Losing Weight with Lorelei Day Five

Nov 5, 2010 Lorelei Sieja

Lorelei Sieja - photo by author

Today's Healthy Tip:

Thoroughly brush and floss teeth immediately after dinner. Do not wait until bedtime! Once you've had your last meal of the day, it's time to stop eating. Clean up the kitchen. Run the dishwasher. Wipe down the counters and sink. Then scrub your teeth. It will be harder to sneak a snack and "mess" everything up again if you do have cravings. Then, if you sneak that candy bar or other treat, you'll have to brush your teeth again.

Making changes is hard. I'm still not drinking all the water I should be - but my jar is lower. I pour half a gallon of water in a large canning jar in the fridge, and pour myself a ninth glass which I drink right away. Then all day long I try to remember to refill my water glass from that jar, so I can see how much water I've consumed and how much I'm missing. Yesterday there was only three cups left at bedtime, and I chose not to chug it then as I really wanted to sleep through the night instead.

Years ago I read an article in Reader's Digest titled "Twenty-One Days to a New You". It was a summary of a longer book, suggesting that it only took three weeks to make something a habit. If you diligently made yourself do something every day for three weeks, then it would become part of your routine. This idea is so ingrained in our beliefs that if you google "twenty-one days" now, You'll find everything from weight-loss plans to dog training guides. Still, the idea has merit. If I try flossing my teeth for three weeks, immediately after supper, I won't have to "think" about it any more - it will just be habit. I'm replacing a bad habit (after dinner snacking) with a good one (flossing). That's what this whole year is about. It isn't about whether you follow my menus or make up your own. It's about helping each other to find the motivation to stay on track. To lose the excess weight, and find our healthier, happier inner self.

Today's menu is going to be rather simple, as I'm going to be on the road. I will have to eat lunch out. I could pack a lunch, but it's a "girls day out" with my firstborn. I think I'll suggest the soup and salad at The Olive Garden over a fried menu somewhere else. My daughter loves Italian.

Today's Menu Plan:

1. one egg, one slice of toast with sugar-free jam. No butter.
2. nuts & raisins mix
3. Olive Garden?
4. apple
5. tuna sandwiches, carrots, celery.

Today's Exercise Plan:

I'll be walking all over the malls with my daughter! That's not much exercise, but I'll have to walk the dogs when I get home, and I'm sure I'll come home tired. Shopping always wears me out.. I don't enjoy it as much as my daughter does, but I will enjoy the time with her.

Good luck, everyone, on your diets!

Copyright Lorelei Sieja. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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