So I’m on a Diet….

By Janelle @ Run With No Regrets | nutrition

Aug 04

Hey hey… I’m heading home after a day trip in NYC with some good time to wrote an update. In a previous entry I mentioned my first time seeing the dietitian and I think this is one of the best decisions I ever made.

After the first visit, my boyfriend and I stocked up on some delicious fruits and veggies at Reading Terminal Market. I also picked up some peanuts to add to my protein regimen. When I went to a birthday party and wedding in the same weekend, I carefully selected my choices to follow the new rules. The main thing is, I’m thinking before I eat.

During my second visit, we got down and dirty. We talked about my personal goal, which is to go from my current weight to 130 pounds. The good news is that in a week a lost a half pound!

Since August 1, I have been logging my meals. I write down what I eat,  what time I eat, how many calories I consume approximately, then how many servings of each food group I consume. Then it gets tallied up at the end of the day and I see if I made the mark.

Here’s a pic of my first day:

My first meal log…a good start that I need to maintain!

The hardest thing right now is: realizing I have to limit my time at bars and restaurants, which is a huge hobby of mine since I love to eat and socially drink! In addition to that, I’m now required to limit myself to 1 alcoholic drink per week. I had actually planned to do this on my own as a personal challenge to save my waistline, but now I have further incentive. So the social aspect of my life will and has already changed.

So I had 3 meals out at restaurants in the past 2 days and let me tell you… Not gonna work! Even when I pick these nice, healthier establishments it’s hard to know exactly what I’m eating. I had a mysterious mixed drink last night. And I don’t know what kinds of butters and oils were cooked in the food. I’m definitely eating better than before, but I need to break out my cookbook. I went for brunch in NYC and got silver dollar pancakes. They gave me like 10 of them and there was a dollop of cream I had to avoid. The strawberries and blueberries were yummy though, and the turkey bacon was great. I gotta get used to this blogging thing and take pics to share!  But I think you get my point…

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It’s also really hard to be at a bar, like I was last night, and NOT get something to drink without seeming like some kind of cheapskate or weirdo.  So I ended up ordering a beer.  I’m trying not to feel guilty about these things, but it’s just best to stay out of these environments and away from these temptations.

So here’s the deal: I’m on a diet now.  I could pretend that I’m not, but I am. For me to reach 130, I’ll be aiming for 1500 calories a day: 3 carbs, 3 fruits, 4+ veggies, 2-3 dairy, 4 meat/meat substitutes and less than 1 fat a day and less than one “junk” a week.

I really want to do well with this, see if I can succeed and sustain a completely healthy lifestyle as long as I live. I know most people look at me and think I’m skinny or tiny, but that doesn’t last forever. And I can’t rely on solely running/working out to stay “healthy” especially when I seem susceptible to injury (i.e. knees 2012, foot 2013).

I’ll be doing this until my next dietitian appointment on August 21. I’m excited to see where I end up! I hope that talking about my triumphs and struggles with getting serious about nutrition helps you too. I’m hoping it becomes more natural as I continue on these next 3 weeks.

Tell me, what tips do you have for sticking with your “diet”?