No surprise...this little entry has to do with the holiday season and those fattening, delicious dishes of holiday favorites. I made it through the first big one...Thanksgiving. Now to say it was a total success would be a lie. The Kansas Princess made it back to her state (and by Kansas Princess I mean me, I went back to Kansas) and of course there was mom's home cooking. How could I pass this up? There was also the trip to my favorite mexican restaurant that isn't in Tulsa and the trip to Olive Garden. All in all my perfectly delightful trip home, also had some perfectly delightful food options.
I began thinking why I would completely blow the progress I've made by devouring all this savory food. I came up with a ground breaking conclusion...the art of denial.
The art of denial. Basically I figured out that when I eat places or eat food I normally don't get to eat, I feel like if I don't eat what I want I am denying myself. For example, I usually eat at Carlos O'Kellys (the mexican restaurant in Wichita) maybe once or twice a year when I'm home. So when I looked at the menu and found the queso I love and the pasta dish I couldn't live without, I ordered them because I felt that it was denying myself these delicious dishes that I hardly ever get to eat. The same goes for the other places we dined this weekend. I don't eat out all that often during the work week, so when my parents take me out I feel that if I don't get that dish I love it'll be forever until I go back and am able to order it again.
What I've decided is that its not really denying myself if I search the menu to find healthier options. Its more of a way to find something even better on the menu. So now instead of thinking, I should get this because I don't know when I'll be back again, I'll think, what is something I haven't tried that looks healthy.
Now that you have the background of the art of denial and my solution for it...you're probably thinking what about the holidays? Okay so here's what I've come up with...how about eat what you want on the actual day of the holiday. On Christmas day, eat one plate that has all your favorites on it. And leave it at that. Have one dessert you really want and be done. Then the next day you can continue back on your new lifestyle change. This could work, that way you're not denying yourself and you're fully enjoying the holiday. And as long as you're employing the new menu browsing strategy, one day for the holiday season isn't too bad.
So I've successfully figured out my denial problem and the solution for it. And what I plan to do on the holiday. Happy Holidays to everyone!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Running Game
I've been at this for a couple of months now, 3 to be exact, and I think I'm finally finding my stride. After passing my test I've lost six pounds and I finally feel like I have time to workout and just be myself. And to add to this new found exhilaration, a couple of coworkers have convinced me to run in marathons with them.
Okay, so not exactly marathons because those are 26.2 miles. No I think that the half-marathon (only 13.1 miles) is as far as I can fathom venturing, at least at this point. So to get involved and run the 5K's or the 15K's or the half-marathons, I really have to start running and working out and getting to the point where I can go running for miles.
This new motivation has been an enormous help to getting me off my lazy butt. Its another thing that is holding me accountable...besides this blog. To hear my coworkers talk of the latest run makes me want to be out there experiencing the same thing. There are some runs that they talk about with excitement and talk about getting teams together for, and honestly, some of those sound absolutely fantastic. (I mean a mud run...a team of friends running through the mud, that sounds amazing!)
I used to be totally against running. I dreaded it when it came to sports in high school and college. Coach said line up or this is your conditioning workout for the day, my legs would gain about 10 lbs each. I dreaded this at practices. You know that saying that cross country teams have all over their team shirts..."Our sport is your sports punishment"...totally my frame of mind back in the day.
Now, I do go running for fun. Maybe because its at my own pace, and maybe because its distance instead of sprinting, but I actually enjoy going outside and running. Believe it or not its very calming and I feel amazing after I run. I have this new energy that usually carries me through my day. It helps curb cravings (I mean after running all that way why eat sugar and put on what I just ran off) and it helps with fatigue. It no longer feels like "punishment" or something that I have to do to get through practice.
So what does all this babbling boil down to? I have found a new passion and motivation to get out and exercise. I read articles and hear friends talking about all the events they enter because of running, and I want to give this a shot. I want to become a 'runner.' I'm realistic about this, I'm not going to be a world class, Olympic qualifying runner. At this point, I'd be happy with getting through a half-marathon.
Okay, so not exactly marathons because those are 26.2 miles. No I think that the half-marathon (only 13.1 miles) is as far as I can fathom venturing, at least at this point. So to get involved and run the 5K's or the 15K's or the half-marathons, I really have to start running and working out and getting to the point where I can go running for miles.
This new motivation has been an enormous help to getting me off my lazy butt. Its another thing that is holding me accountable...besides this blog. To hear my coworkers talk of the latest run makes me want to be out there experiencing the same thing. There are some runs that they talk about with excitement and talk about getting teams together for, and honestly, some of those sound absolutely fantastic. (I mean a mud run...a team of friends running through the mud, that sounds amazing!)
I used to be totally against running. I dreaded it when it came to sports in high school and college. Coach said line up or this is your conditioning workout for the day, my legs would gain about 10 lbs each. I dreaded this at practices. You know that saying that cross country teams have all over their team shirts..."Our sport is your sports punishment"...totally my frame of mind back in the day.
Now, I do go running for fun. Maybe because its at my own pace, and maybe because its distance instead of sprinting, but I actually enjoy going outside and running. Believe it or not its very calming and I feel amazing after I run. I have this new energy that usually carries me through my day. It helps curb cravings (I mean after running all that way why eat sugar and put on what I just ran off) and it helps with fatigue. It no longer feels like "punishment" or something that I have to do to get through practice.
So what does all this babbling boil down to? I have found a new passion and motivation to get out and exercise. I read articles and hear friends talking about all the events they enter because of running, and I want to give this a shot. I want to become a 'runner.' I'm realistic about this, I'm not going to be a world class, Olympic qualifying runner. At this point, I'd be happy with getting through a half-marathon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)