Fitness and weight

[superbadgirl]

I wish there were an easy way to get over cravings. It's been said that after you've given something up, it becomes less appealing. This is true for soda. Every once in a while I will get a massive craving for Mt. Dew and splurge on one. I used to be a fiend for that stuff. Now when I give in to the craving, I can barely drink half a bottle.

I didn't used to consider myself to eat bad food, and by bad I mean poor nutritional content. I eat lots of leafy greens and other veggies. I adore many fruits. I don't eat meat often, and when I do it's rarely red.

My clear problem is carbs. I love pasta. I eat too much of it. I know that I easily eat a double serving size of the stuff. Bread - love. Rice - love. Cereal - love. Starchy veggies like peas and potatoes - love, love, love.

I need to wean myself off my carb reliance if I want to shape up. I'm not talking drastic weight loss (though I'm always surprised people don't seem to think I've got 20 lbs to lose, and I do - either they don't know what I look like, or they don't), just an attempt to be less marshmallowy. I am horrified every day by the jiggling arm syndrome I see in the mirror as I dry my hair.

The plan:

Fewer carbs
Portion control
Added variety of vegetables (I rely heavily on broccoli, leafy greens and tomatoes)
More muscle toning exercises (focus on arms and tummy)
Increased biking along with walking regimen
Find other cardio exercises that work for me and my bum knees
No sabotaging myself with unrealistic goals (I will never have my sister's collarbones (they're gorgeous) no matter what I do - I know that seems ridiculous, but in the past I've actually given myself a hard time about this)

It's absolutely doable for me to lose noticeable inches by, say, my birthday in December. I'd love to do it sooner, but I want to allow myself the time to do it right.

I know, I've said all this before. I probably will not do status updates, party because I don't own a measuring tape or a scale, and partly because I doubt anyone cares. ;)

Comments

[ozreison.livejournal.com]

One thing I've learned is it's not necessarily all carbs that are bad, but only the really refined ones that convert easily to sugar in the bloodstream. If you start going for more whole grain carbs, it helps immensely.

My diet emphasises that glycemic index, and selecting foods with a good GI score. You can look up charts online, and that might help you to switch your carbs to better ones, and that will help you to keep the blood sugar stable, and ward off the cravings.

[superbadgirl]

*nods*

Right now I'm halfway whole grains, halfway too-refined.

[travellingone.livejournal.com]

I'm doing the couch to five k and so far so good. I lost an couple inches around my thighs (I think - the dress fits better)

[superbadgirl]

I miss jogging. It really helped control my ample hips/thighs, which are both in the genes. I have no aspirations to be stick-thin, but I could definitely lose about 4 inches from my butt/hips/thighs. And an inch off each arm, if not more. I'm actually much more perturbed by my arms than by anywhere else on my body.

Hopefully I can stick to this. I've got no support system out here.