Adios Tacos: How I am Losing Weight Abroad

The Freshman Fifteen

As some of you may already know from one of my previous posts, I have put on about fifteen unwanted pounds in the past year or so. As a result, here I am, working hard at losing weight abroad. For lack of a better term, I’m calling this weight gain the, ‘Freshman Fifteen’. I lived off-campus my first year of undergrad, so I never really had the opportunity to have a traditional freshman fifteen phase, so, hey, why not have one in my early 30’s, right?

Cool!

Nah, really, not so much.

Why? Well, because as some of you may have experienced, losing weight in your early-thirties (and beyond) is so much different from losing weight in your late-teens and early-twenties. There are days I feel like my metabolism is so slow. Like, just the act of looking at a donut will cause me to put on two pounds. God forbid I actually eat it!

Jesus be a fence around my mouth!

So, How Goes It?

I am currently in the middle of week three on my new-old, healthy, active lifestyle journey. I’m feeling pretty good so far! I am about 6.5 pounds down (claps for that!) and feeling leaner and lighter on my feet. My clothes feel less constricting. Bonus, I even noticed a little less cellulite on the backs of my thighs the other day when (gasp!) I wore shorts in public!

Feeling leaner and stronger, healthier and more confident!

While I’ve always been pretty active, and walking is our main method of transportation here, incorporating a more streamlined nutrition plan has made all the difference in the world. For weight loss, it’s all about calories in v. calories out. You will not lose weight if your output is less than your intake.

Simple mathematics.

Trust and believe, my intake was way too high for my output. Tacos, donuts, sugary juices, chips and guac. Yea, pretty easy to see how that scale crept up, huh?

How am I Losing Weight Abroad?

Here are five specific things I’ve implemented to ensure that I continue to drop this Freshman Fifteen, and get back into fighting shape in time for wedding season and beyond:

My water intake has increased significantly and I’ve cut out all sugary beverages. I am drinking between 96-128 ounces of natural water each day. In addition to water, I have one meal replacement shake daily, tea, and coffee sweetened with zero calorie stevia (a natural sweetener). Because I prefer to eat my calories, I’ve cut out juices, even natural, fresh ones, as a personal preference. The recommended daily water intake for the average, moderately active person is half your body weight in water ounces.

I have a set nutrition plan, created by my awesome macro-scientist, coach-friend. It is a plan designed specifically for me, for my goals, and tailored to the foods I like and don’t like. Although tacos are not on my list, there are plenty of other foods I enjoy! My plan comes complete with measured servings, set eating times, and a variety of menu options. I am also strategically tracking my intake on a phone app (My Fitness Pal). A good nutrition plan should ensure that the calories in are slightly less than calories out, includes a variety of nutrients, and is adequate to sustain energy throughout the day.

It isn’t tacos, but it’s healthy, homemade and delicious!

Exercise has been intentional and rigorous. I am forcing myself to exercise regularly. Even when I seriously don’t want to, I am getting active in some way, shape, or form. My custom, at-home, curvy-fit exercise plan calls for mostly weight training. It uses high reps and moderate weight. Depending on the week, I am either hitting upper body 2 or 3 times, and legs 2 or 3 times. I tack on moderate intensity cardio for 15-20 minutes twice a week, and I take an hour-long dance fit class once a week. It is recommended that most people fit in thirty minutes of exercise three to four times per week.

I have adjusted my mindset. For this past year or so, I’ve been using food as a crutch. When I was sad, I would eat. When I was stressed, I would eat. If I was celebrating something, I would eat. That usually made me feel good for as long as I was eating. Shortly thereafter however, I felt the negative effects of my carelessness. Sometimes it was physical discomfort from over-indulgence. Other times, it was mental frustration from knowing that once again, I’d let my emotions get the best of me. I have learned that emotional eating is not what’s best for me. Discipline is my new middle name. I’ve taken back control over what I do and I feel so much better! Your mindset can make or break your success. I recommend digging deep to discover your triggers, then modify your attitude and approach accordingly.

My Accountability Partners are holding me down. We all need a little help from our friends and I realized that I cannot do this on my own. I’ve enlisted the help of my amazing coach-friend and my husband to help hold me accountable. I check-in weekly with my coach (who by the way is stateside-gotta love technology!) to report my weight and send progress pictures. My husband reminds me of my goals regularly. He steers me away from my favorite taco stand and bakery on our daily walks to and from school with the kiddos. His words are always encouraging, even when I’m feeling doubtful. Mostly, he takes my taco-less crabbiness in stride, for which I am ever grateful! If you’re struggling, consider getting an Accountability Partner. They can make all the difference in the world!

It Ain’t Easy

Trust me when I say, despite this (hopefully) uplifting and positive post, sometimes living healthy stinks. As I write this, there is a pecan covered bear claw (the kids’ to share) sitting on my kitchen counter beckoning to me. It knows my name and has invited me over to come take a bite.

Just one!

But I won’t.

Getting it in where it fits in…our home gym!

Don’t get me wrong, my meal plan and fitness plan are flexible. They have to be or else I would fall off the wagon (yet again). I don’t exercise every single day. One day a week my husband and I have breakfast out together and one night a week we order pizza as a family. I still enjoy both of those meals, I just make a few modifications. Instead of eating syrupy French toast, I enjoy an egg white omelet. On pizza night, I fill up with a grilled chicken salad and finish with one slice of pizza, chuck full of fresh veggies.

I am successfully losing weight abroad and feeling good! Now, completely rededicated to my new-old healthy, active lifestyle, I am doing my best not to let my emotions, or the sweet smells of Mexican cuisine, hold me back from feeling my best. I feel proud of myself for having discipline and the willpower to say yes to being healthy, happy and whole. Healthy habits are an important part of a full life and can be implemented at any time, wherever you may call home.