For years, I have gone through many phases where I try to "get healthy" and lose a few pounds. And I always do really well for the first week, sometimes two weeks, and then I'm no longer losing water weight so the weight loss stops. Why? Because I kept doing things the same way every. single. time.
My process; make healthier choices most weekdays. Cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, starve until dinner and then pig out on a healthier meal. I may even lose a little weight during the week, but then the weekend hits and all hell breaks loose. This is when I decide, "I've done well all week. I deserve a treat on the weekend." And that one treat turns into every single meal and then I've undone all of the work I had done during the week. And did I mention, there was very little working out going on?
I have finally broken the cycle. Instead of trying to diet, I have decided to make a lifestyle change. I'm not 16 any more and I'm not playing sports any more, so I can no longer eat what I want and not worry about gaining weight. I actually had to change my mindset. That's just what I did, and after 7 weeks, I can honestly say that it's the best change I've ever made. Even my husband was skeptical when I started this, but now that he sees the progress, he says he's impressed.
What am I eating? Good question. I eat whole, natural foods. I eat foods that our body was designed to digest. I eat lean proteins, whole grains, veggies, fruits and healthy fats. And I don't starve myself. If I get hungry, I eat. I just make sure it's a healthy choice. One of my go to snacks is veggies and hummus. Hummus is a great healthy fat that pairs very well with fresh veggies. This doesn't mean I will never again eat a cheeseburger, or pizza or Mexican food or any of the other foods that I love so much. I will. But when I do, it will be a treat, something I allow myself to have once in a while instead of every day. I'm even learning to have those things and make them healthier. I still enjoy a good burger, I just eat it without the bun. I top it with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles and sometimes avocado if I'm feeling it and I eat it with a fork. I sometimes add a little mustard to it. I will have a side of veggies with it instead of fries. And it's still just as filling without all of the guilt and bloat. I also have learned to make a pizza or flatbread with a healthier crust, although I'm still working on getting that crust crispy like I like it. When we go out for Mexican food, I will either have a salad with fajita chicken, lots of veggies and use salsa as my dressing, or I get chicken fajitas and eat it without the tortilla and sour cream. It still tastes good. The hardest part of Mexican is the chips and salsa. So if I'm going to have it, I let that be the treat part of the meal, and I limit myself to how many chips I eat. I drink lots and lots of water too. I haven't had a soda in 7 WEEKS!!!
Do I exercise? Yes!!!! Exercise is a key factor in speeding up your metabolism and burning stored fat. And it helps tone up those parts of your body that has gotten a little flabby over the years. I have a workout program that I can do at home via DVD, but when the weather's nice like it has been lately, I like to get outside and just go for an old fashion run/walk. Yeah, I'm not a runner, but I try. I push myself a little harder each time and that's all I can ask for. And I exercise a minimum of 4-5 times a week. Ideally I would be doing it 6 days a week and then taking a rest day, but life happens. I aim for 6 and if I get in 4-5 then I'm happy.
I know you are probably thinking, "Isn't this blog supposed to be about your journey on the Special Needs trail?" Well you are right and it is. Here is how my health applies to our journey.
My son is going to be dependent on someone for the rest of his life. He will never live on his own or probably never get a job. He will always need someone to help him take care of just his basic needs. And I want that someone to be me (and my husband). I am his mother and when I decided to bring a child into this world, I made a commitment that I would take care of him for as long as he needs me to. I didn't know it would be his whole life, but that's the way it is and that's the way it will be. But in order for me to continue to take care of him and help him meet his needs, I have to be here. And at the rate I was going, my health was slowly deteriorating every single day. I wasn't going to be here as long as I would like. But now, I feel healthier and stronger and like I can take care of him forever. Now I know there will come a time where my body just won't be able to physically do the things he needs me to do, especially as he gets bigger. But for right now, it can and I want to make that last as long as possible.
So here I am, stepping out of my comfort zone, because you don't truly find greatness until you step out of your little circle. I changed my lifestyle 7 weeks ago. In that time, I have lost almost 14 lbs and 16.5 total inches. Those inches are from my chest, waist, hips, biceps and thighs. Now here is the part where I really do something uncomfortable...a picture from before and one I took today. So you can see for yourself how much my body is changing.
