I'm personally not a big fan of "diets" with names or organization attachments - I think it allows people to develop a crutch, and spend lots of money - depending on someone else to get them to lose weight. Most people who know me can't believe how much food I eat everyday. A main ingredient for me is I eat the least amount of processed foods possible. Crackers, fast food, junk food, etc. Eating whole foods, stuff you make, fills you up and you can eat more of it.
Eating too much does make you gain weight, but exercise is important...not for just losing weight but for keeping your body healthy and preventing (or keeping at bay) all those issues associated with being overweight AND not exercising, ie. diabetes, arthritis, heartburn, high blood pressure, cholesterol, general aches and pains...any familiar to you or those you love?
I know a lot of moms out there are saying, "I don't have time to exercise" or "its too hard to eat right with the kids, husband, friends, whatever"...believe me I have 3 under 6 and a spouse that travels A LOT.
You don't need to 1) deprive yourself 2)become a gym queen or 3) pay money to some organization, book club, drug company....to lose weight. What you do need, above all else is a goal and a little bit of support - get a buddy - and a desire to be healthy and look good.
To make this as simple as I can, the following has worked for me...and i believe in exercise...think of how much more stamina you will have lugging the kids, husband, and all the crap around wdw...
1) Stay away from drive through anything at all costs...even if the kids whine and cry about it...its not good for them either, really
2) If you need something fast, try Subway (get a big sand with lots of veggies and turdey on whole wheat bread and split it) or even TCBY (fatfree and nuts or fruit) for a quick meal. OR better yet plan, I know, plan on packing your lunch, snack whatever.
3) Find a good protein bar...ie. one that doesn't have sugar as a main ingredient. ZONE bars are good, can go with you, and are cheap. lots of varieties. Also, Balance bars too.
4) become a fan of apples...not red delicious...they are, really, too mushy. Find a favorite sweet, crunchy varietey like pink lady, or jona gold. Apples fill you up, get rid of sweet cravings and are just good for you.
5) Eliminate, yes, I said eliminate the items that really send you on a binge. It won't kill anyone...although I sure other members of the household with insist you are killing them...like or chips, processed cookies, processed cake snacks with any type of filling....if its hard for you ...read the ingredients...you won't even recognize half of them anyway...do you really want to eat that and give it to your growing kids? Pretzels, oatmeal raisin cookies, fruit and real ice cream (ie. breyers) for the kids are better alternatives...in normal amounts.
6) For those chocoholics out there, look for Healthy Choice Frozen Chocolate Bars....the taste is really, really, good and I usually have one every night when the kids go to bed. Are a real treat. Also, big fan of NO Pudge BRownies...not every day but once a week, when you have a splurge day, they taste better than "regular" brownies. And, Jello Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge Pudding with Skim Milk...have half one night, half the other. Low calories and a good source of dairy for the day.
7) eat breakfast...real breakfast. This jump starts your matabolism and keeps you going throughout the morning. I'm not hungry, you say...well maybe your matabolism is used to being sluggish and you need to get it used to breakfast again. An egg (cooked in mircowave, piece of whole wheat toast, slice of lowfat cheese, fresh fruit, cup of tea. High fiber cereal with skim milk and fruit. Yogurt and fruit. Whole wheat pancakes with blueberries (make big batch on sunday, freeze them) for you and family. Try topping with natural applesause or small (1 tsp) of syrup and turkey sausage (Shady Brook Farms variety...they will never know if you don't tell them, I swear).
8) Eat 5 to 6 times a day, really. Keeps your metabolism going and cravings at bay. I know, its hard to believe, but you have got to eat. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. I try to have: Dinner some type of protein (chix, fish, turkey, lean meat), green item (spinach, romaine, zucchini, broccoli), colored item 1/2 sweet potato, carrots, suqash, cauliflower - great mashed. Then if you want, your chocolate treat of choc. bar or pudding. Lunch, half of sand on brown something (bread, pita, roll) and med salad with vinegrette, olive oil, vinegar. Snacks, protein bar, apple.
9) Once a week I "go crazy"...my thing is pizza (with sausage and mushrooms), wine, and a pint of ice cream - real ice cream like ben and jerry's. Usually have waffles in the am, maybe order a sub for lunch, too. ONCE a week...but I must have done my thing all week. I have found that after time of staying away from fried foods and red meat for that matter, I don't deal with them well now, so I dont' even eat them on my off days...I'd rather spend my calories on ice cream or brownies!
10) Staying away from everything white...pasta (they make a whole wheat variety..and you will find you eat a lot less of it), bread, rolls, pitas, rice, and espeically potatoes. I went to a nutritionist once and she told me eating a white potato - or any variation thereof, is like eating a candy bar. Makes you wonder....
11) I Drink water, drink water, drink water. lemon in it if you have to. It takes something like 10 days to build a habit...this is one that will help you lose weight and keep it off. Also, its great for your skin. Its cheap. I only drink water and an occasional glass of OJ, and green tea. I know people are die hard soda addicts, especially for the caffeine....green tea has caffeine and other good stuff too. This is really hard for some people, but the calories in soda, sweetened teas, juices...it can average to over 500 calories a day. Just changing over to water is an easy way to cut calories.
12) The exercise...if you have never done anything before, or haven't for a while, you probably should go to a doctor or at least a trainer at your local YMCA. I weight train, yes, weight train 3 times a week for 35 minutes. Cardio, twice a week if I'm lucky, but ususally not so lucky...remember those 3 kids under 6? The weight training is the priority for me. Now this is me, and my research, and what most of those books out there are telling people: muscle burns fat. The higher muscle to fat ratio, the more efficient your body is at burning calories. With a right trainer, advice, one time meeting, you can get started on weight training that will help you lose weight and not 'get bulky'. And, unlike most women you see out there, I don't spend hours and hours on the machines. 25 minutes is usually what I can fit in. And like I said, twice a week if I'm lucky. If you want an easy way to increase you activity level, wear a pedometer. They are like $10 bucks. They count how many steps you take in a day...I think the goal is 10,000 steps a day for the average person. Go to the park with the kids, take a walk around the neighborhood. Go to your local mall early on a rainy morning, put on some headphones and go. Take the stairs. Do yard work... riding mower doesn't count. You are going to want to be able to keep going at disney anyway, right? Why not look better and feel better for dwd and beyond?
Lastly, some of you out there may be thinking, because I know how the world is, that I'm probably some little person who "can keep the weight off". Well, I'm not. I had a weight problem my whole life, lost too much weight in college, gained lots back after I got married, and finally, after my second child, realized that it is common sense that keeps us healthy and feeling good. I feel better when I eat better, but I love chocolate. I love ice cream. I love pizza. But I also like my knees not hurting, being able to carry lots of groceries, plus the baby, and wearing a size 8 (was a sixteen at the age of 14...). I found that its all about healthfulness, and what you want out of your body. Want do you want to do in 10, 20, 30 years? I want to be able to take my grandkids to wdw and keep up with them...how about you?
Good luck.
