I was reading an older Denise Austin book Lose that Last 10 Lbs which I'm finding is quite difficult to do. I like some of her ideas of moving more throughout the day and I'm just trying to get a routine down to really rev it up and lose the last weight and keep it off.
Prior to dieting, in the am I'd drink two red bulls, sit in front of a morning show, maybe eat a muffin and peanut butter. Grumble as I hate mornings. I'd waste time on the internet before getting work done (not this site but ebay amazed at the "finds" when they showed up at my door), take my boy to daycare, stop for a burger or go to starbucks for a mocha latte (before there were skinnies). Finally feel energy in the afternoon and push myself at my office. Maybe go out and play with my boy, ride a bike whatever he wanted to do. No real formal exercise. Threw in a frozen meal or something easy not requiring much thought. Watch tv or play with my boy in the evenings. Get him to bed, watch movies. Go to bed late after perhaps a few beers.
MY DAY: Now my routine has me energized... as you can see I'm still spending time playing on the internet in the am. First I drink a ton of water. I cook the thick real oats mixed with wheat germ, flax, bee pollen and berries (Clean Dieting plan). I'm still drinking that Red Bull, but feeling energized but I get on my bouncer for 10-20 min and believe the best energy is from revving it up in the am. I take my shower, and do what Denise calls figitizing - I do calf raises and squats in the shower. After getting dressed rather then hanging out as former me in my sweats at my home office I'm more focused and am getting more work done in the am's.
Mid am I'm doing the idea from the Superfoods Diet book, I chug a low sodium v8 and sometimes have some nuts or other snack as well. By lunch I'm not famished as I was before so I'm not tempted to go to fast food to get a huge burger to 'feel good'. I make a sandwich with Ezekiel bread, turkey, lettuce, tomato and mustard with a small salad or soup, only soups from the books/articles I've read (according to some "experts" one idea is to eat the same lunch or two variations every day, and I'm finding this works for me at lunch as I before didn't put thought into meals). I do 10-120 min of exercise, either a walk or bouncer to rev it up again after lunch. Then I'm more focused in the afternoon to get work done at home, sometimes my boy is with me and we take breaks throughout the day.
Mid afternoon I'm grabbing a healthy snack. And now I'm cooking "real meals" most of the week for dinner, sitting at the table with my boy. Sometimes on the weekends I'm cooking enough for leftovers so I don't have to grab those frozen dinners. I'm keeping cooked chicken, beef and other things handy for times I'm in a hurry or just beat. My fridge is stocked with veggies that I am able to quickly add olive oil and garlic to for a side. If I eat starches or bread for lunch, I don't for dinner or vice versa. In the evenings I do either cardio or weights, rotating every other day. On weekends one day is a play day with my boy, 60 min of fun, bike riding, park, mall where I walk, etc. I might do 10 min of yoga before bed and I'm getting to bed earlier.
DENISE'S DAY: This is far from Denise's Day: She gets up and does her 6:45 am 30 min exercise then stretching. Wakes up kids and showers, and dresses in a 20 min streamlined routine. Makes a healthy sit down breakfast for her family like cereal and fruit with milk. Does her fidgitizing while brushing teeth, buns firmer. At 8 am she prepares lunch (turkey or tuna sandwiches) and snacks (apples, carrot sticks and oatmeal cookies) for the kids and herself. Fills up fie bottles of water for the day, stores one in her car. While driving kids to school does tummy tucks in the car. Arrives to her home office and does 30 tricep toners while talking on the phone. Always walks in place while on the phone, burning more calories then sitting. Every 1/2 hour to hour she gets up and stretches or fidgitizes (wall sits perhaps). 10:30 am stack time, sweet potato is her favorite.
At noon she takes a 10 min walk in fresh air. Eats her sandwich as she walks along the river. Bak to work, makes sure her posture is good at the chair. 2 pm reads newspaper, graps a dumbell and does seated bicep curls while reading health news. 4 pm she does a few kickboxing moves to get the oxygen flowing again. 5 pm, every day after work she goes outside with kids at leat 20 min for fresh air and exercise, like catching a big rubber ball. Next they walk their dog. 6 pm, cooks dinner, grills and makes salad. 7 pm, cleans dishes and does arabesques at kitchen sink. Plays games in evening or watches tv. 8 pm, hangs the official "kitchen is closed" sign up. Puts the kids to bed, watches tv and relaxes with husband. Does pushups and crunches during commercials. 9 pm reviews the day a few minutes, reminds self of positives in life and counts blessings. 10 pm heads to bed to get at leat 8 hours of sleep.
Now that's an amazing day, something to work towards... of course Denise does this for a living!