First post of the new year!!! Happy New Year, folks!
There's nothing like being motivated by the fresh start presented by the new year. I have to confess that I'm certainly one of those "New Year's Resolution" people. But I like to try making them as realistic and achievable as possible.
Caleb and I normally make a Top Ten list, including the classic eat better and exercise more plan, as well as a book list we want to get through in the coming year. Last year I can't remember how many books we wanted to read, but we managed to get through all the Harry Potter books, and nearly all of the Chronicles of Narnia books together, which I think is pretty good! This year, some books on our list include The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit, finishing the Last Battle (last book in the Narnia series,) and the Hunger Games Trilogy, as well as some spiritual books (lives of the saints, books on Orthodoxy, etc).
This year, my personal list is much the same as last year's. I'm back on track to losing the baby weight I've gained with (now) two bouncing baby boys. Caleb and I are doing something a little dramatic for our diet this year. We've decided to base it on portion control - eating only one serving of whatever we're eating, and cutting out what I'll call "fluff foods." Fluff foods are the ones you eat mindlessly because they're there, and hey, you feel like munching on something. You're not really enjoying the fluff food, because it's normally not quality food that one might relish.
That said, the diet, or rather, lifestyle changes, we've decided to make are these:
* Don't eat past 8 PM
* Endeavor to drink as much water as possible (and for me, this means drinking quite a lot, as I'm nursing)
* Eat as much natural, whole, real food as possible - eggs, meat, dairy, whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, etc.
* Eat said food in allotted serving sizes and therefore get used to eating less.
* Stop eating before we are full, and drink water before, during, and after eating so as to fill up sooner. This will help us to feel full when really, we've just filled ourselves up with water and just enough food that we need.
* Enjoy eating the food we prepare for ourselves. This is key - not to do anything else while eating (reading magazines, being on the computer, busying around the kitchen, etc.) The focus is the food and to enjoy it fully. Eat only when sitting down, so as to focus on the food and conversation around the table.
* Quality over quantity is the general idea. The better the food, the less you need of it. The better the food, the more you can savor it. The less you eat, the smaller your stomach, the more you lose.
In addition to this lifestyle change, I am planning to (rather than to entirely overwhelm myself with exercising and working out,) increase the action in my lifestyle. If I'm taking a walk out in the woods, tramping through sticks and leaves and up and down hills, I'm not going to be thinking about the workout I'll end up getting - I'm going to be preoccupied with the beauty of being outdoors and feeling the fresh air.
I am hoping to start swimming again soon, which I would LOVE, because there is no form of exercise I've ever craved as much as swimming. It is my favorite. And in order to strengthen my body again with as little strain on my joints as possible, swimming is the perfect way to achieve that. My goal is to eventually get back into running and maybe even attempt my first ever marathon (starting with a mini). That would be incredible... But for now, I'll keep it realistic and achievable.
Steady as she goes...
I have a tendency to load up my plate, so to speak, and try too much at once, resulting in a predictable crash and burn only weeks after setting lofty goals for myself, plowing on hard core. Hopefully that will not happen this time. I'm planning on trying to be as consistent as possible. That is my overall goal this year.
Consistency.
This will probably sound amusing, but my general goal is to... make goals for myself this year - monthly goals, weekly goals, daily goals. I don't think I'm a naturally goal-oriented person, so it only just occurred to me fairly recently that I would probably have a much more organized lifestyle if I made goals for myself. Novel, eh? I know, I know... I'm a genius.
Said goals will include personal, family, spiritual, organizational, and project-oriented goals. Haven't come up with any yet, but it won't take me long to think some up. I'll probably make a list. I'm good at lists. I like lists.
So, all in all, I'm very excited for this new year! I'm content right now. There is so much to be grateful for, and I'm on my way to discovering just how much.
Thank you, God, for this year, a fresh opportunity to begin anew.
Wishing you all a very happy and successful new year. Happy 2012!
Here's the Quote of the Day:
"For the wonderful qualities of faith are two: that it both accomplishes great things, and suffers great things; and regards the suffering as nothing."
~ St. John Chrysostom
Showing posts with label Healthy Eating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Eating. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
New
I did something dramatic yesterday.
For about a month or two, I've been contemplating the idea of a different haircut. For those of you who don't see me on a regular or local basis, it's gotten pretty long - about mid-back length. I've been growing it out for almost two and a half years from a short haircut (one that I loved, but was quite short.) I'd been torn between cutting it shorter or keeping it long through the winter at least, since it's taken so long to grow out to the length I love.
But... a couple days ago, I was really thinking about the pros - shorter hair wouldn't be a grabbing factor for Cillian, it would be quicker to wash, quicker to style, easier to look good without doing anything... the list was too great to ignore.
So, yesterday I called to see if I could get an appointment the same day, and they scheduled me for an hour later. I started getting excited fast. S came over and watched Cillian for me and I went over to get it cut.
It's adorable. I have half the hair I did before, as I was able to donate what I had (8 in.) to Locks of Love, which I always like doing if I have enough. So now, the length skims my shoulders, and I have a cute fringe of bangs that can be worn either swept to the side or straight in the middle. I absolutely love it. It's a good young mommy haircut. Cute and comfortable, functional and easy.
Some other updates...
Cillian is a bouncing 4 months old now, and he has started grabbing his knees and his feet, which both Caleb and I have been excitedly anticipating! So that's a really fun milestone. He has also started blowing raspberries, bubbles, and anything vocal involving his tongue and excessive drooling. :P
He has gotten increasingly wiggly and squirmy, trying to get out of any kind of restraint if he gets bored. It's funny to see how far he can scoot himself out of his swing (when stationary). He's a great little jokester and loves to laugh - I love that he's an easy baby. (But I'm scared that I'm getting spoiled with just how easy he is!!)
No teeth yet, but I'm sure they're coming. He had his four month check up today and is now a whopping 15.7 pounds! I knew my biceps were feeling a little stronger...
Another something new...
We're gradually adding to our living room and now have some nice wine colored sheers hung up (thanks to my beloved handyman.) They look really nice. Caleb and I also got a couple new pillows to tie all of our living room colors in, so now our theme is kind of fall-like with the wine color, a sage green, gold and tan. I really like it. It feels like home to me.
The running is going well! I've managed to stay dedicated for almost a week and a half now. And I'm up to running three minutes/walking one minute today. Last night the two minute run/one minute walk completely wore me out. I'd even go as far as to say that it nearly killed me. But tonight, it wasn't so bad because the TV happened to be on when I got to the gym. Surprising how well having something to watch helps! I'm beginning to love my cold showers after these workouts.
Eating is going preeeeetty well. Unfortunately, I got a little off-track this weekend since we were out of town visiting Caleb's brother and his family in Carbondale, PA. It was a really fun weekend, but I definitely didn't watch my eating as well as I could have. So now I'm back to breakfasts with my Kelebs and lunches consisting of one huge salad. And no dessert. That's been easier than I would have thought. Especially with my being an ice cream addict.
Weight update will come tomorrow. It's always best to weigh oneself in the mornings. ;)
Here's the Quote of the Day:
This one always gets a good chuckle out of me.
"Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same."
~ Oscar Wilde
For about a month or two, I've been contemplating the idea of a different haircut. For those of you who don't see me on a regular or local basis, it's gotten pretty long - about mid-back length. I've been growing it out for almost two and a half years from a short haircut (one that I loved, but was quite short.) I'd been torn between cutting it shorter or keeping it long through the winter at least, since it's taken so long to grow out to the length I love.
But... a couple days ago, I was really thinking about the pros - shorter hair wouldn't be a grabbing factor for Cillian, it would be quicker to wash, quicker to style, easier to look good without doing anything... the list was too great to ignore.
So, yesterday I called to see if I could get an appointment the same day, and they scheduled me for an hour later. I started getting excited fast. S came over and watched Cillian for me and I went over to get it cut.
It's adorable. I have half the hair I did before, as I was able to donate what I had (8 in.) to Locks of Love, which I always like doing if I have enough. So now, the length skims my shoulders, and I have a cute fringe of bangs that can be worn either swept to the side or straight in the middle. I absolutely love it. It's a good young mommy haircut. Cute and comfortable, functional and easy.
Some other updates...
Cillian is a bouncing 4 months old now, and he has started grabbing his knees and his feet, which both Caleb and I have been excitedly anticipating! So that's a really fun milestone. He has also started blowing raspberries, bubbles, and anything vocal involving his tongue and excessive drooling. :P
He has gotten increasingly wiggly and squirmy, trying to get out of any kind of restraint if he gets bored. It's funny to see how far he can scoot himself out of his swing (when stationary). He's a great little jokester and loves to laugh - I love that he's an easy baby. (But I'm scared that I'm getting spoiled with just how easy he is!!)
No teeth yet, but I'm sure they're coming. He had his four month check up today and is now a whopping 15.7 pounds! I knew my biceps were feeling a little stronger...
Another something new...
We're gradually adding to our living room and now have some nice wine colored sheers hung up (thanks to my beloved handyman.) They look really nice. Caleb and I also got a couple new pillows to tie all of our living room colors in, so now our theme is kind of fall-like with the wine color, a sage green, gold and tan. I really like it. It feels like home to me.
The running is going well! I've managed to stay dedicated for almost a week and a half now. And I'm up to running three minutes/walking one minute today. Last night the two minute run/one minute walk completely wore me out. I'd even go as far as to say that it nearly killed me. But tonight, it wasn't so bad because the TV happened to be on when I got to the gym. Surprising how well having something to watch helps! I'm beginning to love my cold showers after these workouts.
Eating is going preeeeetty well. Unfortunately, I got a little off-track this weekend since we were out of town visiting Caleb's brother and his family in Carbondale, PA. It was a really fun weekend, but I definitely didn't watch my eating as well as I could have. So now I'm back to breakfasts with my Kelebs and lunches consisting of one huge salad. And no dessert. That's been easier than I would have thought. Especially with my being an ice cream addict.
Weight update will come tomorrow. It's always best to weigh oneself in the mornings. ;)
Here's the Quote of the Day:
This one always gets a good chuckle out of me.
"Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same."
~ Oscar Wilde
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Progress and Plans
As a new mom, I think I've been craving routine of some sort - for me. Cillian is finally in a good routine now (which is bound to change at any time, I'm sure, now that I have gotten the pattern down,) but I still haven't had much of one. Something Caleb and I have decided to do, which I think will really help my need for consistency, is having breakfast together in the mornings before he goes to work. The routine is that we get up at 7 and he takes a shower and gets ready for work while I go downstairs and make eggs and toast and sausage for us.
And my, it's a wonderful thing...
So this week, we have succeeded in having this routine start out our days twice out of the four days so far. Monday, Caleb took the day off and took me out to Cracker Barrel, and yesterday morning both of us decided sleep was much more important than eating. So this morning we struggled a bit to get out of bed, but I really wanted to fight this and get into a good habit of it. I know how much better my mood and general attitude towards the day is when I start off the mornings right, and especially with Caleb.
I want to make this a good habit. After all, we go to bed together and have a good evening routine - why shouldn't we have a good morning one together as well? It makes me so happy to do things with Caleb. I think it's really important for a marriage to be a wife first and a mother second. They go hand in hand, don't get me wrong, but Caleb is my baby too and he came first.
Along with breakfasts, we have started eating healthier, which is something that has needed to happen since we got married. We haven't been eating entirely unhealthy things, but we as not as healthy of eaters as we could be. For me, eating healthy means starting the day early enough to have breakfast, lunch and dinner, and not just breakfast and dinner as a result of starting my day at 1 PM. So, the getting up with Caleb change works beautifully. I'm still a bit tired, but as we gradually get to bed earlier, that will change and get better too.
So, on the menu this week starting Tuesday, (Monday doesn't count because we a) had Taco Bell, which is not healthy and b) grocery shopped that day) we have had Chicken Caesar salads as a dinner, Wednesday we had Penne pasta and alfredo with green beans, tonight we're having stuffed chicken and corn or green beans (I haven't decided yet), and tomorrow we're having tilapia with a vegetable. We are also trying to stick to serving portions given on whatever food we eat. And it's all going pretty well so far.
Another change along with beginning to eat right is that we're going to start a normal exercise routine. We decided to start this coming Monday rather than in the middle of the week so that it begins right. We're starting a running program that my sisters-in-law have done, one of whom ran her first half-marathon an impressive 8 months later. The program is designed in such a way that you will be able to run 2 miles straight after completing the 8-week training. You do something every day, six days out of the week (hence why we want to begin on a Monday). The first day is ten repetitions of a walk 2 minutes/run 1 minute pattern for a half hour, the next day is just walking 30 minutes, and it alternates for the first four days, then the fifth and sixth days are running/walking days and Sunday, you rest. Then the next week, the pattern is slightly different, and it gradually gets more challenging week by week. I'm very excited about it. I really, really want to stick with it. It says the first two miles you run are the most difficult you'll ever run, and after that, it's pretty easy to work up to however many miles you want to run. I think 3-4 sounds good.
So, with eating more healthily and exercising, I'm hoping to a) lose my baby weight, b) tone up (especially my core), feel stronger and have more energy and c) look better in my clothes and go down a few sizes.
I'm going to be vulnerably frank here - I gained nearly sixty pounds from pregnancy. My wedding weight was somewhere around 125-130, and my weight up to delivering Cillian was about 190-something. I would love love love to get back down to my wedding weight, but my realistic goal for now is 140. I think I would be very healthy to be down at that weight, especially if I'm noticeably more toned. My numbers currently dance around 168-170. So I'm going to keep updates on the blog as to how everything is going - how the running and exercising is and how the eating, meal planning and cooking goes. I'll also post a weekly weigh in. (That'll help me!)
I'm very happy about all of this. Finally changing my attitude (though it be gradual) about food is very refreshing. It's amazing how appealing a salad every day sounds. My new diet consists of breakfast with Caleb, which is two eggs overeasy with one piece of toast (buttered), and two sausage links; between breakfast and lunch, I'll have some fruit (an apple or banana) and maybe some peanuts or cheese; then lunch is a big spinach salad with a little bit of chopped nuts, a sprinkle of parmesan, and the correct serving size of raspberry vinaigrette with some soup. It's very yummy. Just having more salad and drinking plenty of water makes me feel better. I like it when I'm in control of my stomach. It feels right, and it feels so good. No wonder fasting is spiritual! It is certainly one of the passions I have the most trouble controlling, but now I think I'm off to a good start.
Also, we're trying not to eat after 8 PM, which is a great habit to introduce for anyone. And I'm going to try and start drinking more water too. I was so good at this when I was pregnant, but I've kind of lost my urgency for it, which shouldn't make any sense as I should be drinking more water than ever now that I'm breastfeeding. Ideally, you should be drinking half your weight in ounces, but I need to be drinking more. So, I'm going to try filling my 32-oz. water bottle up three times a day, trying to have a full bottle between breakfast and lunch, lunch and dinner, and then in the evening and throughout the night when I'm up breastfeeding.
So now, I'm drinking my morning tea and enjoying this gorgeous morning. I'm so happy it's fall.
Cheers.
Here's the Quote of the Day:
"Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort."
~ St. Mark the Ascetic
And my, it's a wonderful thing...
So this week, we have succeeded in having this routine start out our days twice out of the four days so far. Monday, Caleb took the day off and took me out to Cracker Barrel, and yesterday morning both of us decided sleep was much more important than eating. So this morning we struggled a bit to get out of bed, but I really wanted to fight this and get into a good habit of it. I know how much better my mood and general attitude towards the day is when I start off the mornings right, and especially with Caleb.
I want to make this a good habit. After all, we go to bed together and have a good evening routine - why shouldn't we have a good morning one together as well? It makes me so happy to do things with Caleb. I think it's really important for a marriage to be a wife first and a mother second. They go hand in hand, don't get me wrong, but Caleb is my baby too and he came first.
Along with breakfasts, we have started eating healthier, which is something that has needed to happen since we got married. We haven't been eating entirely unhealthy things, but we as not as healthy of eaters as we could be. For me, eating healthy means starting the day early enough to have breakfast, lunch and dinner, and not just breakfast and dinner as a result of starting my day at 1 PM. So, the getting up with Caleb change works beautifully. I'm still a bit tired, but as we gradually get to bed earlier, that will change and get better too.
So, on the menu this week starting Tuesday, (Monday doesn't count because we a) had Taco Bell, which is not healthy and b) grocery shopped that day) we have had Chicken Caesar salads as a dinner, Wednesday we had Penne pasta and alfredo with green beans, tonight we're having stuffed chicken and corn or green beans (I haven't decided yet), and tomorrow we're having tilapia with a vegetable. We are also trying to stick to serving portions given on whatever food we eat. And it's all going pretty well so far.
Another change along with beginning to eat right is that we're going to start a normal exercise routine. We decided to start this coming Monday rather than in the middle of the week so that it begins right. We're starting a running program that my sisters-in-law have done, one of whom ran her first half-marathon an impressive 8 months later. The program is designed in such a way that you will be able to run 2 miles straight after completing the 8-week training. You do something every day, six days out of the week (hence why we want to begin on a Monday). The first day is ten repetitions of a walk 2 minutes/run 1 minute pattern for a half hour, the next day is just walking 30 minutes, and it alternates for the first four days, then the fifth and sixth days are running/walking days and Sunday, you rest. Then the next week, the pattern is slightly different, and it gradually gets more challenging week by week. I'm very excited about it. I really, really want to stick with it. It says the first two miles you run are the most difficult you'll ever run, and after that, it's pretty easy to work up to however many miles you want to run. I think 3-4 sounds good.
So, with eating more healthily and exercising, I'm hoping to a) lose my baby weight, b) tone up (especially my core), feel stronger and have more energy and c) look better in my clothes and go down a few sizes.
I'm going to be vulnerably frank here - I gained nearly sixty pounds from pregnancy. My wedding weight was somewhere around 125-130, and my weight up to delivering Cillian was about 190-something. I would love love love to get back down to my wedding weight, but my realistic goal for now is 140. I think I would be very healthy to be down at that weight, especially if I'm noticeably more toned. My numbers currently dance around 168-170. So I'm going to keep updates on the blog as to how everything is going - how the running and exercising is and how the eating, meal planning and cooking goes. I'll also post a weekly weigh in. (That'll help me!)
I'm very happy about all of this. Finally changing my attitude (though it be gradual) about food is very refreshing. It's amazing how appealing a salad every day sounds. My new diet consists of breakfast with Caleb, which is two eggs overeasy with one piece of toast (buttered), and two sausage links; between breakfast and lunch, I'll have some fruit (an apple or banana) and maybe some peanuts or cheese; then lunch is a big spinach salad with a little bit of chopped nuts, a sprinkle of parmesan, and the correct serving size of raspberry vinaigrette with some soup. It's very yummy. Just having more salad and drinking plenty of water makes me feel better. I like it when I'm in control of my stomach. It feels right, and it feels so good. No wonder fasting is spiritual! It is certainly one of the passions I have the most trouble controlling, but now I think I'm off to a good start.
Also, we're trying not to eat after 8 PM, which is a great habit to introduce for anyone. And I'm going to try and start drinking more water too. I was so good at this when I was pregnant, but I've kind of lost my urgency for it, which shouldn't make any sense as I should be drinking more water than ever now that I'm breastfeeding. Ideally, you should be drinking half your weight in ounces, but I need to be drinking more. So, I'm going to try filling my 32-oz. water bottle up three times a day, trying to have a full bottle between breakfast and lunch, lunch and dinner, and then in the evening and throughout the night when I'm up breastfeeding.
So now, I'm drinking my morning tea and enjoying this gorgeous morning. I'm so happy it's fall.
Cheers.
Here's the Quote of the Day:
"Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort."
~ St. Mark the Ascetic
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