Week Two of the Mamavation Boot Camp starts today! Woo hoo!!!!!!!
Did all of the exclamation points work? Do I seem enthusiastic? Thrilled? Over-the-top EXCITED?
Well, even though I’m tired (and my abs are sore thanks to Taebo), I am excited about the changes that are already happening.
If you tuned in last night to the Mamavation web-show, you learned that both Kim and I have LOST WEIGHT! Yes, yes, yes!!!! Overall, since joining the Mamavation Sista’hood a few weeks ago, I’ve lost 5 pounds, and, just in the past WEEK, I have seen my waist size decrease from 36.5 inches to 35.5. ONE WHOLE INCH!!!!!!!!!!!
My husband has joined me in this lifestyle change, starting this past week. Of course, like a man, he managed to lose SIX pounds. One week. Six pounds. Ugh — boys. . . I mean, YAY for Hubby!!!!
I think the biggest reason we’ve seen such good, early results comes from the fact that, now, I am very conscious of each bite entering my family’s mouths. Yes, we’re more active too, but the nutritional changes are “bigger” (right now, anyway).
Yep, Hubby is reaping the benefits of my time with Dr. Renna and the books on nutrition I have been reading. We’ve switched to 100% whole grain products, we’re eating heaps and heaps of good, vitamin-packed vegetables, and we’re drinking enough water to fill Lake Houston. Well, I’m drinking enough water to do that — I’m still working on Hubby’s water intake.
Everything that I’ve learned in the past week about good nutrition is absolutely fascinating to me. Eating well is so simple — much more simple than I ever dreamed. I don’t know why I thought that it would be hard, but I did. In fact, I remember telling Leah (@bookieboo) that of everything involved with the Mamavation program, the diet/food plan intimidated me the most. Now that I’ve lived a week in the shoes of someone who eats healthily, I can’t understand why I was so scared! Good food is easy!
You see, eating around here is not about being on “a diet.” I’m not restricted to bland, dry, crazy food. It’s simply a matter of eating a balanced diet. That’s it. Balanced.
I’m reading two books right now. One is Dr. Renna’s book, Growing Up Healthy, the Next Generation Way (Buy Now from my Open Sky Shop). This book was given to Kim and I as part of our Mamavation package, and I am soooo glad that it was. It’s not a difficult or intimidating book by any means. While focusing on good nutrition for kids, Dr. Renna also addresses adult nutrition and gives information that can be easily applied to the adult diet as well. As I’ve been reading her book, I keep recognizing things she told me during our consultation — information about grain servings, vegetables, and proteins. Thanks to the book, I’ve realized that the nutritional plan she put in place for me can easily be adapted for the rest of my family. Remember, I’m not on a “diet” — not in the way we’re used to when we think “diet”. It’s not about restrictions, restrictions, restrictions. Again, it’s simply about making sure each bite is healthy and balanced
What does a typical day look like for me?
Here’s today’s plan:
BREAKFAST
1 egg/2 egg whites scrambled
1 slice wh. Grain toast
Omega 3 butter substitute
coffeeMID-MORNING SNACK
½ C fruitLUNCH
Whole wheat bread
3-4 slices deli turkey
Lettuce/tomato
Salad
1 c fruitMID-AFTERNOON SNACK
1 C Veggies
2TB low fat dip or hummus
1 C milkDINNER
3-4 oz fish
2 C veggies
1/2 C rice
Each balanced (yep, there’s that word again) day has been similar:
- 6 servings of grains
- 1.5-3 cups of fruit
- 2-4 cups of vegetables
- 3-4 servings of dairy
- 2 (small) protein servings.
For my daughter, who is nearly 3, her version of a balanced day looks like this:
- 3-4 servings of grains
- 1 cup of fruit
- 1 cup of vegetables
- 3-4 servings of dairy
- 1 protein serving (it will increase to 2 servings/day as she grows).
Pretty simple, isn’t it? My days before Mamavation did not follow these serving guidelines. Instead, our diet centered more around refined grains, full-fat dairy, and lots of fatty and processed proteins.
Switching from refined to whole grains has been easier than I anticipated. Again, I had a lot of misconceptions about whole grain products; I assumed 100% whole grain bread would be dry and whole grain pastas would be bland. I was WRONG! The bread we’re eating (Orrowheat’s 100% Whole Wheat Bread, in case you’re wondering) is soft and delicious, and (last night), my daughter wanted seconds of the whole grain pasta! That says a lot coming from a two year old!!
Did you know that there is an easy-peasy way to check if your grains are REALLY whole grain?
What?? But, surely, the packaging that says “Whole Grain” isn’t LYING TO ME?
Yes, my friends, it probably is. Sigh . . . marketing is all about lying (well, sometimes).
The second book I’m reading right now, Dr. Colbert’s “I Can Do This” Diet, shares the secret to being able to pick out which store items are really 100% whole grain. The Whole Grains Council, a consumer advocacy group,created the Whole Grain Stamp as a packaging symbol to help us as we buy whole grain products.
There are two different varieties of Stamp, the Basic Stamp and the 100% Stamp.
* If a product bears the 100% Stamp, then all its grain ingredients are whole grains. There is a minimum requirement of 16g — a full serving — of whole grain per labeled serving, for products using the 100% Stamp.
* If a product bears the Basic Stamp, it contains at least 8g — a half serving — of whole grain, but may also contain some refined grain. Even if a product contains large amounts of whole grain (23g, 37g, 41g, etc.), it will use the Basic Stamp if it also contains extra bran, germ, or refined flour.
Each Stamp also shows a number, telling you how many grams of whole grain ingredients are in a serving of the product.
(stamp images and quoted information were taken from http://www.wholegrainscouncil.org.)
Looking for that stamp has made the trip down the bread aisle so much easier . . . and made me realize that the majority of the products labeled “whole grain” aren’t 100% whole grain. If it doesn’t have the 100% stamp, I pass on that product.
There, in a very large nutshell, is everything I’ve learned and implemented this past week. This next week, I’m going to try to find more recipes that will fit with the guidelines from Dr. Renna. I can’t wait to taste the results!
Well . . . that’s what I want to do. We’ll see — hopefully I won’t be too tired from all of the booty-kicking and heart-pumping workouts! Yeah, the exercise part of my boot-camp is about to get harder!!!!! Eeeeek! I mean — BRING IT ON!
(A HUGE thanks to Earth Footwear, EA Sports Active, Gaiam, Smooth Fitness, Tracey Mallet, and Dr. Renna for the tools each has given to help me achieve my new, healthy life!)
