Week 9 Check-In: Eating Healthy and Goals Review

On September 30, 2008, I set some Goals to reach by my two month anniversary of November 2, 2008. I'm now claiming partial success. I did not obtain a 25 lbs. weight loss (I'm at 19 lbs. loss) and can't claim that I consistently exercised three times a week, but having these goals has motivated me to step up my game. Yesterday, I met with a personal trainer, who I will be seeing once a week for the foreseeable future.

First we sat down and she had me list the usual foods and times I eat on a daily basis. I was thinking I was eating well, and would probably pass her review with flying colors. But, no, I was surprised the trainer had lots of comments to make.

She said my timing on eating 6 small meals a day was good but to add more veggies to my diet; stay with white or soy cheeses instead of yellow; avoid empty iceberg lettuce salads and eat more nutritious exotic lettuces like butter, romaine, arugula or spinach; and have more fruits, proteins, or natural snacks like a spoon full of peanut or almond butter, yogurt, apple, cottage or string cheese instead of Weight Watcher's products.

The trainer also said to avoid creamy salad dressings like Thousand Island and Ranch that contain preservatives, and go with clear dressings like oil-and-vinegar or make-your-own dressings.

Another no-no I had been doing was purchasing pre-packaged sushi in a 9 or 12 piece pack. The trainer said to eat no more than 6 pieces at a time because they contain a lot of white, sticky rice.

Although I've come a long way since my pre-100 lb-journey days of stuffing my face with ice cream, lots of bread, and carb loaded packaged foods; I need to make further improvements by getting the rest of the processed foods out of my diet, eating more natural and nutritious items, going with "whole wheat" instead of "wheat" products that are like brown white-bread and keeping the portions small.

Here's my new goals:

January 2, 2008 - I have achieved a total weight loss 40 lbs.
January 2, 2008 - Besides stair walking, I go to the gym or exercise at least three times a week for 45 minutes or more.
August 2, 2009 - My weight loss has averaged about 10 lbs a month, and I have lost 100 lbs!