Oops. Last week, my usually sweet but occasionally blunt husband gave me tough love when I vented about stubborn pounds. He said, "Well, then exercise more and eat less, right?" Ouch.
Of course, he's spot on—I know that. But in those moments, a little empathy would go a long way: a hug, a gentle hair stroke, and "Honey, I love you no matter what." Sadly, that's straight out of romance novels. 😛
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Easier said than done. As someone who's juggled a busy life for years, I get how days slip away. Before you know it, it's dinner time, work spills over to the PC, and by 11 PM, Netflix calls. Reasonable, right?
I'll own it: my activity levels need work. I'm no fitness enthusiast, and 24 hours feel too short. I average 8,000 steps daily—a solid effort given my desk-bound routine. But between cooking, cleaning, volunteering, and endless tasks, movement takes a backseat.
One bright spot: volunteering at the animal shelter means feeding animals and tidying pastures, racking up steps that delight my phone's pedometer.
That's a clearer yes. I eat mindfully most days, but as a food lover, I indulge occasionally—family meals, a glass of wine. Breakfast: cottage cheese with apple. Lunch: two brown bread sandwiches, maybe with egg or light toppings. Dinner: balanced home cooking.
The evening Netflix snack—cheese or similar—is likely the issue. I've cut weekday wine, which helps. My real hurdles: ramping up movement amid early menopause (minimal hot flashes, but stalled weight loss) and time constraints.
At 1.67m tall, I was 61kg pre-pregnancies. Post-kids, 4-5kg lingered. For years, 66-67kg felt manageable, though bikinis were off-limits.
Last six months: consistently over 70kg, peaking at 73kg. It crushed my confidence, mirror and scale alike. Others might envy it, but from my baseline, it's unwelcome—no 'natural' drop, even with balance days.
Time for change. Here's what worked for me last week.
Something clicked—I flipped the switch.
Restarted CrossFit after a 6-week hiatus. Muscle soreness sidelined me for days 😉. Now, prioritizing dog walks over extra chores—body first. (Vacuuming burns calories too, but priorities!)
Downloaded MyFitnessPal to log every calorie, building awareness. What's that extra cappuccino? 45 calories. It tracks exercise too, earning 'bonus' calories. More details soon from my experience.
Discovered via Facebook ad—like Green Happiness, but simpler, low-carb recipes with supermarket staples. Includes protein bread. Received my box yesterday; testing for sustainable habits, not strict dieting.
Last week, I committed: swapped cravings for bell pepper slices, lunch eggs with avocado, dinners with cauliflower rice/risotto.
Momentum builds, inspired by fellow bloggers Pauline, Melissa, Sharon, Karen, and Tamara on similar paths.
We teamed up for accountability: sharing tips, recipes, motivation.
Stuck? Our group nudges you with humor—we're human. Join 'Today I Really Start' Facebook group for healthier moves, smarter eating, occasional indulgences.
Dieting solo is tough; together, it's fun! Make 2018 your year. No more blunt husband advice—"move more, eat less" 😉
Started at 71.9kg, now 70.6kg. Progress!
Comment if joining? xxx
