It’s hard to believe it’s been a week since I last reported in…where did those 7 days go? I was swamped with planning for a big annual 3-day scrapbooking blowout with about 50 other women, which sucked up a lot of my time.
But, I promised I’d check in regularly and post how I’m doing. So far, I haven’t lost weight just because the last week has been a little crazy regarding consistent excercise. But, I do feel better after getting enough sleep…eating smaller portions…cutting out the snacking and not eating late at night.
My biggest test was going away this past weekend where there were buffets galore and tons of food on hand. I had dessert ONLY one time and that was a little frozen yogurt. Other than that I maxed out on salads and veggies. Sure, there was creamed soups, white pasta and rice and I refused to give up any of those. I just cut down on how much of everything i had.
I was full and I was satisfied – a good start to the weeks ahead.
This week, I plan to work in more exercise..continue to eat healthier and healthier…try to eat early in the morning versus after working out to get my metabolism revving right away…and drink loads of lemon water.
Some of the things everyone suggested make lots of sense. I agree that there’s no one way of eating that’s the answer to all of our diet woes and that protein fills us up more than carbs – I just want to make sure that I don’t overdo the carbs. That’s a huge weakness of mine. I try to aim for complex carbs.
Yoga is a great suggestion and excercise that my body is actually craving right now but with my work schedule it’s tough to fit in the hour and a half of Bikram yoga as I’d like…I think I’ll aim to do yoga whether it’s at home or at the gym at least once a week.
Someone also suggested to stay away from fruit at night because it might be too acidic for my stomach. Interesting point. I am actually going to start chopping veggies (cucumbers/cauliflower/broccoli/bell peppers) to have late at night if I’m up and working. With a little homemade dip (a vegan Caesar dressing – recipe is on this site) I’m sure that will help.
Please do add your comments once again…it all helps me stay motivated. (Um, I have to admit I had some dark chocolate covered skinny pretzels yesterday and cheese puffs. I’m going to stay away from that for the rest of the week – well maybe just a few pretzels if I absolutely need them!)
Also, does anyone have a suggestion for excercise at home when I can’t make it to the gym or it’s too cold to go outside?
Hi Anupy! It's so great that you are not discouraged by the scale. The scale can really be a foe when we are trying to get healthy and lose weight. You will be able to gauge your success not just by the scale, but as you already noticed, by how you are feeling and how your clothes fit
The thing about refined carbs and processed foods (besides the low nutritional value) is that they are highly addicting. They can actually cause a physical addiction and that is why I believe refined carbs and processed foods in general are so bad for us. But I also know if we make something forbidden, we'll just want it all the more. So kudos to you for steering away from the desserts but allowing yourself smaller portions of some other "white" foods.
For exercising at home – as you already mentioned, yoga is great. You can even look up some poses and flows online if you don't have a video or need to mix it up. Also just some simple things like a pull-up bar and a jump rope (or jumping jacks) are enough for those days you can't make it to the gym
Have fun!!
So there are a lot of great ways to stay in shape while indoors! Podcasts are a great place to start, especially for yoga. Also if you have Comcast there are usually some workout programs you can get On demand. Good Luck!
Hi Jenna. Thanks for your comments. I've been meaning to email but have been unable thus far – swamped with deadline after deadline. I would love to send you my address and will.
The funny thing about simple carbs is that i normally don't eat them and don't get tempted. So, I absolutely agree that they cause you to just be addicted rather than fulfilling your body's need to be nourished. That's precisely why I wonder why I can't really lose this last bit of weight effectively. My diet is pretty clean.
Here's an example of what I had today:
8 a.m. Soy milk smoothie: unsweetened soy milk, organic strawberries, 6 almonds, banana.
9 a.m. coffee with non-fat milk, unrefined sugar
11 a.m. egg whites, 2 slices sprouted bread with soy butter, a little spicy cheese and sauteed chard.
Tons of water with lemon
1 p.m. pineapple, about a cup and puffed potato chips (not fried/not baked) some skinny pretzels with dark chocolate.
4 – 5 p.m. beet salad and whole wheat pasta (1/2 cup)
7 p.m. a couple more chocolate-covered pretzels
Nothing after that! Promise…Doesn't seem all that bad, does it?
And Sailaja…I didn't even think of Comcast. I'll check it out this week. Thanks.
ooops gotta run…Aria's crying. Ugh!
So, I'm going to continue to post my day just so that I feel totally accountable.
No exercise – yet…Aria ruined that plan after she got sick and ended up staying at home. Oh well. I think I'll do the 5-lb hula hoop tonight/push ups and sit ups…
Food was pretty good:
1/2 cup cereal (whole grain)/1/2 banana/soymilk
egg whites/2 slices sprouted bread/cheese/soybutter
Trader Joe's shrimp fried rice – actually not all that bad though I ate the bag. it was good and was for lunch. so not that bad, right?
huge salad (broccoli-carrots)/vegan caesar dressing/pomegranate seeds/cup of spicy lentil salad/a little homemade chicken noodle soup
2 small Indian desserts – made from chickpea flour and raw sugar (homemade)
Ginger tea
I'm dying to eat cheese puffs right now. DYING. But I am going to resist just because this shit is public and I don't need any more public humiliation:)
Hi Anupy,
I just discovered your slow cooking cookbook through SAJA, and was intrigued enough to start reading your blog, especially since I’ve played with and perfected my masi’s dal makhani recipe over the years and now it’s what most of my friends expect me to make at our Diwali potluck. I’m going to try your recipe since we already have a crockpot, and will let you know how it goes.
We seem to have a lot in common (I also worked as a reporter at Bloomberg, albeit in the DC bureau); but after 23 years as a business journalist, I decided there was more to life than deadlines and grumpy editors, so I said goodbye to journalism and now have saner hours, and can fit in things like yoga and exercise into my schedule. Talking about which, I appreciate your honesty about dieting. I used to be slender, but developed the typical middle-age tummy and hip bulge. Tired of not looking and feeling my best, I started a diet and exercise regimen some months ago. Here’s what I learned:
Everyone has a different metabolism and what works for others isn’t necessarily going to work for me.
Being a vegetarian makes dieting and losing weight more difficult, but not impossible.
The single most important factor is drinking a lot of water. The director of the fitness center told me to drink 2 liters of water a day. At first, I scoffed at that, especially since I’m not quite 5’2″ tall and, hey, that’s a *lot* of water. After a couple of months, drinking 1-1/2 liters of water a day became pretty routine. It’s helps me feel full, and resist the urge to eat more than I should. It’s really quite simple. I eat more if I don’t drink that much water, so I carry a water bottle with me everywhere I go. I keep a Brita filter 1 liter pitcher in my office at work, and fill it first thing in the morning, and make sure I finish it before I go home. I drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, and several more in the evening. After a while, replacing sugary drinks with water becomes second nature, even when I’m eating out.
Portion control is key. As is avoiding the foods that I am addicted to. Because I find it difficult to resist the foods I crave such as candied ginger and chocolate (only dark, bitter), I just have to stay away from them completely. Eating small portions of them just makes me want to eat more. It’s not easy because my husband is a foodie, and tucks into all kinds of tempting foods while I’m trying to be stoic. But hey, his body is different, and he doesn’t have the same issues about his body that I have about mine.
Regular exercise helps to jump-start metabolism. We have just returned from nearly a month’s holiday overseas. I knew I’d have to find a way to exercise, so I wore a pedometer ALL the time, and clocked in more miles than I ever figured I’d walk on a holiday. We averaged about six miles a day.; and maxxed at 8.7 miles one day! It did help that we were in New Zealand, and it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world to hike/trek/walk.
Salads and fruits are wonderful diet foods and, as you’ve already discovered, front load on your calories during the early portion of the day, and try to eat a small, early dinner. I eat a banana at breakfast with a cup of Special K cereal with 2/3 cup almond milk. A bowl of grapes or an apple or a tangerine mid-morning. A big salad at lunch time, with a slice of seven-grain or other sprouty whole wheat bread. Dinner might be another bowl of Special K cereal, with or without fruit, a small salad, or just some fruit.
I feel and look a lot better now. And I’d rather have muscles than flab. Good luck with your diet. I’m sure you’ll do just fine.
Hello. Sorry, it’s taken so long for me to reply to you…I love that you are so honest…and keep up the good eating and the excercise. I plan on writing more but life and the book just got away with me. I hope you enjoyed the Chicken Makhani! Hugs…Anupy Singla