Now, I don't claim to be an expert... in fact, I'm far from it. But I know very well that the ONLY way to succeed with weight loss is to PLAN AHEAD! And guess what... i SUCK at planning ahead. For the most part, I've always eaten what I wanted to eat, when I wanted to eat it - when the craving struck, I went for it. That's not to say I was gorging myself on milkshakes and burgers, but alas, even eating "not that bad for you" foods in excess isn't a good thing.
So... planning ahead. It's a big goal for me. I try to have a plan when I go to the grocery store of what I'm going to eat for the upcomign week. I try to have a plan when I start my day, of what my 3 meals and 2 snacks will consist of. And, to make it easy, I've chosen a few "good" snacks to grab and go with me when I pack my lunch.
ROADBLOCK: I usually screw up the plan at 2 specific times: 1) going out to eat - i will even study menus and choose ahead of time, but the spur of the moment change of mind kills me. 2) eating at night - - i never PLAN for dessert, so when I want something after dinner, i don't really have a good strategy for WHAT to eat at that point. i suppose the easy answer SHOULD be "nothing" - but let's face it... it's not that easy.
Wanna hear the ULTIMATE challenge for planning ahead? Embarking on a cruise. I'm TRYING to start planning ahead - and visualizing what i will eat at meals. Egg white omletts, fresh fruit, yogurt, burgers w/out the buns, salads with dressings on the side, just a taste of dessert, easy on the alchohol. It won't be easy, that's for sure. I'm going to have to screw my noggin on pretty tight. But, my goal to work out AT LEAST 3x on the trip is helpful - and I'm excited about the "swim against the tide" lap pool on my ship. Should be lots of fun.
So... as long as I make "good decisions" as often as possible, and stick to the work-out plan, i shouldn't TOTALLY sabatoge the 6 lbs i've managed to lose in the last few weeks. Those pounds are gone for good. And hopefully the fact that I'll be in a bathing suit for the majority of the next week will help me... STICK TO THE PLAN!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
It just takes time.
One thing that I constantly harp on myself about... and get harped on for by my boyfriend... is my lack of patience. That's me! Super ambitious, constantly craving (be it food, excitment, sleep, etc.) and never EVER able to take a step backwards, appreciate what's there, and just enjoy.
So... this is a new challenge that I'm trying to become more aware of, and improve upon. Ultimately I won't ever 'cure' myself of this need to know what's next, get involved, be all things to all people, etc. In fact, it's something that I don't WANT to cure about myself. Because of this ambition, i have:
Switched high schools after 10th grade to go to a "School of the Arts"
Got my first internship in NYC (no networking needed!)
Moved to NY for good
Finished my first triathlon
Applied and attended grad school at my DREAM SCHOOL!
Moved BACK to NY, and got another amazing job.
However... despite the many good things going on in my life, it's hard for me to just relax and enjoy... I'm always looking for the next big get. (my boyfriend was worried about initially dating me, b/c my Jdate profile was too intimidating! She runs, she tris, she plays cello, she volunteers, she's social...ahhh!)
Well, here we go. Because i've recognized lately that there are some things that might NOT come so easily to me. Namely, losing weight and adjusting to my "new and improved" life in NYC.
I'm used to adjutments - i really am. I switched schools in the middle of HS, i moved to new york 1 month after graduation, i moved to chicago without a flinch. But how easily we forget that none of those times was stress-free for me. (what is?) So, why now?I've lived in NY before - I have the same friends, the same jaunts, the same city... so why should it be so hard to adjust to the new things - a new apartment, and a new job?
IT JUST IS. And it's been harder than you'd think for me to recognize this. So... I'm trying to set my sites to day-to-day adventures, rather than thinking so far ahead. Sure, the triathlon is in the distant future, but it's about the journey, not the destination, right? And while I'm much happier in the city now than I was during that miserable time when I first moved here... I'm still adjusting. To the city. To the job. To the new (and exciting) life here. And you know what? That's ok. (say it... believe it!)
My weight. Now this is one thing that's really got me. After years, and years, and years of fighting the good (well, not so good) fight, why expect the weight to just melt off you? So, this too is a journey. I'm trying new foods to see how they affect me. Trying new workouts to see how those work too. I'm only on about week 3 of the 'actual' battle - and so far it's going well. As of this morning, I've lost 6 lbs since I arrived in NY. And I'd have to say.. that's pretty good.
then WHY is it not enough? Why do I still want more? For me, because of reasons explained earlier, a question I may not be able to answer. I suppose in due time, perhaps it will be.
All for now...
So... this is a new challenge that I'm trying to become more aware of, and improve upon. Ultimately I won't ever 'cure' myself of this need to know what's next, get involved, be all things to all people, etc. In fact, it's something that I don't WANT to cure about myself. Because of this ambition, i have:
Switched high schools after 10th grade to go to a "School of the Arts"
Got my first internship in NYC (no networking needed!)
Moved to NY for good
Finished my first triathlon
Applied and attended grad school at my DREAM SCHOOL!
Moved BACK to NY, and got another amazing job.
However... despite the many good things going on in my life, it's hard for me to just relax and enjoy... I'm always looking for the next big get. (my boyfriend was worried about initially dating me, b/c my Jdate profile was too intimidating! She runs, she tris, she plays cello, she volunteers, she's social...ahhh!)
Well, here we go. Because i've recognized lately that there are some things that might NOT come so easily to me. Namely, losing weight and adjusting to my "new and improved" life in NYC.
I'm used to adjutments - i really am. I switched schools in the middle of HS, i moved to new york 1 month after graduation, i moved to chicago without a flinch. But how easily we forget that none of those times was stress-free for me. (what is?) So, why now?I've lived in NY before - I have the same friends, the same jaunts, the same city... so why should it be so hard to adjust to the new things - a new apartment, and a new job?
IT JUST IS. And it's been harder than you'd think for me to recognize this. So... I'm trying to set my sites to day-to-day adventures, rather than thinking so far ahead. Sure, the triathlon is in the distant future, but it's about the journey, not the destination, right? And while I'm much happier in the city now than I was during that miserable time when I first moved here... I'm still adjusting. To the city. To the job. To the new (and exciting) life here. And you know what? That's ok. (say it... believe it!)
My weight. Now this is one thing that's really got me. After years, and years, and years of fighting the good (well, not so good) fight, why expect the weight to just melt off you? So, this too is a journey. I'm trying new foods to see how they affect me. Trying new workouts to see how those work too. I'm only on about week 3 of the 'actual' battle - and so far it's going well. As of this morning, I've lost 6 lbs since I arrived in NY. And I'd have to say.. that's pretty good.
then WHY is it not enough? Why do I still want more? For me, because of reasons explained earlier, a question I may not be able to answer. I suppose in due time, perhaps it will be.
All for now...
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