As the summer comes to a close, so does my relationship with barbeque'd food, sangrias, pom-tinis, Sauvignon Blanc, and the ubiquitous Bud Light Lime (Not as pretty as the others but oh so good on a hot day). Well you get the point. I've imbibed this summer. & I've eaten. Alot. I was in Hawaii about 10 days a month EACH MONTH & now I've got to pay the Man. I mean, yes, I was going to the gym 2-3 days a week. I was doing yoga at home 1-2 days a week. But that was basically just maintenance. & I still managed to gain about 7-10 pounds. I can literally fit into perhaps 50% of the items in my closet, and darlings, I am not about to buy a larger size. My "happy size" is a 4/6 (Most of the clothes in my closet). I'd like to see if I can perhaps get down to a 2/4. Right now I'm like a sausage in my size 6's. & this will simply not do. So I have become a scavenger of ways to lose the dreaded 10 pounds I gained over summer and perhaps another 5 - 10 pounds in addition to that. My focus is going to primarily be on what I eat. I read and was inspired by Gigi's discussion of ACV. So much so, I bought tons while in Hawaii (Bragg's isn't sold here in Japan, or atleast I've never seen it) and am planning to implement the teaspoon in the am/pm. I've heard good things from other people as well about the benefits of ACV and am excited to get that going.
The second part of this is going to be my own personal "loose" version of a low-carb Atkins-like diet. While I won't be measuring food in blocks like the Zone, I WILL be watching my carb intake and checking it with Ketone Strips to check for Ketosis. Once I see that that I'm in ketosis, I'm going to continue to monitor how my clothes fit until I reach my goal. For me, it's all about how comfortable I feel in my clothes. I don't need to be a stick figure. I just want to feel better. I'm hoping to see some improvement in the next 2-3 months.
I've heard the weight can come back quickly when one falls off the low-carb wagon, so I'm going to make sure that I ease into and out of the "diet." No one, especially moi, wants to see their hard work wasted!
Wish me luck and if any of you have advice or words of wisdom, please let me know!
you know what - I've had the same kind of summer. Two weeks of Danish & French food and then two weeks of good ole Southern cooking (and skipping the workouts). I do not even want to get on a scale. I have also stocked up on the ACV and am planning on getting back to the gym as soon as my kids are settled in their Fall routines. I have a few pairs of jeans I bought when I was probably 10-12 pounds less than now that I must get back in to... a couple pairs I haven't even worn. It sounds like you have a great plan! Good luck!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm in the same boat - my son is starting school this week, and I can't think of a better time to push a new routine on myself than now, when I'm trying to get him into one as well. You have to love the fall! It's always a new beginning... & then... the holidays! Good Luck to you, too!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I got that brocade jacket, btw. Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteThe ACV works. I haven't been consistent & I messed up my diet. I have managed to *still* stay within 1 lb of my weight with the ACV. It's a crutch I need to not lean on because I haven't really worked out all summer. I eat more in winter so, yeah, I need to get to the gym.
I am so curious about the ketosis thing. Please chronicle that for us!
Gigi, I will definitely start a chronicle. It should help me stay on the path.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on buying the jacket! It is lovely and I think a great investment.