I'm behind on my QOTDs, so I thought I'd just do them all at once. Sorry for the book! Feel free to skim or skip the post, but it was somewhat therapuetic for me to write all of these out. I think QOTDs are one of the great parts of this forum/challenge. Even if I don't answer one, I usually spend time pondering the question and my answer.
3/25 Thursday QOTD: What have you done to get your family on board with your new healthy lifestyle? Are they excited to try new things with you or do they grumble about the changes?
The girls grumble occasionally, but they always have in typical kid fashion. DH loves to eat healthy. We both like to cook, though we don't always have time. DH has been SO supportive of giving me the time to go out and run in the evening even if it means he doesn't get gym time of his own sometimes. But, as for food, we tend to cook a lot of vegetarian with some chicken dishes. We use lots of different vegetables (it's easier living in the heart of California). Our philosophy has always been, this is what's for dinner, eat it, don't eat it, stop when your full. We're not going to force food on one of them. BUT! They don't get another option.
Last night, our seven and four year old daughters ate a Thai stir fry with tofu, spinach, asparagus, carrots, and onions. It was mild because we're very sympathetic to not being able to handle spicy as a kid. i think some people are amazed at what our kids will eat when we're out at dinner or someone's house, but they've learned to enjoy lots of different flavors. Which doesn't mean that we don't get the "Ewww...I don't like it!" before they've ever even tried it. We just remind them they aren't allowed to say that until they've given it three bites. And if they really don't like it, there's always breakfast the next morning.
3/26 Friday QOTD: How do you deal with treats? Do you have a splurge day, avoid them altogether, find healthy treats?
I've been giving myself a smallish treat almost every day. I really like something sweet at night. While we still had Girl Scout cookies in the house, I had 4-8 thin mints a night depending on how many calories I had left over for the day. Another favorite treat at night is hot chocolate and, again, depending on how many calories I have left, I'll make it weaker or stronger. I also like the Hungry Girl Whoopie Pie even though it's made using the no-fat Cool Whip (which I would usually avoid like the plague cause of the ingredients). It really hits the spot and satisfies me for the rest of the evening.
During the day, I've changed my usual daytime "snack". I love, love, love Starbucks Chai tea. About eighteen months ago, I made a deal with myself that I would only let myself have a chai tea every time I lost five pounds. At that time, I lost about eighteen or nineteen pounds, and then gained it back. I didn't let myself have a chai in all that time, because I felt like a deal was a deal. When I hit the twenty pound mark this challenge, I finally let myself have a chai again. I had my second last weekend (I had saved it from when I had gotten to the twenty-five pound mark). Now that I've lost thirty, I can have another, but so far I'm saving it. The calories in it are actually not that horrid, but a deal's a deal! Instead, I've changed my Starbucks drink to a Venti Soy Sugar-free Hazlenut Misto (120 calories).
3/27 Saturday QOTD: What's your favorite exercise to do with others? Is there an exercise you get the whole family involved in?
This was a fantastic question and the reason why this forum is so good for me and my family! We hadn't been doing much that involved the whole family. I'm running, DH goes to the gym, DD1 does ballet and has just started swim team (she's enjoying it and I don't care about records, but hope she'll follow pjlla's DD's footsteps and win a sportsmanship award!), DD2 is just your typically active preschooler though she did ask to start ballet and I'll probably have her do gymnastics once the school year is over and I've got the summer off with more time to take her. So, we all have something active to do, but it's all seperate.
Yesterday morning, after thinking about this question the whole day before, I told DH I wanted to go on a hike together for the day. He was all for it and we brought out a book we'd bought years before when DD1 was still a baby (Best Hikes with Children Around Sacramento). It has about 60 or more different hikes you can do and rates them for children's ability levels. We found an easy two mile hike over by the American River and we had the best time! We're going to try to do this on a much more regular basis over the spring and get ready for a bigger hike/camping trip this summer.
Sunday QOTD: This question is 2 parts and you can answer one or both. What is your favorite healthy food at WDW or DL? What is your favorite healthy food when dining out?
I've only been to WDW once and it was so many years ago I don't remember what or where I ate! At DLR, I tend to eat what sounds good, though both on my multi-day December visit and our one day February visit, I tried to either choose soemthing that sounded healthier or tried to split it with my DH (who is always happy to split something...anyone else have a spouse with no problems maintaining a healthy weight?
).
My favorite healthy food when eating out is fish. I particularly like to go for sushi since I can eat my usual fill for just slightly bigger percentage of my usual calories I have for dinner.
)... and I usually share it with DD, so it is actually a half portion! I also LOVE the Dole Whips and from what I have seen/read, they aren't actually that bad in fat and calories. I am looking forward to having one in just a few weeks!!
I have to say I hope things go this smoothly for the next some odd pounds I need to lose lol. My mom said she'll be praising me for my comitment when I lose a total of 10lbs all together. Two of my best friends gave me a wonderful birthday present today. They got me a tote with Edward Cullen on it and a bunch of pins on it with Edward, the Cullen Crest, and New Moon 
But I'm working hard 
and staying an angel 
on my way to weight loss 
So how far it is to walk to DL from your house?
) PLEASE don't feel it necessary to respond, reply, or quote. I know you are all there for me if I need it. I just needed to vocalize my mental dialogue. 
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