I am someone who dreams almost every night. While I wouldn't call myself a dream analyzer and I most certainly don't own a dream dictionary or anything, I tend to believe that dreams reveal important things about ourselves and our subconscious thoughts.
For example, growing up I would often have dreams about going to school naked. As a child, I also happened to never do my homework and often stressed about the next day at school. To this day when I have a dream where I show up in public naked, I know that I am subconsciously stressing about being unprepared for something.
For the last few years I have really wanted to lose weight. I am very picky and undisciplined, and I really struggle to eat healthy things. I also find that I am very busy and lack the time required to properly prepare low calorie meals and exercise.
This desire to lose weight has been in the forefront of my mind, especially in the past few months as I start to consider becoming pregnant. While that is awhile off, I really want to be at an ideal weight when I become pregnant so that I can be healthier for my baby. Still, I haven't been able to motivate myself.
Last week I tried putting together a collage of pictures that would help motivate me to eat healthier. You know, a collage of pictures that show good looking men and beautiful women that I could tape in my car and on the refrigerator (I got the idea from a young adult novel called The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things). I gave up because I couldn't find any girls I wanted to look like (they were either too skinny or too different looking from myself). I just couldn't visualize myself the way I wanted to look. I just knew I wanted to be skinnier.
Well, last night I had a dream. As in most dreams, the logistics don't entirely make sense, but in my dream I was looking myself as I looked when I got married. I was in a bathing suit and dark jeans and I was so skinny. I was skinnier than I have ever been (though not sickly). I woke up feeling inspired that I should look like that in real life. Being able to see me, myself at an ideal weight helped me to decide to go on a diet and to exercise everyday.
Today I spent a good deal of time on the internet looking up the nutritional facts of a lot of the things I eat and I have become convinced it is impossible to eat healthy without a lot of preparation (mostly because it is impossible to eat out and eat healthy). As a picky eater, this becomes very difficult for me (as I detest most fruits and veggies, and I hate-hate-hate left overs). I decided that I have to just buck up and get over it. Eating isn't for enjoyment...it is for energy.
Why do I tell you this? Well...I guess for support. I would love any suggestions you have and if you are someone that I hang out with, maybe you could help me stick with it.
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It is a little bit difficult to eat healthily if you don't prepare. I have a hard time doing it too - I never did lose 15 pounds from Kennedy before I got pregnant again. There are resources though. I would recommend finding a time each week to do meal planning. Force yourself to cook at home more often, because you're right, you can control what you eat at home a lot more easily than when you go out. I subscribe to Cooking Light magazine, which always has good ideas for lighter alternatives. There are Weight Watchers cookbooks too that have some good things. I would go to Barnes and Noble and look through several cookbooks and find one that is healthy and has many recipes that you would enjoy, keep it on hand, and use it frequently! If you force yourself to constantly try things that you don't usually like, you may develop a liking for them, even if it is only when it is cooked a certain way or something. I plan for meals a week in advance and shop for the things I will need that week. Eating healthy when eating out is definitely possible, just not desirable. Make a conscious effort to look over the entire menu for healthier options before you choose. Many menus will point out their healthier options if you look. Also, try to go to places where you know you'll be able to find something healthier. And don't forget to treat yourself! If you don't ever have a burger and shake or make yourself some cookies, you will most definitely fail. It's not about cutting everything out, it's about balance. And if you have to, start slowly. Don't try to change everything at once, try making a healthy dinner once or twice this week and making a healthier choice when you go out. 2-3 days the first few weeks and then try upping it a little bit.
ReplyDeleteExercise is a little bit harder for me. The best ideas I can give you are 1) make it a routine and 2) find something you like to do. I find that if I don't exercise in the morning, I won't do it. Some people prefer evening, so find a time that works for you and stick to it. You don't have to go everyday, but go at least 3 times a week. If you make it routine, it will be easier to go. Also, try different things! Swim, run, bike, weights, classes. Find something that fits you and do that once or twice a week. It is good to change up your routine, so don't do it every time you exercise, but do it frequently enough to where you get better at it and enjoy it that much more. Then you will have more motivation to go.
Sorry I wrote you a book. I hope it helps at least a little bit! I hope it helps me too, because after this baby I want to get back down to my pre-Kennedy size. Then you can motivate me! :)
Breezy, you've got my support. I'm starting my diet and exercise program on March 1st. I have to have a start up date to build up and prepare. There are things I know that I can and cannot do too. For example, exercising after work or at night. I have to do it in the morning. But it's hard to wake up, especially when I have to come back and forth to my apartment and lose all that time, and endure the cold. So now I have to make all my food (as in, all my meals) the night before, pick out my outfit, and just bring it all to the gym so I can get ready at the gym and then go to work and eat breakfast. This way I may not have to get up as early.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, the diet that I do is super easy to plan and put together, as it calls for brown rice and veggies every day. I can make a big pot of brown rice to last me for the week, which saves some time. Frozen veggies are super easy, too. Anyway, if you want to see this diet and exercise plan that I do, or buy the book (it's the Fat Smash Diet), I highly recommend it. It makes it easy to plan, and it's so nice knowing EXACTLY what to eat, not having to count your calories or anything. It's healthy, not requiring you to cut out carbs or fat or anything like that. I love it and think it's easy.
I think I'll go on a diet of sorts too. ;)
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