TOPIC OF THE DAY: Setting yourself up for success with your nutrition and training!
We all know that "dieting" is hard. And training/working out is supposed to be hard.
& again.. I put dieting in quotes because I don't like the work. I think it is simply a lifestyle, a way of life... How you should eat. Diets are temporary. So if you go into it all with the mindset that this is just the way you are going to eat from here on out (for the majority of the time).. Then you are already ahead of the game. & you are already setting yourself up for success.
Now... How the heck can you succeed with your nutrition and training during the holiday season?!
Well.. You have to treat the day/week/month just like any other day/week/month.
There will ALWAYS be something going on. If it's not Thanksgiving or Christmas, it is a friend's birthday party or your cousin's wedding...
DO NOT SAY THAT YOU WILL START EATING BETTER AND WORKING OUT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS!
START RIGHT NOW! There is no need to wait. Thanksgiving is ONE DAY! Christmas is also ONE DAY!
All the other days are days that you can be eating healthy and getting in good workouts.
Here are some other ways you can set yourself up for success:
1. Only keep good quality food in the house. As much as we all love the sweets and snacky stuff.. Do not keep it in the house. Even if you have great will power and discipline... We all have moments of weakness, and when that moment comes, if you DON'T have it in the house.. You don't have anything to eat and possibly mess up your eating for the day. Keep the good stuff! That way, when that moment of weakness creeps up on you... You can have something like a yogurt or apple. So this means do not bring home leftovers. Give it away. Let your friends take that home, or give it to a homeless person. OR.. I hate doing this.. But you can also throw it away.
2. Do your workout or cardio first thing in the morning. I do my cardio first thing because then it is done and out of the way. I have found that if you do the things that you least like FIRST.. Then they will get done, and you don't have to worry about it for the rest of the day. Plus... If you do not do it or try to do it after work.. You most likely won't do it. By that time you are tired and will put it off until TOMORROW! Especially during the holiday season, everyone is travelling, shopping, visiting with friends and family, cooking, cleaning, etc. Super busy time of year. If you do your workout/cardio first thing in the morning... Then you can never use the excuse that you ran out of time.
3. Plan ahead! If you know you are going to be out running errands all day.. Then pack some meals and snacks. I don't ever leave the house without water and at least one meal with me. The reason for this is because my errands might take longer than expected... & if meal time rolls around and I don't have a meal with me... I just might veer from my plan. Plus... When you bring your own food, you are saving money.
Another way you can plan ahead... Is planning for your cheat meals. Like Thanksgiving dinner... I most definitely except everyone to enjoy their time with family and friends. I know I will! But I planned to have my Thanksgiving party on my refeed day. And all the other days I will follow my plan to the T! I will also make sure to get in a great workout on Thanksgiving! That way I earn those extra calories. I would also suggest you go on a walk after dinner.
4. Make your workouts fun! Don't go to the gym if you don't like going to the gym. Workout at home. Workout outside. Go to a yoga class. The best workout is the workout you will actually do, and do consistently. Find what you like! Just because someone you follow on social media does one thing... Doesn't mean that that's the only way.
5. Surround yourself with supportive people. Encouraging people. People who motivate you, and push you to be better! This is pretty self explanatory. You don't want to be around people who are lazy or are going to bring you down in any way. And also make sure that you aren't that person yourself. Surround yourself with people who add to your life; and add something to their life as well. If you can do this... Then you can succeed in just about anything. :)
OKAY... So now that I gave you guys some tips... I will bring you guys up to date with where I am at with my improvement season.
Thursday November 16th, 2017
I think my body weight has finally stabilized. And it is not quite at 110 like my coach wanted me to sit at. It is 113-114. But it seems like my coach has adjusted accordingly. He now said that we are just going to stay under 117.. He said if I get over 117 any day of the week we will lower food. SO I BETTER NOT GET OVER! Lol.
This past week things have been a lot better. Today was the first day that I gave into my hunger... And all I did was put a scoop of chocolate protein powder in a small bowl, added a little bit of water to that and stirred it up (kinda like a pudding). I took a couple little bites and then I was good. I put a lid on the bowl and put it in the fridge.
Today I did actually mess up on my macros though... It was by accident. I used the wrong bread. So I will be over in carbs by six grams. But you know what?! I'm not going to stress it. It's not that big of a deal. It's not like I pigged out on trail mix. LOL.
I definitely feel like I am finally getting back into the groove of things, and calming down. But I am a bit nervous about Thanksgiving. I know I am going to eat! The goal is to not over do it! And like a mentioned above... I have made it my refeed/cheat meal day.
I'LL BE FINE :)
Even though I have done better this week.. I am still very hungry. I have made sure to drink tons of water. I have also been drinking SO MUCH hot tea! One, because I'm freezing. Two, because it helps make my tummy feel full. I am also eating lots of veggies!!!! Even on my refeed day. Another thing that has really been helping is switching my focus to something else when I start to think about food.
I will pick up my book and read for a couple minutes. I will brainstorm on how I can be a better girlfriend or friend. I will come up with ideas for how to grow my business. I will get my mind focused on something else.. & of course it is normally going to be something productive and beneficial. It has helped a lot!