How’s everyone doing?
I’m still battling. However, I’m still working at it, and I’ve found some helpful tips and articles around the web to keep me on track that I want to share with y’all.
One thing I LOVE to eat is peanut butter…and look at what this artcile on the PREVENTION website says.
“It helps you lose weight
Calling peanut butter a diet food, with 180 to 210 calories per serving, may seem counter-intuitive. But it has the enviable combination of fiber (2 g per serving) and protein (8 g per serving) that fills you up and keeps you feeling full longer, so you eat less overall. Plus, there’s nothing more indulgent than licking peanut butter off a spoon–and indulgence (in moderation) helps dieters fight cravings and stay on track.”
Isn’t that great? YAY PBJ sandwiches. :jump:
Another thing that was really on my mind in the past couple of weeks is somethign I think all of us women suffer from at one point or aother…or more. PMS. Yeah, PMS not only sucks, it also sucks the life right out of your healthy eating efforts. Cravings happen, and sometimes they’re not just emotional ones. However, regular excercise and proper eating habits will help those cravings decrease…in time. UGH!
Another way the lovely female problem can mess with us is if we cut things too much too fast, it can mess up our cycle.. Take a look at this from an article on Side Effects of Dieting from Women’s Health Magazine’s Website.
Why it happens: Dietary fat is one of the building blocks of estrogen production. So if you eat too little of it, your estrogen levels may drop ā and your period may get delayed, or you may skip it altogether. Simply put: “Fat is necessary for menstruation to happen,” says Faye Berger Mitchell, R.D., a dietitian in Bethesda, Maryland. Not only are wacky periods bad for your bod, they’re clearly a problem if you want to get pregnant.
Slim solution: Chew some fat, for heaven’s sake! “The specific amount of fat needed differs from woman to woman,” Berger Mitchell says. But if your cycle is out of whack, you should get 30 percent of your calories from fat, according to Suzanne Phelan, Ph.D., assistant professor at Brown Medical School, the Miriam Hospital. That’s 480 fat calories in a 1,600-calorie-a-day diet. And remember: Fat can actually help you lose weight because it keeps you full and makes your dinner taste better. Just make sure most of those fat calories come from poly- and monounsaturated fats (the “good” ones, found in foods like olive oil, walnuts, fish, and avocados).
One last thing. The worst thing we can do when trying to lose wieght or change out habits is to quite eating. Do not not eat. Just make better choices. To learn more about what those choices are invest some time in yourself and talk to your Dr. or a nutritionist , surf the net and educate yourself, and keep a food diary to see exactly what your habits are- so you knwo what needs to change.
Keep on going everyone, and please, feel free to e-mail me your stories or any questions. I’m not an expert by any means, but I will see if I can track one down for you. š
On of my recent finds is organic peanut butter with honey. The honey helps make the peanut butter smoother and I think it’s just yum! I’ve slowly been getting back on track this week. :sporty:
Yep, I eat natural peanut butter – no sugar, that’s what gets me every time. I haven’t tried it with honey but yum!
My exercise goal has not been reached, but I’ve resisted the urge to buy ice cream or my downfall, Utz potato chips. Slowly but surely right?
Beth you might try Almond Butter too-it’s a little sweeter *drool* and Agave Nectar for sweetening…it’s got a lower glycemic index than honey and tastes almost the same.
Also for PMS….magnesium and evening primrose oil are both supposed to help. And taking magnesium before bed can also help you sleep. EPO is also supposed to have naturally anti-inflamatory qualities.
I really sucked this week. All that magnesium was nothing against the greater power of the PMS this month. *sigh* So I’m a fine one to talk as I get back to weaning myself off Starbucks AGAIN :blush:
I use reduced fat Jif p-butter and have it on fat free saltines when I have soup for lunch – it’s very filling.
I’ve absolutely sucked the past two days – I had a hysterectomy several years ago but my ovaries were left, so I still have PMS symptoms – the closer I get to menopause, the worse they seem to get. I’ve been craving salt, something that has NEVER happened to me before – have eaten more wavy Lays chips these past two days than ever before in my life. Of course I’m washing them down with lots of Diet Coke – I see swollen ankles in my future.
I want to put it behind me and move on, but geez it makes me want to just give in and indulge my every craving the rest of today. Trying to be strong here . . .
Tess: Sounds like you’re on the right track…that is…getting back onto to track. Not giving up is the most important thing.
Beth, slowly but surely is a great motto. It’s super hard to change things all at once.
Thanks for the suggestions Amie! I’ll be picking up some evening primrose for sure. *grin*
Laurie,
I’ve not been the best this week either. I’m doing good with healthy meals, but fighting the cravings between meals has been hard hard hard. You’re not alone.
Keep at it!Cravings are a constant battle. :duell:
Great post! Thanks š