A New Lifelong Journey has begun!

 Hello Friends,

To those of you who have been avid readers of my blog over the years, you may remember having read about my journey through Weight Watchers, starting back in September of 2015.  While that was a successful endeavor allowing me to lose 55 pounds over about 2 years, once I ended being in that program, I started to gain back most of what I had lost.  I started WW at 260 pounds and got down to 205.  Sadly, I need to report that by October 2024, I was back up to 253 pounds.  This was a very sad reality, and I knew I had to deal with it.... again!

Let's turn the clock back, just a bit... 

As of the Summer of 2022, I have been involved in working with a trainer every week.  His name is Andy.  I have also worked for a couple of years before that with his wife Laura, a nutrition specialist.  This couple has been working together for several years to build a strong program to help their clients meet lifelong goals of getting healthier and stronger.  I had been getting bits and pieces of their program, but I really wasn't putting it all together as a lifelong goal.  Once I started seeing that scary 250 pound number on my scale, I realized that I had to make some changes.  I decided to join their fitness program.  I committed to a goal that should take me through the rest of my life being healthier and stronger and helping me to lose and MAINTAIN a healthier weight.  

For the next few blogs, I would like to share how this program works and show what it is doing for me.  Ultimately, my Life Goal is to spend the rest of my life making healthy choices so that I can stay strong and fit forever.  I want to be the healtiest I have ever been in my life.... for the rest of my life. 

Having that plan internalized now, I realize that I can't do what I did before in Weight Watchers.  The WW plan mainly involves counting calories and maintaining those calories to lose weight.  Granted, that works, short term.  However, once you are no longer following WW and counting calories, it is very easy to gain back what you lost.  

The program that I am now in has 2 main parts.  Here is Part 1: 

A big portion of the new fitness program that I am following now involves establishing a healthy way of making the best choices of food.  It's not about counting calories, and eating anything in smaller amounts.  This is about learning what the healthy foods are, and building your life around those food choices... forever.  

The main foods that should be 99-100% of your consumption involves eating a sustainable amount of protein daily, and eating a good quantity of healthy vegetables and fruits.  That's it:  Protein and Vegetables/Fruits.  Period.  

Here are my food choices:

• Protein:  Eggs, Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Shrimp, Scallops, Cod, small amounts of cheeses. (Personally I do not eat beef, and the only pork I eat is bacon, which I have rarely.)  
• Veggies: Broccoli, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Carrots, Green Beans, Zucchini/Squash, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Lettuces, Spinach, Kale,  (primarily all fresh - not canned)
• Fruits: Avocados, strawberries, blueberries, other berries, small apple pieces.  Some other fruits are fine in small amounts but I avoid pineapple, melons and bananas. 
• Soups: I rarely eat canned soup, and I try to eat the healthiest options if I need to have soup.  Usually, in the winter, I make my own soup. 
• Rice is very limited.  
• I will eat a small serving of pizza on a cauliflower crust with limited cheese, and good protein like grilled chicken. 
• Beverages for me are water, iced tea, coffee. Very rarely, I drink 1 glass of wine. That's it.  

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Here is what I do NOT eat:

• Gluten - no breads, no pasta, no foods made with flour like muffins, cakes or cookies.  
• Potatoes - no form - not baked, mashed, fried... 
• Egg yolks - they upset my digestive system. 
• Milk or milk products, ice cream or other desserts that are high in sugar. 
• Packaged foods like cereals, crackers (even gluten-free crackers). 

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My favorite meal is a nice piece of salmon or grilled chicken with a nice helping of asparagus and broccoli.  

I also enjoy a salad with a good variety of nutritious lettuces, some veggies added like carrots, blueberries, tomatoes, avocados, and some grilled chicken or shrimp.  I am also selective about nutritious dressings in small amounts.  I like to use guacamole as my dressing if I  can.  

My favorite breakfast is a white omelet (3 egg whites) with zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, and a protein like chicken, turkey, salmon.  I make them myself, but many restaurants also make them to order.  They will also add avocado slices - YUM!

I've been following this plan since October 2024.  As of now, I've lost about 25 pounds!

Ok - that's a basic rundown on Part 1 of this fitness program.  Thanks for reading, and stick with me.  Next, I will get into Part 2!

Happy Munching!

😋 Amy