Lose It with Lamb: Week 2

No matter how committed you are to losing weight, having a wrench thrown into your routine can make sticking with it a real challenge. For Jody and me, that wrench has come in the form of the move we’ve just completed from a 2,700-square-foot home to a 900-square-foot rental closer to the school at which we both work. Talk about down-sizing!

You may be wondering what the secrets are to surviving such an upheaval without gaining back any of the weight I’ve worked so hard to lose. I’m happy to share it. (Who knows? Even if you’re not facing a move, my tips may help you keep from gaining when you’re facing other kinds of changes to your routine, too.)

The first key is to stay focused on eating food for fuel, not comfort — something that turned out to be more challenging than I’d anticipated. After repeatedly working on the move from 7:00 a.m. until late at night, it was hard not to either reward myself for surviving the day or overeat out of self-pity over the bazillion items already on the next day’s to-do list. But I made it through. Here’s how you can, too.

1. Buy single-serve snacks ahead of time and stash them in the car (or your office or wherever). Granola bars, mini pretzels, popcorn, and low-fat pudding (the kind kept on the aisle shelves in the grocery store, not in the dairy case) all keep pretty well if you remember to park in the shade.
2. Remember that even gas station convenience stores carry healthy food. I head straight for the fruit and grab a banana, apple, or container of mixed fruit. Stay away from trail mix, though! Sure, it seems like a good choice, but as Jody pointed out, even the smallest bag often contains two or three servings, so the calories pile up quickly.
3. Don’t rule out fast food, but be picky about what you order. My favorite healthy options: oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, baked potatoes (no butter), chili (great on top of the baked potato!), salads (skip the creamy dressings) and sub sandwiches (hold the mayo and cheese).

The second key was to stick with my workouts from Sharecare fitness expert Wendy Batts. Even though I was getting lots of exercise from the move, I wanted to make sure I was strengthening more than just my “moving muscles”. Doing the latest workout only took about 30 minutes. I did that a couple times during the week, added in the cardio from all the moving, and voila! I was all set exercise-wise.

Want to try my Week 2 workout for yourself? Watch this 5-minute video to learn the moves –then go for it!

Sure, it takes work, but with a little planning and these two secrets it’s possible to keep trimming down even when things get crazy. How do I know? I lost nearly two pounds this past week! I hope you’re starting to lose, too. Good luck this week!

What has helped you make it through a big transition without gaining? Please share your strategies with me — and leave other tips, too! — in the comment section below or visit my profile page to friend me and post a message.

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File under: Lose It