The belated weekend check-in

[eimarra]

I just realized I forgot to do my first week check-in on the food and exercise. Boy, this bodes well for the coming year, doesn’t it?

I started out mostly just aiming for the three meals a day, and trying to figure out how much food I needed to eat to not be hungry two hours later but not feel bloated, either. It’s hard when you’re used to grazing.* I did allow myself desserts (leftover birthday cake mostly). I stretched when I thought about it, tried a few yoga positions — and came to the conclusion that I have lost all the core strength I used to have. Not really a surprise, but it gives me somewhere to start.

And the net result of all this effort? Three pounds down. I find it hard to believe such small measures could be so effective, so I’m leaning towards thinking maybe the previous week’s weight was high because of water retention. Either way, though, a positive start.

Of course, I’m thinking of all the holiday baking I’m not doing, too . . .

* The breakfast I’ve found to be most effective so far is 1-1/2 servings of oatmeal, prepared with milk instead of water, with 1 tablespoon crunchy peanut butter and 2 tablespoons Nutella stirred in after cooking. Egg-and-cheese sandwich on a whole wheat bagel is also good, but leaves me hungry about an hour earlier unless I also have a banana and a yogurt.

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.