Just Left the Starting Line

After a week of food-centered events and overly-sugared treats, I am seriously suffering from a food hangover. I feel cloudy and have no energy! I am left with a sleepy Ashley and a stuck scale.

I want to clean up my diet and lose some of the mental cloud and physical chub. I have to do this right now.

In 15 days I run my first 10K.
One month from tomorrow I graduate.
The next day I am (hopefully!) road-tripping up the East coast.
In 2 months I run my first Half.
Not to mention the holidays!!!

I need to feel and look my best for all of this!

So I'm changing things up a little.
______________

My ideas of how to lose weight have been evolving lately. More than ever I realize it's not about any big 'secret' or 'trick'. For me it comes down to calories, food choices and happiness. If any of those are out of place I get off track. Silly rules and limitations won't do it. Weight loss really is simple. You might not be used to seeing happiness as a tool for weight-loss, but when I am happy I want to do good things for my body. Happiness means that I don't have to turn to food for any sort of fulfillment.

______________

To keep me going each day I'm turning to some guidelines based solely on my lifestyle and habits and what works for me. Bookmark this page, people- I'm going to need your help!!

1. Blog every day. Even if it's just a short update, I think posting how I did that day will help keep me in check.
2. No snack after dinner unless it's a 100-cal post-workout snack.
3. Don't add snacks to eating schedule. (Breakfast, snack 1, Lunch, snack 2, snack 3, Dinner + pre/post workout snacks if necessary) No standing in the kitchen with a spoon and a jar of pb!
4. Morning snack always to be fruit. I've realized that my morning snack sets the theme for my day. I need that to be one of health not HFCS!
5. For a while, don't by any questionable products. For me, questionable products are those that I might overeat/binge on (crackers, cookies, CEREAL, trail mix). We have to learn our own weaknesses.
6. No 'pieces' of snacks. Either I'm in or I'm out. Ha! How many times do I unwrap a bar planning on just having half and saving the rest for later and instead eat the whole thing!? This also relates to #3.


I'm hoping for at least a pound gone each week, but I'm not setting any specific number goals or end date. I'm going to be rigid about this until I feel clean and until I fit comfortably into my favorite Seven for All Mankind jeans. I think that will be about 137, but I'm focusing more on me than a number. I've been 147 all this week.

Stay tuned, lovely bloggers. For my sanity and scale, please stay tuned!