The Food/Exercise Diaries: Day One

My plan for getting back on track with my weight loss/healthy living is pretty simple. Back to clean eating... I'm cutting out refined sugar and dairy, and eating lots of fruit and vegetables, nuts/seeds, lean meat, seafood, eggs, and some whole grains. I am going to keep a food diary for one month to keep myself accountable while I'm forming good habits again.

I'm planning on exercising everyday, though one or two of those days will be something small like a short walk. I was thinking of only doing six days a week, but at the moment it's about getting back into good habits, so I figure every day is better. I will aim to run 3-4 times a week, and go on my exercise bike a few times a week too. Other than that, it will be walking, maybe an occasional trip to the swimming pool. In a few weeks I may reassess and add in some more weights/strength training, but for now I just want to get my fitness level up to where it was.

This morning I weighed in at 70.1kg. I'll weigh myself again next Sunday - let's see what one week of clean eating and exercise can do!

My first weight loss goal is 65kg. I'm planning on rewarding myself with a shopping trip at the local op shops (I love op shopping!).

My next weight loss goal is 60kg. I think 60kg is roughly where I'd like to stay, plus or minus a few kilos. For me, it's not about a specific number on the scales that I have to get to - it's about feeling good in myself, feeling healthy and energetic and confident in my own body. Eating well and exercising will get me there.

Now, onto the Food/Exercise Diaries.

Day One:

This morning I started my day with a run. It had been almost two weeks since I'd last been for a run. Some mornings running is so hard and I have to force myself to do it, but not this morning. This morning I loved it. The first song that came on my playlist was 'Dog Days Are Over' by Florence and the Machine - I LOVE running to that song!

I only ran my short route this morning - 3.78km in just under 21 minutes.

I will probably be sore tomorrow because I haven't been going regularly, but I'll push through it. I can't wait to be fit and healthy again!

Today has been a preparation day for the week. I have spent a lot of time in the kitchen preparing healthy snacks for the week, and also working out a menu plan. It always seems to help if I know what I'm cooking ahead of time.

So, today I ate:

Breakfast: A green choc smoothie. This is my go-to healthy breakfast. I added silverbeet picked straight from our garden, and a handful of blueberries we picked at the blueberry farm last week.

Morning tea: A bowl of green grapes and cherries. I also tried one of the raw cacao balls I made this morning. I added a big bowl full of mint leaves from my plant and whizzed those up first, so they're actually choc mint balls. I figure the extra greens from the mint leaves are probably pretty good me too!

Lunch: Two boiled eggs, one of which came our new hen Rosy, and a beetroot salad. Lots of lovely, raw and very colourful ingredients. My hands were stained purple!

Afternoon tea: Half an orange and some purple carrot sticks with zucchini hummus  A small portion of casheroo that I'd made up.

Tea: While I was waiting for tea to cook I snacked on three cherries. Tea was something I made up. In the thermomix bowl I had water and a can of coconut cream. In the varoma I had diced chicken, onion, sweet potato, zucchini, carrot and capsicum. That all cooked together, and when it was done I tipped out some of the cooking/coconut water and then added two generous tablespoons of the tikka paste I had in the fridge that I made up a little while ago. That is full of garlic, chilli and heaps of spices. I whizzed that up and poured it over the chicken and vegetables - and hey presto, a curry! I made some cauliflower rice to go with it too. It was pretty yummy, just spicy enough to make my nose start running.

I also had half a plum picked off our tree to test out.

Dessert/Night time snack: This is where I struggle the most. The evening after tea, when the kids are in bed is when I would always indulge in something, usually chocolate! Tonight, instead I am having a cup of tea with almond milk, a casharoo square, a choc mint ball and some cherries.