Vacationing Help!

Ok, so I am going on vacation for the holidays - Wish Me luck!

Pop that popcorn and peel me a grape!

Little by little, my meal planning is getting better and better and I am learning more and more about the food I do or don't eat. I am eating more fruit and protein on a regular basis. I am eating at least 2 servings of fruit a day. I always have fruit for breakfast and then again as a snack later on in the day.

The thing about fruit though is that it doesn't last long when eaten by itself. For example, if I have a pear as a midday snack, a couple of hours before dinner, I am sure to be hungry again in an hour or so. Therefore, I usually have to pair it up with a handful of nuts or something similar.

While I love vegetables, I still need to improve in that area. I am working on getting more veggies in at dinner time. The problem is that during the week I often just grab a bowl of cereal because I don't have time to cook a nutritious meal before my cutoff point of 8pm with all of the other things I have to do.

I also found out that popcorn is a high volume, low calorie snack that I can eat throughout the day without packing on too many calories. What I mean by "high volume" is that you can enjoy a large portion without it having any damaging effects.

I get the "natural" flavored popcorn. I don't really care for butter, which is a plus in my corner. Three days this week I had popcorn with my lunch or as a snack. However, for some reason I don't think you should be eating the whole bag. So again a step in the right direction but I have to check on the correct portion with the nutritionalist.

This week when I met with the physical trainer I learned that I lost a couple of pounds. While that's a step in the right direction I am still a little disappointed that it isn't more, although, it is a breakthrough from before where I was just maintaining my weight.

Michael, the physical trainer, insured me that while I was maintaining my weight I was beginning to lose fat and gain muscle. In the weeks/months to come, I should see more changes and my weight should start to drop more rapidly. I can't wait until that day when I can touch it and feel the difference.

Related Topics: Healthy Snack Recipes, Fiber & Fruit: 2 Ways to Eat Like a Lean Person

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Unexpected benefits

Just to follow up on last week's blog, my husband did consume all of the nutritious items that he purchased such as the rice cakes, bananas and whole grain cereal and oh, I almost forgot salt-free potato chips.

I tried on some of my pre-pregnancy clothing this week and no luck yet. They still don't fit -- urgh! However, I do have to say that I am feeling a lot stronger that I did before. My son is becoming easier to hold everyday and I know he is not getting lighter! The weightlifting I think is helping me with that. His carrier, which I am sure all mothers are aware, weighs a ton and I am not struggling as much trying to carry him and the carrier at the same time.

I have been taking vitamins and eating earlier in the day and my cut off time for consuming food at night is 8pm. As a result of those changes and working out I believe my metabolism has increased or something. I find myself hungrier throughout the day. I guess that could be a result of my workouts but we will see. I'll have to ask my trainer about that this week.

My husband and I are going on a mini-vacation in a couple of weeks. I have to figure out a way to maintain my schedule during that time. That includes eating and working out because usually on vacation that's where we splurge the most on food. We are not renting a car where we are vacationing so we should be able to get plenty of exercise walking off anything we eat anyway.

Related Topics: Weight-Loss Plateaus, Slimming Foods for Summer

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I want results!

Ok, where do I start? The fitness program is going fine except for the minor ache in my knees and lower back. I am not seeing any results but I know that I have to be patient and that time will come soon.

I feel challenged. I am working out a minimum of three times a week, and I see my personal trainer at least once a week. Once I get to the gym, I am motivated to do whatever I am instructed to do and more. The only problem with working out is finding the time and babysitter but that too has worked its way out little by little.

I'm also finding out that I am overprotective of my child but as a first time Mom, I believe that it is a right of passage. So even though my gym provides day care I am still a little leery of leaving my son in the hands of strangers where there will be other little children surrounding him with who knows what kind of germs...

My house is a mess. As a result, of me squeezing an exercise routine into my daily schedule, house chores have taken a back seat or rather a rear end to everything else. I mean, something has to be sacrificed when your priorities shift. Unfortunately for me, it's the weekly chores. Now everything gets pushed to the weekends. How I love to spend my weekends cleaning!

Also, I have some guilt. I don't cook as often as I used to. Besides being a new mother I am also a wife, a new one at that. So I feel guilty that I haven't been cooking the way I used to for my husband. I used to have dinner ready when he got home from work but now that I am working out I don't have the time nor the energy. Now cooking has also been pushed to the weekends but no one said this would be easy.

Good news - My husband has joined the battle! He has always supported me from the beginning with the fitness challenge and eating healthier and all but, he could come and go as he chose.

I think this health kick is contagious because now he is actually consciously eating healthier and taking his vitamins on a regular basis. He went to the grocery this week and purchased nutritious items that I didn't even tell him to buy such as rice cakes, bananas and whole grain cereal. My husband is a meat and potatoes type of guy so for him to buy fruit, especially bananas, which he would never touch before, is a big step.

Needless to say I was impressed with what I saw and commended him. Now let's see if he actually eats the items that he bought.

Related Topics: Losing Weight is Easier With Support, Food & Cooking Tips

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New knees, please

I worked out 5 times this week!! I feel like I am starting to get a grasp on what I am supposed to be doing as far as working out. After working out with the physical trainer this week I felt good.

But there is a lurking problem that keeps rearing its ugly head every so often and that's my knees. Last week, after I ran on the treadmill, which I was NOT instructed to do, my knees swelled and ached badly. I guess I was trying to get ahead of the game so that I could see results sooner but that didn't prove to be a smart move.

This week the same thing happened but after I lifted some weights. I was told that knee problems are a common ailment of women and if you try to do too much prior to your strengthening the muscles surrounding your knees you can permanently injure them.

I must have done something improperly or out of form yesterday morning when I worked out because I could hardly walk afterwards. I had to come home and take some Motrin to relieve the pain. I hate to have to call my trainer because I feel that it will impede my progress and I don't want anything to slow me down. But I guess I have to so that I won't cause permanent harm to my knees. I don't want to have to wear flats for the rest of my life.

Speaking of working out, I finally went and worked out at the gym near my home that I joined last week. It's a pretty nice place and everyone's friendly. There's a lot of camaraderie among the members and that made me want to come back. I am scheduled to go tomorrow; hopefully my knees will be ready!

Related Topics: Workouts With Strollers Help New Moms Get Fit, Protecting Your Joints From Damage

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