Thinking about the Future

Today is Day 24!  Which means days remaining are in the single digits.  I guess they have been for a while, but I haven’t posted in a few days.  The thing is that I realized that it’s quite boring to just write a post when all I have to say is what I ate that day (and it must be double as boring to read about it).  So instead, I’ve been posting on days when I actually have something to say.  So here goes—

Just like during my last Whole 30 right around this time, I start freaking out a little about what to do after Day 30.  I’ve done so well; I don’t want to undo the good progress I’ve made thus far.  Last time I did really well, too… and then I got married and let myself go, and gained ALL the weight back.  I think I would have done better if I would have planned for it better.  So this time, I’m planning early.  Here are the different options I’ve thought of:

1. Continue on and make my Whole 30 a Whole 45 or Whole 60
2. Transition my Whole 30 habits into a Paleo lifestyle
3. Find a sustainable diet like:

a. Weight Watchers
b. South Beach Diet
c. Something Else

I’ll go ahead and tell you I haven’t made a decision yet. I’ve still got some research to do.  I think I could do #1 pretty easily, except that Mardi Gras is coming up, and tradition states that I have just one piece of king cake.  And that’s probably all I’ll have: one piece.  And since the Whole diet dictates no cheating, I don’t think that’ll work for February.

A paleo diet would be easy to transition into, and I could add things back to my diet like honey (and actually try those pancakes that are made with just bananas and eggs!).  It still doesn’t alleviate my king cake issue really, but the difference is that transitioning to a paleo diet would be more like a new lifestyle instead of another weight loss regimen, and I’m not sure I’m ready to stop focusing on weight loss.  So while paleo is definitely an option for the long-run, now is probably not the time.

I have a confession to make:  I’ve actually been a paying Weight Watchers subscriber since January 2016!  I know, I know.  Quitting Weight Watchers for me is like quitting the gym.  I think something in my psyche makes me think that quitting a gym or diet plan is equivalent to giving up.  I’d tell myself that’s absurd, but obviously I don’t listen to myself, considering I’ve been paying for Weight Watchers for over a year!

I think if I did Weight Watchers, it would help me start to focus on portion control.  Not that I haven’t picked that up to an extent– it helps when the Whole 30 eliminates cravings– but there are no limits to Whole 30 portion sizes, only the things you eat.  The exact opposite is true for Weight Watchers.  There’s no limit to the things you eat, just the portion sizes.

But I’ve gotta say, the thing I’m leaning toward most is the South Beach diet.  I’ve done Phase I before, lost a good bit of weight in a week (like 7 lbs maybe?), and then I got bored and stopped.  That was before I gained self-control.

I think I’d just go straight into Phase 2 if I did South Beach Diet.  The diet focuses on lean meats and low carbs (so probably a lot less bacon and potatoes than I’ve been eating now!), but would introduce heart-healthy carbs back into my diet (like whole wheat grains, rices, and pastas) in moderation.  I could also drink wine again and eat dairy!  Still doesn’t solve the king cake conundrum, but I think I’d feel better about eating that one piece while on South Beach than if I was, say, on something as strict as another Whole 30.

Anyway, the jury is still out, but that’s what I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

In other news, I have myself in a pretty good workout routine!  I’m starting simple: 2-3 times a week.  Even when I don’t make it to the gym (like last night), I still get in some exercise. I’ve been doing Yoga with Adrienne (YouTube channel).. which is actually pretty great for stretching and meditating.  Last night hubs and I also walked around the neighborhood. Last week I did arm machines and my arms were KILLING me this weekend, which I kinda loved.  Suffice it to say, all is going well.

So last but not least, I’ll say this about dinners– I’m staring to find some Whole 30 meals that I really love.  The chili recipe I’ve been using is soo tasty!  I used to make chili and eat it once, then never feel like eating the leftovers, but this one I’ve made twice this month and actually got a little mad when hubs ate the last bowl of leftovers!  And then bacon wrapped chicken…. OMG.  Can’t say enough words about that one.  Where had it been all my life?

Tonight I made the bacon wrapped chicken, and I also put some cherry tomatoes in my new toaster oven on the “roast” setting.  Amazing.  Clean food was never so delicious!