Writing it down...

The first three days have gone fairly well. My intake stayed right around 1300-1400 calories per day and I exceeded my goals of a minimum 1 hour of physical activity. I haven’t weighed myself since before I began Tuesday morning, but I do hope to already see a few pounds gone by the end of the week. Typically, I can expect to lose 3-5 pounds my first week of a diet by shedding the first bit of water weight. After that, I tend to slow down to no more that 1 or 2 pounds per week which isn’t enough to keep me motivated, and I then have to turn my attention to my workout goals rather than the number on the scale.

Weight is one of the least reliable measures of whether or not weight-loss efforts are having a positive effect. This weekend, I will post my measurements and take some current pictures so that I can compare in a few weeks.

I have decided to give myself one pre-planned cheat day per week. Most diets recommend this for 2 reasons—first, you don’t feel so deprived and are therefore less likely to quit altogether. Studies have shown that people who allow themselves a chance to indulge without guilt are able to stick to their plan and have a better chance at seeing long term results. Second, when you eat right, you feel better. Your body functions more properly, and if you pay attention to your body after those days of indulgence, you’ll notice that you feel sluggish and bloated, thus hopefully motivating you to eat right more often.

Even on my cheat day, I intend to write down what I eat. Keeping a food journal has always been the most important factor in keeping me on track. I have noticed that the days I decide to be lazy and not write down my foods and calories are the days I start to sway and get off track. It is like not keeping track of your finances. If you don’t write down what you are spending, it is likely your account will end up overdrawn.

My friend and I have even begun sending our food journals to each other via email. Even if she never read my food journals, it provides me with sense of accountability. The idea is that if I know I have to tell someone that I ate an entire bag of Oreos, hopefully it will make me think twice about doing so.

Also, by reading someone else’s meal plan, I can discover new foods to add into my own diet. Mixing it up and keeping things from becoming too boring is very important. Also, keeping my kitchen stocked up with plenty of figure-friendly and easily accessible foods helps me to stay on track. If I get into a pinch and find myself ravenously hungry, I need to have some quick and healthy snacks on hand, or I will go strait for the ice cream or the drive-thru window…sometimes both.