Little changes add up to BIG results!

[fitoverforty]

Just wanted to share this, I'm sure it doesn't apply to everyone, but for me it is a HUGE breakthrough!

I have started noticing that it has become SO MUCH easier to turn down or opt out of unhealthy food.
Several times this week I had ample opportunity to eat badly and chose not to.
For example: Chose grilled chicken over fried chicken. Ate baked fish instead of breaded/fried fish. And most importantly (and the one I am most proud of) I walked right past the box of donuts in the employee breakroom this a.m.!!!!!! didn't even want them. In the past I would have thought of some excuse or reason why it would be okay to eat one or two or them, but instead I immediately thought of how much that would set me back, with all the hard workouts and good eating I have been doing. Slowly but surely it has become more important to stay the course and see results than to fall back into the same old traps I had in the past.
Now, I am not perfect and don't profess to saying I will never made a bad food choice again.... but I feel a change a coming....and it feels good!!!!

The payoff so far has been a 4lb. weight loss and 1" less in chest, 1/2" in waist, 1" in hips And I'm just gettn' started...I can't wait to see me in 6 months !!
This site and everyone here ROCKS!!! I would never make it without all you guys and the support and geniune caring I have found here.
Thanks!!!

[Nokie173]

Awww.. GOOD JOB & Keep it up!
I'm proud of you and your determination!!

That's how I am with soda. I trained myself Not to like it years ago!
Now I don't even look at them!

Little changes can make a BIG difference!

[cassiegose]

Great job girl! You're doing awesome!! 4 pounds already!! Thats so great!

Nokie... i like youre new picture.. it threw me off at first though because i'm so used to your old one. Way to keep us on our toes. :)

[Boss Man]

This is a very positive thing, for you to be proud of. It's a big hurdle to overcome, but you've done it, and that's a really great thing .

[ironwill]

Thats awesome....WAY TO GO!!!!! Its so awesome to make a decision to change, do your research, make the change, and see results. Its like hey this does work, and I (or YOU in this case) have control over what happens, you CAN do it, and your proving that to everyone, and also to urself. I'm not taking any credit here because I haven't been around, or involved in what you've done, but I love to see people take control. Thats why I use the name ironwill, its about deciding and not quitting, not giving up, its etched in iron, and nothing can change it. Ok I'll be quiet now, but gr8 job, you should be very proud...keep up the hard work.

[Boopster]

Awesome news girl! Hey none of us are perfect on here...I'll be the first to admit I love chicken wings and a cold beer...just don't do it all the time Keep up the great progress

[fitoverforty]

Thanks guys so much for the support and encouraging words!! It is helping so much
For the last 4 days I have had less than 1 diet coke a day !! Some of you know from earlier posts that this is a problem area for me having once had an 8 diet coke a day habit. That has been the hardest thing I think to tackle. It is more a test of willpower and the power to choose what I want instead of giving in to emotional cravings and such.
I hope to be able to say very soon that I am diet coke free!!! Anything that is stopping me from attaining weight loss and fitness goal has got to go!! It is just another step in the journey and I am loving the walk!

[sm1969]

I'm working on getting back into that. There was a time just a few years ago that I could sip coffee and smell the cookies, cakes, and donuts that people would bring in to work. It was actually satisfying! (yes, I limited and tracked creamer )

I would get more satisfaction out of smelling the stuff and sipping coffee than I did eating it because I knew I was doing something healthy!

[fitoverforty]

Well, here it is 3 months since I started this thread and I still get excited when I am able to make a choice or a change that in the past would have done me in.
Recent changes:
Bought "old-fashioned" oatmeal in the can, instead of buying the pre-packaged instant kind. When I read all the added garbage ingredients in the instant kind, I just couldn't do it anymore - don't want it for me or for family.
Started snacking on 2% mozz cheese sticks, nuts, carrots, green veggies, apples w/pb
Instead of continuing to buy the "instant" potato packages (the ingredient list was miles long! ) I mentally kicked myself in the butt and said "you will buy real potatos, bake or boil them - just like your momma, and grandmomma did for years!!
I have been just as guilty in the past as anyone else for buying the "quick", "convenient" "instant", etc. junk, because it was either cheaper or faster or easier. But going back to basics - the way it was when we were kids (for some of us older ones) I believe is a big step in controlling what goes in our mouths, instead of relying on pre-packaged, instant stuff that has ingredients in it I can't even pronounce and some things that sound like you could power a jetliner with it!!
anyway...just thought I'd share.

[ldematto]

Hi Lynne! First time I've seen this thread or I would've responded sooner! You have such a great way expressing what all of us going through, this transformation to healthy living go through - yes, it feels GREAT to pass up on unhealthy things we use to love! Mine is the bagles heaped with cream chees at Dunkin Donuts - haven't had one since December '08!

Love your enthusiasm and willingness to share!!

[fitoverforty]

Okay, biggest change this week:
I have replaced breakfast bar (almond crunch granola) with a bowl of oatmeal. I eat breakfast at work, and you should have seen some of the looks i got when I made bowl of oatmeal. I added a teaspoon of Imitation Sugar Free honey, 1 teaspoon of Smart Balance Natural PB, half of a banana sliced, a pinch of salt, stirred it all together and I loved it! It was hard not to buy the almond bars this week, cause I love them so!! But I realized they have been holdin me back from what I want to achieve so they must go!!
Also, for lunch I had a grilled chicken breast on dark salad greens with some fruit slices, grated cheese, carrots and drizzled low fat ranch dressing on it (I know the dressing needs improvement).
Afternoon snack at work: 2 tsps of PB and a few almonds (keep in mind - on the table behind desk there is a bag of snack size candy bars, so I'm especially happy that I have not given in and made a healthy choice instead)
Post workout snacks this week: 2% mozz. cheese stick, tsp PB (still room to improve here) I tried some Protein Powder in water - ugh!! couldn't get past the texture.
So, all in all, the little changes are hugely important and worth noting.
Anyone else have any small change suggestions or things they have done that have made a big difference?

[cassiegose]

Well at this point I'm sure everybody knows what a HUGE FAN I am of oatmeal. If i wasn't so tired i would be dancing around on desk right now at the thought of you eating oatmeal for breakfast! I thank God for oatmeal every night when i say prayers! LOL! Ok... a couple of things though.... the imitation sugar free honey.. hmmmmm... "imitation" and "sugar free" makes me wonder whats in it? Have you tried cinnamon? I love cinnamon in oatmeal. Pumpkin pie spice if freaking delicous too. Just and idea in case you think about taking out that imitation sugar free honey and are looking for some suggestions. Also, Smart balance natural peanut butter... what are the ingredients in that? Alot of pb have added sugar, salt, and preservatives. Not sure if yours does but maybe check the label and make sure it doesn't. I've found that 100% peanut butter is the best... nothing added. Yum!

With that said... i realize that this often takes baby steps and i'm so glad that you've taken out the almond bars! Yay you!!!

Ohhhh one last thing... have you thought about throwing a few eggwhites in that oatmeal? SOOO GOOD! The day after figure competition (the 1 day that I got to eat whatever I wanted) I woke up and had a HUGE BOWL of oatmeal with eggwhites, natural peanut butter, with a bit of cinnamon in it. I love the stuff so much that i even had it on cheat day!

Sorry to ramble here... but if you mention oatmeal in a thread I just can't help but pipe in and talk about the many ways that I love to eat oatmeal.

Great job! You are doing so incredibly awesome!

Cassie

[fitoverforty]

Yes Cassie, you have inspired me to give the homemade oatmeal a try. I am still experimenting with what to add to it and I think I will try the cinnamon instead of the fake honey. And I think I will add some of vanilla flavored protein powder too. What brand of PB do you buy that is 100%? I couldn't find any at Walmart when I was shopping last Saturday.
I"m still grieving over almond bars they were like a little ray of sunshine, sitting at desk in the morning, munching on bar. BUT on a positive note, I printed out your recipe for homemade oatmeal bars and am looking forward to making some of those!
And Les...I like your new avatar cute! Where do I get ground flax? I've seen something called flax meal on the shelf next to the oatmeal and grits, is that the same thing?

[Packard]

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/produc ... odflax.htm

I buy the big tubs of oatmeal and zap water/milk for about 4 minutes first thing when I wake up. As soon as it's done, I drop the oats, pp and flax in it, stir, and let sit for awhile so the oats can cook. I do it this way rather than heating the oats too, cos they get big and make a mess in microwave and I'm not much for cleaning microwave every morning.

You can cook oatmeal in a thermos. Put in the oats and water and let it sit for 25 minutes. (You can cook rice this way too.)

Instant oatmeal is to slow cooked oatmeal as instant coffee is to brewed coffee. Try cooking up some steel cut oats (McCann's is good stuff) and you will never go back to instant again.

Also note that quick oats are heavily processed (steamed and rolled); instant oatmeal is even more heavily processed. You can even see the difference when comparing the flakes.

The heavily processed oats cook quicker and they also digest very quickly. These are no longer slow to digest carbs, but rather more like white bread.

[Nokie173]

I"m still grieving over almond bars they were like a little ray of sunshine, sitting at desk in the morning, munching on bar.

Maybe have it for a cheat snack? So you don't miss it too much and instead of having it everyday??
That's just a though...