Okay, so it snuck up on me like it does for untold numbers of people across the globe, I gained weight. Not that weight gain is necessarily a bad thing, however it is clear from looking at my changed body, that the extra delicious meals with a variety of desserts and late night ice cream and movies with my new boyfriend this past winter did not turn to muscle.
So, although on the outside, you may look at me and say “why do you need to lose weight?”, I assure you, I am beyond my best weight for my body and my health. But, more importantly, although we have been eating pretty healthy, we most certainly have been eating too much and our vegetable and fruit intake, although present, were not the largest portion on our plate. So, improving our diet and overall healthy daily habits has become our priority.
This being so, Monday, May 6 2003, David and I committed to a 12 week program called TLS Weight Loss Solution to change to a low glycemic, primarily vegetarian based diet, increased exercise, journaling and being accountable to ourselves and each other to achieve our goals. And…. Here I am on Day 4.
For me, what this has meant thus far is 1) filling the refrigerator with fresh vegetables and fruits 2) perusing some cookbooks to have some new ideas about how to prepare tasty vegetarian dishes 3) eliminating carbs, wheat, dairy, corn and sugar. WOW, this may not be for everyone, but I gotta tell you, even with the adjustment, (which I’ve done before) it FEELS amazing. 4) temporarily adapting to life without chocolate.
I admit, it is an adjustment and I sometimes feel hungry without knowing really what to eat, however I’m getting better prepared for those moments with a back up snack of celery with almond butter, or carrots and hummus so, I’m making my way through. And, the reward of how light, energizing and cleansing it feels, is helping me to continue on. (Not to mention, the motivation I gain from looking at my “Before” photos, which…. I’ll share when I have the “After” photos.)
I’ve learned what my “fluctuating” weight between morning and evening is, and in 4 days I have dropped 2.5 pounds from my starting morning weight. I realize that as I add weight bearing activities and build muscle that my weight may actually increase, so I’m less concerned about the actual number and more focused on changing my body composition to muscle and body chemistry to “life force energy”.
It is something I’ve known would be good for me—-to take my health up a notch, especially since that is part of my primary passions in life, so it feels very right to be further walking my talk and already feeling the energizing impact of this choice.
I’ll be posting periodic updates, learnings, insights, challenges over the next 12 weeks and hopefully inspiration for others to act upon that voice that is calling them forward to find a way to take their, perhaps your health and vitality up a notch.
As visual inspiration for how visually beautiful these choices have been, check out my blog post next week for 20 pounds 12 weeks in pictures. And….stay tuned for the next update.
