I continue to tackle my recent aims and plans to make my life better, as I wish it.
The third item on the list was:
3. eating healthier and losing 25 pounds and keeping it off
I have always been a chubby girl, but not overly over-weight until something like 8 years ago when I moved to my current city and I gained weight – around 30 pounds to be exact. I am not sure what exactly caused this; I am thinking possibly the increased stress levels as well as the reduced physical activity levels. In anyways, two years ago my doctor informed me that my blood sugar levels were borderline and even 5% fat loss would make a positive difference in my sugar levels. I took this to my heart but I could not really implement any weight loss/better diet strategies for a long time. Luckily last time we checked it had improved but I was advised to lose weight if I can and increase my exercise levels.
I have made several attempts in eating better and exercising more over my life. Long story short; I know: a) exercising does not make me lose weight, b) if I can limit my night-eats and if I limit carbs, like bread, rice, or even sweets, I feel lighter, c) there is something about chewy raw veggies that helps with water retention or fat dissolution (not sure which one), d) I keep consume the same types of food, which needs to change.
Knowing these I now am ready to remind myself that I can do better and in fact lose the dreaded extra weight. I just need to get more conscious about these, that is all. And this post will just function to do so.
Plan: 1) Shop for 6 different veggies/fruits that I have not consumed in the last 1 week. I did that in the past with success; it aims to facilitate me consume a variety of food
2) drink not one but two glasses of milk every day – I read somewhere that calcium helps keeping the bone health as well as managing weight. I want to see how that goes
3) keep walking in the afternoons and if I can, in the mornings to the office. Make an attempt to walk at the weekends too, even for 10 min.
4) everyday eat at least two raw veggie in the form of salad or snack: lettuce, onion, herbs, spinach, carrots, tomato, and others. There are many options to choose from.
5) For mid-night snack, continue to choose yogurt, milk, and fruits.
6) Continue with the reduced intake of bread (now that I bake my own bread, interestingly I consume less of it..)
7) Have 2 refined carb-less (bread, rice, pasta, etc.) days per week: I just came up with this idea right now and I wonder how that would work….. Since my weekends are usually pleasure-oriented, I guess what I need is to focus on the beginning of the week. Maybe Mondays and Thursdays – how about that? Exciting 🙂
I am currently 200 pounds (ooops 🙂 ) Let’s see where I am gonna go from here.
I’ve read that milk isn’t necessarily the best way to get calcium but I’m not an expert on it so it’s something you can look into if you want. I think green, leafy veggies, tofu and certain beans have good calcium as well as other nutrients.
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that reminded me an opinion about how we were misled by the milk industry in the USA… you know; it may be quite possible. I heard today from someone else that after the age of 30 the calcium absorption rates decreases anyhow, so calcium supplementation or by food may not work out either. I kind of thinking it may not be possible to add the optimum amount of calcium back in the bones, but whatever we can add up would be advantageous. I will check the brochures my doctor sent me about the calcium intake (and will do a research again). thanks 🙂
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I think weight bearing exercise is supposed to be good for the bones, like walking, running, aerobics, hiking, etc. But not swimming, biking, etc.
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upon your comment I remembered! yes 🙂 time to start use use my dumbells! 🙂
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