South Beach

Oh! Hello, there! No, I haven't forgotten about you, I just have been eating very badly this summer. I don't know why. Not so much my lunches and dinners but the snacks. Oh, the snacks...someone save me from myself.

Hopefully that's about to change since my husband's orthopedic surgeon told him he needs to lose 20 lbs and suggested the South Beach Diet. He is going to have hip replacement surgery (I know, he's only 37. Crazy) within the next 6 months or so and can't do much working out other than swimming due to that bum hip. The doctor's wife is a nutritionist and has her own diet plan which is very similar to South Beach, so he suggested we look into that (his wife's plan is one of those where you have to purchase all the food and we just can't afford that). He actually lost 50 lbs himself so that's encouraging. I already have the book (psssst, the Kindle version is only $2.99 right now!) and have been looking at it periodically. And you know what? I don't think it's going to be as hard as I originally thought.

If you would have asked me to try this diet 5 years ago, I would have laughed in your face. But now that we've been adding more fresh vegetables and fish to our diet and now that I'm no longer scared of buying produce, the first phase (which is mainly vegetables and lean meats and eggs--no carbs or fruit) that lasts 14 days doesn't look that difficult to me. It's not going to be EASY because things get old after awhile and Hubby is used to lots of sweets, but I think I can handle 2 weeks worth of strict eating. And it's not like it's taking away everything tasty. We are allowed chicken breast, fish, salads, eggs, low-fat dairy, sugar substitutes, all the vegetables we can eat except for potatoes, and even coffee (although they suggest decaff, we are NOT going there). The next phase adds in fruit and healthy carbs (whole grains and such) and then by the third phase, you should be used to eating healthy that it's more of a lifestyle now than anything. They say you quit craving the sweets after the first few days on the diet and I believe that, because I've gone on successful sugar detoxes and after the first few rough days, it gets better. The problem is falling off the wagon by going on a binge and never getting back on. So, if we can keep from doing that, then we'll be good.

The great thing about this is that there is rapid weight loss in those first two weeks and it's mainly belly fat, which both of us struggle with. Now, I know that sounds hinky and too good to be true, but if you think about it, you're cutting out all the BAD foods and eating what's healthy and right, all the great things they eat in the Mediterranean and way back before we had so much processed foods. And it's not like Atkins where you just gorge on meat and meat and meat. I just don't even see how that is healthy. What I've been reading through this book is that this is a heart-healthy diet and can help prevent diabetes. That's always a great thing!

So, have any of you tried this diet before? Is anyone interested in doing it with me? I'm not sure when we'll begin, but the sooner, the better, in my book!

starting out, not too bad

so, i don't know if i mentioned this before-- but i joined the gym at work. because my husband is working out something awesome, and i'll be damned if i let him be better than me! so it's a sort of friendly competition now. not one he knows about, but just sort of a way to keep myself accountable.

so, i'm doing it! (she said... again)

last week, i walked a lot on the treadmill-- i found a site that tells you how to be a runner. no joke, i googled it. so it gives you a gameplan. you can search for the one that fits you best, but mine was a weekly plan, where for the first week, you walk 30 minutes. then you jog 2/ walk 4, repeat til 30 minutes. and it keeps changing how you do it until you're running (jogging?) for 30 minutes straight. which is basically a 5K.

also, i tried yoga for the first time ever. it's gotta be great, right? you just lay there. there's soothing music, and you can't be held responsible if you fall asleep.
FALSE.
it's difficult. i was sweating-- sweating!-- halfway through the class. the second half was easier though, but we held the poses for about 5+ minutes each, which was weird and didn't feel like as much of a workout. husband is going to like me doing the yoga though, because it makes me feel loose and i might not ask for so many massages!
there are on-demand workout videos through u-verse tv, but i don't have a yoga mat to do them at home. and i've already discovered that doing them on a pair of towels doesn't cut it. maybe i can talk husband into getting me a yoga mat for our anniversary soon?

so, i did okay for my first week. i'll be going to the gym again today right at the end of work. it helps that i have an "accountability partner" here at work who goes to the gym and classes with me. sometimes it just takes someone asking if you're going to go. like my very own jiminey cricket.

first off, please excuse the language

and second, please read this. it's what we all need to hear, and what we occasionally tell each other. well, it's time that WE hear this. it's time i hear this.

source unknown. if it's yours, let me know and i'll credit you.

Today is Thursday

So what does that mean? Well, it's my day to blog and think and write down some goals and maybe feel guilty over all the weight I haven't been losing and all the weird/bad foods I have been eating.

Technically, I have all the time in the world to be working out, planning meals, cooking, and generally eating healthy. Is it happening though? No. I've been staying up MUCH too late, sleeping in super late, being lazy, and just writing a lot of nonsense that doesn't really mean anything to anyone in the "real world". Basically, it's been a blah summer in a town with too many workers and not enough jobs where I've been on a series of interviews and been unable to close the deal.

Truth be told, I need a routine.

I hate routine, but it is necessary to get me on track into a healthy lifestyle. With a busy school life comes structure and the need to block out 45 minutes of time for walking. If I don't block it out, it wouldn't happen and I need all the study breaks that I can get. Here and now, I'm just sitting around thinking "Oh, I could do that.... after I watch one more episode of X." And then it doesn't happen. So, it needs to happen. I need a routine. Hubby goes to the gym ever morning. I need to start going with him and walking on the treadmill. Who cares if it's boring? I need to do it, for me, for my heart, and for my sister's wedding next summer.

Yes, that's right. My baby sister turns 21 next year and is getting married to her high school sweetheart. She's such a pretty girl and a joy to the whole family. I don't want to be the dumpy matron of honor. No. I want to be the hot matron of honor who organizes an awesome shower and looks super awesome in her likely sleeveless dress for all those photos. I can do it! I will be pretty and look great in her pictures. I lost a bunch of weight for my wedding and looking back, I love how I looked. Sure, I could have lost a bit more, but overall, I think I looked pretty hot. (The mister thought I did, too --- said I was just as pretty that day as I was the day we met. Which means a lot being about 25 pounds heavier then than I was when we met.)

Additionally, I'm doing a fitness challenge with my parents. We are all going to log X-number of fitness minutes a week. When I'm working out, I'm motivated to eat healthier. I'm motivated to eat less frozen and more whole foods. I'm motivated to eat more greens and less rice. I'm motivated to eat less ice cream and more fruit. So yes, when my body feels work out, tired and just.... so good, I feel good. I eat better.

So yes, this is me consciously talking about getting back on the horse. The challenge starts Sunday. Wish me luck!

Where are you with your goals? What motivates you?