Yea for me!

Well, to start my little journal...I have been drinking water, limited my sweets, increased my veggies and some fruits, getting plenty of sleep, and 0 exercise! I just HATE exercising! Especially when I have no husband at home and kids...

BUT with that said, I have been eating 5 meals a day and I have lost 3 pounds!!!! YEA! Now, if I could just start getting my butt moving, it might slip off a little faster! I sent you all a picture of my lunch last week! Yesterday for lunch, I had yogurt with grape nuts, string cheese and a handful of carrots!

Cara

(this was originally sent to our email on April 28th)

Medical Advice Week 2

A lot of people think that if you work out a lot you will lose weight without working on your diet. Unfortunately, exercise does not give you a lot of bang for your buck on losing weight. If you are going to focus on either diet or exercise you will be more successful if you forget about exercise and work on your diet.

Do you know how many calories equal one pound? 3500! So, to lose one pound of fat you have to burn 3500 calories. Conversely to gain one pound you have to take in the same amount.

Unfortunately, the human body does not burn many calories through exercise. If the average person runs one mile, they will burn only 100 calories. So, to lose one pound of weight through exercise alone you have to exercise the equivalent of running 35 miles! Hope you got some comfortable running shoes.

On the other hand however, if you decrease your calories by 500 every day it is the equivalent of running 5 miles a day. This can add up fairly quickly.

Exercise and running is important and it adds up over time, but if you rely on it alone you will not get very far (No pun intended).

Dr. Watson

Learning Curve

First I have to say how grateful I am for this challenge. Not only has it helped me keep focus on what my weight loss goals are but it has changed the way we do things in our family too. So two weeks down and what have I learned? TONS!

1. I don't eat because everyone else is. I eat only when I am hungry instead of when I'm bored.

2. Sweets are a thing of the past. Don't get me wrong, I love a good desert now and again but if I'm needing something to satisfy my sweet tooth then there is nothing wrong with sugar free pudding packs or the many varieties of sugar free, low cal, carb smart treats in the frozen food isle. Not to mention the tons of 100 calorie packs.

3. Fast food has become a thing of the past. I craved it a lot, it's fun to do and honestly it is more convenient to just grab something for myself or the kids if we are out running errands. Instead we schedule time for lunch at home. Plan a healthy meal and take time to enjoy it. Instead of a happy meal they eat pb and j's, cottage cheese or string cheese, carrots or apple slices with water. I enjoy a low carb turkey or ham wrap (heated on the skillet or cold) with the same sides. Delicious!

4. The kids eat what I eat. If I don't buy it for them or have it around they don't know the difference. They'll chose something healthy to snack on instead of chips or fruit roll ups. Our dentist would be proud too! Sugar free pudding packs with whip cream instead of banana splits works just fine!

5. If I want to go for a 30 min. walk guess who has to come with me. If I go in the back yard to do some exercises guess who follows me. When I get a work out guess who else is getting a work out!

6. The money we've saved on grabbing fast food is great. The discipline it has taken to not eat when I'm bored and to cut out sweets has been amazing. The time spent together eating lunches and being creative with lunch ideas has been fun.

So all in all, I'm amazed on the changes it's made not only to me physically but to the changes it has brought to my family. What started as a fun way to lose baby fat has already become a lifestyle change for my family.

Thanks Summer Slim Down 2009, we couldn't have done it without you!

~ Rebecca ~