December Diet Challenge
Filed Under: Thriving
There’s nothing like a shopping trip to put a little perspective on weight loss. I’ve been pretty complacent lately in my comfy sweats… until I went shopping this weekend and realized my size had not magically gone back to a 10. Or even a 12. I want to be thinner, but more importantly, I want to be stronger, healthier and more energetic. And I’d like to fit in my ski suit so I don’t have to spend $200 on a new one. So I embark on the December Diet Challenge.
There are two words you don’t hear together very often: December and diet. But I contend that December is a fine time to diet. Many of us delude ourselves into thinking we only indulge and overeat around the holidays, when in reality we go to parties and celebrations and eat out all year long. At least I know I do.
For me, there’s nothing unusually tempting about eating this time of year. Except my mother-in-law’s latkes on Hannukah. I could eat 30 of those greasy potato pancakes. Yum. But I can practice moderation. And there are the cookies and candies that come in the mail from business clients. I’m thinking it would be nice to put them in the freezer and enjoy them in January.
Small changes like this can make a big difference. I’m a foodie, so “diets” are tough for me. Making a series of healthier choices and getting more exercise is the key to my success.
This December, I’ll be putting out a challenge each week and posting updates on my success. Feel free to follow along and perhaps you can cross off the “Get Healthier/Fitter” resolution off your list before you even put it on.
This week’s Challenge: Breakfast and Water
I’m not a breakfast person. I typically eat just about the worst breakfast you could eat: Coffee and some sort of sugary baked good. As for the water, my liquid consumption of late has been limited to coffee and wine. Not good. This week I will work on drinking lots more water and eating a more sensible breakfast. I’m armed with oatmeal and eggs and although I’ll have to force myself to eat these things for breakfast, I’ll do it to see if it makes the huge difference that all the magazines and nutrition experts claim it does.
What are your breakfast habits? Do you have any good ideas for me?
PHAT = Parenting, Homeschooling And Technology. That about sums up my life at the moment.
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genia | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
oatmeal with dried cranberries (not too many, they have a lot of sugar), raisins, mashed banana and a little brown sugar or nutrasweet.
Don’t use those instant packets — they’re full of salt. Use quick oats - they cook in 90 seconds in the microwave
Not everyone likes this but I do and it’s very filling: oatmeal mixed with yogurt and unsweetened applesauce. Looks like baby food but is actually pretty good.
fat free vanilla yogurt with frozen fruit mixed in the blender, add a little fruit juice or water if it’s hard to blend — a yummy smoothie
have you tried the light oj, cranberry and ruby red grapefruit juices? Mixed with seltzer they make a great drink
Eggbeaters Mexican (with peppers)and some fat free cheese melted on a light English muffin or 2 slices of light bread toast. WW makes an awesome rye bread (1 point for TWO slices!)
Good luck!
Elizabeth | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
Dieting in December? That is admirable! I have the same breakfast habit you do, even though I know I should be drinking more water. I do eat scrambled eggs around twice a week though. Good luck!
Margaret | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
Coffee and wine… sounds good to me.
Breakfast - I still eat this that I got from Weight Watchers 20 years ago: spread about 1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese on a slice of whole wheat bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon and a touch of sugar (or substitute, I guess), bake or toast in a toaster oven till it gets melty and the bottom of the bread is crisp. As I type it out it sounds gross, but… it works for me.
My kids sometimes spread cut up apples with a bit of peanut butter.
In winter my mom would give us chicken rice or vegetable beef soup for breakfast before sending us out into the snow.
Yogurt, granola, fruit parfaits.
Charity | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
I was thinking about posting something about dieting in December because I realized that it is 6 months from now until June. Six months is a good amount of time to lose some serious weight, instead of the usual panic in May that I am mere weeks away from wearing a swimsuit.
I need to do the water thing, too. Even though I only usually drink water and plain tea, I do not drink anywhere near enough.
I do eat breakfast every day, though. At one point, I had to focus on eating less of it (like one egg, instead of two).
I usually eat oatmeal now because of the cholesterol lowering benefits and the fact that it keeps me full longer.
It’s great to see you blogging more often and I am looking forward to the coming weeks of this challenge.
Marye~ | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
Okay, I’ll give it a try. I was just thinking the other day that I needed to get some seal blubber off, no one needs this much insulation! My SIL who’s 20 years younger that us in getting married in April. She’s like a size 2. I need a challenge. Since our chickens have started laying maybe I can eat an egg or oatmeal and I will defiantly increase the water intake. Thanks for the motivation.
jenna | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
Congrats on your endeavor! I think its great… especially during this time!
My recommendations are:
1. Drink two glasses of room temp water upon rising… helps rehydrate you from the long night and helps clear out toxins in your kidneys/liver. Adding lemon only makes it better.
2. My choice for eating is half of a whole wheat English muffin with all natural peanut butter.
3. To top it off… I also juice… one apple, 2 carrots and a couple of kiwi. Its delicious and you get most of your fruits/veggies servings right off the bat.
You will feel refreshed and re-energized after this great breakfast.
Don’t forget to drink at least 2 quarts of water through the day as well
Ok… I’m done!
Best,
Jenna
skiplovey | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
I do oatmeal or malto meal and a cup of herbal tea. I’m off the caffeine for awhile but I honestly don’t miss it. Mid-morning I like a piece of fruit as a snack.