Staying Motivated for the Long Haul
My biggest obstacle to maintaining a healthy weight is a seemingly invisible "switch" that goes on and off in my brain. When it's "on" I am in the zone and can avoid the most decadent temptations and will exercise faithfully. But, about a year to 15 months into my healthy lifestyle, the switch turns to "off" and I lose focus and revert to my bad habits of poor food choices (both in what I eat and how much I eat) and I become more sedentary. I am at that point now and I feel a slow panic building as the number on the scale inches upward. I know what I should do, but I am at a loss as to how to get my mojo back. Suggestions, anyone!?
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@hopeful33250 I made the broccoli and white bean skillet last night. It was so good! I want to try some of her one pan meals with roasted vegetables. They look really good, too.
@jodeej Yes, one pan meals are great. No fuss when you can just put everything together. I'll have to look at the broccoli and white bean skillet recipe. Thanks for the suggestion.
Teresa
Here is a neat message that I found today!
Tuesday Tips: 5 easy-to-remember rules to jump-start weight loss
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tuesday-tips-5-easy-to-remember-rules-to-jump-start-weight-loss/
We're all working toward the same healthy goal! I think these ideas will work well with any diet plan you are following. Any thoughts?
Rosemary
@jodeej Have you tried the roasted veggie meal yet? I do a cookie sheet full of them-usually what is in season. This is a taste treat. For dessert I have chia pudding with fresh fruit. I also love to roast baby bella mushrooms with them.
@rosemarya Thanks, Rosemary. Some good tips there. I really do not watch TV much so that one is not very applicable, and I do my exercises at my club and in my bedroom (recumbent bike) but I do have my lunch in front of the computer. Since I make the salad ahead of time I would be eating the same amount whether or not I was in front of the computer.
I try to keep fruits in and eat them, I am on a huge strawberry roll right now so of course those cannot be kept on the counter. In fact my lunch salad generally consists of greens, strawberries, goat cheese, some chicken, and Braswell Raspberry Vinaigrette. If you have Braswell dressings in your local stores they are delicious. The two I like are the one I mentioned, and the Vidalia peppercorn one.
I also always check out the menus and choose ahead what I will get, that really does help.
We are going away this weekend, leaving tomorrow until Sunday, with another couple to Bar Harbor in Maine. We always pack some snacks for the room and I have those little carrots and celery sticks, along with some cheese and nuts.
Speaking of strawberries, do you know if you give them a white vinegar bath, then rinse them, they keep much longer? The vinegar kills any spores on the strawberries. I think it's supposed to be one part vinegar to 8 parts water but I just put them in a bowl with water and dump in some vinegar. It leaves no vinegar taste. You can do that with many berries, just not the really fragile ones like raspberries.
JK
@contentandwell, Thanks for the tip about the white vinegar bath for the berries. I am going to check into that for sure!
My biggest difficulty is that I want to munch anytime that I am sitting still and my hands are unoccupied. In the winter I knit/crochet but now the currently pleasant porch sitting weather changes my desire to do those projects! I like the prepared salad idea that you use for computer sitting time! That sets a limit on what you eat. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy your weekend! Rosemary
@contentandwell Hi Jane:
Like Rosemary said, I had never heard of the white vinegar bath before - great idea! I'll give it a try with my next batch of berries. I just love Connect - I'm always learning something new.
Teresa
@parus I haven't tried this one, but I have roasted big pans of veggies in the winter and used them to make my lunches for the work week! Love them!
@contentandwell those are great ideas! I am going to use the vinegar rinse when I buy my berries this weekend. 🙂 Have a fun trip!
JoDee
@parus and @jodeejparus
Yes, I love roasted veggies as well. I just do my favorites (no broccoli): asparagus, pearl onions, mushrooms, grape tomatoes (add a great taste), bits of squash or sweet potatoes, sprinkled with olive oil and garlic. Yummy.
@parus I've never heard of chia pudding, I'll have to google a recipe. Does it taste like tapioca, custard or vanilla pudding?
Teresa