Need to Share, it Gives me Someone to Answer to..YOU!

JenFNP84

Wanted to post on here because I feel like it puts my goals out in the open, visible for the internet community's eyes to see...kinda makes it real. Like I'm accountable and this isn't going to be another one of my "i'm gonna lose 10 lbs" diets that fizzle after about 5 days. I'm no stranger to weight loss, I've always been very aware of my weight, as I'm one of those girls that loves food, but unfortunately will gain and become overweight if I go too crazy. I'm turning 30 next month and want to get to the weight I was before grad school and a new job that packed on the pounds.

My biggest challenges are portion control & too much restaurant food. My hubby is one of those people who basically eats whatever he wants and stays in shape, so when he is hungry he tends to go for whatever he is craving--i.e. pizza, wings, burgers, nachos, which is not good for me because it tends to influence my eating habits. Then to make matters worse, I work in a family medicine office that has drug reps that cater our lunch literally every day (sometimes even breakfast). They even bring treats like donuts and cakes in between breakfast and lunch and it is so hard to resist what everyone in the whole office is eating together. I try to skip when the choices aren't healthy, but even a salad from somewhere like Chili's has as ton of calories. So it's like I'm basically eating out every day :-(

I started going to Zumba classes 3-4x's a week, which have been a great cardio workout. I was mainly doing home workout DVDs like TurboJam and Jackie Warner, but wasn't seeing results after doing that 3-4x's week prior to the Zumba. Now, I'm about 6 weeks into Zumba and I am feeling more toned, but I'm not seeing weight loss. I know it's the food choices and portion sizes that I'm basically maintaining my weight now with the exercise. I've come up with an action plan to jump start my weight loss goals (total of 16 lbs), with hopes that I can lose 6 lbs in the next month before my 30th birthday. I'm going to start with the 14-day slim down with Slim Fast where you replace 2 meals a day with a shake or bar and eat one sensible meal. My sensible meal will be a Lean Cuisine meal with a snack like an apple and light string cheese. For in between snacks, I am going to stick to baby carrots, apples, or a reduced fat yogurt.

I'm debating if I should do a Slim Fast shake at the office to avoid eating the catered lunches, or if I should eat my LC meal there. I do tend to eat at the end of the day around 730pm, since I get out of work at 5pm and go to Zumba 6pm. Wondering if I'll be hungry going to bed if I eat my meal at work and do a shake for dinner. I guess I'll have to try both!

Enough rambling...if anyone wants to start their journey with me, feel free to add me so we can be each other's coaches. I'll probably need a good kick in the *kitten* every now and then when I start to fall off the wagon (wine and cocktails and salty foods are my weakness!) I'm wanting to start this diet tomorrow, so I'll try to check in and post on my progress, and of course try to support others who are going through the same struggle! Sorry this turned into a novel...

hearthwood

All you can do is stop it. Realize that the portion sizes in most restaurants are enough to feed 2-1/2 people. Same thing at your office. Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to eat it, or that much of it. It's all about portion control. Rid the word diet out of your vocabulary, you are making a lifestyle change of eating less while moving more.

Don't compare your food intake as to what your husband can eat, men have more muscle mass and their bodies require more calories than women.

Weight loss is nothing more than calories in, versus calories out. You don't have to deny yourself the foods you like, just eat less of them. Plug in the calories on MFP before you eat it, weigh your food before you eat it, plan it all out and you'll find success.

Welcome and good luck.

JenFNP84

@Hearthwood Thanks for the words of encouragement. I've just gotta stay focused. Today was Day 1, and I felt pretty good. Slim Fast shake for breakfast. Lunch scrambled eggs w/turkey bacon 4 slices. Dinner slim fast shake. Post workout snack was 2 slices of turkey bacon and 15 gluten free pretzels.Of course tons of water. And my mandatory coffee, which I drink black anyway.

I picked up a bunch of protein bars and shakes to go tonight, along with Naked fruit smoothies for a meal replacement. This weekend I'm gonna go to a local market that has cheap fresh produce and get some raw fruits and veggies to snack on.

Did an hour of Zumba then an hour of Yoga. So ready for bed, but I felt great today. Hoping to see results with calorie restriction and then after getting to goal I know I'll be able to maintain with my workouts and just eating a bit healthier.