Adventures in Dieting Chapter 1: Eating For Weight Loss

As always, for me, the first hurdle to tackle is food. You could argue that perhaps my workouts are not optimized for weight loss, but the fact remains that I do work out regularly. I enjoy my unstructured, flexible approach and as long as I'm happy and enjoying my workouts, I will keep doing them. So, for now anyway, my attitude towards exercise is: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I have always acknowledged that eating is my biggest problem.

In my mind, as I think about how to approach this Diet Experiment, I have been using the term "Eating for Weight Loss" rather than "Dieting". They amount to the same thing, but "Eating for Weight Loss" seems friendlier and it's also more descriptive - it reminds me of what I am trying to accomplish.

The basic plan:

1. I am back to tracking calories but I'm not going to get too obsessed. I need the tracking for accountability and for a reality check. If I find I'm not getting anywhere, a review of what I've been eating is a good place to start.

2. I am going to work very hard at planning weight loss friendly meals that I will enjoy eating. I have told Husband that I need to lose weight and he can eat what I eat or he can make his own dinner. It just gets too hard to try and accommodate both of us. It may not seem like it should be, but it is. That being said, I will make sure the kitchen is stocked with options for both of us; I'm not leaving him completely in the lurch.

3. Pay attention. To portions. To how I am feeling. To what I am eating. To what I am doing.

That is basically it. It's a fairly free and easy plan. Along the way, I'm hoping that I can learn and adjust and finally make this work.

I have been easing my way into Eating For Weight Loss over the past week or so. We still have a few weight loss unfriendly foods around the house, but they are slowly disappearing. Plus, I imagine it's going to take some time to figure out the right meals and snacks to keep me going while meeting the calorie requirements. But so far, I am feeling less pressure with this approach. If I have a meal or a day that's not so great, I'm not beating myself up about it. Granted, it's early days. It always seems easy in the beginning. But I'm going to try very hard to keep the pressure off.

I had a fabulous weekend; nothing pressing to be done, no where that we had to be, which was just what I wanted. I got some things done around the house, did the grocery shopping and some cooking, got in some exercise, and still had time to relax. That's how I like my weekends!

This morning was -20 which was not so enjoyable, but it's supposed to warm up and snow for the next couple of days. Won't that be nice.

      
          Gratuitous Cat Photo. Just because.