Mish_xx's Journal, 08 November 2009

When I first started I ate a lot of fruit too - then someone suggested that maybe that was a lot of calories, which it did turn out to be. I cut down to one piece of fruit a day, kept to my calorie limit, and added veggies - I was losing about 1 pound a week. I also cut down on white bread, and added fiber. Still slow losing but I have some healthy habits that keep my energy up. Good Luck! 

Dear Mish, You are NOT alone. Both of my parents are over-weight which has always weighed heavily on my conscience. It is hard when we are being told that we must look a certain way by the media but then we have these familial ghosts to contend with. After I had my son (17 months old), I thought I was locked into a similar fate. Then I saw some pictures and realized that I didn't want to look that way. Not for anyone else, but for myself did I start changing my lifestyle slowly. Here are a few suggestions that I have done that have worked wonders: 1) Keep a food journal religiously for a few weeks. This helped me enormously. While I don't do it right now (save for the application on this website that I'm just starting to use), it did put my eating habits into perspective. I found out that I was eating a lot of little snacks that I was discounting. Turns out that a cookie at 11 pm still counts as eating a cookie! 2. Cut all carbs. for 2 weeks. I mean, you'll have a few but try to keep it limited. This means no pasta, no bread, no fruit (counter intuitive but it works if only for a few weeks). This will break you of your "carb addiction". I did this and I have to say, it was extremely hard for the first few days and then I didn't have the need for carbs. as much any more. Now, a year after doing this, I make substitutes for the carb. heavy foods I used to love (i.e. wheat pasta instead of white pasta, eating turkey and cheese without bread, etc.). While you do this though, be sure to take a multi-vitamin. It will make up for some of the essential minerals that you aren't getting by cutting certain foods out. 3. Get on the floor and play with you child. I understand how tiring life can be sometimes. The last thing you want to do at the end of the day is get on the floor and roll around with a busy 2 yr. old. I read this tip somewhere a while ago and, I have to say, it does help you keep moving. Plus, it helps create bonding between you and your child. Well, that's all for now. Hope to see you during my challenge. I'm excited about it!