Organizing myself skinny

Happy Friday!

I just wanted to write a little bit about the importance of planning and organizing in my weight loss journey.   I am a very, very organized person.  I used to have a caboodle filled with nail polish and then I had each color on a sheet of white paper with the corresponding name next to it.  I also color coordinate my closet, accessories, etc.  I am also a list maker.  I make lists because it helps me feel like I have accomplished something when I cross it off.  I feel like my life is in order when I organize, plan, make lists, you get the point.  So, I figured why not incorporate this into my weight loss journey.  Actually, if I am being totally transparent I didn't think about this so much as I just started doing it without even thinking because that is what I do.  Don't get the wrong idea here.  I am NOT like a total crazy neat freak organizer.  I just like to think ahead and make sure that I have a plan for things because I hate being caught off guard.

I think that being organized and planning ahead works super well when you are trying to lose weight, whether it is planning your meals, work-outs, etc.  I went grocery shopping this week and I got lots of fruits, veggies, snacks (low-calorie, low-fat something salty because I LOVE chips and the hardest part of this lifestyle change is not sitting down and eating an entire bag of sour cream and onion chips... okay maybe not the whole bag, but more than anyone should eat).  So I made my own 100 calorie packs, portioned out my oatmeal for breakfast, cut my veggies and fruit and portioned them out into baggies and containers.  This has been AMAZING this week.  There is no excuse to not eat these delicious things when they are all cut, washed, packaged and ready to go.

Another thing that I have done is plan out things that I am going to do (as far as eating options goes) this weekend because I have a jam packed schedule.

Saturday- Ron's brother's birthday party.  This is a challenge.  I don't know what his mom is making to eat, so I will have to play that by ear and try and make decisions according to what is offered ( I am not publicly telling people about this weight loss journey until the results start showing up, so I don't want to tell her about it or offend her for not eating what she has prepared).

Sunday- Breakfast with friends.  I already looked at the menu and have decided what I am ordering.  So, I have dodged that bullet.  Lunch is going to be spent at the apple orchard with friends and we are having lunch there.  I called to see what they offered and it turns out that they have grilled chicken sandwiches, so I will probably have that and an apple.  The evening is going to be spent with one of my best friends baking fall goodies.  I know, i know, you are probably wondering how I am going to avoid over-indulging in these baked goods.  I LOVE to cook and bake, but I enjoy bringing it to people even more than eating it, so I plan on bringing all the goods to work.

Wish me luck!  Wait for an update on Sunday to see how the weekend goes.

Three letter word that I hate... GYM

So, is day four of my lifestyle change and I have done really well with the eating portion of this journey.  I am eating 3 well-portioned, healthy meals and small snacks in between them.  I am feeling great already and feel like I have already lost weight (I am only weighing myself once a week, so check back on Sunday to see the results).

So, what is missing you ask?  Well good question, but I think you already know (I already know even though I don't want to admit it).  The gym, working out, moving this body, working on my fitness... you get it.  I need to get off of my rear and get moving, especially since my job requires that I sit for almost 8 hours a day.  So, tonight my boyfriend came home and said lets go work out.  Normally I would make any excuse in the book to NOT work out.  It's that time of the month, no clean socks, sore fingers... yes sore fingers, I said ANY excuse to not go.  Well, anyway we went to the workout room in our apt and I did the elliptical for 15 minutes and was feeling pretty good, but I was definitely feeling the burn in my legs.  I decided to hop off and do some weights and try to incorporate some interval training with my cardio work out.  After doing some weights and crunches I was pooped and hadn't eaten dinner, so I decided to call it and head up for dinner.  Ron and I made a pact to be active every night even if for the first week we don't workout for longer than 30 minutes (cardio and weights).  It helps to start somewhere.  It makes me feel like I can do this if I start to gradually integrate working out with the healthy eating.

Also, I have a VERY busy weekend with family events and other activities, which always means tons and tons of FOOD and SWEETS.  To try and prove to myself that I can really do this I have already looked at the menus at places we are going and made a food plan to help me stay on track.  I love how being healthy feels and thus far I love how easy it has been.  I know, i know talk to me in a few weeks and hopefully I have this same optimism.  Wait, scratch that I WILL have that same optimism and dedication to this.  As Perez Hilton says, "nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels."