Hitting the Reset Button

Mondays.  They’re usually a great time for a fresh start.  Tuesday, Wednesdays, really any day works just fine, but it’s usually Monday when I’m looking at my eating habits, workout trends, and assessing what’s going on.

I’ve been reading so many blogs lately of folks going through similar challenges as to what I’m experiencing these days.  Frustration.  Less than ideal motivation.  Weight gain.

I’m not sure if it’s the time of year, or just my stage in this process, but I’m experiencing all of the above.

My challenge… is that I’m eating TOO MUCH.  Plain and simple.  I’ve made friends once again with bread and tortillas, and for some reason they want to be BFF.

He looks so cuddly and friendly, but seriously, we’re not friends.

And, I haven’t stopped there… snacking has been off the charts as well.  Seriously.  Instead of reaching for fruits and veggies, I’m devouring anything that doesn’t move – – some of which are things I NEVER have in the house to begin with.  While I pack great snacks to eat Mon-Fri while I am at work, it’s the evenings that have been ridiculous when it’s just me and my fridge.

As a result of this excess snacking and quite a few meals that I’ve dined out, my weight has gone up.  And, I think it took me seeing a new number in the tens category to scare the snacker out of me….

It’s time to push this bad boy and get moving in the right direction.

I weighed in this morning at 181.  That’s about 7 pounds higher than where I was at last weigh, and it’s back in the 180s (a place I never EVER wanted to be.)  Good news is that it’s not the 190s or the dreaded 200s.  Regardless, it’s time to stop the insanity.

This week, I’ll be eating Jenny food all week.  I’ve got two nights where I have to eat out, and I’ll be dining on delightful salads (no bread.)  I’m also planning to hit the gym regularly.  I feel better and manage my stress better when I’m working out.  With stress contributing to my terrible eating as of late, it’s time to alleviate some of it and FAST!

So… as I dine on Jenny Cuisine over the next few weeks, I’ll still be posting fun recipes.  I’ve been cooking up a storm for weeks and have quite the backlog of recipes for you guys.  For my Jenny readers, you may even see a few more creative recipes.

Bottom line:  I’ve got to start being good to my body again.  I’ll begin by respecting its need for stress release by working out, meditating, and practicing yoga.  I also need to remember that healthy foods make me feel a million times better than their high-calorie, low-nutrient counterparts.

Meal by meal, day by day, I’m going to get back on track.  It all starts today!!!

Here’s a few ways we can work together:

My Fitness Pal: I’m going to start tracking my food intake again via MyFitnessPal.  I truly believe it is the best tracking tool out there, and it’s accessible via any smartphone or your computer.  It has a HUGE inventory of foods (including all my Jenny food and just about anything else I could want to track) and it also allows you to track activity.  Example:  If I do a 60 minute yoga class, I simply plug it in.  Also, my Fitbit communicates with it seamlessly.  Easy Peazy!

If you’re using this tool and want to team up for healthy eating and weight loss, click here to friend me.  You’ll have access to my daily input of foods and exercise… I set my account up this way on purpose.  They also have a great community for communicating wins.  You’re going to love it… I promise!

Water Checks:  I’m going to start posting once a day on the NTTC Facebook page and the NTTC Twitter account, asking how much water you’ve had so far.  I find that my water intake has dipped significantly, and we all could use a little more water.  Watch for my water checks this week… and share how much you’ve drank for the day!  Twitter followers, watch for the hashtag #watercheck.  If you’re not following me on FB or Twitter, join us today!

As always, thank you to each of you for being a part of this journey of mine… and for helping me to stay motivated and on track.  There’s a HUGE NTTC celebration to be had once I reach my goal.  It’s time to get back to business…

Let’s Do This!  Are you ready to recommit yourself to healthy living and healthy snacking?  I am!