Friday, January 15, 2010

Create: a healthier ME

Today I stepped on the scale and I was the same number that I've been for the past few weeks, no big deal. But I am 4 pounds (I know it sounds small) heavier than I said after my son was born that my max would ever be again. I don't consider myself to be overweight by any means, but I definitely don't think I'm "healthy". I've done Weight Watchers points in the past thanks to my wonderful MIL who taught me all about counting and know that it's a successful life change for me.

This morning I decided that I'd starting counting again to try to lose that 10-15 pounds that I've been holding on to. I really want to be a healthy person...not just a healthy weight, but what I put into my body. I LOVE food...I mean LOVE. I love to eat and I love yummy drinks like my 5 pump caramel lattes. I LOVE sugar. I eat at my desk when I'm tired, bored, or even the least bit hungry. This is not a good pattern for food, and I know it. So, in an effort to be a healthier, more energetic wife and mother, I'm going to watch what I eat (and still allow myself a treat here and there) in an effort to create a more healthier ME.

Maybe in the coming months I'll "create" an exercised ME but I'm not quite there yet. This is so much more than a new years resolution for me. I know I can do it because I've done it before. I told myself this morning that I wouldn't cheat and of course someone brought Pat-a-Cakes cookies into the office. But NO, I will not have one. I'll stick to my yogurt and Special K crackers. Does anyone out there have ideas for natural foods that will give a person energy?

This post is part of my series for 2010 where I create something every day (if possible).

10 comments:

  1. I like plain or vanilla natural yogurt (fat free of course) with some drizzled honey and sliced almonds. You get protein from the yogurt and almonds and a bit of sweetness from the honey. It keeps me going in the afternoons when all I want to do is take a nap.

    Also, I love natural peanut butter. Look for the kind that only has peanuts and salt as the ingredients. Most peanut butters have sugar in them. I smear a TBSP of natural pb on a banana for a snack. Keeps me full and gives me energy.

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  2. Amy - one thing you can do is replace honey or sugar with blue agave. It's just like honey, but doesn't stimulate the insulin secretion that causes a raise in your blood sugar. It's a low-glycemic sweetener. It's natural (if that's what you're looking for instead of sugar substitutes), but has about the same caloric content. So you're not saving there.

    We buy this kind at Costco for just under $8 for two 23.5 oz. bottles.

    Also - natural almond and peanut butter or more healthy choices than the jarred kind. You can get it at Whole Foods from their machine.

    I'm also addicted to Ole extreme fiber tortillas. They are huge, only 72 calories, 2 (or 2.5?) grams of fat and 12 grams of fiber! And they are so good! I use them for SO MUCH. They're only 1 pt.

    I could go on and on. Not here. :-)

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  3. Sorry - forgot the link!

    http://www.amazon.com/Wholesome-Sweeteners-Organic-23-5-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B000FL08B0

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  4. Awesome Holly! If you have any literature you want to give me that would be great :) If not, I'll just bug you every time you come in the office!

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  5. You said you could go on and on...like you were full of knowledge!

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  6. I could have written this post! I'm not overweight by any stretch of the imagination, but five pounds on someone our size makes more of a difference than people think! In the past when the weight crept on, I counted calories religiously. Not WW points, but actual calories and it did wonders for changing my body and my mindset when I eat. But in the last year or so I've allowed myself to get away from it for many reasons. With all my free time now, I'm refocusing on eating better and working out regularly.
    One of my favorite low cal snacks is a plain rice cake spread with light cream cheese and sugar free strawberry jam. It sounds kind of gross, but it is absolutely DELICIOUS! I'd eat two rice cakes and it's right around 100 calories for the whole snack.

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  7. Oh! :-D I have lots of lots of things I make and do and eat -- all while counting points. :-)

    I just love to eat.

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  8. I'd watch the sugar and white flour. If you steer clear of that, as well as adding a good daily walk after lunch, you may be pleased with the results.

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