Wednesday!

   Well, we are half way through the week.  How are you doing on staying on track with your goals?  Have you even made your goals yet? :)  Have you written down what you eat everyday? 
   Sarah made a comment on yesterday's post about how easy it is to just put a little bite of something in your mouth when you are in the kitchen.  I am feeling the same way.  So, how are we going to help ourselves avoid that trap.  There are a few ideas.  Make a healthy meal plan.  This should include 3 meals and 2 snacks. Ill talk more about that next week.  Next go shopping and buy the food you have planned for.  Having healthy food at the house to eat is MOST of the battle.  Next have that food ready to go.  Cut up veggies or even make appropriate snack pack sizes of food that are in bigger bags.  Next week we will focus more on getting our eating on track and give you some more idea.  Sarah suggested staying out of the kitchen! :)
   While you are focused on eating right I want you to write down when you get hungry and maybe why.  Sometimes these things can be solved by adding protein to certain times of the days so you don't feel like you are starving.  You can also know your eating triggers and find some activities that will help you avoid eating because of stress, anger, boredom, habit and other reasons.  So before you put something in your mouth ask your self why am I eating this.  If it is because you are hungry OK! :)

Write it down!

I forgot to mention yesterday that this weeks mission is to write down what you eat.  You don't have to count the calories unless you want to.  Try to cut back on the sugars and processed foods but mainly write down everything that goes in your mouth.... EVERYTHING!  The biggest problem most people have is that we eat without even realizing it.   A bit here and there, tasting the dinner as it is being made and so on.  So the first step is being aware of what you eat.  If it goes in your mouth write it down.
GO!

Begining.... again :)

  Isn't it funny that no matter how hard you work for how long if you take a break it is a little hard to get started again.  I took the month of December off from working out and watching anything I ate.  Not my best choice but it is what it is and I'm ready to get started again.
   My hardest thing in getting back on track is going off eating sugar.  Our bodies like to keep us regulated.  This doesn't mean it pushes us to the healthy choice but our body sees what we are putting in and try to keep itself at a chemical normal with the nutrients it is given.  So, if you eat a lot of sugar you will crave sugar.  This is because your insulin levels are pushed way up with over eating sugar. When there isn't that amount in your blood anymore it sends out chemicals that make you feel hungry so you can get more sugar to bring you back up to that level again.  Is eating sugar your best health choice? NO.  But, when we try to cut back we are uncomfortable and think that sugar is what makes us feel better.  Have you ever thought "I would give up soda but I get headaches when I don't have one" or "when I try to eat better I just don't feel good"  This is because your body is trying to figure out a new normal.  We have all heard of people on drugs going through a withdrawal.  The same happens when you cut the processed foods and sugar out of your diet.  Not because you are sick but because the body's chemical balance is being changed.  And, lets be honest, processed foods are mostly chemically altered remnance of what might have been considered food at one time.:)  Makes sense doesn't it.  The truth of the matter is if we cut back on the junk we eat yes we will feel uncomfortable for a little while but it is not permanent.  After a week or so our bodies determine a new normal without the sugar and chemicals the discomfort and hunger from lack of them goes away.  It takes time and you have to be willing to work through it but you can do it.  I'm one of those people that like to know how long something will take and then I can mentally prepare myself for it.  So now you know.  So many people give up because of this "withdrawal" phase but you can do this.  Say it.......I can do this!