Boot Camp Eating

When I'm trying to stay on a fitness kick I have to think of rewards to keep myself motivated. The big one is always new running shoes, which is rather expensive, so I have to work hard for them.  Well, as the days and weeks passed by and those shoes were waiting for me at the end of the tunnel, I realized my timing was a little off.  The Ragnar Wasatch Back was approaching, my current running shoes kept giving me blisters on my toe, and I needed better shoes to get me through that relay weekend. But I was still 5+ lbs from my weight goal and knew I wasn't going to make it in time to break the shoes in.

So I cheated and bought them anyway.

And they were more expensive than any other running shoe I've bought.  I stressed for days looking for the right shoes-- spending 45 min. in a running store with the experts; trying on shoe after shoe and running on the treadmill or the little path outside the store.  I was so indecisive and confused but I need new shoes ASAP so they would be ready for Ragnar.  So out of the blue I tried these on at 26.2 in Provo and loved them within the first 5 minutes.  Super quick and easy!  I didn't even look for a price or ask.  I just made the decision to buy them and I did.  And I knew I'd have to update my "goal" since I bought them  before I'd really earned them.

I gave myself 2 extra weeks--until Ragnar weekend-- to make it to my weight goal.  If I made it, good for me, I had the shoes.  If not, I had to be "punished"... and I made up this dumb consequence:

BOOT CAMP EATING PLAN FOR 2 WEEKS.

It comes from this book that I used at one point last year:

It's basically a day to day menu/eating plan with normal foods you  can find in any grocery store-- which I'm definitely okay with.  But it starts you off with a 2 week "boot camp" which allows you to have 1200 calories a day, more or less, and after the 2 weeks are up, you add a few more snacks in the day, etc... and eventually get to a "keep going" plan which helps you maintain any weight loss or keep losing.  Blah blah blah.  I'm not a diet person or even a super healthy person.  But this is the one thing that I've actually done before-- actually lost quite a few pounds-- and liked what I was eating... for the most part.  This time around I'm bending a few things to better suit my eating desires. :)

So there you have it!  I didn't make my goal prior to Ragnar so I started the dumb boot camp eating plan on Monday (June 20) and will continue  until Sunday July, 2.  (oooh, perfect for 4th of July BBQ timing!)  The main purpose is to punish myself for buying shoes earlier than I deserved them  :)  and also to lose those last few pounds I want to get rid of.  In the mean time, it IS helping me be a little healthier and more aware of all the crap I would usually be shoving into my mouth.

Example:  I'm taking a group of teens to a movie tomorrow and I love movie popcorn!  It will be my own personal torture to not eat popcorn in the theater.  I know, pathetic. :)  But I packed a little 1/2 cup of grapes and a bag of Triscuit Thins-- crossing my fingers that I won't fall apart and give in to ridiculous cravings!

Yesterday this is what I ate:  Kashi cereal with raspberries, leftovers of a 6 inch Subway (kind of cheating but I had it from the day before), and a spinach salad with hard-boiled eggs, light ranch, and pecans.  And 7 Triscuits. :)

Today I ate:  Clif bar for breakfast and 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup grapes for snack, Tuna salad sandwich with celery and lettuce on wheat bread, 1/2 cup sliced red pepper, and for dinner was green beans and macaroni & tomato juice--> My own little version of the pasta meal they wanted me to make but I simplified.

Anyway, see?  It's really not all that bad.  The hardest thing for me is the elimination of snacking opportunities. I love granola bars or fruit & peanut butter-- probably my favorite snacks.  And although I don't think those are terrible-- they just don't fit into the Boot Camp plan.  *sigh*

But I'm excited for tomorrow's breakfast!  Wheat toast with peanut butter, 2 teaspoons of honey, and apple slices.  YUM!  I can totally handle that... it's just the rest of the day that drags on and I feel soooo hungry and all I think about is food and wishing I could eat more.  

Any suggestions how to NOT think about food?! 

Man oh man, it's almost impossible!

Anyway... that's the update.  May the force be with me and may my hungry body learn to deal with the withdrawals. :)