My Eating + Exercise Plan

I’ve had a couple people e-mail me trying to help asking what eating and exercise plan I am following. I have a simple (yet messy) answer: none.

Eating Plan

I’ve detailed my dieting history in this blog post. I’ve tried everything: Nutrisystem, Master Cleanse, Weight Watchers, etc. In the beginning of this journey to a healthier me I started by trying to follow the South Beach Diet. While I think the South Beach Diet offers some really positive, nutritionally sound information and ideas I quickly stumbled and failed. Finally, after some introspection, I realized dieting just wasn’t for me.

So what am I doing now? I am tracking what I eat on sparkpeople.com. While I track I don’t obsess about fat grams/carb count/sugar grams. I could honestly obsess over these statistics if I let myself and my one goal is to stay sane throughout this whole experience. I try to eat healthy and try to make sound nutritional decisions. I am attempting to not obsess over “slip ups” and I haven’t eliminated anything from my diet as I know that will lead me to binge on it down the road. With my hectic schedule I rely heavily on convenience health food: lean cuisines and other frozen meals, canned soup, canned fruit (in light syrup or water), pre-packaged/portion everything. Is it the healthiest way to eat? No. I really wish I could eat completely clean with fresh ingredients and everything cooked at home but the reality of my life doesn’t lend itself to that right now. I am trying to cook more at home though and I am working on eating out less.

UPDATE (1/16/09): I’ve decided to try Weight Watchers once again. You can find my reasoning in this blog entry.

UPDATE (10/31/09): I’ve decided Weight Watchers wasn’t for me. You can find my reasoning in this blog entry.

Exercise Plan

My exercise plan is to try and exercise more and more consistently. I know, the detail and planning is just blowing your mind now isn’t it!?!? I was training for a 5k but got a stress fracture and my doctor has recommended not attempting to run again till I get to 180 lbs or below and then take it slow. I focus on doing activities I love as exercise because I don’t want to begrudge it.

Activities I Love:

Yoga

Water Aerobics

Swimming

Hiking

Rock Climbing

Kayaking

Playing sports (softball, basketball, etc)

UPDATE (1/11/10): I signed up for Operation Weight Loss at Boot Camp Fitness & Training. You can see info about in this blog entry.

Emotional Plan

I read a lot in my free time and read and review a lot of books about weight loss and healthy living. I glean what I want from each read and throw out the rest.

I’m involved pretty extensively in the skinnysphere… healthysphere…weightlosssphere? God I hate all those names. We need to come up with a new one people! Anyways, I connect and network with a lot of interesting, fabulous, inspiring people through the World Wide Web. It’s like my own little, personalized support network. If you have a blog please link to it when you leave a comment so I can check it out. If you want to keep up with my happenings feel free to subscribe to Choosing Losing!

UPDATE (2/8/10): I began seeing a therapist to deal with my depression/anxiety and to work on altering my behaviors around food through cognitive behavioral therapy.  You can find my reasoning in this blog entry.

Anything Else?

This blog is a very focused blog on my health and my efforts to live the healthiest, happiest life I can. This is not my whole life. I like to think I’m well rounded and that all should people should am to be. Other roles beside a weight loss/healthy living loser (in no particular order): wife, graduate student Overly educated individual (MSW/MPA!), volunteer, friend, social worker, reader, productivity maven, adoring pet owner, spiritual person, make-up lover, outdoor enthusiast, life-long learner, daughter, gadget/technology appreciator…

Life balanced lives people. There is so much more out there then fancy scales, diet food, and jean sizes! Enjoy all life has to offer!

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“Yea yea, that is all fine and dandy Kelly, but I have this great plan/idea/contraption for you that would solve all your problems!!!!”

Feel free to share! I’m open to new information. You can reach my by leaving a comment on blog posts or e-mailing me at choosinglosing (a) gmail dot com. I appreciate anyone who takes time out of their day and try and assist others.

Thank you for reading! Hope you laugh, enjoy being along for the ride, and maybe learn a little along the way!