I need a belt.

When I started the clean eating plan, my pants, which are a size 20, fit just right.  Not quite snug, but definitely not loose. At only 8.5 pounds down, my pants are close to too loose.  I need a belt.  That really makes me happy.  I have these dress shirts in closet that I want to wear to work. 8.5 pounds ago they were very tight, buttons stretched tight.  Now, they are just not flattering.  The buttons all close without strain.  In another 8 pounds they should look nice. Today I made sure to get my walk in at work.  I wasn't able to really go fast because of lower back pain.  I had hoped my walk would loosen it up, but no such luck.  

Remember that NYTimes Mag I linked to in my post, it has been on my mind for a while.  I keep thinking back to Mrs. Bridges and her constant focus on food and exercise.  It does sound like she has some hobbies, friends, and family. But much of her day is spent focused on eating or exercising.  I don't have that kind of time to devote to this.  That isn't the life I want to lead.  So I am trying to get over my free of failure.  I am not going to let that fear keep me from trying. I need to figure out why I overeat.  Why do I eat when I am stressed? What can I do at work when I need to give my mind a break?  Walking helps, sometimes it seems impossible to get out of that chair.  If I can't walk the full twenty minutes, why walk, right? Wrong.  The minutes add up, the steps add up.  5 minutes is enough to get blood and oxygen flowing in my body and brain.

Today's Good Reading Links:

(1) Angie Mizzell's Embracing (and escaping) the big black hole of yuck

(2) Glennon's Momastry (the whole blog)

New Food Lessons/Rules:

(1) I stopped eating after 7 unless it is my dinner.  But this plan is really all about planning ahead and taking control of your eating.  So it should very rare that my dinner is after 7 pm.

(2) I have found a few different protein bars that have reasonable amounts of sugar that I can sub in for emergency meals.  Having these available (actually physically available or as an option) takes an edge off the  stress of working as much as we do and trying to keep on plan.

(3) Not sticking to the meal schedule results in unnecessary stress, so stick to the schedule.  You might be sitting at your desk thinking, I'm not that hungry, I can wait.  But then something comes up and 15 minutes becomes an hour and 15 minutes.  And you are hungry, bordering on cranky, unable to focus and just not feeling well.  

  

Day 4 of 28

Yesterday was the hardest day so far on my 4 week clean eating challenge.  On day 28, I am going dress shopping with my Maid of Honor.  The MoH is also my personal trainer.  She is an excellent personal trainer.  MoH recommended that I try Tosca Reno's The Eat Clean Diet Stripped.  The 3 big keys for me are: (1) No white sugar, (2) No dairy, and (3) No alcohol.  For 28 days.  The book is written for people at the end of their weight loss goal.  But I need a moral/confidence boost to get going & get this first month and 10 - 20 pounds under my belt.

The first two days were easy.  On day three, things didn't go exactly as planned.  I did stick to the diet with the exception that I subbed a 100 cal popcorn bag for air-popped popcorn. I was cranky most of the day and my meals were not well timed.  I am planning on a much better day today! I just noticed that I am not having enough protein with my breakfast. I think I am going to start adding a 1/2 scoop of muscle milk powder to my oatmeal.  TR also makes the oatmeal with almond milk instead of water.  So I am probably not getting enough calories with my breakfast either. Sleeping until 9 isn't doing much for my eating schedule either.

Good news!
I am down 5.5 pounds. Woo hoo!

Day 4 Meal Plan

Meal 1 (11 am):
Oatmeal (1/2 cup dry)
3 large frozen strawberries
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1 banana
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
water

Meal 2 (1:15 pm)*:
2 T hummus with celery
water


Meal 3 (3:30/3:45pm)*:
3 oz deli chicken
1 oz almonds (may eat with meal 2)
1 clementine
water


Meal 4 (6:30/6:45pm)**:
6 oz lean steak (may go with grilled chicken)
broccoli
dinner salad {romaine, tomato, cucumber}(may go with double broccoli)
water


Meal 5 (9:30pm):
1 oz. almonds
banana
water


text = planned
text = actual


* = cooler packed meal.
** = meal out with fiancé & the Girls