Missing In Action

WARNING: This is a little bit long. A little bit.

I'm sure it hasn't gone unnoticed that all three of us have been missing in action for a wee while. I can't speak for the other girls but for me, once the excitement of a new project wore away and we steadily crept nearer to gradation deadlines, my motivation disappeared as fast as a hamburger in my hands.

I did somehow manage to keep off the 2 kilos I lost during the start of our Expat Pact endeavors even though I stopped exercising. However, my cholesterol was even worse at my last check up, even though, whether I went out to eat or cooked at home, I still made sure I didn't choose the cheesiest fattiest foods even when they were so tempting

That blood test was a big kick up the bum for me. I'm not sure why that worked when nothing else has, but I've been making some serious changes in two aspects of my routine: Diet and Exercise.

"How boring, Eleana. That's what all the doctors and fitness gurus tell us to do."

Well friends, that's because it makes the most difference unless you're willing to go under the knife (which I'm not). Losing weight is not some crazy secret that thin people are holding out on so the rest of us can't do it. It's super simple. And I think I've finally got it.

Here are the changes I have made:

Meals

Breakfast - Erm... nothing. But I'm currently not working so I don't wake up until lunch time. When I get back into my routine of work I will be having cereal.

Lunch - Cereal (Crunchy Nut Cornflakes)

Dinner - Salad (Iceburg lettuce, chicken, ranch and balsamic dressings)

Exercise

Walking - 2-3 times per week (aiming to do more)

Swimming - 1-2 times per week


Now, I can eat the same thing over and over again and it doesn't bother me, so this is what I eat most days. Not every day. Sometimes I will mix up the dinner to have something more hearty with vegetables or a pasta treat. Perhaps you would think that this isn't satisfying enough and I must go hungry all day, but you'd be wrong. Surprisingly, I'm really not hungry between meals. If I go out for a meal, I choose a meat and substitute potato for veg. And I know not everyone is happy with the eating cereal twice a day thing, but it worked amazingly for me when I lived abroad so I've gone back to it.

It is amazing how much difference something as simple as walking can do. Rachael and I have taken to walking a trail at a quickened pace (but still definitely walking pace) for about an hour each time. This used to keep off additional pounds back in the day when I would walk to university or walk to work and back. Because we live in Mississippi now, after an hour in the humidity, we tend to find a dip in the pool is just what we need. Even if we aren't actually doing strokes and just having a chat, we make sure to tread water or do knee ups under water to keep ourselves moving. Little things make a difference!

"And is it making a difference?" I hear you ask. (Not really, but I am imagining it).

YES

When I took a break from the pact, my weight would fluctuate each day: 68.5kg, 68kg, 69kg, 68.5kg etc. After committing to my diet and exercise plans for two weeks, I now firmly weigh 66kg. I haven't measured myself again yet, but that is next on my list for Monday when I start back with keeping up the Expat Pact blog. I am very ready to reach my first weight goal of 64kg, which I really think is achievable in the not too distant future.

Cheers to getting back on the right track!