Daily Check-in
This was another delightful day! I rested today and feel so good tonight. I am finally 100 percent well again! My eating was clean again today.
I am so excited because I am finally mastering the art of intuitively clean eating. I started flirting with this lifestyle on the 4th of July. I ate too much processed food during the holidays, which does not work for me. I decided this year to eat when I am hungry until I am satisfied and make nutritious choices that are as clean as possible. Moderation, balance, and variety are keys for me. I made a decision last week to add more fruits and veggies to my menus. I feel great. My energy is consistently high. I had no idea at the time how many calories I was consuming, but I had a general awareness of portion sizes. The containers I pack my meals and snacks in only hold a cup. I also use a small bowl for cereal and a small plate for my meals. The only thing I measure is peanut butter because I could easily overdose on it. When I was carefully monitoring my calories, I aimed for 1,800 a day. That is perfect for me when I want to burn fat. A friend who saw the menus I shared last week expressed concern about me not eating enough. I estimated that I was eating around 1,800 calories a day. She guessed that it was more like 1,000 calories. I laughed because I could not keep up with Cathe on less than 1,500 calories a day. I told her that I would do the math for her and send her to calorie college if she was way off. I analyzed my menus for the week and was delighted to discover that my perception of how much I am eating is right on target. I consumed 1,840 calories on cardio days, 1,755 calories on weight training and circuit training days, and just under 1,800 calories for my weekend menu that included whole wheat lasagna and almond macaroons! I am eating this way naturally now, and I could not have planned it better if I tried. I am not planning to log my food every week. I have several menus that I can rotate for a few weeks until I get bored with them and plan new menus. I do make small changes every week like eating different fruits and veggies. I am planning to add radishes to my salads this week. My fiber was a little low on Tuesday and Thursday because I usually add kidney beans to my salads and did not have any last week, but that will change this week. I average between 30-40 grams of fat a day, and my fiber intake is between 70-80 grams a day. I am very pleased with these numbers, and this gives me confidence that I can maintain this lifestyle and reach my goals without logging every bite I eat. I am still planning to pack all my meals and snacks the night before because that saves time and ensures my success. Oh, the little things that thrill me!
I did laundry today, steamed some brown rice, and packed my meals and snacks for tomorrow. I enjoyed a long phone conversation with a friend. I have so much energy tonight, and I am looking forward to my morning workout with Cathe. I am hoping that a warm bubble bath will help me settle down so I can sleep. It feels so good to feel good again that I do not know what to do with myself! If there is anything good about being under the weather for a few weeks, it is the high that follows. It makes me thankful for good health.
Jane, I modify the last cardio segment of Drill Max by placing my hands on my step. Just being a few inches higher makes it easier to do a squat thrust up into a tuck jump.
Wendy, I hope you enjoyed your rest day.
Tammy, I am a cheese lover too! Have you tried Cabot extra sharp white cheddar? :9 I love to add an ounce to a scrambled egg and wrap it in a whole wheat tortilla for a treat. :9 I am learning to eat only the best so a tiny portion satisfies me. I stick with cottage cheese and string cheese most of the time and save the other cheeses for special occasions.
Phyllis, I wish you lived closer. I would love to share a meal with you! I have not posted my ratings yet. Yes, I am having a hard time. I wish they gave us more time so I could revisit some of the workouts I have not done in a while. I have never done Maximum Intensity Cardio yet! I guess I need to review my old journals and check-ins for the others before I vote.
Conni, have fun this week! Congratulations on completing the rotation.
Blessings,
Heather B.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).
