Snow days tough, but Parks staying on track
Things are still going well for Cathy Parks as she heads into the seventh week of her healthy lifestyle challenge.
"I have 32 1/2 pounds off right now, so I'm pleased with that," she said. "I'm definitely noticing it more now, with my clothes, and a lot of people have come up to me and said they can tell I've lost weight. That's nice to hear."
Two weekends ago she made a trip to Halifax to visit her sister, she said, and going into it she was a little worried about sticking with her meal and exercise plan. "Driving down I was thinking, 'I wonder how this will go...'" she said.
She finds it's harder to stay on track when she's away from Miramichi and her usual routine, but as it turned out she had no problems.
"I just had my regular cheat meal and other than that I was a very good girl," she said. "It went really well, so I was glad."
In order to keep herself from getting off track, she made sure to eat the same things she would normally eat, bringing along healthy foods. Among these were Smartpop popcorn and almonds, so she would have something to snack on if they went to the movies. Her sister also helped, she said, making sure Cathy had what she needed.
Parks added she's also making good progress with her exercise routine. "The gym's going really well."
She said she's trying to always spend a few more minutes on the elliptical machine — even though she hates it, she knows it's good exercise. She has also been trying some of the other machines at the gym, including the stepper.
"Mark (the trainer) keeps switching it up," she said, adding that the varied routine makes it easier to stay with the program. She said that she has problems with her shoulder and knee, and the trainer is also very helpful in making sure she doesn't put too much strain on these joints.
All in all, she said, she really likes going to the gym. "I enjoy going every day, and that's a huge bonus."
As she continues with the meal plan, she said she is finding it's easier to make healthy food choices when preparing meals, and she's beginning to be more creative in her cooking. "I'm getting a little more adventurous in what I make," she said.
And she's also discovering new favourite foods she never dreamed she would like. "Cottage cheese," she said. "Whoda thunk it? There's not much taste, but it's a texture thing for me."
Her coach at Simply For Life even suggested mixing cottage cheese and tuna, but Parks said she isn't brave enough to try that just yet.
Another thing she is trying to develop a taste for is green tea, which she says is really healthy, so she tries to drink a cup every day.
During the recent wild weather she discovered another challenge to staying on track — snow days.
"Oh my word," she said. "Snow days are hard. I find as soon as the snow starts to fall, my cravings go up."
The break in routine is one of the biggest problems, she said, and her old habit of always stopping by the grocery store on days when her office is closed due to weather. However, she was able to overcome temptation yet again.
"It's no great secret," she explained. "I had nothing in the house that I can't have. If it's not there you won't be eating it."
The cupboard that she once filled with junkfood has found a new purpose, she said. Where once there were sweets and chips, they have now been replaced by healthy cereal, natural sweetener, olive oil, spices and salba — which can be added to yogurt or cereal.
"It's just funny when you look up there now compared to before," she said.
Parks added that she's really feeling the results of the lifestyle changes she has been making. Eating the right foods and the right portions has helped a lot, she said. "Before I just felt heavy all the time," she explained. "I definitely feel better. I just feel all around better."
And she's not the only member of her family making those changes — she said her brother, Kurt, has also started the diet and exercise plan. He has been on it for three weeks and has lost 28 pounds so far.
"He's doing amazing," she said. "I'm more excited for him than I am for myself."
