When people see how much weight I’ve lost and continue to drop the first question is, what are you eating? I personally don’t think this should be the first question people ask; I would be more concerned about the physical activity, but that’s just me. People do assume we’re on some program and have personal trainers, but that’s so far from the truth. I look at it this way, we’re not dieting we’re just watching what we eat. I didn’t mean for my blog to turn into a healthy living blog, but I guess it should because this is my new life now. I just wanted to share some of things that have helped us out along the way. And since food is a big subject among new comers to losing weight, it should probably be the first thing I address. But I have to say I’m not a doctor or health adviser…this is just what works for me.

In January when I started to journey, it was a diet but not so much anymore. The first thing I can tell someone is just to educate yourself on food and nutrition. This will take you a long way. When you know how many calories, fat grams, carbs, potassium, fiber, protein, sugar and cholesterol you should have in one day, it really makes you evaluate what you were eating. Pay attention to portion sizes (restaurant meals are sometimes two or three times the normal portion size). That is the first thing I look at when I pick something up. I want to know how much I can eat of it for the right amount of calories. I have a love affair with cheese and I quickly learned I was eating 3 or 4 times the recommended amount of cheese in one meal. That’s kind of why I had to cut myself off from cheese completely. It was my weakness and still is so that’s another tip I can give to you.

Recognize your weaknesses, embrace them and move on. I learned that if I recognized I had a problem with something (emotional eating, cheese and potato overload…) I could deal with it accordingly and not let it take over my whole eating ritual. Remember everything is OK in moderation so I did have to cut myself off of cheese completely because I needed to learn moderation. That may not work for another person. But in the meantime when I wasn’t eating full fat cheese, I discovered my love of Laughing Cow cheese which is just 35 calories per wedge but with a bit more sodium. Yes, I do care about sodium and try to keep it to a minimum but sometimes I just have to take the hit.

Processed foods are really not good for you, but sometimes you can’t avoid them. I work out for 2 hours a day most days of the week and I don’t really have time to cook from scratch meals every night. So sometimes I do use process foods but mostly Tyson Grilled Chicken (chunks, diced chicken, chicken breast) in the green bag. When I get home from the gym sometimes at 7:00 pm I don’t really want to cook up a fancy meal so here comes the chicken. It allows me to make quick and easy meals. So several nights a week you will see chicken tacos, lemon chicken pasta, or chicken with sauce hit the table because it’s quick. The whole thing about our food eating was we wanted to eat normally so when we were down to our goal weight it wouldn’t be anything different. People who are on those plans or get the pre-packed meals eventually have to go off of it and sometimes the real world eating comes at a shock and people sometimes gain the weight back.

You have to re-introduce yourself to food. Things you don’t like, you might have to end up liking. My husband wouldn’t eat a vegetable to save his life, but he’s become a whole lot better about it. I did have a love for salad dressings, but I’m ok with some vinegar instead. I never would have done that before. I didn’t even know what kale was until I started this weight loss journey and now it’s become one of my favorite things to eat. When I re-introduce myself to food, I found a way to make my favorite old foods new and healthy again. Taco night has become chicken tacos, can’t have pizza so we make english muffin/bagel thin pizzas (light on the cheese of course), a couple days ago I made a really great sloppy joes with new veggies and ground turkey and now when I see a recipe for something that looks good, I know the ways to adapt the recipe for something healthy and fun for us to eat. Eating healthy is about imagination and making something new again and it’s fun too. I love to cook and maybe what I was cooking before wasn’t all the great and healthy, but now it’s a new adventure and I enjoy trying new things.

Also, when in doubt there is always a veggie that can top anything on your plate. Nutrients are very important so why not pile extra lettuce and tomato your burger or taco. Every little bit helps.

The thing about it is since I’m making the food in our house, I took the time to educate myself on food. And the more I learned the more possibilities arose. Our choices are the same as they were this time last year; the things we use to love are our loves no more. We’ve changed and adapted our favorite foods and that’s really the gift that keeps on giving. Granted we do eat a lot of white meat ground turkey, white meat chicken and fish (tilapia, cod and salmon) but those are things we’ve grown to love. I will confess I really started to dislike ground turkey, but it’s comes back into my life again.

The point is, you have to find what works for you and make it your own. It’s not impossible it just takes a bit of education and the confidence to try something new. I hope this at least helps someone in the future. P.S. – We still eat potatoes, but we just find healthier ways to cook them.

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As you know I’ve been on my weight loss journey and I’ve done pretty well for myself. I haven’t lost any weight in 3 weeks, in fact I gained 2 lbs, so officially I’m down 98. BTW: I have no idea why I gained weight. I’m keeping my eating in check and I’m still working out. Losing weight is a science and sometimes the properties just don’t add up and bam…it happens. It really upset me to see a gain on the scale, especially when I’ve been doing so good. But it took me 8 months to actually gain and not lose so it was a long time coming. It’s just hard when you’re working so hard and things don’t happen the way you want them too. All I ask for is 2 lbs a week.

But I’ve always been the fat girl, eating whatever she wants and not caring. I think it’s hard for some people to really understand that’s not the person I am anymore. My best friend was talking to me in an open and honest way about my weight loss and asked me some questions that truly made me realize she doesn’t understand. It wasn’t a hostile situation and I really appreciate the openness and honesty she was putting forth here. So I don’t want anyone, or her, to think I was mad or irritated that she was asking me things like this. I’m don’t think I explained myself very well so I’m going to use my blog as a way to answer the questions and maybe help some other people out along the way if they are dealing with friends who are going through drastic weight loss.

Q. When you reach your goal weight are you going to be able to go back to eating the things you did before?

A. Simply put, no! People who lose weight the correct and healthy way know that it’s a lifestyle change. Everything is ok in moderation, but that was the problem before, right? I wasn’t eating food in moderation and I wasn’t exercising the way I should have been.

I can honestly say I will never eat at Chicken Express again or drink a sugary soda or eat that piece of cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Knowing that piece of cheesecake has more fat grams in it than what I’m supposed to have in a day makes me not want to eat it.

My new lifestyle has educated me on food. I’m more aware of fat grams, sodium and sugars now and I’m proud of that. I’ve gained some knowledge that I can pass on to others so that it can help them.

On a side note, I would like to say just because you’re skinny doesn’t mean you’re healthy. Normal weight people have heart attacks and other health problems just like overweight people. And the one thing people should really watch out for is condiments. We get so many calories and fat grams from the add-on stuff to our food. You may be making a healthy option by picking a vegetable but smothering it in cheese or oil doesn’t make it healthy anymore. Mayo, ketchup, salad dressings…it’s all a killer.

Q. Eating out, can we do it now?

A. Thing about it is, I could find something to eat out wherever I go, but I may be chomping on on some lettuce with nothing on it. Some places I just can’t eat anymore. Yes I could probably join you at Chili’s but there’s not a healthy option on the menu for me. I understand that everyone is not on my plan and everyone doesn’t want to eat the way I do. I’m fine with that. I will happily tag along with you while you eat whatever you want, but I may not eat. I’m not doing that to make you feel uncomfortable or to make you feel bad, but if you have that dying need to eat a cheeseburger, by all means eat it. Just don’t expect me to join in on the party.

Where I could probably find an option to eat, that option still may not be right for me. All pieces of chicken are not created equal, some salads are not really healthy, and sometimes people choose to smother fish in sauces instead of just tasting the greatness. Some of these things can be avoided and I will make every effort to find a healthy option. But this is about me and how I feel and not really about what you feel like putting in your mouth. That sounds harsher than what I meant, but it’s true. If it’s not right for me then I’m not going to eat it BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t eat it.

Q. Do you have to work out every day? Even on vacation?

A. I don’t work out every day, but I do work out 6 days a week, even when I’m on vacation. I started working out because I needed to. I work out now because it’s apart of my life and it’s something I want to do. On those days I don’t work out, even on my day of allowed rest, I don’t feel right. It feels off to me. I just enjoy working out. It’s time for me to get out of my head, relieve stress and just take care of me. But when I’m on vacation with others I never let my workouts interfere with everyone’s schedule. I’ll wake up earlier than everyone so that I can be done by the time everyone is ready for the day’s activities.

Q. Are you judging me because of the food I’m putting in my mouth?

A. Okay, this question didn’t come from my best friend but it’s something I have been asked by other friends. No, I’m not judging you and I really don’t care what you’re eating. You should feel free to eat whatever you want whenever you want it. See, I have issues with food. Food and I had a very bad relationship over the years…to be honest, as long as I can remember. I’m changing that. So when I see people eating the food that I use to eat without caring that triggers me to think, was it worth it for you? And yes I do think about how bad it is for you, but I would NEVER shame anyone for eating anything. People forget that I was there. I ate that stuff too; I’m just not eating it now. It wouldn’t be fair for me to judge because of the food they are eating.

The one thing I want to pass along to people is enjoy your food, but in moderation. Eating out every day from fast food restaurants isn’t healthy. Just take the time to educate yourself on how much fat you should have in one day or the calories you’re supposed to have vs. what you’re actually eating. We only have one life to live and where it may have taken me a little longer to realize I need to take care of my body before it fails me, there is still time to make positive changes. It’s time to get back to teaching the fundamental values of nutrition and exercise to the young minds of tomorrow.

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