the next challenge

As I mentioned before, I went on my first 30 day challenge because I started seeing a diabetes specialist whose visit totally freaked me out. This first challenge turned out pretty well. Though I didn't lose much weight, it was a great lesson in food. In the two weeks since the challenge, I think I overdid it with the fried food, which was another important lesson. Too much is not a good thing. Anyway... my next challenge is as follows....

I've been giving this a lot of thought and have considered several options. The one I finally decided on is this: no potatoes, no white breads, no pastas, no noodles. I know it sounds a bit extreme. However, it's in the best interest of my diabetes. I'm trying to take a serious stab at getting rid of the refined, processed starches that tend to really spike the sugars. My goal with these challenges is to pick up healthy habits, but to also make sure the challenges are do-able.

To help make this doable, I'm keeping the right to have rice. It's an ethical thing for me :) I'm also allowing myself to have multi-grain bread, corn-based products (such as corn tortillas and polenta) and specialty tortillas (the low-carb, high fiber ones). In terms of pasta and noodles, even the wheat types are off-limits. I purposely chose this challenge because it would also force me to stay away from sweets such as bread-like goodies - cakes, cupcakes, danishes, brownies, cookies, etc.

In addition, this challenge will pick up where the previous one left off. I'm back to no fried food. A few things that make this current challenge different is that it started on October 1st and will go on until the end of the year. For the sake of family functions (and my personal sanity), I am allowing myself one cheat day per week. However, the cheat days are not meant to be binge days. Instead, they grant me permission to eat somewhat normally at social functions. Plus, it's healthy to have a small cheat opportunity.

Finally, if I make it through this challenge, I get to treat myself to a FAT 90 minute deep tissue massage!

Some other healthy habits I need to maintain (but are not formal parts of the challenge) are as follows (Note: these are notes to myself. Actually, this whole blog is one big note to myself!):

- eat breakfast! (pre-cook it if needed)
- keep a food journal (it weighs a ton, but I'm loving that Covey!)
- eat no later than 8pm
- cook more
- try to eat at least 1 serving of fruit/veggies at each meal
- balance the meals and snacks by incorporating protein
- drink water
- exercise daily
- exercise first thing in the morning

This is it for now. I may add more stuff later.