My Motivations

The last day or so, I realized something: I have explored what it is that I would like to do, and how I am going to do it, but not why I would like to do it.  So right now I am just going to take some time and come up with a list of reasons to stay on track.  Here they are:

• Health- I only have one life, so I need to live it to the best of my ability for as long as I can.
• Physical Ability/Endurance- I would like to be able to run or walk a steep trail without getting out of breath or taking frequent breaks
• Attractiveness- I want to be happy on my wedding day.  I don't want to feel fat and ugly.
• A Bathing Suit- enough said!

Day Five

Today was bad.  All I can say is emotional eating.

Exercise: 15 min. stairs, and 15 min. strength exercises

Breakfast: coffee with non dairy creamer and equal and an egg with finely diced onion, tomato, and green pepper

Lunch: sugar free iced tea, baked beans, and green salad with light ranch dressing

Dinner: mango-tofu stir fry, mixed berries with equal, and a light ice cream sandwich

Midnight Snack: three ice cream sandwiches (ouch!), a banana, and an orange

Day Four

Well, I goofed.  I thought I was having a 105 calorie serving of pasta today, but it seems that I did the math wrong.  I had one cup of pasta which equals 210 calories.  I also had a lemon poppy seed muffin, which means that I had one extra serving of carbohydrates today.  Oh well, mistakes will happen, the important thing is not to dwell on them.

Exercise: 15 min. climbing stairs; 15 min. strength building exercises

Breakfast: coffee with non-dairy creamer and equal, and two eggs scrambled with tomato, onion, and mushroom

Lunch: whole wheat pasta with Alfredo sauce


Dinner: salad with mock chicken, mixed berries with equal, and a light ice cream sandwich

Midnight Snack: a banana, and a lemon poppy seed muffin

Day Three

I'm very proud of myself today, I must say. I went to a gallery show, where there was tons of pizza, chips, and cookies. I had one single slice of pizza, which I counted as a serving of dairy and a serving of carbs. For dinner I made a simple salad with a mock chicken patty cut up into strips. On top of that I drizzled a little honey mustard dressing.

Exercise: 15 min. climbing stairs; 15 min. strength exercises

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 1 cup cauliflower

Lunch: 1 slice of pizza, assorted fruit and veggies, 1 light ice cream cone

Dinner: salad with a mock chicken patty

Midnight Snack: light popcorn, 1/2 bag

Link of the Day: Here is a Slide Show of Most Fattening Foods. I think many of the foods on this list can be made over for a healthier diet. Check it out and see what solutions you can come up with.

Day Two *Weigh In*

Today's Weight: 232.4 lbs

America obviously has a fascination with weight loss.  There are several programs which attempt to take advantage of this preoccupation.  The other day I watched one of these such programs, Losing It with Jillian.  This kind of fitness television is extremely interesting.  Unlike traditional exercise programs in which you are expected to work out along side the athletes on tv, the viewer just sits on the couch watching other people work out.  It's like a spectator sporting event.  There should be a rule that if the people on the tv are moving, then the people watching the tv should be moving. 

The premise of the show was basically that an unhealthy family gets five days with the expert to jump start a new fitness and diet regimen.  All of the meals get a healthy make-over, and everybody goes through fitness boot camp.  After five days, the family is on their own for six weeks, when we get the "after" picture.  The five days are obviously a lot more intense than they would be for an ordinary dieter.  Even the show's host and namesake admits that this is not how she would go about things if she had more time available. I don't know, just some things to think about.

Exercise: 30 min. climbing stairs; 15 min. strength exercises

Breakfast: 2 eggs, and 1 cup of broccoli

Lunch: strawberry shake

Dinner: veggie burger on light bread, and mixed vegetables

Midnight Snack: small lemon poppy seed muffin

Link of the Day: Losing It with Jillian: watch the show that I discussed earlier in the post on hulu.

Day One

I don't know what I was thinking today. I am so hungry. I stayed within my limits, but even the "healthy" or low cal options at fast food restaurants are never as good or as filling as the things that you can make yourself.  I watched my fiance scarf down four cheesy burritos and half of a family sized cole slaw, while I ate two severely undersized entrees.  I need to remember that fast food only makes me hungrier.  Since I had dinner I haven't been able to put the thought of dessert out of my mind.  Chocolate chip cookies sound absolutely wonderful.  I hate the first day of a new diet.  It's so hard, because I want to just give up and start tomorrow.  I want to just say, "Forget it, it's only one day! What difference will one day make?"  The problem with that kind of thinking is that every day is just one day.  Each year is made up of 365 "just one days."  Tomorrow, I will be able to full like I have some kind of momentum.  I know that one I start it will get easier.  I just need to get through the first week.

Exercise: 30 minutes walking steps, 15 minutes strength building exercises.

Breakfast: Coffee with non-dairy creamer and equal, and a light yogurt.

Lunch: Two veggie dogs without a bun and 1 cup of green beans.

Dinner: Two fresco bean burritos from Taco Bell, and a medium diet soda.

Midnight Snack: Canned light fruit cocktail mixed with light yogurt.  I also had some cauliflower with soy sauce a bit later.

Link of the Day: How to Lose Weight as a Vegetarian|eHow.Com: Being vegetarian does not necessarily lead to a healthier lifestyle, although it can become a healthier lifestyle with a few changes. This short article outlines a few easy changes to go from junk food vegetarian to a healthier herbivore.  A lot of these simple steps are things that I already incorporate into my diet and lifestyle.

Outlining a Method

OK yesterday I described my first goal, although I may decide to add more as I continue through the year.  Goals are of course wonderful things.  We know that individuals who seek to fulfil their goals are happier than those who don't.  We are a species who always extends their collective grasp just a little bit farther, but without a clear set of parameters, a goal will fade into the the sea of coulda, shoulda, woulda.  I know that I have had many different goals throughout my life: lose weight, learn to speak fluent Korean, be more social, and become more fit just to name a few.  Most of these goals did not have a clear plan, they were just ethereal dreams that never solidified into anything real.
So here's the plan for this goal. I will:

• Limit my caloric intake as well as vary my foods by eating a specific number of servings (about 100 calories per serving) of each food group.  This is a method that was really helpful in losing weight for me a number of years ago.  The breakdown is this: protein- 3 servings, carbohydrates- 2 servings, dairy or calcium rich dairy alternative- 2 servings, fresh fruit- 3 servings, and unlimited fresh vegetables.  I am vegetarian, so that will be a huge factor in the selection of foods that I make.
• Drink a number of calorie free/low calorie drinks throughout the day to stay hydrated and more full.  These drinks include ice water, herbal tea, diet soda, and low calorie drink mixes.
• Exercise in a variety of ways.  This includes walking daily for at least 15 minutes, and doing some strength exercises (such as push ups) for at least 15 minutes three times per week.  As this exercise becomes easier, I will reevaluate this and increase the intensity.
• And finally make myself accountable to myself by making myself accountable to you.  Every day I will keep a log of how well I do sticking to the plan.  I may occasionally post my current weight, however I don't currently own a scale, so I can't promise to do that with any regularity.

If this plan proves to be deficient in any way I will adjust it as needed. Tomorrow I will post my first day of eating and exercise!