Eat this, not that....

Finding motivation is really tough. Finding motivation to lose weight is even tougher. A while back, I set a goal to lose a couple of pounds by following a simple solution. Eat less, move more. While it is easy in theory, it is hard in practice.

Last year when I moved to Arizona, I weight 135-140 ish and I though that was a lot. Oh how the perspective of "good" numbers change in even a year! By the end of the year, I was at 152-155! YIKES. Here are some reasons why I gained weight in AZ.

1. It is so freakin hot, you stay inside all day long and sit around. It is SO freakin hot. Unbearable.

2. Because it is sweat-taco weather 90% of the year, who want to go out and exercise in a sauna? Not me.

3. Also, I drank 50% more water in Arizona than when I lived in Idaho.

4. You know the sticky hot weather that feels like you opened a 500° oven? Who want to walk around or better yet, go play outside? I sure didn't.

So, the poundage bulked on and I felt miserable. I would see moms who have had children be skinner than me!

Well I quit the complaining and tried to exercise. It wasn't until this recent Christmas and our recent move to Idaho that I began to see improvements!

This Christmas (upon my request) I got a book called Eat This, Not That... It is an amazing book! It shows you how to cut out the extra calories that you unknowingly eat. There are three kinds on the market:

1. Eat This, Not That for Kids

2. Eat This, Not That Fast food

3. Eat This, Not That Supermarket

Since I don't have any kids, and the Supermarket one came out in January, I have the fast food book. Here is an example of a couple of entries of the places I used to eat out at a lot:

Taco Bell:

Eat This-2 Grilled Steak soft tacos, Fresco Style= 320 Calories, 9g of fat

Not That- Baja Beef Chalupa=410 Calories, 27g of fat.

I know you may think, that's only a 90 calorie difference. But look at the fat difference! You save 18g of fat!

In-N-Out:

Eat This=Double Double Hamburger Protein style= 350 Cal, 22g Fat

Not That= Double Double Cheeseburger= 670 cal, 41g Fat

I think this one speaks for itself.

Panda Express:

Eat This= Broccoli Beef, Mushroom Chicken and Steamed Veggies= 350 Cal, 17g Fat

Not That= Kung Pao Chicken, BBQ Pork and Steamed Rice=1,060 Cal, 40.5g Fat

Hello! Now the others might not be that much of a difference, but if you add up all the calories that you saved from these three places, it equals to 1120 calories!!! Almost (not quite) a half a pound!!!!

However, now that I live in Rigby, ID, The only fast food available is subway and Wendy's so Tyler and I don't eat out often and that has helped tremendously. The book has become somehwhat redundant because of this but I've read it so many times, I know exactly what to eat at every fast food place if the opportunity comes up.

So, all I did was follow the book's simple swaps and now I am down to 144! I am pretty sure that when I left, I was around 153 so I lost 9 pounds all by still eating what I like, but just cutting out the dead calories.

The book also has what to eat on holidays, supermarket (a little), what to drink, and what to eat when you a feeling stressed, fat, sleepy, etc. It is awesome!

I would totally recommend buying this book because it has taught me not to be afraid to go out to eat and not feel guilty afterwards. It uncovered the good (and very bad) side of fast food that few would not know about. In fact, I love it so much, I am now considering being a nutritionist so I can help other people educate themselves on what is healthy to eat and what is not. Even if I don't become a nutritionist, at least I can help you by telling you to check out this book. Good luck!