Getting Back On Track

       On the morning of January 1st I walked into the bathroom, took off my pajamas, and stepped on the scale.

251.2 pounds

I was in shock, but at the same time there was no actual reason for me to be the least bit surprised at seeing the number glaring back at me from the scale's face. I knew I had terrible eating habits. I knew that exercise wasn't a word that could even come close to describing any of my daily activities. I spent every day living out the same routine: wake up, eat breakfast (3 eggs, two slices of toast slathered in butter, and a cup of coffee with so much cream and sugar you could barely tell it was even coffee), go to work, sit at my desk for 4 and a half hours where I would inevitably need some kind of snack, go on my lunch break (usually a ham sandwich with cheese and mayo, way too many chips on the side), watch videos on my phone until it was time to go back to work, another afternoon snack of some kind,  home for dinner, and finally to finish it all off dessert during an evening of TV time.

       This was every day, with very little deviation. If you asked me why I lived like this I would tell you I didn't go outside because the heat gets to me really badly, or I'm too picky to eat anything really healthy, maybe that my asthma would get in the way of trying to be active. I made excuses for my unhealthy lifestyle constantly... but then I saw that number. 251.2 was unimaginable. I just couldn't believe I had let things get this bad. It was time to stop making excuses and make a real change.

       So, on January 2nd I re-downloaded the MyFitnessPal app for the first time in about 5 years and began to log every single thing that I ate or drank. I used a food scale at every meal. I bought a Fitbit and started forcing myself to go on walks throughout the day. I struggled so much at first. I tried mentally comparing the portion sizes for my food to what I used to eat and I was disgusted with myself, but I couldn't focus on what I used to do. I had to focus on what I needed to do from here on out.

       Now you may remember those excuses I mentioned before, in particular the one about the picky eating. I hate vegetables. I like very few fruits. I hate nuts and most carbs that are not white rice or potatoes. I'm sure you can imagine the difficulty I faced trying to balance the need for a healthy diet with an extremely limited palate. I've been working to slowly introduce some more diverse options into my meals, and while not always successful it has led to the addition of a few new favorites. For one, I have discovered that onions are beyond amazing. I used to meticulously pick through any meals that contained them until I had uncovered and removed every single piece, and now almost every single dinner I make contains onions. It may be a tiny victory but it's still progress.

       Horseradish, Cheddar, and Caramelized Onion Stuffed Burgers are such an easy and flavorful dinner after a crazy day at work. Ellie Krieger and her amazing healthy recipes have made this journey so much easier for me. The balance between healthiness and flavor is so perfect. The most important part of this whole journey so far has been trying to find that balance. I know as soon as I begin to feel deprived is when I will fail, so measuring everything and keeping proper portion sizes in mind is of the utmost importance. Craving something a little decadent but don't want to worry too much about your calories? Try Lemon Garlic Marinated Lamb Chops with a mix of mashed potatoes, celery root, and parsnips on the side for one of the most delicious meals you'll ever have... and still come in at under 500 calories for the whole meal.

     

       This lovely little chart is my journey so far. There have been many ups and downs and I still have a very long way to go (58.2 lbs to be precise), but I'm proud of how far I've come and the changes I've been able to make. 

251.2lbs January 2017

220lbs March 2017

165lbs, January through May 2012

       At my lowest weight I was 165lbs. This was in the first half of 2012. I was active, happy, and (in relative terms) healthy. I had the energy to do the activities I loved and I felt confident in my own skin. I hate that I let myself stray so far but I can get there again. I know that not only can I reach my lowest weight but I can surpass it as well. I'm starting with a goal of 160lbs by October of this year. I have lost 33 out of 91.2 pounds in 3 months so as of this moment I am right on track. It's hard and it's only going to get harder, but I can't wait to share with you guys when I get there. 

The Notorious "Holiday" B.I.G: I'm not a Food Slayer....I just Munch A Lot.

Have you ever seen those 90's rap videos where there's a party, everyone's dancing around having a jolly ol' time enjoying the DJ's music when all of a sudden, someone unexpected walks into the party? The DJ looks up, the music comes to a screeching halt and everyone stops dancing and gives a disgusted look to the new guest?

That's how I feel about holiday food...it's the new guest. I mean- I'm on a roll in the summer. Eating healthier, exercising, and feeling great! Then the fall & holiday season comes around and it's like the new guest just crashed my health party. 

Except...I can't kick the guest out of my house because I like them. No, I love them. I want them to be here.  And I especially love holiday food. From the pumpkin chocolate chip bread in October to the good gracious Thanksgiving dinner and desserts in November, I fall victim every year to the heavenly holiday hash. And don't even get me started on the month of December. The whole month I feel like we consume more cookies than Santa Claus himself.

Now I'm not trying to be the "Notorious Holiday B.I.G food slayer" here. My problem is that I just munch A LOT. These last months of the year I love to munch on my secret stash of Halloween Reese's peanut butter cups in my freezer, Grandma's Christmas fudge in the pantry, the sliver(s) of holiday honey ham, and the oh-it's-just-a-small bowl or two...or three of pumpkin Chex mix...the madness is real! However we can still enjoy food while keeping a healthy perspective.

Here are my Seven Realistic Tips to Beat the Holiday bulge:

1) Beware of buyer’s remorse. Not the retail kind (that's for another article). I'm talking about the grocery store kind. Throughout the holiday season there are all sorts of “deals”. From black Friday ads to the mounds of coupons promising “buy one get one free” holiday promotions, it’s so hard to say “no”. I mean, it’s such a great deal…(or at least this is how I have justified it on the past). 

This season try buying just enough for what you need and that goes for food, too. Maybe you’re planing to make those delicious peanut butter cup cookies you’ve been drooling over while perusing Pinterest or you found that amazing orange & cranberry glazed turkey recipe you want to try out at the upcoming family Thanksgiving gathering. Sounds so good! But instead of stocking up on two bags of peanut butter cups with a coupon or buying that 18-pound ham, buy only the amount you need for the recipe and for the amount of people you are feeding. (You will also have sides that they can fill up on, too). If you're looking to have leftovers, remember that they could potentially turn into leftover pounds, too.

2) Plan Your Family Meal Calendar and Use it.  I can’t say enough great things about meal planning. It has honestly cut back on lots of stress & time that comes from the monotony of daily cooking for our family. When we meal plan, we know what we’re going to eat and it can help assure that our healthy eating goals will be realistically met. Try spending 30 minutes on a Sunday night planning the new week’s meals (including breakfasts and lunches).  Make a list, gather any coupons you have, and plan a trip to the grocery store. Stick with the menu you've planned and you’ll not only stick with your attempts to maintaining a healthy diet, but it might help you keep your family's monthly food budget in check, too!  There are many meal planning websites that have lots of great healthy recipes. I could go on and on about it! Hmmm....I feel another article coming on...

Image credit: homemakerschallenge.com

3) Make Time for Exercise. Finding an exercise program that truly works for me and sticking with it is an ever-going battle. 

To make an exercise program successful, I've tried making smaller and more realistic goals first. For example, I schedule three days a week (when I know I can find 25-30 minutes to exercise) and commit to it by putting the days and time I will exercise on my calendar. There are those who have that "ain't-nobody-got-time-for-that" attitude but I don't want to be one of those people...health is important and should be a priority. According to a recent report by eMarketer, as adults, we spend an average of TWO hours on our phones and tablets a day (this doesn't even include the amount of time spent watching TV..which was over FOUR hours a day). 

Even making a conscious effort to take the stairs at work or to take a 20-minute walk during your lunch break can make a big difference to your physical and mental health anytime, and of course, can relieve some stress this holiday season. Carving a turkey may be on your mind now, but unless you carve out the time in your schedule to exercise, you’ll be paying for it later. So keep up the exercise!

Image credit: Whattoexpect.com

4) Portion control & drinking lots water. I’ve already mentioned meal planning as a tool that can help with monitoring what we’re eating each day. Next, try practicing portion control. Fill the majority of your plate up with healthy vegetables first before adding other foods. Drinking water before eating and throughout your meals is not only helpful for digestion but helps us stay fuller longer. 

5) Try putting desserts and snacks away after eating, close up the kitchen and brush teeth!  Someone once told me that if I wanted to cut back on nightly snacking, I should brush my teeth after dinner. When I don't do this it's just too easy to grab a handful or two of M&Ms (darn you, Target and your amazing selection of holiday M&Ms!) When I brush my teeth after dinner, I find myself thinking more before I eat. It's also helpful when I pack up the goodies and get them out of my view. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If I feel I need a little snack later on in the evening,  I try to look for healthier options or drink a tall glass of water.

Image credit: abc.net

6) 'Tis the season to share. Every year I buy a few of those Ziploc/Glad holiday bags and containers. Why? Because I need help! If I don't share the goodies they will most definitely end up in my mouth. When making holiday goodies or if we have dinner left overs, we share with our guests to make sure we don’t have lots of leftovers that could turn into left over pounds.  Buy a few extra disposable plastic containers to pack up any extras and send the food home with your friends and families, your waist will thank you.

7) Give yourself a break and indulge a little. I leave the best for last, non? For me, it's unrealistic to think that I'm not going to bake or have special family dinners with all of the fixings over this holiday season. I LOVE to cook and bake and I feel cooking in the kitchen make some of my favorite memories with our families. So I don't get upset with myself when I have those indulgent moments....in fact, I savor them. However, as long as I'm attempting to eat healthy most days of the week and exercise, I can afford to eat a few foods I want. Plus, by restricting what I eat all the time, I turn into this guy:

Instead of this mom blissfully baking with her kids:

Image credit: www.sheknows.com

As we all venture into the holiday eating this year, may the odds ever be in your favor, may the force be with you and may you have the power to stick to our healthy goals! 

Disclaimer: I’m in no way a  dietitian/nutritionist  so pretty please consult with your doctor first before starting any diet and/or exercise program! Happy Holidays!