Enders_Shadow's Group - eating clean & getting lean - FULL (Page 3)

I tend to stay on track better when using MFP.

It will be nice when all of the beer is out of the house. I crave carbs and yeasty foods so beer is dangerous to have around. Once the college kids go back to school the beer should be gone!

I'm still allowing myself to have a bit more leniency with food until the holidays are over. I am going to continue with the goals from last week and also start logging and wearing the FitBit again.

I haven't weighed in a few weeks. Mainly because I don't want to see the damage from the holidays.Sooner than later that is something that needs to be done.

I have used sparkpeople, MFP and BT to track food and find them all time consuming and chore like.  I know myself and know that if I eat healthy and cut out the junk I will lose weight.  Tracking has never helped me to eat better and being a shift worker my online time is sporadic and its hard to be consistent with the tracking.  It is easier with the MFP phone app that scans the barcode but I still found it hard to be consistent with it.

It's been a busy few days here.  Sorry I have been MIA!  I am going to start my New Year off with a bang!  We have a local fun run called the Get Lit run and I am going to run in it to return to my running lifestyle.  I am trying to watch what I eat but the kids all got me chocolate caramel clusters for Christmas and those are definitely my weakness.  

I leave next Friday for San Antonio to surprise my mom (and dad) for her birthday.  She and my SIL started running this year and have completed the Color Run so I'm hoping Mom will go out with me a few times.  I know they started walking because of me.  

I am looking to set a couple of races for this next year (I need races to keep me motivated).  There is one in Madison that I would like to do with another BTer and I will sign up for the Indianapolis Monumental marathon (my hometown).  Would like to find another race to do in mid-spring.  I'm in central Illinois, but if you have a half that is near you and and me and you would like to have a partner-in-crime for the race, let me know and I'll see if I can make it happen on my end.

My kids laugh at me when we go out to eat.  I will inevitably order something relatively healthy off of the menu!  That isn't to say that I don't crave fast food--cuz I most certainly do--I also crave the healthy stuff.  I keep brussel sprouts, broccoli, sweet potatoes (for baking), salad makings (dried cranberries, walnuts, feta cheese) on hand.  I also keep some of my favorite crackers on hand.  I have found that if I try to deny myself the things that I crave the craving intensifies.  

I have about 15-20 pounds I would like to lose before summer returns.  I don't think it will be a big problem, just need to be super diligent in my eating habits.  I have never really tracked my eating religiously as I'm not that good at it, but I do pay attention to what is going in (and out).  

I've been MIA too; busy with Christmas.  My son had to leave the day after Christmas for work, so I went ahead and took down my tree right away in order to get things back to normal as soon as possible.  I've also checked my frige/cupboards for any foods that could throw me off track and got rid of them (did not have much since my son eats pretty healthy already).  And I've worked out a training plan and new goals for the new year.  Now I am painting the living room before I have to go back to work!  I did my kitchen and bathrooms last month.

Question # 2

Do you track your food? What program do you use? Do you like it or feel like it is a chore? Do you think it helps you?

I LOVE the CRON-O-METER!  ... because you can set a ratio for your macronutrients.  I can plug in all of the foods I want to eat for the next day and see exactly how many calories, carbs, fats, and proteins I am consuming.  I adjust the ratio depending on my training volume.  Right now I need to set it for low carb/high fat & protein until I can get this weight back down.  I plan to start the 21-day Sugar Detox starting January 2.

Maria how does the detox work?  I've been thinking about it but no one has really explained how it works.  I would also be interested in learning how to decide how much low carb/high fat and protein I need to jump start my weight loss.

Got on the scale this morning and I've gained 2 lbs over the past two weeks which is not bad for me, there were years that I gained 10 and took two months to get it off again.  My last family get together is today which is a potluck dinner at my brothers house and my family is full of really good cooks who make really yummy food but none of them have concerns about making it healthy.  The odd thing is that only one of them has a weight problem although I don't think any of them exercise or are into any sports or fitness.  Anyway I will have oatmeal for breakfast, go for a run and try to use restraint but allow myself to eat a bit of everything.

Along with my run goals for the year I also have a goal in 2014 to be able to do real pushups and unassisted pullups.  I think 10 pushups is reasonable but I'll be happy with just one pullup, a goal I may change depending how it goes. 

Question:  do you do strength training regularly?  If so what kind of plan do you follow?

Question:  do you do strength training regularly?  If so what kind of plan do you follow?

I haven't done any specific strength  training in quite a while, but I have realized that I need to start again.  I really enjoy doing planks---crazy?  IKR--and I don't mind ab workouts.  I'm not really a fan of weights though  

Can you share the PDF?

I must be a nitwit tonight because I can't get it to copy.  

I have the original e-book too!  But unfortunately, I never completed the detox.  I did successfully cut out all sugar and carbs on Atkins back in 2008 and easily lost 20 pounds.  But then when I started long-distance endurance training, I started gaining it back and can't seem to get it under control.  Excessive cardio = excessive appetite.  It also means fueling with high sugar/carb sports nutrition.  But now that I am cutting back on distance, I hope to eliminate the need for sports nutrition.

Beth -  I sent the e-book and the 21-Day Sugar Detox page through facebook.

Cathy - I believe in consistent strength training at least twice a week with particular attention to core.  I prefer doing Body Pump at the health club because it is fun to have an instructor and do with a group.  Otherwise I do the Kathy Smith strength training DVD at home with dumbbells.  I hope to get more consistent this year!

i go through phases.  it is absolutely helpful and motivating - but when i'm struggling it makes me give up and get frustrated more easily.  i tracked meticulously when i competed so i have a really good sense of portion sizes and calories without looking it up so i sometimes find it a little tedious - especially when i eat similar meals several times a day or week.  i like logging in a notebook by hand cause i like to log how i felt/what i struggled with/combine it with journaling.  the logging on BT is not too terrible, really, and allows the combo.