I have taken to eating plain Greek yogurt. Not raspberry yogurt. Not even yogurt with a little honey in it. Definitely no granola or even sweetener. Just plain, boring, drab Greek yogurt. Why am I torturing myself like this? Well, bikini season is right around the corner, I bought a really cute one this year, and dang it, I’m going to wear it!
Truth is, the plain yogurt isn’t that bad. The first day I was like, “You’ve gotta be kidding me.” I folded and added a small tiny drop (read: 4 whopping Tablespoons) of honey to my 90 calorie yogurt. But after that, I forced myself to just eat it plain. I’m on day 3 of project plain yogurt, and I’m starting to get used to it.
Of course, plain yogurt isn’t my only line of defense against the fat cells that are lining up, ready to jump on my thighs as soon as I even glance at a pat of butter. I am eating 5 small meals a day, all roughly the same amount of small calories. I am ensuring that my last meal is by 6pm at night and fairly light. And I am drinking water. Lots of water. I’m pretty certain that I am starting to grow gills, I’m drinking so much water. And now I am adding in the dreaded E word. That’s right, Eggnog. Wait, that’s not it. I’m EXERCISING.
I hate exercising. I can eat healthy to my heart’s content (except for when ice cream’s around, or when I succumb to this fabulous cupcake phenomenon that’s going on). But exercise? My body and brain start arguing with each other, and it goes something like this:
Brain: Hey, look! Sunshine! Let’s go outside and run a couple laps!
Body: Are you flipping joking? I’m enjoying this nice comfy couch right now.
Brain: I don’t think your butt can get any wider. Let’s get a move on before it molds itself to the couch.
Body: No. I might sweat. Or get one of those side cramp thingies.
Brain: We can go slowly at first. But if you want to tone those thighs, you need to start walking, running, ANYTHING besides just sitting there on your couch.
Body: Look, I’m wiggling my toes. I’m fairly certain that the muscles in my toes are moving the muscles in my feet, which are in turn stretching the muscles in my legs that are toning the muscles in my thighs. So you see? I can totally tone up AND sit on this couch.
Brain: You have a good point there. Anything good on TV?
Unfortunately, my body is pretty convincing, and my brain is kind of a pushover. But I have managed to convince myself that diet alone is not going to cut it. Just months ago I was on the Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred kick. And I have to say, before I totally threw out my shoulder with the dumbbell lunges, it was definitely working – and quickly! I couldn’t move my upper body after 2 weeks, and kept reinjuring my shoulder whenever I resumed the exercises. But my abs and arms were tight! Unfortunately, I also like to be able to walk without hunching over. So Jillian Michaels and her cronies with the scary looking 14 pack abs have gone to the back of the DVD pile, ready to play again when I have forgotten the torture she inflicted on me. In the meantime, I have settled on some simple ab crunchies while I am reading in bed, and making sure to stretch and do lunges at least once a day. Eventually, I will venture out of my cave and get to walking…maybe even being brave enough to attempt a light jog (don’t hold your breath on that one). And of course, I’ll continue eating my scrumptious plain Greek yogurt.
What is your fitness and diet routine for keeping healthy?
Wine Country Mom 
I’m used to the Greek yogurt (not just for skin burns or yeast infections anymore!!! should be the tag line…) called ‘Fage’ and try to eat it without the flavoring, but it’s hard to do. Even Grape Nuts would taste good on top of this stuff right about now…ugh – even paper shreds – which I hear have a LOT of fiber!
Bathing suit season is interesting. So, I did something different this year, I posed nude for ‘boudoir’ photos. Tummy, saggy butt and all. I was shocked, but I’m actually nicer to my body now, eat better for it and bought a two piece this summer.
Now, if the fudge bars and the potato salad would stop calling my name, we’d be good.
My favorite Greek yogurt is by Dannon. Not only does it taste good (for a plain yogurt), but it is usually on sale. And of all the non-fat Greek yogurts out there, this one seems to have the lowest calories. With that said, this week I am eating Fage. And I’ve got to say, it’s also pretty dang good. However, the price….
Your Boudoir photo idea is BRILLIANT! If anything makes you feel better in a swimsuit, that will. Not only that, 30 years from now you will be looking at those photos and will see your body as beautiful, even if you are complaining about it now.
Ugh…I, personally, have been feeling rather body discouraged recently. I was sure I had been eating more healthy (less frozen pizza, more fresh fruits and veggies) and getting more exercise (switching up my hour walk with good old I-live-in-the-country yardwork) but I seem to be gaining weight anyway. I have recently had some super depressing encounters with clothes that i KNOW fit me not long ago. On the other hand, horrible self-loathing is a great motivator…
Best advice I can give you is to write down every single thing you eat during the day and record the calorie amounts. Sometimes we eat things that we aren’t even aware we are eating, or are eating more than we should without knowing the calorie amount. And by writing it down, we’re less likely to eat something we don’t want to record. Or to make it easier, just eat half portions of everything for now. It will get you in the habit of eating less without overthinking it. It could be that you’re putting so much thought into eating healthy that it makes you want to eat more. And starting out, that’s the last thing you want to do.
Buy a bicycle and us it for trips of less then 5 mile one way. With a good set of panniers you can even use it for grocery shopping.
Patrick, that’s such a great way to fool ourselves into exercising. Very true. Thanks!
I could surely use some motivation in the “get in shape” department! Reading these posts is great. I feel akin to several of you!
I live in Windsor and work full time. I would love to find someone who would be crazy enough to get out around 5:30a to go walking for an hour or so before work… I live near Foothill Regional Park and think that would be a great way to start the day….
I’m open to meeting after work for walks, too, but it’s not as easy for me to coordinate if I have my daughter, OR if it’s 100 degrees outside! But then again, the excuse is it’s either too hot or too cold out! So, I’ll have to kick my wimpy self to the curb and get on track!
I’d also love to meet and walk Howarth Park in the mornings on the weekends…
Send a message if you’re interested in walking w/ me!
Hey Steph, several of us moms are doing a walk around Spring Lake every Friday morning at 9am. I know that’s a bugger for moms who work during the week, but if you are free then you should meet up with us! If not, I know some moms would love to be able to walk on weekends. You should go to the SantaRosaMom.com website and see if any moms there want to join you.