Day 4: 4th of January

Changes

The following changes that I want to make are to help me meet my goals which I set myself on the 2nd of January. So these aims are to complement and increase my likelihood of meeting those goals.

Drinks

A major change that I am making as from tomorrow is cutting out all fizzy drinks, caffeine and greatly reducing the diluting juice and replacing it with water. Why, simply because I do not want to drink my calories away. Since I am reducing my calories why should I drink away empty calories. Plus, there are so many health benefits that comes from being hydrated from water that it is an all around better choice. Also I have an ice machine and ice cold water is so much more satisfying. I am replacing my morning cup of coffee with a green tea or a peppermint tea so they are caffeine free. Green Tea helps boost the metabolism while peppermint tea is known to reduce bloating especially after meals and they also have less calories per cup so it is a win win in my eyes!

Breakfast

One of the biggest changes that I want to make a habit is eating a healthy breakfast everyday. Since being young I never ate breakfast as I wasn't hungry in the morning, however from articles I have read and according to weight loss experts (Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper) is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it sets you up for the whole day. Also a healthy filling breakfast will also reduce the likelihood of me grazing and snacking on unhealthy food throughout the day. Plus, by including protein, fibre and one of my five a day in my first meal of the day will set me up for the full day.

Fruit and Vegetables 

After spending the first 4 days of 2015 thinking about what I am eating I have realised that some days I do not eat any fruit and vegetables. At 22 (almost 23) I really should know better and I know about getting my minimum of my 5 a day. So my daily goal is to consume at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day as not only do these contain vitamins and minerals they are also low in calories in comparison to snacking on crisps or chocolate. I am also hoping as the year goes on that I can see myself easily eating these 5 a day and later on being able to challenge myself and slowly start boosting my daily numbers to 6-10 a day.

Sauces
I LOVE sauce on all my food, whether it is crisps and dip, burger relish, salad cream, mayonnaise or tomato ketchup. I use these all the time in ridiculously amounts and quite often I have more than one at a time. However, I know this is one of my worst habitats for my waist line. So I have decided to completely cut out the use of sauces with meals and replace it with a measured amount of vinegar. Why? Because at the moment I do not have any self control when it comes to uses sauces and also because of there high salt and sugar content wont be helping me at all, After a few weeks/months of not using sauces I think I could start reintroducing it and seeing how I go however I fulling believe at the moment that it will be better for me to cut out sauces. 

Moving More

Yes, I have a daily exercise and calorie burn goal however I think by moving more in general will also help me. In other words, if I am sitting down doing university work each hour I stop for 15-20 minutes and go outside with the dogs and walk about. Not only will it get the blood flowing and help me with the work I am doing but it will also help me walk off some calories. Yes I know not a lot but a handful is better than spending hour after hour just sitting in front of the laptop as I am more likely to graze then. Also at night, instead of sitting watching the TV or playing video games every 15 minutes get up and do something, weather it is a quick tidy up during the add break or playing with the dogs. Again it is just getting me to move that wee bit more an burn those few extra calories which will help me lose the weight that tiny bit quicker and by keeping myself busy will stop my 'need' to constantly graze.