I’ve been promoted to Manager! (of my weight)

Like most people, I’ve started another weight management program. I’m calling it weight management this time around to avoid the stigma of those other words, diet and weight loss program. You tell people you’re on a diet and suddenly they’re the food police, watching every morsel that comes within 4 feet of your face. Like I don’t have enough pressure already! I’ve been doing some reading and they (whoever they are) suggest declaring your weight loss goals and intentions publicly in order to keep that all important fire under your ass to stay motivated. I could probably argue both for and against the effectiveness of this technique but it’s not that important. What’s important are the goals I’ve set for myself and the actions I have to take to accomplish them.

I’m definitely starting small this time. I tried the South Beach Diet the last time and a strict exercise regimen of 4 days on, 2 days off and I lost the weight. But life got in the way and the special menu and exercise got put on the back burner. Nothing about this was easily adaptable when I needed it to be. One sharp turn and the whole program fell apart. Before I knew it I had gained all the weight I lost, plus more. It wasn’t a total loss though, I learned more about my eating habits and that alone made me pay more attention to why and when I was eating.

This time, I made an appointment with a dietitian and we discussed my weight loss goals, my plan requirements – including how I was going to feed my family, since they didn’t need to be on a diet, and what was realistic for me. I knew I didn’t have time to count calories or points and I didn’t want crazy restrictions like, No Chocolate. Of course I’m going to eat chocolate, I love chocolate. Telling me I can’t have it is just setting me up for more guilt trips than my passport could handle.

So, the dietitian made it simple:

1. I can have 7 Grains (starches), 6oz. of protein, 4 Veggies, 3 Fruits, and 2 milks a day.
2. She gave me a chart with examples of each food, and a portion size chart.
3. I can eat what I want, but I have to count it. So if I have 3 peanut butter sammies for breakfast, I’ve exhausted most of my grain and protein allowances for the day.

I’ve also joined a comfortable 24 hour fitness club and I pulled a 30 minute circuit workout off their website that I’m doing every other day. All combined, I have to say it’s not overwhelming nor is it going to chew through my willpower in two weeks. It’s just enough to push me right now. If I feel my motivation packing it’s bags, I’ll make some adjustments and crank it up a bit.

I’m in week 2 and my main goal is to keep all of this manageable and adaptable to my life and my needs with no crazy, unmedicated expectations. Eating sensibly and exercising should feel like a normal part of my life, not like a shard of glass in my shoe. The transition won’t be easy, but just like every other habit in my life, this one has to be learned.

Shallow end

I was thinking I could pretend no one was looking but me, low-ball my posting frequency promise to myself and maybe hang out here for a while.

My household consists of: my teenage daughter-Nicole, my fiancé-Thom, 2 cats-Kitty and Marbles and a rat- Sam. We live in a small and sometimes lazy mid-western town by a beautiful lake.

My teenage daughter (13) has just started to test her boundaries and my fiancé keeps me grounded (and is the most patient person I know). The cats don’t get along, in fact, one lives upstairs and one lives downstairs and we don’t even dare leave the door open for 2 seconds. Sam the rat hates to have his nails trimmed and loves to eat.

Me, I’m a thirtysomething that loves sitting by the water, giving advice and worrying about completely absurd scenarios. And, I’ve convinced myself that by typing my journal online instead of handwriting it will encourage me to post more because it’s quicker.