The winter holidays have never been a source of weight gain for me. Usually I’m so busy and stressed out that I don’t consume enough calories. Don’t hate, but I've never had a tendency to put on weight. Until recently I had never dieted. But in the last couple of years, especially during the long winter months, the scale has been rising upward. Seemingly overnight, I could eat nothing and still gain weight. Upon hearing this statement my husband somewhat jokingly said, “She hasn't actually tried that.” I love to cook. I love to eat good food.
Adjustments were required. I won’t call this a New Year’s resolution. They have always seemed foolish to me. Resolutions set you up for failure and make you feel guilty when broken. Failure and guilt are two words I’d just as soon leave out of my vocabulary.
On January 1, I began a low-carb diet. I didn’t have any clue what this meant. What exactly are carbs? How do I know if I eat too many of them? I learned that carbs are what give you a bit of a food high, I also learned that without enough of them your brain doesn’t function to its full potential and you can feel a bit dizzy. Basically, I cut out sugar in any form, bread, pasta, fruit and beer. And ate more veggies, meat, nuts and eggs.
Lunch became my favorite meal of the day.
Breakfast, not so much. I missed having fresh fruit. And toast. I craved fresh bread more than anything else.
Dinner... what another salad?
After about three weeks, I had dropped only three pounds. My head was foggy, I didn’t have enough energy to run more than a mile.
Now I’m back to eating fruit smoothies for breakfast, running at least three mornings a week, doing yoga and lifting weights at the gym two times a week. It’s the eat less, move more diet.
“I’m one stomach flu away from my goal weight.”