It Lasted Only 12 Days

I tried.  And I was doing really well.  I was eating lots of fruits and vegetables. In between meals, when I felt hungry, I would reach for a fruit or nuts instead of junk. I was doing well.  Even when there was bad food around me, I held strong and resolved to say "no." And it worked. I was determined.

I discovered a few things these last 12 days.  One.  I was over-eating way too much. Two. I don't have to have dessert and I can go without it. I did it for 12 days, and I survived. Three.  Eating less made me feel lighter, and I had more energy. Compared to over eating which made me feel lazy and sluggish.  I'm so glad I was able to do this for 12 days. I love what it feels like to eat healthier and it beats how I used to feel.

But then.  Thursday night came. I went to a meeting at my church and they had these irresistible pistachio macaroons, and I wanted to try them. Have you ever had them? They are delicious! Also, my mom is in town and she made one of my favorite dishes...stew peas...plus another favorite. Her pound cake! These I could not turn down.

And yes, this is a setback.  A minor one. I won't eat like this every day. I'll be eating healthier most of the time. Maybe I'll just take a little break.  Every 12 days.

Day 3 Food Diary

Well.  I'm hanging in there!

For breakfast I had a boiled egg and some fruit.  For lunch, grilled chicken and assorted vegetables.  I ate a Larabar later in the afternoon when I got super hungry.  For dinner, I made a huge salad with romaine lettuce, boiled eggs, carrots, broccoli, avocado, raisins, and sliced almonds.  It was delicious especially with blue cheese dressing! And yes, that's not the healthiest dressing, but I was so hungry by dinnertime, and didn't feel like going the extra mile to whip up some boring healthy salad dressing!

I sound grumpy, don't I? LOL.  I do feel tired and sort of miserable...especially because I'm still hungry!  I'm hoping I'll adjust to this eating plan soon, and won't feel so hungry all the time.  I've also been experiencing some slight headaches, but not sure if that's all related.

I'm calling it a night and hoping I can at least dream about cake tonight.  Just kidding!

Still Hungry on Day Two

It's day two of my 30 day eating plan, and one thing's for sure. Since I've been eating lighter, I don't really feel full after any meal. Before, I suppose I was loading up on all the heavy stuff...rice, pasta, potatoes, etc....and honestly, I always ate a little bit more even when I felt full. And even after feeling full, it seems I always had room for dessert.  Now I find I'm eating less and not feeling as full. I guess it makes sense.  Who wants to eat more lettuce when eating French fries or cake tastes so much better!!!  Right??? And that's precisely why I'm choosing to change my habits. 

I've got to re-train my brain that making healthier choices is the better way to go. I'll be the first one to admit that I don't think I could eat this way for the rest of my life. Once the 30 days are up, I'm sure I'll be incorporating other not so healthy foods into my diet, but I hope the portions will be much less than I've had in the past and all in moderation. Or who knows! Maybe I'll never have cake again! LOL! Who am I kidding!

Today I ate a banana and other fruits for breakfast. For lunch I had tuna on romaine lettuce with an apple. The Hubs grilled today, so I had a hot dog and a hamburger with onions and peppers sans the bread.  Eating with my family today was hard.  There was mac and cheese and potato chips which were very tempting, but I stayed strong.  Inevitably, there will be more temptations, but I just have to remain focus and determined. 

What's been helping with the hunger pangs? Grabbing a handful of almonds here and there have helped to subdue my hunger along with drinking lots of water. Also staying active! I've found riding my bike or playing basketball outside with Buddy Roller and The Hubs have kept my mind off of food!

So far it hasn't been too torturous, but I have also been in a very controlled environment at home these last two days. What worries me is returning to school tomorrow. Long days and hunger pangs mean I need to be prepared and have my arsenal of healthy foods available and ready!

Feeling Hungry on Day One

In an effort to have some accountability, I've decided to share some of my 30 day journey of eating healthier. Remember my plan consists of only three food groups.  Fruits. Meats. And vegetables.  First of all, you should never decide to start any new eating plan without first going to the grocery store and stocking up on all the necessary food items. I was so gung-ho about starting this challenge that I just decided to do it this morning...with absolutely no planning. And after my two mile run...I found myself starving with not that many options of food to eat! I ate an orange and some tuna and was starving  for most of the morning. I stopped at Panera Bread for a chicken salad and apple before heading to the grocery store to get my food items for the week.

Three things were clear to me on this first day of my journey. One, hardly anything I picked up was in a box or processed which means I got mostly healthy foods. Two, eating healthier costs a little bit more.  And that's okay. And three, cooking healthier is actually faster than the other meals I'm used to preparing. I was excited to try out some quick and easy recipes for my first dinner eating the right way.  Tonight's dinner was simple, yet it had a ton of flavor. I grilled some scallops, asparagus, carrots and yellow peppers in a savory lemon butter sauce. I also marinated some chicken breasts in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper for about 20 minutes before grilling them. Dinner, which was surprisingly delicious, was finished off with a very sweet and juicy navel orange followed by a Larabar only because I just didn't feel quite full.  I'm sure it's because I have this really bad habit of trying to complete any meal with something sinfully sweet.  That's a main reason I want to do this challenge. I need to stop my bad eating habits.

The first bite of my Larabar was really bad and my first thought was no way I'm eating that! But...after swallowing, it really wasn't that bad, and it helped to satisfy my urge of wanting something more. Larabars are made with fruit and nut, so it's perfect to eat when I feel I need a little something extra.  And they're going to help me get through these next 29 days.

Day one. Check. I'm feeling pretty good. I hope the next few days will go well. I'll keep you posted!