Aug 30, 2010

Healthier Alternatives

All of my life I was able to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and it had little effect on my shape. That is, until I turned 30 and had baby #3. My free ride came to an abrupt end and I found myself with 40 extra stubborn pounds to lose. I didn't want to starve or deprive myself too drastically. I did find it necessary to count calories for the first little while to get a better grip on what I was putting into my body. Eventually, I found some tricks along the way:

1. Eat Protein (an egg) in the Morning ~ you will burn more calories during the day.
2. Exercise ~ exercising with weights will burn more calories.
3. Cheese ~ sharp cheese gives you lots of flavor with much less.
4. Daytime Munchies ~ eat veges & fruit rather than chips or crackers (goldfish, flavor blasted thank you, are a calorie friendly cracker and air popped popcorn is a calorie must!)
5. Don't Eat After 7pm ~ use 0 calorie drinks (like Crystal Light) to get you through the nighttime munchies.
6. Quaker Mini Delights got me through many a sugar craving.
7. Take a Break ~ at least one night on the weekend I ate whatever I wanted, guilt free.

Following the above list while watching my calories, I was able to lose a couple of pounds a week and eventually got to my goal weight. Losing weight was no easy feat. It was definitely an internal battle of sacrifice and determination. I think it's important that we don't deprive ourselves completely of the things we love when we're trying to lose weight - but instead find healthier alternatives that work for us.

3 comments:

Susan Anderson said...

Good job, Mindy! It isn't easy to have to start watching your weight when you never had to before. Not all of us make the adjustment as well...

=)

Kierstin said...

You are awesome...these are great tips!

Don said...

I recently discovered a snack that has satisfied my craving for ice cream.

I dump a couple of cups of frozen blueberries in a bowl and then pour about a cup to a cup and a half of vitamin d milk over the berries. I let it sit for a minute or two. The milk ices over the berries and I have a quasi-ice-cream snack that is extremely satisfying.

The upswing: blueberries are one of the best foods you can eat for the nourisment of the brain. Since I've been eating this "snack" (usually for dinner), I've noticed my focus has become sharper and my thinking clearer - placebo effect? - perhaps - but it has made me quite happy!

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