Here we are, its that time of the year when your office spends more time planning and having luncheons and potlucks than doing actual work. It is a trap to derail your progress. I saved up my cheat days so I could enjoy Thanksgiving (yes, I had two Thanksgiving dinners on Thanksgiving Day and it was good) without feeling guilty. My plates had veggies and small servings of everything. I ate until I was satisfied and then, helped serve at a local church to burn even just a few calories. But here I am, in my office and they have decided to have an AFTER Thanksgiving Potluck. Oh geez, somebody help me!
Yesterday, I actually signed up to bring in Cheesecake - I make a great cheesecake. After teaching my Zumba Fitness class, going to my voice lesson and making it home, I realized I didn't have the energy or desire to make something that hell, I COULDN'T EAT!!! I mean, I shouldn't eat it because I'm lactose intolerant and I shouldn't eat it because it wouldn't be my cheat day and my will power for desserts is slim to none. Instead, I got myself up and packed my lunch and gym bag. While these folks are chowing down, I'm going to the gym. My red holiday dress is still calling me and I have to make sure to get it in.
Here is my resistance plan:
This morning, I had some left over roasted pork with broccoli and cauliflower. I've had a banana and I'm going to also have a bowl of oatmeal at snack time. Yes, I eat a real meal in the morning. This has helped to ward off the desire for salt and sugar throughout the day. The oatmeal will fill me up while they are preparing the spread. When lunch is served, I'm going to the gym. By the time I get back, it will all be devoured and I'll HAVE to eat the lunch that's already waiting for me. The other thing I tell myself is, "You don't know all these people. The food might not be safe to eat." It's a dirty trick but I have to do something.
I've successfully avoided the Thanksgiving potluck, but I know the Christmas Potluck and company Holiday party are coming fast, plus that extra holiday I get in December - my birthday :-) so I'm going to have to repeat this tactic at least one more time at work. So how do I avoid holiday parties at a friend's house . . . I eat before I go and get a workout in to burn some calories ahead of time. I try to show up fashionably late after people have arrived and started eating, then there may only be enough for small portions. Yes, I know, "but I want to celebrate with my friends," but I want to fit into my favorite dress and drop down into a firm size 8. In order to do that, we have to stay on task and keep working at it. The delayed reward is better than the instant gratification, I promise.
What tactics are you using during the holiday to avoid over eating? Let us know. And if you have some good favorite holiday food substitutes, share that too. Let's get it . . One More Dress Size.
#PixieDustPotent
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Do What Works for You, Just don't Quit
All diets are not created equal . . . that’s really the bottom line. There is only one method I know that works for everyone, eat good food and exercise but for a lot of us, that’s easier said than done. How much exercise is necessary? A 30 minute walk everyday is enough for some, for others, it takes hard core cardio and strength training to drop the pounds or maybe you need to train to run a marathon in order to push pass the weight your body is holding on to. And food, some need high protein diets, others need a healthy balance, some need to just leave all meat alone and go hard core vegan.
Now, I have been challenged - or rather I opened my big mouth and gave a number – anyway, I have a challenge of 20lbs or so to lose. Actually, peeps, The Collective. Let’s see how far I get by the end of the year but hell, as long as I can fit into my favorite red dress without wearing SPANX, I’m happy.
I have heard a lot of advice on how to make it happen. Do Weight Watchers (nope, but I’ve seen the results work well for others), Go Running (this actually works but I HATE RUNNING), Try an all liquid diet or all raw food diet (this is a great jump start actually, check out one of my friends doing it - Under200poundsby40). Do a Cleanse (I have NO problem with the exiting process), and cut this-cut that, so I have decided I’m going to do what I know works.
This morning, at 5 am, I put in a new Zumba® Instructors video (shout out to all my ZIN family) and got it in.
Thirty minutes later, I was in the shower and feeling good. I actually feel thinner already, no really, I do. I put on a skirt and tucked the blouse in . . . I look HAWT! #Pixiedustpotent. I’m also using the principles of the Flat Belly Diet promoted by Prevention Magazine. This diet actually promotes eating well and concentrates on eating Monounsaturated Fats which are good for you and keeping each meal to 400 calories. It even includes what you can eat from a fast food menu and make that belly go away. Why I like this diet? This one helps me keep my energy up all day long instead of having those crash and burn sessions. I’m eating on schedule and eating enough to keep me going until the next meal. But this is my mental challenge: When people start heating their food before its time for my next meal, my brain goes, “Mmm, smell that? You could be eating too. Oh, go ahead and eat now.” But I’m not finished burning the fuel I have, I have another hour to wait; besides I’m not hungry, am I? Discipline yourself girl! Take a sip of water, that will tell you if its time . . . nope, not yet. I can hold out.
Its funny that when I tell my friends and family that I’m attempting 20+ more pounds, they look at me and ask, “Where you gonna find 20 more pounds from?” I have one place in mind but that would require surgery and uhm, I ain’t got the money for that . . . besides, I kind of like the “girls.” In additiona to my early morning Zumba ® sessions, and teaching class 3 days a week, I’ve put strength training on a schedule too – Mondays and Wednesdays. The third day is sort of a floating holiday because things always come up with my crazy schedule. I thought I didn’t have time and I was really considering letting the challenge go. I then realized that I could be the encouragement someone else needs to get up and get moving (and I look PHAT TA DEF in that red dress). Is that what you need? Be honest. You need someone to dig in that tail and say get up!! Okay, GET UP! If you’re sitting on Facebook, just take a 15 minute break and go walk around the office. Go ahead, Facebook will wait for you; so will YouTube and Twitter, go ‘head. My challenge to you is to make a determination right now what you’re going to do about your body, your weight, your heart, your blood pressure, your sugar, your cholesterol. Write it down, make a plan and make a schedule. Then put the goal in big letters and say, “Whatever it takes, I will not QUIT.”
Now, I have been challenged - or rather I opened my big mouth and gave a number – anyway, I have a challenge of 20lbs or so to lose. Actually, peeps, The Collective. Let’s see how far I get by the end of the year but hell, as long as I can fit into my favorite red dress without wearing SPANX, I’m happy.
I have heard a lot of advice on how to make it happen. Do Weight Watchers (nope, but I’ve seen the results work well for others), Go Running (this actually works but I HATE RUNNING), Try an all liquid diet or all raw food diet (this is a great jump start actually, check out one of my friends doing it - Under200poundsby40). Do a Cleanse (I have NO problem with the exiting process), and cut this-cut that, so I have decided I’m going to do what I know works.
This morning, at 5 am, I put in a new Zumba® Instructors video (shout out to all my ZIN family) and got it in.
Thirty minutes later, I was in the shower and feeling good. I actually feel thinner already, no really, I do. I put on a skirt and tucked the blouse in . . . I look HAWT! #Pixiedustpotent. I’m also using the principles of the Flat Belly Diet promoted by Prevention Magazine. This diet actually promotes eating well and concentrates on eating Monounsaturated Fats which are good for you and keeping each meal to 400 calories. It even includes what you can eat from a fast food menu and make that belly go away. Why I like this diet? This one helps me keep my energy up all day long instead of having those crash and burn sessions. I’m eating on schedule and eating enough to keep me going until the next meal. But this is my mental challenge: When people start heating their food before its time for my next meal, my brain goes, “Mmm, smell that? You could be eating too. Oh, go ahead and eat now.” But I’m not finished burning the fuel I have, I have another hour to wait; besides I’m not hungry, am I? Discipline yourself girl! Take a sip of water, that will tell you if its time . . . nope, not yet. I can hold out.
Its funny that when I tell my friends and family that I’m attempting 20+ more pounds, they look at me and ask, “Where you gonna find 20 more pounds from?” I have one place in mind but that would require surgery and uhm, I ain’t got the money for that . . . besides, I kind of like the “girls.” In additiona to my early morning Zumba ® sessions, and teaching class 3 days a week, I’ve put strength training on a schedule too – Mondays and Wednesdays. The third day is sort of a floating holiday because things always come up with my crazy schedule. I thought I didn’t have time and I was really considering letting the challenge go. I then realized that I could be the encouragement someone else needs to get up and get moving (and I look PHAT TA DEF in that red dress). Is that what you need? Be honest. You need someone to dig in that tail and say get up!! Okay, GET UP! If you’re sitting on Facebook, just take a 15 minute break and go walk around the office. Go ahead, Facebook will wait for you; so will YouTube and Twitter, go ‘head. My challenge to you is to make a determination right now what you’re going to do about your body, your weight, your heart, your blood pressure, your sugar, your cholesterol. Write it down, make a plan and make a schedule. Then put the goal in big letters and say, “Whatever it takes, I will not QUIT.”
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