Weekly Spark

So I gained a pound this week.  There, I said it.  I wasn't happy to see the scale tick up, but I know it happens.  I'm not going to sweat it.  I do need to find a way to either log my foods in Spark People throughout the day, or make a full-day menu so I stay within my limits.  What happened a couple of times this week was, I wrote down everything I ate and entered it all into Spark People at once, at the end of the day, only to discover I went over my calorie goal.  At that point, all I can do is more exercise.  There were a couple nights when, honestly, I didn't have it in me to get on the elliptical that late in the day.

The truth is, I've been doing the same workouts and eating the same food since the beginning of the year and it's getting a little tired.  I need to start shaking things up.  Warmer weather will help.  I spent most of the afternoon outside, working in the yard.  I know I'll be sore tomorrow, but it's a good kind of sore.  Walker is off tomorrow and I've asked him to get out my bicycle and check the tires.  They usually need air after the winter.  I love bike riding outside.  I can't wait to hit the trails.

I consider this whole process to be a learning experience.  I just need to figure out what works for me, as far as my eating habits.  Growing up, my mom fed us carefully balanced meal with a protein, a starch, and a veggie.  We always had milk with supper and we always had dessert, even if it was just canned fruit.  We didn't have formal exercise but we were sent outside to play pretty much all the time, though that might be just because there were five of us, we were loud, and my mom would have sold her soul for peace and quiet.  None of us were overweight as kids.  As adults?  All five of us have had some degree of overweight.

These days, who knows what you're supposed to eat?  I remember when eggs were bad for you, so no more than two per week.  Now?  Not so much.  Eggs are a great source of protein!  There are the folks who encourage whole grain, but they are offset by the folks who say not to eat grain at all.  Ever.  Red meat?  Depends on who you ask.  I even had a doctor tell me not to eat fruit more than occasionally, since it had so much fructose.  Spark People gives daily menu suggestions, which I didn't follow at first because we had lots of food in the freezer and the pantry.  Now, though, I think I'll at least consult the menus when I make out the weekly grocery list.

My plan for this week is set a daily goal each night.  I'm going to think about the goal, what I need to do to accomplish it, and what obstacles may be in my way.  For tomorrow's goal, I am going to make sure I get in more than my required 10,000 steps.  I hate walking in the rain, so if the weather is wet, I'll go to the big warehouse grocery store after work and walk the aisles.  I'm usually the only one shopping at that time of night, so who cares if I go down every aisle, twice? 

Onward!