Friday Fitness and Nutrition Check-In

[14joa31]

So ladies after losing plenty of weight in June and July (14-ish pounds total), I have been on a plateau for all of August. I am already eating really healthy, small meals. What can I do to kick it into high gear? Has anyone else ever had to get down off of a weight plateau? I still need to lose another 16 pounds to get back to pre-baby weight.

I decided that I will definitely give up snacking between meals ... and maybe ... gasp ... only drink socially?? I don't know what to do!! The only exercise I currently get is the 12 miles a week that I'm walking as part of my regular commute, and chasing my toddler around.

How is y'allz fitness and nutrition journey going?

[dizzycooks]

First of all 12 miles of walking in got commute is nothing to sneeze at so props there!
What kind of snacks are you having? Maybe tweek them instead of eliminating them? I'd do the same with drinking. Not eliminate, just change to a lower calorie option.
I've been trying to lift weights twice a week. I'm not doing well getting to yoga, but when I do it feels good. I'm actually at my target weight, but my waist leaves a lot to be desired. I'm assuming having three kids in four years does some long term damage and I'm trying to focus on good choices. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure someone put chcoclate and sea salt all over these almonds I'm eating....

[14joa31]

dizzycooks - I love weight lifting, especially Body Pump class. I feel serious mommy guilt for ever leaving my kids and going to the gym, but ... I just need to do it. DS has been so clingy lately and there's no way he'd stay in the gym stay and play.

My go-to snacks are those baked chick peas that have flavors like Mesquite BBQ or Spicy Thai - I eat those to scratch my salty tooth.

But maybe I need to lift weights - I did that after DS - will try and let you know how it goes. Congrats on losing all the baby weight! You are a rock star!

[kcrkcs]

It's all about calories in vs calories out. As previously said you can probably just tweak snacks not eliminate. Plain veggies are a good filler if you need that. I personally feel better with less volume but more protein so cheese sticks or plain greek yogurt. When Iam paying attention I always make sure to save lots of cals for my wine habit. Fwiw I have found I can not workout my way to weight loss. I gave to adjust my cals. But it doesn't have to suck!!

[pinktartan9]

You go girl!!! All that walking and 14lbs in the summer months! Huge props to you!!!

I agree with changing the snacks up. Eating more frequently is better anyway since you are less likely to eat more during meal times (though I think it depends on what delicious food you may be having a for those meals😚)

I try to stick to fruits and veggies as snacks but paired with a small amount of protein. Celery and cucumber have next to no calories but are filling enough. Have a 1/4 cup of hummas/peanut butter/almond butter and it is delicious and keeps ya full for longer. Berries and yogurt is another awesome combo (I think you mentioned in another thread that this is your go to for lunch so please disregard if yes)
Avocado on a slice of pumpernickel is another bomb go-to.

If you feel like you are aimlessly snacking though, and want to eliminate one snack session, maybe try soda water? I know it sounds crazy but it keeps you full and hydrated at the same time. Just make sure to get the low sodium kind (unless you have a soda stream)

[tinydancer]

14joa31, 14 lbs over the summer is great! I agree with others to modify snacks. For me, cutting back on drinking hasn't helped that much because I usually use it as an excuse to eat extra dessert. :-) But if you can stick with it it is a good way to cut extra calories.

I'm at a bit of a plateau myself - I'm 5 lbs above pre-preg weight, and that doesn't bother me so much but I'm about a size bigger than I want to be, and definitely soft around the midsection. I basically don't workout. I do walk the dog twice a day and do other walking with the baby on weekends, but that's about it. Once H comes back I'm planning to make a weekly exercise class a priority. I also need to cut back on what I eat. Basically, I'm not doing to well on fitness and nutrition.

[14joa31]

kcrkcs - saving calories for wine = #lifegoals.

[crimsonandclover]

I mentioned on the weekly thread that I hit a lifetime weight high. I am more than 50lbs over where I started before my pregnancy with DD1, which is very depressing. I had been putting off any serious weight loss until we were done having kids because I didn't want to yo-yo too much. Now we're done, though, so my excuses are gone.

Part of the reason I'm at such a high weight right now is that I pigged out on all my favorite foods in the US. Now that we're back and things are getting back into a regular routine I hope some of the weight comes off "on its own."

Here again is my list to get things started, though:
- On days when nanny isn't here, go on a 45+ min walk with DD3 or if the weather is bad do a workout video
- No pop/soda (I used to never drink it but after the kids got into the habit for extra caffeine)
- 4 weight watchers lunches / week (lunch is our big meal, and I love so many WW recipes that this is no hardship, I just needed to give myself a concrete number)
- GD-friendly breakfast 4 mornings / week (I lost lots of weight on the GD diet, so I'm including some aspects of it here)
- GD-friendly morning snack
- GD-friendly dinner or weight watchers dinner 5 nights / week
- no evening snack
- wine max. 2 nights / week
- salad before starting lunch 3 days / week

My main goal is to fit comfortably into my black dress slacks by October 29th. I'm having an orchestra concert and will have to wear them, and if I wear pants that are too tight I get back stomach aches. I'll probably have to lose about 10 lbs for them to be comfortable, so I'll have to be very diligent until then.

[14joa31]

kelltothekell - I have no sweet tooth - I have a SALTY tooth. I always ask people "French Fries or ice cream?" I would pick French fries every time! LOL! But GL on your goals!!

[crimsonandclover]

14joa31, I'm the same way. I would take fries and chips over ice cream or chocolate any day!

[wholenewworld]

14joa31, damn girl! You are killing it with that weight loss so far!

Not Friday, but I have set a small goal for myself to improve the nutritional value of at least one meal a day. Our diet is quite poor. Eventually I will want to get serious about losing a little weight, but I think lack of nutrition is the bigger issue right now. For now I'm just trying to trade some junk food calories for more nutritious ones.