Back on the blog + tips!

So, I'm finally back on the blog. No, I haven't given up. *winks* In the time I've been 'gone', I've only lost 3 pounds from the last number I posted because my eating habits have been fluctuating as of course my weight too. But I'm back on course and finding it's not so hard after all! I'd love to share a few mini dieting tips that have worked for me: Slooow dowwwn and put your fork/spoon down between bites - Its so easy in our fast paced and large portion size culture to just shovel it on in, but the problem with that is 1) Eating fast isn't good for our digestion of foods at all and 2) we tend to eat more if we just shovel it in, but we will most likely have that full feeling sooner if we take our time. In a rush? Then eatinf slow will still benefit you because you can most likely put the food in the fridge later for another mini-meal/snack. Portion size - already covered it slightly, but most of us (at least me) tend to go above the recommended 'serving size'. Just look it up online, it's easy to find. For instance pasta and meats shouldnt be the biggest section of our plate/bowl but rather a 'side'or accent. I think the recommended meat size (chicken or red meat) is no bigger than the size of your closed fist. I forget what it is for pasta/rice/etc, but it was a shocker. Read up on it for yourself. A big bonus to selecting healthy choices - You can enjoy more of it!! Think about it, you can pile a whole bowl of salad (not boring if you throw in fun additions such as nuts fruits egg etc) for probably less carbs/calories than 1 candy bar and there's no cravings afterwards except for maybe more healthy foods! Tea/water/coffee/etc - Drinking these healthy (dont overdo it on sugar or cream!) beverages intermittently can cut cravings and help you feel more full. Net time you're hungry soon after a meal OR right before a meal, have a drink! Am I really hungry/am I full? I honestly believe that the success key to dieting is all in the mind. When you want to go grab that late night or afternoon snack, ask yourself "Am I truly hungry or am I just bored/dissatisfied?" And when eating a meal, guage yourself. Dont eat mindlessly. If you feel full, then stop! You can always save it for later (or give it to the kids/hubby/or dog!). And finally, my favorite and shortest dieting addage: Eat to live, not live to eat!!

So it starts!

So my weight loss journey has officially begun! I have a lot of food in the fridge to use up, so I am unsure how strict my diet wil be but I still limited my portion sizes and was more careful than usual in my selection. I am considering following the "8 hour diet". Basically it means selecting an 8 hour portion of the day and only eating within that time frame. I have not fully researched it but it makes sense to me. I rarely can just hop out of bed and eat (especially with children!) and I can't stomach it anyways. And then with evening, I already know that eating before bed is generally accepted as not smart! And I know from experience that I don't like that full feeling when I go to bed, makes me feel a bit sick. So this might be a good jumpstart to my efforts. Yesterday morning I weighed myself and I was 156.6. Today I looked in the mirror and look slightly less pudgy and my weight this morning is 155.0. It's a start. I wont be counting exact calories but I will try not to exceed 1600 if and when possible.

Join Me in My Journey!!

Hello Everyone! I'd love to welcome you in my journey to weight loss and so much more! Ten weeks ago I had my second child and I've hardly lost any weight since the first couple weeks after he was born. I keep caving into my cravings, my lifestyle is mostly sedentary, and my mood and energy level is nowhere near where it should be for my age. But now I have an opportunity to change that all around... Very soon my husband will be leaving on a loooong work trip and I have approximately a half a year to go from flabby and frowny to fabulous and free. During this time, I will be using this blog as a type of accountability and encouragement to others. I'm no health expert, I'm human and I'll probably have bad days or my weight loss may not be what I want it to be. But hopefully some of you may be encouraged by my experiences. I will be posting semi-regularly my progress, maybe photos, as well as thoughts along the way. My journey to weight loss and so much more begin as soon as hubby walks out that door. It will be a very sad moment for all of us, but I keep reminding myself that it will be part of a different journey for both of us for a time. So if you would like to 'join' me in my upcoming adventure, do please suscribe!