Vegetables are a must on a diet. Is it because I'm walking more?
When I decided last week to start getting stronger for Alaska, I said I was going to put my focus on exercise and not worry quite so much about diet. After all, if I can hike all over the Kenai Peninsula six months from now, would I care if the scale hasn't budged from what it reads today? Does the number matter as long as I can be as active as I desire?
The answer, in theory, is no.
But the reality is something very different.
When I don't focus on eating healthy, I get way off track with my eating. Out-of-control, who-gives-a-damn kind of off track. It's as if the little girl inside me starts jumping up and down, saying, "Yippee! I get to eat whatever I want!" The result is that I've had more sugar headaches and food hangovers this week than I've had in a long time.
I also wonder if that little girl inside me -- or perhaps it's the cunning adult within! -- is saying, "You know, you're moving more now. That frees you up to be able to eat what you want. Trust me on this."
So, the good news is that I walked three times this past week, which is 100% more than I've been doing. The bad news is that I'm not training for a marathon! Walking three times doesn't offset the poison I've been putting into my body.
I seem to have forgotten the second part of the "secret" formula for losing weight:
Move a little more and eat a little LESS!
Until next time...
7 comments:
An excellent book on sugar is "Sugar Blues" by William Duffy. It is such an eye-opener! If you're craving something sweet, rather opt for fruit.
I'm very impressed with your exercise! Way to go
I've been there Pattie, I get started with the sugary foods and they are a hard habit to break. When you are ready to give them up or at least stop letting them control your health, try tracking your food intake including these sugary delights in sparkpeople for a week, its such an eye opener watching those calories add up. I make myself reach for fruit and try to find ways to keep it interesting, apple slices and grapes dipped in low fat, low sugar vanilla yogurt, pineapple, bananas are very sweet, fresh strawberries, all so yummy and they make your body happy!!
Oh I posted a picture for you in todays post, check it out if you have time.
I agree. The sugar rollercoaster is hard to quit. When I was a kid, I was a sugar addict. When my mom and I would go to the grocery store I would always get a bag of skittles and eat them on the way home. It was my treat. Now, I would much rather have fruit because the sugar just makes my teeth feel so gross!
That's one good reason to watch my favorite show on BBCA. You Are What You Eat is so realistic and puts everything in check for people.
Congrats on your exercise!
When I'm exercising, I get HUNGRY. Is that happening? I have to keep easy-to-grab pre-cut veggies in the fridge and a bowl of fruit on the table. That way the good stuff is right there available to me.
And it's a challenge to remember that just because I'm moving my body doesn't mean I get to eat *that* much more. A little more, yes. But not much at all.
When I fall into the sugar trap, I find I have to fight the cravings for about a week, and then they go away. I'm thinking strong no-sugar thoughts for you to make it through the week with lower sugar intake. After that it gets easier.
Just keep that trip in mind - I can't think of a better motivator.
I LOVE You Are What You Eat! I like the Kiwi show Downsize me too.
Sugar is such a cunning substance. Several times in my life I've given it up completely for long stretches of time. I feel so much better when I don't eat the sugary/fatty foods. However, I'm also a believer of moderation so right now, I occassionally have a dessert (maybe once a month or so) but for the most part, it's fresh fruit, like Diana does.
One more thing...it's the little steps that help us reach the goal. Be proud of your 3 walks this week!
Walking is good!
And it would be nice to not care about the number on the scale, but we do... The important thing is to remember that the scale is *a* number, not *the* number.
I do find that - after 8 weeks of tracking everything that I eat - that I don't think of food the same way I used to. And I purged my kitchen of sweet snacks...
Something you might want to try (I'm sure it's available in your area) if you're having trouble buying sweets is do your grocery shopping online. A lot of places will do your shopping for you, and you pay a $5-10 surcharge, and you just go pick it up. I find that not looking at doughnuts makes it that much easier not to buy them.
Remember, you can't walk in the light while you're focused on the dark. Three cheers for the walking you're doing. Keep holding good thoughts about the beautiful person you are, which is gradually being manifested in your body. You can do it!
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