are just the things I need to have here in the house to ensure that we make better choices. Since all of us run over to Fortino's through the day, I have this posted so that with a quick look in the fridge or cupboard, save someone a trip and replenish the milk or the Greek yogurt or flax seeds :)
In my bag or in the truck you will find a stainless steel container of water and a protein bar. I will not be caught without these things within easy reach again. There is no excuse. I am now completely prepared for success. Not just that, but I've engaged a new medical staff who is looking into the cortisol/thyroid issue.
Weight loss should come. At least I know everything is being done to prepare and execute with success in mind!
[Full disclosure: last week, among the chaos of house guests and activity, I slipped back into old habits. I got right back on track on Monday with a quick start of 12-meals - after all, there were no Chinese take-out boxes in the fridge left to tempt me!]
