Thursday, May 12, 2011

Get Fit and Eat Pancakes too?! :: 10 Steps to Get Fit

Flapjacks.  Hotcakes.  Johnnycakes.  Pancakes.  No matter what you call them, those flat breakfast cakes covered in maple syrup are delicious!

Chocolate chip pancakes are a Sunday night tradition at my house.  My kids would protest LOUDLY if I nixed our tradition just because I'm on a diet.  But, there is NO way I can sit at our kitchen table and eat a salad while they indulge in chocolate sugary yumminess.

So, what's a mom to do?  Pancakes are clearly NOT on any diet plan, or are they?  Is it possible to have my (pan)cake and eat it, too?  I think so!

Credit: potaufeu

An eating plan helps me get fit and enjoy a family food tradition.

An eating plan structures when, what and how much I eat.

Most healthy plans recommend 3 balanced meals and 2 small snacks each day.  They also tell you how many servings or amounts of each type of food to eat.  By using a specific plan you can insure that your body is receiving a variety of nutrients.

If you are looking for a balanced meal plan I recommend:

A weekly menu chart helps me track my eating plan.

I have a terrible memory.  Absolutely terrible.  In order to remember how many servings of protein I've eaten throughout the day I must write them down.

I'm tired of scribbling on bits of paper so I designed an eating plan tracking chart to use during the next 6 weeks.  My chart lists 3 meals, 2 snacks and has a space for each day of the week.  I use the chart to plan my menu for each week.  As I eat each item I cross it off on the plan.  This allows me to easily count up the servings I've eaten.

A menu plan also allows me to eat pancakes every Sunday night.  Because I know that I'll be eating 2-3 servings of grain (each pancake is one serving) I plan my breakfast and lunch without grains.  I eat pancakes and still follow my diet.  It's a win-win situation!

What diet plan are you using?  How do you track calories, servings or points?

Visit Stephanie's Mommy Facebook page to download a copy of my eating plan tracking chart.

Read the other posts in this series: 10 Steps to Get Fit, Set Fitness Goals, How to Fail Proof Your Weight LossHow to Plan to Exercise.

10 comments:

Stephanie Kay said...

Stephanie, I've never used WW but I've heard great things about them. I think the key is to find a system that works for you and stick with it! Sounds like WW is the right system for you at this time.

Marc and Charity said...

I cut out sugar and eat only whole foods- all fruits/veggies, proteins, eggs, real butter, plain live yogurt, etc.

diet products said...

You can be a sexy person if you lessen your sugar intakes everytime you eat.

Wherever HE Leads We'll Go said...

Sounds like you have come up with a good balance in your eating. I like the chart idea. I would never remember this stuff either. I would definitely have to write it down!

J.Lynne said...

Stephanie, would you mind showing us a filled out menu plan for the week? I have found that there are great ways to break down a recipe to find out the calorie contents, but this is always the tedious work for me.

Marc and Charity said...

I cut out sugar and eat only whole foods- all fruits/veggies, proteins, eggs, real butter, plain live yogurt, etc.

Carrie said...

I'm doing WW online as well. I like it for the same reasons as the other Stephanie. =) I found it successful after Bookworm1 was born so we're doin' it again through the summer after Bookworm2 to kick start things. I don't want to pay for it indefinitely though and I find that once I start figuring out the point system, I can do fairly well on my own. But I need a refresher course, to be sure!

Stephanie said...

I'm using Weight Watcher online (and on my phone) to track right now and LOVE it. I meal plan on paper, but to keep up with my points, I use their online system since they will do a lot of the figuring for me. : ) My brain needs the help right now, and I love the WW system.

Stephanie Kay said...

J.Lynne, I'll put together an example of a filled in chart.

Carrie and Stephanie, you make me want to join WW just to be a part of the group! :)

Charity, cutting sugar and limiting carbs has been key for me.

georgie sounds like a goio said...

sounds like a good idea, i am going to try it!

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