2019 WIR Healthy Lifestyle Discussion

[debthaven]

Thank you Rae! I don't have a crock pot but I can adapt those ideas. I will definitely do a few chicken breasts too.

I also just emailed the cast (6 ppl) + director + stage manager + lights/sound guy) to suggest that we all "pool our resources" that week, and bring in food to share. Hopefully they'll agree to that. I offered to provide food twice that week (9 people, 7 days) if the others agree to provide a few healthy options too (ie not just potato/taco chips).

I'm hoping we can all go out one evening too.

DH suggested devilled eggs, adding those to the list. 

Thank you!

[debthaven]

Losing weight is mostly about diet. Exercise is important for overall health, but it's the exception that exercise is going to make you lose weight.

This is so true! On Reddit Keto they advise you to set your macros (how much you can eat) on sedentary, even if you don't consider yourself to be sedentary.

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 31, 2019 18:05:10 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Losing weight is mostly about diet. Exercise is important for overall health, but it's the exception that exercise is going to make you lose weight.

This is so true! On Reddit Keto they advise you to set your macros (how much you can eat) on sedentary, even if you don't consider yourself to be sedentary.

When I started using MyFitnessPal seven years ago I set my activity level as sedentary and I've left it at that setting.

[nidena]

Man, I was craving some Chinese food when I drove home this evening.  Or pizza!  Or anything along those lines.  I realized that I hadn't eaten in four hours so my craving was actually hunger.  When I got home, I mixed up five eggs with a 1/2 cup of chopped red onion and two cups of fresh spinach and scrambled them in a pan.  Followed those up with slices of green apple and peanut butter (only ingredient: peanuts).  No more craving.  Food is magical.  

[flutterby]

1/6: 1:30 regular planks

.

.

1/31: 3:00 regular planks

I DID IT!

[ohmomto2boys]

1/4: 158.5 lbs
2/1: 157 lbs

Continue walking on treadmill and incorporating hills - 30 minutes - 5 days a week.  My rest days are Tuesday and Friday.  
Continue upper body weights 3-4 times a week.  Also started core exercises this week.  Will do those 3-4 times a week. 
Continue to watch what I eat.  This is the hard part.  
Changes so far:  I am sleeping better.  No need for Melatonin or a Tylenol PM for the past 10 days.  I would typically use a sleep aid a couple times a week.  I feel more energized.  I look forward to exercising.

[flamingo]

I’m enjoying a snow day today, so I spent some time walking/running on the treadmill. It felt good to have extra time and not need to rush today. however, my after workout snack has been yogurt, chips, and wine. LOL. And I’ll likely spend the rest of the day on the couch.

[andi9899]

No judgment here. I ate biscuits and gravy for breakfast and I'm having chicken wings and french fries for lunch. You have to have a cheat day every now and then. Otherwise you won't be successful at weight loss or maintenance. I'll do better tomorrow. I also didn't have dinner last night or any desserts this week, so I don't feel bad about eating bad today.

[andi9899]

I'm going to the gym tomorrow after work unless something comes up. I think I'm going to lift weights for a half hour, then floor exercises for another half hour, then some cardio. I'm going to try the elliptical for a half hour, but I usually don't stay on it that long so we'll see. I hope I can hang.

[ohmomto2boys]

You have to have a cheat day every now and then.

Absolutely.  I ate 2 (thick) slices of italian bread with butter the other night with stuffed shells.  It was worth it.  

[Cookies Galore]

Hell, I'm going for exercise negation today! I'm going to do a 40 minute workout when I log off for the day and then I'm meeting a friend for drinks while hubsy is going to a cyclebar class. I love working from home on Fridays!

[andi9899]

Just had the wings and fries. I also threw in a soda I've been jonesing for all week.

[financialpeace]

Total lost for January was 11 pounds. I’m very happy with that and going to stick with my plan this month but ramp up the exercise.

[ilovedolphins]

Feb 1, 2019 15:41:44 GMT -5 financialpeace said:

Total lost for January was 11 pounds. I’m very happy with that and going to stick with my plan this month but ramp up the exercise.

I can't keep up with everyone.  Were you doing a special eating plan?

[ilovedolphins]

Has anyone tried the Mediterranean diet plan?  I am going to research it.

[andi9899]

I think I looked at it and decided there were too many rules for me. It's like that with every diet though. I'm just not a dieter.

[financialpeace]

I love dolphins - I cut out all processed food and am doing intermittent fasting. I have found it much easier than it sounds. And it’s amazing how much better I felt within just a few days of not eating garbage food.

[Happy prose]

financialpeace Tell me about this intermittent fasting please. I already don't eat processed food. (Most of the time!)

[financialpeace]

There is a ton of information online if you want to google it. There are several different ways to do it. The way I do it is fast 16 hours (minimum, it's often longer because I don't eat right up to the end of the window), and have an 8 hour window to eat. You can do whatever hours work with your schedule. For me, I don't eat until noon and I don't eat after 8 pm. I eat as much as  I want during that time frame (as long as it's healthy). Within a few days of starting I wasn't dying for breakfast any more. Sometimes I have random days where I am pretty hungry in the morning but the feeling usually passes within 20 minutes. It's become pretty normal, and I don't plan on changing it even after I get to my desired weight. Prior to doing this, my appetite had been way too high ever since my kids were born. Breastfeeding twins required me to eat a lot of food. But when I stopped breastfeeding, my appetite didn't go back to normal and I packed on almost 40 pounds. I feel like my appetite has finally reset itself to a normal level. My fasting blood sugars have also been improving (they've been high for a couple years). There are supposedly a lot of benefits for your body to let it get into a fasting mode regularly, but I haven't done much research to see if that's true. But it's working great for me, and I feel great doing it.

[ilovedolphins]

I just need to start eating healthier and don't worry about all these plans.  I'm just going to try to fix some meals ahead of time that have the appropriate serving size and include protein, carbs, fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy.  I'll see how that goes.  

[Cookies Galore]

Feb 3, 2019 9:15:12 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

Has anyone tried the Mediterranean diet plan?  I am going to research it.

I'm a 20+ year pescetarian and eat mostly vegetarian (i.e., fish only once a week or so) so I've been eating a kind of Mediterranean diet for years without giving it a name. I think it's pretty simple - don't eat red meat all the time, cook with olive oil instead of butter, eat a lot of legumes, nuts, fruits, and veggies, etc. I eat a lot of meals with chickpeas, quinoa, and lentils.

[andi9899]

I've decided that this month I'm not eating from any restaurant that has a drive through. I do it a little too often at times. I usually lose a few pounds when I do that.

[ilovedolphins]

I eat out about 5 times a year so my main downfall is that I work in a grocery store where chocolate, chips and soda are extremely tempting.  I just need to have more willpower.

[andi9899]

Feb 3, 2019 13:51:14 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

I eat out about 5 times a year so my main downfall is that I work in a grocery store where chocolate, chips and soda are extremely tempting.  I just need to have more willpower.

I have this same problem. I work at a sporting goods store, but in the front end where all the snacks are.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 31, 2019 16:47:31 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I hit a new low today! A pathetic 100 g lower but I'll take it. 61.1 kilos/ 134.4 lbs.

Goal weight still 60 kilos/132 lbs.

My play opens two weeks from tomorrow. At this point we are rehearsing 3 times a week (two nights + Sat). I know I need to make a plan to NOT eat crap and gain weight both in the run-up and during Play Week. I still have to figure out the plan though. 

Any suggestions for SUPER quick/easy low-carb meals that I can eat on the run, ideally cold? I'm OK with cooking once or twice a week. I started cooking MUCH MUCH less 2.5 years ago when DS3 (our youngest) left for college. Now I only cook when my kids are home/come over. DH is a much better cook than me but I tend not to eat dinner, only lunch.

After 30+ of years of feeding four kids home-cooked meals, I needed a VERY LONG break from cooking. That long break is still ongoing LOL.

ETA: I have a pork tenderloin in the freezer, I'm going to defrost it and roast it with a ton of veggies on Sun. That should last for a few days. 

I'm also thinking hard-boiled eggs, tuna salad, rotisserie chickens. 

raeoflyte I hope you can get your BP under control. I know it's scary, my DH has the same problem (but he's a lot older than you).

Debt, I'm so inspired with your consistency and dedication to your health and food!

Jan 31, 2019 17:32:02 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

One thing I love that is great for a low carb diet (not so great since I'm not low carb lol) is the "crack" chicken crock pot recipes. 

3 chicken breasts, 2 packets of cream cheese, 1 or 2 ranch seasoning packets.  Cook on low for 8 + hours and then shred it all together.  You can add crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese and chives to it.  mmmm.....  Good to dip veggies in, salad topper, veggie wrap, etc.  Very high in fat obviously but that isn't a bad thing on keto.  

Also spinach/artichoke dips with lots of veggies.  Good enough for a meal.  

I may try the chicken and cream cheese recipe. Do you mean the 8oz of cream cheese packets? We buy the cream cheese tubs. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 31, 2019 18:05:10 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Losing weight is mostly about diet. Exercise is important for overall health, but it's the exception that exercise is going to make you lose weight.

This is so true! On Reddit Keto they advise you to set your macros (how much you can eat) on sedentary, even if you don't consider yourself to be sedentary.

Yup! I've kept my myfitnesspal activity at either sedentary or low activity even though I'm generally at more than 10K steps per day. 

[raeoflyte]

Feb 3, 2019 16:03:05 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Jan 31, 2019 16:47:31 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I hit a new low today! A pathetic 100 g lower but I'll take it. 61.1 kilos/ 134.4 lbs.

Goal weight still 60 kilos/132 lbs.

My play opens two weeks from tomorrow. At this point we are rehearsing 3 times a week (two nights + Sat). I know I need to make a plan to NOT eat crap and gain weight both in the run-up and during Play Week. I still have to figure out the plan though. 

Any suggestions for SUPER quick/easy low-carb meals that I can eat on the run, ideally cold? I'm OK with cooking once or twice a week. I started cooking MUCH MUCH less 2.5 years ago when DS3 (our youngest) left for college. Now I only cook when my kids are home/come over. DH is a much better cook than me but I tend not to eat dinner, only lunch.

After 30+ of years of feeding four kids home-cooked meals, I needed a VERY LONG break from cooking. That long break is still ongoing LOL.

ETA: I have a pork tenderloin in the freezer, I'm going to defrost it and roast it with a ton of veggies on Sun. That should last for a few days. 

I'm also thinking hard-boiled eggs, tuna salad, rotisserie chickens. 

raeoflyte I hope you can get your BP under control. I know it's scary, my DH has the same problem (but he's a lot older than you).

Debt, I'm so inspired with your consistency and dedication to your health and food!

Jan 31, 2019 17:32:02 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

One thing I love that is great for a low carb diet (not so great since I'm not low carb lol) is the "crack" chicken crock pot recipes. 

3 chicken breasts, 2 packets of cream cheese, 1 or 2 ranch seasoning packets.  Cook on low for 8 + hours and then shred it all together.  You can add crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese and chives to it.  mmmm.....  Good to dip veggies in, salad topper, veggie wrap, etc.  Very high in fat obviously but that isn't a bad thing on keto.  

Also spinach/artichoke dips with lots of veggies.  Good enough for a meal.  

I may try the chicken and cream cheese recipe. Do you mean the 8oz of cream cheese packets? We buy the cream cheese tubs. 

Yep, 8oz.  It's called crack chicken if you look for a real recipe.  I just wing it and we started calling it cracken chicken to make it a little more child friendly (or at least less like we have to explain ourselves when the kids mention it to someone else).  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Feb 3, 2019 9:15:12 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

Has anyone tried the Mediterranean diet plan?  I am going to research it.

I posted a few links a few pages back. For me, it's the most reasonable approach. It's not a diet though; this one is really a lifestyle. 

Feb 3, 2019 9:25:02 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I think I looked at it and decided there were too many rules for me. It's like that with every diet though. I'm just not a dieter.

I don't mind rules; I just don't have will power. Until recently though, I wasn't overweight. It's time for rules for me. 

Feb 3, 2019 11:35:13 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

I just need to start eating healthier and don't worry about all these plans.  I'm just going to try to fix some meals ahead of time that have the appropriate serving size and include protein, carbs, fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy.  I'll see how that goes.  

I definitely agree with following appropriate serving sizes! It's a huge problem that I have. 

Feb 3, 2019 12:46:43 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

I've decided that this month I'm not eating from any restaurant that has a drive through. I do it a little too often at times. I usually lose a few pounds when I do that.

Isn't interesting how we all have different approaches to eating and what we need to do? I never go through a drive-through. It takes a mass alteration to my lfie to go to fast food. However, I cannot for the life of me avoid sweet/dessert type junk food. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

January Reflections & February Goals
I did not have single week in which I met my weekly goals. I am definitely enforcing more cognizance of my eating. I do think I reduced my junk food consumption, but It was not enough for sure. I want to try "no junk food days" during February. I have upped my cardio as my back has improved. One of the best aspects of this month is that a week or so ago I did get DH to agree that we both need to be tracking our calories again. I told him it was completely selfish on my part--that I needed his help. However, we both know that he needs to lose a bit of weight--probably 30 pounds. I have increased my core strength via the home workouts from my physical therapy for my back. I need to continue the core workout as part of my routine. I also incorporated lifting weights for my arms beginning late December. My approach has been a low amount of weight, two sets of ten, all three areas of my arms via the weight machines at the gym. My goal is to reduce arm flabbiness. My biceps have increased in size, but I don't think my triceps are any less flabby. 

For February, I need to be more conscientious of my calories. I was trying to stay under 1500 calories per day, but I'm struggling there. IN order to be realistic with my calorie intake parameters, for February my goal will be 1600 per day and 11,500 per week. 
As someone who's consistently consuming at least 2,000 calories per day, I'll be reducing my intake by 2,100 calories per week if I meet this goal. 
Work out goals include: cardio five times per week, arms two times per week, core three times per week. 
I do want to resume my water intake to 50 ounces of water. I've been ignoring that for at least eight weeks. 
My step goal remains at 13,000/day.

Because I kind of missed the beginning of February, this will be in Monday-through-Sunday weeks of February 4 - March 3. 


 

[ners]

Weekly check in.

Outside of getting my steps in there was nothing good about last week. 
Poor eating and too many adult beverages.

This week's step goal is 77000.
Not sure what else.
Hope to eat better.  No snacking after 9:00 at least 5 times.  

Have a great week everyone.