Just an Author Trying to Get Healthy in a Fast Food World

Yeah, I'm convinced that intermittent fasting is not for me. It works great for some people, but just like the keto diet, it isn't for me. Next week I'll go back to what I was doing before the Pandemic hit. My goal will be 2lbs a week, and in about a year I will hit my long term goal. I enjoyed what I was doing before. Fasting just confused me, since I was used to a couple small meals spaced out. It is great for some people, just not for me. (plus coffee on an empty stomach didn't work so well for me) If you have any lower carb and lower calorie recipes you love, send them my way! I am always looking for something to make for dinner and love a good muffin or cupcake that won't wreck my calorie count for the day! I'll update you next week as to how getting back at it is going...

Today is my new Day One I'm ready to get back at my #HealthyLifestyle I will be the first to admit that during the Pandemic I've gotten way off track. I gained 15lbs since March 2020. I'm not proud, but I'm not mad either. With how I was eating that should've been much higher, lol. I woke up, weighed in, drank 16oz of water before I even started my day. Had my coffee and Protein Oatmeal for breakfast.  I tried a new creamer, and I'm not a fan. Super Creamer Vanilla. It's a weird sweet (think less cream, more sweet) I think I'll stick with my way too many calories creamer and just take the hit on my total calories for the day. Speaking of calories, that's what I follow. I find a set amount of calories for the amount of weight I want to lose, and I add that in my FitBit app. I keep track of everything I eat (good or bad) and at the end of the day I can see if I went over (the point is to try to not go over) or if I kept to plan. So I don't lie when...

    And here I lay, stuffed full of turkey, stuffing, and pie... I've been feeling the anxiety and stress over the virus, and my eating habits have suffered. That's what stress does to me. Luckily, even though I've been eating awfully, I haven't gained weight. I haven't lost any either. And I'm over it. I need to get back at it. And Monday is the day to do it.

Yesterday I started over (wait, have I said that before?) I watched my calories, and drank my shake for lunch (instead of eating something) and tried to get in my water. It was rough. When you get used to eating foods, and not so healthy foods, it is hard to not eat them. And you crave them. You mistakenly think you need them. And it sucks. And it's hard. But if you want it bad enough, you'll try. And I am. I am trying again today. I will take this one day at a time - no, one meal at a time. We (meaning my husband and I) ordered Fit Boards. Yep, we did. Yes, the ones you saw on Shark Tank. I'll let you know if they work. I got very used to snacking in the morning and the afternoon and the evening. Did you? This quarantine made me lazy. I look at the room and say "I should vacuum/dust" then I don't. And I keep thinking I am not going anywhere this summer, so what am I fighting for? Then I see people on tv like former WWE wre...

You'd think with as far as I've come with learning how to eat healthy, that staying at home wouldn't be so difficult. I'd love to sit here and say I've been killing it drinking my shakes and avoiding temptation, and getting my steps in...but that would be a lie. How are you doing? Are you finding it challenging to stay motivated? I am. Are you snacking? I am. I'm trying to be honest here. And it's not pretty. Since Easter, I haven't been having my shakes for lunch. Instead, I've been eating leftovers for lunch. And snacking on Easter Candies - mostly things like jelly beans. Damn sugary things are addicting! But, I have been trying to drink my water at least. I don't always make my goal, but I'm trying. It's not easy... And if you are having the same issues, it's okay to admit. I feel like I have lost my stride. During the day I am HUNGRY. I WANT to eat/snack. Today I started my shakes again, and all I felt like as I d...

I thought about what I wrote yesterday... "I hate to exercise" How lame was that, lol? For real... Obviously I know I should exercise and I need to exercise. But I swear every time I start something gets in the way. If it's not one thing, it's another. And it's hard to get in a routine when you are only going every few weeks. And every reason I have will sound like excuses. And I have a million of them... I am at a point where I have plateaued. Even when I eat poorly I only gain a pound or two, but losing any more is difficult. I am sure I need to add some exercise to get past it. So, I will be working on that. Like I said, I have the gym membership, I just have to physically go. And I know what you're thinking, I need a gym buddy! No. No, I really don't. When I go to the gym, I like to do it by myself. I pop in some ear buds, turn my hairband music up real loud and just walk the treadmill. I don't like to have conversation, because I literally...

I'll fess up... I haven't been to the gym in over a month. I had some things going on where the last thing I felt like doing was exercising. And with school starting, I never figured it into my daily routine. I need to do that. But, I haven't gained any of my weight back, in fact, I lost a few more pounds. That is where "learning how to eat" comes in. Some people probably think it sounds like a lot of talk, but when I heard it, I took it to heart. I had no idea how to eat. I moved out of my parents house and in with my husband. I finally was making my own decisions and rules, and that included fast food. SO. MUCH. FAST. FOOD. (it happens, right?) And all these years later, we had a taste for not so healthy food. Once I started paying attention to what I was eating, I was shocked at how many calories we ate in a single day! Here's where re-learning how to eat comes in. Once you see what you are eating, you can adjust, make better choices, and eat smaller...

How's your week going? Friday is always my weigh in day, and the past few months it has been a consistent up and down, but I've been keeping off what I lost so far (even if I gain a few, I drop it again). I still look forward to Friday weigh in like a kid looks forward to Christmas. Is that weird? I like seeing my hard work pay off, and it helps me keep going. But this week I am in the middle of a gentle cleanse, and trying my best to be good. And it's paying off. I hit 35lbs lost this week! It has taken longer than I had hoped, but I am not discouraged. This is a lifestyle change, so it's not like in two years I'm just done...so if it takes three years, or even four to hit my ultimate goal, then that's what it takes. But I refuse to give up. With Easter right around the corner, we'll get enough chocolate from both parents house to let us have a little treat, so my Target basket is already filled with Protein bars, and low cal snack...