Well it's almost the end of the year and the end of the blog. Since I didn't keep up with the diary or the original plan I haven't accomplished the mission to give this experiment a legitimate effort - so instead I'll write about what I have learned that has worked (or not) and maybe it will be of some benefit to someone else too.
The Basics:
Be sure to consume enough calories spread throughout the day to keep your metabolism up. I discovered that I had actually been not eating enough food and was able to keep from experiencing highs and lows throughout the day by eating 3 to 4 times a day.
For me, eliminating dairy was HUGE since at the end of 2010 I discovered that it was the root of a variety of symptoms I was having including: excessive bloating, hives on my face and arms, swollen glands in my throat, and general aches in my joints.
I found some new delicious ways to incorporate vegetables: scrambled eggs and kale for breakfast; kale leaves (vs. lettuce) makes a delicious and vitamin packed tuna salad; brussel sprouts steamed with cumin and red pepper taste great (I know!?!); broccoli greens, garlic & Braggs liquid aminos - yum!
Braggs in place of soy sauce is a healthier option and can also replace salt!
Olive oil is your friend! Use it for everything from cooking to a replacement for lotion if you want to get away from perfumed products.
Work is Still in Progress:
Drinking more water - the ultimate toxin removal system to flush waste from your body!
Not being a fan of exercise for the sake of exercise, I need to do fun things that require movement more often in order to build muscle and get in some cardio. Dancing, hiking, walking to the mailbox, and basically just doing things the hard way as often as possible work for the moment until I can get back to enjoying the gym.
Getting a good nights sleep - very important for letting the body heal itself and restore reserves for the next cycle of activity.
What about the snowpants?
The snowpants do fit - which is a good thing because we've had about 5 feet of snow in the past week! (Thankfully there are some enterprising young people off of school for the holidays to help out with the load.)
I weigh 153 today after the Christmas feast - and have stayed between 147 and 153 for most of the past few months. While it isn't my target, I'm happy with where I am at for now and will keep implementing small changes towards a healthier lifestyle.
What's Next?
I'm thinking about a new topic for 2012. I'll let you know in the next few days and try to be more consistent with the postings, I promise!
Happy Holidays Everyone! I wish you happiness and fulfillment in 2012!
