My Typical Day~

I wrote this on a Lap Band board for a new bander who had some questions about people’s typical days. I thought I’d share it here. Let me say, I am not perfect. I have purged all the bad foods from my home - so when I’m home it’s easier to be good. However, when I go out I have a much harder time and sometimes my old nature takes over! Here’s my response to her question on my typical day.

“It’s normal to hit plateaus and I have hit several of them. Each time I do, I return to the pre-op diet of protein and veggies. It makes me go back to the beginning and it kick starts my weight loss. It has worked everytime.

I am currently on a 100 day challenge. I give myself these challenges frequently. I choose an event or a special time in my life to motivate me. My 100 day challenge will bring me to my 18 Month Bandiversary. I am doing 100 workouts and trying to reach a specific goal by the end of the 100 days. I am working out several times a day. I ride my recumbent bike at the highest level for 10 mins - 3 times a day prior to each meal. Then I swim 4 times a week at midnight (I work nightshift) And I am doing Barry’s Bootcamp 6 days a week. (workouts with resistence bands) I’m trying to get my metabolism in gear! It wasn’t easy when I first started and I didn’t do all of this at once, but I started with one workout and added another and then another. The swimming came first, second the cycling and lastly the bootcamp. Now I crave my workouts. When I work and can’t get in as much time, I miss them! It’s becoming a part of my life.

As far as eating is concerned. I have tried it all. After experimenting with different things, I’ve found that I do best with eating a balanced healthy diet that includes all the basic food groups. I don’t eat white sugar, white flour, white pasta or white rice. I also hardly ever eat potatoes. when I do, it’s a treat. (like dessert for me) I’ve learned how to tweak my recipes to include soy and whole grain flour, brown rice, whole grain pasta and sweet potatoes. I prepare all my meals once a week. So the food is ready when I am hungry. I make 7 salads, 7 bowls of yogurt with fresh fruit, 7 bowls of oatmeal with walnuts, and etc.

I eat three meals usually. Breakfast is mostly protein, 1 egg, 1 egg white, feta cheese, asparagus and a Morningstar Veggie Sausage. When I work nights, I’ll have my Oatmeal before leaving for work at 6pm. I always measure my food to 1 cup to 1.5 cups. If it’s oatmeal, it’s 1 cup and if it’s salad it’s 1.5 cups. Salad is so light that I can eat a little more. Lunch is the salad with goat cheese, cucumbers, green olives, jalapeno’s, avocado, grape tomatoes and purple onion. (I recently found this great show “Cook Yourself Thin” so I bought the cookbook at Barnes and Noble) there is a recipe for Low fat Blue cheese dressing made with nonfat plain yogurt, nonfat buttermilk, blue cheese and white pepper. I use that on my salad. It’s so good and so low in calories and fat.

Dinner is usually an Amy’s Bistro burger, a garden burger or a Morningstar Farm Griller on half of a Flat Out Whole Grain Wrap. (50 cals for half) half a slice of cheese and lots of spring mix salad greens (I buy the huge container at Costco - use it for my salads and my wraps). This is plenty.

After I swim at midnight when I come home, I drink a Premier Nutrition Protein Drink (160 cal, 5 carbs, 3 fat, 30 protein) 30 grams of protein is amazing for an 11 oz drink and it’s so good! That’s my day.

I learned on this journey to be prepared, keep it simple and enjoy all foods from all food groups. I rarely get hungry, but when I do, I’ll have a half a banana, peach, strawberries, or other fresh fruit. When I’m working nights, I eat one snack and it’s my yogurt with fresh fruit. I add blueberries and strawberries to nonfat vanilla yogurt (1 cup) and some chopped walnuts or pecans.

All of this comes to between 1100 and 1200 cals a day. 60-90 grams of protein and 30% of total cals from fat. (I log all my food, everyday on www.fitday.com)”

Not that difficult when you plan ahead and remember the simple rule of Band eating, protein first!

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