How Does She DO It?

For those who don't know, I was at my highest weight in May of 2014. Two hundred twenty-seven pounds. I finally snapped. I don't know if it was the weight or the fact that I felt like crap or that I just couldn't be bothered to go buy new pants for work. I was through. I signed up for a Beachbody Workout program (the 21 Day Fix) and it literally changed my life. I stepped on the scale a few days ago and... well... I'll show you:

I had to get on and off, on and off, on and off... move the scale further from the wall. On and off, on and off... 

Holy. Balls. 

I'm down forty-two pounds. I've got about thirty more before I reach one-fifty-five. That's my goal for the next few months -- get back on track with my eating habits and get a workout in daily. It may not be a 21 Day Fix workout but it could be something like running for 15 to 30 minutes daily. Just something to get me back on the exercise horse! Plus, in August/September/October of this year, I'm hoping to do a half marathon or a full marathon. Whichever comes first, I suppose. In the meantime, I'd like to work up to those by doing 5 and 10Ks in the next few months.

Let me start with saying that doing this isn't easy. Losing weight isn't easy. Changing your mind isn't easy. Breaking established patterns you've spent years honing to the lifestyle you have daily is something near impossible. And yet...

It is possible.

I'm proof.

So. Here's what I do, food-wise. You can control it the easiest. And if you're feeding yourself proper, you'll have more energy to get up and exercise, anyway.

1. Balance my checkbook.
1. This might seem silly but I can't go grocery shopping and plan food for the week if I don't know how much I have in the bank. 
2. Make a list of things I actually enjoy eating and am in the mood for.
1. Again -- seems like a "duh" thing. Who doesn't know what they like eating? But seriously. When I first started I was all, "Yeah! I'm going to eat salad every day for lunch and it'll be great because I can have a Caesar salad or a chicken salad or a taco salad..." The only downside? I cannot stand lettuce. I hate it. I don't know why God made if in the first place. It should have died out with the dinosaurs. I don't know why people enjoy salads so much. I can't eat them unless it's drowning in dressing. Which isn't really the point, is it?
2. So! Pick vegetables you're actually going to eat. Me? I like a good Normandy blend -- broccoli, carrots, cauliflower -- how can you go wrong? I'm also good with cabbage, Brussels sprouts, green beans, squash (any kind, really), zucchini... I'm not too much of a fan of fresh carrots (I'd prefer them to be cooked) and I cannot abide corn (it comes out whole so what's the point). But I know these things about me. Do you?
3. Find recipes.
1. Pinterest is my favorite for figuring out how to make my pizza/lasagna/nachos healthy. In fact, you'll be seeing some of those this week when I get back to my food prepping.
4. Scan the paper for anything on sale.
1. Coupon Clipping. It's pretty nifty and I'm not very good at it... But at least it gives me a bit of direction in which to figure out what stores carry what items. I've been having the hardest time finding a store with a bulk section, like Winco or Haggens.
5. Make a list.
1. You know what you're eating, you know where you should go and what's on sale. So. Write down what you're needing that you don't already have in your pantry.
6. Go Shopping!
1. I hate shopping. But it has to be done and no one else is going to do it for you for free... So, it has to be done.
2. Bring your list. Bring a pen. And for God's sake, feed and water yourself before you go. There'll be all those tasty donuts and ice creams all screaming for you to buy them. Fortify yourself before they can have their wicked way with you. Bring some water with you, too. You'd be surprised how you're actually dehydrated instead of being hungry.
7. Bring it home and prep.
1. If I don't prep it that same day, it's going to sit in the fridge and likely go bad.
2. Portion out the veggies into single servings. Put them in the freezer.
3. If you've got the time and energy, make a meal or two. After it's done baking/cooking, put it in the fridge to cool. You can portion it out the next day.

Yeah. That's about it. It takes time and dedication. And it's not easy. But it's really, really worth it. And you'll never have to worry about what's for dinner. Because you just have to pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw the night before. Easy-peasy. 

I hope this has been a bit of help. Even a small smakeral of help is good enough for me. Even if it just inspires someone to create their own plan. That still counts.

Well... I'm off to do number 6! Have a good rest of your Sunday and I'll see ya when I see ya,

Aloha from Oahu,
LC