Cleaning it all up for Christmas

[abstractillusions]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

No kidding winter, isn't that crazy lol i am a chaotic person by nature and my life has always reflected that whether it be from my "charming" organized chaos lol to my packrat housekeeping skills. But ever since i started losing weight, i just can't stand it anymore. Go figure, i entered my 7th year this year and it says you change every 7 years so maybe the next phase of my life is my neat and tidy phase lol.

[aparmour]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

I had been super good and super strict for 6 weeks, and I guess I just figured that one day wouldn't hurt...which it probably wouldn't have if I had only messed up on one day...instead I have now messed up three entire days. Even when I was sticking to the diet perfectly, I still couldn't get out of the bed early to exercise. I think my timeclock is messed up- I always end up working out at 10pm which I hate. Plus, if I don't get home until late one night, then I have missed my exercise opportunity. I LIKE getting up early, but I can't get my body to like it for some reason. I have been exercising three days a week since the beginning, but I really want to up the intensity and days per week that I am exercising. I want to be on an organized schedule, but I never can seem to get in the hang of things. I know this is usually not suggested, but could I just have an Atkins shake or drink for breakfast and lunch? I never have time to really cook a lot, and I miss the convenience of fast food. Any suggestions?

[ValidRouge]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

I definitely do not recommend using the shakes and the bars. They are "Frankenfood" ...icky stuff. If you are in that big of a hurry for breakfast (and I totally understand)--On the weekend, boil a dozen eggs. Now you've got a grab and go breakfast. Cook chicken breasts and chop them up for fajita style chicken strips that you can also grab and go. Keep celery, jicama cut up in sticks to grab and go.

This way of life is about planning. Failing to plan, is Planning to fail. If you don't plan ahead, you are just setting yourself up to fail. I don't do a lot of this anymore because I'm firmly in my WOL, but in the beginning I would cook lots of foods and have them in the fridge so that I could just open the door and have lots of options.

[winter]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

I tried the shakes for meal replacement for a while. I know they say they are filling, but they aren't. I would have the shake and then turn around and have food anyway and ended up weighing more than I did when I started. Please don't waste your money on them. Like Joy said, there are so many fast options you can choose with just a little planning. And it's much healthier.

[julirama723]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

For foods that I KNOW I don't have a problem with controlling portions, I like to cook a big batch at one time and keep it in the fridge. Like last night I made stir fry for dinner, I'll be having it for lunch today and tomorrow. When I buy veggies like broccoli or celery, I cut it all up at once and put it into storage containers or baggies. It's REALLY easy to make breakfast--that's the easiest meal of the day for me. Here's my favorite thing to make:

Boil a pot of water.
Take a small sandwich bag, put a pat of butter in it and mush it around until the bottom is "greased."
Crack a couple eggs into the bag, add seasonings, cheese, veggies, meat, etc. and seal the bag.
Squish it around until everything is well-mixed.
Drop baggie into the boiling pot.
Go do your hair and your makeup and get your workout clothes ready.
In 15 minutes, come back to the kitchen and your omelette is ready!

I make this almost everyday...the omelette is light, fluffy, and really satisfying. It's as easy as boiling water.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

great idea julie, I'll have to try that

[abstractillusions]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

Oh wow Juli, i saw that "instant no mess omlet" type of idea in a magazine and sent it to all my friends. Funny how i completely forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. I agree with cutting everything up and bagging and storing it, i am a "lazy" person which tends to be my kiss of death because if i have to "work" to make anything when i get home, i won't do it and that's when i stumble. That's why i am getting back into the prepare to plan idea with this challenge. Every weekend i NEED to do this, its a MUST and non-negotiable part of me staying on plan and doing this right.

ashley, GIRLLLLLLLLLL i completely relate to your morning frustration of not being able to exercise. I need to do this too, getting up and exercising in the morning, i did it a couple times then changed to nights and lately because my back is so tight i am waiting for the wrong move to completely snap it it seems, i am not exercising. My problem is i am a mosey person in the AM, so i mosey getting ready for work which means getting ready at the gym is not a comfortable option for me, so i have to get up by 430 to mosey getting ready to get to the gym by 5:15 and then home by 6:30 to mosey getting read to leave by 7:45 lol... so i decided to only shoot twice a week to go to the gym in the AM for a shooting time of 1/2 hour (i also was working out for at least an hour after work) and on the other mornings i am planning on incorporating pilates which i have tapes. This way, since i do go at night, the night workout becomes a bonus during the week, because if something happens and i can't go (with work and the stress it causes me lol it happens many times with unexpected major OT), i know i at least got my exercise done.

I know it sounds confusing lol and i can relate not getting up, but perhaps if you start small, you can work towards making it a habit. I need to do something in the morning because i am going to start weights Mid January and i have a feeling the trainers won't be keen on coming to the gym when it opens, so i will have to do my cardio in the AM, and weights in the PM a couple times a week.

Perhaps we can figure out a way to support each other in this.

[aparmour]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

The planning is the problem- I have ADHD, and it is nearly impossible for me to plan things too far in advanced. If I remember to boil the eggs, I will forget to eat them or I will boil them too long...it is just really frustrating. Plus, there is basically nothing low carb to eat in the cafeteria at work, and so I have to plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the day before. That is complicated when I have forgotten to go to the grocery store to get any legal low carb food, and I really hate having to think about what I am going to eat so far in advance. I would prefer to eat what I am in the mood for, but I guess that is not really what we are supposed to do. Maybe the inability to plan is my problem, but I really cannot do much about it. I guess I will keep trying my best, but I really wanted to be able to stick with the diet without failing. I thought the shakes and bars might make things more convenient. I am just really depressed today, but maybe things will be better tomorrow. I will try to do better throughout next week. I will keep you updated. Let me know if anyone has any tips for getting up early.

[julirama723]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

Um...going to bed earlier? Hee hee hee, aparmour probably wants to do this to me:

Well, I don't know what to tell you about getting up earlier--but I do know it's easier if you don't let yourself sleep in on off days...or if you do, only for an hour or two longer than you'd normally sleep. I get up at 5am on weekdays, and usually 6:30 or 7 on weekends.

I had to deal with a crappy workout schedule like that my last year of college. I was working about 30 hours a week at Wal-Mart, Student Teaching, AND giving music lessons. My days went from 7am until 10pm some nights. I was NOT able to work out in the mornings--I am just too unflexible to do Step Aerobics at 5:25am--believe me, I know...I tried it for a couple weeks. I would work out after I got out of work at 9. I would go to the gym, work out until 10, and go home. Some days I actually had OFF from Wally World, and I could catch a Kickboxing class or go running. I did falter on this schedule because I did NOT bring my workout clothes with me--which was the big mistake. If I brought my stuff to work or to school and change into workout clothes after I'm done teaching/working, I had a 99% chance of making it to the gym. If I went home to change, I had about a 20% chance.

[sillygirl]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

I had been super good and super strict for 6 weeks, and I guess I just figured that one day wouldn't hurt...which it probably wouldn't have if I had only messed up on one day...instead I have now messed up three entire days. Even when I was sticking to the diet perfectly, I still couldn't get out of the bed early to exercise. I think my timeclock is messed up- I always end up working out at 10pm which I hate. Plus, if I don't get home until late one night, then I have missed my exercise opportunity. I LIKE getting up early, but I can't get my body to like it for some reason. I have been exercising three days a week since the beginning, but I really want to up the intensity and days per week that I am exercising. I want to be on an organized schedule, but I never can seem to get in the hang of things. I know this is usually not suggested, but could I just have an Atkins shake or drink for breakfast and lunch? I never have time to really cook a lot, and I miss the convenience of fast food. Any suggestions?

No Shakes! I saw that you had ADHD and cooking was sometimes hard for you. Can you use a microwave okay? You can make the mock danish in like 2 minutes! That's a great morning thing to have!

[sillygirl]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

141 today! Not intentionally really, I just buckled down. Again I gotta say that stat-ting and fit day are really important. But now I'm gonna go with 140 by the time my hubby comes back. I keep think that may be hard to maintain for me as I think my body loves 145. I need that goal to keep me going!

[Lisa M]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

Silly, I'm so tired I need clothes pins to hold open my eyes...but I swore I read your weight is at 141. Is that right? Woo hooo! You're my hero Lookin' good, girlfrind!

[Lisa M]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

Did you know....

It's Saturday morning?
It's a new day?
It's a fresh start?
It's one more day added to your life that you cleaned it up?

Just thought I'd say it out loud because, lol, after all, I need a good swift kick of reminder that crutons on a salad is not a good thing.

[sillygirl]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

Lisa my dear, did you say croutons?

[Lisa M]

Re: Cleaning it all up for Christmas

Yes, I said croutons (I just don't spell too good with one eye open ). Thanks for the invigorating slap.