Show Us Your Life: Diet/Wt. Loss Tips

Friday means "Show Us How You Live" over at Kelly's Korner.

Let me start out by saying I am a Registered Dietitian. I spent 4 years in school for this and one year long internship, followed by a comprehensive exam to gain this status. Anybody can call themselves a "nutritionist" because the read a book or lost 20#, but R.D.s WORKED for this and have not only the knowledge but the science to back us up. So be careful who you listen to and if it sounds too good to be true: IT IS!

It is hard for me to read and see what others "advice" is because everyone is looking for the "quick fix" drop 20# in two days diet. Guess what it DOES NOT exist. Losing weight and being healthy is a LIFESTYLE choice. Those who truly lose the weight and keep it off took years that's right YEARS to get it off and they continue to make lifestyle choices to keep their weight off.

With that said weight loss is simple calories in vs. calories out equation. You cut out 3500 calories you lose 1#.

Here are a few things that I believe sabotage people's "diet" attempts.

• Drinking your calories (i.e. sodas, coffees LOADED up with creams, sugars and syrups, milkshakes etc.)
• Using ginormous dinner plates. The smaller your plate the LESS you will put on it and you will find you got just as full as if you used the larger one.
• Eating out...enough said.
• Skipping meals (i.e. namely breakfast...this sets you up for failure)
• Banning yourself from the "bad" foods. You CAN have an Oreo, but notice I said A Oreo not entire sleeve. If you don't allow yourself some of the things you enjoy you will just quit or give up because of all the unrealistic rules you place on yourself.
  
• Not exercising

I could go on but you may be surprised how those few little changes can make a HUGE difference. I will end with some ideas to hopefully get you going!

• Try making a food journal...you will surprise yourself on how much you put in your mouth a day.
• Look for ways to exercise. Exercise is cumulative. Park your car further away from the store. Walk around your building at lunch. Take the stairs.
• Look for ways to swap out calories. Try some of the Lo-cal stuff (ie Skim milk, Crystal Lite, Splenda, Sugar-Free Jellos and puddings) you might like it. Even if it is just swapping out to a couple of those items it again adds up.
  

And remember it isn't going to change over night. Don't kill yourself trying to do everything at once. Build up to it. It all starts with ONE small change.

Show Us Your Life: 65 in 365 Resolution/Update Edition

Back in November I posted my 65 in 365 goal list. Which basically is my New Year's Resolution List. So today I am linking up with Kelly from Kelly's Korner for her Show Us You Life series.

However, I have been working on this list...so here is a little update, plus, I added a few more things since I never reached the magic 65 (yet). Perhaps reading what other come up will inspire me.

RECAP:
Starting Nov. 19th, 2009 through Nov. 18th, 2010 I have the highest aspirations to get this list completed. I need my blog to keep me accountable. Currently, my list is only 27 36 tasks...I can't come up with 65 but I will add to it as I think of things, but let's face it, I may be hard pressed to get these 27 36 things done. HA!

1. Finish Leighton's First Year Scrapbook/Photobook by Feb. 15th.--IP
2. Submit RD portfolio (currently awaiting approval)
3. Do at least 30 continuing Eds.
4. Get grocery budget to ~$150/mo.
5. Start exercising again...consistently!--IP
6. Complete at least 4 personal Bible studies (0/4)--IP
7. Memorize at least 24 verses (3/24)
8. Read at least 12 adult books. (ie not kid's books) (2/12)
9. Finish decorating my basement
10. Start going on monthly dates w/ the hubs. (1/12)
11. Get Meg's HS Grad "project" done (MAY)
12. Get my storage closet under control.
13. Try 1 new recipe a month (1/12)
14. Volunteer at church
15. Research/Start own RD counseling career.
16. Get all loose photos organized in albums
17. Donate excess clothes and stuff (2x/ year).
donated 2009 stuff
18. Wipe clean my Mac computer and sell it.
19. Organize/consolidate office area.
20. Create and implement cleaning schedule.
21. Clean fridge 1x every 6mo.
22. Keep my photo site up to date every two weeks. (3/24)
23. Host at least 2 family dinners (1/2)
24. Start a vegetable garden
25. Paint the house trim
26. Clean out window wells.
27. Clean and organize garage.
28. Learn how to draw a line through words on my blog.:)
29. Get into a routine with Leighton. (after not having one for the last 10.5 months!) (0/12months)
30. Work with Leighton consistently on sign language.--IP
31. Read to Leighton at least once everyday.--IP
32. Get in a play group or host one...basically GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! (at least 2x/mo.)
33. Make "school" scrapbook for hubby.
34. Be a better friend. Since Lo we have neglected some of these relationships. Go out w/ friends 1x every 6 wks at least. (0/8)
35. Strive to live up to Proverbs 31.
36. Take more pictures of everything!

Key:
IP= In Progress

Well there you have it...Everything in PINK is NEW as of today. Still haven't reached the magic number, but I am exhausted looking at the list. However, it will feel good to have all of that behind me in a year! It already feels good to have this much accomplished! Maybe it is my Type A personality but I get such a high crossing things off my list and looking back and saying "see I didn't just sit on the couch all day watching soaps and eating bon-bons!" :)

I plan to update my progress every few months. (Perhaps that should go on the list...) I would encourage all my fellow procrastinators to try this out!

Like Father Like Daughter

It is cute when Leighton flashes her Blues Clues smile...it is NOT when Chad ruins most of our family photos with it! But there is NO doubt he is her father. I love you two! You both make me smile.