Food

What are you doing? How are you doing it? What is your secret?
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Anyone who has dieted more than 25-30 pounds off knows the answer to this questions:
Eating less and/or moving more. There are crash diets and ways to lose a quick five or ten, but those ways aren’t usually a long term solution. To do it right and do it big takes an actual commitment to a lifestyle change, not rely on a quick fix.

I don’t do a program. I don’t do weight watchers or any other buy in types of things. I just count calories, say no to myself and sweat hard at least once a day.
It’s not rocket science, just basic science. Less fuel + more movement = fat burned as fuel. That is, as long as you don’t move so fast you burn muscle.
So, what do I eat? On a typical workday here is a sample diet. If I don’t include measurements, it’s because I had one serving.
Breakfast:
Morningstar veggie patty
Whole wheat English muffin
1t Smart Balance buttery Spread light
Lunch
3-4 veggie chik nuggets
4 slices apple
Yogurt
or
Greek yogurt
Granola
Blueberries
Chik nuggs (just a great source of flavor and easy vegetarian protein)
Dinner
Usually have a stir fry or boca burger or salad-ish version of the family dinner-
Taco salad on taco night
Bun-free burger on hamburger night
Pizza night is 1-2 slices and salad
Snack
Fudgesicle (those are a totally reasonable treat!)
Or
Popcorn
OR
My ridiculous raw oatmeal thing. Nom nom nom.
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More than anything it’s just:
*Cutting everything back to serving size (portion control)
*Eating a lot less processed food (trying, but tricky as a vegetarian with all the soy)
*Eating lots of whole grains (more brown rice, chia, quinoa, fiber filled pasta)
*Running walking, cycling lifting, stretching – not all, but some every day
*Making goals (5K, 40 before 40)
*Resolving to be determined to make my life better through weight loss and exercise

Something interesting- I am still eating full fat sour cream and peanut butter and I’m fitting it into my diet with no problem. Furthermore, I’ve decided to leave them in my diet. I like both of those things so much better than the diet versions!
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Good news- I think my hip is healing well at last. I learned a tough lesson last week by pushing to run too much too soon, just like everyone said I would (you were right, Bradley)! Last night I was able to sleep on my hip for the first time and on Saturday I ran a quarter mile. So there is progress. But it will have to be slower than I like. Baby steps, right?
More good news?
I’m thrilled that I lost that pound! I had been hovering between the 5-9 range in the ones column for a few weeks. This weekend my weight hovered in the 2-6 range. Progress? I think so.