Help Me With My Diet!

Ok people, I know you have opinions. And you have knowledge. You’ve tried stuff and read stuff and now I’m calling on you to share it with me!

So you know I’ve been on this “eating healthier” plan along with running like crazy and still working out at the gym. I have been religiously tracking my food and aiming for a daily caloric target of about 1200. I started off a little lower than that but I’m petrified of my metabolism slowing down too much, and since I’m burning about 300 calories a day with exercise it seems like 1200 should be the minimum.

Keep in mind those calories aren’t my only guideline, I’m trying to keep them as low fat and high fiber calories. I’ve moderately increased my veggies, dramatically increased my fruits, and reduced and changed my carbs. The only refined carbs I eat are the occasional handful of goldfish crackers or baked tortilla chips.

My means are generally like this: breakfast is a bowl of cereal (honey nut cheerios) or oatmeal or a high fiber english muffin. Plenty of coffee too. Lunch is a big fat apple, some almonds, or possibly a turkey sandwich on wheat thins. Maybe a healthy choice or lean cuisine on occasion. Dinner is usually chicken, veggies and a salad. Maybe a small portion of potatoes. I also usually have one skinny latte a day. I figure the skim milk is good protein and calcium without a lot of calories or fat. That’s often right after a hard workout.

A lot of days I end up with way less than 1200 calories and usually end up with some kinda carb to make up the difference before bed.

So I have heard lots of theories about cutting out dairy, cutting carbs entirely, even cutting fruit. I’m just not sure how to get more meat, bean and veggies in. Convenience is king in my house.

Anyway the scale isn’t moving as fast as I’d like it to. Maybe I’m just impatient, but maybe there’s something different I should be doing. So I’m wide open to your suggestions.

I REALLY want your opinions. Lay it on me.

Ten Motivational Quotes for Runners

Last night I had my first one mile time trial with the Katy Fit 5k training group. A week ago I tried this on the treadmill just to see what I might expect and came out around 13:35 minutes. That’s pretty pathetic if you ask me. I ran with the training group on Wednesday night for more than 2 miles and I ran again on the treadmill Saturday for a bit more than 2 miles. 
Last night I had someone running beside me for the entire one mile time trial. I’m not sure if she slowed me down or sped me up but she definitely kept me going. I finished the mile in 12:56. That’s a big improvement and it is motivating. Then we ran another mile and half in intervals. 
I’m sure it also helps that I have fundamentally changed how I eat and in the process have dropped 6.5 pounds so far. I don’t see myself quitting that process anytime soon either and I’m optimistic I may actually hit my goal weight by the time my Run 4 the Children race happens in March. 
Today I wanted to share with you a bunch of awesome motivational quotes with images I have found across the internet. Some are from Facebook and I don’t know the original source, most are from Pinterest. 
1. I love how simple running is. Can be done virtually anywhere. 

2. This is one of my favorites. So true.

3. Never in a million years thought I’d be a runner. I am.

Found via Pinterest from joemarelo.tumbler.com

4. Fierce.

Found via Pinterest from thehealthychange.tumbler.com

 5. This is the complete truth.

Found via Pinterest at 1.bp.blogspot.com

6. I used to hate sweat with a passion. Not anymore.

Found via Pinterest from wanttobehealthynhappy.tumbler.com

7. Are you gonna be strong today?

Found via Pinterest at weheartit.com

8. Perfect for computer addicts like me.


Found via Pinterest at staleymc.blogspot.com

9. Meeting my personal pain barrier straight on.

Found via Pinterest at WeHeartIt

10. Fortunately I’ve already seen my body changing after 2 weeks.


Found via Pinterest from WeHeartIt

 Bonus! In honor of my one mile time trial last night. As my friends keep reminding me not to worry about the actual number.

Found via Pinterest at jillconyers.typepad.com

This post is linked up at Amanda’s Top Ten Tuesday!