In January, I presented my fitness goals for the year. I’m pretty happy with how things have come, so far. I’ve tried the new Weight Watchers plan. (Week one was successful. Week two was kind of a wash.) I’m sticking to the traditional program of tracking (and not focusing on the Simple Start plan.) And I’ve run a few races that I’ve been pleased with.
Trying the different Weight Watchers programs really helped me, I feel. The first week remind me how strict I need to be with myself. It didn’t focus so much on portions, but rather eating more filling foods. (Or, rather, power foods.) And now I’m back to more portion control. (Right after the two weeks of Simple Start, I went on a work trip and everything just kind of went by the wayside. I was exercising, but I was not making the greatest food choices.)
I’ve increased my exercise. Now that I am doing it more during the work day, I find myself starving at around 3 or 4:00. It can be tough and I want ALL THE FOOD.
The good thing about my job? It’s hard to eat out all the time. The bad part about my job? It’s hard to eat out. No, really. There are three restaurants on Main Street, and then I have access to the cafeteria. I tend to go to the cafeteria on Wednesdays, and I make sure that I’m at least attempting to choose healthier options. (Instead of the full-on wraps, I’m getting the chicken and adding it to a salad.) I rarely eat at the restaurants on Main Street, mostly because I feel exhausted after I overeat on a huge meal, and also because I just don’t want to spend the money. (I get discounted lunches at the cafeteria.)
I bring all of my snacks. All of them. I don’t have vending machines in every corner. That’s a really good thing. I tend to bring plain Cheerios (I snack like a two-year-old, apparently) and granola or nutrition bars. ZonePerfect recently sent me another box of their bars and I’m loving the Perfectly Simple bars (fewer ingredients AND I can pronounce everything? Winning.)
I also received chart detailing a few nutritious food swap suggestions from ZonePerfect. (That link is a printable PDF of the potential food swaps you could try.) For example, we’ve already been eating more quinoa versus brown rice. And I do like sweet potatoes a lot. I need to start baking those more than white potatoes. My mom actually made a macaroni and cheese with cauliflower a few months ago and my toddler loved it. That was such a smart food swap!
Next up: I’ve switched to water and flavored water. I notice a huge difference in my energy levels and just how things fit when I drink more water versus soda (even diet soda.)
Finally, I’ve brought out my Train Like a Mother book to kick start my half marathon training. I’m hoping this will help keep the weight gain at bay, too. The workouts are great and they are do-able! I first purchased this book a year ago and I loved it (I also had a fantastic PR at my June half marathon. I’m hoping for similar results in a couple of months!)
I’m excited to bring you another giveaway this week! The folks at ZonePerfect sent me a portable charger and I used it several times while I was traveling last week. It was SO handy and fit into my purse with no issues. I loved having it in the middle of a session or at the airport when I couldn’t find a spare outlet.
I also happened to have it on hand at work one day when I left my work phone charger at home. It works with my Samsung and my iPhone. I couldn’t have asked for anything better! And they sent me an extra to giveaway!
Let me know what you’ve done to help reach one of your goals/resolutions this year (are you still sticking to your resolutions??) The giveaway will end in one week on April 17 and a winner will be announced via Rafflecopter.
“Become A ZonePerfect® VIP & Save up to $10* Your first coupon will be emailed to you. Join Now
*$10 in savings relates to savings spread across a one year period and may vary.”
**Note: I did receive ZonePerfect bars as a part of the 2014 Blog Forward challenge, but I have not been compensated in any other way for my posts. With this challenge, I also received a charger to review, and one to giveaway. All opinions are my own and I’m free to rave or rant about the product, as I choose.
I have a portable charger, but it’s much bigger. I don’t mind, though, because I can charge 2 devices at once and the thing lasts through 8 or 10 charges, so I don’t worry about it running out.
I don’t make goals for the new year.. I gave up on that a long time ago BUT I totally agree w you on the drink swaps! I always hear my daughter order a sweet tea for her and I’m like,,,,, HELLO , Skinny (for now) , do you know how much sugar that has in it?’ and then I encourage her to do a 1/2 and 1/2 tea to cut back. It also stinks that I am a WAHM and I have access to all the ‘good’ foods.. you know like the candy and sweets…
I have tried some of the Zone Perfect bars before and they are very good and filling. My favorite is the chocolate mint – it is seriously yummy. Thanks for inspiring me to recharge. also!
I have been up and down with my resolutions – I was doing great until all heck broke loose and me and the kids got sick . Something about being sick doesn’t make you want to eat healthy, or of course leave you with any energy to work out. We are slowly but surely getting back on track!
I finally just flat out asked my husband to help me! I am so unmotivated to work out and eat good. Know that he is encouraging me and checking up on me has been so helpful! He doesn’t make me feel bad, just cheers me on for doing my best.
Gosh, I haven’t been keeping up with my weight loss goals, I’ve been procrastinating. Promise, I will get back in my regular routine of exercising,
One of my 2014 goals was to get more serious with my blog and I have.I’m posting more and promoting my posts via twitter and fb!
I don’t have one, and would love to win! I’m trying to stay HAPPY this year!
I challenged myself to drink more water, and with the help of a new bottle, I’m doing it. Camelbacks are neat!
I didn’t make any weightless goals for the year but I have put on a few extras pounds so I’m beginning to rethink that decision! I did set a goal to take one photo every single day which I’m still going strong on!
I’ve really been working on the swaps myself. Swapping just a few simple things can and DOES make such a big difference. I love snack bars. They’re like my GO TO when I’m in a hurry. I’ve tried Zone Perfect a few times and I really do like them.
This looks really cool! I do love the Zone Perfect bars, they are actually really good. I have totally slacked on any fitness goals I had.
I actually love and prefer flavored water so I’m happy to see that on the list.
There’s a lot of great suggestions for substitutions there! Great list!
Oh my gosh, I love the infographics you used. They make it so much easier to follow along, lol. I need to recharge my fitness goals too.
I just decided to make eating healthy my lifestyle, so I never diet. I just need to get going with the exercising part. Best wishes on your journey
i ditched soda but i still sweeten my tea. baby steps?? i hope?
Good luck on your journey! I loved the Simple Start program too. It also did the same for me.. helped me get on track and take a good hard look at the bad habits I had formed. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I am always running out of charge on my phone! This would be awesome!
I’m like you around mid-afternoon I’m craving a snack or two. I don’t really believe in diets anymore, I just believe in eating healthy, whole grains & organic foods.
Flavored water and sparkling club soda has helped me big time in fighting my soda urges. I also gave up sweet drinks and iced coffees which has been super tough. I have found a new love for tea though!
It was hard for me to stay active this spring with the horrible weather, but I have been pretty good. I have been eating lots more fruits and veggies since I got a Vitamix blender for smoothies!
I had to cancel my first 5K of the year because I had to attend a memorial for a dear friend. I am doing a 5K later this month, and still aiming for a few more this year. January-March I wrecked my diet with emo-eating, but am back on track.
I really need to get me something like this! My phone is always dying!
I need to recharge mine as well! I would love to win this! I listen to too much Pandora! My phone is always dying!
I’d love to win a portable charger that charges both my phone and my hubbys.
I don’t have a smart phone, so I’m pretty sure winning the giveaway this time would be pointless for me. However, I still wanted to share my goals for 2014.
I hadn’t done any long distance running since 2009, so my goal for 2014 was to bring LDR Becky back! I just completed my first half-marathon for the year with an awesome PR (26 mins. faster than anticipated, and 28 minutes faster than my previous fastest time). I have another half-marathon in a few weeks, and my goal is to hit a sub-2hrs PR!
I’m also hoping to maybe train for the full-marathon in Savannah, later this year – I also hope to get preggers 🙂
Cheerios are a good snack, I guess I snack like a 2-yr old too, and high five to you for it. 🙂
I’m a big fan of the LaCroix sparkling waters to calm my soda cravings! I also try coconut milk with my coffee.
Nope, I failed. But.. I’m starting new ones now!
I’ve given up soda and have stuck to it. I always get hit by the 3pm hungry bug too and it always gets me!
Well, I’ve lost over 50 pounds since re-starting my weight loss journey. What keeps me motivated is the desire to finally be healthy. I eat clean it’s given me tremendous results.
Good luck on your journey! You’re doing awesome.
Portable chargers are just awesome I really love mine!
I need to get better about my fitness and health goals for this year. Hopefully now that I’m getting my medical issues under control I can get back to it 🙂