Regular readers might have noticed the debut of two new sidebar items last week: Currently Eating and Previously Eaten. Here's a (not so short) explanation, to be published in two parts.
As you may know, I am valiantly trying to retrench. (If you're not sure what that means, check here.) I am not much for reading the diet book du jour. I mean after all, I know the basics: whole foods, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein sources, little red meat or saturated fat or sugar, expend more calories than you consume, etc. Nonetheless, I obviously need help sticking to such a lifestyle. This time around, I'm following the advice in Miriam Nelson's Strong Women Stay Slim.
Nelson's book combines common-sense, research-backed advice on weight lifting, aerobic exercise, and healthful eating as a way for women to lose or maintain weight, improve health, and increase bone mass. The book contains an eating plan based on 1200, 1600, or 2000 calories a day; each level includes a certain number of servings or "portions." For example, on the 1600 calories a day plan, I should be eating the following portions each day: 4 grain, 5 vegetable, 3 fruit, 5 protein, 2 dairy, 6 extra. (That's not exactly correct - I did it from memory, but you get the point.) Anyway, you can see that such a plan requires one to keep track of what she eats.
Hence, I started keeping a food diary last week. More to follow in Part Two of this post.
2 comments:
I'm curious--are the three different calorie levels based on amount of weight you desire to lose, or beginning body weight/mass, or what?
I'm being very good, btw--after my last-week's indulgence of a coke-with-lime every single day, this week I've so far had none, and am attempting to get my caffeine intake, when needed, from coffee beans. zzzZZZzzz...
Yes, if you want to lose less than 100 lbs, you're on the 1600 cal/day plan, if you want to lose more than 100 or just maintain current weight, you're on the 2000/day plan. I think the only people who are supposed to be on 1200/cals a day are those who are coming off a restricted-calorie diet. We know that's not me!
Post a Comment