What Doesn't Work

I've been reading the maintenance threads over at 3FatChicks.com, trying to get my mojo back. My weight is up, and I just can't bring myself to care for more than 5 minutes. I've realized that it isn't working right now, this isn't maintenance. Here's my list of what doesn't work for me:

1. Eating in restaurants
2. Skipping workouts
3. Sugary cereals
4. Dried fruits
5. Nuts
6. Spandex
7. Denial

None of these are bad in small quantities, but for me they tend to snowball. Restaurants? Well, I like burgers. Burgers come with fries. Half pound burger plus fries and a Coke = blowing past my maintenance calories for the day. Sugary cereals and dried fruits? The concentrated sugar makes me crave more sweets throughout the day, again blowing the calorie budget when I don't need to. Here's how to counteract the deadly 7 above.

1. Plan dinner every night. Having food planned (And prepped, and in the fridge) means we're less likely to say "I don't want to cook, lets go out!" Alternatively, if we're planning to go out I can budget for those fries, or build up an iron will to order the vegetable of the day instead of fries. Half pound burger + grilled asparagus + water = not nearly as much damage.

2. Bring yoga clothes to work, buy a second mat to leave in the car, and stash an extra $10 with the mat for class fees. Walk with co-workers on lunch when feasible. Sign up for another dance class with the boyfriend. Set the alarm clock on Saturday morning, when I'm most motivated to do yoga on my own.

3. Bran Flakes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs.

4. Frozen fruit, veggies, 100 cal snack packs

5. Buy a 1/8c measure, because it's the 1/4c of nuts that is just a wee bit too much for a snack. Also, buy 100 cal snack packs for snacks instead of nuts every day.

6. Buy more pants without spandex. Hard to find these days, which is why most of what I own is 3% spandex and allows me to say "Oh, this still fits, of course!" which leads to

7. Be accountable to the scale, and those fresh-from-the-dryer, non-spandex jeans. Also, weigh in a Weight Watchers regularly. Waiting until the last possible day of the month and then praying is NOT a good sign.