Well, I've just completed my first week of Project 10. During the course of the week, as I've read everyone else's posts, I've started to think about what my true goal is for this project. Yes I want to lose 10lbs, yes I want to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes, and yes I'd like to feel comfortable and confident in a bathing suit. But it's also a lot more than that.
As I mentioned last week, I want to lead a healthy lifestyle. I want to nourish my body with whole, natural foods that aren't overly processed and filled with artificial sweeteners and preservatives. I want to feel good, have energy, and be a positive healthy role-model for my children. I don't want to diet, deprive myself, or eliminate entire food groups. I also don't want to give up eating pizza and ice-cream. However, I don't want to over-indulge and make myself feel gross and bloated when I do treat myself to these favorite foods. I know there is a way to eat healthy most of the time while also including treats in moderation, and I am determined to get to that point.
To make this lifestyle a reality, I felt like I needed to asses my eating habits. I stuck to my goal of keeping a food diary each day this week, and I was a little surprised with what I saw. I had sort of tricked myself into thinking I eat pretty healthy. But when I sat down and analyzed my diary I saw that I don't eat as many fruits and vegetables as I think I do, and I eat a LOT of processed snacks. I also snack way too much. My afternoon snacks tend to be more like second lunches than true snacks. I also thought I drank a lot of water every day, but I realized that most days I clock in at 4 glasses, which is nowhere near my goal of 8 glasses a day.
I used these assessments to create my goals for this week.
Eating Goals:
1. Have a serving of fruit or vegetable (preferably both) with every meal.
2. Prepare myself a snack, sit down and eat it. This snack will be the only thing I eat between lunch and dinner. (Or after dinner when I tend to have my second snack.) This will be a big improvement over my current habit of grabbing something from the cupboard, eating it while picking up around the house, and then going back into the kitchen 3 more times to grab something else. (Typically pretzels, string cheese, goldfish, etc.)
*I think the food diary is helping me curb my tendency to over-eat. It's not working 100% but I think that if I keep it up it will continue to help. I'm also going to keep plugging away at my goal of 8 glasses of water per day.
Fitness Goals:
1. Take the kids outside for a walk every day unless the weather is awful. (Of course it's pouring rain here today, but I plan to take a trip to BJs, and pushing the huge "beep beep" cart through the entire store is actually a pretty good workout.)
*I completed the ab-workout that I posted about last week 5 out of the 7 days this past week. I'm going to keep doing it daily since it only takes 15 minutes and is something that shows results quickly!
I think that if I continue to create small, weekly goals for myself I will be on my way to leading the healthy lifestyle that I desire. I hope that each goal I set will become a habit by the end of the week, and when these 10 weeks are complete, I look forward to feeling healthier, fitter, and more energetic. (And having less muffin top...)
Feel free to share any healthy snack suggestions that you might have! I'm on the hunt for ideas.
If you want to lose 10 pounds and get healthy, come and link up over at Stephanie's Mommy Brain! And be sure to check out the blogs of the other amazing women who are on this journey with me.
I went & read through some of the other women's post last night & you all have inspired me to start! I don't necessarily want to lose weight but rather start a healthier life style. Especially food wise. And exercise wise. I had made up my mind that we'd head out for a walk as soon as Ree woke up. And it's poring out! Instead I'll make a list of healthier foods that I should pick up at the store. Especially for snacks. Like you I tend to go for the processed foods ALL. THE. TIME. Or chocolate. Or ice cream! Thank you for the inspiration and push :-)
ReplyDeleteYou should blog about it and link up! :) Everyone is super supportive. I'm glad you're inspired. I am allowing myself a daily treat, I decided. (Today it was sprinkled donut) and then eating as healthy as possible for the rest of the day.
DeleteGreat job with the food diary! The more you write about it, the more I think I need to keep one as well but I've never been good at sticking to something like that. I think it's awesome it helps you make small modifications that can show a big result. It's not about being perfect, it's about learning trends and how to create new, healthier habits.
ReplyDeleteI'd love it if we could maybe come up with some great snacks from natural foods because, honestly, I could eat a bag of goldfish a day!
Thanks Sarah. I tried using calorie counter apps on my phone, like Fitness Pal but for some reason I never even made it through an entire day. I find keeping a piece of paper and pen on my counter is the best way. (I'm home during the day a lot though...you could keep it at your desk at work. Or, when I am out, I use the post-it app on my phone to write it down and transfer it to paper later. Sounds like a lot of work but it's really not.)
DeleteToday for a snack I plan on having grapes...but I feel like I want to come up with more interesting things too, not just plain fruit. Because although great, healthy & delicious, it can get boring :/
Wow, working out 5 times this week! That is very impressive. I am always finding reasons to NOT work out. I had a whole routine set up for circuit training for outside... and then it rained for 4 days straight, so I did not do it... and then the day the sun came out, I went outside and thought, "It's too hot... I don't wanna work out in this heat." So many excuses. ALthough I did get to Zumba and circuit training at the fitness center this week, I need to self motivate at home more to get in more workouts in the week.
ReplyDeleteAs far as healthy snacks, you just can't beat fruits and veggies. Just make sure to have some on hand and accessible. For instance, right now I have a huge bag of cherries on my coffee table. I just grabbed a few for snack time and would have otherwise aten some chips if the cherries weren't accesible.
Yes, I need to start washing fruit when I bring it home and keeping a bowl out. That's a great idea :) And I agree about excuses...but since I made the ab work a weekly goal (and it only takes 15 minutes) i'll even do it at night while i'm watching TV :)
DeleteI love your fitness lifestyle goals!! And that's awesome you were able to recognize trends in your eating. My children don't know it but they are very deprived snack-wise. I never bought goldfish or string cheese or crackers. My infants/toddlers always had plain off brand cheerios (not the honey-nut kind!) for snacks. Or plain graham crackers. Or just a slice of American cheese.
ReplyDeleteWe are big fruit eaters. Last night I bought strawberries, apples, bananas, peaches, and plums. And it will all be gone in a week. I'll wash and cut the strawberries tomorrow to make them more convenient to grab for snacks/breakfast. I also buy baby carrots by the 5 lb bag (but I'm feeding 6 people!). If I have to peel and chop a carrot for 4 kids it's never going to happen. But I can grab a handful or two of baby carrots, rinse, and they're reading to eat.
Thanks for the snack ideas Stephanie! We eat a lot of fruit, but it's usually for breakfast & lunch as opposed to snacks. I don't know why, so i'm going to start incorporating into our snacks as well. :)
DeleteYou rock!! I'm sort of jealous of your awesome week! I need to get back on track. :)
ReplyDeleteHealthy snacks for me, plain greek yogurt, fruit, veggies, low-fat cheese. I keep it simple. I want to start making my own protein/lara bars because they are expensive! But they are great snacks too!
I like the idea of small attainable goals! It is so much easier to do if you break it all down to managable parts!
ReplyDeleteYou did great this past week!!! I really need to set some small goals for myself as well if I'm going to succeed at this.
ReplyDeleteOne great snack food my old nutritionist introduced me to are Larabars - they are like a fruit/granola bar but only contain real fruit and nut products - no added sugar etc. They are great for tossing in the diaper bag or your purse so on the go when you can't find something healthy for yourself you can have it handy. (now I'm off to the store so I can follow my own advice!!)
You go Megan! I love that you have these goals! Cant wait to follow your journey!
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