Why Wednesday

Repost: Why You Don’t Quit for the Holidays

Posted by Lisa Eirene

(reposted for new readers) 

Why You Don’t Quit for the Holidays

On Monday I posted some tips for not overeating during Thanksgiving. The good news is that Thanksgiving and Christmas are JUST ONE DAY. That means if you do overeat a little, it’s not the end of the world. It’s one slip up, that can be reversed if dealt with immediately.

How is that possible, you wonder?

Basically with continuing your exercise.

I think the biggest struggle a lot of people have with the holidays is the fact that they Fall Off the Wagon. I’ve done this too. I stop counting calories, I eat things I normally don’t eat, I skip workouts because of parties, out of town guests, traveling, etc.

The trick is to KEEP AT IT. Don’t fall off that wagon because it’s so hard to get back on it.

  • Buffets
  • Office parties
  • Dinner parties
  • Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner
  • Family parties
  • Cookie parties
  • Christmas cookies, foodie gifts, holiday baking….

The temptations are everywhere!

Try and fit in some exercise like your normal routine dictates. If your normal routine is to run twice a week at lunchtime, do it. If your normal routine is to go to the gym after work, do it.

The holidays can be stressful. Not enough time and being pulled in a million directions but we must take care of ourselves. I know for me, if I don’t get my exercise I will become stressed and irritable. I won’t have that outlet for my stress which normally cures my irritably…so without that I will eat  for comfort, drink more, eat things I wouldn’t normally want.

I’ve already planned my workout routines for the coming holiday season. I found out my gym will be opened restricted hours on Thanksgiving so I fully plan on going in early Thanksgiving morning to get in what I can.

The gym is not open on Christmas day but if the weather holds up, I hope I can squeeze in a run sometime.

If not, I will hop on the bike trainer in the living room and pedal away while I watch A Christmas Story.

My hope is that the gym will be emptier and emptier as the holidays progress. 😉 More room for me!

Seriously….don’t be one of Those People that only exercises in January and February because of New Year’s Resolutions! Let’s start a tradition of Staying Sane During the Season and exercising!!

Who’s in?

QUESTION: Is exercise the first thing that goes away during the holidays? How is this year going to be different for you?

Why Wednesday – Why I’m Not Losing

Posted by Lisa Eirene


When I first lost 100 pounds the lowest my weight ever got to was 143. Unfortunately I didn’t stay there long. I think I weighed 143 for about one month and hovered between 144-146 for four months. Then I started taking Celexa and gained 15 pounds.

After stopping the Celexa and starting to lose those 15 pounds again I finally returned to the pre-gain weight of the mid-140’s. Once again, I got down to 143 but did not stay there long. A month later I was back to 144.

It seems to me that I can never break through that 143 barrier. Don’t ask me WHY I want to weigh 140. There’s no specific reason other than it being a whole number. But no matter what I do I can’t seem to get there.

I’ve written a little about this before: Why Can’t I Lose Weight? And Why Do People Cheat? I’ve also mentioned before that while it would be nice to weigh in at 140, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t. I’d rather be able to maintain my current weight for as long as I can, while I still enjoy my favorite treats.

I was chatting with a friend of mine who has done Weight Watchers for a long time. She thought I wasn’t eating enough food on days I work out and my body was in “starvation mode.”

 

My base number of calories a day is 1570 plus whatever I burn working out. I gave her an example of my estimated calories for a few days:

Monday: 1827 (w/ 180 burned)

Sunday:  2058 (w/ 411 burned)

Thursday: 2046 (w/ 90 burned)

Wednesday: 1933 (w/745 burned)
Her response: At WW you’d have 1450 a day without exercise. Add 200 or a day depending on the exercise. Then add another 2450 spread out through out the week and you should be eating 2000 a day on the days you work out. There was only one day that you almost hit 2000.  That could be the reason why you’re not losing.  You’re not eating enough on the days you work out.

She also suggested that I eat more protein and fiber. This is a goal I can get behind. I’ve been trying to eat more protein and fiber for awhile now.


So now I’m wondering if I should switch things up on days I workout. I was pretty satisfied with my food lately (minus the snacking) but if it’s not working I am willing to experiment a bit.

Michael’s suggestion was to workout less because muscle weighs more. Not an option for me! Maybe eating more protein will work. My friend also suggested that perhaps my body will never get under 144. That this is the weight it is happy at.

Michael and I already eat (what I thought was a lot) a lot of protein: chicken, pork, steak, we eat scrambled eggs 4-5 days a week and I eat nuts or Greek Yogurt as a snack. I’m making  a list of things to add to the weekly grocery list that are high in protein.

  • Cottage Cheese
  • Hummus
  • Cashew Butter
  • Cheese
  • Canned tuna (I can add this to salads for lunch)

There HAS to be more that I can add to this list! Why am I drawing a blank?

QUESTION: What should I start eating for lunch in order to get more protein and fiber? How do you sneak protein and fiber into your meals and snacks?