I’ve lost nearly 30 pounds over the last three months. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s been pretty easy. I’ve been asked by friends what program we are following (my husband lost 17 pounds) and we aren’t following a specific program, just doing some things I should have been doing all along that slipped away after becoming a mother. My husband and I have always eaten healthy foods – there wasn’t something I could easily give up like soda or fast food that would help me shed weight fast. This is what has worked for me:
-Getting family and friends involved – my friend organized a couple’s weight loss challenge, and I think it was having that support system that led to some successful changes.
-Logging my food and setting a weight loss goal on my FitBit app. Like I said, we eat healthy food, but we were just eating far too much of it. Tracking my intake made me realize I’d have to choose between dessert or wine, and that we shouldn’t always be eating an appetizer before dinner. I usually do a 300 calorie breakfast, 400 calorie lunch, 600 calorie dinner, and that 1,300 is usually more than what FitBit says I should eat on a given day (depending on my weight loss goal and how much I exercise) – that literally leaves no room for snacking, dessert or wine unless I do some vigorous exercise. It was an eye opener for me.
-We are eating a bigger breakfasts these days, with more fat; typically a poached egg with toast, avocado and salsa, oatmeal with full-fat coconut milk, or a mango banana smoothie with spinach.
-Lunch is where we made the biggest change. We have been doing lower calories salads or soups you’ll see featured on this blog.
-I think the biggest dietary change I’ve made is with snacking. I’m trying to snack on almonds or low calorie cheese (because I can’t give it up) or have veggies and hummus. I’m definitely snacking less, maybe because of the bigger breakfasts.
-We are still doing Blue Apron dinners three times per week but then on the non-Blue Apron nights, I’m trying to do some lower calorie meals. Tonight we had spiralized Zucchini Noodles with pasta sauce or we might do baked salmon and broccoli or stir fry with riced cauliflower (I’ve been making my own version of the Trader Joe’s Riced Cauliflower in the food processor which is more like couscous).
-I’ve also finally settled into a workout routine that seems to be working. I’m running three times per week (highly recommend Couch to 5K) and on the off days, I’m doing a strength workout from YouTube of all places. I like the HIIT workouts – this is the channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/FitnessBlender/ – this is an example of one of the workouts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG8DJpN-35g or I’ll do the “7 minute workout” two or three times. I also try to walk on these days. I really like Rachel Cosgrove’s books and she says strength training is critical in transforming your body, and that’s proven true for me. I just wish she had more videos!
So, I don’t really have a “program” I’m following. Definitely fewer carbs and more clean eating. I’m working on finding a balance because I really like dessert and wine, so I’ve been working out more so I don’t have to deprive myself. But my FitBit app has shown me that you can’t outrun a bad diet (at least not at the distances I’m running), so on days I want to eat out, I’m trying to make dietary adjustments throughout the day.
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