I really love a good challenge, even if I'm the only contender. I'm determined for April to be the month where food tracking and exercise get married and live harmoniously. Yes indeed. They're gonna be friends and I'm going to be better for it.
And because a challenge needs a system, rules and reward. I made a spread sheet. To get one sticker each day this month I will need to do three things: track my calories, post all food consumed on blog, and exercise daily. I will only get my reward if I've done all of these things everyday for eight weeks. I will get another sticker for each pound that I lose. It's going to be awesome.
Yes, I'm slightly neurotic, yes I love stickers. And yes, I love a good challenge. I live for challenges. Need further proof? When I clean I have to set my oven timer for 35 minutes. I like to challenge myself to clean as much as possible during that time. I cannot do anything else, but clean for 35 minutes. And you know what? It works and I love it. No email, no kitty petting, no gazing out the window. Just focused time.
I also get a small reward for each week that I get all of my stickers. I really thought about these rewards and the one thing I got consistently excited about was a new book/magazine. I'm going to have to buy a new bookcase when it's all said and done. I love going to the book store on weekends and I've decided that I want to earn those books and magazines that I love so dearly. When I buy a new book, I want to say "you know what? you worked hard for that." Not just for the money to buy it, but for taking care of myself.
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This morning I woke up feeling hung over from food. I overindulged this weekend with my parents visiting, hosting a bridal shower, and date night with Josh. I just wanted something substantial, not too heavy, and delicious. I decided on 1/2 cup walnut, date, and raisin oatmeal (a package from Tina!) with 1 T homemade almond, peanut and cashew honey nut butter, 1 T all-fruit strawberry jam, and 1/2 C whole milk.
Nut butter! So easy to make and delicious.
Not sure who Uncle Matt is, but this orange juice tasted very fresh.
Lillies left over from the bridal shower decided to finally open up.
Total calories: 460
PS: I am not a nutritionist. I do not recommend that you eat like me to lose weight. I do know that fruit is a natural sugar. I do know that I could have eaten about 100 other things that would satisfy a number of other people, theories, studies or guidelines.
I like how you set the time for a certain time to do household chores. I find my self doing other stuff like kitty petting so I might try this myself.
Sounds like a great idea. I would love to see what your spreadsheet looks like.
Yay for oats! I’m glad you like them. I’ve actually been eating a half serving sometimes for a snack when I’m having a sweet craving (a whole serving is too filling for an afternoon snack).