Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Don't Mess with My Coffee!

Guess what? I gained weight!

Yeah, I'm not excited about it either.



I know from experience if I don't take steps now to get back to my happy-weight, I will continue to gain. And that means grouchiness, unpleasantness, and a list of other yucky moods I tend to indulge in when I'm "fluffy."

Diets and I don't get along, so I don't do them. But when I make an effort to watch my calories, eat higher quality foods, and *gulp* exercise regularly with intensity, I always get back to my goal weight, and I usually can maintain it.

I have one rule. Don't mess with my coffee!

To kick start my motivation, I stopped at the library and checked out their Health section. Skinny Chicks Don't Eat Salad by Christine Avanti, CN, sounded fun, so I headed home and cracked it open. Sometimes books like this can be too dry and boring, but Skinny Chicks sucked me right in. The testimonials and easy-to-understand biology lesson convinced me to try her method.

Christine discusses how carbohydrates convert to sugar in our bloodstream, so she recommends always eating a combination of carbs and protein to slow the insulin train down. I've read many, many books and articles about diets, and this one makes sense to me. You're not eliminating food groups or starving yourself. You're just eating a meal that contains protein, carbohydrates, and a small amount of fat, and you're eating every four hours.

My one resistance to any diet is the effect it has on my coffee habits. Skinny Chicks allows you to drink coffee, but I have to watch my carbohydrate/calorie additions. This means balancing my coffee with protein (like eating a yogurt or an egg), which isn't a biggie, but when I read the label on my favorite flavored creamer, I about choked. The carbohydrate level is way too high (considering I double the serving size with each cup I drink!), and the ingredients contain bad fats.

Logic gets me every time. I will try--try, mind you--to healthify my coffee for one week, but if it's hurting my day in any way, I'm going right back to my favorite creamer. Right back.

How do you maintain your weight? Do you have one rule about health plans?

Have a fantastic day!

8 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great plan! I'm a snacker - so I have to make sure I have healthy stuff on hand. Almonds, walnuts, eggs, hummus, fruits and veggies tend to help me stay away from the junk. Except when I'm pregnant. Right now, all bets are off. LOL.

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    1. I love your snack list--they're on mine too! And you know McFlurries are good for pregnant women. :)

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  2. Sounds like you've got a good plan! My health plan sounds something like this: Do as good as I can. :) I have issues with complicated meal plans and calorie counting...I know they're good to do but I truly just can't handle trying to keep track of one more thing at this point. And if it's too complicated or too time-consuming, I just give up. So my best bet is to keep things like grapes, carrots and other healthy munchable things around so I don't go crazy snacking. :)

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    1. Don't get me started on complicated plans and counting calories. Ugh. I won't do it. NOOOO!!!

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  3. I LOVE that book!!! It was so good about explaining the WHY behind the "diet" (or lifestyle change, really). I also liked her follow up, Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food.

    I've been trying for months to lose weight. The weight isn't coming off, but I know I'm also building muscle. So, it's really hard to tell where I stand with my health. I'm trying, and that's all I know to do. Trying not to obsess about the numbers on the scale!

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    1. Yeah, I hear you, Lindsay. The scale isn't moving for me either, but I know my muscles are firming. I'm going to take some measurements in another week. I'd rather have less inches on my waist and a higher number on the scale than the other way around!

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  4. That sounds like a great plan, Jill. I'm sorry you have to take such measures as healthify your coffee! Yikes!

    I am not where I like to be weight-wise, but I do keep myself from morphing into a blimp by exercising 4-5 times a week and watching my fat intake.

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    1. You and I sound similar, Jeanette! I do the same--exercise and watch the fats. I could do better on my overall eating, though!

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