I never struggled to keep weight off until I was about 30, which was when I got married and got off the pill. I guess I should have known at that point that something was wonky with my hormones The second I stopped taking them, I started gaining weight. Until that time, I was that girl you hated. I could eat anything and not gain a pound. I ate like a bird most of the time and never worked out. Ever. (I get mad at myself just writing that!)
After L was born I was able to lose the pregnancy weight fairly easily and even lost an additional 15, thanks to Weight Watchers. It's a different story this time. E is 10 months and I am still 6 to 7 lbs away from my initial goal weight and 13 or 14 pounds away from my ultimate, ass-kicking weight goal. I can see it, I can sense it, but I just can't get there. I think my lack of motivation is caused by stress, certainly, but some of it is the newness of the struggle. I don't know how to actually diet. I am terrible at it. I have discovered that I have absolutely no willpower. I don't eat fast food or have a pound of chocolate every night, but I know that the bowl of cereal that I sometimes (ok, often) have at 9:30pm is NOT helping. I like chips and I enjoy adding bacon to my food on occasion.
This week I start week 4 of the Couch to 5K program. I have not run on a regular basis since I was in high school and although my almost 35 year old body complains, it's going pretty well. I am so proud of my dedication to this, if I do say so myself. If I could just get a handle on the food part, I think I would be in business. Here are my ideas to kick this into gear:
1) Recommit to Weight Watchers
2) Plan weekly meals again
3) Don't eat unless I'm hungry (this is gong to be really, really hard)
4) Eat fruits and veggies for snacks
So, what else? Have you done this? What were your techniques to fight the diet sabotaging urges?
Thanks for stopping by my blog. The exercise is probably great for any married couple, I hope it's the first step of many to save our marriage.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about loosing weight, I used to be a tall slender woman until I turned 30. Now, not so much. And unfortunately I can't blame baby weight. Good luck on your quest!
Oh, and you speak swedish? Kom förbi min blog igen närsomhelst för en cyber-fika :)
I think the key is concentrating on health and vitality and letting the rest fall into place. Whenever I do this weight stays in a good place. Read Food Rules (very short little book) and In Defense of Food. Pollan's writing really gets to the heart of what eating healthy is and why the culture of HOW we eat our food is as important as WHAT we eat.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky in the exercise arena, I love to exercise, move, dance, garden...whatever, anything moving and I always have. I tell my students,just find something you really love that gets you moving for 30 min at day. In the end consistency and doing something that feeds your soul as well as your muscles is the real key.
Go Katie Bear, go!
Yay for being up to week 4 of the Couch to 5K program!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great!
I wish I could run. Breaking a knee when I was young and the resulting joint issue put the kibosh on that or me.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your weight loss.
~ICLW
Portion any snacks that you would normally eat out of bag (if you do that). Today I bought a bag of nut mix at work and decided I better pour some on a napkin and put the rest in my desk so I don't eat too much of it.
ReplyDeleteI am so not the person to be giving advice on the diet-front. :) But I can encourage you anyway! Good job at staying committed to the running program!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your goals. Great blog, can't wait to read more. I'm your newest follower from IComLeavWe.
ReplyDelete-K
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The pill must have diff effects on diff people, for me I had to get off because I was ballooning like crazy!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE weight watchers and its the only system that ever worked for me. Once I have my baby I plan to do it. Can you do WW while breastfeeding?
they say [the venerable THEY!] that walking, in fact, is actually better than running. and i have to agree. i had been an avid jogger for many years, and i added daily walks to my routine, and now i am so in love with the walking, i don't even jog anymore. i found that walking slimmed me down more; toned me up, and felt better all around.
ReplyDeleteread about walking vs jogging, and then decide for yourself. countless articles on the internet.
whatever you decide to do ... happy transporting!!!
Weekly meal plans were good for me. Plus, having a protein source with each snack (i.e 10 almonds with a piece of fruit or a kashi trail mix bar). All the best with your goal!!!!!
ReplyDeleteICLW
http://daega99-arewethereyet.blogspot.com/
HAPPY ICLW
ReplyDeleteI wish you a lot of luck getting ready for the 5k and losing the last few pounds you want to drop. I think meal planning is a great idea!
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Weight Watchers is the only thing which worked for me, too. Back on it now to get my pregnancy weight off. Even worked for Hubby, so we get to do it together. Makes it really easy to plan meals.
ReplyDeleteHere from ICLW.
Hi there! Here via ICLW. Congrats on your goals and esp. the Couch to 5K! Impressive :) I see a nutritionist with my husband. While we're not counting every calorie, we're making gradual lifestyle changes, and it's helped immensely. I find that having someone I report to every 2 weeks is a great motivator. I feel guilty if I haven't done so well, but I feel GREAT when I've made good food choices and can "show them off" when we meet. Best of luck in your weight loss and running program journeys!
ReplyDeleteHappy ICLW!
~Miriam (ICLW #136) Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed