Well – Kind of. I only failed because I really did not get off my butt this week and work out.
I am actually really disappointed in myself. Don’t get me wrong – I have been busy, cleaning, writing and organizing – but let’s face facts here – that is not going to burn calories or build muscle.
I did not Exercise all Week
I do not have one single good excuse for this. I was busy sure – but nothing excuses me from falling off of the path. From continuing the sedentary behavior. Why can’t I get off my butt and go running or something?
Ironically – I lost another 1.5 pounds. So I am still reaching my goal on that front.
The 6.5″ I lost from the wrap has changed around.
The total loss is measured from three different places.
I gained .5″ in one spot, lost 2 more inches in another and gained 3 inches in another. I am sure it has something to do with the few beers, the pizza last night and of course – not exercising. The total loss now is 5.5″ so I have really only gained one inch since last week – and like I said pizza and beer, pizza and beer.
Okay, so I am not drinking that much beer. I have really only had 2 beers this week, but I did eat pizza last night and we totally sucked butt monkey at eating at home and eating healthy this week.
Speaking of Eating Healthy
I am so sick and tired of two things: government regulating what we eat and parents teaching their kids bad habits.
I know for a fact that there are parents out there who:
- Eat out almost every single day of the week
- Feed their kids a different meal than the adults
- Chicken Nuggets
- Fries
- Hot Dogs
- Chips
- Fruit Snacks
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Spaghetti
- Pizza
- Hamburgers
- Eat those same foods with their kids almost every night of the week
- Do not bother keeping fresh fruit and vegetables around
- Set a bad example
What kind of example do you set?
What foods do you enjoy in front of your children?
What do you keep in the house?
Do you emphasize eating or cook with whole foods in your house?
What’s interesting is the other day I stumbled upon Canada’s food guide. It prioritizes vegetables.
I know kids are known for hating vegetables – and I know plenty of adults who avoid them at all costs and whose meals are not complete without a nice hunky chunk of meat on their plate.
I think it is important that we teach our children to love and appreciate vegetables, but doing so by government force is not exactly my style. Parents need to take responsibility and realize how the choices they make today – shape their children’s lives tomorrow.
Think about it. We had some basic rules as kids – to finish everything on our plates.
How often do you feel guilty when you do not eat everything you’re given?
I abandoned this line of thinking a long time ago and it has served me well. I now stop eating when I am no longer hungry. On my first weight loss kick, just identifying portion sizes became the key to my success. Now, if I want cookies I eat a serving size instead of just grabbing a stack without looking. If I want more, I am making the conscious decision to have a second serving of the item.
In just doing this, I have learned to maintain my weight pretty well. Which will be good when I lose what I want to lose, but I will never get there if I don’t start exercising more regularly.
Do we teach these techniques to our children? Let them understand what a “serving” is? Or do we mindlessly scoop a heap of mac & cheese on their plate, because we want their bellies full?
And who doesn’t want a pile of mac & cheese?
Even still, prioritizing vegetables in every house will make for much healthier people and it will give children the skills they need to develop healthy eating habits as adults.
“It’s hard to do,” you say. “My kids hate vegetables,” you say.
“Tough shit,” I say.
It is your job as a parent to provide your child with nutritious, healthy food.
Fruit Snacks are not “Fruit” – if you can get your kid to eat fruit snacks why can’t you get them to eat orange slices, apple wedges, pineapple, bananas, strawberries, peaches, plums?
I do not understand this. All of these foods are super yummy and who cares if you do them with a little twist once in a while. Make a smoothie – have some baked cinnamon/honey apple wedges for desert – add fruit to a whole grain cereal. My personal favorite is by Cascadian Farms, their multi-grain squares are the shiznit! I mean, I can’t guarantee any of their other products exude the same level of awesomeness, but this cereal with some nice Organic Valley milk and a little fruit is quite divine – and healthy, did I mention it is healthy?
As far as the vegetables go. I have a rule that the kids must try it. Even if they have tried it before. Everyone cooks things differently and believe it or not, your taste buds change about every 6 months.
To make veggies yum, try making them fun or invisible.
- Spaghetti & Tacos, while they are on my hit list they are some of the best foods to hide veggies in. Cut em’ up really small – then tell the kids what all was in that mix after they eat it and have agreed that it was yummy.
- Build a House, from veggies then “make it rain” with a sprinkle of oil and vinegar for flavor.
- Behold the power of cheese. In moderation of course, but let me tell ya, a serving of cheese may just help the vegetables go down.
- Cook it Down! I cannot tell you how many veggies are yummier when they are cooked down and seasoned well.
- Get a little Kitchen Help – Bring your kid into the kitchen, let them help with the preparations and the food making. They are more likely to eat something they had a hand in making.
- Start a Garden – Not only will you have fresh seasonal vegetables available, but your kids will see the process happen right before their eyes. Even better, if they help in the garden, they will be more likely to want to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
What tricks do you have to encourage more vegetables in your house? Do you ever eat vegetarian meals? Why or Why Not?
What do you think of vegetarians or vegans? Could you forgo the animal products for your health? Or are you addicted to meat?
Are you failing your kids as a parent by succumbing to the fast food culture we live in? Are you failing yourself?
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