I hate New Year’s resolution time. Bitter cold January days are not a time to feel inspired to change your life. Plus everyone makes weight-loss a goal, and it is freeeeezing outside. You aren’t going to start jogging if you vow to do it in the dead of winter. You just aren’t.
I’m much more likely to make resolutions in September with the start of a new school year, even though I’m not in school anymore. I still feel more loyalty to the academic calendar than the actual calendar.
But in March I get to have a baby, and the cold hard truth is there are some things that if we want them to be habits by the time The Wee Baby Tranchell arrives on the scene, we’ve got to get going. And of course, they’re about food.
One of my resolutions for 2013 is to be more supportive of my husband’s Type II diabetes — which means figuring out new recipes and actually thinking about food before consuming it. In that spirit, I ordered a subscription to “Diabetic Living” magazine. And I promise to make at least one recipe from each issue. Or at least to think really hard about it.
My second (and last) resolution is to stop treating pregnancy as an excuse to consume everything in sight. I weighed myself the other day, and it was a day-ruiner. My hubby came home and I said, “I weighed myself. I need a hug. And maybe to cry.” And, being a wise man, he gave me a good hug and said, “Honey, you are 7 months pregnant and beautiful.” That’s why I married him.
But still, that number was an ouch. And I’ve still got 10 weeks left of this pregnancy, and my baby app tells me I can expect to gain 1-2 pounds a week. OH. MAN. 10 to 20 more pounds? In my mind, by the time this thing is over, I look like a hippopotamus.
So today I downloaded a free app for my iPhone — Lose It! I read about it in Parade. It’s actually pretty cool. It’s very similar to my pre-baby WeightWatchers app, except it helps you track calories instead of points values. You can even scan barcodes and it will import nutrition info. It will help you set calorie limits based on your long-term goals. I told it I wanted to maintain my current weight and it gave me a nice calorie count. So I can use it to talk myself out of eating that second piece of pie.
I know I can’t lose weight being pregnant, but I don’t have to turn into a beach ball, either.
And in March, we’ll make a bunch of post-baby resolutions. Things like showering every other day and trying to wear moderately clean clothes.
Are you making any diet resolutions this year?