Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Got Health?

When I saw Alex Cavanaugh and friends were hosting a Get Healthy Bloghop, my first thought was that it wasn't something I should sign up for. I mean, come on - I'm no health nut or exercise guru. I am the crying, wheezing, sweaty lump in the road that the real athletes have to run around on the way to the finish line.

But the whole point of the bloghop is to share something we've done that has affected our health in a positive way. And you know what? I can actually do that! 


Over the last year, I've lost a chunk of weight and one of the reasons for this is portion control. Yes, I know, ho-hum, boring. That's what I thought, too. What difference does an extra spoonful - or a second helping of potatoes, another bowl of pasta, a third slice of pizza - make? Once in awhile - not much. But when that becomes your usual way of eating, it makes a big difference in more ways than one. Learning about and focusing on portions really opened my eyes to how much more food I really was eating. Cutting back was hard at first, but I got used to it, and it's now pretty much my default.  

One other tip that worked for me - not so much with losing weight but just feeling better - was cutting out soda. Every once in awhile, I'll have some Classic Coca Cola - I enjoy it with certain foods and I occasionally "treat" myself - but for the most part, I've replaced soda with water and unsweetened iced teas - black, green or other flavors with no added sugars. And, like with the portion control, it was hard at first but I got used to it...and feel better for it.  

I'm looking forward to visiting the other participants in the Get Healthy Bloghop, and I'd love to hear more tips from you all here in the comments. 

51 comments:

  1. Great to read, and I hope with looking through others you may get more ideas how to get healthy.
    Yvonne.

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    1. I've already gotten some great ideas from other bloggers - and I've only just started visiting! :)

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  2. Portion control is really hard to do and I think it's awesome you stuck with it showing it can be done. Kudos! And yeah, too much soda is terrible for anyone. I have a thing for Schweppes of all things, and have to be careful to only drink it on occasion. Wow, sounds like I'm talking about alcohol! :D

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    1. Thank you! And I hear you about the soda - I used to just reach for it automatically and then I finally asked myself if I was really enjoying it or was I just drinking it because I always did. Now, when I do have some, I really enjoy it. :)

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  3. Portion control is the hardest for me, unless it's vegetables. Then I don't overdo it. :) If I'm trying to lose weight, I know that if I eat until I'm full, I ate too much. But sometimes it's tough to resist that second helping of your favorite food.

    Sometimes I'm okay, with snack foods/candy, if I just don't eat it. But once I have one cookie, then it's so much easier to have a 2nd or a 3rd. Gotta work on the willpower.

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    1. You made me laugh about not overdoing the vegetables. :)

      Maybe check the package on the candy and cookies and see what an actual serving is - if it's two cookies, take them out and put the package away as fast as you can. That's what I do with Powerberries - measure out a serving and put the rest away.

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  4. You give great advice. I also seldom ever drink soda. But the portion control thing is so important.

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    1. Thank you, Susan. It's really just what works for me. Everyone is different. :)

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  5. I need to work on the portion control. Great advice. I'm trying to drink more water. I remember it to do so when it's hot out. I'm not so great at remembering it when it's cold out.

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    1. I feel like I all I do in the summer here in FL is drink water. :)

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  6. I ditched soda 4 years ago - 2 swigs now and I'm lightheaded and glassy eyed, water is so much better for you

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    1. When I do drink soda now, I really enjoy it but I do feel the effects quicker and so drink less of it. :)

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  7. I definitely need to work on portion control AND cutting out soda. Thanks for the inspiration :)

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    1. You're welcome! :) My suggestions would be to just start cutting back on the soda, not go cold turkey. Regarding portion control, I would start paying more attention to what a serving size actually is - you'll be amazed!

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  8. Portion control is everything. I've lost 17lbs this year just from being more aware of what I eat. It's so worth it!

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    1. Absolutely! And once you get the hang of it, it's not that hard. :)

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  9. I'm fortunate in that I never ever liked fizzy drinks. It has definitely helped to keep my weight constant.

    Writer In Transit

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    1. I kind of wish I had never started on soda but my "habit" wasn't really too bad. Cutting it out for the most part definitely helped with my healthy though.

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  10. Most people eat way more than they should at one setting, so controlling your portions is good. Serving sizes have increased in the past fifty years. Look at the tiny McDonald's burger - that used to be the norm.

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    1. You're right regarding how large portions are now - it seems like a lot of the time it's really three or four portions on one plate!

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  11. Portion control is really tough for me. I've been trying to eat less and exercise more.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  12. Portion control seems too simple to work, but I think it's the only thing that really does. You get to eat your favourite foods rather than signing up to a weird and wonderful 'diet' that demonises all the things you like.

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    1. I still eat chocolate, just less of it. If a portion of Powerberries is a quarter of a cup, that's what I eat. Pasta is harder, though. :)

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  13. Awesome, congrats on the loss!
    I cut out sodas and juices and such many many years ago so water is my go to drink as well. My problem is I don't always follow a sensible portion control regimen lol I try though...

    Nice meeting you through the hop ;)

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    1. Thanks! I think as long as we keep trying and succeeding most of the time, it will all work itself out. :)

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  14. This is really solid advice that sounds so "duh" but so many people don't do this. Soda is just awful. Okay as a treat, of course, but so many people see it as "water" which it SO is not!

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    1. Sometimes it's the simplest things that work. Although, just because something is simple doesn't mean it's easy. :)

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  15. The portion control is definitely something I've got to get back under control. No more seconds!

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    1. My problem was that my first helping was really two helpings!

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  16. I cut out soda a few months ago and I swear, it was the hardest thing I've ever done. But, like you, I feel better for having done it!

    Portion control is an issue. My husband always splits our dinners in half, but I shouldn't be eating the same portion he is - I weigh 50 pounds less! That's something we both need to work on. Thanks for the reminder!

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    1. Good for you on the soda! It helps to figure out what an actual serving is by checking the package or looking up online how big a serving of chicken or pasta is supposed to be.

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  17. Great tips. Portion control is so important. CONGRATS on the weight loss!

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  18. Portion control and cutting out soda are huge! This is an excellent post for this blog hop!

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  19. I cut down my portion sizes about a year ago, which was really hard as I've always been a bit of a food fiend. It was hard at first but now it's just normal. I tried eating a larger portion like I used to and I can't do it now.
    A lot of it is visual too. When I actually weighed out the suggested portion of cereal and put it in a bowl, the bowl looked half empty so I felt short changed before I even started it. But I started using one of my daughters small plastic bowls, and the portion fills it so it feels like I'm eating a whole portion. Psychology, huh?

    Keep going though, no matter how hard. You'll get there x

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    1. I hear you about the cereal! We started using smaller bowls, too, - for that and pasta - and it was a huge help.

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  20. Congrats on that - I guess the key is to get used to the change so it becomes your normal.

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    1. Thanks! I think that really is the key - at least, it's opening doors for me. (Ha, get it? Key, doors...) :)

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  21. i drink diet soda & water (& coffee!)
    and once in a while, a coke, just havevto!
    portion control is easier now cause i fill up fast! darn aging!

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    1. Gotta have that coffee! :) I just try to limit myself to 2 cups a day - one is a half caff - and I don't add sugar when I drink it at home.

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  22. Congrats! Portion control is something I try to do as well. I find that eating off smaller plates tricks my mind and helps me control the amount of food.

    Have a great Thursday!

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    1. Thank you! Smaller plates really does help. It sounds silly but it works! :)

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  23. I'm really trying to work on portion sizes - I have huge portions, and I know I'm eating too much. I need to cut down if I want to keep the figure I have!
    I hardly ever drink fizzy drinks, I haven't since I was younger. I don't really like them, which is great, since that means I don't miss them. I'm sure I make up for it by the amount of cakes and chocolate I eat, though!

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    1. I haven't given up my chocolate or cake - I just eat way less of it than I used to! I find that when I eat too much now, I'm uncomfortable.

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  24. HI, Madeline,

    Great advice, cutting out SODA is HUGE! It's amazing how many calories and SUGAR are in a glass. Even the diet ones are LOADED with chemicals and the body can't process them.

    Portion control is also a fantastic way to keep fit.

    Thanks for joining the HOP!

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    1. I drank diet soda a long time ago but didn't enjoy it as much as the "real" thing. Of course, that's not good for you either, which is why I only use it as a "treat" now.

      I really enjoyed this Blog Hop! :)

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    2. And thanks for Following us here at TSR! :)

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  25. Cutting out soda and watching portions are a biggie, IMO.

    We don't have to finish off what's left, and pre-serving the portions help control weight. Family style eating encourages seconds. Every little bit does count.

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  26. Not finishing everything on our plates in a restaurant setting is a biggie for me. Yeh, doggie bags! :)

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