My husband and I were talking recently and he made a comment on my efforts of trying things. It wasn’t that I don’t “try” things but more so it’s that I don’t give things enough time. I really thought about this and I do believe this to be true. I tend to give things a very short shelf life before just moving on and my typical goal for that is probably max 30 days.
My thoughts were more so if I don’t like it with in 30 days I probably won’t like it at all. Heck I even realized that my giving up a scale didn’t even last 30 whole days. So on to that first, so last week I was in my storage area looking for something and I found a scale. At first I didn’t do anything with it. I wasn’t going to weigh myself and that was it. However, I already had this lingering fear of my weight knowing just in a few days I had a doctors appt coming up and I was going to be weighed.
I had not be weighed in a about a month and I was terrified. The last time I weighed I think was the 1st of April and I was 299.2. The second I stepped on the scale at the doctor’s office I kept saying to myself, “you better not be over 300lbs” over and over again. 299.6 is what the scale read. I have to admit I was at peace! Yes, I was still under 300lbs! However, after getting home I realized that my weight only maintained in a month.
While, I find some joy in knowing possibly when I get to goal weight I will be able to maintain my weight right now by far that’s the last thing I am trying to do. So I brought out the scale again. I knew that if I wanted results I do need to use this tool. It does whether I like it or not help keep me accountable. However, I still don’t want to obsess over it.
So I made rules. Rules that I have to live by for the next 90 days. I wanted to throw out my 30 days of trying something (which btw I realize I have been “running” now for more than 30 days!) Woot-woot! I also knew that when it came to my diet I wanted a more flexible eating. I didn’t want a “plan” persay. I wanted to focus on having better food choices, eating better portions, and focusing on over all health. I know there will be times where I will hit a drive through, go to a party. I didn’t want to constantly wonder “what can I eat?” I didn’t want to feel bad eating a bowl of ice cream and I didn’t want to beat myself up because I ate some damn rice! (the ex low carb dieter in me has a hard time accepting I do okay with rice!).
So here is my 90 Day Challenge to myself rules!
- Eat until full NOT stuffed! Just satisfied.
- Only eat upon hunger (I know there is a lot of controversy about this one whether we eat too long of periods or should be eating every few hours, however, I believe more on just listening to my body. If I am hungry eat, if not don’t!).
- Become portion friendly. I have to be aware of portion sizes.
- Eat 7 cups of veggies a day (this is a new one for me but something I felt I should try) Hell, if anything green smoothies here I come!).
- Drink apple cider vinegar (this stuff is gross to me but has so many benefits that I want to test out for myself, so trying to find a mixture that works for me however, this is the ONLY thing on the list that if I don’t do I am okay with lol).
- Take my meds everyday (I am bad at this and my meds are IMPORTANT).
- Weight ONLY once a week minimum
- Limit red meat (this is just because I feel better eating less red meat).
- Two fast food meals per month. If I absolutely have to do more than the meal needs to be healthy. (so say I get a salad instead of a burger if I have met my quota for the month).
- One Veggie dinner per week (again trying to up the veggies here for me and the kids).
- No bigger candies. I am a sucker for those sharing size candies. BUT I don’t share! For now on if I get say a small bag of peanut m&m’s it has to be the small size and I can only do this treat ONCE a week (I typically get this when at the store!).
- I must do some sort of daily exercise. Even if it’s just going for a walk. I get rest days but it doesn’t mean I have to seriously be on my butt all day long! (only exception is if I am sick or ordered to bed rest or something).
- ONE SERVING (this goes back to portion control). If I eat something say I made some mac n cheese then I can have JUST ONE serving. Not like um, the whole box! Again, just trying to learn to eat things I want but in moderation.
- BLOG more (because blogging makes me feel better)!
And that’s it… It is a lot of rules but for the most part they are simple. Eat more veggies, don’t eat in excess, limit fast food and move more! Pretty simple. So what are your goals you have this month and do you struggle to meet them monthly?
Hi there, IG follower here yet just recently learned about your blog! Love it!
I can relate to what you & your husband say about not trying for a longer amount of time. I don’t know if it’s boredom, the repetitiveness or just plain laziness but I have always struggled with trying new things. For example, I can start a new workout program yet a couple weeks into….I’m over it. I really need to work on sticking with stuff!
I like your challenge. I think they are realistic and I am ready to piggy back on it 🙂 However, I can’t use the term “rules”, I tend to be a rule breaker, lol. I think of rules as something I can’t or shouldn’t do. Goals however, that’s something to prove myself (and others) that I can do!
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A few tips:
1. The only exercise you should do is walking. There’s no point in torturing yourself with other activities. The weight you currently have may hurt your joints, so walking is the best and safest way to lose weight.
2. There’s nothing wrong with white rice, or red meat (in moderation). White rice is perfectly fine as long as you complement it with some salad on the side and a nice chuck of protein (poultry or beef).
3. Weighting yourself only once a week is a good idea, because naturally your weight can fluctuate 2-5 pounds throughout the day, which can drive you insane and create an illusion of no progress.
4. To learn portion control I suggest you get small containers (0.5 liter) ones and prep your food and take them to work. It’s a decent size portion and you won’t be able to overeat.
5. Instead of drinking apple cider vinegar, I would suggest you stick to plain, or carbonated water. Around 30% of extra calories come from liquid sugar drinks (sodas and such).
6. The ingredients in fast food chains are absolutely horrible. Most of their is processed garbage filled with various preservatives and killer oils like trans fats. I would avoid fast food altogether and learn cooking delicious recipes at home. Pinterest is the best place to start.
Just my 2 cents.
Take care!
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1. I actually run and do strength exercise all are approved for me 🙂 The walking on off days was just being busy on non gym days. None of my workouts are torturous 🙂
2. I never said anything about rice 🙂 and like I said my limit for red meat is because I just feel better eating less of it. I tend to eat more poultry.
3. Yes, I agree on the weighing in. I have fluid issues so weighing often can really mess with ones head hence the once a week (I was doing once a month actually)
4. I measure my food for portions so I agree with your small containers. It’s more so a reminder to keep note of portions
5. Drinking apple cider vinegar is for health benefits (it doesn’t add calories) I drink water and don’t consume sugary sodas or juices already.
6. As far as fast food (I really meant more so eating out in general) but we order pizza from time to time from the kids. I do cook BUT I HATE cooking as a mom of FOUR, I already cook lol so it’s nice to NOT cook once in a while. So while it maybe “horrible” food I also know that it’s something that I am okay with.
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It looks like you got everything figured out, so keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll get there. Just don’t get discouraged!
“I didn’t want to feel bad eating a bowl of ice cream and I didn’t want to beat myself up because I ate some damn rice!”
^ that’s the sentence you talked about rice? Or is it some kind of other rice? 😀
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Sorry I was confused when you brought up the rice as if it was one of my rules. You ledt this part out (the ex low carb dieter in me has a hard time accepting I do okay with rice!) I was explaining that I was a previous low carber in that world rice isn’t something I could have. Since I don’t eat low carb and found that I do okay sating rice. But as I mentioned it takes a minute for me to remember that this food doesn’t effect my body negatively so it’s okay for me to have and I wasn’t gonna make myself feel bad for eating rice :). Its def not on my rule of what not to eat. Lol anyways sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Oh, thanks for clearing that up. 🙂
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