Week three is in the books. My main takeaway? Weekends during this 30-day health challenge are tough, especially birthday weekends! Dan’s birthday weekend in St. Louis fell during my third week of this challenge to myself, and I thought I completely undid all my careful weekday eating by enjoying lasagna, Easter cake, and baked crispy chicken over the weekend. I kept to water and unsweetened iced tea, didn’t drink alcohol, and watched my portions, but I still enjoyed these yummy foods (and carbs) that I’ve been stirring clear of during the past three weeks. On Sunday night, I was feeling really dejected and worried that I’d fallen off the bandwagon by enjoying bread and toasted ravioli.
The good news? I didn’t derail all my progress. I got on the scale Monday morning after this weekend — the first time weighing myself in more than a week — and found that I’d lost seven pounds since the start of my challenge! Lesson learned: Small, smart indulgences are OK. It’s all about balance, right? I don’t want to develop disordered eating habits.
I tried to meet my goal of one morning workout this week and failed. I got up early [for me] and tried to muddle my way through a Kayla Itsines routine, but my whining puppy gave me an excuse to stop, and I quickly abandoned my workout to give him some attention… and get back into bed. I wish I was a morning person! It’s one of my biggest struggles and something I need to keep working on this year.
I still haven’t consumed any Diet Coke or soda! This is major for me. And it’s been much easier than I imagined. I really don’t miss pop at all.
Week 3 Tips & Tricks
Don’t weigh yourself every day: I recently saw a sorority sister post a rant on Facebook about how depressed she was feeling, because she was giving her all to diet and exercise and had not lost any weight in weeks. I felt bad for her, because her view of wellness and healthy results was so skewed. Way too much emphasis is placed on weight; weight is not the full picture of your health, by any stretch. Muscle is more dense than fat, so you could weigh the same as you become trimmer, leaner, and more toned. Also, your weight fluctuates throughout the day, sometimes by as much as 5 pounds. I would never weigh myself every day or obsess over the scale. If your goal is weight loss, weigh yourself once a week or a couple times per week instead of daily. Daily weigh-ins will just drive you crazy.
Stick to water at restaurants: Nothing new here, but sticking with water at restaurants is always the healthiest choice, not to mention the cheapest. When I’m in the mood for pop, I order an unsweetened iced tea, but then I need to add a Sweet ‘n Low because nothing tastes as perfect in tea as that pink packet… and I feel guilty for using artificial sweetener with no nutritional value and questionable side effects. Sticking to water is simpler.
Week 3 Stats
Gym classes attended: 3 (Studio Barre & Hot Barre classes)
Number of Diet Cokes consumed: 0
Typical Breakfasts: Overnight steel oats with chia seeds, almond milk, organic peanut butter, and cinnamon; a cup of grapes; black coffee with a splash of almond milk and Stevia
Typical Lunches: Shredded chicken breast with organic salsa and a side of carrots or steamed veggies; healthy dinner leftovers
Typical Dinners: Cauliflower “rice” with black beans, shredded chicken, and avocado; shredded chicken and steamed veggies; grilled fish and roasted Brussels sprouts
Typical Snacks: Humus with organic baby carrots or pretzel thins; a cup of grapes; gluten-free pretzels; baby carrots; apple slices and organic almond butter; trail mix
Previous Posts
My 30 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge
30 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge: Week 1 Recap
30 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge: Week 2 Recap
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