I haven't been able to get fully back into exercise - I'm finding my good leg cramps really easily in certain positions. So I'm trying to get onto the Wii Fit a bit more. I'll definitely be able to do more over the school holidays, but I've been backing off a lot so I can keep difficult child 3 focussed on his schoolwork.
My torn muscle is still a bit sore at times, but I'm doing a lot more on it now. I'm walking a bit more, although it is very cold outside at the moment. Tomorrow is forecast to be the coldest day yet this winter.
Water exercises - hopefully I'll be doing that when summer comes, but I'm going to have to get a new swimsuit, I suspect. I haven't tried on my old swimsuit, but I suspect it's going to be too loose. And I don't think it's going to be easy trying to buy a swimsuit in Sydney in the dead of winter!
easy child bought me three pairs of corduroy trousers for my birthday. We shopped in the first week of June and I bought trousers that were tight on me. I've been having to wear a belt for the last few weeks. One pair, I haven't even had a chance to wear yet!
My weight loss has slowed though. I either need to exercise more (not very likely that I can do enough) or eat even less. And I'm already down to 1000 calories a day.
How to cope during the 4 July parties? OK, remember we celebrate summer Christmases, and they are shocking when it comes to bad eating. But I've been successful in previous years.
First, don't beat yourself up if you break your diet for one day.
Second, you don't have to be stupid about it, though.
So - target salads, preferably ones without dressing. A small amount of dressing is no big deal, though. Caesar salad, although yummy, is NOT good for diets. It barely qualifies as salad.
Alcohol - avoid it if you can. It has more calories than you think. People on diets tend to ignore the calories in their drinks. But if you MUST drink - get some good lo-cal mixers. Alternatively, alternate every second drink with a large glass of iced water. The water is good for you, it also cuts your alcohol consumption, plus you're still drinking socially. I usually just fill my glass (I use the same wine glass size as the other party guests) from the tub of iced water for the drinks.
Food - eat lean protein without guilt. It will fill you up, it is good for you, it is efficient calories. Top it off with some leafy salads. Dips - go for the ones with vegetable sticks, or go into the kitchen and make your own vegetable sticks. Or even take your own, if you're going elsewhere. Grab some of that iced water to soak them in, to make them crisp and cold. Iced water makes the fastest, best celery curls anyway.
For a drink with a difference, get a glass of cold tomato juice, add a dash of tabasco sauce, a fresh sprig of basil and stir it with a stalk of celery. Tell people it's also loaded with vodka. If they've already been drinking for a while, they won't be able to taste the difference anyway.
Rules in general -
1) - avoid fat (or oil), sugar (including fruit sugars), alcohol. But have a small amount, if you can't resist. Try to limit "naughty" stuff to before mid-afternoon if you can. Avoid anything baked with flour, potato or rice (unless it's wholegrain).
2) Eat as much as you want of lean protein, green salad, undressed salads, fresh vegetable sticks. Eat low-fat dips for preference (hommous, cottage cheese/corn relish, smoked salmon/low fat cream cheese, tzaziki). Make your own and take them along - the host/hostess will be very grateful.
3) drink as much water as you want, or low-cal soft drinks. Drink out of a wine glass and keep your glass topped up with ice. Garnish with fruit and an umbrella (or a flag). The more water you drink, the less rubbishy food you'll have room for.
Enjoy.
Marg
Good Morning - It's Week Twenty-six!!!
