Well friends, I made it through the first week. The long-range goal is to lose 80 pounds in 80 weeks. I lost two pounds this week, so I have 78 pounds to go in 79 weeks. The only thing I changed this past week (from my previously established bad habits) was to exercise for 15 minutes 
and drink at least 32 ounces of water each day. There were times when I wondered if such little things could make a difference, but now I can say confidently that they do. (If you need encouragement, check out my inspirational poster “Small actions implemented consistently create habits that result in lasting change”.)
I admit it was refreshing to only need to focus on two tiny things. They were very manageable, and I felt successful everyday. While I still made unhealthy choices (like a second helping at dinner or a Starbucks’ Java Chip Frappuccino), it was refreshing to not have to change my entire lifestyle and feel like I was “missing out” all week. I believe I will eventually get to the point where I order a mini-sized frappuccino instead of a venti one, or maybe I will forego both for a green tea, but I don’t have to fret about that this week. In the past when I tried to lose weight, I attempted to do an entire life-makeover…cut out all caffeine, all sweets, and nearly everything I love, not to mention adding in an hour of are-you-serious-I-can’t-even-breathe-much-less-do-ten-more-of-those-things exercise. I would dread getting out of bed in the morning because I didn’t want to live my life deprived and depressed.
This week, however, was quite the opposite. I actually woke up when my alarm first went off. While I lingered in bed for a few minutes, I did not require my normal three visits with the snooze button. I worked out first thing, and while I only attempted the beginner level of each workout, I was able to do everything and still feel human. I do admit however, that the workouts involved a lot, and I mean a LOT of squats and lunges (as many as you could possibly fit into 15 minutes and then some!), so I walked a little funny and had a hard time standing up or sitting down for a few days, but I guess that’s how you know it is working. I then cooled down outside in the cool morning air and tried to drink at least half of the water I had promised myself to consume for the day. I said I wouldn’t open a can of Diet Coke until I had finished all of my water for the day, so I worked hard to consume it early. I love my Diet Coke, so I was pretty good at this. Can I add that I felt more empowered to still allow myself the Diet Coke (avoiding the “deprived and depressed” syndrome mentioned before), but just making sure I had my water first; it kept me strong and positive to be in control.
So, what little thing can I add this week to keep me moving in the right direction? It probably goes without mentioning that I am not yet ready to give up sugar, processed foods, or red meat. However I can improve my diet in a small positive way. I don’t know about you, but late afternoon early evening is a challenging time for me diet-wise. I tend to get hungry and can’t seem to get dinner ready fast enough without consuming a bowl of chips or something sweet. I hope to tackle that this week. My goal is to pack a healthy snack for each day just in case I find myself reaching for something I might regret. I pre-prepped the containers over the weekend (talk about a Strong Beginning!), so all I have to do each morning is toss one in my bag before leaving for work. I can eat it during the afternoon, on the way home from work, or while I am preparing the evening meal, or not at all. At least I am prepared to battle the voice of temptation if it comes knocking.
If you are interested, for this week I have packed and ready: hard-boiled eggs, apple slices and almond butter, and carrots and hummus. I am not a real chick-pea fan, but I am currently addicted to an edamame hummus with roasted red peppers by Eat Well Embrace Life. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the best-ever Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter with Hemp, Flax, and Chia Seeds from Angela at OhSheGlows.com. A friend at work shared this recipe with me, and I will never buy store-bought peanut butter again. But be warned, you might want to consume an unhealthy portion, so always scoop out the amount you need and put the container away before you get the urge to overindulge.
So for week 2 I will continue to work out 15 minutes a day and consume my 32 ounces of water (maybe even more!) and start the day ready to battle my afternoon snacking demons. As long as I consistently meet these goals, they will become a more natural part of my daily routine, and I will be able to tackle the larger obstacles down the road. For now, though, I will focus on these three little things and continue to build my confidence and start the transformation of this-thing-that-I-call-me into the-me-I’ve-always-wanted-to-be.
What are your favorite healthy pick-me-up snacks? Do you have a favorite recipe, cookbook, or blog that inspires you? Share them here, and know that you are not alone. We are all in this together.
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