A few days into Weight Loss Buddy system...

I now have an online weight loss buddy, which is an additional incentive to keep me on track.

For the past 3 days, I've actually managed to bring a real lunch and snack with me to work. It helps - but I still feel like an addict craving a hit. Even though I feel awful after the fact, going out and grabbing something filled with fat and sugar just feels good at the time. I'm hoping, like any other addiction, that the craving will disappear after a while.

I did manage to get some stuff done at work that I had been putting off for a while, and that had been causing me some stress. That feels good, at least. However, I'm beginning to wonder if my assistant will ever show up to work on time for at least 3 consecutive days. I'm flexible, but this is getting a bit much already. The whole purpose in having someone is to make sure that the routine things get done and that I stay on top of everything!

I got to the gym on Wed. for a good workout, and I plan to go again today (while I have a chicken in the oven). The stairclimber at the gym feels SO much better than my elliptical at home, so I actually enjoy it.

Sleep is getting a bit better, but is still an issue. I have to just say that I cannot stay up past midnight for any reason, period.

Quick meals strategies

I'm trying to come up with easy ways to do an end-run around my cravings.

Here are some things that seem to work:

Breakfast: fruit smoothies (frozen blueberries, strawberries, sometimes a banana into a blender, cover fruit with juice and water, blend). Gets some nutrients and anti-oxidants in early in the morning, and it's really fast. It also takes no effort or energy to digest, so I stay awake.

Lunch: the hummus wraps with sprouts are actually easy to prepare, and quite good. Satisfying, but not TOO filling.

Snacks: the trail mix in small snack containers seems to do the trick of killing my cravings while I'm in the car. It's crunchy, and the few chocolate chunks give me a hit that lets me bypass the chocolate bars.

Now...I've made the wraps for tomorrow, but just need the discipline to do this every day.

In other news....I planned to do tons of billing tonight, but stupidly brought home the wrong box of files.

Goals

I was back to my bad habits today. Not to self: Red Bull and Pringles is NOT the breakfast of champions. Way too much sugar and sodium, and it gives me the sweats. Not good.

I did walk around 4 miles last night with my husband, so that's good.

The gym is great, but after a strong start I'm starting to drop off on my schedule. I really need to go 3x/week for my ball-based exercise routine (which I love), plus do some cardio 5x/week.

I'm also finding that if I get behind on the menu planning on Sunday, the rest of the week really slides. I need to have my hummus and black bean spreads ready to go, my low-fat tzatziki all prepped, and my trail mix ready to go. I pack the kids' lunches every day, but need to put myself on the list as well.

Finally, I need to spend more time working, because when I know that things still need to be done and bills are coming up, it causes pressure, which in turn makes me not sleep well and eat the wrong things.

Plan for today:

Do some files tonight, including billing. Do some major billing tomorrow and Friday as well.

Starting new workout routine

I joined a gym.

Worked out on Monday, Friday and Sunday, plus did cardio at home on Sat. night. The ball routine is quite intense, and I'm feeling it!

My big weakness in diet is still eating junk while away from home. My diet at home is actually quite good, as long as I'm eating a regular meal and not mindlessly snacking. Having quick lunches and snacks to go will need to be a priority. I can feel my body feeling crappy after eating the junk, but I need to keep the cravings away.

The other issue is getting through my work without procrastinating. That will alleviate stress, give me more money, and in turn I'll be less likely to eat out of stress, and will sleep better.

So, new goals are:

Make lunch and snacks.
Do my work!!

I'm planning on a billing blitz before July 1, to avoid the new tax.

Let's try this again.

I tried doing 30 min cardio in the morning instead of the evening yesterday, and did feel energized for the day.

I also tried taking some Smartburn tablets, and just taking veggies and a hummus whole grain wrap from home. It worked - I didn't feel hungry, and felt a surprising amount of energy. I'm not a pill-popper, but whatever helps. I checked the reviews of it online and talked to the pharmacist, and there don't seem to be any reports of major side effects. It did produce a bloated feeling - but that's part of what killed my appetite. The key seems to be that I really need to take it 30 min before meals, and do it for all meals. I skipped one today, and got hungry again.

My assistant is off sick, so that's definitely slowing down things at work. I was just getting used to having someone deal with all of the administrative stuff, and now I'm back to doing it this week.

In terms of diet, I'm getting into the routine of making fruit smoothies every morning. I tried it with milk instead of juice one day - yuck. I'll stick to the fruit in fruit juice mixture.

Finally, I've put in a request - again - to close my Babycenter account. It was just sucking up too much time.

Need a new start AGAIN

This is getting downright depressing. I sound like an addict.

So far today:

Exercise: about 15 min. this morning
Food: Had a smoothie and vitamin for breakfast, but didn't pack a lunch so things went downhill.
Sleep: I was doing better for a while, but the past 2 nights I've reverted to my bad habits and started staying up late for no good reason (internet or TV).
Work: I did hire a part-time assistant, which has been helpful for organization and dealing with the backlog of admin tasks and phone calls, and more of my files are getting up to date. However, there is still a major file to tackle, and I need to get on top of the billing/accounting again (after doing a blitz last month). I also feel like an idiot because I went to the wrong address for a meeting this morning.

Need to get back on track.....

Everyone got sick, and any discipline I had went down the toilet. It's hard to do work, cook or exercise when your sinuses are exploding.

That said, it's depressing how far off track I've gotten.

So...my new plan to kick some tuchus:

1. Once more, kick myself off the worst time-sucking websites by closing my accounts or forcibly blocking access.

2. Start each day with a major sort/file and message check at work, and doing a daily task list.

3. Actually do some real exercise daily.

4. Don't leave home without a packed lunch.

There are a few things that I do manage reasonably well - usually, this is because they have become part of a structured habit. The secret seems to be that I need to get myself into some new routines until they become automatic habits.