Hey allisonswonderland,
I am getting married in October of 2006...and have a schedule much like yours. I am a teacher and taking graduate courses at night. I lost quite a bit of weight not by following any diet, but healthy eating in general and setting up a must follow routine. My hours are long...so in order to help myself out I did the following.
1st - Find a time to work out and make it "YOUR TIME"...don't make excuses to break this. It is hard when you first start, but the routine helps. I try to work out 4 nights a week for one hour. I bought a tredmill and workout video because I have zero time to travel to and from a gym. My days change each semester with my classes, but I always work out from 8pm to 9pm. Seems late, but it works for me! There is no way I will get up early to work out!
2nd - Eating healthy. It is sooo hard when you are on the go. I got myself one of those large lunch boxes and pre-made my lunches and dinners when I am out for the week. I usually make a bunch of brown rice, grilled chicken, salad, and other various snacks...including air popped popcorn, pretzles, fruit, and nuts. I basically do all of this on Saturday or Sunday for the busy week ahead. I don't follow any diet fad, especially atkins...your body needs healthy carbs..especially if you work out.
3rd - Green tean and water...It is all I drink except for defac. coffee or non-fat starbucks drinks when I want a treat.
4th - Fat free ice cream. Dreyers makes a wonderful chocholate fudge ice cream that is fat free with no extra sugar added. This really takes away my sweet tooth!
5th - I looked up all the best options at fast food restaurants incase I ever get stuck on the go and have no other choice. I know what to order at burger king, Mcdonalds, Wendys, and other places that will keep the fat content down! I also use Subway as a great place to go for a fast meal. The turkey sandwich with wheat bread and tons of veggies is yummy. I always get vingegar with NO oil. To me it tastes the same!
6th - I give myself one bad meal a month. I plan for this bad meal and go ALL OUT. I usually will do something like a burger with fries AND onion rings and a milkshake. It really helps me enjoy that terrible food as the more when I can plan on having it.
I started at 135 and went down to 105 by following these things...(back in 2002). I am now up to about 115 because of the holidays and not following my diet over the holidays and being home all day. This happens just about every year! I plan to be back to my regular weight for my wedding in October..actually I hope it happens before then. My dress is a size 6 and I am normally a size 2 or 4. I know it would be a little tight on me now, luckily I have time before it even comes in.
Good luck!
