Update #2 to My New Year's Resolution

I promised myself I would get in shape, I created a plan, and the results are speaking for themselves. I started out 2009 at 144 pounds. It's only January 20th, and I am now at 137 pounds. I have only used my own plan of healthy eating and exercise, no pills, no fasts, no cheating! I'm not what I would call "in shape" yet, but I'm feeling great and determined that by summertime I will be feeling great about the way my body looks. I wanted to share a few tips and tricks that I have been using to keep myself on track. If you are a person who is looking to shed a few pounds yourself,or if you're just looking for healthier meal or snack ideas, or if you're looking for ways to kick your cravings, maybe some of these tips and tricks could help you as well.

1. When you are craving sweets, go for a stick of sugar free gum. I keep three different flavors in my purse pretty much at all times. I tend to have at least one pack of a strong mint flavor and one of a bubble gum flavor. The bubble gum flavor is usually the one that kills the sweet craving the best for me. Extra Classic Bubble is my favorite.

2. If you have a family who loves their dessert at night, like I do, sometimes it's hard to sit there with nothing while they gobble down their chocolate ice cream. Find replacements which give you the taste without all the fat and calories. When everyone else eats their ice cream, I have a small container of fat free chocolate pudding. It tastes great, has few calories and no fat, and I still get to have dessert with everyone else. Some of my other favorite sweet and healthy treats are flavored nonfat or low fat yogurt with fruit and a sprinkling of cereal or nuts, fat free frozen yogurt, smoothies made with yogurt, fruit, and fruit juice, apples or carrots with a little bit of peanut butter for dipping, and pineapple with cottage cheese.

3. They say it takes about ten days to break a bad habit. (Tell that to anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking.) While I don't know if this is really true or not, I have noticed that the first week was the most difficult. The cravings were still very strong then, whereas now they are almost nonexistent. It seems like the longer I go without the sugar, fat, and chocolate, the less I crave them. I wonder if I was (or am) truly addicted to junk food. I have noticed that when my husband eats these things, (which he does every night without fail) he seems to just keep craving more and more, and the more he eats, the less satisfied he feels. Maybe if he tried to stop for a week or ten days, it would break this vicious cycle. I feel that it would. Anyone who wants to break a bad habit, in my opinion, should try it "cold turkey" for at least 7-10 days.

4. Plan your meals around your vegetables. I plan every lunch and every dinner ahead and include two vegetables with each. Now I'm having at least four servings of vegetables every day. Before, I planned meals mostly around main dishes. Those days are in the past. Veggies are priority #1.

5. Work out when you can. Find a way to work out. Even if it's only for 20 minutes a few times a week. I think back to when I was a kid, and the only workout I got was in gym class. We did a few exercises on the floor and then played kickball or something. I wasn't fat then and I ate whatever I wanted. You could try by just doing 20 sets of each, sit-ups, push-ups, and jumping jacks if you want. Any exercise is better than none. It will get easier every time and you can challenge yourself by adding a little bit more. I have a toddler and two big dogs to take care of here at home, so it's hard for me to get out and walk, which is my favorite type of exercise. However, I do have an elliptical, which I have been using almost every day. I usually hop on at about the same time every day, when one of my favorite shows comes on. I keep at it until the show is over, then I have put in a 30 minute workout. If I'm feeling extra energetic, I'll speed up my pace to double time during the commercials. As a bonus, most elliptical machines, even my older model, come with a device attached to keep track of rotations, speed, and even number of calories burned. During a 30 minute workout at a moderate speed, I usually burn about 330 calories. Sometimes I do one workout in the morning and one again in the evening. Since I am working out at least six times a week, I am burning almost 2,000 calories!

If you want to lose weight, the bottom line is that you have to do what is right for you. You have to make changes in your eating habits and behavior patterns. But it all has to be done in a way that is realistic for you. It also takes time. I have been enthusiastic about my plan and excited to share my results with anyone who will listen, and I hope that anyone who is interested in weight loss and is looking for a few tips can benefit from checking out my story.