True Confessions

The truth is this: I took two days off. I will resume my efforts in the morning. Yesterday and today I did not do any great exercise other than walking for short distances. Today I may go to the gym later, but I don't know. I'm not feeling it. Does that make me a loser?  No. No, it doesn't.

But I knew you were missing hearing from me, so I thought I would write this little blog and let you know I did fall off and will get up on it again.

"Where did I go wrong?" you may ask. Yesterday was Sunday, which is the day that Christian nations celebrate the Sabbath, as you know. I went with my husband to visit friends who were making a delicious dinner and we were invited to stay. It was empanadas with spinach, meat, egg and onion. Very delicious by familia de Robles!

Today was the last day of good weather for awhile, so I decided to drive around the mountains and take pictures. No exercise there. And since I was off the plan, I enjoyed a cookie.

So, you can see it was not a bad fall off of the wagon, but it was just a fall. A little fall. haha! :D Back up on it tomorrow! 

How are YOU doing with your exercise and healthy eating?

EATING PLAN

Ok, I came up with an eating plan that should work for the first week or so as a transition. If there is a steady amount of weight lost, then this will be fine. If there is not enough weight being lost, then I will re-visit this plan and make adjustments.

I'm open to suggestions and recipes. :D

EATING PLAN

Three days and then repeat.  Boredom is a factor to reduced eating. Research shows that if you are bored with your food, you will not overeat. I have found that to be true, too. But I try to build in a nice treat every day like yogurt or a square of chocolate so I don’t feel deprived. Also, a small frozen yogurt can be substituted occasionally.  Of course, I will avoid the chocolate syrup and the junky toppings!

Day 1

Breakfast:
½ cup granola
½ cup milk
½ cup blueberries

Mid-morning:

1 piece of fruit

Lunch:

Salad, a little bit of lite dressing
1 serving  lean meat or fish

Mid-afternoon:

2-3 crackers
10-12 almonds (preferably raw)

Dinner:

Homemade soup with clear broth, small serving

Before bed snack:

1 small container of yogurt without high fructose syrup in it!
Multi-vitamin  (the kind that will dissolve in a glass of water within a few minutes)

Day 2

Breakfast:
1 egg
1 pc of dry toast
½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice

Mid-morning:

1 piece of fruit

Lunch:

Salad with drizzle of light dressing
1 serving lean meat or fish

Mid-afternoon:

2-3 crackers
1 tsp. peanut butter
Diet soda

Dinner:

Boiled or steamed veggies with salt

Before bed snack:

1 small container of yogurt with no high fructose syrup
Multi-vitamin
1 cracker

Day 3

Breakfast:
1 serving of oatmeal
1 tsp peanut butter
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 cup skim milk

Mid-morning:

1 fruit

Lunch:

Salad with light dressing
1 serving lean meat or fish

Mid-afternoon:

2-3 crackers
4 Brazilian nuts

Dinner:

Baked Potato
Topped with a drizzle of olive oil or spray butter, salt, grilled veggies (in Pam)

Before bed snack:

1 small square of dark chocolate
Multi-vitamin
Herbal tea (optional)

OTHER SNACKS that can take the place of a snack:

Hard boiled egg

3-5 olives

1 cheese stick (no, not fried!!!) haha :D

1 cup of skim milk with a little Hershey’s chocolate syrup

The idea is to keep the snack  to around 100 calories or less. And the purpose is to curb my appetite so I don’t ever get hungry.  If there is hunger after the first couple of days, maybe a smoothie made with fruits and veggies will bring the nutrition up to speed so that hunger will go away.

I tried eating a donut one morning. After I finished the donut, I was still as hungry as before I ate it. Anything healthy, that gives us nutrition, will not leave us feeling so hungry. Nutrition is key.

So, why would I want to eat one little cookie when I could have a whole orange or apple for the same calorie count. A piece of fruit, even though our brain says "yawwwn, borrring" is much more satisfying for hunger than a cookie!