|
|
Post by jan on Jan 6, 2021 7:56:49 GMT
This round runs from Dec 31 to Feb 17. It’s not too late to join us. Just add your board name, first name and your goal for this round to this thread. All are welcome! Challengers: bmazzo/Beverly - Start the new year with new purpose. cathygeha/Cathy - Perseverance not Perfection cherryt38/Cherry - Continue exercising at something every day hollygail/Holly - Maintain lifetime at goal status jalibmu/Jan - adding more fruits and veggies into my meals jasimons/Judy -intentionally active daily pamthomas46/Pam -keep aiming for blue and post my menus. Hosts: Dec 31 - Jan 6 Jan Jan 7 - Jan 13 Cherry Jan 14 - Jan 20 Judy Jan 21 - Jan 27 Cathy Jan 28 - Feb 3 Holly + Feb 4 - Feb 10 Beverly Feb 11 Feb 17 Pam
Last 4 (of 7) Tips for Getting Back on Track After the Holidays
Meal plan & prep. Set aside some time for meal planning. Scan some recipes, make a shopping list, figure out which of your kitchen tools you’ll need and prepare at least two or three meals that you can just grab and eat for the week.
Utilize your slow cooker or insta pot. The slow cooker is a great kitchen tool that has stood the test of time. It makes a lot of sense for how we live today. Just toss some healthy ingredients together, turn it on and come back hours later to a tasty healthy dinner. Making it easy to have healthy meals ready and waiting, the slow cooker/crockpot one of my secrets for staying slim.
Make sleep a priority. Restful sleep is important to you health and weight loss success. Have you ever noticed that you feel extra hungry when you are sleep deprived? Experts say that getting enough shut-eye is as important to health, well-being, and your weight as are diet and exercise.
Take time to breathe. Did you know that you lose weight by breathing? Even more importantly slow deep breathing can help counter the negative effects of stress that lead to cravings and mindless eating.
Did anyone try the 30 seconds of slow breathing that was mentioned last week ? I completely forgot about it until I read it again here (and I was going to do it everyday !)
Do you have a crockpot (slow cooker) or insta pot ? Do you use them ?
|
|
|
|
Post by cathygeha on Jan 6, 2021 9:52:22 GMT
✔️Focus on the positive. ✔️Get moving. Working on this one✔️Up your veggies. We eat a LOT of vegetables every day! Meal plan & prep. Set aside some time for meal planning. Scan some recipes, make a shopping list, figure out which of your kitchen tools you’ll need and prepare at least two or three meals that you can just grab and eat for the week. I have never been a planner...we usually decide just before lunch what it will be then prepare it in time to eat it 
Utilize your slow cooker or insta pot. Haven't used the slow cooker for decades...it is 110 and Lebanon is now 220 so it would require a transformer AND the electricity is iffy and the pot is in Beirut... I have a pressure cooker I use for beans and when my husband wants a chicken cooked.Make sleep a priority. I usually get enough sleep but not always...not when I have a good book and don't go to sleep on time Take time to breathe. Did you know that you lose weight by breathing? Even more importantly slow deep breathing can help counter the negative effects of stress that lead to cravings and mindless eating.I did it a few times but not a lot...didn't notice a big difference BUT don't have a lot of stress on a daily basis.
QOTD Did you overdo it over the holidays ? Are you ready to get back on track ? Didn't overdo but didn't stick rigidly to the plan so am focusing on getting back OP 24/7 to reach goal weight this year
|
|
|
|
Post by jasimons on Jan 6, 2021 11:29:37 GMT
Meal plan and prep - Yes, cook and freeze and also prep some fruits and vegetables (or, buy ready to eat fresh vegetables).
Utilize slow cooker or instapot - I have 2 slow cookers - 4 quart (it might qualify as vintage, but still works perfectly fine) and recently bought a 6 quart oval. To be honest, I could probably cook the same things stovetop, but they do work well for soups. I the larger one to cook chicken breasts to portion and freeze.
Make sleep a priority - I'm grateful that I am able to sleep well.
Take time to breathe - I don't make a specific time to relax and be mindful of breathing on a regular schedule. If I do realize I'm tense, I do remind myself to stop and think and breathe.
|
|
|
|
Post by cherryt38 on Jan 6, 2021 14:41:58 GMT
Meal plan and prep: I don't do much planning or prepping. My plan is usually for the day or maybe into the next day. Sometimes I only plan on something for a day later in the week. I have been washing fresh fruit that can be washed ahead and some vegetables when I get them. I also soak them in soda water to help remove the pesticides that may be clinging to them. The soda wash is 1 tbsp. baking soda dissolved in 6 cups of water. Soak 15 min. then rinse. Some fruits have to be weighted down to keep them under water, like apples.
I have a slow cooker which I don't use as often as I could. For lots of things like soups or stews with cut up pieces of meat in them, I just cook on the stove. Since I'm home all the time to tend to it I don't need to use the crockpot.
Sleep a priority: I don't always get a good night's sleep. Sometimes I can't go to sleep very soon, other times I wake up around 4:00 am or so and can't get back to sleep. I do wish I could be more consistent.
Breathe: Much of the time my slow breathing is after I go to bed and am trying to get to sleep. Concentrating on breathing and clearing my mind of everything else seems to help, although there are times my mind keeps churning with random thoughts and nothing works to clear them.
|
|
|
|
Post by bmazzo on Jan 6, 2021 14:49:42 GMT
I have been trying to plan my meals ahead of time. It is against my nature, but I do it.
I have a small slow cooker, that I love. It is just the right size for the 2 of us. Yesterday, I made 2 pork chops in it, today I will make 2 chicken breasts in it. I also have a larger, oval one, that I use for soups, etc.
Sleep will always be my enemy, but I try.
Take time to breathe, I will become mindful of breathing more often.
|
|
|
|
Post by Holly Gail on Jan 6, 2021 21:25:46 GMT
Meal plan & prep.
I don’t pre-plan much. I always have SF things on hand. For instance, right now I have grilled chicken breasts in the fridge (enough for three more meals) and always have brown rice handy, plus we buy bagged mixed green salads all the time, so I’m set for dinners for several days (plus there’s always whole wheat pasta and canned and fresh tomatoes to make sauces). Lunches are frequently a smoothie, made with skim milk and nonfat plain Greek yogurt with spinach and fruit (usually frozen). Breakfast is almost always eggs, either “egg in a mug” (variations on Hungry-Girl’s recipe) or scrambled with onions and mushrooms and spinach and either leftover chicken or shredded cheese, etc.
Utilize your slow cooker or insta pot.
I love the slow cooker. A few years ago, everyone was raving about the Instant Pot. I finally broke down and got one on Amazon Prime Day 2018. It’s the 6-qt size (and was less than half price). However, I really don’t know how to use it. I’ve collected articles and recipes and one of these days I’ll get brave enough to try something… Meantime, I use the slow cooker…
Make sleep a priority.
I don’t get enough sleep… Or at least it doesn’t feel like I do too often. There are times I can’t go back to sleep once I wake up, but more often, I get a second wind before I actually get into bed… It’s a priority of sorts, but naps are very infrequent.
Take time to breathe.
I don’t remember the 30 seconds of slow breathing from last week… Too many things go on in my life… I do take slow deep breaths a few times a day, usually when I’m finished with something; the long slow breath is sort of like putting a period at the end of a sentence.
|
|
