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... I vowed to go on a diet. Not a crazy, starve-myself kinda diet, just one that seemed to make sense at the time. No sweets, no sodas, no bread, no cooked oil, limited dairy, pasta with an oil-free sauce once a week. For the past three weeks I've been living on lots of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, fresh fish, black coffee, natural yogurt, occasional feta cheese, lots and lots of water (and mixed with fresh lemon juice in the morning). I've been eating well. I have never finished a meal still hungry. And guess what? I've lost FOUR kilos. I'm so proud of myself. And not only that, I feel emotionally better too. In fact, all this healthy eating has made a considerable difference. And only over three weeks. I'm losing weight, and I can actually see a difference in the way my clothes hang on my body; my complexion is smoother, I don't feel lethargic in the middle of the day, I can concentrate for longer periods of time, and I also feel more motivated.
This weekend, I decided I wouldn't touch my computer. And I stuck to it (except for ten minutes when I needed to write a book review for Talli's upcoming release). It was SO good. I did a lot of reading. I didn't enter my office for anything other than locating my Kindle charger, and getting a new book off my shelf to read. And I had a revelation (see my brain is working as it should be too with all these veggies). I'm going to take every weekend off. I used to use the weekend to take care of personal projects, but I've decided, no more. I'm going to schedule my writing and marketing it into my weekdays. It can't be that hard. I just have to stop sleeping in till 10am like a depressed sloth. So ...
... I've planned my weekly schedule. Allocated specific hours for specific things instead of just taking the day as it comes like usual (which was work till my eyes hurt while farting about on the internet). That seems to be a recipe for BAD for me. From now on, while I'm working, I'm turning off the internet. I'm sure to get my work done a lot quicker this way and therefore have time to write and network in the afternoon. I'm also checking out a yoga studio around the corner from my apartment this week. It'll be nice to have something to HAVE to get out of the house for a few times a week. I'm so looking forward to having more of a work/leisure balance in my life!
And can you believe, all it took for me to realize all this was to stop eating crap? Why didn't I do this sooner? ;o)
Do you notice a difference in your mood, logic and performance when you eat well?
PS: I'm craving ice cream right now. Badly. Actually, I crave it all the time. This is the con. But I'll treat myself to one soonish ...
PPS: If you want to win an ARC of String Bridge go and leave a comment HERE. You've got until Wednesday to sign up. Do me a favor and spread the word if you're feelin' generous :o)
Tune in tomorrow for ~Muso of the Week~! :o)
Well done! I really need to sort myself out. I am good one week and fail the next. Then the mood slips.
ReplyDeleteTry making iced yoghurt flavoured with fruit. It helps fight the urge for ice-cream. Frozen mashed banana with yoghurt is good.
Keep up the good work. The forced power cuts here helped me get on track with writing. Unplug time is good.
Without a doubt. I eat far better now than I ever have. I’ve never eaten that badly but Carrie pays much more attention to making sure our diet is balanced. I also need to watch my weight. Since I’ve become less active physically I can’t eat with the same freedom as I used to do but I’m managing to keep my weight under 13st which I can live with. When I was ill I shot up to 14st 5lbs and although that’s not that heavy I was definitely unhappy carrying those extra pounds. Exercise is the area I know I need to address. I keep saying I will but I never do. It takes me a long time to get my act together in the mornings which is ironic because all my life I’ve been a morning person starting work as early as possible (7am or 7:30) but by the time I’m feeling more up to exercising I’m caught up in work and hate to drag myself away from it to ‘waste’ time on exercise.
ReplyDeleteUrgh, I'm in the middle of writing a 12,000 word dissertation and my eating is all over the place. You're inspiring me to take a break, get down the shop and buy something green!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. Congrats. I do think the best dieting is about eating healthy - not starving yourself. That kind of weigh loss doesn't stay off. And yes, I think it's smart to schedule computer time. Give ourselves a break!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! But watch out...those extra pounds are gonna haunt you (like your craving ice cream)...and they're gonna whisper in your ear...eat, EAT! I've got about ten pounds that have been haunting me for years.
ReplyDeleteGood for you...you ALMOST motivated me...
ReplyDeleteKudo's for you in the realizing the change that was needed. Me, without knowing it I have been eating healthier and all I've noticed is I don't notice. :)
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Congratulations. I had a similar realization recently, so I'm also back on the good-food bandwagon.
ReplyDeleteBtw, the craving for ice cream will go away soon. You have to ride it out. You're mind's telling you it wants what it's used to because your mind doesn't like changing as much as your body does. Give it another week or so and it will go away.
Good luck :)
that's awesome Jess! I've got a game plan but am waiting for the girls to start school in order to put it into motion. It's hard to excercise with the three little ones around though I did cut out soda and replaced my table sugar with sweetener. I also switched out my afternoon coffee for tea and have been eating more fruits. I know it will make a big difference. I'm signing up for gymnastics twice a week and hoping to hit the local pool for a swim two mornings a week too. I'm mostly concerned about my skin. It seems to be hanging differently and I'm not even 30 yet!I still have ten months and eight days before I turn 30 so i'm hoping to get myself into shape before facing the milestone. And help my husband get back into shape too;)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I would love to be able to eat more fresh/raw fruits and vegetables, but I can't due to having Crohn's Disease. I'm not left with much that isn't starchy and soft, so I have to work hard to keep my weight down. I do water aerobic, ride the stationary bike and take an ab class (I'm hoping to add yoga at some point.) That said, the fact that I can gain weight and keep it on is a good sign with this disease. However, I sure to miss things like strawberries and tomatoes.
ReplyDeletewow miss jessica! for sure im just sooooo proud of you for losing off some fat. if you could want you could give me some cause i gotta gain some fat. i like it lots that youre gonna on the week ends do stuff you could like and not do one piece of work. wow! how cool is that! im happy cause your happy! :)
ReplyDelete...big hugs from lenny
Sounds like all these veggies are giving you a new perspective. I love that! Being unplugged for the weekend is such a treat. I'm going to try that too.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm super impressed with your willpower (and thanks loads for hopping onto the computer to write the review). :)
ReplyDeleteI usually have a computer-free day on Sunday. I find it really helps my state of mind!
LOL!!! Fantastic work! I do think my mood improves when I take computer breaks like you're doing on the weekends. And getting outside ALWAYS helps.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ice cream, dairy allergy here. I miss it ALL THE TIME, too... Maybe you could opt for a low-fat, healthy substitute? I've been getting the soy cream, and it's amazing. But gotta watch quantity! ;p
What's a kilo? I buy crack in that I think.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Starting a new diet is hard, but rewarding! I found that meal planning, just writing it down and then sticking to it, did wonders for me.
Good stuff, Jessica! We eat healthy in our house as well. Lots of fruit and vegetables. And I can't even remember the last time I ate fast food. I just don't!
ReplyDeleteCongrats. I'm sure you'll stick with healthy eating having felt the benefits. I wish I had the discipline, but I'm certainly gonna try. Every so often, I do some healthy eating, but then I fall back into bad habits.
ReplyDeleteI've tweeted about the contest.
The healthy eating makes a huge difference! I find that once I cut out all the junk I (almost) stop craving it. After my son was born I had trouble losing the weight so I went on South Beach for a year and it still influences the way I eat. It sounds like you're definitely on the right track.
ReplyDeleteI discovered that I have hypoglycemia a few years ago. I went on the recommended low GI diet and it has made a WORLD of difference in my life.
ReplyDeleteI had suffered from depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue all my life as a result of the undiagnosed hypoglycemia and it almost completely disappeared when I changed my diet. My ADHD wasn't nearly so bad either.
So, yeah, changing my diet has made an enormous difference in my life.
Healthy eating makes a BIG difference! GO you!!!
ReplyDeleteOver the last month I've snacked on cantaloupe instead of chocolate, and I can tell the difference in mood, too. Just knowing you're eating well makes you feel well.
ReplyDeleteAnd just this last week I've spent more time away from the computer and more in the chair by the window, reading, and also going for longer walks.
So yeah, you go, girl.
That's great, Jessica! It's amazing what those fruit and veggies will do. I've been trying to eat healthier lately, and I do feel better--still tired at times, though. There really is something to this healthy food thing. *grins*
ReplyDeleteWell Done, you! Congrats on success. And very cool it is clearing the brain. It's nice that you can figure out the down time, too. I wish my day job wasn't so rigid. In my dream world. I'd cut back a bit, but writing needs to pay more before I can. (like a lot more)
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Congrats! I just realized about a month ago that I was gaining weight instead of losing it, so I started doing more veggies too. I've lost a little and feel so much better! =)
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica .. all I can say is well done .. being in the land of sunshine and fresh fruits, veg and fish must be so wonderful. Our end of summer glut is here .. so it's a great time to get stimulated and lose. Nothing like losing those extra pounds. Good for you and keep going ... Hilary
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