So I had a great start earlier this year but unfortunately I had surgery and that creates a whole new list of problems far beyond watching what you eat. When you can't get up and other people have to cook your food and bring it to you, you shut up and eat it and if there is any emotional response to your surgery then forget trying to make healthy decisions. So here I am, climbing back on that horse and I am going to take you with me.
So what am I going to do? My first step is to take baby steps. I know from personal experience that when you try to change to much to fast that not only does your body not respond well but you don't always follow through. To much change to fast is never good so here are the steps I am going to take.
First I am going to eliminate soda from my regular diet. This does not mean that I will never have a soda again. I am in love with Mountain Dew Voltage, I know its horrible for me but I love it! I just need to stop buying it, when I go out I need to pick water or if we are grabbing food for home then I don't need to buy a drink at all. (I also need to invest in a brita filter or something so I stop buying so much bottled water) So some of you are thinking how silly that is, my first step making sure I don't do one thing? Eliminating something you enjoy that much or even depend on is a lot harder then you would think. So I am going to eliminate soda and give it about two weeks before I move on to my next step.
Step two is going to be harder. One doctor told me I need to eat a lot more veggies so I want to add. (I am planning to subtract, add, subtract, add and give myself plenty of time in doing so) My previous plan was to add veggies as my lunch or at lest put it in as a snack if I can't do a veggie lunch that day. (It happens, you have errands, asked to work longer, emergencies) So I am going to pre-make some salads, maybe throw some boiled chicken chunks in there and keep them in the fridge. However my issue with salads is that they never last as long as you want them to! How frustrating to throw out food you just bought right? So on suggestion of a friend (also a blogger here) I will also grab a bag of frozen veggies and eat some of them for lunch. Now one of my favorite throw together lazy dinners might be a perfect lunch, I may make a batch and keep it in the fridge and its super easy. I love peas (yes I know they are starchy) so I will throw together shredded boiled chicken, peas and rice. One bag of frozen peas requires two bags of rice (boil in bag) and one chicken breast for each person (or day) you are cooking for. If you need flavor then low sodium soy sauce rocks.
Step 3 is a removal that will be extremely difficult. I am going to remove bread, not all bread just most bread. I will only buy whole grain bread and buns and I will try to refrain from most pastas and white breads. The occasional pasta isn't bad but breads and pastas end up being fillers, to me its more important to eat less and make sure that the less that I eat is better and essential.
Now those 3 steps are going to take me about a month but there are other changes I can make while I adapt that aren't as difficult. A big one is using smaller plates and making sure I gradually eat less and less food. A good friend told me I should eat till I am not longer hungry and then stop. We don't need to be full, full is our bodies way of telling us we need to stop eating.
I always see those silly commercials about 'swapertunities' I am pretty sure its a yogurt thing but I think that it is a good think to think about. Put your sweets in the drawer of the fridge and keep the veggies and yogurt within easy reach when you open it. If you grab something unhealthy try and think of something you could switch it with that will be better for you. As an example right now I am in love with mini cucumbers. Why? They are a great snack! I cut the ends off and will sit down and munch on that while I blog or watch television, its a lot better for me then chips, candy or a soda and its a veggie I love! The same can be said for apples, oranges, grape tomatoes and a ton of other fruits and veggies. So try buying some extra of a fruit or veggie next time you shop and grab that instead for a snack. (I also hear that when you get munchy or hungry between meals a quick walk helps that as well)
Lastly don't eat when you're bored! I do it all the time, I want to taste something or have nothing better to do I will grab candy or salami stick and that is another horrible habit of mine. When ever I grab a snack I need to stop and think, okay are you really hungry or are you just bored and snacking for no reason? I plan on getting some sugar free gum for those moments and that will be a better choice until I can get rid of the feeling all together.
Well that is all I have for now but I hope some of this helps, so cross your fingers for me and good luck to you!
