Tip of the Day: The problem with cheating is that you want to do it again and again. Ate that egg and cheese bagel at breakfast that you shouldn't have? Easy enough to write off the whole day and eat a handful of cookies at lunch and an extra helping at dinner. Didn't go to the gym yesterday? Just makes it harder to go today...especially if you know it's time for you to weigh-in and there's nothing you'd like to do better than to avoid seeing those numbers.
The latter half of this week was that way for me. I could come up with any number of excuses: my gym membership ran out and I didn't get my paycheck until Friday and the gym is closed Saturday so I couldn't go. I'm living with a host family and I have to eat what they cook for me or else I'll seem rude! I went on a date with a new cutie on Thursday night and he wanted to buy me a second drink, so I had to take it, right?
The fact is that there are a million reasons to cheat...and once you start it's hard to stop. So while of course it's better not to start, it's even better to have a good way to stop yourself.
Here's a list of reasons I want to lose weight, in honor of my first week. Note: I'm aware that not all these reasons are particularly gracious, but I'm doing what I can.
1. I see pictures of myself at 18 and get sad wishing I could look like that again. And I'm 20.
2. My mother, who is super hot, would have to stop being so silently disapproving of the fact that she's four pants sizes smaller than I am.
3. Excuse to buy new clothes!
4. My friends will be jealous. Yup, there it is.
5. Getting to love to look at myself naked in the mirror again.
6. New tattoo! When and only when I reach my goal weight.
7. So I won't embarrass myself on the internet by starting this blog and then totally failing to stick to my regiment.
8. Proving to myself that I can, which, quite frankly, I sometimes have trouble believing.
Will post my week 1 weight tomorrow after I weigh in at the gym!
Five healthy foods that I have fallen newly in love with:
1. Asparagus
I used to hate this--until my sister-in-law made it for me and I realized that simpler is better when it comes to this particular food, which is choc-ful of vitamins and all those good things. Here's how she did it: Spread the asparagus out on a baking sheet. Drizzle (and I mean DRIZZLE. LIGHTLY) with olive oil and then sprinkle some salt. Bake at, like, 250 for five minutes; then, flip the asparagus, re-drizzle and re-sprinkle, and bake for another five minutes. Boom. I hate asparagus, but I could eat it like this for a snack!
2. Sweet potatoes
I had a roommate who ate these the way I eat egg and cheese sandwiches. Guess which of us is skinnier? But here's a recipe with sweet potatoes that I can't stop making (it's healthy, delicious, and, as a bonus, BEAUTIFUL. Make it for guests and they'll think you're really fancy):
Sweet potato-black bean tacos:
Dice two good-sized sweet potatoes.
Dump them in a pan and sort of stir-fry them with a little bit of olive oil.
3. Kiwi fruit
I guess I've always known I liked these, but it was only recently that it occurred to me to eat them more regularly. Part of this is because I'm in a part of the world right now where kiwis come really cheap--we'll see if this holds up when I'm back in the midwest this fall! But I love to eat apples as a snack, and over here they eat kiwis the way we eat apples: just peel it and pop it in your mouth! Note: they also eat cucumbers and green peppers this way.
Okay, be careful with this one. The bad news is that avocados are full of fat; the good news is that it's fat that's good for you! In moderation, of course. The taste is rich and distinct and a slice or two of avocado on your sandwich is better than cheese and better for you as well--while still contributing a little kick.
5. Plain yogurt
This is GOOD for you. Only 150 calories in a cup, and it has infinite possibilities! My favorite way is to mix in a few cloves of garlic (crushed) a little salt, and some verrrrry thinly sliced cucumber. Eat with pita bread or as a dip with celery.
Until tomorrow, cuties! I will post my weight after my weigh-in tomorrow morning. Might be painful, but I'm going to stick with it!
The latter half of this week was that way for me. I could come up with any number of excuses: my gym membership ran out and I didn't get my paycheck until Friday and the gym is closed Saturday so I couldn't go. I'm living with a host family and I have to eat what they cook for me or else I'll seem rude! I went on a date with a new cutie on Thursday night and he wanted to buy me a second drink, so I had to take it, right?
The fact is that there are a million reasons to cheat...and once you start it's hard to stop. So while of course it's better not to start, it's even better to have a good way to stop yourself.
Here's a list of reasons I want to lose weight, in honor of my first week. Note: I'm aware that not all these reasons are particularly gracious, but I'm doing what I can.
1. I see pictures of myself at 18 and get sad wishing I could look like that again. And I'm 20.
2. My mother, who is super hot, would have to stop being so silently disapproving of the fact that she's four pants sizes smaller than I am.
3. Excuse to buy new clothes!
4. My friends will be jealous. Yup, there it is.
5. Getting to love to look at myself naked in the mirror again.
6. New tattoo! When and only when I reach my goal weight.
7. So I won't embarrass myself on the internet by starting this blog and then totally failing to stick to my regiment.
8. Proving to myself that I can, which, quite frankly, I sometimes have trouble believing.
Will post my week 1 weight tomorrow after I weigh in at the gym!
Five healthy foods that I have fallen newly in love with:
1. Asparagus
I used to hate this--until my sister-in-law made it for me and I realized that simpler is better when it comes to this particular food, which is choc-ful of vitamins and all those good things. Here's how she did it: Spread the asparagus out on a baking sheet. Drizzle (and I mean DRIZZLE. LIGHTLY) with olive oil and then sprinkle some salt. Bake at, like, 250 for five minutes; then, flip the asparagus, re-drizzle and re-sprinkle, and bake for another five minutes. Boom. I hate asparagus, but I could eat it like this for a snack!2. Sweet potatoes
I had a roommate who ate these the way I eat egg and cheese sandwiches. Guess which of us is skinnier? But here's a recipe with sweet potatoes that I can't stop making (it's healthy, delicious, and, as a bonus, BEAUTIFUL. Make it for guests and they'll think you're really fancy):
Sweet potato-black bean tacos:
Dice two good-sized sweet potatoes.
Dump them in a pan and sort of stir-fry them with a little bit of olive oil.
When they start to get soft, dump in a can of black beans.
Add salt, paprika and cumin to taste.
Heat until the beans are hot and the sweet potatoes are soft.
Serve in corn tortillas with chopped tomatoes and onions and cilantro for a colorful, delicious, healthy dinner!
3. Kiwi fruit
I guess I've always known I liked these, but it was only recently that it occurred to me to eat them more regularly. Part of this is because I'm in a part of the world right now where kiwis come really cheap--we'll see if this holds up when I'm back in the midwest this fall! But I love to eat apples as a snack, and over here they eat kiwis the way we eat apples: just peel it and pop it in your mouth! Note: they also eat cucumbers and green peppers this way.4. Avocado
This is GOOD for you. Only 150 calories in a cup, and it has infinite possibilities! My favorite way is to mix in a few cloves of garlic (crushed) a little salt, and some verrrrry thinly sliced cucumber. Eat with pita bread or as a dip with celery.
Until tomorrow, cuties! I will post my weight after my weigh-in tomorrow morning. Might be painful, but I'm going to stick with it!
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