January 17, 2011 - My Challenges

I have a dream today ... to one day be at a healthy weight that I will be able to maintain for the rest of my life.  Being at a healthy weight has been a struggle for me for a good chunk of my life - like from the start of puberty (age 10 or thereabouts).  I've always been overweight.  I really don't know any other way to live, to tell the truth so I know this is always going to be a struggle for me.  No one likes to struggle through anything.  We all want something that's going to be "quick and easy".  Losing weight has never been that ... unless one takes rather drastic measures.

While I have a clear idea about working out, the area that I currently struggle with is the nutrition.  Not having a car makes things kind of difficult in as far as grocery shopping.  Going more than once a week gets to be inconvenient.  So while I fully plan to take part in LiveFit Revolution, I first need to get a handle on how I'm going to do the nutrition thing.  Off of the top of my head, I'm thinking that I'm probably going to have to buy a lot of frozen fruits and veggies ... not to mention meats.  I do worry about things getting freezer burnt though.  This is going to be tough.

My next challenge is getting enough sleep.  I'm usually up by 4:40 AM to leave for work by 6:00 AM.  As such, I tend to get around 6 hours of sleep per night during the week.  I'm thinking I probably need to get closer to 7-8 ... which means going to bed at 9 PM.  =__=;;  Again, no car = public transit = timing is IMPORTANT!  So I take care of that by getting up early and leaving early.

Other challenges:  (1) a sweet tooth that just won't quit (I <3 sugar!); (2) a craving for salt ... especially when I've had sugar; (3) getting enough water (I'm never truly thirst, so I don't drink ... and being thirsty usually means you're already dehydrated).

Anyway, again, while I fully plan to attempt LiveFit Revolution with its six weeks of 4 days exercising with a kettlebell, exercising everyday for 30 minutes of walking (or equivalent), and its one day cardio challenge ... and with its nutrition plan, I don't think I'm ready yet.  I have my kettlebells.  I have no food (since I just got back from my Christmas holiday).  I need to figure that part out before I can really begin, because I really don't want to rely on frozen meals like I have been in the past.  I need to cook more.  *nods*

What I plan to do (for now) is exercise 3 days a week (30 minutes of walking on my ellipitcal followed by a kettlebell workout or something on my PS3 or Wii) and careful eating.  I'm trying not to snack from the cart at work, but I know that I need to including snacking throughout my day to keep from getting hungry and thus causing my body to store its fat.  I will also attempt to keep track of what I'm eating.  I'm not doing calorie counting just yet.  I just want to see what I'm putting in my mouth.

Breakfast:

• 1 small wheat bagel (110 calories, 1g total fat, 180mg sodium, 22g total carbohydrate, 3g fiber)
• 1 Tbsp I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
• 1 package of apple and cinnamon instant oatmeal (130 calories, 1.5g total fat, 170mg sodium, 26g total carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 3g protein)
• fat free milk (1/8 cup)
• 8 oz of water

Lunch:

• Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers - General Tso's Spicy Chicken (320 calories, 3.5g total fat, 500mg sodium, 410mg potassium, 53g total carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 15g protein)
• small orange
• 12 oz of tea with one pack of Splenda
• Utz plain potato chips (150 calories, 9g total fat, 95 mg sodium, 14g total carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 2g protein)
• Nature Valley Granola Bar - Crunchy, Oats and Honey (190 calories, 6g total fat, 160mg sodium, 29g total carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 4g protein)

Dinner:

• Chunky Beef with Country Vegetables (whole can: 260 calories, 6g total fat, 1840mg sodium, 900mg potassium, 36g total carbohydrates, 6g fiber, 16g protein)
• Pinapple slices x5

I will attempt to write a daily journal update.