I try to eat well as often as I can. I’ve also been trying to lose 10 pounds for about a year now. If you’ve been reading my blog, you know I’ve gained and lost the same 5-7 pounds about 10 times! It’s so frustrating and I’m sure a lot of you out there can relate!
Sooooo, I’ve been doin’ some “deep thinkin’ and I’ve decided my day-to-day “healthy living” has some serious flaws that keep me from losing these last 10 pounds.
Here are some of my “deep thoughts”….
I am a “rule follower” type person. If I know of a “rule”, I try to follow it! And, in all my “healthy living” research, I’ve come across a ton of rules! Here are some of the “rules” I’ve learned regarding health and fitness;
- Eat within an hour of waking up.
- Don’t skip breakfast.
- Eat 5-6 small meals a day/3-4 hours apart
- Don’t eat carbs after 2:00 or 4:00 (I’ve heard both).
- Always eat and carb and a protein together.
- Eat carbs and proteins separately.
- Stop eating at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 (I’ve heard all of these!)
- Eat all food groups at each meal (balanced meals).
The list goes on and on…..
Well, as I’ve been trying to eat well/lose weight/live a healthy lifestyle, I find myself thinking I need to follow all of these rules!! Auughh. AND, as you all know it’s impossible to follow all these rules!
AND, I think in all my efforts to “check all the boxes”, I’ve been eating entirely too much food! AND, as we all know….eating too much food=weight gain!
So, I’ve decided to say “to heck” with all the “rules!” I’m going to simplify the entire process and follow two very basic “rules” of my own….
- Eat high quality, “real” food.
- Don’t eat a ton of food (calories in/calories out!)
That’s it. Sounds simple enough, right?
So, I’ve come up with a “plan” to help me follow my rules AND lose these last 10 pounds once and for all! AND, I think this is the plan I want to follow for the rest of my life! Some of my ideas might go against some of the “rules”, but I’ve decided I’m just fine with that!
So, here are some of my ideas….
- I’m not going to eat breakfast first thing in the morning! Gasp, I know! I’ve decided I’m going to put it off for a bit. I’m going to eat breakfast around 9:30-10:00.
- Most experts recommend eating breakfast first thing in the morning to get your metabolism going and keep your blood sugar stable. “They” also recommend eating breakfast so that you don’t get too hungry and pig out at lunch. HOWEVER, my thoughts are if I put off eating breakfast for a bit, I will eat less calories throughout the day. Weight loss/maintenance always comes down to calories in/calories out!
- Because I’m eating breakfast around 9:30-10:00, I’m going to eat lunch around 2:00ish.
- Then, I will eat dinner around 6:00-7:00.
- I might add a pre or post workout smoothie/protein shake if I think I need it.
- I will try not to eat snacks unless I’m really hungry. I think it’s important to listen to our bodies and only eat when we’re hungry (not bored, stressed, ornery, tired, etc.)
- I’m also going to try to not eat giant meals! I’m going to keep it simple. For example; oatmeal, eggs, or protein pancakes for breakfast….a healthy wrap, leftovers or salad for lunch…..a sensible dinner full of veggies, salad, lean protein and whole grains.
- I’m not going to eat after dinner (most nights!)
I think this sounds like a sensible plan, don’t you???
So, I’ve decided this is going to be my basic plan FOREVER. Yay. However, I like to splurge every now and then too (just like the rest of the world), so here is how I’m going to handle that!
- I’m going to allow myself one “cheat meal” a week. So, if Kev and I want to go on a date Friday night, I will enjoy myself.
- I’m also going to allow myself one small treat each week. So, if I want to make cookies with the kids, I will! I just won’t chow down on them. 😉
- AND, if I find myself at a party, social gathering, etc. with lots of yummy food, I will allow myself a small bite or two…but only if they are my VERY favorite things! I will not eat things that I don’t LOVE.
Make sense? That’s all there is to it! I think this is a sensible plan that I could live with forever. I also think it will help me lose these last 10 pounds and keep them off. Yay.
I also want to mention, that I’m sure they’ll be times when I go on vacation or find myself “off the wagon” for whatever reason. If this happens, then I will follow my healthy “7 day cleanse” or something similar to get me back on track.
Sorry, that’s a lot of babbling. I hope it all made sense. 😉
Well, I’ve been following my “new plan” most of this week and I’ve really loved it. Here are some of the things I’ve been eating….
I’ve had oatmeal for breakfast every day this week. I LOVE it! It is warm, satisfying and keeps me full for hours. I just mix 1/2 C. oatmeal with 1+ C. water and nuke it in the microwave for 2 minutes. I then mix in 1/2 scoop protein powder and 1 T. ground flaxseed. Sometimes I add 1 T. cocoa and 1 T. peanut butter or PB2 and maybe a little stevia. Sometimes I add apples or raisins before I cook it and then add a little cinnamon and stevia. YUM!
I had this salad 2-3 times this week. Spinach, romaine, 1/2 apple, craisins, chicken and a few crunched up chips on top. Weird? Yes. I love it though. I only crunched up 3-4 chips on top. It gave it a perfect, yummy little crunch.
Here are the chips I used. Yes, my bag is munched. 😉
I used this awesome calorie free Ranch dressing from Walden Farms too. Love it!
I made this for dinner one night. Turkey meatloaf (I’ll share the recipe soon!), spinach salad (strawberries, pecans and feta) with 1/2 sweet potato topped with a little honey and cinnamon.
I had a yummy protein green smoothie before going to the gym yesterday morning. This was technically my breakfast as well. I shared this pic and the recipe on my Facebook page too.
Well that’s it! I will be done typing now. 😉 Sorry, that’s a lot of babbling for one post. I gotta run though. I’m meeting some old high school friends for dinner tonight! Fun!
I hope you all have a wonderful night!
Melanie, your meal plan looks yum!
I got really confused with all the diet tips that I heard and read, so my personal trainer (who’s also a qualified nutritionist) gave me some advice that has stuck with me since- eat proper portions, cut down on trans-fat (ie. bad, heart-hating fat), choose lean meats and fill up on lots of vegetables for carbohydrates and fibre content.
Thanks for the post and looking fantastic 😉
Skyxx
Love all those tips! I always seem to make things too complicated. Simplicity is awesome. 😉
I have nominated you to the very inspirational blogger award http://mrsmalin.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/the-very-inspirational-blogger-award/
Thank you SO MUCH. So sweet. 😉
First off – 10 lbs from where? You look amazing.
Secondly, have you used a site like myfitnesspal or something similar? I really love it and use it daily to keep track of my calories and weight. I used it to lose all the weight I gained from my first pregnancy (43 lbs!!!) and currently use it just to help me maintain my weight and keep an eye on how much I”m actually eating. I find it interesting to see where the calories come from and I frequently find things that I think should be healthy are actually adding more calories, or fat, or carbs to my daily totals than I realized.
Thanks so much Jessica. I know there are a lot of great sites out there to help with weight loss, but I haven’t really used one. I’m definitely going to look into myfitnesspal. Thanks so much for the tip! I know it’s so easy to eat way too many calories without even trying! 😉
Melanie this cracked me up!! It’s the universal mission of so many women! Myself included. I thought I’d share one of my few successful attempts at this which was sadly what seems forever ago. I tracked on livestrong and when I say tracked I mean every tiny morsel. I stuck to 1400 calories a day. It came off at that many calories quite quickly and fast results is a good thing for me. I was hungry A LOT. The hunger does get easier as I assume our body gets adapted. I got to my goal, went on vacation and the rest is history. I realize at 40 now that where my body wants to be and where I want it to be is about a 10 to 15 lb difference even when I am eating healthy and doing my running and power yoga. So I have tried to look at it different and thank my body for holding up all of these years and not failing me and bringing 4 beautiful healthy children into this world. That being said my new diet thought before swimsuit season is “eat like a bird/skinny person.” Eat to live not live to eat lol. Wisdom out the door. I want to look good in shorts!! So the battle begins! Melanie you look fantastic and even on your way to the gym! Your blog is so cute and inspiring!!!
Thanks so much Julie! I miss you! I think this is wonderful advice. I really need to look into tracking my calories. I love food a lot, so I’m always trying to find a healthy balance with it! I love what you said about loving your body and appreciating it for holding up and bringing beautiful children into the world. I also love your “eat to live and not live to eat” motto. So true. I think you need to move back to Utah now, lol! 😉
I have also been fluctuating the last 5-7 pounds quite a bit. My weight gains and losses are a long story. But…I have tried most if not all of the rules you stated above and I disagree with most of them. I do stop eating around 7 most days, but that is just because it makes me stop eating (calories in/calories out). I have found that, at least for me, it all comes down to calories eaten and burned. Except if I have a ton of carbs…then I seem to blow up like a balloon…used to just be for a day, but now that I am older…sticks around. blah!
I hear ya! I know it all comes down to calories in/calories out. I always seem to make things too complicated! I totally agree with you about carbs too. I can’t eat too many or I just bloat up! It’s so not cute, lol. 😉
I do have to agree with the first commenter…10 pounds from where? Just make sure you don’t get unhealthy. Keep track of your BMI.
Thanks so much for the reminder…it’s always good to keep it in check. I would never be one to become unhealthy though. I am very aware of my body and how it feels/functions. I’m technically a healthy weight for my height, but I’m in the higher end of that healthy weight range and just want to tighten it up a bit. Skinny is not pretty to me. Strong, fit and healthy is and that is my goal!
Its so crazy how many ‘rules’ and ‘tricks’ and what not there is out there. I generally try to just go with the rule of ‘listening to my body’…everyone is different… so if your hungry, eat, if your tired, sleep, if you feel lazy, go do something! 🙂
I love your simple “listen to your body” rule! Perfect! 😉
Melanie,
I love your blog!!! Especially how you admit to falling off the wagon and making mistakes- your humility is encouraging! I just have to share that I personally didn’t start losing weight much until adding lots of good fats- olive oil, butter, lard, & coconut oil- and proteins to my diet. Only then did my body stop craving food all the time. Plus, I’m finally getting to the weight I want to be 🙂
Thanks so much Keri! I think that’s so interesting about the good fats/proteins. I use olive oil all the time and I love coconut oil….but always forget to use it!! Thanks for this reminder and I’m so happy that you’re finally getting to the weight you want to be, congrats!
Wow…I’m a new follower and I totally connected to this post. I love how honest and real you are. Since my son was born 2 years ago, I’ve have been trying to lose the last 5 pounds to get to my pre-pregnancy weight. I workout 6-7 days a week, but I was canceling out all of my hard work by not eating well. At the beginning of this year I set a new plan in place and so far I’ve lost 3 pounds and only have 2 more to go. Here are a few things that have helped me:
1. I plan out my meals and snacks for the day ahead of time
2. I removed any temptations from the house
3. I track what I’m eating on MyFitnessPal
4. I now try not to eat the moment I feel hungry. I wait til my planned meal or snack. My husband said something that really helped me “it’s okay to feel a little hungry sometimes.”
5. I wrote down my goals and posted them on my bathroom mirror.
Sounds like you have all the right ideas in place. You’ll get there!
Thanks so much Samantha. I’m so glad you found my blog! I love, love, love all your tips and I thank you so much for sharing them with me! I really need to look into this “MyFitnessPal” thing. I keep hearing good things about it. I totally love your husband’s tip too! So so great. Congrats on almost getting to your pre-pregnancy weight! That’s such an accomplishment…most women never get there! Thanks for your comment and encouragement. 😉
Hi Melanie,
I can completely relate to your struggle with the last 10 pounds. Overall you eat in such a healthy way, more so than me. I go on healthy eating kicks and then when life gets stressful and I am tired, I reach for the junk food again. I am reading a fantastic book right now called the Hunger Fix. The author is a doctor and the premise is that we are an overweight and unhealthy nation because of our reliance on highly palatable food like substances. 🙂 She has a whole chapter on detoxing which is pretty much the way you eat. I am starting over again for the millionth time and sadly will be saying goodbye to a lot of the foods I love but tend to overeat (cookies, crackers, tortilla chips etc. Best of luck to you on your journey. Looking forward to hearing about you meeting your goals. 🙂
I can completely relate to the whole “getting tired and reaching for junk food” thing. It is so tough. That book sounds great and I’m so happy to hear that the “detox” stuff is similar to how I eat. Yay! I’ll definitely have to check that book out. Good luck on your healthy journey! I think we only fail if we stop trying, right?? 😉
Thank you for visiting my new blog (365 Days of Focus), since I am at the beginning of my weight loss journey (again), I’m eager to get to the “losing the last 10” problem. I’m always looking for eating suggestions and I liked yours. Thank you for sharing.
Good luck on your weight loss journey Jenny! Just keep pluggin’ along and I’m sure you’ll reach your goals. 😉
Haha, I know how you feel. Sometimes I feel it’s best to stick to one, simple gospel and follow that, blindly even. Block out the rest of the noise.
And the constant stop-start on your plans. I find I follow my plans easiest when I’m not out with other people. With being out with other people, sometimes come the expectations to eat and if you say no or only eat a little… then you oddly get mocked for it, or people crow on about how you’re too skinny anyway. Never mind that what in front of you may not make you fat but it is still bad for you anyway, loaded with sugars and God knows what else!
So good on you for per-emptive planning when it comes to other people 🙂 I should figure out something similar. Still eat, but not eat so much or find a way to respond to their mocking comments without being too rude or spiteful.
I agree with everything you said! It is so tough to try to eat well and lose weight and be around other people who don’t share the same goals! I also think it’s strange how other people DO mock or make mean comments to those who are trying to eat well. I’ve had to learn to have thick skin…which is so hard for me! I’ve also found it’s best to just downplay everything. What I mean by that is when I choose not to eat something, I try not to bring a lot of attention to myself. Then, if anyone gives me a hard time, I just politely say something like, “no thanks” and then talk about something else. Good luck!
Hi Melanie!
Thanks so very much for your encouraging posts. I just started my blog & journey this January and am so happy we have “met” through them. Look forward to your continuing blogs and this journey together. I’ll post my GREEN shake later… loved that we shared this great healthy desire!! Jewels
Thanks so much Jewels. I’m so happy we’ve been able to connect as well. I look forward to seeing your green shake!
I have to say, I love not eating first thing in the morning. Some people call it intermittent fasting. I call it listening to my body. I wait an hour or two after I get up before I start prepping food. And like you said, it makes lunch a little later and dinner too, keeps snacking down, and leaves me feeling satisfied. Do whatever works for you and forget the rules!!
~Ang
I really like Michael Pollan’s “rules” because they are not only about personal health, but the health of the planet. Basically “eat food” (not food-like substances), “not too much, mostly plants.” See http://michaelpollan.com/books/in-defense-of-food/
This is so true, it’s just so confusing trying to remember everything. I mean who really has time to prepare and eat 6 times a day, not me anyway that’s for sure. Good luck with your own rules, sounds like a great idea.