Ok, so I’ve been majorly slacking in the blogging/tracking/self control department. I know I should have been keeping track, but I haven’t been because this week was just so crazy. And I know a crazy life isn’t an excuse, but this week it was for me. I really needed to focus on my school work and that was definitely my top priority. So, long story short and I weighed in this week and there was no good news and no bad news. I stayed exactly the same. Which in a sense is positive because it means that if I don’t track my food or write about it specifically, I have some insight and skills into how to do maintenance. But, that’s obviously not where I am or want to be right now. I want to be losing. Which means that I really do need to stay on track of my food and exercise every day. I really think that when I don’t track, im just so much more careless and flippant about my food, which is something I cant really afford to be right now. So, this is going to be a big test, because I’m now on Spring break. I’m sitting at the airport right now and going home. You’d think in going home that it would be easy to stay on track but I think this whole “changing environments” thing from going from home to school could be a semi problem. There are various problems when going home, food wise. A) I wont have all my snacks etc that I normally have at school. But, I did bring some easy to bring stuff home: almonds, Kashi go lean, and some bars, and some yogurt. And, obviously, I can always go to the market to get some stuff. B) we eat out or take in a LOT at my house. No one cooks. And I like where we go etc, because it’s great food, and my parents pay, and I like eating out, etc. The main challenge will be to go these great places and pick the foods that I should be eating and not the ones I want to be eating. i.e. salad or chicken breast instead of pasta or pizza. I know that I CAN do it, the question is whether I WILL do it. But I think if I think about it consciously, and pay attention to hold myself accountable this week, I can do it. The other thing is about exercise. I have a treadmill and set of weights at home, which aren’t as exciting as an elliptical or the machines at the gym, but they will definitely do. So, my goal is to do 45 min of treadmill and 30 min of weights everyday with MAYBE one or two rest/break day if it’s necessary or if it’s too busy. (I’m having people over for spring break and it’ll be a challenge to find free time to workout, but I think I can. Also, I think it would be better if on a really busy day, I did my 45 min treadmill and not the 30 min weights, if I only have time for one thing, I definitely should get my cardio in.
Ok so I know food (& perhaps drinking) is going to be a challenge this spring break, especially because I’ll be eating out A LOT. But I know I can do it, I just need to focus. So here are some specific spring break food rules that I am going to specifically try to adhere to these for the next week +:
-Never order an entire pasta or pizza dish. If I am at an Italian restaurant or something, get a cesar salad, or chicken breast with veggies or even a side of pasta, but just never order an entire plate of carbs. That’s a death trap
-Never get a side of French fries, onion rings, etc. Always get a side of veggies, or if anything, baked potato or brown rice, roasted potatoes etc
-If I am at Asian restaurant get nothing that has a sweet/thick sauce, keep portions to a reasonable amount and always opt for brown rice instead of white.
-If I am at Mexican restaurant, stay AWAY from eating massive amounts of tortilla chips, quesadillas, cheese enchilas etc, go for the tamale, or the grilled chicken fajitas etc.
-Wherever I am or whatever I’m eating, opt for the complex carbs, ie brown rice, whole wheat bread, etc.
-STAY AWAY from diet coke, juices etc. Water and Iced Tea will be my best friends. If I’m out in a drinking situation, stay away from beer or big fruity drinks and go towards vodka and diet coke or gin and tonic etc.

I think the other biggest rule I will need to follow is just to follow common sense and be smart in my food choices. Every food that I put in my mouth DOES directly affect my body and how I feel. For example, yesterday I ate some bad junk food and candy, and my body felt gross. Eww.

Also, I will track every food or drink I consume from now onwards. No break days etc. This site has been helping to keep me accountable, and don’t want to lose track of my progress and all my hard work.

I’m reading this book called “Secrets of a Former Fat Girl” and I’ve really liked the books so far. The lady’s story and tips are really relevant to me and really helpful. Anyways, one of her tips is to keep your weight loss journey/goals a secret. I have found this to be REALLY helpful/useful. In the past when I’ve (the author too) have told people that they want to lose weight, it become a public affair, which it shouldn’t be. People try to offer advice, tell you to exercise, say stuff about what you’re eating etc, and it ultimately just isn’t useful, for me at least. So since I started exercising a ton and watching what I eat etc, I haven’t told anyone. And I like it that way. I like having my own little secret plan and goals and I liked that the only one involved is me. So, when I go home, I’m keeping myself secretive. I like it better that way, and I don’t need anyone else to be involved except for me.

So after that huge thing, onto today’s tracking:
Breakfast: 1 activia (70), 1 Special K bar (90), 1 mini lemon poppyseed scone (80): Total 240

Snack:1 airplane pack of dry roasted peanuts (~65)

Lunch: some chips and salsa (~250), 1 small spincah, cheese chili tamale (~230?) and some lettuce with balsamic vinagrette dressing (~100): total 580

Snack: 10 plain M&Ms (34)

Dinner: leftover tamale (~230), small amount of lettuce, parmesean and some cesar dressing (~120?), some chips and salsa (~175?), and a few tiny pieces of roasted chicken (50), 2 m&ms (7)-dinner total: 582

Snacks: 1 activia (70) and 1/2 cup of blue berries (40): total 110

Total Calories eaten today: 1611

Workout:52 minutes on the treadmill, 35 min weights and abs!

Ahh I’m HOME! I really hope I can do this!!! I know I can! I Just have to stick to it. And, I don’t just want to maintain while I’m at home this week! I want to lose! And I will! (I really hope…haha)..