Week 1: Rachel faces her excuses

Before F-Factor I was the queen of excuses. “Can’t go to the gym today, it’s raining.” “Why start a diet when I have a wedding next weekend?” “I’m not getting fatter, sizes are just getting smaller.” “What’s the point of losing weight when I always just gain it right back?”

That way of thinking got me where I am now. My fat clothes from last summer are tight.

When I wear sleeveless dresses, I walk around with my hands on my hips. This is supposed to create a leaner silhouette. “You look crazy,” my best friend Bienstock always snaps. And then I get huffy and storm off. Bienstock doesn’t understand. Bienstock is tiny. She doesn’t know what it is to be completely aware of your body every single second of every day.

I wouldn’t dream of exercising without a shirt tied around my waist. Too much jiggling. On the hottest days I wear cardigans just because I don’t want my arms to show. I hate having my picture taken.

Those are the things I’ve been thinking about this week as I’ve been kicking, punching, and crunching with my amazing trainer Delon Nelson at D&I Fitness. I think about how my life will be when I can ride my bike without being scared someone will yell out something mean. I think about all the pretty sleeveless dresses I'll put in my closet and the bikini I’ll wear on the beach. He promises me we’re gonna get there. And I believe him.  (Watch our video of Rachel going through her first workout!)

Already things are starting to change. Can you believe it?

IMPORTANT THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK:

100-calorie snacks aren’t health food. If you’re like me, then 100-calorie snacks turn into 500-calorie snacks. I would buy them thinking I’d stop at just bag and I never did. Not to mention, an extra 100 calories a day = an extra TEN POUNDS a year.

Oatmeal alone isn’t the breakfast of champions. I was eating about two cups of oatmeal every morning. I’d feel full for about a half hour and then I'd start snacking. Here is why: One cup has 224 calories, 47 carbs and 6 grams of fiber. Now I eat a 1/2 cup of Fiber one, mixed with a serving of 0% Fage and 3/4 cup berries. This breakfast has changed my life. No post-breakfast grazing. (Rebecca Baer tip: put frozen berries in the microwave and then stir in some Splenda... it adds sweetness)

GG Crackers are my go-to snack food. They are crunchy and delicious and have helped me SO MUCH with my carbohydrate cravings. When I’m hankering for something savory, I'll slather on some Laughing Cow Cheese and a cucumber slice. Or I'll do a GG pizza: Tomato sauce, 1% cottage cheese, and parmesan cheese (microwave for 2 minutes). Not only do the GGs taste awesome with fun toppings, I feel full after eating them.

It takes 1 cup of rice to make a roll of sushi, which is equivalent to 240 calories. Now I’m discovering that I actually prefer sashimi anyway. And when I want a roll, I order it wrapped in cucumber instead of rice.

The F-factor eases menstrual cramps. I've had cramps since I was a teenager. Last month I was popping up to five Advil a day. This month: nothing. When I emailed my nutritionist Rebecca to let her know, she wrote back: “not having cramping and bloating this time is totally diet related. When you eat better, you feel better in every way.”

In just five days on F-Factor I lost FIVE POUNDS (3 pounds of body fat) and my skin is brighter than it’s ever been. When I went bike riding on Saturday in Central Park I zoomed up Heartbreak Hill, which I’ve never been able to do. My clothes are zipping more easily. I’m not hungry all the time anymore. I wake up feeling refreshed. At a restaurant the other morning, I sent my egg white omelet back to the kitchen because it tasted too buttery.

I’m finding all this strength I never knew I had, and I'm done with excuses.

-Rachel

Rachel’s Week 1 Stats:

What are your go-to excuses for avoiding diet and exercise?

Comments (5)

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Friday June 25, 2010 savannah wrote:

... too tired

Friday June 25, 2010 mariel wrote:

... I will go tomorrow

Friday June 25, 2010 sam b. wrote:

... I eat healthy for the most part and when I work out I get hungry and overeat so I may as well not....I know this is of course because I eat the wrong things after a workout bc i feel entitled.

Friday June 25, 2010 Rachel P wrote:

... Hah! I did that too.

Monday June 28, 2010 splash wrote:

... Rachel - congrats! I'm so proud of your progress and can't wait to keep reading!! Good luck!

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