Since I took my new job, over a year ago (wow!) I’ve been slipping into some really bad habits. I’ve been exercising less and eating more junk. Sweets every day practically, sometimes a few times a day! And soda! Almost always diet, but who cares? It’s crap. I know better. And I don’t need it. Unfortunately, I have gained some weight. Boo.
Anyway, though things have leveled off some, I seem to go in spurts with exercise … great for two weeks and then everyone gotsick and it completely threw me off. Great for another week and then I end up working 55 hours two weeks back to back and it all went out the window again. And I’m tired of it. I have realized that while I may not have time to get myself to the gym as often as I’d like, I can always control what I eat. And while the goal is 80% or more whole foods, at this moment, I’m OK with less because of our evening commute situation. At least in the short term, a calorie is a calorie.
So this week, I made the commitment to stay sugar and soda free all week and to track all my calories in MyFitnessPal. I did not give up sugar in every form entirely. I am still having my mid-morning granola bar and plenty of fruit, but I banished fro-y0, cookies, chocolates, cake, etc. But I did banish all soda, no exceptions. Today is day 4 and honestly, it’s been surprisingly easy. I have no idea if I was just ready for it or what, but I have felt good doing it.
We’ve still eaten out. We went to Panera Monday night because I hadn’t gotten my act together enough to grocery shop before then and we went to Tokyo Joes last night because we cannot do otherwise on karate nights when home is a 40 minute round trip from school and a 60 min round trip from karate -the only other option seems to be burritos or PBJs in the car and we are all sick of that! Both times I checked out my options beforehand and made a good choice. When we had sandwich trays at our standing Monday meeting, I grabbed a few and eliminated the bread and mayo and just had the meat and veggies with a few Sun Chips. I avoided the dessert tray entirely.
I ran a couple of miles on Monday, but while I’ve had good intentions the other days, exercise hasn’t panned out. I waned to go running on my lunch break today, but I’m trying to take off early tomorrow so I can hang with Tabby at Field Day, so I’ve been working through lunch all this week and I don’t see that stopping today. Maybe a workout will still happen today. Maybe it won’t. But that’s OK, because as long as I meet my calorie goals, it doesn’t matter.
And I’m already seeing some results. In the past 3 days I’ve lost a couple of pounds. Not too shabby. I’m hoping combining this with some more intentional movement and take off what I’ve put on and maybe a bit more. That’d be swell.
When I stop drinking pop, I lose weight immediately. Then I fall off the wagon and it comes back just as fast. Liquid candy. Perhaps the change in seasons will help you too. Now that the snow’s gone here, all it does in rain. Great for the grass, not so much for my motivation.
I am with you. It is a constant struggle. Keep it up!