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:
Water Aerobics
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!

It’s nice meeting you. I too blog, and look forward to supporting you in your journey too.
Hi! I just found your blog. I have a lot of emotional eating issues also. Do you have any suggestions that have helped you?
I just found your blog, and whether you know it or not, I have decided you are my new buddy.
I am going through a lot of the same stuff (therapy for issues, blahblahblah) and some of the same “stats”.
Hi Erica! I’m always looking for new buddies! Thanks for reading. I’ll have to check out your blog too.