What I'm thinking is that if I am cheating on my own "plan" I probably will cheat on someone else's plan. Does that make sense? Anyway, let me put my "plan" in writing, and maybe some of the rest of you can weigh in and tell me if you think it's a good plan, and then tell me what plans you are using and what you like about it.
Here's what I would be doing if I were following my plan to the letter:
- Drink 11 glasses of water a day.
- Never skip breakfast, instead choose something whole grain, and something with protein. What I usually choose is a bowl of oatmeal, two pieces of whole wheat toast with peanut butter, a high protein/fiber-no sugar breakfast bar, or a bowl of high protein/fiber cereal and soy milk.
- 3 snacks a day like a fruit smoothie, toast and peanut butter, yogurt topped with cereal, A variety of fruits, etc...
- A sensible lunch and dinner.
- No more wine or margaritas (even one or two on the weekend seems to wreak havoc with my "plan")
- Weight Training 3 times a week, Cardio 3 times a week.
In the past I've had success with healthier eating, drinking more water, and not skipping meals. When I skip meals I get way too hungry later on and make bad choices. That's been my downfall before.
So, what plans are y'all using?
9 comments:
Hello! Your plan "looks" good, but my first question would be, what is your portions like? I have followed my plan to a T but my portions slowly started increasing and I was losing nothing! Portion control is a big thing to watch for. And planning would be the next thing, if you don't plan, that is when it is easy to fall off....like nacho day. I have a little list of things I can eat for any one of my meals in a drawer, they are quick and easy, that way if I am starving, I can look at my list and pick something from it. That has been a real "plan" saver! As for me, I just started Eating for Life on Ediets, love it. I also did Weight Watchers, I loved that too, but needed a change of pace. Looks like you have the right idea, now check those portions and get a plan for emergencies!
I am here to cheer you on!
Tina
I'm doing basically what you're doing, but not so much.
I eat breakfast now, I drink more milk, but I don't snack as often. I try for 8 glasses of water each day. Most days I'm pretty good about this. And as for the exercise, I've made a conscious effort to plan activities I like - tennis, swimming, soccer, yoga - into my schedule.
I have done the "I'm going to make it to the gym 7 days a week" route, and lost a lot of weight doing that. But I've eventually gained it all back.
My focus this time around is to actually alter my lifestyle and do something sustainable. If you told me that I had to do everything I'm doing right now for the rest of my life, I'd be okay with that.
I get to eat what I like, but only when I really want it and then only enough to satisfy the urge. Chocolate, cake, ice cream - I get to eat it all (and if you saw how many sweets are in my freezer you'd probably scream). But I find that as long as I'm "permitted" to eat those things, I generally don't. It may be my stubborn streak showing through, but if it's not off limits it's not like I have to have it.
My progress so far has been slow but steady. Patience is what I have lacked in all the other times I lost weight, I think.
But you are not alone in not having a following a clearly articulated "plan."
I am the worst at following plans, even my own, so I can understand your not wanting to lock yourself in too much. I find, like Lisa, that if I have 'access' to naughty food when I want then I don't seem to want it as much.
While I'm not on a weight loss adventure, I am on a health/fitness one, and I can tell you that changing your lifestyle is more important in the long run than following a plan.
Some personality types need ridgid structures to help sustain their efforts. Some don't. I think just WRITING DOWN your goals and looking at them often helps solidify things. Plus, now that you've told us what you're going to do, you're a little accountable....but you don't have to face any expressions of disappointment if you mess up alittle :-)
Just blog, do your best to stay consistent, and when you have a plan, stand. :-)
Jennifer, I am glad that I did not scare you away...I think I really got you thinking!
I, personally, am a really laid back girl. I resist schedules, time-lines, due dates, pressures. I like it best when I wake up and there is nothing planned for the day! At least I think I like that. What I want, in reality, is a break from responsibility....but, I know that I have "created" lots of little responsibilities and they all need my attention!
Even though I hate to admit it, I actually have more successful days when we do have a plan, somewhere I have to be at a certain time, something I have to do by a certain time...It keeps me moving and I feel better about myself and my own productivity.
I am not a "self-motivated" person, on the whole. I am not one who would be successful taking an online college course or learning guitar from a book. I need structure, even though I secretly despise it.
Maybe that is why a weight loss plan works for me. I need that authority figure in my life saying, "Hey, get with the program!"
Hard to admit. But true.
When I find myself resisting authority and structure, it is usually when I need it the most and I am just being stubborn and I'm usually in self pity mode.
Your plan looks good, like you have thought out a lot of things.
Try journaling your days. I think that is a key element to the plan most of us are on. It is awful hard to put that brownie in your mouth when you know you have to make permanent record that you ate it....something about that that makes you think twice.
I also think that your water amount is overwhelming....why not say 8 glasses and then give yourself gold stars in your mind if you go over??? If you tend to drink around 10 to 11 a day, just think of all the "extra credit" you will be giving yourself! That feels so good to pat yourself on the back. We need to tell ourselves that we are making progress and that we love ourselves. Don't be afraid of that aspect of this.
You should look at the archives and read Kristina's posts....she is really good at propelling herself forward by cheering herself on, not in a prideful way, but in a truthful way. She is being honest with herself on the positive side of life.
Much success today! We all just want to see you healthy and happy with your efforts.
Jules
Chiming in with Tina's list-of-acceptable-foods, on Sunday nights I cook leftovers - something good that can stay in the fridge all week so that if I'm too hungry and tired to cook I don't head for takeout.
But everyone needs nacho day every once in a while. The key is to plan your "indiscretions" so that you make them more of a special occasion rather than a regular occurence.
(BTW, Welcome!)
Lisa
I think Tina's suggestion that I have a plan for emergencies is an excellent one. That's something I can incorporate into my "plan". :) Thanks.
Lisa, you hit on one of my concerns about plans. I am also struggling to find something I can sustain for the rest of my life. It's why I have always resisted the quick fix diet pills. (Even when all my friends were getting skinny on Fen-fen. I knew that once the pills or the "fix" was gone I'd gain the weight back. I'm trying to make permanent changes.
Chick, you're right about the writing things down, I think. In the back of my mind I keep thinking that perhaps writing down what I eat would be key. I even emailed a friend for a while and that helped a lot, but,.... and this is an embarrassing truth about me that I'm going to go out on a limb with. I stopped emailing her because sometimes I would have up to 3 margaritas at a time or three glasses of wine at a time and I was afraid that, as a Christian, she would judge me harshly. I do enjoy my wine and margaritas, and maybe the fact that I'm afraid to write down how much means I like them too much? But then I also was afraid to write down other cheats like eating a whole can of pringles in one sitting.
Jules, I am like you as far as resisting authority, but with the food issue I'm afraid I'm going to have to dig my heals in a little farther. In the long run too much control in this area creates a rebound effect for me where I gain back more than I lost in the first place. I know that losing weight and getting fit is a loving thing to do for myself, but I haven't come to that conclusion in my heart yet. It still feels like punishment when I deny myself certain foods and when I make myself exercise. :-P
I don't actually manage to drink 11 glasses of water every day. I shoot for it, but I'm pretty happy with myself if I get 8 ounces in. I'm 5'10 and almost 240 pounds, though, so the 64 ounces is probably not the ideal amount to hydrate myself with. I have a 32 ounce water bottle and if I fill it and drink it twice in a day I'm happy, and then like you said, I give myself mental gold stars for anything I drink after that.
Jennifer! I liked you before but now I absolutely adore you since I found out that you are another tall girl like I am! I'm 5'10 as well!
As for confessing things to this group, nobody judges. Margaritas? Pshaw. This group has far more serious vices - white cake, chocolate covered bananas, and Swedish fish, just to name a few!
(Seriously, you shouldn't ever worry about what people here will think of you. We're a good bunch and we'll like you no matter what)
Wow, I am posting at the end of a lot of great comments. The common theme I "hear" throughout is empowerment. Yes empowerment. To make healthy choices for the right reasons and to know yourself and what works for you.
For me, I have found success on PRISM (a structured program) because I can't, at this juncture indulge -ever. One thing turns into a hundred things. Given the freedom, I am out of control. Like the alcoholic that takes the first drink and wakes up in a strange place the next morning. The lessons we go through, however are addressing the deeper issues as to why I overeat and transforming my outlook from the inside out. I know there will come a day when I have more freedom, but will not consume an entire bag of double stuff oreos. And the changes I am making are causing me to eat for health instead of comfort.
Good luck Jennifer! You can do it! We will be here too!
SueAnne
This is a biggie for me. Plan vs no plan. My own plan vs. someone else's plan.
I have yet to do something that lasts forever (obviously. I'm here, losing weight).
I have found that the higher the level of structure, the better I do. I resist it, but the more I follow something the less temptation I have to not follow it. The more loosey-goosey the plan is, the worse I will eat and I'll be more tempted to eat more crap.
I do the Diabetic Exchange. It is a certain amount of different kinds of food groups every day. I LOVE it because it really forces me to drink milk, eat fruits and veggies, eat protein, and limit carbs every day. PERFECT for me. This time I'm following it more closely- sticking more with whole grains and staying away from processed foods, for the most part.
It's going well. For my one week. :)
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