TRICK #7: To Get Back On Track....

Here is a little trick that helps me get back on track with eating healthy: Go grocery shopping!

When I get off track with my eating, it's often because I don't have anything good to eat in the house that is also healthy. For me, going grocery shopping refreshes my brain and tells me that it's time to get back on track and by going shopping, I also get the healthy snacks that I love to eat. So if you're having a difficult time getting back on track, try revamping the contents of your fridge and cabinets.

TRICK #6:What Are You Enjoying Now?

Here is a little trick that helps me get back on track: Think about what you are giving up by giving in and allowing yourself to gain weight back.

Okay, well..... upon losing as much weight as I have, I've noticed that..... *sighs* How can I say this tactfully? Let's just say that sexual activity is mechanically easier. I don't want to go back to having difficulty. It can be really embarrassing when you cannot perform to your full potential. And I know that I like being confident in the bedroom and I enjoy not encountering the problems and difficulties that presented themselves when I was heavier.

CONCLUSION: Think about something that you enjoy doing now that you could not do or that wasn't as much fun or satisfying when compared to when you were heavier. Let that help motivate you to get back on track and on your way to achieving your ultimate weight loss goals :)

Finally Back On Track

All right, so I finally just got back on track with my eating habits today. I think the 15-pound yo-yo fluctuation over the past couple weeks or so was because of my Wii Fit Plus; and I think I started to depend on it too much and forgot the importance of my own will power. I honestly didn't feel like going to the gym today, but it closed early anyway. I plan on getting up early tomorrow morning and going to gym before heading to campus for my class. I will post the picture for the physical progress from December, but not from January because I didn't do one, as I know that would probably just discourage me. I may do one for February, depending on the progress I make. I will type up a few posts to make up for what I've missed. Posting comments is encouraged!! The most people I know read, the more on-top of this I will be!! If you think I'm doing a good job and you like what I do with this blog, let your friends know and refer them to the blog!! :)

Update... Again....

Seriously, I have been letting myself go and I need to get back on track. I feel if I post this here, it will help bind me to my word because I'm being held accountable. I will get back into the groove of things tomorrow. Tonight, I have to attend a mass and I will be hanging out with my cousins. In the meantime, I plan on eating healthy and doing some Wii Fit tonight. Tomorrow, I will return to the gym and resume writing this blog. Thank you. Hope I still have some readers out there somewhere.

Update

Hey, everyone. I apologize for not keeping up with my blog. Things have been a little hectic with my work schedule. I got a new job and I work third shift, so my sleeping schedule is a little screwed up and I haven't had much time to work on my blog. I will be taking new pics soon and I will update all my progress posts within the next few days. I will also post my first recipe post. So keep a look out for those. I've taken a little hiatus, but "Through Thick & Thin" is back, up, and running!!

The Best & The Worst #1: Chinese Food

When we order out or eat out, we have multiple items and dishes to choose from. Some are better than others and some are worse than others. Today's menu of topic: the average Chinese Menu.

INTRODUCTION: Chinese food is great. It is one of my favorite types of food to eat. And of course, I eat two of the worst things that Cooking Light magazine mentions. Two of the worst things you can order off of a Chinese menu include Pork Lo Mein and Sweet & Sour Chicken when compared to four other dishes, according to an article in the November 2009 issue of Cooking Light magazine. Two of the things I usually order are Pork Lo Mein and either Orange Chicken or General Tso's Chicken (which I imagine probably aren't terribly far from Sweet & Sour Chicken nutrition facts).


BEST-

Ma Po Tofu: 650 Calories
*Probably in the vegetarian section
*If it comes with ground pork and is not in the vegetarian
section, order it without the pork to make it healthier
*The ground pork adds calories and saturated fat

Shrimp w/Garlic Sauce: 700 Calories
*Shellfish and vegetables are a good choice to go with
*Served in a low-fat sauce
*Ask them to minimize the amount of cooking oil they use
to make it extra healthy

MODERATE-

Ginger Chicken w/Broccoli: 849 Calories
*Filled with vegetables
*Usually made with white meat chicken
*If you're overly concerned about the calories, try
reducing the serving size

Mu Shu Pork: 858 Calories
*"Stick to two filled pancakes of this
vegetable-packed dish and cut calories by half." --Cooking Light (quoted directly)
*Not sure what this means exactly....

WORST-

Sweet & Sour Chicken: 1,032 Calories
*Contains batter-coated and deep-fried chicken
*Cooked in a sauce that's contains a lot of sugar
*Tastes great but side effects include seeing higher
numbers on the weight scale, among other things

Pork Lo Mein: 1,419 Calories
*Contains oily noodles and fatty meat
*Seasoned with sodium greater than 100% of
your daily value!
*Once again... delicious. But it comes at a price!


REMEMBER: Chinese food is delicious, don't get me wrong. But remember, there are good choices and not-so-good choices you can make when eating out.

THANK YOU: I would like to thank Cooking Light magazine, their researchers, writers, and publishers for such a great source of knowledge, the subscription of which is going to be on a certain blogger's Christmas list, I can assure you!!

Trick #5: To Help Burn Calories...

HERE IS A LITTLE TRICK THAT HELPS ME TO CONTINUE EXERCISING: I Go To The Gym No Matter How Much Time I May Have To Do It!

Okay.... so, here's the thing-- yesterday, I left my house a little late because I was looking up video games that I may want for Christmas. I left probably around 4:00 PM, give or take a half hour; and I wanted to be back by 6:00 or 6:30 at the latest. In addition to that, it takes about 15-20 minutes to get to the gym. This didn't leave me a whole lot of time to get in a decent workout.

Here's what you need to think about, though: I only burned about 300 calories on the elliptical. My question to you is, "How many calories would I have burned on the elliptical had I not gone to the gym at all?" Well, considering the fact that I don't own an elliptical at home, the answer is a resounding "None." I was also able to do some stretches and work out on a few machines. So I'm keeping my muscles active so that I don't regress too much and get weaker. I'm also keeping my metabolism up.

CONCLUSION: Some exercise is better than no exercise. Even if you go to the gym for a little bit, it's that much more exercise that you probably wouldn't have done if you didn't go at all. In the end, I was at the gym for 1-1.5 hours yesterday. That's a lot more exercise than I would have gotten if I didn't go at all because I felt I "didn't have enough time to go to the gym." The fact of the matter is, if you think you don't have enough time to go to the gym, you do. If I'm wrong and you honestly don't, you could do something like crunches or stretches or go for a walk. As a warning, don't forget-- please be careful. Don't go for a walk when it is dark out or if you think that it will get dark before you return from your walk. Be sure that you know how to stretch properly so you do not hurt yourself. And be sure you know the proper techniques for any exercises you do so you do not hurt yourself and so that you can do them efficiently, obtaining the best results. Stay safe, people!!