It's been a while since I posted anything on this topic, but it's something I struggle with daily. I try to keep to my workout routine of cardio three days per week. I haven't stuck to weight lifting. I keep telling myself I need to get back into it, but I can't seem to get myself motivated. I always read little quotes on Pinterest and Facebook about making workouts a part of your daily life. Working out honestly hasn't become part of my daily life. I never know if I want to workout over my lunch hour, after work, or in the evening. I don't like to go right after work because the gym is always packed. So, I go during the lunch hour when it isn't busy, but then I'm focused on getting my workout done and getting back to work. I don't like to go in the evening because I generally work later, which means I eat dinner later. I shouldn't have to explain to anyone that working out right after a meal is a bad idea.
Diet is another area I struggle with. I love ice cream, bread, pasta, potatoes, wine..... Yeah, all things that don't fall within the "do's" of dieting. I also always have a hard time with a diet because I know while I might be able to stick to it for a while, I know long term it isn't realistic. I tried cutting out gluten, but the bread and pasta were a sticking point for me. It was recommended I try cutting out dairy; I really didn't even consider that. I love dairy; milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Through some food testing, I discovered that wheat first thing in the morning isn't the best for me. So, I found a waffle that is gluten and wheat free. Sometimes I have a waffle with peanut butter. Sometimes, I make an omelet with one egg and egg whites and a little cheese. I also discovered that I don't do well with Greek yogurt. I don't know what it is, but within thirty minutes of eating Greek yogurt my stomach was in knots. I tried different brands, but none of them worked for me. Once I ruled out Greek yogurt, I went back to regular yogurt. I seem to tolerate regular yogurt fine with the help of a daily probiotic.
Lunch and dinner tend to be my total toss up meals. I try to have a few healthy dinners each week and throw in one of our old favorites to keep it from feeling like we are "dieting". Going into summer, we like to grill. We try to grill fish from time to time. But, I have to be honest, I love a good grilled steak or bratwurst. Lunch generally consists of whatever is left over from dinner the night before, or mac and cheese. Yes, I'm ten and still love a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. This is what I'm talking about. I still have comfort foods that I go to. To tell me I have to cut those out, doesn't go well. I view it like Cookie Monster, "these are a sometimes treat".
I tend to do better with my snacks, especially going into summer. I love fresh fruit, but not so much into veggies. But, I will eat them. I do like to snack on carrots and celery if they are around. Fruits are another story. Watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, bananas, strawberries, recently I tried raspberries for the first time and loved them. I love a bowl of cottage cheese and peaches. I'm not going to deny my total love of all things baked and delicious. Cookies, cake, pastries, etc. I love them all! I fight this love of sweets by trying not to keep them in the house. However, if my sweet tooth is strong enough, I have no problems baking a batch of cookies.
I think back to a few years ago when I was the weight I would like to be again, and I wonder what happened. I stopped working out for starters. When I was at my ideal weight, I was working out in classes a couple of times per week. I was doing a sculpting class for 45 minutes and a zumba class for 45 minutes. I would fill in with a cardio workout once or twice for twenty to thirty minutes. As of late, I have just been doing thirty minutes of cardio three times per week. I figure it is better than nothing. In case you haven't noticed by this posting, I have seriously lost almost all motivation for working out. Anyone else ever hit this slump?
