Where to begin?

So many options!  Start exercising? Throw out all food and buy green veggies? Do a cleanse? Sign up for an expensive food program? Sign up for a food program with meetings?

I think I'll start where I've been.

I tried Adkins in college.  I pretty much ended up just eating pizza toppings without the crust. (I worked at a pizza place)

I've tried weight watchers.  I've seen it help people.  I've gotten a few good tips from meetings.  I can't seem to follow points, or weighing and measureing for more than a few weeks.  For me, not super successful. (Note to self:  They did have some quick frozen lunches for work and some good deserts, maybe you don't have to throw away all the ideas that you have learned).

I've tried Quick Weight Loss Centers.  I lost almost 60lbs doing this.  So yes, it works.  I found it pretty easy to do and I kept it up for quite awhile.  Eventually i got bored and found ways to cheat.  They also don't encourage a lot of exercise so that you aren't gaining muscle weight... I didn't really like the idea of that.  And there are a lot of protein supplements, which I can only assume aren't very natural....so even though they were nummy, I didn't really like the idea of that either.  (Note to self:  Those peanut butter and jelly protein bars were a real life saver when you wanted a sweet snack that was allowed on plan, maybe you don't have to throw away all the ideas that you have learned).

Last February when my Dr told me my sugar levels were high and she was concerned about pre-diabetic sugar levels I went extreme and cut out everything and anything with refined sugar, or too many carbs.  I also started exercising.  I got up to doing yoga twice a week and zumba twice a week.
I eventually got lax on my eating... too much produce going bad in my fridge, not enough time to pack a lunch every day.   I did keep exercising and I really enjoyed it.  I finally found some activities that I found fun rather than work.  I kept this up until May when my bf moved out and my life fell apart.  Around the same time I had a bestie in a serious crisis of her own and I wanted to be there for her more too.

What I think I've found is that it doesn't work for me to do ONE BIG PLAN.  I think what I would like to try this time is the idea of building healthy habits and getting rid of bad habits.  And it doesn't have to happen all at once!   I am impatient, I move quickly from one project to the next, sometimes without finishing them. I'm not a finisher.  This has to be a slow sneaky change so that it becomes part of my day, part of my routine, part of my life. And it can't suck.

So, I have some initial ideas.... I just need to remember that they don't have to all be done at once, day one.

I would like to:

• drink more water
• do some activity everyday, even just a 20 min walk
• eat less sugar
• eat more veggies
• learn more about vitamin supplements
• go back to yoga
• go back to zumba
• find some friends who want to go too
• pack a lunch for work, or keep food there
• maybe learn to jog???
• stop being lazy
• start reading again
• stop watching so much tv  (but I'm addicted!)
• find a meal plan that will help me shop and plan dinners... must be easy - I have NEVER been able to do this.
• write this blog

Well, I thought there would be more... I am sure I am missing a lot.
But that doesn't seem so hard ;o)

Today's "Yay's and Boo's".

Yay!

1. I ate a good breakfast (cottage cheese and a banana)
2. I drank water at work.
3. I took my shoes to work for walking
4. I ate a healthy supper (red pepper, spinach, chicken, tomatoes, laughing cow cheese as sauce) instead of a frozen pizza.

Boo!

1. I stopped at McDonalds after my 2 hour dentist appointment
2. I at a whole thingy of white chocolate macadamia cookies after my healthy supper.
3. I didn't use the shoes I took to work.

~E