Just what have you been doing?!? PART 1

In 2013, my husband and I lost over 100 lbs.  I am no wieght-loss guru, but I have had several people ask me just what we are doing to get SO thin. I attribute most of our success to healthier eating habits, but we are also working out regularly and trying to maintain a more active lifestyle. The first part of this entry will focus on eating habits.  I think eating habits are the hardest, and most important aspect of loosing weight and getting healthier!  We started slowly, at first, then as we adjusted to each change and lost more weight, we made more changes.  This is entry is about what we are currently doing, but remember if you are just starting out don't feel like you have to do everything perfectly.  Don't worry about being perfect or the perfect time to start.  Just start and do what you can. know that you will probably be hungry sometimes, and that over time IT GETS EASIER. Think more of changing your eating habits because temporary diets are fine to lose 5-10 lbs quickly, but don't work for losing a lot of weight and maintaing your goal weight. To start out with, I counted calories religiously, but it is really a guide to help learn approximately how much you should be eating a day. You also see how you get to eat SO much more food and feel more full when you eat lower calorie food. As you learn more ideas for meals and snacks to eat and your body adjust to eating better, you don't have to be a slave to the calorie count.

Breakfast- Many mornings we start our day with Shakeology from Beachbody. I was a little tentative about trying this, and John was SUPER skeptical. However, now we are totally sold.  The shakes are yummy.  Like REALLY yummy! There is a huge variety.  We like the vanilla and chocolate powders, and we get alternating bags monthly. With those two flavors we make all kinds of shakes.  Mixing in peanut butter, almond butter, nutella, cinnamon, berries, bananas, maple syrup and more.  Beyond the two flavors we order, there are more shake flavors available.  Even if you have it everyday, you won't get bored.  Maybe the most surprising thing to me is that they are filling. I thought I would have the shake for breakfast and then be absolutely starving by lunch, but not the case.  Love them! Oh, last thing, they are super healthy and they give me more energy. BONUS!  If you want info on them, or have questions feel free to contact my lovely coach, Jessica Spradley. On days I don't have a shake, I have cereal with almond milk, a piece of fruit and yogurt. Ultimately Breakfast comes out to 300-400 calories.

Lunch:  As a rule, I try to keep lunch between 300-600 Calories. For example, Peanut butter and nutella sandwich, Grapes and yogurt (Aprox. 450 calories). At Wendys: Small Chili and Side Salad with half package of italian dressing (Aprox 335 Calories).  Soup, Sweet Hawaiian roll with margarine and baby carrots (Aprox 280 Calories).

Dinner: I try to keep it around 600-900 Calories, and include a vegetable.  I have a couple of cookbooks I use often.  From time to time I pull stuff off the internet when I am looking for a healthy recipe for something specfic. The books I use the most are Prevention's Ultimate Quick & Healthy Cookbook and 300 Calorie recipes. I also just got Keep Calm and Veg(etarian) to try to include more vegetarian dishes into our routine (one a week perhaps).

Snacks: I try not to snack after dinner.  I try to have a snack between Lunch and dinner that is 100-200 calories.  Like a piece of fruit, popcorn, celery with peanut butter or vanilla wafers

Every week, I plan out specific dinners for the week. I make sure I have some basic things on hand for lunch and snacks I don't plan too far in advance there. Also, I have some extra kid's favorites on hand for the boys if I don't think they will be into whatever we have.  I will try to post my weekly meal plans on here with recipes so you can follow along if you want or just give it a try whenever you are interested.

Here are a few things we have replaced for other things:
Almond Milk for Milk
Diet Soda instead of Regular Soda
Popcorn or pretzels instead of Chips
Grapes, mellon, granola bar instead of Candy
turkey Pepperoni instead of Pepperoni
Ground Turkey instead of Ground beef
Nilla wafers instead of Oreos
Yogurt instead of ice cream

Things we just don't eat (Except on the very rare occasion):
Pizza
Wings
French fries
Most things that are deep fried

For now it is getting too late.  I will post the weeks meal plan tomorrow, but for now I need my beauty rest. ;)