The Trick to Losing Weight

Last weekend, I tried to put on my jeans.

Nope.

I could not button them up.

I know that I need to make weight loss a priority, but I keep having setbacks that make it seem impossible.

The setbacks are real.

I have a couple of medical conditions that, when they flare, make me retain water and make me a temporarily picky eater. They also chain me to the house and zap any energy that I have away. The good news is that, between flares, I am fine.

Well, mostly fine. I've been struggling with a couple of broken teeth. One required an extraction and a cap next to it. The other is a work in progress. For most people, it's an annoyance. But for me, my health issues flare up, so I've had a vicious infection and some other problems.

My husband is working long hours right now, so I am mostly single parenting right now. (So far, he has worked for 21 days straight, with 10 to 11 hour days.)

I have asthma and a bad hip, and when both act up - ouch.

I've gone to the gym some, but working out outdoors is virtually impossible since it has rained for WEEKS. (South Louisiana gets afternoon storms, but this has been constant and unusual.)

I run out of time and grab chicken tenders on the road. I get too hungry and get a candy bar when grocery shopping. I eat cookies because they are quick and convenient.

But the setbacks are no excuse.

There is a trick to losing weight and I should be ashamed of myself for not doing it:

MAKE A PLAN.

* Plan grocery shopping. 

Buy more of the good foods (for me, chicken breasts, sunflower seeds, fruits, and veggies) and less of the bad foods (cookies, empty calories). 

Eat first, before shopping, so you don't get hungry during the trip.

*Plan meals.

Write down dinner plans, keeping in mind the rhythm of the day.

On days when I substitute teach, I make something quick, like a salad or something from my freezer. On at-home days, I might make a stew or chicken with roasted veggies.

For breakfast and lunch, have routine items that are quick to make and easy to carry with you. I prefer a bowl of grits, an egg, or a fruit for breakfast. I usually plan leftovers for lunch, but when I don't have any, I make a salad.

*Plan to snack.

Snacks go on the daily prep list.

I've started bringing a water bottle and a fruit everywhere that I go. I also keep sunflower seeds in my car.

You will snack. Plan for it, and you won't pull through the drive-through.

*Plan exercise.

Write it down in your planner.

Make a date with a friend.

Attend a regular class.

Have a back-up plan for rainy, hot, and cold days.

For someone who plans so well, I've really been struggling with this. It's time to make a plan.

Etcetera.

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Ramblings of a Bad Domestic Goddess